Reasons not to keep it

From a discussion on clutter-busting on the 43 Folders Google group comes this pithy advice from David Douthitt:

Don't save clothes because:
a) they may come back into style;
b) you might need them for a formal party some day;
c) you might be able to fit into it if you just lost a few pounds.... 

Get rid of the clothes you are *not* wearing now.... whatever the reason (except seasonal).

Comments

[Abby]

I'm not so sure if I agree with all of this. Especially the "Might need it for a formal party" part. I think it's a big part of keeping life simple to be ready for lots of occasions. Running around searching for the perfect dress for an event is not going to produce the kind of freedom we're working at here. I say trash the impractical stuff, but hold on to one or to super-formal pieces, and always have a little black (or red) cocktail dress on hand. I still have my high school prom dress, because it was elegant, grown up, and hasn't gone out of style, so it'll do in a pinch when I have an event to go to.
Missing an event because you have nothing to wear, or frantically trying to find something, is just the other side of the "weighed down by too much stuff" problem. It's still letting material goods define your experience.

[Dinah]

Okay, yes, but only
- if it still fits
- if you actually like wearing it

I have seen people keep something ostensibly for the reason "I might need to wear it if I go to a formal event" but really for the "I spent too much on this and it fits me completely wrong and I haven't worn it for the last 5 times I've been invited to a formal event, but maybe if I hold onto it somehow that money will magically have been wisely spent."

I still say keep the things which are both beautiful and useful to you (and maybe define the utility of formals in a longer than 6 month cycle). Move the rest along.