Now that the weather is finally cooling down, we're all reaching for our warmer clothes we haven't seen in months - boy, did I miss wearing more than one layer... After so long, it's only natural you'll find pieces you no longer want, wear or fit you, so how do you get rid of them responsibly?

Ask yourself why you no longer want a specific piece. Is it too big on you? Too small? It has an unsightly rip? A stain? Is it no longer on trend? Is it no longer your style? You need to make sure you're getting rid of something for the right reason, not just because we're all addicted to watching closet declutter videos... Once you've asked all the right questions, work through those problems.

If it's something you love but no longer fits, get it altered! If it's too big, seek a professional (or do it yourself, if you can) and get it to fit you perfectly. If it's too small, up-cycle, see if you can make something else you love with it. I have these shorts I love dearly, but because they were a bad Forever 21 purchase, they shrink every time they're washed, so even though they fit around the waist, they're too small, so I'm turning them into hair accessories for next summer, a scrunchie and a small hair scarf, one less piece to end up where it shouldn't.

If you no longer like an item, ask your friends and family if anyone is interested, if no one claims the prize, try to sell it online, there's no reason why you can't make some money with your old things. If all else fails, or you're simply not interested in selling your things, there's always someone in need you can donate it to. 

Fix any small holes or stains, there's no need to get rid of clothing just because they have a small flaw, repair and love your clothes for longer. And if the problems are just too big, alter them into something else, even a cleaning rag can be a good way to extend a fabric's life for a little while longer.

The last step you should ever take, is to recycle them. Even though recycling is a thousand times better than simply throwing your clothes in the bin (please, never ever do that), it does still take a toll on the environment, so make sure you've exhausted all possibilities before placing them in a clothes recycling bin. I'm lucky enough to have lots and lots of those available around my country, but if that's not the case with you, do some research, even H&M has a clothing recycling program (not that I support them in any way, but it is a good first step).

As you can see, there are many ways to get rid of clothing in a responsible and sustainable way that don't include throwing them out in the trash! If you have any other tips on this subject, make sure to let me know below!