Do you have a closet full of guilt? You’re not alone. Guilt is the big reason why women don’t clean out their closets — letting an average of 22 never-worn items languish on their hangers. (via Ecouterre)

That’s according to a study conducted by shopping channel QVC U.K. — but I’m guessing American women too keep similar numbers of unworn clothes in their closets. Men too are guilty, keeping an average of 19 unworn items in their closets, according to the survey.

Why buy clothes that are going to sit unworn? Impulse shopping’s the most common reason, according to the survey respondents. Why keep clothes that won’t be worn? Guilt over money wasted is the big reason for that one — though, of course, keeping unworn clothes in the closet isn’t exactly going to put that money back into the wallet.

There are other reasons for clothes hoarding too — reasons that you might find uncomfortably familiar. Daily Mail reports: “41 per cent insist they are planning to lose weight before getting some use out of their unworn outfits. Some 17 per cent are hoarding particular styles in the hope of a fashion revival.”

I honestly don’t have any unworn items in my closet — but I do have a number of rarely-worn items that I occasionally take out, wonder if I should get rid of, then put back. Most of these are accessories — like scarves I rarely remember to wear — or very dressy clothes — like gowns only appropriate for black tie events. But I’m somewhat proud to say I have less unworn items than the average woman. Partly because I pretty much never impulse buy clothes, partly because have a tiny closet, and partly because I just have a distaste for clutter, I rarely buy items that I don’t have a need for. I also often cull my closet — and donate or exchange the no-longer-loved fashions.

If the unproductive and space-stealing fashion hoarding described in the QVC U.K. survey seems to describe you, I have a quick and fun solution: Throw a fashion swap party! My friend Anastasia actually had one yesterday — and I got to purge my closet of fashions I tired of while having a fun afternoon of hanging out with the girls and trying on different outfits.

Plus, I left the party with three new-to-me fashion pieces — free! One of those is a cute red and white spring dress — that had never been worn by the girl who bought it. It’ll finally get its debut when the weather gets warmer in L.A. –

Earlier:
>> Project 333: Dress yourself with just 33 items for the next 3 months
>> The Great American Apparel Diet: Vow to wear what you already own
>> six items or less: A minimalist wardrobe challenge for the summer
>> A Thing a Day: A simple uncluttering challenge for a saner home
>> The Uniform Project: 365 new outfits — created with the same dress
>> Edit your closet with the One-Year Wardrobe Project

Photo by EvelynGiggles

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