The Average Adult Has Nearly $300 Worth of Clothes in Their Closet That They've Never Worn

Have you ever loved a piece of clothing in the store only to get home and realize you have nowhere to wear it? If so, you're not alone. According to a new poll commissioned by Stitch Fix United Kingdom, which surveyed over 2,000 British adults, discovered that people have an average of $268.44 worth of unworn clothes in their closets. What's more, despite having a surplus of outfits, respondents complain they have nothing to wear six times a month.

According to the survey results, most participants' clothes sit in their closet unworn, with only six percent of adults saying they've worn everything in their wardrobe at least once. Instead of wearing something unused, 80 percent of respondents prefer to wear the same clothes over and over again. Of the survey takers who report an excess of unworn clothes, more than half say it's because they choose not to wear them because the items were buried under other clothes. In fact, 65 percent of adults say some of their clothes still had tags on them.

So, why not donate the excess items? Well, 20 percent of respondents say they hold on to certain pieces for sentimental reasons, even if they have never worn them. This makes sense when you consider the fact that 39 percent of respondents want to shop and redo their entire wardrobe despite having never worn some of their clothes around the house. If they do revamp their closet, however, nearly half want to invest in clothes that can be worn for a long time in an attempt to lower their spending habits. Additionally, 37 percent say that minimizing their closet would limit the stress they feel when it's time to get dressed every day.

The desire to buy staple pieces that can be reused often reveals a shift away from buying clothes just because they're on trend. In fact, 31 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds report they've impulsively bought clothes because they were part of a fad, only to wind up realizing they didn't like their purchase after all. "These findings highlight a real shift in consumer mindset when it comes to the way we shop," says Ashley Burghardt, styling director at Stitch Fix UK. "It's clear people want a smarter, more considered approach to investing in clothing and style and are seeking ways to make their wardrobes work harder, for longer."