British women hoard clothes and shoes 'too good' to use

British women have over £22bn worth of clothes, shoes and household goods tucked away only to be used for 'best', research from Direct Line Home Insurance has revealed.

The research shows that more than eight in ten women (82 per cent) have a collection of goods that they only bring out on special occasions, totalling an average £1,093 per person.

Well over half of women admit to having clothes and shoes that stay in the wardrobe to be used only for 'best' (58 per cent). Over half (52 per cent) have a selection of gems for special occasions and nearly a fifth (17 per cent) have a selection of make-up and beauty creams that only see the light of day when they need to impress.

Keeping precious items for best does not stop with personal belongings, with many women admitting to storing a selection of household goods for special occasions too. Household goods that top the 'best only' list are glasses / glassware (43 per cent), dinner services (33 per cent) and silverware (15 per cent).

Rarely used

Direct Line's research shows that over a third of women (35 per cent) will use the items they keep for best only once or twice a year. Two per cent of women said they were still to christen their best items, meaning that many goods are literally left on the hanger or packed into cupboards.

To fear or too dear?

Women cite fear of damage (65 per cent) as the most common reason they keep special items stored away for best. A third (33 per cent) do not like to use their favourite items as they are expensive and others (32 per cent) because they have great sentimental value. At the other end of the scale, many women keep their favourite items solely to impress their friends (12 per cent).

Frances Browning, spokesperson for Direct Line Home Insurance, says: "Many of us have treasured items we keep for best; whether for family tradition, special events or to impress our friends. Our research shows that the value of these possessions is substantial, and with over a third of women admitting their 'for best' items are potentially uninsured, it is worrying that things that mean so much to people may not be covered for damage or theft.

"Many of these items do not just have an intrinsic value but a high emotional tie as they have been bequeathed, gifted or bought to remember a particular event. So, whilst replacing them would be difficult, ensuring you have sufficient insurance cover may reduce the distress and heartbreak that such a loss would cause."

Women are most likely to store the items they keep 'for best' in wardrobes or cupboards (72 per cent), in storage boxes in the house (25 per cent) and on display (24 per cent)

A fifth of women (20 per cent) do not like to use their items because they were given as a gift

A quarter of women (25 per cent) keep family heirlooms for special occasions

Nearly a quarter of women (24 per cent) admit to stashing away their wedding gifts