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AIBU?

To get rid of clothes that don't fit me anymore?

20 replies

JustStirItUna · 02/01/2015 19:49

...and by 'get rid' I mean sell or donate to charity, not throw away.

I have a wardrobe full of them. Dresses and jeans and such that haven't fit me for a good few years but that I hang onto, in the vain hope of one day fitting into them (for perspective, they're probably a size 8 and I'm now a size 12)

I haven't worn them in years, and today was clearing out the crap on the top of the wardrobe and thought it might be an idea to spring clean the inside too. I don't want to feel like I've 'given up' on being that size again but at the same time, I'm never going to wear them so better someone else benefit from them!

So, Mumsnet, am I being practical or defeatist?

OP posts:

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/01/2015 19:54

Practical

Everything that you haven't worn for a year, take out of your wardrobe.
Anything you really really love, put in a case or clothes cover for the next 6-12 months (and see if you miss it)

Everything else divide into eBay/ Charity shop.

Stickerrocks · 02/01/2015 19:54

Practical. Speaking from experience, even when you do lose weight, you'll want a new wardrobe, not old stuff.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/01/2015 19:54

TBH I have never given something away and later thought "Oh rats, if only I had that......."

Kantha · 02/01/2015 19:55

Practical.

YANBU

I did this after DS2 was born. Even if you get back to a size 8 you probably won't want to wear stuff that is x years old.

It's much better for the soul not to have to look at heaps of unworn clothes and instead see a wardrobe with clothes that suit you, fit you and make you feel happy.

JustStirItUna · 02/01/2015 19:58

"It's much better for the soul not to have to look at heaps of unworn clothes and instead see a wardrobe with clothes that suit you, fit you and make you feel happy"

Love this. So, so, so true

OP posts:

newyearsresolutionsnotforme · 02/01/2015 20:17

It's practical. I'd only hang on to something too big or too small if I was planning to be that size again.

Discopanda · 02/01/2015 20:33

My weight creeped up whilst I was working in my old office (size 8 to 1 12-14 in about 3 years) and I presumed I'd never fit into my smaller clothes again. After having a baby the weight dropped right off including some pre-baby weight and I found myself with no clothes that fit! Whilst it is cathartic to declutter and let go of stuff you might never wear again, hang on to a pair of jeans or something that you really like just in case!

loudarts · 02/01/2015 20:40

I gave all my small (8-10) clothes away thinking I would never fit into them again, I was a size 18 at the time. I then lost the weight less than a year later and was so annoyed with myself for not keeping them

Littlef00t · 02/01/2015 20:44

I'd be really picky and carefully go through everything and decide if you really would want to wear it again in the future.

Keep a capsule wardrobe in the loft but get rid from wardrobe.

hels71 · 02/01/2015 20:44

I followed the "not worn for a year through it away thing".....and regretted it when i lost weight and went back down to my original size...I had to get all new stuff and could not really afford it.

MrsMook · 02/01/2015 20:44

Practical. I've roughly stayed the same size since I stopped growing, but I've cleared things out gradually over time as it's not the 1990s any more, and my taste has changed.

I did a big cull before and after Ds1 was born when I was switching maternity wardrobe. So many clothes were worn, dated or just surplus to requirements e.g. Going out clothes.

championnibbler · 02/01/2015 20:45

YANBU.
Charities will be delighted to get anything you are not using.
Plus you'll have more space in your wardrobe.
Keep the things you really love.
Anything that you know you can do without can be sold / donated.
What a great start to your new year! :)

HelenaJustina · 02/01/2015 20:50

Practical...

I do a good cull every 9-12 months. Which means if I'm feeling sentimental and hang on to something, it probably goes the next time.

It means I can see where the gaps are and what I need to buy so that I have more clothes that I actually wear.

hiccupgirl · 02/01/2015 21:05

Practical.

I cull my wardrobe quite regularly though am not too ruthless but if something hasn't come out for at least a year then it goes. I do try to only do in season clothes because I have made the mistake before of culling summer clothes in winter and then regretting some things that are long gone.

If you afford to buy new clothes if you do loose weight then I'd get rid of the old clothes and wear the ones that make you feel good.

DramaAlpaca · 02/01/2015 21:09

Practical.

The only thing I've ever regretted getting rid of is a pair of shoes. Once I get rid of clothes for whatever reason I never think about them again.

AwkwardSquad · 02/01/2015 21:11

Practical. I've done this myself. I had some lovely designer clothes - Joseph, Margaret Howell, Dries van Noten and so forth - but I had put on weight and they were a good two sizes too small. They sat in the loft, packed in suitcases wrapped around with regret, shame and guilt. Eventually I thought 'fuck it, I'm happy the size I am, if I ever get to be size (whatever) again, I'll bloody well deserve new clothes. So they ALL went to the chazza and it felt GREAT. No regrets. That silent reproach in the loft - gone. I felt lighter straight away.

Then I went on the 5:2 and to my surprise got back down to that size a few months after I'd ditched all the posh clobber. Regrets? I have a few, but then again... I'm much more adventurous in my style now and I've really enjoyed building up my wardrobe again. It's great fun. So, OP, just go for it. Ditch.

AwkwardSquad · 02/01/2015 21:13

Although I must admit I had fuck all to wear for the first summer... It does take a while to rebuild a wardrobe! Unless you're rich, I suppose.

MaryWestmacott · 02/01/2015 21:16

Take out the stuff you like and are 'classic' enough to still be suitable to wear now, put them in a suitcase and put in your loft.

Are you intending to lose weight or are you happy with how you look now - if you aren't planning on losing hte weight to get back in them, then bin. If you can imagine being back in those clothes by this time next year, then keep.

But do be honest if you will wear them again, if you aren't going to wear them even if you are back in that size, then get rid.

Ragwort · 02/01/2015 21:17

Of course it is practical .............. but I have had a dress in my wardrobe (and three house moves ) for over 20 years because I love it so much and vainly hope that one day I will be slim enough to get into it again - it is a sort of vintage tea dress style so I can kid myself that it will always look nice.

deliciouslymummy · 21/01/2016 14:25

I discovered a great way of making some cash out of the clothes I wasn't using when I was pregnant - renting them out. It's the new thing that's really catching on. I heard about a website called Rentez-Vous from a friend where you can rent out any nice clothes that you haven't used for a while for a period of 3, 6 or 9 months. They'll store it all and list it on their website and when people rent them you get money coming into your account. I've had quite a few of my dresses rented out so I've made a bit of cash from doing absolutely nothing, and also freed up some valuable space in my wardrobe to make room for my maternity clothes!! And when I want them back it seems easy enough to get them. The dry cleaning cost is included in the rental price so I'm hoping my clothes will come back exactly as I left them. But they also have insurance so I figured I had nothing to lose. Maybe worth checking them out as an alternative to parting with your clothes forever? Here's the link: rentez-vous.com/

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