Decluttering - should small clothes stay or go?

I deeply regret getting rid of a wardrobe full of lovely size 8-10 clothes when I found out I was pregnant thinking I'd never fit into them again, I am the thinnest I've been in a decade and wish I had those clothes now!

put it all on vinted and save the money to buy yourself new clothes when the time comes, thats what I do!
you can possibly find exact replacements in larger sizes on Vinted to (I have also done this!

I had kept some pairs of trousers which were too small. 3 years later I lost a stone and could wear them, they were so old fashioned I got rid of them then.

Maybe try what I did in a merciless cull over the Summer. Anything that was ?? not sure, hmmm. I put in bags.. DP took the bags to the CS as soon as they were full, no second chances, and there were lots of them. I haven't missed one single item and I was bloody ruthless!

Out of fashion, too small, too big, wrong colour and so on. Gone. Same with shoes.

It is just so cleansing for the mind and spirit, I feel so in control of the wardrobes now and can find everything straight away. Never again am I going to build up crap. One in, one out from now on.

Smaller sizing is a definite issue but I’m going back to over 10 years ago (yes, I kept some stuff from that long ago!) Some of the sizes were considerably smaller than today’s equivalent.

Keep the outstanding bits and charity shop the rest. See it as a reward for slimming down to go and get a new wardrobe of clothes.

Tricky. I’ve had stuff in a few bags for YEARS! It’s only because I had weight loss surgery that I fit back into everything, I mean they were items that were size 12 and I was a 26. I kept the faith and everything classic is now hung back up-linen dresses, cords, tailored trousers. If you absolutely love something, keep it, otherwise, charity/Vinted.

As you've been through them, I'd keep the ones left.

I kept clothes to slim back into. Slimmed back into them and don’t wear any of them because they’re just wrong! Trousers too slim, skirts wrong length, dresses wrong cut…I guess I could keep them in case they come back into style but instead I’ve enjoyed buying new clothes that fit and are fashionable.

Anything you bought more than five years ago will be much better quality than things you can buy now. Better fabric, better fibres, better made…

Getting rid of everything is probably better, though I struggle to let go of 'good clothes' that almost-not-quite fit. However, I am surprised that so many people think that clothes from five years ago will be noticeably out of style. If you tend to follow the most extreme fashion fads, maybe you're more likely to have clothes that are visibly off-trend, but I don't think it's usually as bad as that. Of course, I wouldn't be able to say what's 'current' at any given moment, anyway, but I don't think the average item of clothing looks decidedly outdated in a mere five years.

This is good advice.

I'd go through them and say if I magically woke up that size tomorrow, would I be excited to wear them or would I feel I should? Only keep the things you'd be excited about.

I'm the last person to ask about hoarding clothes in a size I no longer am, or for a lifestyle I no longer have (or maybe never had but....). But as you are active decluttering then in your shoes I'd get rid.

About 3 years ago I changed my diet to address high blood pressure. It worked a treat and as a happy consequence I also dropped 3 dress sizes going from a 14/16 to an 8/10.

It was amazing how much my attitude to clothes shopping changed when I could buy clothes that I loved than just buying things because they concealed my fat!

if I were you I'd get rid. Wearing clothes from 6/7 years ago that don't quite fit you will not boost your mood. Sell on Vinted while they are still recent enough to find buyers. Save the money and then when the time comes and your weight has settled book a shop with a John Lewis (or other) personal stylist.

Give them away.

Keeping a rail of clothes that you can’t (and most likely, won’t ever) fit into is like keeping a huge billboard advertising your “failure” to yourself in your home. And I use the word failure ironically, as you are so much more than your body size, as your loved ones clearly recognise.

Let them go to someone who can enjoy them NOW, and buy yourself something that you can enjoy NOW. And then do it; enjoy yourself. Because the you of now if the only real one. Not the past nine stone you, or the imaginary future “thin” you.

Now. That’s all any of us have. So drop those clothes at Oxfam and start living in this moment, fully, and with joy and pride in the life you’ve built.

I have this issue. What I’d do (and will do) is get rid of anything replaceable and only keep what I truly love that can’t be replaced

Do you have a daughter? If so, I'd suggest keeping a few of the more expensive/classic clothes (though probably not the office wear) in the hope that she would wear some of it one day. My 17 year old daughter has worn quite a few items of mine - and it's really nice to see.
If not, I'd take the items to the charity shop.

I keep them. Like you I’m probably half a size or so bigger than I was a decade ago but many is the time that I’ve pulled out something I haven’t worn for five year and worn it with great delight. Sometimes until it then falls apart.

Only keep a garment if it meets ALL these criteria. Consider each item separately.

1. You have space to store that is completely dry, mildew and moth free, and you don't need that space for something more important.
2. The item is something you loved wearing - it suits your style and personality, and is in a colour that suits you.
3. It is in very good condition, almost good-as-new.
4. It is totally classic so won't age. Consider collars, cuffs, shoulders, sleeves, lengths, widths, etc.
5. It would be difficult or expensive to replace. e.g. Don't keep jeans, even 'branded' ones. Don't keep tee-shirts and hoodies. Do keep a classic shirt-blouse in a quality natural material (not like the paper-thin, loose-weave, or synthetic crap that fills the shops now)

It you answered 'no' to any of the above, out it goes.

A have a bin- bag of ‘next size down’ clothes in the loft. It was more, but I culled it to, jeans trousers and some favourite tops. Tatty, old, dated, stuff all got chucked (charity shopped). I see no problem in keeping it.

i have still got clothes that i could wear to a funeral or an interview. Smart classic clothes. I assume they fit me but may look a bit dated.

but plain black trousers say that are a bit too tight - give them away as i could get more of those easily and now prefer looser trousers anyway for work (if i HAD to be smart, i mostly wear jeans for work)

I've got an entire chest of drawers JUST full of jeans that don't fit me.

You've inspired me to get rid, what is the point of 20 pairs of jeans that don't fit me? I can replace a singular pair easily enough, and I think with work wear, unless you wear expensive Hugo Boss suits or something, I'd rather something a bit more au courant than 6 or 7 years out of date!