Decluttering - should small clothes stay or go?

[Waytoomanycoasters]

Help me out here Mumsnet, can't tell if this is a hill I should die on or if I'm kidding myself.

We are decluttering our house to move. I have a boxful (this size www.rapidracking.com/en/rra/heavy-duty-trunk-on-wheels-190-l-strata-a572563?srsltid=AfmBOopfzISGxf9rcdHpM486xANqwkqjuSvDBaKR-7a9JZ0n3WOJwrz0Eks) of clothes from pre-children which do not fit me, and also that I wouldn't wear right now anyway as there's business wear and I'm currently a SAHM. Family, friends and OH are all suggesting I get rid of them as they've been up there for 5 years and I should let it go.

But...my body now is a result of 2 pregnancies, a pandemic (oh yes the COVID pounds are still there!), a stint of depression after a bereavement and having next to no energy as our youngest has only started semi-reliably sleeping through the night a few weeks ago. I've been a zombie. Since she's been sleeping better my motivation for exercise and eating healthily is already coming back. I've started doing a little workout in the mornings, I've joined a weekly exercise class, started intermittent fasting. I feel so much better. Also we've said that next year when the little one goes to school that I'll go back to the office, so in my mind I'll be buying a whole new wardrobe next year either way...either because we got rid of it all and now I need new stuff, or because it still doesn't fit and I'll need clothes for work.

I've gone through and culled anything which is just not my style anymore, or anything where I really don't think I'd wear it again or fit into it. The box is what's left. It's all either one or two sizes smaller than I currently am. Which according to my DR is obese.

AIBU to keep the clothes? Also, in case it's helpful...I bloody hate shopping!

YABU - it's unlikely you'll get back to the same size, even if you do your body will have changed shape and fashions will have changed so just let it go

YANBU - keep the faith! 5 years isn't such a long time when you consider all the things that have been packed into it. If you keep at it with the diet and exercise you'll be so proud of yourself when things fit you again!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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!