Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

Should I throw away clothes that don't fit???

29 replies

Movingforward123 · 01/07/2013 17:19

I have been holding onto clothes for ages that are too small or they fit bit don't look good or are not flattering.

I've kept them as I'm always planning on loosing weight and think oh that will look lovely when I've lost the weight. I always
Try different things to loose
Weight with no luck. I guess I feel like if I chuck them out that's like saying I'm giving up on loosing weight.

Anyway, Should I keep them and let them steal valuable space in my tiny house? Or get rid of them?

But if I do ever loose this weight I will be gutted about all my lovely clothes that would now look lovely ConfusedConfusedConfused

How much clothes do others have??

OP posts:
hellocatty · 01/07/2013 17:21

throw them

Iwantmybed · 01/07/2013 17:23

Get rid of the guilt clothes.

Original poster
Movingforward123 · 01/07/2013 17:24

But does that mean I will be giving up on loosing weight??

OP posts:
AngryFeet · 01/07/2013 17:29

I ended up giving away loads of stuff that I wanted to slim back into. I kept really nice important or expensive stuff but everything else went to charity. To be honest most of it looks a bit dated now even though it is 4 years old.

If you want to lose weight then you will but the clothes are just making you feel bad about yourself.

If you really can't get rid of them box them up and put them in the loft.

Original poster
Movingforward123 · 01/07/2013 17:38

I agree they are making me feel bad an taking up lots of space!

OP posts:
TallulahBetty · 01/07/2013 17:45

If you're serious about losing weight and going to take steps to do it, keel hold of the clothes. I've recently lost 3 stone on slimming world and honestly, fitting into old clothes I've not worn in years is a million times more satisfying than buying new stuff in smaller sizes.

If not, don't bin - what a waste. Charity shop? Smile

TallulahBetty · 01/07/2013 17:46

Keep not keel. Obvs Blush

mrspaddy · 01/07/2013 17:46

Having the same dilemma... keeping a few expensive dresses and one pair of jeans when I was a size ten for one day only in my life and everything else is going. If you lose the weight you will want to spend and treat yourself. Tiny house here too.

MadBusLady · 01/07/2013 18:22

How about a ruthless edit - keep only things that are either:

  1. truly beautiful
  2. classic timeless styles that you currently wear bigger versions of or 3) full of memories

I have kept a Karen Millen sequin skirt from about 1998 when they were ripping off Prada to perfection. I still don't fit into it (10! in Karen Millen!) and never will, but I don't care it's utterly beautiful. I've also kept satin pencil skirts from 2004/5 that I DO fit into again after losing weight, and that's great because I wear exactly the same kind of thing now.

I've made mistakes though. As a PP said, some styles date. I've kept a purple velvet top with a sequiny/lacy neckline that's very pretty but also very 2003. I nearly fit it again, but I just don't wear sparkly tops and jeans and heels any more. So it may get made into a cushion Grin

LadyintheRadiator · 01/07/2013 18:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rockybalboa · 01/07/2013 18:38

I agree with MadBusLady. Might be worth getting someone else to help you with the process. I got my sis to help in the same situation years back and she was able to be much more ruthless useful.

TravelinColour · 01/07/2013 19:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrgarybarlow · 01/07/2013 19:35

I've just lost 2st and have gone from a 16 to a 12. I am back in all my old stuff from pre kids which is 5 years ago. Like someone up thread said, getting into old clothes is so satisfying. You don't know properly how much you have list till old stuff fits or is too big.

I think someone said only save stuff that's really beautiful/ special or items similar to what you wear now. Some stuff I fit in but it looks really dated. Some stuff is fine but I feel I wanted some new stuff as things felt old.

I think sometimes you can feel slim and happy with yourself but at the same weight at a different time in your like you feel heavy at that size and weight. I've put on clothes that used to fit but still felt heavy. I've then found photos if myself in same outfits and think I look really slim and well.

Save special beautiful or expensive things, charity shop or car boot everything else. Save your car boot money and if you do lose weight treat yourself. That's my plan anyway .

kaumana · 01/07/2013 19:40

I say keep the the good classic stuff but put it away in a suitcase under the bed etc

Saved me a few £ when I shifted a few stones, a few years later. Grin

Corygal · 01/07/2013 20:16

Charity shop - will cheer you up, whereas keeping them - gloom-inducing.

shopafrolic · 01/07/2013 20:26

Getting into old stuff again is only satisfying if it doesn't then look dated. Get rid of anything that will date, I kept one pair of jeans and sent the rest to charity. Best, mind clearing, happiness inducing thing I ever did.

MrsCampbellBlack · 01/07/2013 20:29

How old are they?

I am a ruthless wardrobe de-clutterer. But I'm a little above my fighting weight at the moment [ahem] but hopefully will be back in my normal clothes within a month or so.

But I agree with Travelin - if they're a few years old, well even when you fit back in them (which you will) - they'll look dated and you'll want new stuff.

hugoagogo · 01/07/2013 21:01

3 months ago I bought a new wardrobe (an actual wardrobe from ikea, not a whole load of clothes) I got rid of all my clothes from when I was not so fat, except for one work shirt and one pair of really thin trousers for some reason.

Now I am having to go on ebay to buy cheap stuff as I have lost 2 stone!

The moral? i don't know; get rid of it and you may lose weight, or keep it in case you lose weight? Confused

Beamur · 01/07/2013 21:06

I kept my clothes, convinced I would lose weight.
I'm now wearing them again and have junked my fat clothes.
I'd say if you bin your thin clothes you are accepting yourself as you are (I'm offering no judgement on that - it's personal, so could be a good or a bad thing)
If keeping them makes you feel bad about yourself, either do something about that or get rid. They're only clothes.

SacreBlue · 01/07/2013 21:13

I'm with mad & kau keep a few pieces you love :) and donate the rest. I had a few friends over a couple of summers ago, threw down a couple of sheets in the garden, spread out a load of clothes and let them pick what they wanted. The rest went to charity.

I do miss two items now I could fit in them again but they weren't madly expensive and it left room for new colours and styles.

FWIW anyone coming to Belfast meet up - I have about 20 dresses that are straight of the hanger and never will fit so, you know, if the free tray bakes at next meet don't tempt you, free dresses might Wink

Mbear · 01/07/2013 21:14

God no, don't keep them, def chuck them! Although something very special is worth wardrobe space, but the rest isn't. Also even if you do get down in size, there is no guarantee you'll be the same shape as before anyway.

These are my three stages to successful clear outs..!

Round one) get rid of anything that is broken, holey, ripped etc
Round two) get rid of anything that doesn't fit, or you don't wear because of how it fits
Round three) get rid of anything that does fit but you havent worn in over 12 months (or even less than that if you are feeling really ruthless!) with the very small exception of occasionwear, you wont wear it again - although some people might argue about summer clothes this year!

Purging is cleansing, I promise!

MsWinnieBaygo · 01/07/2013 21:16

eBay them & use the money made to buy clothes that fit or pay for membership of a slimming club (sorry if that sounds rude - it's not meant to! Blush )

Original poster
Movingforward123 · 01/07/2013 23:27

M bear - I'm just wondering, as your so runless, howard items of clothes have you got roughly? As in do you do more or less then 20 tops! And more or less then 10pairs
Of jeans?

OP posts:
Original poster
Movingforward123 · 01/07/2013 23:33

Thank you all for the replies! Well the good news is, I threw a lot out! I kept a Few dresses and jeans that are
Too tight, but removed them from my wardrobe! I have also removed all of my winter jumpers and pjs and put them in a suitcase!

So now I believe all of my clothes in the wardrobe fit Wink also I even have some space on the shelving part which is wry unusual but nice.

I really think that there is no need to have 20+ vest tops which I never wear! I have tried to narrow them down abit!

Also when clearing it all out, I realise some of the tops I have been keeping are cheap and rubbish and I wouldn't even wear them now!

I think the main thing is being in the right frame of mind to get rid, as usually I try but it never works.

Next stop is vacuum bags under the bed Confused help

OP posts:
AuntySib · 01/07/2013 23:43

I've come to this thread late, but would advise chucking out, on the basis that if you do lose lots of weight, you'll want to celebrate with new clothes anyway! Well done for the steps you've taken already!¬