Keeping clothes that no longer fit

[500BusStops]

Morning all!

I have been hanging on to some clothes that no longer fit me. It's mainly around the waistband. My weight does fluctuate a little and in the past I've slimmed back into them. I also take ADs which I think have caused some weight gain.

However... I'm now 41 and wonder if I'm realistically going to get back into them. These are clothes I've had since my early 30s when I was a size 8, I'm more of a 12 on the bottom now with a thicker waist.

I don't want to get trapped into continually buying bigger and bigger clothes. But equally wondering should I just accept that I'm now in my 40s and no longer the same size? Has anyone been in this situation and got back into their smaller clothes?

[500BusStops]

@lou967 it ranges, some things from my early 30s and others from only 3-4 years ago. Nothing that wouldn't look out of place now (I hope!). Inc a couple of pairs of slim leg Levi's (I've abandoned the skinnies as I think they look dated now) that I really want to get into

[lou967]

@500BusStops you'll do it. I want to fit into my Levi's haha. One day!

[Lucked]

Unless you felt or looked unhealthy at that weight there is no reason to not aspire to it. Maybe your waist will forever be a bit thickset but it hard to judge when you are still a couple of dress sizes away. If you are thinking of losing weight I would keep them.

[PersonaNonGarter]

How old are the clothes? I think this is a style thing as much as anything.

Most clothes date. Maybe the odd T-shirt or jumper can carry through. You don’t want to lose weight only to look dated.

[lou967]

Check out my threads

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3908546-To-keep-my-thin-clothes-or-accept-that-Ill-never-wear-my-Levis-again

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/calorie_counting/3909663-1200-calories-a-day-28-waist-Levis-501

[Gwenhwyfar]

I agree that they may be out of fashion by the time you fit into them again BUT I would keep them because the joy of being able to fit into them, even just trying them on at home, is worth it.

If you're still before menopause I don't see any reason why you can't be a size 8 again.

[lou967]

@Gwenhwyfar It depends on the clothes. Some items date, some don't. But I agree that even if they are dated, its probably good for personal achievement to keep them and just try them on in the house.

[Gwenhwyfar]

I think there are very few items of clothing that don't date at all.
I've got a pair of trousers that looks quite odd now and has a hole in it, but I just like putting it on every now and then to prove I can get into something I had almost 20 years ago. I also have a pencil skirt I would never wear out, but I was happy to try it on the other day. It sort of goes in and then out and isn't in fashion now at all.

[lou967]

Are these worth keeping?

I lost 6st, 2 years ago, now 18months later I've put 3st back on. I bought them and when they arrived they fit perfect. A few months later I couldn't get them on. I recently discovered them in my wardrobe.

[DisgruntledGuineaPig]

Some fashions do come round again though, and some things are classics. For example, I was looking at a terribly young instagrammer over the winter and thought the leather jacket they were wearing was rather like one I had in my early 20s, then remembered I'd put away a big bag of clothes in a high cuboard I can only reach with a chair to stand on, and found it in there. Still fits although now I can't wear it with a jumper underneath so wore it loads again, just styled differently to then. It only was saved from the charity shop bag in the past as I struggle to reach that row of cupboards so tend to ignore anything that goes in there when doing a spring clear out! Many times over the last 20 years I might have thrown it as dated.

Similarly, last year there was a thread on here about strippy breaton tops looking dated, and I must say I've not worn mine for ages, they didn't look right when we were all wearing animal prints and flowery tops. But the last couple of weeks a couple of style bloggers have talked about strippy tops.

On the other hand, in the same bag that had the leather jacket of youth, there was a couple of suit dresses. The job I have now, they wouldn't be right - too formal, so I didn't even bother to try them on, they've been sent to a charity shop, but plain shift dresses are classics that you can buy now, and have been available for the last 20 + years constantly.

So basically OP - stick to the viewpoint if you would buy them now or wear them now if they were in your bigger size, then keep. If they are plain classics, keep. If they are for a lifestyle you don't lead and won't realistically lead in the next couple of years anyway (like formal suits when you now have a job in a preschool), get rid.