What to do with old clothes that don't fit

[Jen12]

I've gone down somewhere between one and two sizes (depending on design) over the last year or so. I've had to replace the majority of my clothes, and I've given away most of my former "big" clothes and saved my former "skinny" clothes, even though they're too big now.

I'm wondering how far to go. I've been able to sell a lot of my brand name stuff on ebay--not that I had much of that---but the ebay thing gets addictive because I can get money to buy replacement clothes.

The question is how much do you save? Do you leave room to backslide or do you completely get rid of everything that is too big and force yourself to stay in the smaller size?

[Owlie]

Most of my wardrobe consists of t-shirts and jeans so take this with a grain of salt:

I'd keep maybe one or two pairs of pants (that's what fluctuates for me).

[Veronica]

I replaced it all - twice in the last year. I don't keep anything that doesn't fit. I think I'm done losing weight now though.

Veronica

[Crankin]

I lost about 20 lbs when I started cycling. I saved one pair of jeans in one size larger. After about 3 years, I threw them out. I didn't want to assume I'd gain the weight back, and I didn't.
I give all of my clothes to Goodwill, or a charity that provides business type clothes to women getting off of welfare (I used to get much more dressed up for work).
I basically go through my closet at the change of seasons. Anything I haven't worn in a year goes to Goodwill. This stops me from buying "faddish" clothes. I spend a lot more on cycling clothes now, but now I am buying a few more things for work... since my only summer type clothes are not totally appropriate for work, even in a casual environment.

[jlnc]

Congrats, that is very exciting!
I've gone down about 2 sizes over the past 2 years. I gave away my bigger sizes slowly. I had a lot of trouble giving the clothes away at first because I had to work so hard to find some of those clothes (larger sizes aren't always stylish, plus i had to work hard to find taller/plus sizes too). I was so scared that if I gained weight again, I'd have to start all over. I knew that I shouldn't hang on to them as a safety net, but I did. Then I just started pulling a few things out of the closet every few days or weeks, and I would try them on and think, This is ridiculously big on me now! That made it easier to donate them, give to friends, etc. I actually just filled up a bag the other day, and I think that will be the last of it for me. I will no longer have any larger sizes in the closet. If i gain again, well, I will either have to go spend all that money and time buying a size I don't want, or it will give me a kick in the pants to lose a few pounds to be comfortable again. Good luck with your continued success!

[jlnc]

...and like Owlie says, I have maybe one pair of black pants that are a little roomier than others, just in case I'm having a bad day, and one pair of jeans that only fits on a REALLY good day

[Jen12]

I will no longer have any larger sizes in the closet. If i gain again, well, I will either have to go spend all that money and time buying a size I don't want, or it will give me a kick in the pants to lose a few pounds to be comfortable again. Good luck with your continued success!

Congrats to you too!

I kind of have the same philosophy in regards to the money thing, except that I really like some of my older clothes! I'm just not sure some of them are worth the effort and expense to have them tailored.

I've also gone from an office job to a job in a classroom, so I no longer wear things like skirts and heels...purging of the closet is becoming almost like a break with the past for me. It's quite wonderful!

[Crankin]

I wore skirts and heels in the classroom all of the time.
In the 80s I even wore suits!
I taught teenagers, though, so I didn't need to get down and dirty.
I am finding the level of casualness at my new job (psychotherapy with families) is atrocious. I am really old fashioned, I guess, but I don't think it's OK to wear jeans and T shirts even if you are going to client's homes. You can look professional in a nice plain pair of pants and a more tailored shirt.

I know I'm in the minority, though. I love getting dressed up. It's still hard for me not to wear stockings.

[Jen12]

I wore skirts and heels in the classroom all of the time.
In the 80s I even wore suits!
I taught teenagers, though, so I didn't need to get down and dirty.
I am finding the level of casualness at my new job (psychotherapy with families) is atrocious. I am really old fashioned, I guess, but I don't think it's OK to wear jeans and T shirts even if you are going to client's homes. You can look professional in a nice plain pair of pants and a more tailored shirt.

I know I'm in the minority, though. I love getting dressed up. It's still hard for me not to wear stockings.

I have Kindergarten, so I'm on the floor, there's paint around, sticky fingers, etc. It doesn't pay to have anything that needs a lot of effort to take care of. And I'm thrilled to have stepped off of the heels. Yeah, the shoes are great and they make you look better, but it's nice not to be in pain at the end of the day!

Agree with you on the "too casual" look of a lot of places. I rarely do jeans and t-shirts unless it's a spirit day. Some of my coworkers also wear sandals and flip flops. That's not really for me either.

[marni]

there is an organization that collects used sports clothing and equipment for women and girls in South America called (I think) bikeamerica. I kept on pair of my biggest jeans for a couple of years, I threw them out the day I could both my legs side by side into one leg of the old jeans. Had my husband take a picture, vowed in front of him and my daughter that I would never ever be that large again and then cut them up and threw them out.

I did have one dress and one skirt that I really loved, refitted by a professional seamstress but everything else (mostly jeans, t shirts and cotton blouses) went to charity except for the ride t shirts which I may (someday in my bounteous free time HA!) make into a lap quilt.

marni

[shootingstar]

Well, I have gained weight at different times and couldn't fit some clothing. Of course, I gave it away to Salvation Army.

But there were a few pieces I was most unwilling to give away because they were expensive. Wool pants...that I bought but never wore yet... Terrible.

I keep them as incentive to be at cycling weight or at least maintain my weight.

But yes, I spend less money on dressy clothing. I still focus on fewer, but quality pieces because money has shifted abit over to cycling /fitness apparel.

[GLC1968]

I donate, give to friends, sell on ebay, sell at consignment (the really expensive stuff) or throw out everything that doesn't fit. I'm not done losing yet, so I'm not done cleaning out. When I was at my heaviest, I had clothes in my home in everything from a size 2 to a size 14. It's just too much clothing!

I did keep one pair of size 14 khaki shorts as a 'reminder' of how big I got. The rest will be purged in one way or another...

Oh, and I don't keep 'safety' clothing unless its something VERY nice and possibly worth having altered.

[goldfinch]

As soon as it is too big out the door it goes. As I am not at my weight goal yet I currently am buying all my clothes, except underwear, at thrift shops. It is surprising what good quality stuff you can find out there for little money.

[nancielle]

There's a human service agency in my city that runs a free "closet" for low income people. It also partners with another agency to provide clothes for people who are trying to get off welfare to wear to job interviews and have a few outfits to wear on their first few days on the job. I generally drop off clothing there.

[maillotpois]

I just got several nice work pieces taken in. Much cheaper than buying all new!