I have the tiniest closet you could possibly imagine, but I have a wardrobe that runneth over. So, it’s time to thin the beast out.
And as simple as that sounds, it’s a huge struggle for me because I’m sentimental about my clothing. Actually, I’m sentimental about everything which is why I’m a pack rat. I have a hard time saying goodbye.
Even more so when it comes to clothing. Admitting that I will never be a size 8 again is a painful thought. My body is a size 10. And no matter how much I try to convince it otherwise, that’s the reality.
The “it will fit someday” section of my closet has to go. Not just because I’ve resigned myself to being a size 10, but because so much of the clothing represents a part of me that no longer exists.
Take the skirt up above. I couldn’t find the matching whip, but I’m sure it’s somewhere. Probably right next to my black leather thigh high boots that lace up the back.
What the hell was I thinking? It barely covers my lady parts. And for the life of me, I can’t imagine where I would’ve worn it.
Being a dominatrix wasn’t my only aspiration, apparently. Clearly I wanted to be in a lounge act in Vegas.
Looking at the neckline of these dresses, my breasts must have been much more cooperative in those days. I wish I had taken some pictures so I could remember.
And the atrocities go on and on. As I fill up my Goodwill bags, I’m learning so much about myself. Clothing speaks volumes to who we are, who we were and who we are becoming.
Each article of clothing I pull out elicits a different response. Some things make me laugh, while others make me roll my eyes and say good grief what was I thinking?
Other pieces make me wistful for days gone by. If nothing else, nostalgia for tiny waistlines and perky boobs.
Boy do I miss those.
I did find one piece in the back of my closet that’s a gem. The suede duster you see above is 12 years old. A timeless piece that never goes out of fashion.
And even though I’m getting rid of everything that’s in the “it will fit again someday” section of my closet, I’m keeping this one piece.
Because every closet should have one piece of weight loss inspiration, and this one is mine.
How about you? Do you hold onto clothing for sentimental reasons? Do you have a section of “it will fit again someday” in your closet? Are you ready to chuck it yet?
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great post! i have problems letting go too, but i have gotten much better at it over the last couple of years. i actually just sent all of my size 6 jeans to the consignment shop. i have been holding on to them for a few years now and i just don’t have the space anymore. also, i don’t know what the heck i was thinking buying size 6 pants in the first place i don’t think i was every truely a size 6 EVER. i am still holding on to some 8′s though. my baby is almost 2 and it has taken me this long to finally get myself together again!!! i am now working out with a trainer and have lost both inches and pounds over the past 2-3 months so hopefully i will be a size 8 again by the fall!!!
Stephanie- That is awesome! I’m so excited for you to meet your goal. And I’m with you on the “truly” thing. I’ve always been within a tight 10 or loose 10, but I don’t think I ever was a comfortable 8. I had aspirations to be though.
Yup, I’ve done this about 3 times in the last 3 years and each time I get a little more realistic about what’s really going to fit.
I was once (shockingly) a size 2 for a brief, shining moment. And during that time I bought myself a buttload of clothes. And, shockingly, in my post-baby size 12 world I have virtually nothing to work with because I don’t like buying things because it means I’m accepting it as truth. Or something.
So yeah, I did another cleanse recently and it felt good. Though I still have 2 pairs of Size 6 Lucky Jeans. And a really cute hot pink Size 4P Ann Taylor dress that I need to find a good home for. But everything else is off to goodwill.
Jessica- A bittersweet goodbye. I hope you took lots of pics when you were a size 2, lol. I wish I had taken more photos of my fleeting shining moment as well. And I like your cleanse analogy. Instead of colon cleanse, closet cleanse. Love it!!
Great post Melanie! I think we have all gone through this in our lives, maybe more than once! I have just recently got back into my skinny jeans and feel pretty damn good about it, so don’t give up hope on that suede duster just yet!
I’m with you. I had a similar suede jacket with wonderful details. I have given it to my 15 year old daughters. It looks wonderful on them. While, I will never again be that size, I am determined to get into better shape just for my own health and piece of mind. I will have to do a closet overhaul again soon, but for now my home office overhaul is exhausting.
Those are my GI Jane pants! I had a pair just like that, but I had to let them go because I was no longer that size! I have many items in my closet that I will never wear again, but it looks good hanging in my closet!
Anonymous- That is awesome that you got back into your skinny jeans. And I bet you look pretty damn good in them too!
Pam- I’m with you completely. I may not be a pencil ever again, but I want to be healthy and confident that I look my best. It does wonders for the self esteem. And don’t even get me started on the office overhaul. I’m looong overdue.
Kellee- They sure do look nice hanging in the closet. Giggle.
I currently have two sections of “hope it fits” oneday. My mom passed away in february and was teeniny. Being the only daughter, i inherited her very expensive wardrobe. I let go of the fours and sixes but kept the eight and tens hoping to be able to fit into them one day. The reality that it probably wont happen is slowly sinking in but i have a huge emotional attachment to her things. Sigh… what’s a girl to do?
The Bloggess has something called “The Traveling Red Dress” (http://thebloggess.com/2010/05/the-traveling-red-dress/) where dresses are sent around the states to women that need that shining moment. Those sequin dresses you are getting rid of may be GREAT additions to the project since they are really gorgeous.
i had those exact same camo pants!! got rid of them about 2 or so years ago though. great minds think alike huh lol
i have jeans that are too big and some that are too small. its i guess my in case clothes. i need to accept i’m an 8/10 too. its just hard to get to that point
Thanks for making me laugh today! I can totally relate to this! It’s amazing how not only do our bodies change over time but so do our tastes in clothes!
I gave up trying to be an eight last fall and gave al my 8′s to Goodwill and a few of my smaller 10′s as well. I was in 12′s at the time. This spring I finally lost the weight and I am now an 8 again! I had no problem shopping for new 8′s!
How funny…I was just thinking today that I need to get into my clothes and just get rid of the stuff that doesn’t fit anymore. Or stuff that doesn’t fit quite right so I never wear them. Why I’m holding on to things that I never wear is beyond me.
-Kris
Amanda- Oh, that is so very, very hard. I’m so sorry. I can only imagine the added pressure that puts on you. I’m really not sure what I’d do in your situation. But good for you for being able to let go of some of it. You are so strong. xoxo
Cassandra- Actually I’m very aware of that project. More on that down the road. I never thought of donating that red dress, but I think I will now. Thank you for reminding me.
Missy- It’s very hard to get to that point. Part of me doesn’t want to give up fighting because that could be a slippery slope, but the other part of me is a realist. I just need to strike a balance. We all need to do that. But hooray for you that you have a too big section. That’s great!
Lana- Yup, yup and yup. I’m curious to see how I’ll feel in ten years. Hopefully I’m still somewhat hip, lol.
Sue- Congrats! That’s awesome! I would have no problem buying new clothes too if that was me.
Kris- I think it’s because us frugal types cringe at waste. We pay money for the clothes and it’s hard for us to get rid of them. At least that’s part of my problem. But I’ve got lots of problems. Lol.
Closets and what we keep is so filled with emotions! Here’s a confession– I have a sweater that your dad gave me early on in our dating years, some 20+ years ago. It makes me smile every time I see it hanging in my closet.
You are too funny! That skirt really is something though.
Yes I have. It’s important for us to accept our bodies. Plus over time even if you are a size 8 again, you may not be shaped exactly the same. This has happened to me – I am a little smaller in some places, a little larger other, just different… things don’t fit the same. So I have to go buy new things
Books I recommend: Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Breaking Free from Emotional Eating by Geneen Ross <-anyone who has struggled with weight/body image would benefit from this wonderful book!
What does my closet say about me? It says that I’m OCD because my closets are not only organized by season, but also by color! I have blue shirts with blue shirts, but we *must* separate the short sleeved from the long sleeved. Yeah, my closet probably says I’m nuts. LOL
I keep a couple of those Rubbermaid boxes that slide under the bed with clothes that will never fit again. I have some cute things from the 80s (yes, it IS possible! LOL) that no one would appreciate now, but I keep them even though I have no hope of fitting even a leg in them now. I did move recently and gave some things away to a friend who does fabric art. I gave her things that had interesting fabrics and buttons that she is excited to use in future projects. I *hated* getting rid of those items, but all they did was sit in those boxes. But I’ll keep the rest and the pieces of my mothers from the 60s. Otherwise I do try to get rid of things that do not fit. I have a goal coming up that if I cannot work to lose the weight to fit into a few pairs of pants I have, then they have to go. It’ll be 2 years of holding on to them and this year will be time to get rid of them if I can’t fit into them by 2013.
I’ve been cleaning out closets as well over the last couple of weeks. I have size 8 stuff in there from at least 2-3 years ago. I guess I thought just having it hanging in my closet would eventually whittle my waistline :/ I’ve been changing my eating habits and exercising more since sneaking up to a size 12 (and they were tight
I shall not stay a size 12…I shall not!!
I suspect my body is a size 10 as well but I have to be comfortable in my 10s…I’ll get there! Cleaning out the closet is almost a psychologically cleansing experience, isn’t it
I think that’s it. I feel wasteful getting rid of things I paid good money for (no matter how much or little I paid). But, I now had a bag full of clothes for goodwill. Your post prompted me to get to it. Thanks!!
-Kris
Well… at least these are clothes that fit you once. I find myself with an area of my closet with the “This almost fits and I plan on losing some weight anyway” clothing purchases.
Somehow that never works out for me….Good for you letting go of some things! I tend to hold on to items as well due to their sentimental value… every now and then though I get in the mood to just get rid of things. I haven’t yet run into a situation where I really regretted getting rid of something!