What do you do with your old clothes?

Chili777

Chili777

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Today I picked up a pair of 34" jeans — the first time that's happened since my 20's, which was 40 years back. I still need to drop 12 lbs to hit my original target, and 20 lbs to reach what my doctor wants. I'm over the moon, but it also leaves me with a closet full of stuff — mainly jeans, pants and shorts — in sizes 34", 36", 38", 40", 42" and 44". For those outside the US, that's 86-114cm. 😮

So, how did you handle it, or how do you plan to handle it, when your wardrobe looks like this? Keeping the biggest sizes seems pointless to me, since going back there is the last thing I want. Should I hold onto a few pairs a size or two up and stash them away "just in case"? I've done the yo-yo thing before. Or do I torch everything above my current size and never look back? Goodwill crossed my mind, but the 2 locations near me only accept "lightly used" items, and mine don't qualify — they've been worn hard. I can't decide what to hold onto and what to get rid of. What do you think, or what worked for you?
 
Nice work on your progress!

I'm in the exact same spot! There was a previous time when I dropped a similar amount of weight, and I held onto everything in my closet. Then, as the pounds crept back on bit by bit, I already had things to wear, so I avoided both the discomfort and the cost of shopping for new ones. That turned out to be helpful. Still, I wonder—if those clothes hadn't been there, might I have paid closer attention to my habits?? No idea.

Now I'm leaning toward giving everything to a shelter. People without homes are in need of clothing, and they can't pay for it.

Should you have high-quality pieces that are still in great shape, plenty of sites let you sell them..put that money toward your peps!
 
Most women's shelters or homeless shelters will accept clothing regardless of its condition, so try reaching out to one.

During my own weight loss, as I was shedding pounds and picking up new items, I chose pants with elastic waistbands so they'd stay wearable for a longer stretch. I also leaned on sweaters a lot: initially they fit, later they got a bit baggy, and eventually they turned into oversized sweaters. For months on end, I basically repeated the same outfit every day -- stretch jeans or trousers plus an oversized sweater.

These days I wear clothes that actually fit, though I've held onto a few of the stretch-waisted jeans and oversized sweaters "just in case." I have no intention of putting weight back on, but I'm aware that a broken leg or months of being immobile could lead to gaining a little.
 
desinr-gal said:

Nice work on your progress!

I'm in the exact same spot! There was a previous time when I dropped a similar amount of weight, and I held onto everything in my closet. Then, as the pounds crept back on bit by bit, I already had things to wear, so I avoided both the discomfort and the cost of shopping for new ones. That turned out to be helpful. Still, I wonder—if those clothes hadn't been there, might I have paid closer attention to my habits?? No idea.

Now I'm leaning toward giving everything to a shelter. People without homes are in need of clothing, and they can't pay for it.

Should you have high-quality pieces that are still in great shape, plenty of sites let you sell them..put that money toward your peps!
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That's the question I'm sitting with. Should I hold onto them, or let them go since I have no intention of returning to that place—though this isn't my first time at this point either. I'm looking at a big pile of clothes spanning a lot of different sizes.
 
pavlovs said:

Most women's shelters or homeless shelters will accept clothing regardless of its condition, so try reaching out to one.

During my own weight loss, as I was shedding pounds and picking up new items, I chose pants with elastic waistbands so they'd stay wearable for a longer stretch. I also leaned on sweaters a lot: initially they fit, later they got a bit baggy, and eventually they turned into oversized sweaters. For months on end, I basically repeated the same outfit every day -- stretch jeans or trousers plus an oversized sweater.

These days I wear clothes that actually fit, though I've held onto a few of the stretch-waisted jeans and oversized sweaters "just in case." I have no intention of putting weight back on, but I'm aware that a broken leg or months of being immobile could lead to gaining a little.
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Hmm. I'm a guy, but perhaps men's shelters could use secondhand clothing too. Throughout the year, I notice they ask for socks and underwear most often, and I've given those in the past — just never a mix of the other items I own. There are probably 2-3 big hefty bags' worth.
 
While I was dropping sizes, I packed the undergarments that had become too big — heavily bleached and neatly folded — plus white crew socks into a brown paper bag. On it I wrote "clean" and "free", then left it at the doorway of the local soup kitchen line. People there truly need these things, and for anyone with little or no money they cost a shocking amount.
 
conzopiriani said:

While I was dropping sizes, I packed the undergarments that had become too big — heavily bleached and neatly folded — plus white crew socks into a brown paper bag. On it I wrote "clean" and "free", then left it at the doorway of the local soup kitchen line. People there truly need these things, and for anyone with little or no money they cost a shocking amount.
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That's a fantastic suggestion!
 
A friend of mine who works in the emergency room at the general hospital told me they have a real need for clean underwear and pants. These are for indigent patients whose soiled or bloody clothes have to be cut off. Maybe you could ask?
 
Once I'm home again, my plan is to give the biggest sizes—40, 42, and 44—to a mission nearby. A large and growing number of homeless people rely on the help that mission provides, and they do solid work. Clothes are something they can always use. At the moment I'm at 38, though my goal is to reach 34 as well. It's been ages since I fit into a 34, so once I get there I'll need to buy a fresh wardrobe.
 
First, big congrats on fitting into 34s — that's a huge achievement. Really glad for you.

Giving them away is the way to go, and then move forward. Look into charity shops or shelters in your area. Those metal clothing bank bins in parking lots work too — just toss them in.

You'll feel great about it. It helps others, and I think there's something symbolic in it as well. It marks the end of one phase and strengthens new routines, a different outlook, and progress.

That's my take: if your weight ever changes, you can deal with it at that point — there's no reason to keep a closet full of excuses to slip back.
 
redbullwings said:

First, big congrats on fitting into 34s — that's a huge achievement. Really glad for you.

Giving them away is the way to go, and then move forward. Look into charity shops or shelters in your area. Those metal clothing bank bins in parking lots work too — just toss them in.

You'll feel great about it. It helps others, and I think there's something symbolic in it as well. It marks the end of one phase and strengthens new routines, a different outlook, and progress.

That's my take: if your weight ever changes, you can deal with it at that point — there's no reason to keep a closet full of excuses to slip back.
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Appreciate it. Donating is the direction I'm heading in — my hesitation comes from having already replaced my entire closet twice before, each time convinced it would stick. Back when I began, I figured Reta wouldn't be a lifelong thing for me. These days, though, it might have to be.
 
CMA Pooky said:

Once I'm home again, my plan is to give the biggest sizes—40, 42, and 44—to a mission nearby. A large and growing number of homeless people rely on the help that mission provides, and they do solid work. Clothes are something they can always use. At the moment I'm at 38, though my goal is to reach 34 as well. It's been ages since I fit into a 34, so once I get there I'll need to buy a fresh wardrobe.
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Wishing you the best! If it worked for me, it can work for you!
 
redbullwings said:

First, big congrats on fitting into 34s — that's a huge achievement. Really glad for you.

Giving them away is the way to go, and then move forward. Look into charity shops or shelters in your area. Those metal clothing bank bins in parking lots work too — just toss them in.

You'll feel great about it. It helps others, and I think there's something symbolic in it as well. It marks the end of one phase and strengthens new routines, a different outlook, and progress.

That's my take: if your weight ever changes, you can deal with it at that point — there's no reason to keep a closet full of excuses to slip back.
Click to expand...
Exactly!

I don't need anyone giving me reasons to justify putting weight back on, haha. The oversized stuff should just be gone for good! It might not work for everybody, but I'm aware that I can be my own worst enabler—and I'm a cheapskate too. If putting on pounds means I'd have to shell out for a whole new wardrobe, that'll make me think twice and work harder to stop it once I'm in maintenance.
 
Chili777 said:

CMA Pooky said:

Once I'm home again, my plan is to give the biggest sizes—40, 42, and 44—to a mission nearby. A large and growing number of homeless people rely on the help that mission provides, and they do solid work. Clothes are something they can always use. At the moment I'm at 38, though my goal is to reach 34 as well. It's been ages since I fit into a 34, so once I get there I'll need to buy a fresh wardrobe.
Click to expand...
Wishing you the best! If it worked for me, it can work for you!
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Nice work—I'll make it there too!
 
Nice work fitting into those 34" jeans — that is seriously impressive.

About 2 months back, I gave a big batch of my old stuff to a men's drug rehab program: shirts in 3X–4X, plus pants and shorts in 42, 44, 46, and 48. My first choice was a veterans group, but there wasn't one close enough to me.

Underwear went in the trash — donating that just feels nasty. People dealing with housing insecurity are probably better served by new, unopened packs of underwear and socks anyway. I also checked that everything I gave away had no stains, tears, or heavy wear.

Right now I'm piling up what will be my next donation: 2X shirts and size 40 pants/shorts. It's hit me that when it comes to clothes, I have a hoarding problem.
 
Almost every piece in my closet comes from thredup or Poshmark. Now that I'm in my "skinny bitch era," I hit the mall today to test out a bunch of brands and figure out my current size in each one, plus grab a shirt or two so brick-and-mortar stores stay alive—since I have no clue which brands exist or how they'll sit on this body. I stopped by Aeropostale (pretty much the only current store selling low-rise pants), Dillards, Macy's, and some others. After getting home, I placed an order for two hundred dollars' worth of blouses and pants, and threw in a bag. I'll stuff it with my old clothes and ship it out. That should balance out my re-wardrobing somewhat.
 
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