Wardrobe Clean Out

I cleaned out my wardrobe on Sunday. I really wish I’d taken a “before” photo because the transformation was pretty remarkable!

My wardrobe was over-stuffed! I couldn’t shut drawers properly, I’d run out of hanging space, the shelves were overflowing, I had shoes and bags all over the floor and it had gotten to the point where I was pretty much just shoving stuff in and hoping for the best!

It was driving me crazy!! I also knew there was a lot a potential to create some space because I hadn’t worn quite a lot of it for quite some time – mostly because it a lot of it doesn’t fit. I think a lot of women who have lost and gained weight a number of times can probably relate – I had a full range of sizes from 14 to 22. There was even stuff in there that I’ve never worn! You know those purchases you make for when you loose just 5 more kilo’s – some of it even still had the tags!!

I’ve also increased the amount of clothes that I have recently because I have been making a point of putting together a wardrobe  of clothes that fit me now and reflect my personal style.

So, it was time for a clean out. I decided I was going to be pretty ruthless – anything that didn’t fit, or that I don’t wear was out!! This was pretty symbolic –I’m not actively focused on weight loss and I don’t need my wardrobe to constantly be reminding me that I used to be smaller. I want to walk into my wardrobe and see all the beautiful pretty things that I can wear, not the things I can’t.

It took me a couple of hours and I filled a couple of big boxes! I now have empty drawers! Everything is either hung or neatly folded. I have all my shoes on a shoe rack. It is devine!

Even more devine is the effect this has had on me mentally. Yes, there were some moments of sadness when I came across some of my really nice (and really small!) stuff. But mostly it was a really positive and tangible action that cemented for me the journey of self acceptance that I am on. The biggest action I took was when I decided to get rid of this –

This is a Size 12 string bikini that I brought well over 5 years ago when I had lost a heap of weight but was struggling to loose more – it was supposed to be motivating, instead it has haunted me ever since. I’ve worn it for several “before” photo’s but never any “after’s”, and really why do I want a string bikini anyway – I need a little more support!! So it’s gone, and it feels soooooo good!!

I also found my Year 12 commemorative T-shirt and Jumper and decided to put them on. I was expecting that they wouldn’t fit – but they did, and actually pretty well too, I do remember the jumper being a little looser but not a lot!

You know what this made me realise – For most of my adult life, I have been around the same size. Yes, I’ve managed to diet down to a lower weight a few times, but I always return to being around this size. I feel pretty mixed emotions about that – mostly angry and sad that I’ve wasted so much time and energy on trying to change my body and have developed a really messed up relationship with food because of that., when maybe this is just who I am!

So I have given some of the clothes that don’t fit away to friends who will get some wear out them, and the rest are boxed up in the spare room. The plan is that I will keep them for six months, and see where my body is at that point. Anything that still doesn’t fit then – and that may be all of it or only some of it – will go to the op shop.

Do you have a wardrobe half full of clothes that don’t fit? Have you thought about how much space you could free up both physically and mentally by having a good clean out? I’ve really noticed how much calmer and less obsessed about food I’ve been in the days since. Co-incidence? Maybe, I’m thinking maybe not.