Sorry, to hear that you're having a lousy stressed time lately Anna. I think I would definitely hang on to the most precious of your items. Don't be too hasty to let go of them just yet. Try to concentrate on reducing stress levels first and then decide maybe.

Oh Anna - I am sending you one GIGANTIC hug I know only too well what stress can do to your health - both emotionally and physically. The first thing you need to do is love yourself. Seriously. You are a beautiful person inside and out and don't let a few pounds get in the way of remembering that.

As for your designer duds, I'm kind of in the same camp as Denise. Keep the truly special things that still make your heart sing and get rid of the rest. If there's one thing I've learned, even when I do manage to take off a few pounds (which gets harder as I get older), it's not necessarily equating to inches in the areas I thought it would and so the clothes I wanted to get back into still don't fit right.

I've gotten rid of pretty much everything that doesn't fit right now - granted, none of these items are beautiful designer pieces such as yours. But I don't regret it. Those too tight clothes would stare at me from the closet just making me feel bad about myself. Now I'm the BOSS of my closet and it feels pretty darned good

Never surrender! - that's my personal moto!! Don't put living your life to the fullest on hold until 'everything is perfect' because it rarely will be and perfection is hard to sustain! Find moments of goodness, beauty, happiness in every day. And remember...it's really about the shoes!

A lot of fashion advice already, buT I just want to add to never give up! Your life may or may not settle down, but in my experience controlling my diet and exercise (if possible, i.e., if we're not talking about illness/meds/injury causing the weight issues) is one small area where I feel I can manage my life. I am not always successful but I sure can try.

And of course you know this, but when your personal health is good you can manage life's stressors so much better.

Just want to add a high five to Aquamarine's post...Having my diet and exercise working enables me to handle whatever comes along...I am not just talking weight control as it relates to fashion but good healthy eating and moving as it relates to health...
No matter what is out there, my healthy eating and moving is first and when I don't put myself at the front of the line of demands...then I am stressed...
Best to you..

Let true love guide you. If it's not that, send it onward. And if the true love pieces can't work for you now, put them out of site so they don't bring you farther down. You can deal with the ultimate "keep" question later.

Dress the body you have now, and dress it beautifully, because you deserve to.

And try to get outside. Sorry to preach, but nature is such a salve for me -- and I know from your many photo posts that it helps you too. Sending positive thoughts your way.

Maybe during this stressful time you're not sure of your own judgement? If so, you could put the decision to rest for now by packing the clothes up and storing them.
But maybe you're nagged by the clothes because you're feeling reminded or even reproached by components of a lifestyle you're not living right now and you want to just shake it off and move forward.
I would do whatever would be most likely to help me adjust to things the way they are now because how I feel is a big factor in how well I manage (navigate?) my life.

Sympathy/empathy for sure.
I found myself not fitting into some skirts and pants and while I'm supposed to be "working on it" I know I don't want them in the closet now. Off to holding zone.
Since I don't really consign anything, and my meager-but-something Twice company has closed down, it does give me pause because it's Goodwill, baby--so, what to save for "maybe"? Right now saving very classic and versatile, good fabric-still-useful pants and skirts that almost fit but moving on anything that was the least bit meh to begin with, sometimes the length is off so I know that won't improve, maybe it was a place-holder to begin with, since I can tell I will want to keep trying new things.

Probably that doesn't correspond to the types of wardrobe items you're dealing with, but I just echo, a simple approach is to put them all aside for now, another is to weed out some things you kinda know you're done with regardless of sizing.

I'm really sorry for all of the stress that you've been enduring.

Everyone has already imparted much wisdom. All I can chime in on is getting outside - but you already know that and are an amazing avid hiker. You have a strong body and you are beautiful. I hope that things become less stressful for you - starting from the inside.

Anna, I'm so sorry to hear it's rough. Sounds to me like wardrobe dilemma is just a symptom (on that note, do not make hasty decisions but hold on to the clothes until better days). How long can you go on like that, aren't you scared you will burn out? Go deep, deep inside and ask yourself what you really need. Then do everything to take care of those needs in the capacity that is under your control. Which is a lot more, btw, that it may seem right now. Small steps. Sleep enough. Take holiday, switch off and just let go. Just eating healthy and choosing your food consciously is a huge step compared to random choices on the go. Find the form of movement that suits you and your lifestyle, something that will not be a chore, otherwise you'll naturally resist any 'programme' or 'schedule' and will hate not achieving some new goal. Cut out all the crap that you know is there but shouldn't be: all the clutter, schedules, to-dos and people who drain your will to live. You know what you love doing. Do more of that. And then even more! Be kind to yourself, the way you would be to a friend in need.
From my own experience, the more you feel things are overwhelming and out of your control, the more you need to find that initial spark inside you that will push you upwards.
I'll be thinking of you.

Oh Anna! I'm sorry things are so rough
And reading this, I too like Ornella was thinking that it is not really about the wardrobe, or even weight gain. What else can you do to simplify? I know sometimes it is completely impossible to change anything - sometimes it really is beyond your control. But sometimes you might be able to realign things a little better. If it is the latter, go for it. And if it is the former, then just accepting it can help. And maybe even just a weekend away, if you can't get a full holiday, might put a spring back in your step?
I also echo Angie's thoughts about a meal service. I have done it a couple of times in my life - once after my hysterectomy, when I was juggling that, the idea of returning to work and also a small child. So I was grateful to have that option, not even so much for weight loss, but more to take something off my plate. I didn't have to prepare meals, and I didn't have to shop other than some fresh fruit and veg. Two big timesavers in the week. It's not necessarily something you want to do or eat forever, but it is good in a tough patch.
Sending hugs and best wishes - let us know how you are getting on.

Oh, Anna, I'm sorry to hear this; I'm sending a virtual hug. I've read through all of the wise advice here and I can't add to except to say hang in there, xoxo.

Anna - just sending hugs, prayers and good karma your way. So much wisdom and you don't need a repeat. Especially loved ornella's eloquence and thoughts. Just remember. Take it one day at a time. You just need to survive today. Make the best choices you can. Forgive yourself - we are not perfect creatures, we are just doing the best we can. Take one minute each day to remember a good thing that happened - a friend, email, something funny, a compliment - try and reframe situations in the best light. Focus on meeting your needs - sleep, healthy diet, exercise, friendship, whatever supports and renews you. This patch will end and each day brings you closer to better things. That doesn't mean it doesn't suck, just that it can't last forever. Hugs and wishing you calm, happiness and peace!! Hang in their!!

When do you accept reality? When ignoring the truth causes more pain.

Is your wardrobe causing another layer of stress? If so then perhaps you should act now.

Anna, get one of those large 4ft sterility boxes and chuck everything in with a few cedar blocks. Revisit in 6 months time. Decluttering against your will is very stressful.

I feel you, Anna. I have recently gone up to an all-time high weight. For me, it was the perfect storm of being less active than usual, DH finding a new hobby--cooking (!), and the big menopause (which I always thought was an excuse but now know different!). Then couple what with my style direction moving to more fluid fit items and -- wham -- perfect recipe for just about nothing fitting! So frustrating. And expensive!!! Geez.

Anyway, I keep trying to make positive changes in diet and exercise/activity. I've actually been on a good roll here lately and a few pounds have come off (amazing how that happens!). I agree with what was said earlier about weight being slower to come off that it takes to put it on.

As for the clothes, I've mostly moved them along (consignment or goodwill). And, I'm trying to be really smart about what I buy and also trying to be more comfortable repeating what I wear (since I have less).

Hang in there -- you'll figure out what is best for you.

I think you should pack things up carefully and store them, because I do think you will go down in size. Just keep the things that you like enough to want in a year or two. Big hugs, I know it can seem like things will never change. I've been there, and am somewhat there again, although under very different circumstances, as you know.

Hi Anna --

Without discounting anything others have said, and wishing you well with wellness, I would advise highly realistic culling.

This comes from the perspective of having health issues that nixed a lot of my favorites last fall-winter, then surgery and recovery which nixed a lot of spring/summer favorites.

Despite being a much more classic dresser than you, I've decided that if F/W stuff doesn't fit me in late August when consignment shops buy, it's going. I just don't want to go through another year with it sitting packed away -- too depressing.

Whatever they don't take will get a few more months, then be donated in season. [Ditto for spring.]

As CocoLion mentions, the deal with being a trend-focused shopper is that there's a shorter shelf life for designer resale unless a piece is kind of beyond trend or cult. So you could hold onto those pieces longer in hopes they'll stay with you or still sell well down the road.

When it comes to wellness and stress reduction I really prefer (and generally advise) adding healthier vs subtracting less healthy behaviors, but if you have anything to ditch, sometimes the latter gets us results faster.

[Or so I hope, since my rationalization skills met their match last month and I had to make some emotionally difficult cuts!]

I find it helpful not to make any big decisions when under stress, unless it's about what is causing the most stress. I would box up the clothes and revist when life is a little calmer x

It took me a while to get back to this thread.
Thanks for all your input. See off-topic for my non-fashion field trip, though I did wear a sweatshirt I bought at Barneys and my Celine taupe sneakers, HA.
I really don't want to get into specifics about my stress, but basically it's coming in at all angles of my life. About the only thing I could control was my weight through healthy diet and exercise...yeah well, that's gone out the window.
But it someways the more I think about it, it's probably just as well. I don't have the social life currently to even live up to lighter weight wardrobe.
When I have time, I'll probably go through and purge a good chunk of the mid-market stuff and just dump it at a resale shop.

I read this thread last night...so sorry to hear your life is in that stress zone at the moment. I realize sometimes I'm holding my breath at times like that...and taking a few moments to close my eyes and breathe can help.

Also just wanted to add, for whatever it's worth, that I've regretted having given some cherished (not necessarily expensive, but sometimes...more well chosen) items away because I thought I would never be that size again, both bigger and smaller. There were other reasons that those items would have fit me again...sickness for one, or tragedies...not to mention just hormonal fluctuations! And I did not foresee those circumstances. I'm for moving them out of your space, but not necessarily your life.

Also, since having been ill and feeling like I was wasting away for a few months last year, I feel differently now about my new found flesh :)...it means we are alive! I see the tyranny of thin all around me in the culture. Many women look too thin to my eye now and skeletal ! But that's another thread, probably. I just wanted to encourage you to embrace your beautiful self and beautiful body whatever size and dress it gladly with the style I've come to see you exhibit.

(Bah. I totally didn't do the closet edit I said I would this past weekend. I was a bum and just watched baseball, did laundry. I blame it on being too lazy to run out for Sangria ingredients )

http://www.amazon.com/The-Upsi.....uckgo-d-20

Sorry to hear you are feeling stressed, I found the above book really interesting Anna.

Thanks for the really interesting link, Caro in Oz..."The Upside of Stress".