YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon? https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:32:32 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php April on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-673130 Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:59:55 +0000 April 673130@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Mander, when I first joined YLF (3.5 years ago), it took me a ridiculously long time to do what needed to be done with my clothing. I needed to get rid of things that hadn't fit in a long time, establish a foundation of basic pieces, add in some pieces with interest, and develop a collection of accessories. I had a hard time figuring out where to start. It sounds like you have made a good beginning by creating that huge pile. Can you put it in the trunk of your car right now so you're not tempted to put anything back into the closet? And then start on that next pile. Mander on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671984 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:18:55 +0000 Mander 671984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think April's statement describes my current wardrobe situation pretty well: "I had a collection of out-of-date orphans and a few shabby pieces being worn constantly. " I hold on to things for far too long. Part of it is just a deeply ingrained procrastination habit, part of it is some kind of weird psychological hang-up which is complex but related to being unhappy with my weight and appearance, not trusting that I can get what I need when I need it, and guilt over letting go over things that are "still useful". I do have a huge pile of stuff sitting in my hallway to get rid of, but my closet is still bursting and I can't put everything away. Sounds like another closet purge is in my future! Anonymous on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671953 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:39:39 +0000 Anonymous 671953@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Exactly! Donate it or sell it. Just don't let it hang in the closet unused and taking up valuable space. Mo on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671937 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:33:05 +0000 Mo 671937@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The solution for NWT clothing unworn is eBay!!! Anonymous on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671931 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:30:19 +0000 Anonymous 671931@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ How do you justify keeping clothing that still has tags and is hanging in your closet, not being worn? Think about how someone else could wear it and would be overjoyed to get it. I'm not happy when I make shopping mistakes, and I try to keep those mistakes to a bare minimum, but once in a while there's a closet orphan that needs a new owner who will love and use it. Glory on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671922 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:17:43 +0000 Glory 671922@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What a great thread. I really relate to the comment on Trust in Abundance. How do you get past the guilt feeling of donating clothing that still has tags. I struggle with that. April on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671913 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:01:02 +0000 April 671913@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ But Lisa, look at the priceless levels of gratitude you earned when you brought all those purged items to our YLF swap... Lisa on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671850 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:29:55 +0000 Lisa 671850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I purge fairly quickly. I strive to have a smaller, functional wardrobe and I also really like variety. The only way to keep my clothes evolving is the purge them. Fortunately I have a couple friends that are the same size as me and I can swap with them. This helps a lot to keep the closet small in size but feeling fresh and not dated to myself. I've done a couple of really big purges since joining YLF and those took a little longer. When I was getting rid of large volumes of clothes it was tough to let go, too much guilt over all the money I wasted on clothes even though I wasn't wearing them! April on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671807 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 11:07:10 +0000 April 671807@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm really enjoying reading about everyone's tendencies. I think my own proclivity for purging too soon is a reaction to how I used to be: incapable of getting rid of anything that "still had some wear in it" even if it was awful and not my taste and unlikely EVER to be worn enough to get worn out. This gave me the illusion of having a wardrobe, when in fact I had a collection of out-of-date orphans and a few shabby pieces being worn constantly. I now realize that part of this was an attempt, in the unhappy later years of my first marriage, to appear to be incredibly low maintenance. "I don't spend money on myself, I don't take a long time to get ready, I don't take up space with a huge wardrobe -- look what a good wife I am!" Do I need to say that that approach was not particularly healthy? Scarlet on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon/page/2#post-671663 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 04:36:41 +0000 Scarlet 671663@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I hold on way too long because I am always afraid that moment will come when I think, gee X would be perfect just now. I think it comes from a time when I couldn't buy much. I need to realize now that if I really need something I can buy it and don't need to hang onto ten years of stuff just in case it could be useful at some point. Anonymous on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671633 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 04:12:26 +0000 Anonymous 671633@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I do both. I've gotten rid of things that I then regret and hold onto things too long so that no one gets use out of them. In the first case it's usually something from a different season that gets purged only to realize later that it was an important part of a capsule. Losing enough weight to have to get rid of everything because nothing fit was both painful and liberating. Nothing was worth holding on to if it was way too big to wear. Isabel on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671627 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 04:03:18 +0000 Isabel 671627@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I tended to hold on too long..but more so the style, I think. I look back now and realize I was very boring with my clothes. I was VERY conservative and basic. Though I have a lot of accessories, my basics were very basic. I am talking the same long sleeve Gap tshirt in 3 or 4 colors and then multiples of colors. No evolution at all. I have changed in that I will buy cheaper fun things now and have no problem giving them away when I am "done" with them. I also no longer tolerate anything that doesn't fit well or feel good. anne on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671589 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 03:34:34 +0000 anne 671589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Interesting thread. I probably err on the side of keeping things too long, but I do have a pretty well curated current wardrobe. I find the holding zone concept very handy. I am very fussy about what I allow to come in (not buying very much) which I think makes it less likely to need to purge a lot. Aer a big clean out in the summer I really like the way my wardrobe looks, and get a bit nervous if there are many more items in it (so after I had done my winter shopping I got rid of a few more ) But for all that, I have two dresses from the 90's, a couple of boxes of archive clothes, and one skirt that only fits at my very skinniest! velvetychocolate on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671555 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 02:48:43 +0000 velvetychocolate 671555@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you April - I will try that. The clothes in my closet that are too big are actually kind of serving to 'keep me in place' in a weird way. Getting rid of most of them will help me in terms of moving on, and moving forward - getting the last of the job done, so to speak. I'll keep just a few things, as an 'emergency' sort of fund (fund of clothing, so to speak). I am always telling others to buy the nice things that fit them now, but am not always so great at taking my own advice (embarrassing, but true). Speaking from experience, I can say with 100% certainty that keeping 'too big' clothes around helps you stay in place, and just 'chill' for awhile - take a break. It's when you don't have anything left that you have to decide something - decide to keep going or decide that things are just fine the way they are. Not clearing the closet means not having to decide. Being able to coast. I think I've been coasting long enough :) Thanks again - I'll just go on ahead and get rid of most of that stuff. I know that by doing so, it'll force my hand. PS - hope I didn't take this too far off topic. Carry on...moving right along....agggh....don't want to be someone who took the thread too far off topic or caused it to quiet right on down... Kari on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671551 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 02:41:07 +0000 Kari 671551@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I hold on waaaay too long. When I get to be paranoid that I'm heading towards hoarding-territory, I purge. Abie on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671539 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 02:31:30 +0000 Abie 671539@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Both! In the not so distant past I have both kept things around too long that didn't work for me, and gotten rid of things too soon that I didn't at the time even attempt to style with multiple things. I have gotten soooo much better since coming here the past few months and I really feel like I have purged the right amount and am soooo much more picky about what I keep. April on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671535 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 02:25:18 +0000 April 671535@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ VC -- do you think you might be able to compromise by keeping three or four complete larger-sized outfits (to quiet the "just in case" voices) and clearing out the rest? velvetychocolate on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671522 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 02:19:32 +0000 velvetychocolate 671522@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Too long - as in, a bit of an underachiever. I have a good excuse for this though - I literally ran out of clothes, because I lost about a hundred pounds and I couldn't keep up. At some points during my weight loss journey, I literally only had two pairs of pants, three or four tops and that was pretty much it. At one point, I didn't even have a coat that fit me. I had more lipsticks, scarves, earrings and other accessories than I did undies or actual clothes. As a result of letting things get so dire on the clothing front, I have a tendency to hold onto things a bit too long now. I still have quite a few 'too big' clothes hanging around. It's a fear. A fear of having nothing to wear Not that I wear the too big things I still hang onto all that often (well, around the house) ....but until I have replacements, I keep them. The even bigger fear is that I'll gain all the weight back and might need some of those 'too big' clothes. It hasn't happened yet (give or take a few pounds that I'm battling with that are making me very nervous and anxious), but I'm still kind of stressed about it. I would really love to just relax into the situation and get rid of the clothes I don't need any more. I've gotten rid of so many things over the years, but find myself holding onto a few too many items that don't fit me anymore, "just in case." This leaves no room for newer, nicer, better-fitting things. Even worse - having these things hanging around serves to remind me that I can always regain the weight, and they also sort of send a message - a message that things aren't quite right yet. Yep, I have issues around this. Wish I didn't, but there you have it. I think I went too far in getting rid of clothes that didn't fit as I was losing weight, leaving myself in a situation where I almost felt like I was almost impoverished or something. Or maybe it's just that I didn't replace clothes fast enough, so that now - I'm having a hard time getting rid of the last of my 'too big' clothes cluttering up my closets. I think about 50% of my closet doesn't fit. And I'm not finished with my weight loss journey yet either. What a mess! I should get rid of the too big clothes. But then, I don't want to buy too much, because I'm not finished yet. I'd like to just go to some deserted island, get the last of the weight loss job done, and then deal with my closet. Queen Mum on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671496 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 01:45:01 +0000 Queen Mum 671496@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm definitely a premature purger, not only clothes but other household items that I find a use for exactly one week after setting out to pasture. Oh well. I"d rather regret getting rid of something than deal with overstuffed closets and cupboards. Aida on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671399 Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:21:26 +0000 Aida 671399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I would say too long for myself, but mainly because I have been a bit slow at replacing and upgrading the pieces in my closet AND on top of that am going through another style change. I do purge items that look dated in proper time, so I think once I have my closet at a decently "well curated" place, I will be a much better judge of when to hold and when to pass on. JennyAnne on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671187 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:13:35 +0000 JennyAnne 671187@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A little bit of both but more often hold onto things too long. The few things I've gotten rid of and then regretted hold me back from getting rid of more things. I try, though. April on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671185 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 20:08:00 +0000 April 671185@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ RG Laura -- your drawer full of shorts is reminding me of the idea of "trusting in abundance." It means you trust that if you need something in the future (that you don't need at the moment), you would be able to find a way to provide it. If you have a better use for that drawer, maybe you could select three pairs of shorts and donate/swap/consign the others? Anonymous on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671109 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:09:01 +0000 Anonymous 671109@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You're also making room in your closet for clothing that DOES work for you! goldenpig on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671107 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:07:46 +0000 goldenpig 671107@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The recent swap brought home the lesson to me that it's not good to hang onto closet orphans. I even brought recent purchases that I realized just weren't quite right which is why I never wore them. Why were these things just sitting in our closets unused when they look so perfect on someone else? We were all so happy to get our new fabulous goodies! It's the same with donating clothes...think of how it will make someone's day to find it at the thrift store! Anonymous on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671101 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:04:48 +0000 Anonymous 671101@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Here's the way I look at it. Yes, it's good to be thrifty, but if someone else can get a lot of wear out of something that's sitting in your closet unworn, then why not donate to charify? I recently found a great charity that specializes in helping battered women and children. I feel really good knowing that my clothing and the outgrown clothing of my DDs will be used by people in need. We're not giving away stuff that's worn out, either. It's just stuff that we can't or don't wear for whatever reason. Throwing perfectly good clothing away or not wearing it when someone else can, however, is downright wasteful. goldenpig on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671098 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:02:51 +0000 goldenpig 671098@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ WAY too long. You guys have been instrumental in prying my collection of 90's bias cut floral skirts out of my hands (well, almost all of them) and convincing me to not wear maternity clothes when I'm not pregnant! I am doing much better about purging (almost all of my wardrobe is new in the last year), but I'm still a bit of a sentimental fool sometimes... I know I am going to have a much harder time when I have to start purging my post-YLF purchases! Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671096 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:59:27 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 671096@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've been thinking a lot along these lines too. I have a drawer full of shorts, yet I find myself only wearing shorts maybe once a week this summer, and last summer was similar. Should I get rid of most of my shorts even though they're perfectly lovely and fit me well? What if my life changes somehow and I suddenly need to wear shorts a lot? The thriftiness my mom brought me up with shudders at the idea of getting rid of something that I might have to turn around and rebuy in the near future. And that has happened to me in the past with certain items. Regarding the few items that are kept not for sartorial reasons, but for their symbolic and aesthetic value - my wedding dress, a dress that was my mom's when she was young, etc. These get thought of as keepsakes, not as clothing, and are stored in a different area than my clothes. Anonymous on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671043 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:23:13 +0000 Anonymous 671043@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ When my mom passed away, my older sisters acted shocked that I had not saved all the dresses she had made for me. Well heck! First of all, it would take another closet to hold them all. Secondly, they no longer fit me. Thirdly, they're old. My sisters also acted surprised when I told them (at this year's family reunion) that my DH and I seem to be the only people I know who actually park their cars in the garage. We don't have very many boxes in the garage, and the garage is used for what it was built for, lol! I do have the wedding dress my mother made, though. That's a definite keeper no matter what. But other than a wonderful trip down Memory Lane, I see no reason to keep clothing that dates back to the late '70s and early '80s. Diana on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671042 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:22:35 +0000 Diana 671042@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ha, April, I have already made my fiance promise that we will NEVER have a garage that is so full of junk we can't fit our cars in there. =P rachylou on "Do you hold onto clothing too long or get rid of it too soon?" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/do-you-hold-onto-clothing-too-long-or-get-rid-of-it-too-soon#post-671033 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:17:17 +0000 rachylou 671033@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Too long, although my bigger problem is I hold on to too much. As proof of too long, though, there are some flatforms in my give away bag. I held onto them so long, they're back in style...