https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 03 May 2026 08:47:18 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1014610 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 12:32:21 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1014610@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If it's a little too large, but I love it, I keep it and wear it anyway.&nbsp; &nbsp; If I pull something out and find I am swimming in it, out the door it goes! </p> <p>If something is a little too small, I attach an index card to the hanger, with a 'try-on' date for the next month, and put it in my clothing storage closet with off-season, costumes, and ebay stuff to sell.&nbsp; &nbsp; If it's way too small (shrunk, bought untried from ebay, etc.) I resell or donate it or give it to my niece. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1014530 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 08:58:37 +0000 T 1014530@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Over the last one year I have lost close to 40 kgs and gone through quite a few size changes.&nbsp;</p> <p>During the year I kept purging those clothes that became unwearable - jeans that were too loose to stay up or looked very unflattering, tops that had too big neck lines &amp; arm holes to stay up. I gave most of these away to people who I knew would be able to wear them. However if something is wearable, despite being loose - like a tunic or a cardigan&nbsp;- I have kept those to wear in rotation.</p> <p>However I have also kept a few of those "unwearable"&nbsp;clothes that I particularly liked with me. Not because I'm afraid of putting it back on, but to wear during pregnancies, planned for the future. Most of my big clothes were cotton, flowy &amp; comfortable. In case you do not anticipate any such need you could purge the whole lot of such "unwearable" clothes. However I do always purge after I have a replacement. Purging before replacing a pair of jeans for example, will cause me to settle when out shopping as my motive becomes to plug the gap asap rather than buy the best fit.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1013067 Sat, 24 Aug 2013 19:29:11 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1013067@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dizzys, sounds like your moving might be a good opportunity to purge the things you aren't wearing. I would only keep what you truly love and/or couldn't find quickly again for a special need. </p> <p>I have a friend with health problems that mean she frequently gains and loses a fair bit of weight. She's a slim person already so she can go from a size 2 to a size 6 and back again in a month or two. She's fortunate enough to live where she can keep clothes in all those sizes and have the room for them, but she's still in a capsule wardrobe most of the time because only a few things fit at a time! I think anyone who's in a similar situation (I had an ex-coworker with Crohn's disease who had similar issues with clothes) or if you are pregnant or recently had a baby, your strategies have to be different than the rest of us who are generally a fairly stable size unless we are trying to lose weight. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1012660 Sat, 24 Aug 2013 00:34:57 +0000 Gaylene 1012660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd purge anything a couple of sizes too big, but maybe hold on to a couple of items that I loved which were just a bit larger until my weight had stabilized for a year or so. Losing weight is easier than maintaining a new weight; most of us who have lost weight don't want to regain it, but life can always throw a couple of curve balls into the best laid plans. Gaining back 5 or 6 pounds can happen and it's nicer to have a couple of things that you can fit into comfortably until you get back to your desired weight. If you haven't worn something after a couple of years, though, I'd consider purging it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1012612 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 23:12:10 +0000 Caro in Oz 1012612@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If clothes don't fit me properly&nbsp;I don't want to wear&nbsp;them; so for me it's easy. If they can't be tailored (or aren't worth the cost) then out they go.</p> <p>Too small is another matter - I would only keep extra special things that couldn't be bought again. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1012602 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 22:57:15 +0000 Vildy 1012602@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My weight fluctuates some. At one point I had a favorite snappy little skirt suit and thought of keeping it and altering it down. Taking preliminary steps, I could see that some items just look better (to me) at certain dimensions and I wasn't going to like it so much a few sizes down.&nbsp; So right now I don't have anything too big unless it's by accident. I recently tried on all my coats and jackets and found a chocolate brown wool coat with black velvet collar that was a size or so too large for my current taste. I purged it. </p> <p>Too small is another story. I like my clothes a lot and I'm happy aesthetically with whatever I weigh but I have more energy and quickness at a lower weight and I enjoy that. I don't want a psychological barrier to losing weight because I will have to get rid of so many clothes I enjoy. So I usually keep a couple of TooSmalls in a tiny second closet so that I have something special to greet me. I don't use them to motivate losing weight, just to take the brunt off of losing weight and losing my wardrobe at the same time. Although currently I have nothing in this category. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1012597 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 22:49:07 +0000 dizzys 1012597@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For now they are not taking up too much space. A blazer, a dress, couple of pants, a few blouses. Dressier things that are not daily casual wear for me. I like them, but am finding that tayloring never seems to work out exactly right. I am annoyed because I did not get a chance to wear often. I need to learn to buy for my every day casual life more than my once a week date night and church life. Then they would get used right away.</p> <p>But I may be moving soon and am thinking of the hassle in storing and packing things. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1012583 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 22:01:27 +0000 Suz 1012583@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I purged it quickly when I lost weight. Most of it was out of style anyway and I didn't really want it around any more. I think different strategies work for different people. As Laura says, it might be good to have a backup funeral outfit. I wouldn't use a too small interview outfit, though. You want to seem very professional for that.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1012578 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 21:50:33 +0000 suzyq 1012578@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I usually purge pretty quickly. &nbsp;I now&nbsp;realize my weight fluctuates between seasons/vacations. &nbsp;I now keep a few toppers and bottoms but&nbsp;just my favorites. &nbsp;I then I&nbsp;try and figure out why I like them. &nbsp; Since you still like them are any of them worth modifying? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1012575 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 21:48:44 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1012575@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been mulling this question myself recently, after my weight loss. So far I've gotten rid of everything that is 2 sizes up, and most of what's a full size up, and am only keeping a small pile of things that are a half size up - as you say, TOM/bloated sizing. Exceptions so far are two pairs of Jackson trousers from BR in a size up that are not made anymore, and are just perfectly my shape.</p> <p>Some people say that keeping larger clothes around makes it easier for them to gain the weight back, so they don't. I personally don't subscribe to that philosophy and think that having a few 'in case' outfits makes me less stressed. Especially with dressier stuff which I don't wear that often - what if I suddenly need to go for a job interview or to a funeral and I don't have time to go shopping for appropriate clothes? The more casual stuff I will either wear or cull more often, because it's my daily wear. </p> <p>I think it's also a-ok if you want to get rid of everything, or keep it all, if you like it and you have the space to store it without it stressing you out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-do-you-purge-sized-out-clothing#post-1012542 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 21:03:04 +0000 dizzys 1012542@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have some clothing that I shrunk out of that I still like a lot. The items are a bit beyond TOM/ bloated big. Probably about 10 pounds beyond or 1- 1.5 full size up from my current sizing. When is the best time to purge? Or do you keep? " just in case" </p>