Help, I need an intervention - YouLookFab Forum

The renovation is moving along -- you could say we are now in our 3rd trimester! Still no kitchen so we're eating at a restaurant for T-day, but the master suite is done -- including gorgeous, fully decked out, walk-in closet for me!!!

I've been unpacking my clothes and I fear I need an intervention...

The closet has plenty of room for the clothes I'm wearing NOW. The problem is, I still have lots of boxes of "skinny clothes." My weight has skyrocketed since we began this reno about 5 months ago. I keep thinking once the reno is over and we can cook at home again, my weight will drop and I'll be wanting these skinny clothes.... yes, I know fashion changes but I'm also thinking about post-reno wallet recovery time....

We do have a guest bedroom closet in which I could stack these boxes for now, and at least wait until life is back in order enough again that I would have the motivation and care to go through the boxes more thoughtfully and keep just the best of the best. But I have a deal with DH we are going to try to keep this closet nearly empty. If I break that deal, he'll have more reason to hold on to his hoards of stuff too...

I know the right answer is to just toss it all now, but I'm having heart palpitations at the thought. Help!

9 years ago

Anonymous

Don't then. You make a convincing argument to keep your skinny clothes. I can re-inforce that argument. I belonged to a dining group (the MOST fun of my life!). But I gained a lot of weight. When my dining group folded, I started cooking and eating at home and suddenly my weight dropped by ... a lot. I have no idea how many calories I was consuming when we were eating out, but it had to be a lot.

El Cee

Veteran

You do not need to make that decision right away. I would be inclined to hold onto these pieces for at least a few months, then revaluate once your life goes back to normal and you have time to carefully sift through each box. Do you have storage space other than the guest room closet? If not, perhaps you can make an agreement with DH to go through the boxes within a certain time period (6 months?) -- letting him know that this solution is merely temporary.

BrieN

I don't think fashion changes that fast! 5 months is such a sort period of time.

I think I'd start the conversation with DH by acknowledging that you understand DH doesn't want clothes "spilling over" into the guest room closet. That purchases need to be contained and that you agree wholeheartedly with that. But then I'd try to explain to DH that all these clothes might fit again in another 5-6 months and it would be financially impractical to have to re-buy everything. I agree with El Cee to set a goal date by which all the boxes would be finished.

cindysmith

I agree that you don't have to make any big decisions right now. If you don't want to store them all, you could look at them from a slightly different perspective: if you could wear them right now, are there any that should go because you're tired of them/don't like them anymore, or they just aren't workhorses, or they're stained, or they really didn't work out from the beginning or whatever other reason? If you could weed any out that way, it's less to store and maybe won't encourage him to hold on to every single thing.

Vix

Hi Shiny --

In general I think one can keep clothes for about a year after a big-life change-related event and see where one ends up. I'd say the same for you.

Normally I'd also say to keep those clothes packed away, but given the household issue re spare closet...what about putting at least some the clothes in your new closet, but in a perforated bag or something so you know they're "not right now" items?

Beth Ann

I'd make sure you're not stockpiling items that are no longer to your liking -- skinny or not! Save only the things that you would love to wear when/if they fit again. Toss the worn and outdated items, and keep just the best!

Your home sounds lovely!

Ledonna N.

I would say keep for 3-6 months after the reno is finished. Your style might change or your body might.

Sisi

I agree with other fabbers, keep only the things that you really like and postpone the decision until when the renovation will be finished and you will get back to your usual weight (maybe it is a matter of stress).

Bijou

Shiny I put on weight and so got rid of many items on the basis that it was too sad to look at them. Well of course now I have lost the weight and miss them (and have a closet full of too big items). My advice is to put it away. The renovations have taken a long time, so it is likely it will take a bit of time to lose the weight. However, you may want to do a closet purge. There were many items that I do not miss, so keep what you love or know will be very useful once the weight comes off and get rid of the others. I must admit, it has been nice to reward myself for losing weight by buying a few new fashion forward pieces.

Style Fan

It sounds like your life is still in transition. Your weight might change when you have a kitchen and then you would want your old clothes. They don't sound that old to me. But I keep my clothes for a long time compared to some fabbers.

Summer

I think I'd wait until the renovations are finished and things have settled down a little.
Resolve to re-assess the skinny clothes at the start of next season, when you would probably do a routine purge anyway.
Good luck, and I hope you get your kitchen back very soon!

Barbara Diane

If you can find the time now, go through the skinny clothes and keep only clothes you will be happy or relieved to find available to wear at a lower weight. Happy because you love, relieved for the basics that make a wardrobe work.
I'd probably give myself double the time the renovation takes, as I can gain weight much faster than I can lose it. I am always glad to have clothes to wear when I drop weight. However, I don't keep my larger clothes when I lose weight.
Congrats on being so far along on the renovation. Enjoy your master suite.

Mirjana

I agree with others keep only the things that you really like to wear, the rest pack and leave for later, you will see what to do then.

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