Purging regrets....do you have any? - YouLookFab Forum

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Purging regrets....do you have any?

nancylee

Veteran

I'm a regular closet purger, and I like a small wardrobe, but once in a while I give something away that I later regret. Right now I'm wishing I still had the denim jacket I donated to goodwill a couple of years ago. It fit me perfectly but it had a light wash, and I'd been brainwashed by various fashion magazines/blogs (this was pre-YLF) that ONLY dark denim was appropriate for the over 40 set.

Sigh. Wish I had it now. Any other purgers have a story of regret?

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from Jjsloane

tarzy

Veteran

I was just thinking this today. I gave away a jacket I thought was "soul sucking beige," but I think now that it was actually fine. It was a fabulous cut for me, and there are so many ways I could style it, now that I know a little bit more what I'm doing. I'm always reaching for a light colored jacket. Sigh. Big regret!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yep, the floor length black silk skirt I mentioned on a previous post today. Perfect fit, never worn, bought brand new in store but just though it was too fancy for my lifestyle. Oh, and only $6 so I thought it was no big deal to pass it on. Sigh.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I have gotten rid of some fab stuff but I have no regrets. I know that no matter how fab it was, or how much I loved it or how much money I spent, I never ever would have worn them again.

I am keeping some serious golden oldies and vintage pieces because even though they might not light my fire at this moment, I know they are coming back into rotation some day.

Kate

Veteran

So far so good! I think I'm more likely to keep something for longer than I should than to go overboard with what I donate.

Anonymous

I purged a beautiful knee-length leather trench coat I inherited from an aunt. I'd gained weight and didn't think I'd wear it again. It was from the early 70's and rather fitted. Now I'm much smaller and would love to have it.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I can't think of anything... so I guess that would be no!

missmillie

Lately I have been regretting several Charles Jourdan heeled pumps and boots that I purged during the mid-90's. My hubby was a college student at the time and our lifestyle was very casual so to the consignment shop they went. I would love to have them now !

Aziraphale

Veteran

I guess I'd have to say no. Most of the stuff I've got rid of has either been worn out and thrown out, or donated because it doesn't fit anymore. However, there have been quite a few skirts and pairs of pants that I've been very sad to have to give away, but they will never fit again so what's the point of keeping them? It only takes one inch difference around the waist to make pants and skirts not fit, and I've lost all the weight I want to lose after having my kids (any more and my face starts to look gaunt), and still have one inch that appears to be permanent.

Still, better to donate it than have it sitting in your closet annoying you by almost-but-not-quite-fitting, right?

rae

(website)

Veteran

I sometimes feel that way, but I know I'm just remembering the item as more fab than it was. If I'd really loved it, I wouldn't have given it up.

MsMaven

Veteran

No regrets. Once I was much better about purging, but now I tend to hold onto things too long. Several times I have put clothes in a bag in the garage, regretted it, found them again, put them on and then stuffed them back into the Goodwill bag.

I do have three designer outfits stored in boxes. I will never fit in them again, and if I did they would be so out of date. Maybe one day I will let them go.

nancylee

Veteran

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I do agree that it's better to purge and perhaps have a little pang of regret later than to have a closet stuffed with unwearable clothes.

Still....I miss that dang denim jacket!

Irene

Veteran

When I was 14 I had a long denim skirt (they were very popular back then). It was a beautiful denim shade, blue yet a bit turquoise, very classy, and it fit my body amazingly well. BUT when I hit 16 I gained 10 pounds. I kept gaining weight for years to the point that I thought I'd never be thin again. I had accepted my new body shape, so I finally gave away the skirt after trying it on every year and seeing I couldn't even button it. Now, at age 23, I'm again that size, or maybe even smaller, but I don't have the skirt anymore. A pity, really, I'd probably have shorten it and it'd have looked great...

rosee

Veteran

I'm on team "no, not really" -- I purge fairly frequently but I don't give away things I really love, I just store them on the top shelf of my closet for use later (though now I have a whole size 4 to 6 wardrobe stored on that top shelf and in my regular closet too). If I later decide to get rid of it, then I've had plenty of time to think about it. I do miss some things, but I never gave them away, I wore them out to the point that I threw them out.

My mom had great clothes in the 60s, that she stored in the basement, and when I was a teenager (in the 80s), I would go through every once in awhile and pull out a piece. She probably didn't know I was doing that and one day gave everything away to charity. Some of the stuff I wasn't gutsy enough to wear as a teenager but I totally would have worn it in my 20s (in the 90s) b/c then I had a more retro-inspired style. That is the only regret either one of us has of giving things away. From that I've learned to hang onto dear pieces for myself or for future generations.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I can't remember any particular items that I miss. Okay, that's not true- I had a collection of vintage cardigans from the 40's and 50's that I would probably fit into and wear again now, but it would not have been worth having to lug the box around for 20 years to have them. So, no.

rosee

Veteran

@chewy: if I would have known, I would have followed your box of vintage cardigans and taken some of them home with me.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Navy blazer.
It had been sitting in my wardrobe for over 10 years when I decided to finally give it away. I used to work for the bank that had very formal dress code even for the IT staff that had never seen a single customer, so I had invested in some nice suits. That one was the last piece standing from the old lot - superb quality.

Guess what, only a week or two later Angie posted her take on Chanel formula with the fab long blazer. Oops.

But, I there isn't that much point in looking back, it's done, so I'm taking the approach that better things are on their way to me

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I was storing all my winter sweaters and getting a box ready for donation. Somehow I got my boxes mixed up and ended up getting rid of it all! Didnt notice it at first, till I went looking for a particular cardigan I knew I had put in storage..or so I thought! Still miss a few really unique items Hope someone is loving them!

April

Veteran

Oh, yes. Many's the time I've kicked myself after I've gotten rid of something and then seen a similar item remixed that very same week by someone more creative than I.

Fortunately, I find that these days I don't usually remember items after I've purged them. Out of sight, out of mind.

MsMary

Veteran

I only have one: An amazing black Jones New York black wool sheath dress with bright purple jacket with black lapels and black braid trim on the cuffs. I wore it a lot in the late 90s, then gained weight and it didn't fit, then when I finally started losing weight I figured it was out of style and gave it away. Like, five minutes before colorblocking became the hottest trend out there! Wah!!

Scarlet

Veteran

I am like a squirrel with so many things packed away here and there I don't even know what I am storing and what I purged!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

There are a few, but I'm like Scarlet in that I don't remember any specific items. I do regret having to get rid of things that don't fit, either when I've lost or gained weight, when they're still in good shape and fashionable. I had a housedress in college I had thrifted that I wish I'd kept - not because it was so awesome but because I loved wearing it around the house and it'd be fun to still have it.

Jonesy

Veteran

Scarlet, you are an adorably stylish squirrel!

I used to wear lots of vintage dresses in my college and post-college years. I mean, all the time (I owned no denim, if that gives you an idea!). A long time ago, I got rid of almost all of them...Now I wish I had kept them, some for sentimental reasons, and some that might actually be workable in my current wardrobe. Sad <sniff>.

nancylee

Veteran

Biscuitsmom, I'm so sorry about your box mixup.

So many sad stories....glad to know I'm not alone in this.

Mitzy

When we moved from Australia to the US there were only so many things we could fit in our suitcases. I left behind a fantastic full length black wool coat that I often miss as well as several jackets.
I have two dresses/outfits that I purged due to a prior "partner" (1st husband) not liking them for some reason. One was a navy blue and white polka dot shirt dress that was fantastic with red heels and jewelry. It fit to a tee and looked great. My father (who has a great eye) loved it, I don't know why the husband didn't, he had an aversion to polka dots, I think. I also had a gorgeous silk blouse and skirt in a pink geometric print by Ann Taylor Loft, I think that he ALSO didn't like, so I got rid of them.
I have wished for both of those back several times.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm a little sorry I got rid of a few things over the last few years that had become too small for me, because now I could probably fit into them again. However, my style has changed in that time, too, so no big regrets. I have no lack of clothing in my closet!

judy

Veteran

Yes, sometimes I have had regrets. Expensive jeans that got tight that would fit again. And a few really gorgeous pairs of boots that I didn't think were in style any more a few years ago but I realize I would wear them again now. One was deep burgundy and had a bright green leather lining. But someone else is probably wearing them and loving them.

Also, I had a huge bag of baby clothes that I saved from when my son's were little. The cutest vintage corduroy overalls, handmade sweaters, even some of my cotton things from when I was a baby that I had put them in. I stored it in my sisters basement for a time and she accidentally threw them away! But I had to let it go.

Jjsloane

Veteran

When I lost weight this year I regretted that a few years ago I purged all my size 8 and 10 clothing thinking I'd never get there again and here I am. Nothing in particular stands out (as someone said, my memories of the items glorify them more than they probably were), but it would have helped me to get by without having to panic purchase. I have been tempted to purge a few items that I've never been able to wear properly but I love them so I can't get rid of them (a super fab leopard print coat, vintage cashmere coat and a vintage party dress I wore once). I'm glad I still have them. I save minimal items from my children because my mom gave me a huge box of my things and I really didn't want more than one or 2 of them.