When should you let go of clothes?

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Are you holding onto clothes that no longer fit your body, style, or life goals? If so, it’s time to let them go. You’re not alone; many people have a hard time letting go of the past. But if you hold onto items that no longer fit your current lifestyle and body shape, they will be weighing down your closet and taking up space in your mind.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying we should all stop buying new clothes! However, there are certain items that never really had a place in our lives. Perhaps it was an impulse buy that we regretted as soon as we got home from the store—or maybe we bought something without thinking about how much wear it would actually get in our closets before eventually being tossed into the donation bin by mistake. Whatever the case may be (and trust me), you don’t want to do this again! So today, I’m going to share my top tips for letting go of clothing items properly so both your purse strings and closet remain happy forevermore.”

They don’t fit.

You know when you buy something and it doesn’t fit quite right? Or maybe you get the wrong size, or color. Sometimes we think, “I’ll wear this once in a while.” But then that never happens and the clothes just sit there taking up space in your closet or dresser drawers.

If it doesn’t fit, it’s time to let go of that item once and for all—if you can’t wear it, then you can’t sell it or donate it either! And if none of those options are available to you (or would be a hassle), then recycling is probably out too. No matter how much money they’re worth on eBay, having excess inventory laying around won’t help anyone get ahead financially or physically—and neither will wasting valuable resources like water used to wash those items over time!

It has a stain.

If you have a stained shirt or pair of jeans that’s still in good condition otherwise, there are several options for removing the stain. You can try spot-washing with an appropriate detergent or other stain remover, using the enzyme action of some laundry products to lift out the stain. If that doesn’t work, you can try soaking in a warm solution of water and dish soap before washing normally.

If none of these methods succeed at removing your stains, it might be time to part with those pieces anyway. If your clothing has been stained beyond repair and reeked enough to make people uncomfortable around you, consider getting rid of it altogether so they don’t have to deal with its odor anymore (or so they think).

The fabric is pilling or damaged.

There’s no way to know exactly how long your item will last, but once the fabric starts to pill or show signs of wear and tear, it’s time to let go. Pilling is a sign that the fabric has been worn down by friction, heat or simply wear. Pilling can be removed with a lint roller or fabric shaver; if you can’t remove the pilling on your garment (and it looks like fuzz), then it’s time to let go.

The color or pattern looks faded.

• If you can’t see the pattern or color, it’s time to let go.
• If the color has faded, it’s time to let go.
• If the color is patchy, it’s time to let go.
• If the color is dull and washed out, it’s time to let go!

By letting go of the clothes that no longer serve you, you’ll feel lighter and more confident. This will help you focus on building a wardrobe filled with items that fit your lifestyle and body shape—and give you a clear sense of direction in your wardrobe.

You’ve outgrown it.

• If you’ve gained weight and the clothes no longer fit, they’re time to go.
• If you’ve lost weight and can’t get into your old clothes, throw them out.
• If your body type has changed (for example, from pear-shaped to apple-shaped), it’s time to get rid of clothes that no longer fit.
• If one of your shoulders is higher than the other or one arm is longer than the other, keep an eye out for this when shopping for new pieces—you don’t want shirts that look like they were made for a cartoon character!

You have too many of the same thing.

You have too many of the same thing.

If you don’t have enough variety, it becomes hard to see your wardrobe in its entirety and all of its potential. If you have a lot of shirts that look similar, for example, your options for wearing them are limited: You can wear them all together or wear none at all (or maybe one as an undershirt). Having a closet full of identical items is also boring; wearing the same thing every day makes it feel like more work than fun—and that’s not how clothes should feel!

It’s uncomfortable.

If a piece of clothing is uncomfortable, then it’s time for you to let go.

If the item is too short or too long, this can cause irritation. If it’s too tight or loose, this can also cause problems. Tight clothes can create painful chafing spots from the friction with your skin. Loose clothes may slide around when you move and rub against other parts of your body that are sensitive like underarms or your inner thighs (for example). Not only does this irritate your skin but also it’s distracting to keep adjusting yourself throughout the day because of how awkward the fit is making you feel!

It wasn’t expensive, but you’re hanging onto it as a guilty pleasure.

If you’ve bought something that you don’t like, or if it’s not really your style, get rid of it. Don’t feel guilty about spending money on something that wasn’t right for you. It’s better to have a closet full of things that make you happy than one full of things that don’t.

If you do like the item and think it will come in handy someday (for example, if it’s a pair of shoes), keep it! But remember: just because something is useful doesn’t mean it needs to stay in your closet forever. If another season rolls around and the item isn’t going to get much use anymore—or if its usefulness has expired altogether—then consider letting go again.

It no longer fits your new lifestyle.

If your life has changed recently, it may be time to let go of the clothes that no longer fit your new lifestyle.

If you’ve lost weight or gained weight, if you have a new job or hobby, if you’re just not feeling it anymore—whatever the reason is, sometimes it’s best to let go of clothes that no longer fit into your life.

It doesn’t make you feel like yourself.

If clothes don’t make you feel like the best version of yourself, it’s time to let them go.

“I want to wear what makes me feel great, confident and good,” “I don’t want to wear something that makes me feel bad about myself.”

Your clothes should reflect the person you are and how you want others to perceive you: not just as a nice person who has their life together but also someone who has their own unique style. If your wardrobe doesn’t reflect this, there’s no point in keeping these items hanging around in your closet or drawer space when they could instead be on another woman who feels fabulous wearing them!

Don’t hold onto clothes that no longer fit your body, style, or life goals!

Don’t hold onto clothes that no longer fit your body, style, or life goals. We understand that it can be hard to let go of a garment that you’ve invested money in. But if it makes you feel bad when you wear it—or worse, if it doesn’t fit correctly—then there’s no point in keeping it around any longer.

If the item is high quality and in good condition but just doesn’t fit anymore because of weight gain/loss or pregnancy (the latter being the most common reason), consider selling them on eBay or another resale site. You’ll get some cash back while helping someone else find their next favorite piece of clothing!

Conclusion

If any of this resonated with you, then I urge you to set aside your guilt and start paring down your closet. You’ll be surprised at how much better it feels to have fewer clothes in general, but especially if you cut out the ones that don’t fit or make you feel good about yourself. Even if your wardrobe has gotten a little bigger over time (and let’s face it — most people’s have), there are still ways to streamline things without sacrificing style. Instead of buying new items every few years when they wear out, replace them with more versatile pieces that can work with what’s already hanging in there!