What do you do with clothes you no longer fit into?

United States
March 22, 2010 2:03pm CST
When you lose a considerable amount of weight, what do you do with the clothes that are too big for you now? Do you give them away? Or hold on to them just in case? I've gotten rid of most of my clothes that I no longer fit into. I got rid of the pants the moment I bought new ones that fit better. Shirts I've held on to just because it's not so bad to have baggy shirts, but I am starting to get rid of some of them. I replaced my winter coat, but did not get rid of the bigger one yet, I'm holding onto that for an emergency situation, such as if I need to wash my smaller coat or whatever. As far as Spring and Summer clothes go, I've not gotten rid of them yet because they've been put away for the winter, and I've yet to buy a new summer wardrobe... that's something I'll need to get working on.
5 people like this
30 responses
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
23 Mar 10
i usually throw them away or give them to charity if they are still in good conditions... i don't feel good giving something that can't be use anymore... anyway, i am very fortunate because my body weight is constant and i try my best to maintain it that way... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
22 Mar 10
If I have good quality, barely worn clothes, that I no longer want or need then I will try to sell them on eBay. If they sell then I have a little bit of money to spend on new clothes. If they don't sell then I normally bag them up and give them to the local charity shop
• United States
22 Mar 10
My clothes are usually purchased 2nd hand, so I wouldn't dream of attempting to sell them. Even if they were purchased new, I do have 5 kids who like to create stains all over me, lol. I give mine to charity. I'll only throw them out if they have holes in places that cannot be fixed.
1 person likes this
22 Mar 10
A mate of mine is in a similar situation hun, she keeps woollen jumpers for polishing cloths though
• United States
22 Mar 10
My mom would keep holey t-shirts for polishing and such. I don't. I have other things I use for cleaning cloths.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
24 Mar 10
Well judging by the 5 black garbage bags of clothing in my closet, that is where they go. Whether they are to big or too small, that is where they go. Because I know myself and I always gain weight back in the winter months. Winter months is very stressful time for me and also a time that I am most inactive. So I keep my clothes. Right now the ones that are to small are in the closet till I lost at least 30 pounds which is what I am trying to do now. Well..lose 50 anyhow. I lost 7 pounds last week..So hoping for more this week..
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
24 Mar 10
Thanks, I am going to need alot of luck..especially since it is harder to lose weight when stressed..seems to have the opposite effect even when dieting. Everything seems to get stored as fat...or so I been told. Probably another reason I gain so much weight in Winter months because I am way more stressed and inactive then in warmer months..especially since hubby gets more work in the warmer months.
• United States
24 Mar 10
Awesome! Good luck.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Mar 10
I just gave some things away that have been too small for years. I'm still holding onto some other things that I really like. I've got nothing that's too large, only too small. :-(
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Mar 10
If nothing else, I have a few dresses that my daughters might end up liking. Either that or it will be, "Oh mom, why would I wear those old things?"
• United States
22 Mar 10
I've always been that way too, but eventually I get to a point where I realize it's pointless to hold onto it because I'll never fit into it. Too bad I did, because now I'd fit into all that stuff I got rid of!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Mar 10
If I absolutely cannot fit into them or alter them to fit me,I sadly throw them away.I hate to throw away clothes unless I no longer have any use for them :/
• United States
22 Mar 10
You should look into donating them to a charity or second hand shop. At least then someone else can get some use out of them.
• United States
22 Mar 10
Oh yea I do that as well but I was talking about clothes that are not suitable to donate,like ones with holes or tears,ect.
• United States
23 Mar 10
I'm in the same situation now. I have gained some weight (about 50 pounds) and now none of my clothes fit anymore. I am just sick over it, but feeling sad for myself is not going to do anything, so I am going to save my clothes I use to fit into and do the whole gym thing, eat right and exercise. I have set a weight loss goal for myself come this summer and hopefully I will be back in my old clothes in no time.
• United States
23 Mar 10
I have lost weight... not gained... lost 65 pounds.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
22 Mar 10
Well, I wish I no longer fit into my clothes! lol. Well, there are some that I've gotten smaller for. I would pass them on to friends and family first if I knew anyone that fit them. I usually don't have anyone that fits my stuff though. So I bagged my stuff up and took it to Salvation army. That way they could go to someone who could use them. I've been sort of stalled with my weight loss. I blame winter. The last few months I've gone back and forth 2 pounds or so. I'm hoping to kick things back into gear now that the weather is warming up.
• United States
22 Mar 10
I've been sort of stalled for about a month, ever since we got our taxes back and were going out to eat too much. That's when some of my bad habits came back, and I started doing less at the gym. I've still been losing though, just not as much. There were a couple weeks where I gained a pound, and then the next week I'd lose 2. I've been stuck in the same bracket for over a month now, and hoping I'll break out of that bracket this week, but with my mother in law's passing and the fact that we indulged in a lot of comfort food last night, I'm not so confident anymore.
• United States
23 Mar 10
I'm the hold onto just in case so long as the items are still in style! I've always teetered between 2-3 sizes (between my winter weight gains & warmer weather losses & how items are made) so it's best to hold on. But if I lost a ton of weight and stayed smaller for a couple years (I think they say 2yrs before you'd do surgery for excess skin) then I would pitch my old stuff for sure.
@techgurl (451)
• Greece
23 Mar 10
I hold on to some clothes that I really like for reference, mostly jeans, so that when I'm shopping its easier to find the same type. From some I even make other clothes or bags. But most of the times I just give them to my younger cousin or to my mum so that she will give them to her work colleagues as they have daughters younger than me.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
23 Mar 10
Hey kats! I am always afraid to get rid of my clothes that are different sizes because I yo-yo! Right now I have gained 10 pounds and am very depressed about it! My Summer clothes are not going to fit me if I don't start to lose some weight! I am not good at dieting so I don't know what to do! I know that I have to do something drastic because for me losing any weight, especially 10 pounds is very difficult! I know that I have to make alot of serious changes in my lifestyle and way of eating and I am going to have to start making a new plan right now! Wish me luck!
• United States
23 Mar 10
Take baby steps.. that's the only way to make major changes to your life and stick with them. You can't change too much at once otherwise you'll burn out and stop and go right back to your usual ways. I'd start by adding exercise... doesn't matter how much and doesn't matter what you do, just get moving everyday, and drink water while you're exercising.
@jesssp (2712)
• Canada
22 Mar 10
Any of my ill fitting clothes go to the Diabetes Society (Association?). It's pretty much the same as donating them to the Salvation Army but somehow there's a profit in it and that goes to diabetes research and stuff. I know it sounds bad but the biggest reason I donate to them is that they have big bins in a grocery store parking lot so all I have to do is pull up and chuck my bag in. I usually hang onto too big and too small stuff for longer than necessary. Sweaters and coats are fine because they're good for camping or yard work but too big pants get tossed pretty quick. I don't really want to 'grow into them'!
• United States
22 Mar 10
Some of our grocery stores have Rescue Mission bins, and I would put our stuff there. We also have some yellow bins all over the place that says "Planet Aid" and I've put some bags of stuff in there before. But I do shop at the Salvation Army from time to time, so if I know I'm going there I'll bring whatever I have to leave there.
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
23 Mar 10
some i give away, other i keep, then when i have time i have them sewn to fit me especially dresses that are favorites. as for pants, some i cut and turn in loose shorts, there are a few that i just keep there in my drawer... lol shirts i use them as night shirt... some i use as rags, if its still good i give them away.
@vandana7 (98786)
• India
23 Mar 10
Hi katsmeow, I never had such good fortune to lose that much of weight. :( Hopefully, I will be slimmer and ravishing by the end of this year. Coming to clothes that dont fit, yes, I give them to my servants. They have children, so they can use them. :)
• United States
23 Mar 10
I'm dealing with this a lot lately, not because I've gained weight, but actually because I gained weight and then LOST a bunch of weight. So now, either my clothes don't fit because I bought them when I was fatter or I stretched them out so much that they look really lame. If they are still in good condition, my wife and I try to donate them, usually to our church's homeless ministry. If they're junk, well, you know what to do with junk, trash them! The only thing I wouldnt do that with are socks and underwear...I think that the poor should get better than gross used undies and socks.
@dropofrain (1167)
• India
23 Mar 10
In case when the clothes of are of good quality then I like to give it to my cousins or younger sister. In case of proper worn and torn of the clothes I try to give it to poor people.
• Philippines
23 Mar 10
I never had clothes that's too big, though I have a lot of clothes that doesn't fit me cause I'm now too big. LOL.. Anyway, my Mom loves giving clothes away, she would ask us to clean our closet and give her the clothes that we don't wear anymore so she can give it away to our less unfortunate neighbors and relatives.
• India
23 Mar 10
hmmm... i dont get rid of all of them. I give away the ones someone loved and wanted if they fit them. Give away some to poor people. If possible i get the others fitted. Some i just put away and use when i need to wear something that i dont mind getting stained or when i want to wear lose clothes. A few times they have even served me when i gained weight again. :P
• Philippines
23 Mar 10
Oh they're such a waste. Why won't you sell them if they can still be used. At least you can earn some money from there. Anyway, since I became larger and larger evryday,most of my blouses and pants no longer fit me. Last Monday, my married elder sister paid us a visit at home. She then started to ask if we have blouses to give away. Oh, then I got a bright idea of selling mine to her. Although it was not that big amount but it really helped me that day since I have a party/get-together to attend to. whew.
• China
23 Mar 10
I have just throw out lots of my clothes tomorrow. Maybe it is a kind of waste, but I usually wear my clothes for a long time. Haha
@nubchai (11)
• United States
23 Mar 10
For things like coats and sweatshirts I donate them to my church which turns around and gives them to a local homeless shelter. I've given other clothes away though an organization called Freecycle. If I know I'm never going to fit into the clothes again, it's nice to know that someone else is using them.