Monday 10 October 2011

A Wardrobe Hoarder

I'm going to go off topic again today. I spoke last week about my inability to part with items of makeup and I think this probably carries on from there. I spent yesterday decluttering. It's something I try to do quite regularly. I find that cupboards and storage filled with 'stuff' makes me uneasy. However, I've come to the conclusion that, although I want to be tidy and streamlined, a hoarder lurks inside. Inside my wardrobe to be precise.

My wardrobe is home not only my clothes but also to my makeup and shoes. I suppose I put my makeup in there just to ensure I go in there daily. For my wardrobe is home to a large collection of clothes and shoes that I will most probably never wear again. I'm quite good at getting rid of day to day stuff when it's worn out but it's the special items, the treasures that I just can't let go. Even though my sensible side knows I'm being a silly.


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I'll start first with the shoes. I always loved shoes. My entire family has a bit of an Imelda Marcos thing going on. I loved nothing better than shopping for shoes pre-children but pregnancy did something strange to my feet. To start with I assumed it was fluid and hoped my feet would return to normal but I've been waiting for almost six years now so I accept that my feet have changed shape for good. All my precious shoes that I wore to special events sit gathering dust as they just don't fit me any more. Part of me knows that I should just give them up but there's also another part of me that is hoping that by some miracle my feet will shrink when (and if) I eventually lose weight.

Which brings me on to the clothes. About 70% of the clothes hanging on my rail don't fit me anymore. Some of them are just tantilisingly out of reach but a good deal of them are from the fleeting moments of thin in my life. I can't recall whether I've spoken about this on here but I've had a life long battle with my weight. I started my first diet at 12 years old. I have been everything from a size 18 to a size 10 and back again. This was a problem prior to children but my poor relationship with food saw me pile on weight with my first two children. I didn't put too much weight on last time but I'm still not at a happy weight and failing to find the motivation to start a healthy eating plan again.

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Smuggled at the back of my wardrobe I have a selection of my favourite occasion dresses. Including my wedding dress. They range in size from 10 to 14, in fact it's the wedding dress that is a 14 so ironically the one I'd fit into first but I'm not sure I'll ever be attending an event that call for a bridal gown!! These dresses have survived endless culls. I do wonder if it's not healthy to hang on to them. I have happy memories attached to these items but looking at them does make me feel a little sad too. With the exception of the wedding dress of course.

I'm posting this in the hope that outing myself might act as motivation. Whether it's to get rid of these things or kick start a diet I don't know. But I did also wonder if I'm not alone in this strange habit. I know I'm not the only box hoarder so maybe I'm not alone in my wardrobe hoarding either? What do you do? Are you dedicated to streamlining your wardrobe or do hang onto special items 'just in case'?

10 comments:

  1. Wow, lovely shoes! I don't hoard but keep things out of necessity - as a rule I am either fat or fatter, so when just fat I keep the fatter clothes for when I revert back to that state. Tragic really! x

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  2. I'm the same. I keep all the dresses and jeans that I love, and I think it's a good idea! Initially I held on to my things for the memories, but now that my weight has been under control for a while I can actually wear them all again! Even my feet have lost weight, which is weird.

    P.S. I want to raid your wardrobe!!

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  3. I struggle with the same thing. I have my skinny pre-children clothing in my cupboard and refuse to part with it. I am in my fat stage now and harbour the fear that even when I get thin again my body will have changed shape and they will be useless. Also, some of them are clearly the clothes of a late 20's person not a now late 30's mum so I would look ridiculous in then even if they fit! Yet they survive cull after cull. Maybe my girls can wear them when retro is big for them in 20 years??

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  4. I can identify with your struggle- I am coming off of 8 years of either being pregnant or nursing. So many body changes and lifestyle changes as well! I am finally able to admit that my old work wardrobe and high heels should be ditched. Go buy some pretty outfits in your current size so you can feel good about your present self :)

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  5. Gosh your wedding dress is so beautiful! I'm in the process of getting rid big time. I reckon it's best to charity shop or ebay things that I haven't used in the past 1 or 2 years. I've already given 4 binbags of bedding & towels to charity this week and am about to make a start on my clothes. Then I'll move onto the mountain of baby stuff in the attic!

    I feel that all the clutter really weighs on me & reckon that getting rid of it - and where possible, getting some cash for it - will free me up both psychologically and financially to buy things that I want to wear NOW!

    Well done in making a start!

    Nic x

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  6. Great post. I did a very big clear out of clothes that don't fit or I don't wear recently, it did feel good. Also, I am going to have hypnotherapy as I simply cannot lose the stone and half I need to as I have a very sweet tooth, I'll let you know how it goes x

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  7. Are you going to come and kill me if I say I don't like (well apart from the wedding dress obviously) the shoes or dresses and think you are far too fabulous for those dubious outfits? Probably (hides behind sofa).

    Dieting is a nightmare, you really need willpower of iron. You have lots of kids to deal with plus the stress that that involves. Don't be too hard on yourself - I thought you were a size 12 anyway which I am sure I told you!

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  8. @ihavemostlybeen: No, not tragic. At times I have regretted throwing away my fat clothes only to find I need them a couple of years later!

    @dempss01: That's great that you managed to wear items you've held on to. You'd be welcome to raid my wardrobe any time!

    @FragrantWitch: I'm glad you "get" it. I probably would want new things if I should ever regain my shape. I do think it's an emotional reason rather than practical that saves them from the culls.

    @Martha: I think I lost a lot of sense of personal style along with my pregnancies. Did you find that or have you manage to keep that through the body changes etc?

    @Nic: Good on you. I normally work on the principle that if it hasn't been touched in a long while, we can live without it. I absolutely agree with you about freeing you psychologically and financially. There is a sense of guilt for me attached to hanging on to these things.

    @Claire: Thanks Claire. I will be very interested to hear how you get on with the hypnotherapy.

    @Sarah: No, I won't kill you! I'm not in the least bit fashionable but these are things that I have loved and have happy memories attached to them. There are some negatives too though because I can't fit into them anymore!

    I'm between a 16 and 14 at the moment. I've not been a 12 since for years now but ideally that's where I'd like to be. I can have tremendous control when on a diet but you need to be in the right place mentally to start it. I don't really know what is stopping me at the moment. I can be like a woman possessed once I get started!

    Jane x

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  9. Very lovely shoes, Jane.

    I certainly think it's worth keeping the more expensive or well fitting items. My body shape has changed a lot over the past ten years but in my case it was because I was an athlete and put on a lot of muscle (a lot for a woman, needless to say). Now I've retired I can fit into my old clothes again, which is lovely given my limited budget.

    Perhaps, with regard to weight loss, if you're sure you want to do it, it would be best to seek professional advice and receive a programme. xx

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  10. Thanks Simone. I have just started a weightloss programme and I'm feeling very positive this time. I am using the clothes and the size I used to be as focus to keep me going! xx

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