Everyone has, or at some point in their life had, that piece of clothing. You know – the one hidden in the back of your wardrobe that you can’t fit into anymore, but can’t seem to let go of just the same?

“I’ll keep it. I’ll fit back into it one day”. 

Be honest, you’ve said that to yourself, haven’t you? 

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Nearly everyone has had a piece of clothing hanging around in the back of their wardrobe that they can’t fit into anymore. Sitting there unworn for as long as they can remember, collecting dust as they kid themselves about how one day, they will fit back into it. If I’m being honest, I can think of at least three items sitting in my wardrobe that aren’t my clothing size anymore; they don’t fit me, and never will fit me again, but I’ve kept them.

If you still fit into the clothes you wore as a teenager and that’s your natural body, then of course that’s completely fine; your body changes as it changes. But also ask yourself: are you engaging in unhealthy eating habits to maintain that size/body shape? And answer honestly. 

I know that two of the items of clothing I’ve kept are from when I was a teenager. I last wore them to my best friend’s 16th birthday party; my body was different, and I was a smaller size. I was still in school, so I was doing physical education three times a week, plus netball club both inside and outside of school. My anxiety was bad, and I wasn’t eating properly. It’s now completely unattainable to be doing that level of exercise alongside other commitments such as work and academic studies, and my anxiety and eating habits have drastically improved. 

Realistically, if I were to ever fit back into these clothes, I would have to engage in unhealthy habits such as restriction of food and excessive exercise. This engagement in dangerously unhealthy habits to fit back into clothes that were once worn by a younger or different version of ourselves seems to be the given norm. Out of the 14 people I approached for comment on this piece, nine of them replied with how they had simply forced themselves to lose weight to fit back into clothes that didn’t fit them anymore. 

That’s 64%. 

Why? 

Why, are we putting our bodies through hell and jeopardising our physical and mental health to fit into fabric? 

Personal value. The clothes that I’ve kept hold personal value, memories of laughs and good times or my mates falling over after too much to drink on a night out. Why do we form such a sentimental attachment to these pieces of clothing? An attachment that is so strong that we can’t let go and would be willing to engage in unhealthy habits to fit back into – to tell ourselves we’re that person again, as though the person we’ve grown into isn’t as valuable as the one living there in those memorable moments. 

But there are other ways to hold on to the value and sentiment we assign to these clothes, and so many things about the person we are today – formed from these memories – that’re just as lovable, valuable and worthy as we were back then. 

The harsh reality is that you won’t fit back into those clothes one day, and you know it. 

So, make a change and begin to love and accept your body as it is. It’s time we all started to create a much healthier relationship with our bodies. We need self-love and acceptance. We need to start looking at our bodies through a much healthier lens. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re not the same size as you were before. Our bodies change over time, our weight will fluctuate and that’s okay. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Stop living in the past, in some kind of unattainable dream, and start a fresh page today – one where you can change the narrative that tells you you’re shameful for changing, learning and growing beyond what you used to allow yourself to be. 

Let go of this desire to fit back into old clothes because you think you were prettier or sexier then. The essence of who you are hasn’t changed; you are still the same you that you were before. You’re still sexy, you’re still beautiful, and your body has just evolved. 

Here are three ways you can start to reclaim the narrative around your clothes:

1. Upcycle them: Get creative! Cut up the clothes into something new; you could turn a dress into a skirt or top that actually fits, into a pillow, a blanket or a collage. That way you’re able to hold onto the memories and personal value in a much healthier way.
2. Give them to charity: Give these clothes a new lease of life. Your old favourite clothes could become someone’s new favourite top, and would allow others to make their own memories. It’s good for the environment as it stops unnecessary waste going to landfill, and it’s also great for your moral compass and self-esteem. 
3. Burn it, shred it, rip it up: Don’t let pieces of clothing define you; YOU define yourself, your purpose, and your image. 

Removing the old clothes and unrealistic expectations from your life means you have room for new ones! 

Celebrate getting new values, and new clothes that actually fit you when you can too. There are so many beautiful pieces of clothing that deserve your love and attention. These new clothes create an opportunity and a space for new memories (even if it’s the same friend falling over after too much to drink on a night out)! 

New clothes that fit you properly will make you feel sexy and pretty and all those things you keep telling yourself you never could be. Treat yourself. Buy a new dress, or top that you love and wear it with confidence. 

Because beauty is in confidence, and knowing your worth makes all the difference.