There is definitely an upside to saving clothes that are too small. I gained weight about 15 years ago and stored my quality classic pieces. Now, I've lost the weight and these classic pieces still work. Really glad I saved them. Also, it is amazing how much the quality of mid-range clothing has declined in the last 15 years. I suspect it is due to these mid-range brands having to compete with fast fashion. Glad I kept these more quality pieces.
I'm on a weight loss journey, and this has been so hard to figure out. I'm so excited to try out new clothes while figuring out what I need as my weight loss journey continues while trying to be as sustainable as possible.
Hanna Louise Poston is currently pregnant and she’s been buying maternity clothes that aren’t *actually* for maternity, meaning she’ll still be able to wear those dresses and shirts when the baby is born. I think that would go a long way for building a wardrobe for a long time instead of just a short time
Honestly - perhaps it is easier if you are "really pregnant " - I mean have a really big belly you need to accommodate- anytime but wintertime... I did try to get things I could use later, but found it quite challenging. I still have like 3 of the jumper dresses I used - but generally, all the tops I used are just too big now, and look it, or if actually designed for pregnancy were really unflattering on the belly afterwards. And pants you just can't use ;) So, what I am saying - it's great if that works, but if not, it is also ok to let go of things and get new clothes that make you feel awesome in your new body and lifestyle 🙂
@@lithopheliax61x5 At 4'11'' tall, by the time I was six months pregnant, I was basically wearing circus tents. I guess I could have re-purposed them into drapes like a reverse Scarlet O'Hara.
Unfortunately, this isn't the case for a lot of people. I am postpartum and the larger sized clothes only fit for a few weeks and then your body shape changes, and the clothes that you just purchased no longer fit the way they did. It's good in theory but hardly works in practise.
Both leena norms and hannah louise poston made really lovely videos recently on what to look for when buying clothes that will work with body fluctuations,definitely recommend! This topic is so important,and it’s something that I definitely struggle with because with my body type and personal taste, I find that I like having things fitting closer to the body,but now I at least know how to look for things that will still work when i fluctuate.
I've been going through a slow weight loss journey. This year I've given away and donated a large portion of my wardrobe. I currently have half a dozen staple pieces ready to be taken to my local tailor. It's my intention to tweak pieces and own clothes that fit my body. As I continue to improve my health and fitness, I plan to also shop more intentionally. Thank you for discussing styling the ever changing body!
Regarding storing things - so often we are pushed to let go too quickly - things go out of style, so we don't like them anymore, but the older you get the more you realize that things come back in fashion... i once got this advise to keep everything you loved and still is good quality - from someone who is super minimalist, so it surprised me. But I am in my 40s now and man - had I kept some of my y2k stuff - i at least could have sold it today or people would have loved to have that. (I would not have fit anymore...😅) And keep bags and shoes. They are not depending on your changing body and go in and out of style frequently
I saw a question online that asked how many jeans do you own. My answer: I don't wear pants, but I do own one pair of good-quality jeans, two sizes too small, that I'd been holding onto since 2008. That echoed in my mind. I was holding onto these jeans against the day I could fit in them again and maybe go hiking (my fantasy self hikes; I am actually an urban walker.) This random question led me to a declutter of clothes, shoes, and eventually a purge and reorganization of my entire house. It was an eye-opening experience🙂
This was excellent! Such great advice. I've had 3 pregnancies and postpartum, a severe ankle injury and 8 months of rehab, and a car accident which have had my weight fluctuating through many sizes unfortunately. I've also had a style Journey through mommy years to teen years. In my own experience what I've learned is to hang onto my favorite timeless, classic and non trendy pieces for as long as possible and label them in storage. It's such a relief when the body changes to have some go to pieces that are like old friends. Many times when I've opened the bin I realized immediately what was a fad at that time and no longer appropriate to wear such as cold shoulder tops for example. My teen son worked at a thrift shop, and I would donate things there. So many clothes went immediately into the dumpster and eventually landfill. I would see the clothes I donated on the half price rack, even marked down to a dollar and still they would get bailed up to be sold by the pound. The most important lesson I've learned is not to buy fast fashion and trendy pieces, because when you donate them in a few years, no one wants them because they're out of style then. We can't assume that because we donated something in good condition that it's going to a good home. It's best to buy things that we know we're going to wear and loveFor the long-term. It's both sad and satisfying to wear something to the end of its life and throw it away yourself.
Speaking to life / personal style changing and weight fluctuations-- it's not only after a pregnancy. I'm (now) 55, married but no kids, and my goal for my 50th bday was not only to drop weight (from mindless eating 145 down to mindful living 115) some of that "letting go" of clothing is letting go of how or WHO you used to be vs. who you are today, career changes, even climate changing from relocating (FL to AZ to NC). Something to consider when letting go of those clothes: Does it bring joy or cause sadness & regrets?? Also, if a fave dress means THAT MUCH to you, but maybe you have worn to death -- thanks to resell sites like ThredUp, TRR, RTR, and Poshmark plus thrift, it is possible to find that garment again, in even better condition, size, or color for your style today (I say this bc I found my fave late 90s minimal Express, black scoop neck empire waist maxi dress at GW for only 5 bucks - It was like reuniting w an old friend 🖤) BUT-- live in the moment, and just let shit go...
During the menopause your body can change each year, even if it’s been fairly static most of your life. Keeping up with that progression can be difficult when you are mindful of what you purchase. There are problems with finances as well as trying your hardest to be sustainable xxx
Loved this! My body has gone through drastic changes since menopause 😅 so I’ve been having to reevaluate my style to what’s more fitting in this season of my life. I also have very active grandchildren ages 3 and 4, so my style needs to be minimal, effortless, yet classic. Thank you for enlightening me and making me feel good about what I wear!😎
The episodes keep getting better and better💛Thank you for these very honest conversations🙏 I also loved the hannah louise poston video about body changes, she tries to shop with longevity in mind, only buying pieces that she can see herself wearing far into the future, even while pregnant. I you can have her as a guest one day, that would be truly amazing!
I have to say that I do not like second hand shopping - mainly because you only ever have one piece of a garment, so it's impossible to find the right size (and I feel often kind of between sizes, so that is just so much work...)
Where I live, there is a shortage of plus-size clothes in thrift stores (and regular stores) so I'd say donated plus-size clothes in wearable condition will probably find a home.
I think I do pretty well with keeping my clothes long term. I’m pretty classic and style cycles and comes back. So I tend to wear things out. There is no rehoming those item. I do take them to a place that sends them to “recyclers.” The more I learn, the more I’m afraid it eventually ends up in the landfill. What do you do with completely worn out clothing?
Love this some really thought provoking and practical advice, I'm going to try sizing up as I'm currently going thought per menopause and tend to bloat more and I've gone from liking figure hugging clothes to looser style. I admit I brought far to many clothes when i was pregnant (a lot second hand) and I sold them after but I wore some of my non maternity stretchy clothes and ended up not keeping them as they were completely out of shape after, something to bear in mind as not all garments (cheep and quality) go back to thee original shape. Looser cottons and linins might be better. Jeans I find I love to wear but it's hard to find comfortable ones unless I have stretch, would love to find out more about buying better Jeans as I'm conscious that although there super practical for my lifestyle they are not always the best for the environment. I've brought some fab ones from ACAI which is a women's outdoor brand, but there limited to there style and I'd love to find a better straight leg/ looser fitting ones.
Hi ladies, another great one, thank you again for doing this podcast. It brings me so much joy and assurance. I just wanted to touch up the subject of pregnancy. I didn't buy that much stuff while I was pregnant and if I did, I made sure I'll still be able to wear it after. Moreover I borrowed clothes from a friend of mine who was pregnant before me and then I have it back to her when she fell pregnant again a year later. The clothes in question will most likely go on to another friend who is pregnant now.
Buy mostly classics, quality, and clothing you love, and hold on to them for dear life through the changes. I have several Weatherbees and a full length faux beige mink coat from the 70’s, a gorgeous Sigrid Olsen silk blouse and London Fog trench coat with a zip out lining, and the perfect Saks purple suede flats, just to name a few. I still wear them all to this day.
I lost 20 pounds and I always afraid to buy trousers that are in my size now because I feel that maybe I'm not going to be able of wearing them in one year. I always had the same size and now I feel so lost. It's weird, people always talk about gaining weight but in my personal experience losing weight makes it more hard and the experience is very different. People says to you that clothes looks better on you and it feels like I need to start in this weight. But I think the better you can do it's accept your body is going to change and some clothes are going to have a purpose for a while and don't have so much pressure on you about it.
I want to drop a comment here re: the previous podcast: Christina’s leather jacket is known as the Saint Laurent NO SMOKING jacket (there’s a blue X over the lips).
I've gained weight over the last year or so that I want to shed (though that's not getting easier as I get older) so I've got clothes that I can't wear because they're too tight, but I'm keeping them because I want to lose weight - it's only about a single dress size difference overall - and over summer with hopefully getting a bit more active, it shouldn't be _too_ hard to lose the weight to get back into those clothes. Some of them are nice tailored (or 'tailored') trousers for work, so I'm trying to keep from buying too much in my current size, at least until I know that for sure I'm not going to lose weight. In my case, I'm a UK 18 (US 14? no clue about the Canadian or Euro sizes - and yes, I know very well that one size in one brand is not at all the same size in another, but I'm speaking generally!) and want to get down to a UK 16 mostly for health reasons and because that's a much better weight for my height. No, being overweight isn't healthy but also nobody should be ashamed of the body they have right now, and I know what I _want_ to look like - and I want to wear my wardrobe without feeling like I have to replace all my nice things that are only one or two sizes too small. It's not like I've kept the things I wore when I was 18 and size 10, which honestly I will never get down to, and probably would make me underweight for my height.
Honestly, I don't understand why each brand, or group of brands, can´t have stores dedicated to reselling their own second-hand garments. They could collect items and sell them. If they can have outlet stores, they could also have pre-loved ones. Either sold or donated by consumers, those items of clothes or accessories could easily have a new happy life. They must find out the best way to make it a profitable trade. No need to create a fictional Idea of new technologies able to recycle pieces made of several raw materials. In Portugal we are lucky to have many fantastic second-hand stores, HUMANA is my favorite, as well as Vinted (online) and micolet (online strong in Europe).
Hi. I just started listening to your podcast, though I periodically watch some of your channels. Could you address what to do with non-donatable, clothing items, items that may be stained, or badly worn, with holes? Are there any places where items will be truly recycled?
@@annakuk3950 yes, in my case the most weight I ever unintentionally lost was 17 pounds, and it was due to clinical depression. The emotional aspect of it was very unsettling, but if I could turn it on and off whenever I need to lose a few pounds, I would 😬 In case of Alyssa, I was hoping for life circumstances like training for an ultra marathon or something less unpleasant and more controllable.
There is definitely an upside to saving clothes that are too small. I gained weight about 15 years ago and stored my quality classic pieces. Now, I've lost the weight and these classic pieces still work. Really glad I saved them. Also, it is amazing how much the quality of mid-range clothing has declined in the last 15 years. I suspect it is due to these mid-range brands having to compete with fast fashion. Glad I kept these more quality pieces.
I'm on a weight loss journey, and this has been so hard to figure out. I'm so excited to try out new clothes while figuring out what I need as my weight loss journey continues while trying to be as sustainable as possible.
Hanna Louise Poston is currently pregnant and she’s been buying maternity clothes that aren’t *actually* for maternity, meaning she’ll still be able to wear those dresses and shirts when the baby is born. I think that would go a long way for building a wardrobe for a long time instead of just a short time
Yes. Leena Norms has a good video on this topic too.
Honestly - perhaps it is easier if you are "really pregnant " - I mean have a really big belly you need to accommodate- anytime but wintertime... I did try to get things I could use later, but found it quite challenging. I still have like 3 of the jumper dresses I used - but generally, all the tops I used are just too big now, and look it, or if actually designed for pregnancy were really unflattering on the belly afterwards. And pants you just can't use ;) So, what I am saying - it's great if that works, but if not, it is also ok to let go of things and get new clothes that make you feel awesome in your new body and lifestyle 🙂
@@lithopheliax61x5 At 4'11'' tall, by the time I was six months pregnant, I was basically wearing circus tents. I guess I could have re-purposed them into drapes like a reverse Scarlet O'Hara.
Love HLP!
Unfortunately, this isn't the case for a lot of people. I am postpartum and the larger sized clothes only fit for a few weeks and then your body shape changes, and the clothes that you just purchased no longer fit the way they did.
It's good in theory but hardly works in practise.
Both leena norms and hannah louise poston made really lovely videos recently on what to look for when buying clothes that will work with body fluctuations,definitely recommend! This topic is so important,and it’s something that I definitely struggle with because with my body type and personal taste, I find that I like having things fitting closer to the body,but now I at least know how to look for things that will still work when i fluctuate.
I had watch Hannah and she was really good. I hadn’t heard of Aleena Norms. Off to find her content.
I've been going through a slow weight loss journey. This year I've given away and donated a large portion of my wardrobe. I currently have half a dozen staple pieces ready to be taken to my local tailor. It's my intention to tweak pieces and own clothes that fit my body. As I continue to improve my health and fitness, I plan to also shop more intentionally. Thank you for discussing styling the ever changing body!
Regarding storing things - so often we are pushed to let go too quickly - things go out of style, so we don't like them anymore, but the older you get the more you realize that things come back in fashion... i once got this advise to keep everything you loved and still is good quality - from someone who is super minimalist, so it surprised me. But I am in my 40s now and man - had I kept some of my y2k stuff - i at least could have sold it today or people would have loved to have that. (I would not have fit anymore...😅)
And keep bags and shoes. They are not depending on your changing body and go in and out of style frequently
I saw a question online that asked how many jeans do you own. My answer: I don't wear pants, but I do own one pair of good-quality jeans, two sizes too small, that I'd been holding onto since 2008. That echoed in my mind. I was holding onto these jeans against the day I could fit in them again and maybe go hiking (my fantasy self hikes; I am actually an urban walker.) This random question led me to a declutter of clothes, shoes, and eventually a purge and reorganization of my entire house. It was an eye-opening experience🙂
This was excellent! Such great advice. I've had 3 pregnancies and postpartum, a severe ankle injury and 8 months of rehab, and a car accident which have had my weight fluctuating through many sizes unfortunately. I've also had a style Journey through mommy years to teen years. In my own experience what I've learned is to hang onto my favorite timeless, classic and non trendy pieces for as long as possible and label them in storage. It's such a relief when the body changes to have some go to pieces that are like old friends. Many times when I've opened the bin I realized immediately what was a fad at that time and no longer appropriate to wear such as cold shoulder tops for example. My teen son worked at a thrift shop, and I would donate things there. So many clothes went immediately into the dumpster and eventually landfill. I would see the clothes I donated on the half price rack, even marked down to a dollar and still they would get bailed up to be sold by the pound. The most important lesson I've learned is not to buy fast fashion and trendy pieces, because when you donate them in a few years, no one wants them because they're out of style then. We can't assume that because we donated something in good condition that it's going to a good home. It's best to buy things that we know we're going to wear and loveFor the long-term. It's both sad and satisfying to wear something to the end of its life and throw it away yourself.
Speaking to life / personal style changing and weight fluctuations-- it's not only after a pregnancy. I'm (now) 55, married but no kids, and my goal for my 50th bday was not only to drop weight (from mindless eating 145 down to mindful living 115) some of that "letting go" of clothing is letting go of how or WHO you used to be vs. who you are today, career changes, even climate changing from relocating (FL to AZ to NC).
Something to consider when letting go of those clothes: Does it bring joy or cause sadness & regrets?? Also, if a fave dress means THAT MUCH to you, but maybe you have worn to death -- thanks to resell sites like ThredUp, TRR, RTR, and Poshmark plus thrift, it is possible to find that garment again, in even better condition, size, or color for your style today (I say this bc I found my fave late 90s minimal Express, black scoop neck empire waist maxi dress at GW for only 5 bucks - It was like reuniting w an old friend 🖤) BUT-- live in the moment, and just let shit go...
During the menopause your body can change each year, even if it’s been fairly static most of your life. Keeping up with that progression can be difficult when you are mindful of what you purchase. There are problems with finances as well as trying your hardest to be sustainable xxx
Loved this! My body has gone through drastic changes since menopause 😅 so I’ve been having to reevaluate my style to what’s more fitting in this season of my life. I also have very active grandchildren ages 3 and 4, so my style needs to be minimal, effortless, yet classic. Thank you for enlightening me and making me feel good about what I wear!😎
The episodes keep getting better and better💛Thank you for these very honest conversations🙏 I also loved the hannah louise poston video about body changes, she tries to shop with longevity in mind, only buying pieces that she can see herself wearing far into the future, even while pregnant. I you can have her as a guest one day, that would be truly amazing!
I have to say that I do not like second hand shopping - mainly because you only ever have one piece of a garment, so it's impossible to find the right size (and I feel often kind of between sizes, so that is just so much work...)
Where I live, there is a shortage of plus-size clothes in thrift stores (and regular stores) so I'd say donated plus-size clothes in wearable condition will probably find a home.
I think I do pretty well with keeping my clothes long term. I’m pretty classic and style cycles and comes back. So I tend to wear things out. There is no rehoming those item. I do take them to a place that sends them to “recyclers.” The more I learn, the more I’m afraid it eventually ends up in the landfill. What do you do with completely worn out clothing?
Ladies…. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Kudos. I am loving this podcasts, learning so much and so inspirational. You ladies rock! 🥰💯👏🏽💞
Love this some really thought provoking and practical advice, I'm going to try sizing up as I'm currently going thought per menopause and tend to bloat more and I've gone from liking figure hugging clothes to looser style.
I admit I brought far to many clothes when i was pregnant (a lot second hand) and I sold them after but I wore some of my non maternity stretchy clothes and ended up not keeping them as they were completely out of shape after, something to bear in mind as not all garments (cheep and quality) go back to thee original shape. Looser cottons and linins might be better.
Jeans I find I love to wear but it's hard to find comfortable ones unless I have stretch, would love to find out more about buying better Jeans as I'm conscious that although there super practical for my lifestyle they are not always the best for the environment. I've brought some fab ones from ACAI which is a women's outdoor brand, but there limited to there style and I'd love to find a better straight leg/ looser fitting ones.
Hi ladies, another great one, thank you again for doing this podcast. It brings me so much joy and assurance.
I just wanted to touch up the subject of pregnancy. I didn't buy that much stuff while I was pregnant and if I did, I made sure I'll still be able to wear it after. Moreover I borrowed clothes from a friend of mine who was pregnant before me and then I have it back to her when she fell pregnant again a year later. The clothes in question will most likely go on to another friend who is pregnant now.
Buy mostly classics, quality, and clothing you love, and hold on to them for dear life through the changes. I have several Weatherbees and a full length faux beige mink coat from the 70’s, a gorgeous Sigrid Olsen silk blouse and London Fog trench coat with a zip out lining, and the perfect Saks purple suede flats, just to name a few. I still wear them all to this day.
I lost 20 pounds and I always afraid to buy trousers that are in my size now because I feel that maybe I'm not going to be able of wearing them in one year. I always had the same size and now I feel so lost. It's weird, people always talk about gaining weight but in my personal experience losing weight makes it more hard and the experience is very different. People says to you that clothes looks better on you and it feels like I need to start in this weight. But I think the better you can do it's accept your body is going to change and some clothes are going to have a purpose for a while and don't have so much pressure on you about it.
You can do a bit of advanced work before recycling by taking off buttons and zippers before turning them in :)
I want to drop a comment here re: the previous podcast: Christina’s leather jacket is known as the Saint Laurent NO SMOKING jacket (there’s a blue X over the lips).
Ahhhh thanks!!!
I've gained weight over the last year or so that I want to shed (though that's not getting easier as I get older) so I've got clothes that I can't wear because they're too tight, but I'm keeping them because I want to lose weight - it's only about a single dress size difference overall - and over summer with hopefully getting a bit more active, it shouldn't be _too_ hard to lose the weight to get back into those clothes. Some of them are nice tailored (or 'tailored') trousers for work, so I'm trying to keep from buying too much in my current size, at least until I know that for sure I'm not going to lose weight.
In my case, I'm a UK 18 (US 14? no clue about the Canadian or Euro sizes - and yes, I know very well that one size in one brand is not at all the same size in another, but I'm speaking generally!) and want to get down to a UK 16 mostly for health reasons and because that's a much better weight for my height. No, being overweight isn't healthy but also nobody should be ashamed of the body they have right now, and I know what I _want_ to look like - and I want to wear my wardrobe without feeling like I have to replace all my nice things that are only one or two sizes too small. It's not like I've kept the things I wore when I was 18 and size 10, which honestly I will never get down to, and probably would make me underweight for my height.
Honestly, I don't understand why each brand, or group of brands, can´t have stores dedicated to reselling their own second-hand garments. They could collect items and sell them. If they can have outlet stores, they could also have pre-loved ones. Either sold or donated by consumers, those items of clothes or accessories could easily have a new happy life. They must find out the best way to make it a profitable trade. No need to create a fictional Idea of new technologies able to recycle pieces made of several raw materials. In Portugal we are lucky to have many fantastic second-hand stores, HUMANA is my favorite, as well as Vinted (online) and micolet (online strong in Europe).
Hi. I just started listening to your podcast, though I periodically watch some of your channels. Could you address what to do with non-donatable, clothing items, items that may be stained, or badly worn, with holes? Are there any places where items will be truly recycled?
Only Hannah Louise Poston missing
I think plus size manufacturers are the worst. It's hard to find clothes that aren't just a bag and in the worst fabric blends
How does one get into life circumstances that cause one to lose 15 pounds? Asking for a friend 😂
I can’t speak for Alyssa but usually unintended weight loss is due to the stress or grief diet.
I think one of the issues was her divorse... So it is not the best way to loose weight, it is because of stress...
@@annakuk3950 yes, in my case the most weight I ever unintentionally lost was 17 pounds, and it was due to clinical depression. The emotional aspect of it was very unsettling, but if I could turn it on and off whenever I need to lose a few pounds, I would 😬
In case of Alyssa, I was hoping for life circumstances like training for an ultra marathon or something less unpleasant and more controllable.
kristina dont talk so close to the camera