By Lauren Harrison

Letting Go of Clothing That No Longer Serves Your Body, and Making Room for a Wardrobe That Does

March 13 begins National Clean Out Your Closet Week. For some, this might just mean spring cleaning. For others, it might be a whole lot tougher, considering many of us might have clothing–new or old–that we are holding on to even if it no longer serves us or our body. In eating disorder recovery, this might be a very difficult step of the journey to let go of clothing from a different or more sick stage of life. So, let’s talk about how we can work towards dressing in a way that aligns with recovery.

First, define what serves your body.

You are a dynamic human being who is meant to change throughout your life. Whether you have/have had an eating disorder or not, your body will change. Your style and comfort level will change as well. This is a normal part of life. Holding onto what no longer serves your body rejects this reality and keeps you in a false sense of unrealistic body expectations and therefore constant dissatisfaction with your body.

Before doing anything else, consider what serves your current body. How has your style evolved into what it is now? How does the comfort of your clothing affect your body image?

With these questions in mind, think about what colors and patterns best fit your personality. What activities do you want to ensure you have clothing for? Movement, lounging, dinner dates, etc. Consider the variety of pieces you want to have to choose from! What are some pieces of clothing that will provide comfort and suit your style for all of these aspects of your life?

Start exploring brands that align with what might serve you currently. This might result in you letting go of old brands you were loyal to and exploring new, more inclusive ones. If you do not have the finances to completely revamp your wardrobe, consider second hand or thrift stores for a few pieces. There might also be opportunities to receive clothes at no cost through organizations such as The Garment Project. At the end of the day, you deserve to own and wear clothing that fits your body right now. You are a priority in your life, too.

Sit with the sad and consider what it means to hold on or let go

Now, begin thinking: what pieces of clothing do you own that do not serve your current body based on these criteria?

This can be an emotional process. If it wasn’t, you would have gotten rid of this stuff long ago. You are allowed to mourn the process of letting go. And, you are allowed to move forward and embrace your body now. Maybe all you can work towards right now is neutrality with your body. Great, this process allows you to do that, too.

Time to reflect: what does letting go of this clothing represent to you and your recovery? What scares you about it? If you feel your worth is still tied to your size and fit of clothing, maybe this is a key piece to hone in on with your team and even lean on them for support with this process.

Ultimately, comfort and well-fitting clothing improves our self-image. So, releasing clothing that no longer fits or makes you feel uncomfortable can be sad, and it is also necessary to improve your relationship with your body.

Try on the clothes (or don’t) and decide what goes

If you know a piece of clothing might cause discomfort or negative emotions without even trying it on, maybe that is a sign to let it go immediately. Otherwise, try on clothing without a mirror present first. If it does not fit or feel comfortable, there is no need to look in a mirror and continue to analyze. Challenge yourself to not body check and just notice the feel of the clothes and how you feel in them. Consider all the aspects that factor into what it means to serve your body and align with your values.

Release what no longer serves you

You have options. You can sell to a second-hand store if that is accessible to you, or donate to a Goodwill/donation-based facility. Whatever you do, remember you are choosing to let go of a pursuit of constantly chasing a number or size, and opening up so much more mental space for living. Curating a wardrobe that fits and represents you as an individual in the present is an important step in working on healing your body image and respecting your body at whatever stage in your journey.