How selling my wardrobe online healed my relationship with my body

If it doesn’t serve you and your body, let it go. 

When I first ‘discovered’ thrifting in my first year of university, I bought a lot of clothing that didn’t fit me. I accumulated a lot and while it all looked amazing sitting in my wardrobe, I couldn’t actually wear any of it, at least comfortably. Most of my wardrobe almost fit – it was the right size, but it didn’t work on my body. 

My mornings consisted of trying things on, changing over and over again, unhappy with what I was seeing in the mirror. The thing was, and I didn’t realise this at the time (hindsight is 20/20), that the problem wasn’t my body but the clothes. 

About a year ago I started weightlifting and as a result, my body changed. I stayed around the same weight but I went up a pants size, which is a tricky thing to reckon with when you’ve grown up believing that exercise equals weight loss and that clothing size equates to worth. It doesn’t, of course, but that kind of thing sticks. 

I had this gorgeous silk top that I thrifted ages back, but it just didn’t fit me anymore. My arms had gotten a little bigger and the sleeves just didn’t sit right. I kept it hanging in my wardrobe, telling myself, ‘You never know.’ 

I was holding onto clothes that didn’t fit me anymore and I found myself getting deja vu. I felt like I was 19 again, trying to put together an outfit with clothes that didn’t serve my body. At the same time, my wardrobe was absolutely ballooning. I had new things that fit me well, but I was still holding on to all the stuff that I knew I wasn’t going to wear, just in case.

The big clearout

A few weeks ago, fresh off a uni semester and suddenly with a lot of time on my hands, I decided that it was time to clean it all out and start fresh. I had all of these clothes that did nothing but frustrate me every time I tried them on. I still loved them, but they didn’t love me back. 

I had to be cutthroat. If it didn’t fit, it went in the ‘going’ pile, even if I was sentimentally attached to it (spoiler alert: I am sentimentally attached to everything). Even a designer leather belt I’d had since I was a teenager had to go in the pile. It was quite small and only really suited to high-waisted wear, which I haven’t been into for a few years now. Holding onto it wasn’t bringing me any joy because it didn’t really fit me, and it felt freeing to accept that. 

I found myself at a crossroads: I could donate or sell. Although I’ve donated in the past, and it’s great for the lower-value or more generic items, I’ve found selling to be a great option for higher-value, niche or specific pieces. I’ve also found selling best for rehoming pieces with sentimental value, because I know they’re going to someone who will love them as much as I do. After a lot of practice, I’ve found eBay is a really great platform for selling vintage pieces in particular, especially Australian vintage from both designer labels and high street brands. 

While it was hard to let go, I found selling my wardrobe liberating. It was a literal weight off my shoulders (and my clothing rack) and instilled confidence in me for two reasons. It was refreshing to know that anything I picked from my cupboard was going to fit me (and fit me well) and every time I got a little ‘sold’ ping on my phone I felt validated. My style is worth something and it’s something that people want.

Making way for the new

The icing on the cake of selling your clothes online is the cash, of course, and what better way to spend it than on new items that fit true to your body? I’m a big fan of eBay for buying as well as selling, and while I was listing my items, I also had a bit of a browse (oops). One of the first pieces I bought after the clearout was a pair of vintage bootcut jeans. They arrived within a few days and when I tell you they fit me perfectly, it’s like these jeans were made for me. I know that every time I reach for them, they’ll make me feel great in my body, and if not that, what is a wardrobe for?

We’ve got a lot to unlearn when it comes to placing value on our bodies. There’s a quote that I once heard, “You are not made to fit into clothes, clothes should be made to fit you.” I’m not sure where I first heard it, but it always plays over in my mind when I find myself getting frustrated that something doesn’t fit me. If it doesn’t serve you and your body, let it go. 

To start clearing out your wardrobe, head to eBay.