“Embrace what you have been given,” Anne Hathaway recently shared on Instagram.
Who hasn’t found themselves staring into an overflowing closet, frustrated by pants and dresses that just don’t fit anymore? This week, Hathaway opened up about her experiences with weight gain and the struggle of dealing with clothes that no longer suit her. Her honesty resonates with everyone.
The Oscar-winning actress posted a photo of an old pair of jeans she was transforming into shorts. “There’s no shame in finally breaking down and making your own jean shorts because last summer’s are just too dang short for this summer’s thighs,” she wrote. Preach it, Anne! Plus, you get to show off your DIY talents—what’s not to love?
We all understand where Hathaway is coming from. My own bed gets buried under clothes that are just a tad too snug at least once a week. And that’s after I reluctantly parted ways with boxes of clothes that didn’t fit during our move last year. My partner was determined to keep clothes that no longer fit, only to pack them across the country, eventually donating them to charity.
There’s no timeline for when to let go of old clothes, but it’s easy to see why many would want to start fresh. Those pre-baby jeans or cherished outfits from our 20s can evoke nostalgia, but they often do more harm than good. Instead of reminding us of who we are now, outdated clothing can pull us back to who we were before life changed. Psychologists warn that dwelling too much on the past can lead to negative emotions.
Arianna Jones from Buzzfeed recently articulated this struggle. “I was starting each day with the daunting task of facing a closet that made me feel like my body was wrong, choosing which uncomfortable outfit to wear,” she wrote. She decided to purge the items that didn’t fit, creating a wardrobe that reflects her current self. “If your clothes no longer fit, don’t attach any emotional weight to it,” she advised. “You haven’t failed. Just buy new clothes or tailor what you have. It’s not a big deal, and you’ll wish you had done it sooner.”
Parting with clothes from our slimmer days can be challenging. Holding onto them often reinforces the misguided belief that our worth is tied to a number on the scale or a dress size. That’s just nonsense. We were amazing then, and we’re fabulous now.
Hathaway’s message resonates with this sentiment: “Bodies change. Bodies grow. Bodies shrink. It’s all love,” she shared. “Love what you have been given.”
This article originally published on Aug. 9, 2016.
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In summary, Anne Hathaway’s candid Instagram post about weight gain speaks volumes about body positivity and the importance of self-acceptance. As we navigate our ups and downs, it’s essential to embrace our bodies and the changes they undergo.