Things I Never Wear

I know what the rule is for cleaning out my closet. If I haven't worn it in six months, or a year if it's seasonal, then it should go. I have never subscribed to that rule. I hold on to things. I get sentimental, I convince myself that I might just want to wear it again.

I was in TJMaxx the other day, I came home with a new dress and a kimono. My hands hovered over a set of black velvet hangers, my mind flashing to the unwieldy pile of hangerless clothes taking residence on my desk chair. I forced myself to leave without the hangers and instead confront my closet.

I started with things I've never worn. Most of these things were from thrift or consignment stores. Deals that seemed to good to pass up, or that were serving a fantasy I was having at that moment. A long black linen duster with pockets, a pair of blue and green silk printed joggers, a navy sweater with an anchor.

Then I focused on things I know I haven't worn in at least four years. That might seem like a long time, but it's a number which works for me. I wasn't able to purge everything in that category, there are still some dresses and button downs and pencil skirts that I haven't worn since working in an office with a stricter dress code. I kept the pieces that I tried on and still liked, should my work situation change.

Finally, the aspirational pieces. I did not let these go. I am still hoping that I will wear a pink sequined dress on New Year's Eve, that an occasion for a one shoulder maxi dress will arrive, and that I will want to wear a white lace dress, just because it feels good to wear a white lace dress.

That brings me to this dress; gifted from Hobbs last summer, worn once to photograph it for the post, and finally a second time to a family event last month. Now the challenge is to wear it again.

 Striped dress, Black mules, white bag, navy straw hat-10.jpg Striped dress, Black mules, white bag, navy straw hat-7.jpg Striped dress, Black mules, white bag, navy straw hat-13.jpg Striped dress, Black mules, white bag, navy straw hat-3.jpg Striped dress, Black mules, white bag, navy straw hat-11.jpg Striped dress, Black mules, white bag, navy straw hat-12.jpg Striped dress, Black mules, white bag, navy straw hat-9.jpg Striped dress, Black mules, white bag, navy straw hat-6.jpg
The Rundown
Striped Dress c/o Hobbs similar
Woven Mule Sandals Ann Taylor
Micro Perry Satchel Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shopbop
Joanna Hat Brixton via Nordstrom 
Gold Knot Bracelet Banana Republic similar
Gold Ball Earrings Kohl's
Thin Gold Ring Etsy via Ellyn Blue Jewelry
Nail Color "Fishnet Stockings" Essie





26 comments

  1. Confronting a closet is no easy feat. I had to do a very serious purge when we moved to Paris in 2012 and I remember feeling deeply ashamed of having so much stuff - I was quadruple hanging pieces at that point, and I had a large closet, as well as two dressers - but also, initially, unable to part with many things because I might wear them some day. The process was agonising and took most of 2012, if I'm honest. My hand was forced, of course - we still took four suitcases to Paris, four large suitcases, but we had a 300 square foot apartment with no actual closet there, so I had to be realistic. Most the work of living with less actually started when we got to Paris, but I'll be frank: the clean out was the hardest part. Once I had a more normal amount of stuff, it really wasn't that hard to get creative about outfits. But the closet clean out itself was a misery I wouldn't wish on anyone. I hope you're able to continue to make progress with yours.
    xox,
    Cee

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  2. It's such a cute dress, I'm sure you'll find another opportunity to wear it!
    I need to go through my closet as well, but I just don't want to, haha.
    http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

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  3. Wow...What a great job going through the closet. I'm usually good at purging, but lately have been collecting more than I've been getting rid of. I very much try to wear what I just bought though...I hate to put it away until I'm sure that it's gotten at least one wear and I know that I love it!!
    This dress is quite perfect---the stripes, and silhouette are fabulous!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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  4. Those are some really fun mule sandals. Soon it will be time for me to purge my closet again. I always have too much clothes that I don't ever seem to wear.

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  5. Thanks for sharing

    Have a lovely week ahead
    https://www.melodyjacob.com/2018/08/sunglasses-trends-for-2018.html

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  6. I just did a massive closet purge this weekend (I even got beyond just clothes and cleaned out purses, shoes, and accessories) and it felt soooo nice to see all the space opening up in my closet. It took be hours though because I actually tried on every single thing and spent a few minutes thinking about how I felt it in and if I could remember a time I felt good in something before I pitched it. It's an exercise I've been putting off for years but it felt so good to finally dive into it.

    Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines

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  7. That dress is just so fun, I lOVE IT


    PlayingWithApparel.com | @filipajackson
    Filipa xxx

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  8. What a cute dress! I actually think it’s quite versatile, and I can see you pairing it with other accessories to change it up, I struggle at times to get rid of things too. I have a red dress from years ago that I can’t even zip up anymore, but it’s sentimental and it’s just gorgeous to look at so I refuse to give it away. Sometimes it’s ok to keep certain things even if you don’t wear them. I swear some things are just collector items for fashion lovers like us :)

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  9. I forced myself to do this earlier this summer. For me the category was mainly aspirational pieces. Things I kept thinking I would wear them for a fancy wedding or NYE, but really they just hung there. It honestly felt good to get rid of them.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

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  10. Good for you on tackling all of those items on your desk chair and for wearing this dress again. IT´S A GREAT START Lydia !
    For what it's worth I don't believe on the 6 month rule or the Marie Kondo method.

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  11. I need to clean out my closet so bad! I am in love with this midi dress! The colors are so pretty!

    <3 Shannon 
    Upbeat Soles

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  12. Love the bold colors on that dress, so gorgeous! https://mariannyc.com/2018/08/01/august-goals/

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  13. This dress is so pretty! I totally understand about cleaning out the closet. I've been trying to force myself to wear more things in my closet or get rid of them. I feel like I've rediscovered more things than I've thrown away.... I'm telling myself I'm saving money, lol! I hope your week is off to a great start!

    Nicole
    Nicole to the Nines

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  14. This dress is so pretty and chic! love it!

    www.plogstyle.com

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  15. Awe this is such a great challenge, love this idea girly!!

    xo,

    H

    http://firsttimethings.com/

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  16. This dress is gorgeous! Love the bold bright summer stripes!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

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  17. I've been in the process of purging as well! I go through it every month. Only because I have a lot of "I probably should get rid of, but not yet". And if I realized a month later, I had no urge to use it, I do get rid of it. Lately, I've been doing more re-wearing my clothes too. I love this striped dress!

    www.rdsobsessions.com

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  18. I get the same feeling, it is super hard for me to clean my closet and most years I don't do it. I am very careful when washing clothes, my style is very classical and not so trendy, and I guess I get sentimental too.
    The only thing on my favor is that I don't shop often or in big amounts.
    Anyway, you look amazing with that dress! I really hope you wear it again because it is beautiful!

    Lindifique

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  19. It's such a cute dress, I'm glad you'll be wearing it more often! :) I have a hard time with the 'not worn in x months' conditions for letting things out of my wardrobe. Especially over the past few years with pregnancy and breastfeeding there are pieces I love that weren't worn much but it doesn't mean I'm ready to let them go! It's definitely a work in progress for me to work on editing down what I own and getting a smaller wardrobe, but I like shopping so I think I'll always be adding more, haha!

    Hope that you are having a nice start to your week so far! :)

    Away From The Blue Blog

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  20. It can be so easy to just let ourselves keep things. But I agree you can't always subscribe to 'if you haven't worn it in 6 months it should go'. There are always some exceptions and we have to find our own personal middle ground. I sure hope you get to wear that pink sequined dress someday! It sounds beautiful!

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  21. I'm in the process of culling my closet right now and having a lot of similar conversations with myself. It's even harder as a blogger since trends do come back around and things that might not be right now could be further down the road. Glad you kept this dress!

    District of Chic

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  22. I think it's such a pretty, classic dress worth keeping! It can be so hard to give yourself (seemingly arbitrary) rules about what to keep and what to get rid of. It's very mood-based for me. I'm not all that sentimental about clothes usually, but I do have to be in the mood to go through everything and really make decisions. I haven't been in that mood lately and my poor closet is suffering because of it!

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  23. Such a beautiful and elegant dress! I really like it!

    http://www.exclusivebeautydiary.com

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  24. that dress is so pretty, I've been trying so hard for 90% of my closet to be items I wear regularly. Some items just don't get worn a lot, now for major occasion, I try to use rent the runway.

    xo
    Pinksole

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  25. It's a pretty dress on you dear. Love the stripes, so edgy.

    Jessica | notjessfashion.com

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  26. I know the rule too, but somehow keep failing to clear my closet out. And to be honest, it's even worse with shoe closet. Last summer I got myself a pair of ladies birkenstock and all my other summer shoes and sandals just became useless :) But I still love them and can't say goodbye :(

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