Showing posts with label cleaning out my closet. Show all posts

Stuffing

This weekend I finally stared to deal with my over-stuffed closet issue. I often have these grand ideas that I'm just going to pick a day and go through everything with a lot of tough love, and end up with this radical closet overhaul; but somehow I doubt that will ever happen.

Instead, I challenged myself to take out 20 things. I managed 17.

There is a lot I haven't really been wearing, but I'm just not yet ready to part with. I can't quite explain these mental blocks and weird emotional attachments I have towards a blazer I thrifted but only wore twice, a skirt that is really too short, and something I needed to alter three years ago and still haven't yet.

But I'm trying, and doing a little at a time.

Not helping the cause at all - this weekend I bought two skirts, a pair of boots, and a pair of gloves.
The only really justifiable item being the gloves - I needed a pair of black iPhone gloves, since my pink ones don't go with any of my coats.

gold pencil skirt-1.jpg gold pencil skirt-2.jpg gold pencil skirt-5.jpg gold pencil skirt.jpg gold pencil skirt-6.jpg gold pencil skirt-7.jpg
The Rundown
Leopard Button Down Anne Klein via TJMaxx
Yellow Pencil Skirt JCP
Leather Moto Jacket Express similar
Booties Madden Girl
Bag Tahari c/o TJMaxx similar
Antler Ring House of Harlow
Sunglasses Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx
Nail Color Essie No Place Like Chrome

My closet is (still) overwhelmed

I did a load of laundry today and was attempting to return the articles to their places in the closet, when I realized that they had none. There was simply no room to squeeze, and I was feeling so disgusted with myself that I went on a rampage. I just grabbed, and started to fill a bag.
I pulled almost every cropped cardigan I own. A bunch of old and stained cammies. A raincoat I never wore that now looks gross. But I still have over 50 belts, I eliminated fewer than 10. Out of 50 pairs of shoes, I pulled two.
I know I don't want to end up on an episode of Hoarders, but why is it so hard to get rid of things?

Here is what I've come up with;
1. Money. I worked hard to earn the money, and getting rid of things is kind of like throwing it away. Especially if it was something that I wore once or twice.
2. I loved it once. It was my favorite thing and now it just isn't my style. But love doesn't just go away.
3. I might want it again someday. I regretted getting rid of a light pink sweater so much that I went and got another. In six months, in a year, in two -- what if I want it and it isn't there?

At least I managed to fill a large bag; and put it next to the other, equally large bag that is holding all the items in the shop.
Which brings me to the shop. A good idea, sure, but the stuff has just been sitting around far too long. Knowing that it is still in the house is bothering me, so here is the deal - take a look at the shop and if you want something, make me an offer. Any offer, because next week it is just going to have to get donated.

And then, as soon as I was done, the first thing I did?
Checked some shoes I've been stalking on amazon.
Steve Madden Daynty Open-Toe Clogswent down to $40.
Seychelles Gypsy Sandalis still $55.
(I've got $25 in Amazon rewards and they have been burning a hole in my pocket.)

Maybe what I really need is to move somewhere I can have a bigger closet?

thumb in pocket
Lately everyone seems to be buzzing about some 70's trends returning, so I pulled out my flared jeans and sequined clogs I bought in 2005.
70's, or 2005
The Rundown
Top Gap - Jeans TJMaxx - Sequin Clogs Rocket Dog - Cardigan TJMaxx - Ring American Eagle
70's, or 2005
If you notice those light rings around the hem of my jeans, it's because of all the times I pinned them under to wear them with different heel heights. That is one thing I hate about pants; when you get them you must decide then and there what heel height you want to wear them with forever. If you try to have it more than one way, you end up with ruined pants.
sequin clogs
The funny thing about the sequin clogs -- back in 2005 Stacy and Clinton threw away these clogs on an episode of What Not To Wear. And I thought, "oh no, my clogs aren't fashionable!" I did still wear them for sometime after that, but if I were following the one year rule for my closet purge, these would be gone. (They probably would have been gone a year and a half ago, actually.)
70's, or 2005

My closet is overwhelmed

I hate switching from winter to summer clothes (and back again), so much. I dread it, I put it off, I try to pretend that I can just leave them in their Rubbermaid bins and buy all new clothes instead.

I finally forced myself to preform the dreaded task today, and all I can say is:




My closet is overwhelmed.

I'll admit, I'm a pack rat, I have trouble letting go, even of things I know I haven't worn in ages.
So I decided to follow in the path of so many other fashion bloggers and open up a blog shop.
It is still a work in progress, but I wanted to just start getting some stuff up -- so check it out.

Now, what does one wear to clean their closet?

Hand Made Feeling

Not this. This was a bad idea. I should know better than to accessorize while cleaning. My sliced leather bracelet arrived and I was just excited to wear it. I really love it - the leather is sooooo soft, it just cradles your wrist.

Sliced leather bracelet

And I'd been wanting to wear my Desigual skirt with the birdcage pumps since the day I bough it, so I did, but they were off for the majority of the day while I fought to fill every possible inch of a Rubbermaid bin with sweaters. I had to sit on it, and the top is really bulging, but I got them all in and now I don't have to think about it until the Fall.