You didn’t really think I bought a bunch of new clothes without doing a major closet refresh, did you? I’ve had #30 on my 101 in 1001 list in my sights for months now, and with a move coming up, what better time to do a deep cleanout of my closet?
The problem, campers, is that I am a clothes hoarder. I inherited the Mariani woman shopping gene with a vengeance, but I also got the Schwegman sentimental/practical gene…meaning I could convince myself that there’s definitely a reason to keep all the suiting dresses I wore to EY in 2011-2013, the five different white buttondowns, or the (admittedly egregiously excessive) 27 different striped shirts I’ve amassed over the years.
I didn’t do a full KonMari thing, but prior to the move, I worked my way through every segment of my closet and drawers and did a deep cleanse. Criteria to toss:
Is this item damaged/stained/worn out in any way? If so, BYE. (I went through a phase of convincing myself I’d figure out how to fix hems, stitch rips, etc, and let’s just say that never came to pass and never will.)
Is this item from college or earlier? If so, BYE. Unless you truly truly love it (hello, Anthropologie watercolor silk top from 2010 that I will legit never get rid of).
Does this item fit? If not, BYE.
Is this top polyester? If so, you know you will NEVER EVER EVER WEAR IT because you are legitimately incapable of wearing a polyester top without being disgustingly sweaty, staticky and uncomfortable, so, BYE.
Is this skirt shorter than 19 inches? Because that’s the limit for being able to wear in public without worrying about indecent exposure. If so, BYE.
Do you have this item, basically, but newer/nicer/cleaner/etc? (I’m looking at you, five different navy/black cardigans.) If so, BYE to all but the nicest.
Do you actually like/wear/feel good in this? If not, BYE.
Finally, and this is a weird one, is this an item of clothing associated with a situation that made you sad? (This sounds weird, I know, I know, but bear with me.) I have a lot of clothes from the period of my life when I was dating Jon/freshly single and grieving that relationship, and some of them are, as silly as it sounds, kind of viscerally associated to him because of things that happened or pictures that were taken or what have you. It’s ridiculous, I know that. But anything with those associations - boy, BYE. Life’s too short and he sucked/sucks.
I ended up with three shopping bags and two boxes full of stuff to donate or trash, and ran several loads to our local donation drop box - clothes go to shelters, foster kids, and other organizations, so I felt decent about the donations. I freed up a whole bunch of space in my new California Closet - I can actually see all my clothes, I actually wear more of them now, and I figured out where the gaps in my wardrobe were so I could fill them!
Total win! For more 101 in 1001, go here, and for more shopping-related chats, check out yesterday’s post here.