My closet is a mess. I have too many things and a closet purge was way overdue. I started the process yesterday and made some pretty good progress. I am not the person they are thinking of when they want someone to demonstrate a capsule wardrobe or heaven help us, a 10 item wardrobe. More is more as far as I am concerned. I want options. But it was getting out of control.
I pared things down to my fall/winter favorites and packed away the spring-summer items. I have a couple of bags to donate, and a couple of bins to store away for a while. If I miss the contents after a year or so then maybe they can come back to my closet. Typically, however, Out of Sight, Out of Mind rules and I completely forget I ever owned these items, which means they can go.
I used to work in a fairly formal setting, which meant that I needed nice shoes and work-appropriate clothing. I have finally admitted, after a couple of years of being retired, that those clothes no longer have a place in my life. Someone, somewhere could use them and look very work appropriate. The shoes are another story. I have dozens of pairs of shoes, at least two-thirds of which are heels. No one wears heels where I live. I live in a "flip flops in summer/boots in winter" place. It is casual. You never see anyone in heels, and if you do, you wonder what on earth is wrong with them and where they are from. But I have had such a hard time parting with those shoes. One, they were expensive, two, they are lovely, and three, they represent a time when I felt I dressed in a much more chic fashion. But you know what? After eight years of not wearing heels, and aging normally during that time period (as one does), I can no longer walk in heels. I put them on and feel off balance and awkward. And they hurt my feet.
I managed to cull two garbage bags of clothing to donate, but I still have not tackled the shoe situation. Maybe one day soon...
Meanwhile, I am enjoying not having my clothes crammed tightly together in the closet, and being able to see what I have at a glance.
My goals this week are to tackle projets one baby step at a time. Number one is to go through my coats. I have so many coats that have not been worn for years. That is a crime, when there are many people who need something warm to wear in the colder seasons of the year, who could truly benefit from these items that I am not using. Plus, we need room in the hall closet. Anyone who visits me who wants to hang up their coat has to lay it over a chair at the moment. Next, I want to spend an hour or so to go through my scarves and cull out the ones that realistically I will never use. And the pajama drawer is ridiculous. Do you throw out your old pjs every year or so? What is the point of hanging on to those things?
Ok, wish me luck. I may even attempt to part with some shoes I can no longer wear.
I work in a ministry that gives free clothes away. I find it hard to give up some of my many things even though I have seen terrible situations where women need what I have too much of. My suggestion is this - keep the shoes if only for eye candy and part with a pair every so often. Sometimes something brings back nice memories, and you deserve those.
Posted by: Mary | October 22, 2019 at 05:13 AM
I just moved from a house with lots of closet space (although my husband filled more of it than I did) to a two bedroom bungalow with small, inaccessible closets. What a change! I got rid of a lot! Had to laugh at your pajama comment...haven't bought them in years! My favorite pj pants are a pair with Sylvester on them that were my daughter's when she was in about 4th grade. She left them behind and I took them. They're so soft and comfy. Just for a reference point...she's turning 30 in February and has a baby of her own! I do like to hang onto things for a long time...
Posted by: carolyn | October 22, 2019 at 05:34 AM
I "recycled" a couple of years ago and I have minimum "good clothing" now. It is fine with me but I do have to stretch a bit when I travel to make sure I have enough good stuff. It happens so rarely I can make it work. Good luck on your project!
Mary
Posted by: Mary Kastner | October 22, 2019 at 05:54 AM
Good luck.
We are planning a move & I have to start downsizing everything. . . .been going through my quilt books & magazines and I am amazed at how many I don't want.
I'm at a loss of what to do with them. . . my library won't take anything copyrighted older than 10 years, and I have posted them on different sites with no takers.
I don't have too many clothes to go through. . .but I laughed at your comment about pj's. . .I think I have more pj's than work clothes! LOL
Have a lovely day.
Posted by: Sherry V. | October 22, 2019 at 06:09 AM
Oh my, Nicole, I have two pair of pyjamas...one favourite that I've worn almost every night for the past ten years! And the second pair is for Monday's when my favourite pair is getting washed! I have decided tho that I need to buy a new pair and it's on my to do list. Have you watched the Marie Kondo series on Netflix or read her books?? Amazing woman and eye opening series. Have a great day.
Posted by: T Holzer | October 22, 2019 at 06:33 AM
Oh, I so identify with your dilemma! Shoes, especially! I won't tell you how many pair I have...let's just say they're in two closets... I no longer wear heels & have found that flats can be lovely & chic but do not hurt your feet! For prior commenter, Sherry V., if there is a quilt guild in your area they often have 'free' tables at their meetings & may be happy to have your discarded books. Churches sometimes have a quilting or sewing group that may be interested, as well.
Posted by: Jan | October 22, 2019 at 06:43 AM
I'm in the process of of swapping out my summer things for fall and winter and I too have decided that I do not need so many clothes. I tend to wear my same favorite clothes over and over. I had 10 pairs of black slacks, why!?! I now have 3, 2 more than I probably need, lol. For your pajamas, I save my older ones for when I travel, and leave them behind as the trip progresses. It frees up much needed space in my suitcase for souvenirs, any little bit helps.
Posted by: Thelma | October 22, 2019 at 07:19 AM
When you get finished at your house, can you come over to my house?
Posted by: piecrust | October 22, 2019 at 07:55 AM
I hear you! I am going through the same thing as I recently retired and realize that the clothes I wore 5 days a week will be needed only 2-3 times a month now so I might as well cull down to those I like best.
I take my older pjs on vacation and throw them away at the end, freeing up room in my suitcase for any purchases (there are always some purchases, lol!). I have done the same with running shoes.
Posted by: Cathy | October 22, 2019 at 08:06 AM
I just finished this process and it made me feel wonderful to purge all that excess. The shoes ARE hard to part with, but as you mentioned, my feet aren't as happy in the as they used to be. I have acquired some lovely wedge shoes that are much more comfortable, and booties are another favorite.
I have to laugh at all the ladies leaving old pjs in various places they travel. I'm afraid the old ones are the ones I keep...so soft and comfy.
Posted by: Kathleen Gentile | October 22, 2019 at 08:22 AM
Did a big closet clean-out this summer when my daughter/granddaughter were visiting. All of my work and dressy clothes were up for grabs.
What they didn't want went to the thrift shop which was thrilled to receive the donation of good quality classic clothes. Shoes were gone through previously and hard as it was, the realization was that I would not be wearing 3" to 4" heels in the future.
Our lifestyles changes over the years! Good luck!!!
Posted by: Arrowhead Gramma | October 22, 2019 at 08:38 AM
I do wish you luck. It is a good thing that you are doing. Very likely, as you say, once the items are out of the house, you will not miss them, but you will have a profound sense of relief that the destashing project is done. It truly is a good feeling. (Why do we acquire so much to begin with?)! Good luck!
Posted by: Margaret | October 22, 2019 at 09:10 AM
Good for you for cleaning out! Just keep thinking of all the people who can use those beautiful clothes. I found it such a relief to donate my work clothes when I retired - it's amazing how much lighter you feel!
Posted by: Patricia Ludwiczak | October 22, 2019 at 07:46 PM
I use to wear heels and every thing that went with them. I now live in t-shirts, jeans, and hoodies.
I DO NOT own a jacket/coat of any kind. I live in the PNW where temps. are normally mild, and if not, add another T-shirt :-)
Posted by: Dorothy | October 23, 2019 at 02:10 AM
Hi . Suzanne from Australia again. I think we must be twins because your closet clean out resonated with me to a tee! I have been retired ( ain't it great ) 4 years now and although it was 12 months before I wore my black work pants, I still have them.I'm constantly in jeans so I rarely need to wear black formal trousers. I have clothes I have forgotten I even own, don't wear heels anymore, have too many new shoes, never worn, still in the boxes. So someone should be able to use them cause it's certainly not me. So,give them away and out of your space. Summer is coming here so it's time to review the winter clothes - I just need to do it
Posted by: suzanne simpson | October 23, 2019 at 04:27 PM
I got rid of all my scrubs when I retired--some were 100% cotton and I deconstructed them to use in quilting. I actually have more clothes and more shoes now that I'm NOT working. lol Still don't have much in the way of dressy clothes--I never go anywhere dressy--but my jeans and t-shirts have multiplied.
If there is a Buy Nothing group nearby, you might think about joining, and gifting some of your clothes. It might help you weed out your shoes, too, when you actually meet the person who would wear them.
Posted by: Stephanie Davison | October 24, 2019 at 09:37 AM
I was working on closet clean out this weekend too...I keep thinking I might fit back into the smaller clothes one day, so have a hard time giving stuff away, but I did clean out a lot this weekend. Maybe try Poshmark for the shoes? I’ve signed up but haven’t tried it yet...maybe on another rainy Saturday!
Posted by: Jennifer in Indy | October 27, 2019 at 04:48 PM
I really need to clean out my closet too! I have a lot of clothes that are too big for me, now that I've lost 100+ pounds. I'm afraid that if I give the up, I will gain weight and need them again. I know, its silly. But seriously, I do need to clean out my closet! I have a lot of "work" clothes, but I haven't "worked" in almost 2 years (at least not out of the house!). It goes on the list! Have a great day! You inspired me to at least put it on the TO DO list!!!
Posted by: Pati | October 27, 2019 at 06:06 PM