Friday, January 28, 2011

January Blues and Closet Cleaning

01/28/11
Yay, it's Friday!  And January's almost over!  I'm once again sporting some blue (the color of the month), but unlike other January blues I've worn, this one is bright and pastel.  So that makes black and blue a little less blah, right?  And although I have a seemingly endless amount of cardigan sweaters that would go with this top, I instead went with a nice open, drapey cardigan, since I like the style so much when Cynthia wears it.  This is Gap Body, so I don't know, maybe I'm supposed to wear this at yoga or something?  But it's soft knit and super cozy, and has nice detailing that makes it look work appropriate, as well as lounge-appropriate.  See?

01/28/11
I had some free time after work yesterday, so I finally started the daunting task of cleaning out my closet.  It's been feeling really cluttered lately, which kind of stresses me out.  I was returning an ill-fitting dress at the mall on Wednesday night, and the clerk and I were wondering why we buy things that we won't wear.  I bought a dress around New Year's, but once I got it home I wasn't sure I liked it.  I waffled for a while, but finally returned it. The clerk told me she does this all the time, but has a rule that if something sits in her closet for a month, she isn't going to wear it, so it gets returned.  I wish I had that kind of rules, but instead, things sit in my closet for a while (years in a lot of cases), only to get worn a couple of times. An interview with Lisa from Archives reminded me of this.  She says "Now that I see how much money I've wasted at fast fashion stores on items worn somewhere between 1-5 times, I definitely regret my reckless spending. If I could go back in time, I wish I had been saving all that money. " 

01/28/11
I've also been reading Shakespeare's Feminine Ending's posts about paring down over at Fashionable Academics.  Today she said she is getting rid of things that are not worn, not liked, or don't fit.  And when I looked in my closet, I had a lot that fits into each of those categories.  In fact, I have at least 2 big boxes full of things that don't fit in my basement.  I guess I've been saving them in hopes that I'll be a size 10 again someday, but even if I am, will I want to dress like it's 2004 again?  Has it been worth it to move these clothes to all 6 of my Chicago apartments in that time?  Hmm.  Having things that don't fit kind of makes sense.  Even having things that aren't worn kind of makes sense, since my cluttered closet has prevented me from seeing things that I'd otherwise wear.  But what about things that I don't like?  Why would I even have such things?  I think some of it is my tastes changing, but in a lot of cases, it was things that I liked, but didn't like on me.  So needless to say, I pulled 2 bags of clothes out of my closet that I'll be donating, and a few things that I might try to sell before donating.

Seeing all of these clothes that I'm getting rid of because I won't wear them again has helped me identify exactly what I had been wasting my money on.  I used to shop a lot, just for the sake of shopping, and I'd buy things that didn't look good or didn't fit right, and just stop wearing them.  I have more than enough clothes, so I think that at this point, I should only be buying things if I really need them, if they're flattering, and if they're so versatile that I can get a lot of wear out of them.

Wow, that's a lot for a Friday post!  Have any of you taken on similar efforts to de-clutter?

Cardigan: Gap Outlet
Tee and Necklace: New York & Company
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Loft

15 comments:

  1. Hey, thanks for dressing me today. Also, this outfit looks really great on you. I like the ruffle tee.

    I have to do some purging at my house, too. I've got a lot of older layering tees that can definitely go.

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  2. I love that pale blue color on you. My shopping goal this year is to buy fewer, quality pieces instead of lots of cheaper clothes.

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  3. I'm also appreciating the pale blue here on you. And the shirring of the cardigan? Awesome.
    I totally get what you're saying about fast fashion shopping. One thing I've noticed about my shopping ban is that I don't just go into stores (and they're everywhere here in NYC. Like a few blocks from work- so I don't even need to plan) just to see what's available for $5. I don't know how much I've saved (because I probably spend money on other things) but I probably have less clutter for this reason. I still want to shop, however, as socializing and celebration, though.
    If I make it through GAAD, I want to also save and invest, and see clothes the way I would with furniture. Not just something I want to constantly accumulate, but something more functional and high-quality

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  4. Ah decluttering is such a chore for me. During winter break, I finally convinced myself to try on every piece of clothing I had in my closet. If it didn't flatter me, I tossed it in the to-give-away pile. I must have filled two or three garbage bags worth. Now, I have nothing and feel like I wasted so much money. This made me think about why I shop, though, and I've finally made the decision to try on more stuff before buying and to think about what I really want and need.

    Also, I love that cardigan you're wearing. I initially always feel weird buying stuff at GAP body and then wearing them to work/school. But then I say, who cares? If it's comfy and looks presentable, then I'll wear it wherever I want.

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  5. I'm doing a big swap this weekend with some girlfriends in an effort to pass on some of my clothes that I don't wear very much. I'm also feeling a big need to pare down.

    The drapey cardi looks lovely with the blue. Have a great weekend!

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  6. YES. I decluttered today. I gave it my best effort anyway, but there is still so much. And in that effort I'm even wearing a few things I got in 2005. So yeah. But I've never really moved, so I don't know how it would be to even attempt to pack up my closet.
    Probably really, really hard.

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  7. The pale blue is lovely!

    It's catching! de-cluttering I mean. I need to do that this weekend I try to do it twice a year. My main issue has been buying vintage stuff that doesn't fit. I suppose it's just that I find things I can't leave behind! I'm going to try to list items on etsy and if I find I like it I may start buying pieces to sell.

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  8. I really love this outfit on you. I'm also going to play the role of A-Dubs here, and ask for a detail shot of those shoes next time. Are they loafers? They look awesome.

    Great thoughts on shopping & clutter. I've being some de-cluttering recently as well -- that made me realize that I really only have one pair of professional pants. I've got lots hanging up but most of them either no longer fit or just don't work for me anymore. I'd like to say that I'll start saving for quality but I'm really more of a quantity person.

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  9. Cynthia: I guess it's the time of year for closet purging, since I keep reading about more and more people doing it.

    Rebecca: Me too, I think quality is definitely more worthwhile than quantity. And once you're done with 30x30, you'll be even better at remixing, so you won't need many pieces :)

    Rad: You've totally pinpointed my weakness too - what can I get for $5? How could I not buy something that's such a good value? Except that it doesn't fit me, or I don't like it, and I won't wear it. I like shopping to celebrate too.

    Laura: I tried on a lot of clothes yesterday too. I didn't get through my closet completely, but still, it was a pretty long process. It's good to get to the root of why we shop though, and I'm hoping I won't repeat the same mistakes again. Hopefully.

    Sheila: A swap is a good idea too. Hmm, I'll have to find some girlfriends who are my size first...

    Lyddie: I have a lot more decluttering to go too! I'm a little envious of not moving, since I've done it way too much over the years. Although having to pack up everything you own is a pretty good way to get rid of old stuff you don't need anymore (or keep moving the same old box of clothes that don't fit from apartment to apartment...)

    La Fille: I definitely hear you on stuff that you can't leave behind. I'm selling some of my stuff on eBay. I did that last year, and there seemed to be a lot of gals my size looking for cheap clothes. I barely broke even, but it was good to give my stuff a new home.

    E-Jo: I have a ton of work pants that I can't wear anymore too. I should probably donate those. It's funny you should ask for a shoe close-up, since A-Dubs did the first time I blogged these! http://cohabitatingcloset.blogspot.com/2010/08/busy-wednesday.html

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  10. I love the ruffles in the tee and the additional light in your photos. I keep a couple of pair of Mom jeans around as I have 5-10 pounds that tend to come and go every winter. And, thanks for the link to CotM

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  11. Haha, I'm constantly buying things I don't wear later...I blame it on those super-flattering dressing room mirrors. D:

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  12. Good job, Anne! Two bags of clothes is a nice haul, and you'll be making a lot of other women happy. The light blue is nice to see in winter. I'm surprised it's not a more winter-driven color, since it's the color of ice, and the sky on certain days. Paired with lilac and winter white or soft gray, it would look like a walking snow day. I love your cardigan.

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  13. Dude. You look lovely. And I'm trying to take the whole "less quantity" shopping thing to heart. Thanks for spelling it out for us. Some of us (i.e. me) need to be told these things on a regular basis as we (i.e. I) tend to forget the importance of good fit and quality in the excitement of end-of-season sales and discount shopping.

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  14. Good job, Anne! Two bags of clothes is a nice haul, and you'll be making a lot of other women happy. The light blue is nice to see in winter. I'm surprised it's not a more winter-driven color, since it's the color of ice, and the sky on certain days. Paired with lilac and winter white or soft gray, it would look like a walking snow day. I love your cardigan.

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  15. YES. I decluttered today. I gave it my best effort anyway, but there is still so much. And in that effort I'm even wearing a few things I got in 2005. So yeah. But I've never really moved, so I don't know how it would be to even attempt to pack up my closet.
    Probably really, really hard.

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