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Showing posts with label donate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label donate. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Curating My Closet

As I mentioned yesterday, I cleaned out my closet (again). I started this process several weeks ago, and finally finished up this past Sunday - it is not a task for the faint of heart, nor those short on time or patience. As I've said several times before, I've got A LOT of clothes. A LOT.

However, I am getting rid of a lot. 
132 items is a lot (I think, anyways).
These items range from: purses to boots, to pants to jackets, tops to jewelry, and scarves to sweaters.

I tried (almost) everything on, assessed the fit, how it made me feel, and how it fit into my closet. I also asked myself "Why are you hanging onto this?" if it was something I hadn't worn in ages, or was a gift I didn't particularly care for. When I had questions (which was often), I asked my husband his opinion, or texted my best friend a picture. With their help, I was able to part with some oldies, and came up with a huge pile several piles of clothes, shoes & accessories to get rid of - HALLELUJAH

I don't know why, but cleaning out my closet can be so liberating - anyone else feel the same way? I can't figure out why I hang onto things for so long, or why I get such a thrill finding things on the clearance rack. I realized a lot of things I got on super-sale don't reflect ME, or make me feel like a million bucks (or a thousand, or even a hundred). It's more like, I see something inexpensive and wearable, and all common sense goes out the window and my brain screams at me 

"BUY ALL THE CHEAP THINGS!" 

So, my closet was full of lots of inexpensive, but cute and fun, items that don't necessarily reflect that 20-something, fun loving, young professional, wife, bulldog mom, and personal style blogger that I've become. 

So, I sorted through the get-rid-of piles. I put some things straight into the DONATE pile, some into a box for a friend who lives far away (dropped it in the mail yesterday!), some into the rag bag (yeah, I know...), and the rest I'm going to try and sell on eBay and Instagram. Once I get pictures taken and posted with descriptions & prices, I'll share the link here and on my Instagram (SweetBananie), so you can literally "shop my closet." 

My best friend and I had plenty of time to talk and catch up when I met The Pioneer Woman last week. A recurring topic of conversation is clothes. Specifically "curating our closets." 

My friend, L, has done a great job of getting rid of pieces she doesn't LOVE, keeping those that she does, and focusing on quality over quantity. I, on the other hand, like I mentioned above, seem to have an appetite for lots and lots and lots of cheap items. She sent me this picture (below) this weekend. This is her entire winter wardrobe. Not just for the month of November. or December. ALL WINTER.
Can we say impressed?? And those are pieces that she LOVES, and will wear OFTEN (we're talking weekly, not monthly, or once per season, like me). 
I told her this was my inspiration, then got right to work in my own closet. 

We talk about clothes a lot. A lot more than normal people do (I'm sure), but it's great to have someone to bounce outfits & ideas off of. And someone to gently ask me:

"How does this outfit make you feel?" 
"Is this a reflection of who you want to be?"

and also to remind me that spending more than $20 on a sweater is OK, in fact, it's really OK, it's perfectly acceptable. Or to remind me that yes, that pair of shoes is more than I would normally consider spending on a pair of shoes, but that if I really love them, I should get them. And then WEAR them. And determine that my cost per wear (over several years for a well made pair) will be less than pennies. And that that is a very worthy investment - I should spend my hard earned money on less (in quantity) quality pieces that I love, instead of spending it on more (in quantity) cheaper pieces that I kinda-sorta like, will wear once or twice, and then keep in the back of my closet for ages. 

I've got a lot more thoughts on this topic (where to begin?!), specifically how to attempt this task while not spending beyond my means, dressing "Parisian chic", "curating my closet" (like a museum!), and making the switch to quality over quantity, but I'll save those for some other day(s).

Ever feel the need to completely overhaul your closet? What about just clean it out and freshen it up?

linking up over here today, at Because Shanna Said So, and here with My Fash Avenue

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Clothes I'm Parting With

I went through my closet this last week (I had some free time with all the snow), and have some items I'm ready to part with. There's not TONS of room in my closet now, but I can move things around a lot easier - and that feels great for a nerd like me. 

Here are the items I'm going to take to my favorite consignment store, Trends. Whatever they don't take will get donated to a local ARC or Goodwill.

left to right: Ann Taylor oatmeal sweater; J Crew mustard sweater; black & white short sleeve jacket 

left to right: brown & black goucho pants; pink plaid bermuda shorts (on me they're more like capri length); black tulle skirt; light blue shorts; white shorts

 left to right: strapless white top; red tunic length top; Love & Pink shirt from VS; dark green slouchy top; long sleeved blue shirt; black & blue printed sleeveless top; black crewneck shirt; gray slouchy "bat wing" shirt; brown & white striped shirt

left to right: BCBGirls sandals; white belt; mint colored scarf

There were also some things I already gave away to some friends and my sweet mama. 
(not pictured)
to 1 friend: pair of gray pants
to another friend: 2 dresses - 1 pewter & black, the other purple & teal
to my mama: a purple cocktail dress; pink skirt; pink sweater & striped scarf



In other news, this was my Sunday morning while my Mr. slept in... 
Turbo, lazily observing

Cali, imploring me to snuggle

essentials: a (fancy) new tumbler & Vera Bradley mug, filled (and refilled) with coffee

Here's to parting with things I no longer need, and enjoying what remains of the weekend!