James Perse striped skirt
James Perse casual tee
Dannijo necklace | old
No6 clog wedges | sold out
Admonish custom leather tote | mine is sold out – similar distressed charcoal style
I really love this skirt. But I never wear it.
Inspired by Recovering Shopaholic’s recent post where she carefully documented every outfit she wore, paying particular attention to why she liked, or didn’t like it, I’m trying to make myself wear the things I don’t normally wear to determine if I need to keep them.
We’ve been through this before. It’s okay to have things around that I don’t wear as frequently as I’d like to, and I’ve set another weight loss goal for myself, so I’m not going to get rid of anything until I reach that, and determine if things I don’t wear very often now fit me better then. BUT. I just don’t like having things around that I don’t wear. It suffocates me. I want to have less. I’m tired of being overwhelmed by all the things I own that don’t get worn.
I was going to try to photograph every single outfit I REALLY wear and take notes on them, with the goal of taking a hard, realistic look at my wardrobe, but already that seems quite ambitious. Maybe I’ll start Monday…
I’m quite enjoying reading Be More With Less and Recovering Shopaholic on my journey towards minimalism; I’ve found that their ideas are inspirational. My resolve to have a (way) more minimal wardrobe doesn’t stop me from having a panic attack whenever I think about getting rid of beloved items (that I don’t wear) though. What can ease me through that?
Hi Gretchen,
Isn’t the Recovering Shopaholic site terrific? I think Debbie is one of the most insightful bloggers about the ways we psych ourselves out about clothing. She has a lot of wisdom to share.
Your goals are lofty and admirable, but perhaps you are taking on too many all at once? I’m hearing: “make myself wear all outfits, photo all outfits, lose weight, become minimalist.” Wow. Debbie’s blog has taken her years to write and she is very honest how much she still struggles with issues surrounding clothes and body image. Taking everything on at once–no wonder you feel tired!
Here’s a humble suggestion. You might pack away in boxes all the clothes and accessories that don’t fit right now. You don’t have to make any decisions about those immediately, but get them out of sight and reach so you can focus on looking good now. Out of that’s left, select a group of things that fit and that you love, and put other items away but convenient, like in another closet. No number limit, just going for finding the good stuff, and you can always dip into your other closet if you want to.
Now, document those favorites that make you look and feel your best and scrutinize the heck out of them. What makes them work–color, silhouette, texture, utility of the item,how well it mixes and matches? That way you’re starting with what works, rather than what doesn’t.
Best wishes on your fashion journey!
I’m still in the “thinking, planning, and fortifying” myself stage of paring down all of my stuff. As soon as my back is better, I am SO ready to clean out my closets. Yes, plural. It’s ridiculous, when it think about how many clothing, shoe and jewelry items I own. And why? I don’t even wear or use most of them. I intend to be ruthless when I get right down to it.
I’ve read “Recovering Shopaholic,” too, and find her info helpful. I think I have the insights about myself and WHY I do it, now I need to take action so that I create a wardrobe I actually love and wear.
And we can realize that we’re not alone in this endeavor!
Hi Grechen, I will happily cheer you on through this process. I hear you loud and clear. Only today I popped on a very cool jacket that I just don’t wear. Truth be told while it fits my shoulders and across the back nicely, the front struggles to cover my breasts!! I photographed it and realised it really doesn’t look as good as I like to think it does, SO why can’t I pass it on??? Thankfully there are only a few things left like this in my wardrobe and the pleasure, comfort and ease of a more minimal and cohesive wardrobe generally outweighs the pull to keep beautiful things that I don’t wear. Maybe tomorrow I will pop it in the donate bag!!
Also wanted to thank your incredibly kind comment on my recent blog post. You do harem pants in a business ensemble pretty darn well yourself. xx
thank you amy! and yes, you’re right, i’m taking on way too much at one time…which seems to be what i always do. then i get overwhelmed and quit. ah…i’m the best at self-sabotage!!! but i’m trying to quit that, so thank you for your reminder 🙂
today i plan to take everything out of my closet that i actually WEAR, adding it to a rolling rack in my room and shutting the closet door for a while. over time, i’ll swap things out and separate them, so i know what i actually think i wear, but don’t, and what i actually wear….hopefully that will help cement in my mind what i really need to get rid of.
so – basically doing what you suggested. and will try to photograph outfits (simply, not a photoshoot everyday!) to document more thoroughly.
here we go! thank you so much for your suggestions and taking the time to comment.
thank you deborah – i will say again, i really loved your outfit, and your look overall.
this is the struggle i have also, getting rid of things that aren’t just right. i know part of my problem is that i THINK that if i only lose the last 20 pounds then everything will fit perfectly, which is absolutely not true. i’ve been there before. i’m there now after the FIRST 20 pounds!!
i know it’s mostly emotional – i just don’t want to let go of things i’ve bought, and things i may have loved at first, because it means admitting that i made a mistake. or that i have something to regret. Which is true to an extent but not as much as i make it into. it’s just clothes for goodness’ sake, not something much more serious…
i also don’t know what to DO with all the stuff i have. i can donate it, sure, but i also know that a lot of my readers would appreciate some of the things i no longer want. then i get overwhelmed by thinking about selling so much stuff, or ebay, or even giving it away to people i have to mail to! ugh. story of my life 😉 but i will push on….
thank you for your support, and your comment 🙂
i can be pretty ruthless too, when i’m cleaning out my closet, but then i have pangs of regret and panic attacks and all sorts of crazy ideas in my head about NEEDING things, you know, for emergency beach trips, or fancy events, or whatever. sheesh.
That’s one of my big issues, too, Grechen! When I think of all the things I’ve bought and didn’t even wear, OR even cut the tags off of, for heaven’s sake!…it makes me feel a little ill about all of the money I’ve wasted. And the thought of finding either a consignment shop, or ebay, (which I trust less and less), or using one of the newer online consignments ( such as Threadsy, or Thred up) I get seriously overwhelmed! Sometimes, I haven’t returned things because it means mailing them back.
I think my wardrobe controls ME! Not the other way around.
Ok, dammit, this outfit brought me out of lurkdom. I love this look on you. Love. it. all.
I’m enjoying watching you cultivate a workable wardrobe of loved items and pare down. I too am trying to only buy things I love and get rid of my “sale goggles”. I have so much crap that I bought because it “would do” and was on sale.
I just have to talk myself into looking at clothing that I love as an investment and shift away from fast fashion/cheaply made stuff.
Anyway, love your blog. 🙂
haha! thank you so much for your comment – i hope there will be many more 🙂
it’s a much harder journey than i thought it would be – there’s a lot of soul searching involved, and some crying in the closet, i’ll be honest. it’s made me realize how different the life in my head is from my real-life, and that obviously brings up a lot of other issues. to be discussed more later ….!!
“Sale goggles” …lol! A new fashion term for us! Welcome, krenee!!