James Perse sweatshirt | Made in the US
Splendid crew neck t-shirt | old, similar style by Sundry, also made in the US
Frame Le Garcon jeans | made in the US
Repetto BB Flats | mine are quite old, and perforated leather
Proenza Schouler PS1 satchel in dark olive | purchased with credit from Forzieri
Margot Wolf necklace | made in the US
Happy Monday! This weekend I went through the box in the top of my closet of clothes/shoes I’d been holding on to for spring and purged A LOT. It’s finally promising to warm up here, so I went through my closet and the box of clothes to see what I want to wear this season and what I’m ready to get rid of. Among the things I was finally ready to part with were two pairs of Repetto ballet flats, leaving me only with this pair I’m wearing today.
In total, I’ve owned 5 pairs of Repetto ballet flats (I was obsessed for a while), and I wore them a lot 5-6 years ago, but stopped about two years ago because they didn’t fit my current style. I’m not sure they do, still, but I’m easing back into them a bit. I wore them all weekend when it wasn’t raining, and I was happy with how comfortable they were and easy to wear. The look is different for me, since I’ve been favoring “thicker” more substantial shoe styles for a few years, but very flattering on my foot, especially with skinny jeans/leggings.
Anyway, whether or not I wear them very often, I will keep this one pair of Repetto ballet flats, and a few other pairs of shoes I haven’t worn in years, in my wardrobe. Perhaps indefinitely. The other shoes in question, Sportmax clogs and Robert Clergerie platforms that are each about 10 years old, remind me of a lot of things, and bring back memories, sure, but I also LOVE them; they make my heart smile. Maybe that’s a small part of why I won’t get rid of them, but also, I know that while they may not be my style now, they might be later, and they’re meaningful enough and special enough that I’d regret getting rid of them.
I’m resigned to having a handful of things in my wardrobe that I don’t wear, but no more than that. And now that my closet is manageable and mostly full of things I DO wear, I think that’s fair. I no longer feel “bad” about keeping things I don’t wear very often, because I know what I have in my closet, and I know that it’s all there for a reason.
What do you have in your wardrobe you don’t wear, but will hold on to? why? Name two things…
I realize this is completely unrelated, but I really like it when you wear the clothes, really helps me figure out what might work for me. Thank you for putting yourself out there!
Now, can you tell me why, with a closet full of clothes I panic right before a business trip or special night out? Surely I have something in there I can wear? Why does it all end up looking like a whole lot of nothing?
good question zanna! i know i was that way also, before i got rid of A LOT of stuff…maybe you have too much? and not enough of the “right” things?
Well, I have more than two things that I hang on to that I don’t wear, even after I Kondoed my clothing. 🙂 My weirdest one: I have an aran hand knit sweater that I got when I was backpacking in Ireland…omg…16 years ago! I am not sure if I have ever worn it. It has a matching hat and mitts. For some mysterious reason it brings me great comfort knowing that it is there…like I could fall back on becoming a fisherman if my job options keep disappearing. My most irrational one: I have a dress (okay, several) that I don’t wear. But I WANT to wear it (them)! It feels like they are my positive intention for carving out a more active, pretty life.
It is interesting to me that after I went through Marie Kondo’s book, sorted through my clothes and then went through the process of selling them, there were a few items that were either rejected from consignment or left unsold from eBay. Slowly they are drifting back into my closet, like maybe they didn’t want to leave after all. AND, there were several pairs of shoes that ‘sparked joy’ that I have listed on eBay so that I can save up for what I feel I will use more this season. My spark joy radar is not quite tuned properly yet, I guess.
Cocktail dresses and skirts. I hardly wear these items, but there they are .. in my closet. I hold on to them as I’m such a hard fit for both that if I had a fancy event that I had to go to .. at least I would have something to wear.
Realistically .. I don’t lead any type of cocktail dress life .. lol.
Monica.
MonicaP´s last blog post ..March Ulta Haul and Mini Review
Hi Grechen – I recently discovered your blog and I just wanted to tell you that I find it really inspiring. And what a style transition you’ve had, I’m amazed and impressed! I have a lovely, very bohemian kimono from Spell and the Gypsy Collective with fringes and a big print on the back which I’ve worn only once, but it’s so beautiful that I still want to keep it although it’s really not my style. I also have a pair of nude patent pumps with very high heels which are even a tad too big for me, but they look so perfect that I want to keep them, too 🙂
Karianne´s last blog post ..My Winter Capsule Wardrobe
i think it takes a lot of trial and error to really pinpoint those things that will BOTH spark joy and fit into our lives. i’m not sure i’m there yet, either.
i love what you say about things finding their way back into your closet. that’s happened to me just now with ebay too…and my conclusion was that i might as well just use the damn thing 😉 i’m just not sure i want to.
with regard to things we don’t wear but keep around, i think it’s all about how we FEEL keeping them around. before, i felt really bad having so much STUFF, overwhelmed, suffocated…now, i’m more deliberate about what i keep and don’t feel bad about it anymore. that’s the “magic” point i think- where we’re comfortable with what we’ve chosen to keep and with the size of our wardrobes. that’s where we’re happy and satisfied.
this is why i’m okay with keeping certain things at the top of my closet, or hanging in the back. so if keeping your sweater around gives you comfort, not making you feel guilty, bad, or overwhelmed, then absolutely you should keep it…and your dresses too…
thank you karianne!
i absolutely think that – within reason – we should keep a few things around that make us happy, or are beautiful, even if we don’t wear them. i’ve often thought of displaying things i don’t wear that i think are “pretty” just to enjoy them without having to actually wear them. that may be an interesting solution for your kimono?
Two things I’ll have forever? Even if I don’t really wear them? 1. My red cowboy boots: I love them, and the idea of them, but probably only pull them out once or twice a year. The grey ones I picked up second-hand in Austin a few years back get worn more often. 2. A brown velvet back-button sleeveless top that was my mom’s in the 70s. It’s gorgeous, but my bone structure is larger than hers and I’m curvier, so it doesn’t always fit. But it’s gorgeous and irreplaceable, so it stays. I’m happy enough just to look at it!
My grad dress and my wedding dress!
I’ve really had to think about this. It wasn’t as easy as going to my closet and choosing two items. Once again, it’s because of the emotional ties and how PURCHASING the garments made me feel….not even wearing them. 1) A J Crew navy Velvet blazer…it sounded so good ( in theory), seemed classic and “necessary” and looked so great on the model. And SO not me! 2) A pair of high-heel platform shoes that were Louboutin knock-offs. It was the trend, they were nude, therefore so versatile (perhaps for someone without 2 left feet!), and I felt so uncomfortable in them that I never wore them. Lesson that I take away from this: Buy for the lifestyle I HAVE!