And over the two weeks since I wrote that post about needing to organize and make some decisions regarding the stuff that's accumulated around here, more stuff has arrived and the issue has only gotten more pressing. I feel claustrophobic! And also faintly ill with material posessions, which I think drag a person down. So today I though, 'what can I do, in one day, that will make a big impact on space in my home and also help me feel as though I have accomplished a significant step in decluttering?'
I came up with my clothes. The thought terrified me but also sounded sort of exciting at the same time. I remember reading a book once where the authoress discussed her wardrobe and how she had x number of outfits, hung together, so that her dressing was streamlined. Well, I don't know that that's practical for me but certainly I think it's a reasonable goal to have my clothes be able to mix and match with each other. And as I mentioned to a friend recently, I have got to stop holding on to clothing for some imaginary future or treasured past. Right now, today, I need clothes that work for the meetings that I attend, church and mothering in all facets and that's it. Plus, it's not like I can't buy it again. That's always been a hard one for me; I'm so frugal it isn't easy to let something go if there's still the possibility that I could use it in the future.
But then I took about an hour (yes, it took that long) and I gathered up all of my clothing, and I folded it and put it on my bed, and it looked like this:
There were so many clothes I couldn't get them all in one shot.
Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Is it something along the lines of there-are-people-out-there-who-don't-have-a-winter-coat? Yeah, me too. I was a little ill.
The first things to go were clothes that had stains that wouldn't come out or were in some way damaged and I knew, honestly, I wouldn't repair. So the lovely black dress top covered in beads was going because some beads were needing to be re-stitched by hand, and as much as I would love to imagine myself as someone who beads by hand, I'm not. And the shirt from my high school graduation was going because of a tea stain that rendered it unwearable except in dire strictly indoor circumstances.
Once that step was taken I got rid of anything that had seen better days. Clothes that were faded, fraying or noticeably mended. Anything pilled. Anything that had pulls in it. Anything that I wouldn't think was 'good' enough to give to someone but thought was 'good' enough for me to wear.
Next came clothes that had outgrown their stay. I'm not pregnant so I put maternity clothes, things that used to fit, dresses for events I would never get invited to...you know you have these, too.
What was left I organized into 'everyday cool weather' 'occasion cool weather' 'everyday warm weather' and 'occasion warm weather'. to make certain I had enough of each to make up several outfits over the week and for church or some other event.
Here's the breakdown:
I started with...
17 sweaters, vest and sweatshirts
7 dresses
9 skirts
3 jackets
4 items of maternity wear
11 blouses and dress tops
8 pants
7 t-shirts
5 tank tops or shells
8 long-sleeved shirts
I ended with...
4 sweaters, vests and sweatshirts
3 dresses
4 skirts
2 jackets
4 blouses or dress tops
5 pants
3 t-shirts
3 tank tops or shells
5 long-sleeved shirts
I had to stop before I could tackle accessories (hats, scarves, etc.) shoes and pajamas, though rest assured those will be handled, too. I feel so relieved. Nice, stacked piles waiting for the Salvation Army and me, with my entire wardrobe that fits, neatly, into my dresser.
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