Do you have this dilemma? I have plenty of clothes. My closet is full. Yet when it comes time to get dressed, I cannot find anything to wear. I even shop for outfits; that is, when I am deciding what to purchase, I make a point to find two or three tops for a pair of pants, shorts, or a skirt. I think I am being organized, and travel packing is easier. Still …. well, you get the picture.
So summer is in full swing and still I have not repositioned my clothes for easier access. Of course I have the added challenge of having moved my linens from another closet to make room for my grandchildren’s clothes. (One lives with me full time; the other when she is in the mood. Both have their own rooms at my house. But that is another story.)
I have boxes and boxes of shoes that likely will not be worn again, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of them. I have several tops that are nice but that have not been worn for a couple of years. There are dresses that I “may” need one day. And, oh, those jackets, ponchos, and pullovers for winter that were useful once upon a time. All this in addition to the fact that I donated my professional clothes – suits, blouses, slacks, jackets – to Suited for Success soon after I retired eight years ago!
Last year I got the bright idea to put a tag on each hanger. When I wore an item, I removed the tag and the item stays in the closet. At the end of the season, those items with tags still on their hangers were to be donated. It was a brilliant idea! And it worked – sort of.
I’m disgustingly organized, too. One rack has long-sleeved blouses, sorted by color; another short-sleeved and sleeveless, also sorted by color. The pant rack is divided with hanging labels (yes, I made labels!) for shorts, capris, summer slacks, winter slacks, summer sweats, winter sweats, jeans, and athletic pants. Dresses, nightgowns, and robes are in the taller space. Shelves hold shoes in their original boxes, labels facing out to remind me what is in each. Still, my closet feels messy and I can’t find something to wear! It’s time to pull everything out and start again!
So how do I attack this project? Wendy Rose Gould in Real Simple suggests first, set a goal – how much do I want to clean out? Deciding on an amount ahead of the project may seem too confining. However, with an amount in mind it takes some of the emotion out of clearing. Next, gather boxes and trash bags to immediately place pieces for donations, resell, repair, and trash.
As I look at each item, I can ask myself: Do I enjoy wearing this? Does it make me feel comfortable and attractive? When will I wear the item? With what will I wear it. Would I love to wear this if I have something to complement it? Kaitlyn Yarborough wrote in Southern Living that she uses the Rule of 3. If she can’t visualize wearing the item in at least three different ways, it’s out. In this way I suppose you are setting an intention for donning the item in the coming weeks. As for those clothes that are too big or too small, get rid of them. I once bought a dress I adored but I needed to lose about an inch in the waste for it to fit properly. That dress hung in my closet for several years before I finally concluded it was never going to fit. It would fit someone – just not me.
Another challenge is “Why am I holding on to this item that I haven’t worn?” Was it a gift, thus I feel guilty about ridding myself of it, even though I have not enjoyed wearing it? Is it an item I wore for a special occasion or on a memorable trip? By identifying the nostalgic reason opposed to the practical I will wear this when …. I can more easily put it in the donation pile. I can take a picture of it, if I don’t already have one, and thus remember the item without leaving it unused and taking up space. Kaitlyn suggests an “Outbox” much as email uses. Put sentimental clothes that are those you are not sure of into a temporary storage box and put it away. If you don’t go to it in a month or two, it is time to donate the items.
And then there is the item you love but it has to be dry cleaned or it must be treated carefully in the laundry, so you put off wearing it for days you are out and about. Especially now that I am at home several days of the week, I don’t wear high-maintenance clothes for cooking, cleaning, reading, writing, and gardening. I even find myself wondering if it is worth “dirtying” the outfit for a one-and-a-half hour meeting. In this case I really have to decide if I want to keep the item … and wear it!
Now, there are those items I love to wear but really, really need to go – and probably not into the donate pile, if you know what I mean. How many pants and shirts do I need to pull weeds, paint, or just lazy around?
Finally, just do it! Looking at the messy closet, overthinking and procrastinating do nothing to help move the project along. The clothes are washed and ironed, so I need to pull things out of my closet, instead of telling you how to approach this task. Wish me luck!
Silver Sage Sisters 