Ponder before you purge
Cleaning out my closet has been an ongoing process over the past few months, and I’m really enjoying having more breathing room in there. That’s not to say I haven’t been replacing items that I’ve donated or sold, but everything new coming in feels much more “me right now” than the pieces that are going out.
Last night I spent some time assessing my shoe collection, because I truly can’t imagine strapping myself into 4-inch anything at the moment (or in the foreseeable future). If I were more impulsive, I probably would have swept the entire shelf of Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Louboutin wedges and heels into a trash bag. But I’m not, and I do believe that “maximalism” will be back eventually. It may be a few years or more, and when it happens I just hope I’m physically able to walk in a heel at all.
Purging is a natural response to stress (at least for me), and in case you need to be reminded to slow your roll, or just a simple set of guidelines of what to keep and what to toss (without regretting it later), here you go…
KEEP
Designer shoes, unless they don’t fit (your feet aren’t ever getting bigger or smaller)
Designer bags, unless you truly hate it or the person who got it for you (or really need the cash)
Blazers, because although trends may come and go, they always come back
Sweaters, because you’ll be so annoyed if you have to buy more before a trip to cold-weather climes
Sentimental items—but not too many (Marie Kondo would argue with me on this one)
Formal dresses as long as they still fit, because we’re in for a jam-packed belated bar/bat-mitzvah season when it’s safe to congregate in large groups again
Holding onto these pieces doesn’t mean you have to look at them every day (especially if it makes you sad). In fact, you can better preserve these items by tucking them into dust bags or storage boxes so they’re be in the shape they are now when you eventually bust them out again.
DITCH
Any fast-fashion that you haven’t worn in a year
Anything that’s stained or ripped (that doesn’t justify getting repaired by a tailor)
Clothes that are too small that you use as motivation to lose weight (trust me, they are just going to continue taunting you from their hanger)
Anything that might not be age-appropriate anymore (I ditched all my super-short shorts and skirts because I feel more comfortable in a little more length)
Even better than the extra space between hangers is how much easier it is to get dressed. I’ve even cordoned off a section for my “new me” pieces (kind of like a capsule wardrobe), and even if I don’t leave the house for five days, I visit them often. Why? Because they make me happy and give me something to look forward to.
