Recently, I put a closet cleanout challenge on myself. I had figured that I’d have done a thorough closet purge in the first months of retirement to make room for all of the shopping I’d be doing. However, that didn’t happen.
The new theme for the weekly link-up for the 4th Saturday of the month is Potpourri which will cover a whole medley of topics that relate to style, home, food, or anything else that might come to mind. Many of us start out in a new year with intentions of fresh starts, clearing out crap, and getting organized. I prefer to start with baby steps.
Obviously, the pandemic has thrown a wrench into plans for in-person shopping so any discarding of my more career-related clothing hasn’t been much of a priority. Yes, I fully aware of online shopping which was how I bought most of my holiday gifts. But nothing replaces the brick-and-mortar experience that comes with leisurely looking through clothing racks in a store. Still not doing much of that just yet. However, my recent weight loss had me curious to see if I could now wear any previously too snug clothing.
It wasn’t one of those marathon type cleanouts where you pull out everything from your closet and only put back those items that you’ve decided to keep. I wasn’t ready for doing such a thorough job as that. Instead, I began by looking through my blouses and tops I keep on hangers. I brought in 10 empty hangers that I use for Poshmark items and set out with a goal of making them no longer empty. It turned out to be an easier task than I had imagined.
With that success, I grabbed another 10 empty hangers and went on to tackle my jackets, dresses, and pants that are hung in my closet (as opposed to casual pants and jeans that are folded). Again, I didn’t have much trouble reaching my goal. In both groups, most of what was selected were items are what I would describe as more “tailored” and suited to office attire. Embarrassingly, I’d never worn a few of the items and they still have their tags. Other culled items are “regret” purchases that it’s time to let go.
Below are three of the 20 plus items that will hopefully be moving onto a new home. I dug through my OOTD photos I’d taken for my Last Week This Week posts as well as other posts to find examples of how I’d worn these items. You’ll notice that one predates my decision to stop coloring my hair.
Let’s Wrap This Up
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. My featured blogger from last week is Suzy, who’s happily giving the finger to ageism in her new blog The Grey Brunette. As a successful author, Suzy is hardly a newbie to blogging but she’s decided that it’s was time to create a separate vehicle for her love of fashion and style.
On the rack in this post’s photos are the fruits of my labor. Most of them, anyway. In short order, I will be doing the necessary leg work to get these items posted on Poshmark. I’m particular about the items I deem worthy of listing on Poshmark. A few of the garments I’m getting rid of don’t meet those standards so they’ve been bagged for donation.
I still have a lot more to do until I’m fully done with my closet cleanout. My footwear definitely needs to be gone through as well as my skirts. Have no fear, I’ll get around to those soon. Baby steps, remember? Has the new year motivated you to do one of your own? If so, what were your criteria in determining what to keep and what to let go?
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon. And if you’re so inclined, please add a post or two to the link-up.
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Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
16 Comments
I’ve sorted 50% of the closet but charity (thrift) shops are closed right now, so I’m going to leave the rest of the sorting until we’re out of lockdown. Thanks for the link-up!
I’ve thinned out a lot more since I published this post and now I need to find a place to take the stuff that is to be donated.
I do think it’s easier to split it up instead of trying to do the entire thing in one day. It’s overwhelming otherwise and you can stop being successful at the end. I also like the method of wearing different pieces throughout the year (by turning the hangers backwards) and then if you wear it and it doesn’t fit right…get rid of it.
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
It has been easier to not get it all done at once. I never tried the backward hanger trick, mostly because seeing the hangers that way would totally bother me.
I really like how you gave yourself a very achievable goal. I typically am constantly making sure I wear what I have in my closet as I add new items so I never have to do a big haul at a time. My stuff is usually donated because it is not typically worth selling.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I’ve considered the “one in, one out” trick but I haven’t had much success with it. I donate a lot of my things as well but this last clean out was mostly stuff that I thought I could sell.
I cleaned out last year and sold a lot of stuff. I’m now so much more happier with my closets! Enjoy your Sunday!
Sometimes I will think about items I’d purged a long time ago but mostly, once they’re gone, they’re out of mind. And a tidier closet does make me happy.
Rena, I really like the way you are approaching your closet clean out. It is much too overwhelming to tackle the whole thing at once…I know because I have tried and I never quite finish the job when I go too big with it! Baby steps are definitely the way to go! I tackled my basement over the summer where I had stored so many clothes in bins and managed to get over 200 things listed on Poshmark. I still have so much more to go! Baby steps for me, too.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Definitely an overwhelming project to do a closet clean out all at once.
I should really try and sell some of the items I no longer use. I am always so stripped of time and just drop them off at Goodwill! Otherwise, they’ll be sitting around in a bag forever until I find time to list them. I love that you shared the pieces you are parting with, I am sure they will find a good home.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I love this! All year I’ve sort of been cleaning out and setting aside here and there but I never really did a full on one time big time closet cleanout. Maybe I will do so later this month! Thanks for hosting this link up!
Life is a Shoe
A little at a time is better than no doing it all.
Hi Rena!
I like small steps when it comes to the closet. I have items on Posh too but gosh, selling is tough- buying a bit easier!
I have adjusted my closet overs the years, giving some items away to my niece – goodwill and sold. I know what you mean about the virus and just doing on-line shopping. I am used to it, but my mom misses going in the stores.
thanks for linking!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
I agree; it’s much easier to buy than to sell. 😜
You did a good job to find so many items to remove for your wardrobe! I always struggle with getting rid of things in my wardrobe – often most things leave because they are torn or stained or have lost their shape, and I can’t fix them (and then they become loungewear unless completely unwearable, haha!). I put in a rule I had to wear everything I bought twice in the month I bought it to stop having new with tags things unworn in my wardrobe, and that works, but I need to be more strict with adding things to the donate bag! it’s so easy to find things to donate from the kids wardrobes, but harder in my own as I think I can always give things more wears, haha!
Thanks so much for joining the #WeekdayWearLinkup! Hope that you are having a good weekend 🙂 Another hot one here, we had to leave the park as it was just too warm!