simplify my wardrobe

OK. I’m done with one round of selling on eBay. I’ve probably got 3-5 more rounds to go before I feel that my wardrobe is “manageable,” but I’ve got to say it feels pretty good to see that I’m following through with my commitment to minimalizing every element/area of my life. Maybe it’s just me, but I think I just completed one session of “eBay therapy”?

Did you know most of us wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time? It’s more important to have a few key items that reflect your personality rather than tons and tons that reflect the latest trend. A few months ago i thought it would be hard to part with a big chunk of my wardrobe, so i packed away the clothes i didnt really wear on an everyday basis, and made do with what was left. Learning to mix and match creates new outfits which is generally why we end up owning so much cause we don’t want to look the same every time we step out of the house. It doesn’t require 200 wardrobe items do to that. After 3 months had passed, i got those items back out of the garage and went through them. It was much easier to part with most of them having not thought about those items in ages. I even sold a few on ebay and made a few dollars :)

...are jeans, simple white shirts, a leather belt, and the same pair of sneakers. So why do I own at least 6 pairs of shoes, 5 belts, pants that don’t even fit, and fancy shirts in ridiculous colors? I only wear two rings and one necklace, and really no other jewelry, yet I have a huge jewelry box overflowing with crap. I keep trying to clean stuff out, but I guess I keep buying stuff that I can’t pass up. So starting now, before I buy any article of clothing, I will ask myself if it fits and if I’ll actually wear it. My closet is so ridiculous right now.

2 black t-shirt bras
1 skin colored t-shirt bra
1 white t-shirt bra
1 really nice bra
1 cotton camisole
10 panties
3 panty hose
7 pair of socks
1 pyjamas

4 plain t-shirts (tight)
1 cotton shirt
1 nice blouse
2 tops
1 party top
1 knitted sweater, v-neck or polo
1 jacket that goes with “everything”

2 pair of jeans
1 skirt
1 party pants

1 winter jacket or coat for city walks
1 winter jacket for snowy and really cold days
1 spring/fall coat or jacket

1 pair of loafers
1 pair with heel that goes with skirt
1 pair of party shoes
1 pair of boots
1 pair of shoes for rain
1 pair of running shoes
1 pair of sandals
1 pair of shoes to wear inside

1 big bag
1 hand bag
1 party bag
1 pair of leather gloves
1 wrist watch
1 scarf
1 umbrella
1 pair of sun glasses
1 cabin bag on wheels / large travel bag

1 swimming suit
1 bikini

workout clothes
the little black dress
suits for work

I got rid of a lot of what was in my closet, down to casual stuff and a few dressy items. Now I have a new job and need ” business casual” or better. Whatever that means. I hope to get a few decent pieces and supplement them with cheaper things and not go nuts buying things I may not need.

I got rid of a lot of hwat was in my closet, down to casual stuff and a few dressy items. Now I have a new job and need ” business casual” or better. Whatever that means. I hope to get a few decent pieces and supplement them with cheaper things and not go nuts buying things I may not need.

Keep only waht fits you now. Donate the rest of the good stuff and ditch the stuff that won’t even make good dustrags. You’ll be amazed at the room you have in your closet. Remember the 1-in/1-out rule moving forward: Bought a new pair of pants or a new black sweater? Time to say good-bye to an old pair or pants or the old black sweater.

The clearance racks in certain stores defeat me. How can I pass
up a linen skirt at H&M for $8.00? Or a skirt at Target for $2.97 ( seriously). At least both are black, unlike the bright orange ( lobster, they call it) shirt I bought off the clearance rack at Eddie Bauer. Lobster colored shirts are not part of the plan, but at least I’ve worn it several times, unlike the clothes with tags still on I took to the consignment store today.

I have been sorting clothes and counted 22 t-shirts that I would consider “staying home” attire. I have neatly folded them and put on my closet shelf. I know that at least half of them must go, but having trouble letting go.

Sometimes I get side tracked by trendy things, but for the most part the practicality of wearing only a few colors makes sense. For years I have worn black as my main color and then mix in a few brights. Right now I have black and brown as my mainstays – solid tops, skirts and pants in each.