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Purging Your Wardrobe!

by on ‎01-24-2013 11:17 PM

Okay, I know it doesn’t sound very nice, but the final results and rewards are wonderful. Think of it as a cleansing!


Does this look familiar?


Purge your wardrobe!


Or maybe this?


Purge your wardrobe!


We all hold on to clothes and accessories for years thinking that we ‘might someday use it again.’ I, myself, am guilty as charged in this department. But something happened to me recently that has changed my perspective. 


Right before the holidays I had spent a weekend with a dear friend of mine who, as a gift, took me out shopping. She said that the only condition was that she picked out what I should try on. I felt thrilled and grateful that she wanted to do this for me so, of course, I was completely up for it. We were also shopping in departments that I don’t typically go into so it was really exciting.


I tried on different things…beautiful things, not formal…things that I could wear any day of the week. But, what I realized as I tried on what my friend picked out for me, was that I keep buying the SAME STUFF...everything I had at home in my closet was a copy of the next thing.


So, I came home with my new goodies, and the holidays rolled around. I wore my new outfits over and over through the following weeks.


Cut to mid January…here we are and, like many of you, I have been putting things away and getting the house back in order. More than ever, this overwhelming urge to weed out all the “repeat” clothing that I have not worn in ages was nagging at me. It is hard to make these decisions, but I keep reminding myself that if I made it through an entire holiday season without them…do I really need them at all? The first sweep was easy. Some things just shout ‘move on.’ You know the shirts that might have a little stain or rip that you think, “oh well, I can still use that for layering?” Chuck it! The next sweep takes a bit more precision. I suggest laying things out on your bed and stacking in categories. Once you have finished that, you can go through categories and save the best. Be sure to go into that one with a number in mind…for example, you will keep only 4 or 5 of something. Be firm with yourself!


Now, you may be thrown for a loop in the process because, as you are weeding out, you will find things that you forgot you even had and fall in love with them all over again. This is okay. This is a good thing! You will hopefully remember to wear these key items that never got any attention to begin with now that you can see them. 


As you are reorganizing, be sure to pay attention to how you view your wardrobe pieces from day to day. This could be the culprit to a neglected wardrobe. You need to see what you have to know that you have it. That goes for accessories too! I know that I like to think I can remember all the fun belts or scarves that I have, but with all the stuff I have going on, it’s not possible. If you can, hang your belts in a convenient location where you dress, and find a little compartment for scarves, etc. that you can get to as you dress in front of the mirror, that will help in putting the different day-to-day touches on your ensemble.


Once you have finished all these steps and gotten all things back in their places, enjoy the lightness that you will feel. It’s like a load has been lifted as you savor in the fact that you don’t need to keep finding a spot for that ‘thing’ that you know you will really never use.


Here is the final step to your purging…where you take it from here. No doubt there are many things that survived the process. The ‘maybes’ that we keep alive ‘just in case.’ Use this little trick for those items: If it is a hanging piece, put the hanger in your closet backwards, like this:


Purge your wardrobe!


If that hanger is still backwards for 6 months, you need to consider removal. I know that seasons will be a factor with this process, so I recommend sorting for seasons to use this method, but it really does help. If it’s a wear-all-year-long garment and it still sits backwards after 6 months, you know it’s a goner. For things that go on shelves, cabinets or drawers, I am trying the bottom of the pile method. If something is at the bottom of the pile for 6 months or more, I know it has not been worn and it probably is never likely to see the light of day. 


My last recommendation for this process that really makes it easier is that I take all of my purged items to Good Will. Maybe you have a place like that to donate? It always makes me feel better about it all when I know that someone will benefit from my used things instead of just throwing them away. Besides, it’s a write off on your taxes...and that’s a good thing.


Good luck, and, if anyone has any questions or needs help, you can respond back to this post or reach out to me on Bob Mackie’s Facebook Page. 


I’ll talk with you next time with ideas to round out your wardrobe since you’ll have more room to fit something new from Bob Mackie’s Wearable Art collection at QVC.  For all the tweeters out there, follow Bob on Twitter (@bobmackie), and for all the pinners, check out Bob’s Pinterest page: www.pinterest.com/bobmackie.


Have a great weekend.


Margaux


 


Shop the complete Bob Mackie Wearable Art collection on QVC.com.