And Here We Are. .

 

After last week news, a lot of us are still on Fire. Yes we are Hot and not in a fashionable way. We are more frustrated and wondering what will the new America become. And here we are. . . So many of us are looking for ways to make real change. I know at times, it can seem impossible, but we must not give up. And, you should be Angry.  Be so angry, that you don’t stop until there is positive change for the citizens of this country. Have open discussions for changes in our government in your circle of family and friends. We cannot allow those who ask/beg for our votes, to continue to make a fool of themselves in the State & Federal government. We Must Vote them Out!

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My previous plan to make one garment each month, did not happen this month.  Let's just say no Garment sewing was even attempted. Instead, I got busy with my annual medicals and took on a Big Kloset Purge. It all got started around June 17th in preparation for our July cruise. Items from my vacation kloset that have not seen the light of day in five years, was just not fitting my current style.

In my last post I discussed how my style has changed again, and some of my old favorites fell short. Before I could look for replacements, I had to try on every item and that took weeks. One closet spilled over into another and more items needed to be purged. This was not my sixth purge and it was still time consuming. 

To put it simply, the act of purging means to free yourself of something that doesn't quite serve you anymore. In this case, I want to get rid of items to clean out my personal space & make my vacation closet fit my current style.  In doing a closet purge, we can find items hidden or placed in storage that we forgot about. The pros recommend that you have a good amount of time to dedicate to a thorough closet purge. Everyone has their own way of decluttering.  Here is my simple three step process. . .

1. Empty out your closet - Yes. Take everything out, down to the bare walls. Do NOT skip this step. Taking everything out at once is first step to clarity. Make sure to gather your clothing from all areas of the house. Laundry, storage, garage, Mom's house, etc. Don’t skip anything.
2. Try on anything you haven’t worn recently - yes, even that special occasion dress you’ve been saving for years “just in case.”  Before doing a purge, I had no idea how much stuff I was keeping “just in case I lose the 5 lbs”, and was shocked at how many of my “just in case” pieces didn’t fit anymore. 
3. Sort each item into four piles. If you have multiple closets, do this process in groups. All your tops, then all your bottoms, then dresses, shoes, etc.

LOVE IT:  If it is appropriate for the current season, and you absolutely love it and want to put it on right this second, hang it back in your closet.

MAYBE: It does not fit well? The color not right? Are you keeping it just because it has sentimental value, or because you paid a lot for it and will not be able to find it again?  Put it in a box and store it. If you find yourself still wanting it, you can always go retrieve it. But if you change your mind and don’t want it at the end of the season. It needs to go, and let someone else enjoy it. If you’re not used to purging, this can be hard to do. But when you get it done, it is a Feel GOOD moment!

HATE IT: Self explanatory. Donate or sell to fund new purchases.

SEASONAL: If it’s not in season, but you LOVE IT (and I mean Love It), put it in a box and store it so you can add it to your wardrobe when the proper season rolls around. 

DAMAGED: If the item cannot be Repaired or Recycled (skirt into a top, etc.) then it is trash and cannot be given to charity shops. (Note: Inspect your Faux/Real Leathers carefully.) Two of my unworn Faux Leather items were damaged from age, so off to the trash they went.

Once I have bagged all my purged items. The "Maybe's" are folded on a shelf to be reviewed in 90 days. Then, another try-on is done before the final decision is made. After the initial purge, you may want to live with your clothes for a short period before shopping for new pieces. Your goal during a Closet Purge is to determine your new personal style and what you need to rebuild your wardrobe. Not to run out and buy the next best thing!

It may seem wasteful to give away perfectly good clothing, and some people have a hard time with the purging process, but you should consider. ."It’s not a waste if it blesses someone who needs it". 

Marie Kondo says. ."It is important to touch each piece and consider if it brings you Joy".  

Do you feel Joy when you put on clothing that you Love?  Is that a YES. . thought so!

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