Letting Go. Yes it is Oh so hard…
Everyone experiences opening their closet door and seeing items that they haven’t worn. Could it be that it’s time to let go of some things? Or do you think you should give those items a few more chances?
Some possible benefits of letting go:
- Your chances go WAY up for seeing the things you love and want to wear. This just doesn’t cut it!
- There may be things in your closet that could be of service to others if you were to donate them to a charity.
- You aren’t going as many places, travelling less, some cases, not at all so now is the perfect time to get serious.
- You will reclaim some space in your closet and serenity will follow. Trust me.
- You may have pieces that don’t seem right for you anymore that could earn you some money at a consignment store. Recouping some of the money that you spent on things that never worked will feel good. And shopping repurposed is enjoying huge popularity these days – cost-effective and new to you. An economical way to be YOUnique.
So why is it SO hard to make edits to your wardrobe?
Here’s my experience voice speaking. We have memories and stories attached to clothes. We have guilt about buying and not wearing what we purchased. It’s hard to face that waste of money. And then there’s those clothes that were bought hastily or purchased while emotions were running high. It reminds us of habits we’d rather not face.
The good news is that you’re not alone. Most people have things hanging in their closets that should be in someone else’s. These shopping misses or the holding on of clothes that don’t serve you in your current lifestyle are signs that you’re human. Three cheers for that! But. Hold on.
Times right now are strange. These times will not last. I am not suggesting that you start pitching things you aren’t / won’t be wearing. Other criteria are more important now.
This is an area where I can’t stress enough how helpful it is to have a professional wardrobe consultant work with you with this process. Not to be confused with a professional organizer. Someone trained in the subtitles of wardrobe (style, fit, sustainability, repurpose value) someone objective who can help you assess whether you should hold on to something or let it go is who you need. That professional consultant has worked in hundreds of closets and has no judgment about yours. She knows that once you’re clear about what should stay and what should go, you’ll have freed up much mental and physical space. You’ll feel light and buoyant- like you’ve lost weight or been on a vacation-once you have an exit plan for clothing that’s no longer serving you.
This is too much stuff in a small space. And there are things here that are not wardrobe related. They need to find a new home.
One client said recently “Moving all of those clothes was very difficult. I’m happy we did this over two appointments so the benefits could really sink in. At this moment I am so enjoying the space in my closet. And yes that surprises me and you told me those feelings would arrive. I am in no hurry to fill my closet with more stuff. I’m feeling such relief!”
I’m all about you taking the initiative first. Here’s some practice homework to try in your closet. Once you understand some of the reasons clothes need to go, you may end up making significant progress on your own. Then you can call on someone to help you in the final round on the pieces that you’re still wondering about. Of course if you live in this area, the London- Toronto corridor, I would love for that call you’re making be to me!
Plan on spending some time in/ on your closet- whatever you think you can handle at one time. It can be thirty minutes, an hour or two, or maybe an afternoon on a rainy weekend. We have more at home time these days, there is time. It’s up to you to make it happen.
Regardless how you approach it, this is my format.
Have time set aside.
Have garbage bags, tape, paper, pen and notebook.
Work in closet groupings and remove to a clean area – jeans, skirt, pullover sweaters etc..
Consider each piece.
Try them on.
Decide after looking at yourself – front, side and back in your full-length mirror.
Love it. Hang it back up.
Indifferent – set it aside.
Uncomfortable – figure out why, can a tailor fix the issue, if not, set it aside.
REPEAT
Label the bags for donation or charity.
In your notebook, list what you are getting rid of that needs replacing — this is the start of your Intentional Shopping List.
If you still feel stuck, unmotivated and or overwhelmed or no idea where to start, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. HERE
Having serenity and calm when you open your closet doors is where your day begins. There are enough other stresses out of our control.
This shouldn’t and doesn’t need to be one of them.
Remember this!
