I'm vowing to get rid of/donate 80% of my clothing.
For every 5 pieces of clothing, I'll keep one.
And then maintain that amount of clothing.
I hesitate to make a post like this because it definitely comes off as, "look how hip and anti-consumer I am!" Blerg. I'm telling you now, if you're trying to read a post that's super blogger-spirational and all about not perpetuating the culture of stuff, there are plenty of other fashion blog posts like that that are probably also better written and more focused, etc blah blah
This post isn't about buying and having less stuff-- well, I mean it is, but I'm not trying to be all like "LOOK HOW LITTLE STUFF WE CAN TALK ABOUT HAVING." Because everyone can pretty much agree that a lifestyle that's segregated from unhealthy consumer culture is generally desirable. This is not news.
The truth is though, I have a lot of clothes (and stuff-- I have a lot of stuff too).
And I'd like to overcome this thing I have where I have all this stuff and where I base my life around buying/having/doing things with, in, and around said stuff purely for the sake of interacting with the stuff.
So this post is a post to hold me accountable for donating/getting rid of 80% of my clothing.
I mean, I know there's no way for the internet to actually hold me accountable for doing it (+1 for personifying the internet), but I'll feel like a colossal asshole if I don't actually follow through. Plus, people (as in, non-internet people GASP) will also hold me accountable. And I'll try this thing where I hold my myself accountable for things too (crazy, I know).
I think it'll be a good thing.
EDIT* I received a question in the comments asking what my timeline is/how I'm going to decide what to keep.
We're moving into a new apartment June 1st (7 days from now). I want to have completed the purge by May 31st. I figure why move clothes I'm not keeping?
As far as what I'm deciding to keep:
- If an item of clothing doesn't fit, I'm donating it.
- If I can count on one hand the number of times I've worn something, I'm donating it.
- If I haven't worn an item in the past 4 months, I'm donating it (4 months should account for any seasonal changes because we've had weather on both ends of the spectrum and everything in between since February).
- If an item of clothing is greatly damaged or stained, I'm throwing it out (unless there's still hope for it, in which case I'm donating it).
- I have a big stack of vintage clothes I've been meaning to list on my etsy shop-- I'm going to donate half of those (criteria for keeping: quality, uniqueness, season, etc), and finally get around to listing the rest.
If I go through all these criteria and I still haven't gotten rid of 80% of my clothing:
- If I can count on two hands the number of times I've worn something, I'm donating it (I've abstained from thrifting for long enough that item newness shouldn't be an issue here).
I'm really hoping that'll take care of it. But if it comes to that and I still haven't reached my goal, I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and pick my favorites.
(unrelated library photo)
I admire your dedication, I feel bad about myself for enjoying "pretty things" so much sometimes, way to take control!! Damn the man <3
ReplyDeleteMeghan
Did you give yourself a timeline for this? I'm curious to know what your criteria will be . . . i.e., what will make you decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteExcellent queries. I went back and addressed them in the post.
DeleteI think this is a great idea. I am going through something similar as I return to my parents home for the summer and have been cleaning and getting rid of 20 years of junk that has accumulated. How do we get so much STUFF?! I'm striving for a more minimalistic lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteHuzzah girl fran. This is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI also admire your determination. But just a little warning. I did a similar enough thing by cutting down on my wardrobe. It wasn't that huge to begin with. But oh dear god did i miss stuff. Just be prepared to grow really very bored of the clothes you do keep over time. It can actually make getting dressed very hard. I found that i ended up having a sort of uniform because my wardrobe lacked the imagination it once had without those random items of clothing that i wore once in a while. And worse of all, the drabness of my everyday uniform lead to a serious craving of wanting to buy new things. In a weird way, its like yo-yo dieting. However, i'm all for less is more. But just be careful maybe not to be so drastic. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThis actually is a good point and something I never really considered. I myself am prone to yo-yo-ing in general (my weight has yo-yoed a 25 lb range consistently for the past 4 years). If clothing is anything like weight, I may have trouble. But I'm hoping I'll be able to mentally overcome it and strategically keep only the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe (or something). Thanks for the warning!
DeleteI'm moving soon and am doing the exact same thing. My criteria is pretty much exactly the same as yours. I already packed up most of it and feel incredibly liberated. I'm actually determined to throw out even more things right now because it just feels so amazing. I am attempting a high quality, well-edited wardrobe that I can go to without all of the superfluous crap that I buy at thrift stores and never wear but rationalize due to "It's only $2!"
ReplyDeleteActually, I totally disagree with above poster. I pretty much wear some variation of a uniform right now and it pushes me to be really creative with what I do have. I don't think it has to be monotonous. You really have to think about what you're wearing and purchasing. It's a lot more thoughtful.
Good luck!
I totally agree, I think that a Uniform like wardrobe can make you more creative with things. Accessories, hair and makeup are all so easy to change day to day! And don't you find that when you have more clothes you only wear a certain selection anyway? A uniform within your wardrobe? SIt's weird having loads of clothes sitting there that never get worn, it's almost comforting in a way. Like 'oh I can change my look any time i want'. But thats so unrealistic!
DeleteI also agree that even if your a thrift fiend and don't even buy new stuff you still end up with a shit load of clothes that, true, were only two bucks, but you still never wear them! Or fix them so you can wear them!
Anyway, I'm also doing a similar thing. But I have found I needed to get some basics first. I crave wearing pants, but I don't own any! Wha!? So I'm getting my basics sorted then I'll start the cull. I cant wait.
Also, how long did you live at your apartment for? The longest we have lived at a place is just over a year and you accumulate so much SHITE! Nothing like a move to make you cull your belongings!
(sorry for the crazy reply but I thought it was relevant to what you said, Lauren :) )
Thank you! I've been kind of anxious about this whole "GET RID OF ALL THE THINGS" thing, but your comments are making me feel better about the whole thing.
DeleteOn the one hand, I feel kind of stupid for even worrying about this, because they're just clothes. But on the other hand, I'm fairly shy and clothing is my main form of expression (and sometimes communication!), so they are, as a concept, pretty important to me. It makes me feel better to know that purging your closet can be the refreshing experience I hope it turns out to be for me. So thank you.
The longest I've ever lived somewhere is one year (and have been moving from place to place since 2007). You're totally right-- even when I lived somewhere for only 5 months, I still acquired SO MUCH STUFF. You never really realize it until you're getting rid of it all.
good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kristin.
DeleteThinking accountability thoughts here! I've just wrapped up a vague anti-consumerist project of my own... now I feel I should go back on it. Hmmm.
ReplyDeletedoooo it
Deleteyou'll probably re-discover some old favorites when you're going thru everything, you should do a post about what you end up keeping! also good luck on your move!
ReplyDeletei just recently went through this process myself, & it feels wonderful, on all accounts, your style will truly stand out in your pieces, your items will hold more value to you & for me i feel awesome knowing i am not contributing to awful mindless consumerism (my goal)!
ReplyDeletei was also luckily given an antique wardrobe, w/ very tiny close space for hanging items & a few drawers, & i have managed to fit everything in.
i think having this piece of furniture really helped the process along!
you can do it, tara-lynn
Good luck! I'm the worst at getting rid of clothes. I tend to get really emotionally attached to clothes. It's a bit ridiculous actually...haha...I just think of all the things I've done & all the places I've been in certain clothes.
ReplyDeleteI really need to break the habit before my collection gets out of hand!
Best of luck in your clothing purge ;)
I just gave away a bunch of shoes simple because...I had SO MANY SHOES!!! I even said so myself "I'm so Julia Topaz right now...lawls..." But I'm still not as proactive as you are about my belongings, for me it more of a matter of just wanting more personal space which in the end is still sort of greedy?
ReplyDeleteMeh I'm willing to sacrifice it on public transit..lol..
good luck on your journey...dont be ashamed of the items you've earned in your life...everything I own I earned or was a gift. So I don't feel ashamed of the stuff I have because each is a testament to my independence. Do I need stuff to define who I am? No. Do I like it...yeah. I guess I spend 10+ years of my life feeling guilty and ashamed about everything, once I learned to live without it, I stop needing to tell the universe I am a good person.
Though I'm not saying that you feel guilty or anything about...anything, just sharing my story, cuz I know you loooooove stories...anyways, whatever you dont want mail it to: po box just kidding...;)
i think this is a really good idea. i have a million things i almost never wear, and as nice as it is to feel like you have a huge dressing up box of stuff in case you ever need it, having a more refined wardrobe probably makes it easier getting to get dressed and know your own style. at the moment i try to have a one in one out policy, due to my insane charity shopping addiction. good luck, let us know how it goes! xx
ReplyDeletewish i could go through all the stuff you're purging!
ReplyDeletei'm working up to a purge myself.. it's a slow pace here.
This is the first time I'm posting, though I've been reading your blog for a minute. I commend you on wanting to simplify your life of stuff and interacting with stuff. I'm curious, and instead, what are you looking forward to from this? I think an 80% downsize sounds daunting and like a lot of effort in one week, but I support your choice and also think it's wonderful! I'm meandering my way through trying to get rid of (through selling for credit and donating to goodwill/value village/local social service non-profits/charity drives) 1/4 of all my material belongings. Art supplies, books (a big one here, over 4 stuffed grocery bags and going!), CLOTHES, accessories, kitchenwares and supplies, various media, furniture, etcetera. Sometimes I find myself thrift-retail therapy-ing and wanting new (used/hand made, gifted etc) things for the sake of feeling like I'm beautifying my life or adding exciting choices of things to do, watch, listen to, etc. I'm also all for the 1 in, 1 out idea. Nowadays I try to focus more on feeling truly connected through much use and or personal investment in the things I do use (though like I said this paring down of my material thingz is a molasses thing for me right now), and to focus on goals of putting my time and energy towards volunteering, interacting with people!-creatures!-nature!-myownbody! things like that. This post is getting to be an essay, once again I wanted to commend you on your goals, however specific they may be and look like at the end of the month. I appreciate your blogging voice and writing, mixing aesthetic with ethics and more local-global-class-material-privileged-or-centric ideas is something I feel certain cliques of the blogosphere sorely lack and I think you have a lot to offer in this way. Thanks!
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