Wednesday, January 22, 2014

A Clothes Experiment and Some Thoughts About My Closet

I've been doing a little experiment for the last six or seven weeks. I've been trying to wear something different from my closet each day. I was standing in my closet one day last month thinking I had "nothing" to wear when the absurdity of that thought truly hit me. Y'all, I have so much. And I'm guessing that most of you do too.

I decided to try to wear something different every day for as long as I could, eventually working through every item in my closet. In the interest of full disclosure, you should know that I only have fall/winter items in my closet right now since my closet isn't enormous and I switch my clothes out seasonally. I might have to try this again in the summer!

Anyway, here are a few things I've realized as a result of this:

1. Not all bargains are bargains! If you don't LOVE it and feel GREAT in it, don't buy it no matter the price tag. That $7 sweater from H&M really isn't a steal if you can't stand wearing it. Neither is the $9.99 sweater from TJMaxx that itches like crazy. I've got a nice little pile of "too-good-of-a-deal-to-pass-up" items that I now need to get rid of because I simply don't love them or they don't fit right so I've barely worn them. I'd rather spend more money on something I love and feel good in than have a lot of pieces just hanging in my closet.

2. Try new things. Get creative with the clothes you already own. This has been fun for my no-spend challenge. I've realized that I don't need more clothes, I simply need to find new ways to wear them. Try belting that sweater or mixing patterns or adding a fun scarf or necklace. I've found lots of "new" outfits by trying to think outside the box of what I normally wear.

3. If you try something on, love it and feel good in it, it's probably a good idea to think of a few things you already have in your closet you can wear it with, including shoes! I have a few pieces in my closet that sort of "stump me". Things that don't quite match anything or go with my other clothes or I don't know what shoes to wear with them. So guess what? They haven't been worn much and I'll probably end up getting rid of them. Just makes sense to think it through pre-purchase.

I've still got a couple of weeks worth of clothes to wear before my experiment will end. It's been a fun way to rediscover some things I'd forgotten while simultaneously and effortlessly cleaning out my closet!

1 comment:

*carrie* said...

Good idea, Mer, and great tips. Unfortunately, I can relate to much of what you said. Full closet, feeling like I don't have much to wear.

Several years ago I went through a closet inventory exercise that was in Real Simple. It was helpful and I meant to blog about it, but I don't think I ever did. I should do that exercise again soon!