Style Question Wednesday: What do YOU hoard? Plus, a Wee Closet Update

I have continued to be ruthless in the closet.

I have also discovered something supernatural: I believe that when tights and socks get lost in your washers and dryers, they somehow magically appear in my hosiery drawer!  Which, until last evening, was stuffed so full it was nearly impossible to open!

How many pairs of black tights does a person need?  Would you say that 15 pairs seems excessive?

It seemed excessive to me.

Ah, here is the thing: you can have too much of a good (or even a boring!) thing.

How many pairs of socks do you really need?  I know that I have too many.

Maybe I have too many of these things because I think that I will suddenly get invited to an obscure villa in Lake Como, Italy and need to pack at least three weeks' worth of socks and undies and tights.

Maybe I forget that there are washers and dryers wherever I go and that if for some reason I go someplace where there is NO washer and dryer, there is likely a sink and a bar of soap.

I didn't think I was a hoarder.  I mean, you can walk easily around my house, everything is clean.  But still, I think I have too much stuff - and certainly my summer and winter closets are proof of that.  And when I saw how much was jammed into these drawers and what I keep "in case" - well, I think I may just have a bit of the old hoarder in me.

Why do we think we need so many things?  Wait - let me re-phrase that: why do I think I need so many of these things?

Some of it is because we lead complicated lives, I think.  We have sports socks, and dress socks, and wool socks and cotton socks.  We have fancy shoes and boots and sandals, casual shoes and boots and sandals and sporty shoes and boots and sandals.

Some of it is because I like to shop and like the new.  I had enough in my closet at one point to basically go almost a whole month and not wear the same thing twice.  well maybe I would have to re-wear the white tshirts, but..

But the old dictum that says we only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time is true regardless of how much stuff you have.  and is it worth it to keep that one thing that you might pull out once a year (excluding fancy dress clothes) - does it justify the closet real estate?

The sad thing is that there is an equal amount of work to be done in the fall when I have to put these summery things away,,,

How about you all?  Anything you have too much of?  Anything that is your weakness and that you look at your collection of and think: why would anyone need so much of THAT?

Going through all of this is making me feel very light.  It has also helped me see what is an actual gap in my wardrobe (like not having a black summer skirt).  When I open my closet, I can see it all.  My drawers have been all sorted and old or multiples thrown out.  I actually have an empty dresser drawer.

I have adopted the Fred sorting system.  I have put a small container under my blouses that now holds all of my scarves and my belts.

The hanging container holds all of my tights and knee highs on one side and my clutches on the other side.

I know - not fancy, but works in a pinch until I can get a full-on fancy closet system.

I have vowed to follow faithfully the "one-in, at least one out" rule.  Anything not worn by the end of this summer will find a new home.  Thus far, I think everything that is left has been touched at least once.

I have also stumbled upon a nice line of simple and chic summer skirts and tops - FIG, a company out of Montreal.  A lot of their things remind me of Eileen Fisher, only less expensive and I picked up a flirty black skirt on sale for less than $40.  I do plan to add some Eileen skirts in the fall, but for now, consider this a closed closet!

Have a great day and stay safe out there!