There is nothing so overwhelming as a good old-fashioned de-cluttering.
I am currently doing this in my office and have become trapped by the boxes and flotsam and jetsam of my life!
To wit, the top of my desk, awaiting filing and sorting tomorrow morning:
Not sure if you can see, but in the right hand corner, under the camera bag, is Arianna Huffington's new book, Thrive. I will do a review later this week or early next. I heard an interview with her on the radio earlier this week and was intrigued enough to go and buy it!
Anyhow, I completed the purging of my closet(s) - I had some things in the back room as well - and decided to follow a more orderly approach to seasonal dressing.
I follow Jennifer L. Scott's Blog, The Daily Connoisseur, faithfully and many of you will know her as the author of Lessons from Madame Chic.
One of the central aspects of the book is that of the ten core item wardrobe. And since Jennifer is about to unveil her new Spring Ten Item Wardrobe, I thought now was as good a time as any to start getting ready to pull mine together.
Lest you think that either Jennifer, or I, will be strictly living on only ten items, never fear. Well, I think she will be a LOT purer than me, but I am getting there and I think I am down to a lot less.
Having a seasonal core colour story, a la our beloved Dani, or having fewer, but well-loved options, makes for a simpler life. Or so I hope.
So I basically have divided my wardrobe into Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. A novel approach to be sure...
Except for my winter coats and boots, the rest of winter has been packed away into its own bin, as has fall and summer. I have saved one cashmere sweater, but there is a rumour that after tomorrow's blizzard, temperatures will rise, and I am ever hopeful.
The bins, ready to be stored away:
 |
| Hope it's a long time till I see you Fall.... |
A navy Calvin Klein blazer waits to be taken to the seamstress tomorrow to get the sleeves shortened so I will actually wear it. These are tasks that we so often put off (or at least I do) and as a result our clothing languishes in our closets unworn.
A massive bin of fall and winter clothing is being stored away for a visit to the consignment shop in the fall:
 |
| It almost look like a gift card, doesn't it? "Dear Consignment, Please Love My Unworn Clothes..." |
Where did I struggle?
Well not with my clothing, surprisingly. I found it easy to let most of that go and focus on choice pieces, and things that made me feel good.
I kind of struggled with shoes. I got rid of a few pairs and then organized things, packed a few away and have all of my shoes (excepting boots and including sandals) on my infamous wall of shoes.
Why did I keep so many? Well I realized I really love my shoes. I can be simple and accessorize fewer articles of clothing, but every decision about getting rid of a pair of shoes (unless I simply couldn't walk in them) was like a Sophie's Choice. Could I really abandon Tory, Stuart, Donald J, Cole Haan, Sam Edelman's, van Eli's and Kiki? No, I could not.
I love, love, love my shoes. I was pretty sure that Jennifer would approve.
And if I make enough consigning, hello new pair of Stuart Weitzmans... Ah hell, who am I kidding, they're coming at some point...
The work goes on, and some decisions about my spring wardrobe are still being worked on. But my closet is a place of peace these days, with few choices, and my little wall of shoes are the cherries I choose to put on top...Or more accurately, on bottom.
Now I just have to keep organizing and cleaning... Not even one room done and many more to go... I think I'll go take a bath and take a rest...
How's your spring whittling going?
Have a great day and stay safe out there!
PS - on a completely different tangent, just heard that Gwyneth and Chris are through.
You know how I love him.
I am sorry for their family and anticipate there will be many stories about this in the coming days. I never wish anyone ill, so hope that it is amicable for the sake of their young children...
And no, I didn't go look at the statement on Goop...;-)
