Spring Closet Refresh
At the start of each new season I love going through my closet and evaluating all of my clothes to see what I should keep, sell or donate. I find this very therapeutic for me, and it really allows me to determine which pieces I haven’t worn in what seems like forever, and which items don’t “spark joy” for me anymore. Watching Marie Kondo’s show really solidified that feeling for me, of looking at each item individually and knowing in my gut if it’s something I should keep or not. In the past I could usually argue with myself and justify a reason to keep something, like a dress that I wore to a wedding once, which I was certain I could find a reason to wear again. But I realized something: I shouldn’t need an occasion or a “reason” to wear something, other than the simple fact that I love wearing it! It either makes me happy and gives me a confidence boost when I put that piece of clothing on, or I continue to pass over it when I’m choosing what to wear every day because I don’t enjoy wearing it.
I do this every few months, because I think it’s good to continuously look at what I have and ask myself: do I really need this? When was the last time I wore this? If it’s been 6 months to a year, I know that I likely won’t wear it again (unless it’s a seasonal item like a coat, which we hardly ever wear in Phoenix!). Or I’ll ask, is this something that fills me with joy when I put it on? I always want the answer to be “YES”! Sure, there are times when buying the basics like a white t-shirt or a black cami are necessary, and those don’t necessarily “spark joy”. But overall, my shopping habits are usually driven by pieces that make me feel happy, confident and truly myself, and I love that! To me, clothes are meant to be fun, and discovering your own style is an amazing way to express yourself.
As time goes on, styles change and taste changes as well. Something I bought 5 years ago may not resonate with me like it did when I first bought it, and that’s okay! That’s why I like to go through my closet frequently and ask myself those questions to make sure that I’m not hanging onto items just because I think I may wear something again in the future, even if I haven’t worn it in a year. This skirt is one of those items that I’ve decided to part ways with. It’s actually one of the first pieces of clothing I bought for my blog back when we were living in Austin 4 years ago! At that time my blog was Disney-focused, and I bought this skirt because it reminded me of Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella. I loved the full skirt, the pockets and the way it twirled when I spun around in a circle. I have some really fond memories in this skirt, like the time Freddy and I went to the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin (major #tbt), or when we took a day trip up to Sedona.
Over the past couple years, I’ve worn it significantly less and less, and I just haven’t been “feeling myself” in this skirt as I did when I first bought it. After we took these pictures, I knew it was time to take some final twirls in my “Alice” skirt and give it a new home. It’s honestly really refreshing parting ways with clothes that don’t give me that pep in my step. I love that feeling of letting go in the hopes that someone else will find joy in a piece that someone worked hard to design and make, which allows me more room in my closet to find new treasures. Do you enjoy going through your closet and getting rid of things you haven’t worn, or do you prefer to hang onto pieces long-term? Leave a comment below!
xo
Chantelle