Wednesday, January 17, 2024
My first January school outfit:
Ok, you all said you were up for some challenges in 2024, so let’s get ready for our first one as January is halfway over.
But first… clean out your closet or pull out the things you need to wear and put them in a designated spot.
This past weekend, I was finally brutal in my closet. I do try to do a closet clean out each season. I had been hanging on to things I seriously had not worn for multiple winters. I had so.many.leggings…
We are going to do the following:
Go through every single piece of winter clothing.
You may not be able to do this in one sitting and if you are a paper person, maybe list the categories on a piece of paper and check off as you go.
Get a trash bag and label it for donations and get a shopping bag and label it for re-sell or give away – whatever you like to do with your items that are in better shape. Do you have a friend who would love your cast offs?
Here are some common categories: coats, sweaters, pants, skirts, blouses, knitwear, pajamas, exercise clothes, socks and tights, you get the idea. I even did my bracelets, my necklaces, and my earrings. It feels so good to be able to see what I have now!
If the item is not being worn, why? Maybe create another bag for repairs if the item simply needs a button or a small repair and that is what is keeping you from wearing it.
Remember that you are a grown woman and do not have to wear clothing with holes or stains!
Now, you must wear all of the winter items or they must be added to one of the bags.
We have a couple of weeks left in January, so I plan to wear all the non-red and pink stuff now. In February, I like to wear my pinks and reds. I already wore all of my “Christmas colors” so now I am focusing on:
Blacks, wines, blues, greys, etc. I tend to set my fall colors aside, too, because I have worn those to death in September, October, and November.
Starting to cycle through my winter clothes in January:
Love this star sweater and it’s a keeper and can be worn in multiple seasons:
Wine color – I have had this sweater for many, many years and I think it looks old and tired but it’s my school color, so I’m on the fence:
Blue: I love my vest and my Wit and Wisdom dress pants but the blue blouse underneath has a really thick elastic on the arms and it bothered me all day. I did wear shoes, by the way!
I prefer gold, but in the winter I try to wear some silver with my blacks, blues, and greys.
I really don’t like winter clothing very much. It all just looks so blah hanging in my closet and in these photos!
It’s important to do this process now, so others can enjoy and make use of your cast offs this winter. That is a good feeling and may help lessen the guilt of good money spent on things that didn’t work out. This is just my opinion, of course!
Now, immediately put your donation bags in the car. Do not let the bags linger!
Who is in this with me?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I have been purging things too – something about this time of year makes me want to get rid of everything! Remove all the clutter and start fresh. It helps to be brutally honest and let things go if they don’t suit you. Great challenge, Amy!
xo,
Kellyann
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I know! I feel the same.
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Purging makes me feel good. I am ready!
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Yes! So good! Let’s do this!
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I did this a few weeks ago, and it felt wonderful. I don’t have a rule I follow in January, as far as wearing clothes. I find myself leaning toward all the bright colors, though! I see myself continuing on this trend, which I’m loving, because I’m wearing everything right now. That feels great!
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Yes! I think I need to move on to my bright colors because I felt so blah last week. I am ready for hot pink! I haven’t had much of a reason to really get dressed since Friday night, either!
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Great ideas. I’m in!!!
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Yes! Let’s do this!
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Travis is always the one to drop off our donations bags. Sometimes they are in his trunk a while. You do a great job being intentional about what you wear. That star cardigan is great!
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Score another point for Travis! What a guy! Thank you!
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Well.. I’m so darn attached to all my clothes… And I don’t really have a Winter wardrobe… Is it ok if I only throw away some old t-shirts? :-J Then I’m in!
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Ha! Well, that’s good too! That’s ok. If you are wearing it all, you’re good. I think Americans tend to have more because things are relatively so much cheaper here. Am I right?
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Hm, maybe… In my case I think it’s mostly that my wardrobe consists of jeans, t-shirts, jackets and warm sweaters… They don’t like go out of fashion, I believe. (Well, all those skinny jeans should go I guess…)
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Great tips!! Me and my friends organize clothing swaps. We bring our unwanted clothing, jewelry, shoes, purses, etc. We bring a drink/appetizer to share and call it a no spend night in! We do it at least twice a year. It is a great way to recycle. After the swap we donate the rest.
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Oh, I love that! I am not sure I could gather a group that has similar taste or that would be willing to do this? I would love to have that, though!
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Great tips! Have you ever tried the reverse hangers method? Turn all your hangers the opposite way and in a month, two months, three months, you’ll be able to see what you’ve been wearing or not wearing.
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The reverse hanger method bothers me for some reason. Maybe I should just try it this year?
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I really need to do this, but I’m just not that brutal! I tend to stay out of my closet so I don’t have to think about it. I do like your idea of sorting things by bag. There’s a consignment shop close to me that will just take donations. They then take them to various women’s shelters. You’re right about doing it now so that others can take advantage of them. I’m putting this on my to-do list.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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If you have the space, maybe it’s ok. I like putting my spring and summer in my son’s extra closet just so it feels new again when seasons change and so that I have more white space in my closet. My closet is really big, but I don’t like it stuffed.
If you are avoiding your closet, it’s time! Ha!
That’s great that you have this shop! Just think of the people who will benefit from your beautiful cast offs!
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Great tips Amy! I used to put my bags of clothing in the car and drive around with them for a few months. The other day when I was doing my closet cleanout my husband offered to take them to the donation bin and he did it straight away!! From now on that’s going to be his job!
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Ha! I have been known to do that, too. That’s awesome that he did that for you! He has the car, so it’s only right, no?
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Love the star sweater!! My closet is doing well, so many new sweaters this year and loving them. I also am making sure to rotate in my older things and have a few things I do need to make outfits with.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
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Thank you! Great! You do really well with wearing everything and I also love that you rotate to see what needs to be worn next. I need to do that soon. I plan to start wearing my red and pink and then I will rotate winter tops and sweaters.
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