Constantly Purging and Recycling My Closet

Constantly Purging and Recycling My Closet

I love clothes, shoes and accessories. But I am fickle. I could never commit to a tattoo. I can’t commit to a handbag for more than one season. What I may love today I may disdain next week. So, my wardrobe is in a constant state of flux and renovation. But really, is there anything wrong with that?

During my years in Asia I accumulated such an abundance of clothing items that created a closet overflowing with silk dresses, linen pants, Diane Freis dresses and evening clothes that I actually clothed a small Philippine village with my cast offs. It is mildly embarrassing. But, I truly believe that recycling former treasures helps bring positive karma into my life. My excess can bring some good to the world.

I believe that we as individuals tend to reinvent ourselves regularly. The reinvention causes us to reevaluate what we wear. I’ve experienced many fashion selves over the years from student to newbie employee to wannabe professional to professional to expatriate wife to community service maven to charity fundraiser to property landscape rehabber to beachcomber to exurban commuter to professional negotiator to my current incarnation as pseudo casual remote worker who gardens and occasionally attends mediations and professional meetings. M wardrobe has morphed through all of these incarnations.

Today, at least 50% of the time I wear jeans and a tee shirt or turtleneck while working at home and change into yoga clothes at 5:15pm for my workout. A few days per week I commute to the District of Columbia to my business casual office. I tend to push the envelope regarding what constitute “business casual”. With 2% spandex do the colored 5 pocket pants really qualify as “jeans”? I do keep 3 suits in my arsenal for my mediation  /settlement conference days when I need to present an image of authority. Although, I believe, in my heart of hearts, that when I wear fierce undergarments {leopard print denotes power} my outer layer is only icing on the cake.

Essentially, my point is this. It is okay to recreate our personas regularly. I tend to purge my wardrobe 4-5 times per years or whenever the muse strikes. If I buy something new, something less new must go. It is the cycle of life. Whenever I buy something new, something older must be donated. It is a healthy practice that keeps us from being burdened by our possessions. Really – it is just stuff. People, not stuff, fulfill our lives. Ok, people and pets. Maybe people, pets and hobbies. Or people, pets, hobbies and wine. Yes, wine.