One Dress, One Suit and One Shirt

Photo courtesy of Darwin Bell on Flickr

Have you thought about shedding one garment? Perhaps you were waiting for this next post to tell you what to do . . .

As you’re standing before your closet, looking at your wardrobe, pretend for a moment you don’t know the person who wears these clothes.  Act as if you’ve walked into someone else’s house and you’re wondering who lives there.  What is this person like?  What does she do? What are his interests? What sort of personality is conveyed through these garments? Be mindful of your thoughts here. Who is this person?
 
Now look afresh at this collection of attire. The rule is: if you haven’t worn it or used it in a year, take it out of the closet and put it on the bed or in another part of the apartment where you can observe it objectively (if that were possible).

If you’re still having trouble with this first step, heed this:  you haven’t worn that item because you didn’t want to. You opened your closet, saw it, and your mind on a subtle level, thought, “NO”.  All those inner NOs add up and create and perpetuate negativity in your mind. You may not even be aware of it, but it does have an effect. Remember you can start with one item that you know you don’t like, even if it’s an old pair of underwear. Think: I am letting go of the past and creating space for a new identity.
 
If you’ve gotten past the first step and you’re perusing the garments whose days are numbered, consider giving each item you’ve extracted to the Salvation Army (http://www.salvationarmyusa.org), selling it at Buffalo Exchange in Williamsburg (http://www.buffaloexchange.com/) or Beacon’s closet in Park Slope (http://www.beaconscloset.com/). If some items are very valuable you might consider other consignment shops in different, more upscale neighborhoods. 

Next time: My Favorite Way to Give Away My Clothes