Today, we are riding out a hurricane (well, tropical storm).
...and looking classically casual while doing it.
Ali asked me yesterday whether I see this becoming a long-term thing. The pared down wardrobe, that is. We're only a week in, so my attitudes may change over time, but here are my thoughts so far. I love having a cleared out closet. I literally feel lighter when I step into the closet in the morning. I love having less decision in the morning. I like the idea of having fewer "things" in general (and clothes are a good, easy place to start). I know that once the month is over, I'm going to add back in a good chunk of my larger wardrobe, but there are a few more things I plan to purge, like some old skirts I never wear. I won't continue with just 75 articles of clothing over the long-term, but I am finding myself being more fastidious about the idea of buying new clothes. Last week I went into work at my retail job, and my boss told me that there was a special for associates on a cardigan I had been admiring the week before -- we got 75% off. But when I thought about the cardigans I already have in my closet, I realized that although the new cardigan would be cute and lovely, I don't need it. And it would spend more time taking up space in my closet than being worn. So until I purge some old sweaters I don't wear, no use adding new ones into the mix.
Now, that's not to say that I won't ever buy new clothing. I will. But it makes me stop to think and consider the idea of need vs. want. It also makes me look forward to Christmas this year, when I hope I'll still have the willpower to say to people (especially my mother), "No, I don't need any new clothes." Because I don't.
One of things that's been tricky, however, is the fact that, as I've mentioned before, I've recently lost some weight. This means that I packed up a lot of old clothes (pants, especially) that are currently just too big to wear. I hesitate to get rid of them, however, because winter is fast approaching. Let's just be honest...this is Vermont. And winter in Vermont is truly hibernation season. So I don't want to get caught with a few extra pounds of winter weight and no clothes to wear. Hence, I'm keeping some of the old clothes that don't currently fit, because I want to see how my new weight will fluctuate over a longer period of time. I think that's just sensible. Having the clothes packed away, however, is still better than having them hanging in my closet, so it's nonetheless a win.
I'm going to continue to monitor my feelings over the challenge, and I'll keep you guys updated on this very questions. As of right now, the short answer is: my wardrobe will be pared down and more of it will be packed away at a given time, but I have no plans to be a true clothing minimalist.
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