Weeding - The Reason My Closet Doesn't Explode

The only way for me to have a guilt free thrifting experience is to constantly edit my wardrobe. In many ways I think that editing a wardrobe is similar to weeding in a library, this is probably because I am a librarian but bear with me. The purpose of both is to ensure that there is space for the new items that regularly come in. I use similar criteria to decide when a book at my library should no longer be taking up our limited shelf space as I use when deciding that a piece of clothing should no longer be taking up my limited closet space. The two identical criteria that I use when weeding a shelf of books and editing my wardrobe are: When was this last used? And, what kind of condition is it in?  If an item is damaged in a way that is not repairable then the item should be discarded, (preferably in a recycling location).  If the item has not been used in what I deem a reasonable time-frame then it may be time for that item to move on.  In the library moving on involves being sent to a bigger and busier branch, in my closet this means being put in the donation bag.

Where the similarities between weeding a library and editing my closet end is in the arena of the subjective.  In a library I would not remove a book from a shelf just because I don't like it.  If it is still of interest to the community I serve and in good condition a book that I dislike will stick around. If there is an item in my closet that I dislike for any reason it will eventually move on.  Sometimes the moving on can take longer than it should because I like the idea of the piece of clothing so much that I ignore the reality of it.  Case in point is the dress below.

                                                     Dress: Jonathan Martin - Thrift 2014

I loved the idea of this dress. It's black and white, which is a combination that I love and that looks pretty good on me, It has Polka Dots, which I love.  It is a good length and it's light and airy and washable.  The neckline prevents it from being work appropriate but it can be worn out for drinks or dinner or even running errands.  It's a cute dress and it cost me less than $10.  The reality of this dress is that I don't really like the way it fits on top, I don't care for where the empire waistline sits and it sometimes pokes me in the side where the zipper is.  I haven't ever felt comfortable or kick ass in this dress and that is why it has been put in the donation bag.  If I don't feel good wearing it then I am not going to wear it and if I'm not going to wear it, it doesn't deserve to take up space in my closet.

See you soon.

Every time I comb my hair, thoughts of you get in my eyes

Purple is my favorite color. I have no idea what Prince's favorite color was but I would like to think that it was also purple.  His music, as has been said by many over the past few days, is part of the soundtrack to my life.  I'm lucky enough to have seen Prince play live once, and it was by accident. In 2000 a girlfriend of mine (we'll call her T) had agreed to be be my date to my company holiday party, which was in Las Vegas. The party was at the MGM Grand and so was our room.  After the party we decided to go to Studio 54 because we could get in for free by staying at the hotel.  Once we reached the door the bouncer told us it would be $20 each to get in because of a special event but he wouldn't tell us what the event was.  We grudgingly handed over our money and went inside.  I don't remember if T had gone to the bar or to the bathroom but I do remember her running back to me looking like she was going to explode with excitement. Prince is here!! I asked her if she was sure and she grabbed my hand and pulled me along behind her to the side of the club where a short man in tall boots was walking between two very large men. We only saw them from a distance and they soon disappeared, about twenty minutes later the music stopped and the stage went dark.  When the stage lights came on there he was, it was Prince, he was the special event.  He played for less than an hour and it was magic.  Intellectually I knew that Prince could play most instruments and did play them for his albums, but seeing it live was something else all together. That was one of the best live shows I have ever seen.

And now for this weeks outfits.

April 20 The first pic has a photobombing lizard way up top.

Cardigan: French Connection - Vegas 2003 (?) Top: Coldwater Creek - Thrift 2014 Skirt: Provence d'amour - Thrift 2014

The Stuff

Necklace:  NY & Co - 200?  Bracelet: Online - 200?   Earrings: Bridal Shower gift - 2004

Action shot, it was a breezy day.

April 21

        

Top: Merona - Thrift 2014  Skirt: George - Walmart 2010 (?)

The Stuff

Earrings:  TJ Maxx - 200?   Bracelets:  Street vendor - Morocco 1995

April 22    Purple for Prince with a matching coworker.  Thanks for being in the pictures Mr. DC!

  Dress: I Love H 8 1 - Thrift 2014   Cardigan:  Chicos - 2014   Hat: Target - 2016

The Stuff

Necklace: Esty  Bracelet: Gift from friend - 2010 (?)  Earrings: Gift from Mom - 2015

April 23  Purple and matching again

                        Dress: IRonson - Thrift 2014   Cardigan: August Silk - Ross 2012 (?)

Action shot, this elephant costume has a snap closure at the crotch that we noticed at the last minute.

The Stuff

Bracelet: From Mom  Necklace: Etsy  Earrings: Gift from Mom - 20??

Curating a Blogroll

For some reason the word curating seems sort of pretentious outside of a museum, but I think it is the most appropriate word for what I've been doing.  I read a lot of blogs and websites on a regular basis. I have had obsessions with celebrity gossip blogs that I rarely read anymore.  I pay too much attention to politics. I have a small obsession with royalty and their jewels. I enjoy blogs about frugality, simplicity, vintage and thrifted fashion and random just for fun blogs.  I always enjoy checking out the blogroll in the sidebar of blogs that I like so I've been thinking about which blogs I read that I derive inspiration and joy from to add to my blogroll.  And I've now typed the word blog 9 time in one paragraph.  So without using that word again you should check out the links on the right and see if any of them make you smile.

I have realized that you can't really see my jewelry in the photos I've posted so I'm borrowing from one of the awesome blogs on my blogroll and adding pictures of The Stuff separately.

April 14 Stuff

Bracelet: Gift from friend, Hi Reyna!  2010 (?)  Earrings: Gift from husband (GH)  2015

April 15 Stuff

Earrings:  Gift from Mom 2013(?)  Bracelet:  Gift from Mom 1998 (?)  Necklace: Unicef  2011

April 16 Stuff

Earrings:  Chicos 2013  Bracelets: Chicos 2013  Necklace:  Etsy 2011 (?)

April 19 Stuff

Earrings: Unicef (maybe)  Necklace: Gift from GH  2012(?)  Bracelet: From Mom

The silver bracelet and the Ohm pendant are probably my most worn pieces of jewelry outside of my rings.

I will try to post both a clothing pic and stuff pic on the same days in the future.

See you soon.

Hi There

So 80-20 Living. It seemed like a great title and made sense to me until somebody pointed out the math didn't work. That's what happens when I try to be clever, but I'm keeping the title. 80-20 is a play on the often quoted statistic that most people wear twenty percent of their clothing eighty percent of the time. I have seen this statistic used to encourage people, mainly women, to purge their wardrobes and simplify their lives through simplifying their clothing.  

Don't get me wrong I like the idea or simplifying and purging extraneous clutter, but I also really like clothes, I have a lot of them, and I try to wear them all. For the past few years a personal goal of mine has been to go as long as possible in between wearing the same outfit. I actually wrote down what I wore every day when I was an undergrad. When I stopped writing down my daily schedule I stopped writing down what I wore. I graduated in 2010. Then a few days ago I wanted to wear a particular top and I couldn't remember if I had worn the skirt it looked best with recently. Not exactly a life altering event. But it lit a spark, and an idea that had been floating around my head for a while crystallized. I could have a blog where I tracked what I wore. A blog, for some reason, seems slightly less egocentric than an Instagram account with nothing but outfit pics. Or it could be that I have yet to be dragged fully into the 21^st century and do not own a smart phone and Instagram pretty much requires a smart phone. I also think a blog has more potential for communication than an alternate format. There is also the fact that I read a lot of great blogs that are primarily about women and what they wear. And none of these women seem egocentric or superficial. They just enjoy clothes, a lot. So here I go with the help of some awesome coworkers who are willing to take daily outfit pics and a great husband as back up, motion photographer.

 

Thursday April 14

Top: Worthington - Thrift 2015  Skirt: Josephine Chaus - Ross 2010 (?)  

Top: GAP - thrifted 2014  Skirt: promod - Ebay 2005

Dress: Chicos - 2013

Top: Lilla P - Thrifted 2016  Skirt: Chicos 2013  Sweater: Dana Buchman - Thrifted 2015

Action shot of the awesome twirly skirt

All pics courtesy of BB, Mr DC and GH. 

Be back soon.