Behind Closed Doors

The closet is cleaned out... I've done it. For once, I followed my own advice— tried everything on, made piles of keepers, losers and ????? Because I store out-of-season in giant plastic tubs behind a screen in the bedroom (thank goodness for that impulse flea market purchase), this requires a lot of hauling and lifting so counts as weight training. What, it doesn't?

Keeper of secrets... and necklaces

The keepers are things I really wear and are in good condition. The losers were a combination of "what was I thinking?" and "gee this really doesn't look as good as I remember". Sprinkled in were the tired, stained, spotted, pilled and plum wore out. Sometimes we can literally love something to death.

There are always a few ?????. Perhaps we shouldn't, but we do get attached to things for sentimental reasons. I'm always sorry about something I may have given away so tend to hang on a little longer— as long as there is room in the tub.

The giveaways were divided into donate to Dress for Success, sell for a pittance to a resale shop (a game I play with the rejects going to DFS) or chuck anonymously into that charity collection container behind Pier One. A few do go directly to the trash can.

I transferred the keepers for spring/summer to those narrow velvet hangers. They really take up less space than the nice plastic hangers I'd used for years. Those all went to Dress for Success after being rejected by other family members. Of course skirts still need skirt hangers. I've had mine since 1960.

The label says "Scott's 5-10  15¢"

I'm particularly proud of the shoes, now all organized and labeled, snug in their boxes. Why, please are shoe boxes all different sizes? Even the plastic ones have slightly different dimensions. Getting everything to fit was like a footwear Rubik's cube. Shoes are easiest to get rid of, as you can remember by looking at them if they hurt, just as you can determine by looking at them if they're too run down to repair or walk another mile.

I've bought a few things already for summer. We have some trips planned. I'd like to take my own advice again and not wear anything "new" so will have time to road test them. Or such was the rationale I used when it should be apparent I hardly "need" anything.

I will admit to now opening the closets occasionally as I pass by, just to admire my handiwork.

The challenge is not to buy anything else. The trick will be to "return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear" (to quote the old Lone Ranger shows), when we shopped sparsely and sparely. Honk if you remember only buying spring clothes in March, summer clothes in May, fall clothes in August, a holiday outfit in November. I never remember sales other than after Christmas and after July 4th. How did the stores stay in business?

Oh yes— it could be like this

Perhaps not everyone shopped like the Ruskin family? Sewing seemed to cheat the system. Buying patterns and material was a different kind of shopping so didn't count. We always had projects going to take up the slack between real shopping trips while satisfying creative urges and plugging up any holes in the wardrobe.

I have only two velvet hangers left and will not (as you are my witness) buy another pack.