It's Growth to Get Rid of It

I'm just hoping it's not growth in the wrong direction. I've worked too hard to get to where I am.

Today, when I got dressed for church, I grabbed a sweater that I haven't worn in a long time. I remembered that I love it, but since I live in jeans and t-shirts all week long, and I only dress up on Sundays - I haven't worn it in a while. After I put on the sweater, I grabbed a pair of dressy jeans that I haven't worn in a while either. When I put them on, I remembered that I'd bought them in petite length.

I'm right on the border for petite length pants.

With this pair of pants I was apparently on the wrong side of the border.

All during church I was aware that the pants just grazed the tops of my ankles, and that the sweater, a blue and beige blend, soft and cuddly, hit me at the waist. Exactly where the jeans hit - which meant that there was no lap over, and when I sat - there was a small, but noticeable, gap.

I spent the hour of Mass extremely uncomfortable and aware of the need to pick different clothing.

When I came home, I took off the sweater that I love, and the pants that really fit well (except for the length) and started a pile. I went through the rest of my closet ruthlessly. Into the pile went the new dress that my husband bought me 2 years ago - I have a green one and a blue one and love them, but he bought me an orange one and that is just SO.NO on so many levels. Into the pile went the black and pink wool check suit that I bought at a second hand consignment store three years ago - and never wore. The pink sweater with the tag still on,the pajamas that are stretched out, the shirts that I've bought at the thrift store only to get them home and notice that they were just a smidgen too short or tight. Anything that makes me uncomfortable or self conscious when I wear it was added to the pile.

It was a rather big pile. 

I'm tired of wearing things that make me uncomfortable, clothes that don't flatter me. I want to move in another direction with my outfits - I want to change up my look a bit - make it a bit funkier, a little more attractive - although I'll never get rid of my jeans or my fight t shirts.

Now that I have room in my closet, I just need to figure out where to shop.

I did one of my girls closets today as well. Anyone want to join me in a closet clean out?

Comments

[Kalisa]

You know, you should probably hold onto those jeans. Everyone will be wearing them rolled up to just above the ankle this spring.

[Lindsey]

I just went through clothes too! I want a new style, I just don't know what it is yet. Not anything trendy, just less Old Navy, you know?

[Headless Mom]

I've been doing this in spurts over the last year. What I want to know is where I can take my reeeeely nice business suits that will never fit me right any more but are so classic that they never go out of style. Perfect condition. Getting those out of my closet will open up a bunch of space!

[Crisanne]

I love Ann Taylor Loft. Trendy enough, but still classic. Sale racks, of course!

[Vanderbilt Wife]

I am right on the edge of petite/not petite pants too and I almost always buy not petite because I am so afraid of the highwaters!

I buy most of my clothes at thrift stores, so I am not much help. But if you're going funky, give it a try!

[Karen]

I find myself doing this bit by bit. I'm holding out for spring to get more tops since I sent a Hefty bag full of tops to Goodwill last month. Next up are some pants that don't have elastic...

[Annika]

I can't get rid of things that don't fit, since I just had a baby (which means NOTHING fits but it could any time now), but I think I will attempt to get rid of everything I don't like.

[KG]

Amen sister!
I made a teeeeny tiny dent in my closet. Was tired of going to school functions & feeling uncomfortable, exactly as you described! I finally went to Kohls, to the section with the shirts that I'd normally reserve for date nights or school functions & bought a bunch of tops on sale. With 4 kids I never saw the point of wearing nice clothes around the house because they're always spilling stuff on me etc But I decided I wanted to feel like I looked half-way decent. I started wearing "those shirts" most every day. Sounds silly but it really made me feel like I was getting out of dumpy frumpy 24/7 mom mode.

Headless Mom:
Try dressforsuccess.org
They help women who are in need get outfitted properly for the workplace. A really great charity.

[Grace]

How funny! I was doing this yesterday morning and I've got a paperbag of clothes that I'll be dropping off at Goodwill tomorrow morning.

[Brandi Mantha]

My true fit is great to find pants!

www.mytruefit.com/

[Elizabeth]

My mom always made us clean out our closets twice a year & it's something I still do today. She was ruthless - made us try on everything & get rid of everything we didn't like, wouldn't wear or didn't fit. Even pajamas, bras, slips, etc.

I'm starting to want to dress nicer myself even though I work from home & no one sees me. Not fancy, just better than frumpy.

[Marjie]

I hit my girls' closets this weekend too. My six year old was crying recently because she had too many clothes on her closet. Not now! My closet will be next--maybe Wednesday. I love to purge (closets, that is).

[Jennifer]

I do this pretty regularly. I must have had the same mom as Elizabeth, as we used to clean out our closets before each season. Anyway, if you keep what you wear and only that, save for a dress or two for special occasions, you will quickly figure out what you need in your closet to survive.

I really like "Gigisgoneshopping.blogspot.com" for clothing ideas. She just goes to different stores and tries on stuff and posts pictures of herself in the outfits. It sounds so stupid, but it's so helpful to me. She even got me to going to Forever 21 for cheap jewelry!

[mary]

i have less clothes than anyone I know. Like total 3 feet of clothes; including all shirts, dresses (I have 3 now!), skirts (1) dress pants (1) and a million tanks. lol. If I dont love it and wear it; out it goes. Picky, yes.

I actually get a lot of clothes I love at walmart. Crazy huh? but true. And I have to buy petite jeans but not from everyone. I hate the too short!

[beebalm]

Thank you for the inspiration! I am going to my closet RIGHT NOW to do some more purging. I recently donated a large box of things, but I know there are more, and I find that I just don't like so many of my clothes. Time to make space for something new!

[elizabethk]

I am going to buy some *essentials* in the spring, and pare down my closet too. I gain (unfortunately) and then buy clearance so-so clothing at Targee' -- and it just is not attractive stuff. I just wish I could get a few dollars for all I am cleaning out...as I really have no extra money to clothes shop with. Good for you - Carmen!!

[elizabethk]

just curious - Mary, what brand are you finding/liking at Walmart? I like some George, Danskin and Lee Rider.

[Nicki]

I understand the closet clean-out and embrace it fully. The only problem is after doing so, I realized that I have almost no clothes. Seriously. Apparently I forget to buy for myself. I am tackling my boys' drawers and closets and then I suspect there will be much shopping going on so no one is running around naked. *sigh* Sales racks here I come.

[Azul]

I did this very thing last fall. I've been trying to treat and dress well the body I HAVE, not the one I'm working toward, or the one I wish I had.

[kyooty]

I reduced a pile of papers by 4inches today in one of my son's rooms.

[mm]

On "What not to Wear" they say dress the body you have, not the body you had, or the body you want to have. But it scares me sometimes. When a person loses a lot of weight as I have, I still get scared by the thought of throwing out those bigger sized clothes.

But I still could do with going through and getting rid of things that I have not worn in a couple of years.

[Deborah]

I love the closet clean out but can't seem to get my kids to love it as much. Good luck and have fun replacing with things that feel fun and funky!

[Young Wife]

Good for you! My husband found the perfect pair of jeans for me at Kohl's for my birthday. The weren't even in my usual size.

[addy]

Usually twice a year - seasons change. Need to be a bit more ruthless this time though. Too much I just don't like. Hate to be uncomfortable in my own clothes. Good for you!!

[Gina]

Yippee! We should feel good when we walk out the door. Unfortunately I'm having major issues with that right now. I'm pregnant and over six feet tall, plus it's really freaking cold so skirts are not an option. The only tall maternity jeans I can find on-line are $75, so not going to spend that! So I have three pair of pants that look decent right now, sigh.