In Loser Wardrobe Challenge Part I I layed out a plan to clean out my closet and generate fundage for a brand new wardrobe. The specifics - here's the plan as I listed it back in August:
Step 1 - Clean out closets and make eBay pile. Oh how I do love eBay. Step 2 - Stop eating. Just kidding. Hit the gym. Step 3 - List my eBay goodies. Step 4 - Enlist the help of my cousins-stylists, choose stores and make hair appointments. Step 5 - Makeover/Shopping day is November 7th.
Here's the progress: 1 - Closets are clean and eBay piles are everywhere. 2 - I have stopped eating and hit the gym with my fists as I walk past it. 3 - Have listed 50 of the roughly 100 items I vowed to purge. 4 - I am focusing on Anthropologie and J Crew for chain stores and boutique shopping to round out the new look. I desperately need a new Burberry trench, but really can't justify that much of a splurge at the moment. 5 - February 17th is the new November 7th.
It feels good already, but I won't be realizing the vast expanse of space in my closet until I start shipping my precious belongings next week.
It's funny how tied to "stuff" we can be. I've had this closet, jam packed with gorgeous things that don't fit, staring at me every day since I became pregnant in July 2008. I have touched about ten items since that time and my closet is petrified into a museum of who I once was.
As I piled, photographed and listed each of these things I could remember when I bought it, why I wanted it, what I planned to do with it and how I looked at the time. I couldn't trust my intial desire to hold on to each. Is it more cost-effective to keep it? Am I really ever going to wear it again? Do I even like it? I had to make a rule that it was all going to go and stick to my guns.
It's addictive - the urge to purge. I'm less than two days into this closet-emptying exercise and I already feel lighter. Now, if I can just keep from filling it back up again.
It's a new year. Are you in the mood to clean house and start the year fresh? Post to comments and share your fuss with us!
I'm sorry about your back, but happy for your otherwise good fortune. Thanks so much for bidding and for checking out The Daily Fuss! I've had a lovely time chatting with you.
Jen
Posted by: Jennifer W. Freeman | Monday, January 11, 2010 at 11:11 PM
Well DF - your loss is my gain and I'm so glad you saved the good "stuff" for ebay as that is my new addiction. I too will soon be cleaning my closet to make room for all the super great buys i "won" on ebay... just got a box today with dkny pants with a $295 tag still on it - paid a whopping $11 plus shipping.
Why ebay for me? 1) I have a bad back and can't tolerate shopping and can't tolerate shopping with a good back and i've found that clothes can fit quite nicely without trying on 35 pairs of pants to find just the right one only to walk out with none because a line was too long. 2) No tolerance for outlet shopping where you do get the designers at a steal. 3) No time.... too many sporting events or items ending or searching for a new designer i just discovered... it's really fun. I used to spend all this time exercising and then when i couldn't i went to facebook and now it's ebay.... and here we are. Sorry, got to get back to checking my items i'm watching.
The good thing? no complaints from my husband. He can't believe the great items i "win"..... happy shopping and selling.
Posted by: karen | Monday, January 11, 2010 at 11:02 PM
Wii absolutely counts! And, donating is always a great idea. I always donate to Goodwill, and did this time too, but the "whole closet" aspect was so drastic, I needed to come up with the funds to buy a new wardrobe. Anything that was in great shape, but not necessarily designer or part of a set went to St. Vincent DePaul.
Posted by: Jennifer W. Freeman | Wednesday, January 06, 2010 at 05:02 PM
Love this idea! Maybe I should have thought of ebay first.
We came home from the in-laws to find a flyer from the Goodwill saying they had a pick up scheduled for 1/4 in our neighborhood. I set out TWO HUGE garbage bags of clothes that I couldn't stand to see again.
Now about that hitting the gym....does playing Wii count?
Posted by: Amy | Wednesday, January 06, 2010 at 04:54 PM