Thoughts on contemplating the charity shop

[nineveh_uk]

Beige is a practical summer work cardi colour. It doesn't suit you and you never wear it.

These trousers are lovely. Their shape is perfect for you and suits you really well, the wool fabric is in perfect condition. But you got them 18 years ago, they were a Hobbs sample in a smaller size, and it is hardly surprising they are too small. They should go. But you need to mend the lining first. Or cut it out? Because you will never have time to mend it.

These trousers are likewise a great style and shape for you. But you bought them on Ebay knowing they were a size too large and planning to take them in. You could send them back. But you won't.

You made this great vintage style dress. It was snug then, when you had just had norovirus, because fitting it was a nightmare. Also, you can't sing in choirs at the moment anyway. You can let it serve someone else in winter party and concert season. Please. You can.

Why on earth did you buy all three volumes of Captive Prince on fandom osmosis before reading the first and discovering that fandom osmosis lied to you and these are not books of Nirvana in Fire court scheming? You do not have to read the second and third, you will not learn valuable things about writing from them. You also can drop them somewhere you don't do Gift Aid so you don't have to be embarrassed by the pro published slavefic.

You've never liked this blouse, much as you want to. It needs ironing. Do that!

Thank goodness, this jumper has no complicated feelings attached.

Comments

[philomytha]

Oh, I recognise this so much! Why is getting rid of clothes so hard. Sending you fortitude to get it all sorted (and wow, there are three volumes of Captive Prince? I had no idea...)

[nineveh_uk]

It's nice not to be alone :D

There are three volumes of Captive Prince. I got through one, but it was so not my thing. On the plus side, I didn't pay full price for them.

[antisoppist]

That sounds very productive as long as you can remain firm and not change your mind and actually get them out of the house, not leave them by the door for 2 months and then wonder if you want them really (I am projecting).

[nineveh_uk]

I did decide to put wool trousers 1 aside while I contemplate what to do about the lining (it would be awful for them to be chucked because of it) and not let that delay moving the rest on. And I haven't had energy for ironing. But the I have a bagand will drop it off over the next week or so. Every little counts!

Azdak here

[(Anonymous)]

Many years ago I binge-watched Marie Kondo and I’ve been pretty good at throwing stuff away ever since (apart from one jeans jacket which is really too good for the bin and has been hanging on the knob at the end of my bannister for eons, waiting to be taken to a charity shop). It helps that I hate shopping so much that most of my clothes have reached “the poor didn’t want them” well before I stop wearing them, but I did need Marie Kondo to help with the items I’d been lugging around since university but knew I was never, ever going to wear again.

Re: Azdak here

[nineveh_uk]

I have never watched Kondo, but I own one of her books - given by a friend who ended up with two copies because they lost the first in the clutter... I find her useful for presenting a mindset that isn't justify getting rid of something, but justify keeping it. I got rid of a bunch of student/20s/early 30s finery that I was never going to wear again, but probably counts as vintage for actual students. Even a velvet waistcoat I had had since sixth form!

Re: Azdak here

[azdak]

The "Do I still want this to be in my cupboard in ten years time?" question is also helpful as the answer is usually no.

Re: Azdak here

[nineveh_uk]

That is a very good way of thinking about it, and applicable to more than clothing.

[ethelmay]

One of the things I try to do is "shop my closet" - make a point of wearing something I haven't in a long time, in order either to say, hey, I like this, I might as well actually wear it, or, oh, so THAT'S the reason I never wear this, I should remember that this kind of neckline doesn't suit me, or whatever it is. Because if I never figure out that a certain type of neckline is going to start bothering me in half an hour after putting it on, I might get rid of the thing with the bad neckline, but I might BUY ANOTHER ONE because I never worked out what was wrong. And similarly, if I actually like the thing, I need to wear the one I have instead of BUYING ANOTHER because I forgot that I already have five turquoise-to-teal T-shirts.

[nineveh_uk]

There's nothing like looking in the mirror and going - oh, that's why I never wear this. I'm trying to have a policy of only buying if something is an instant hit, to avoid the dutiful beige cardi problem, but it's never 100%.

[lareinenoire]

I feel this so much. I am certain I need to get rid of clothing, but I just do not want to.

[nineveh_uk]

I'm finding clothing starting to get easier with practice, though I am still not great at it, but Random Things in Drawers are just awful. They are just taking up space! And yet, they will not go.

Then there's books...