What I Purged When I Went Through My Entire Closet

TL;DR - nothing. Here's why...

One of the most exciting things - okay, possibly the only exciting thing - about packing up our house for the renovation was how it forced us to be intentional about what we chose to store or move to my parents’ place. My husband called it “interviewing” all of our possessions, which I loved. I’m also a big fan of the poop test: if this had poop on it, would it be worth washing or would you just throw it away?

We ended up trashing or donating a lot of household goods and kids’ stuff. Because we were a bit unrealistic about how quickly we’d be able to save up for the renovation, we’d spent the past few years getting by with an embarrassing amount of things that were supposed to be temporary (but lasted the entire eight years we lived in the pre-renovated house) or that should’ve been replaced long ago (but we kept putting that off, wanting to move back in with new items). Packing was also the push we needed to let go of toys, costumes, and books meant for toddlers, since Claire will be five by the time we return and there’s no going back to that stage.

One area I’m proud to say didn’t require any purging was my closet. I’m really good at knowing what dresses work for me and why, so I rarely come across something I don’t wear when I’m flipping through my hangers.

Whenever I shop, whether in-store or online, I start by reminding myself what I like in a dress and what I actually need in a dress. (They’re not always the same thing! I like pockets. I don’t need pockets. But if a dress doesn’t have them, it has to redeem itself in some other way.) Here’s my checklist:

• nothing tiered

• no fully smocked bodices or RenFest waists

• waist must be defined and needs to hit at my natural waist or just under my bust

• length has to be right (or be hemmable)

• sleeves have to be either cap, 3/4, or long (not mid-bicep or ending at the crease of my elbow)

• pockets

• colors that fit in my season

I’ll totally raise my hand and admit that some of these preferences are rooted in an internalized fatphobia that equates “flattering” with “slimming.” And I’ll also admit that I judge myself and how my clothes fit me far more harshly than I ever judge anyone else. Look, I’m in therapy, okay?

Otherwise, these are just stylistic choices - what I like for myself, on my own body. (You do you, boo!)

Here are some examples of how I assess dresses. These are all from Tuckernuck’s Hyacinth House line and I love every one of them, but they wouldn’t work for me for the following reasons:

Wow, the fabrics of the dresses I picked really show what color(s) and pattern(s) I gravitate to, don’t they. Seems like a great segue into the post about Why Knowing My Color Season Helps Me Shop More Mindfully - stay tuned!

Again, all four of those dresses are from Tuckernuck’s Hyacinth House line and would look fabulous on someone who isn’t me!