Instead of doing one big, psychologically-cleansing tear through my closets and drawers to pull out the things I never wear, or should never wear, I have been slowly picking through it all whenever I have a chance. The pile is growing. I've had a couple surprises - two button-down short sleeve shirts with colorful stripes on them that I thought for sure I would be tossing. On closer examination, they go nicely with a single color, more toned-down blazer or sweater. I just have to remember not to wear them on their own just because I'm feeling desperate.
I will tell you that the throw-away pile contains a lot of Joyce Leslie items. Does that store exist outside of the Northeast? It's a lifesaver in a real pinch when you absolutely have to have a dress, and you have $30 to spend, but when I buy things there, I know they will need to be thrown away. The problem is, I have been holding on to them anyway - the shrunken T-shirts, the dress with awful sleeves. The sweaters with holes at the collar. I wore one of those for three years with the help of a safety pin. Pathetic.
On a recent long business trip with a vacation-y weekend in the middle, I survived on 3 pairs of pants, 1 pair of shorts, 5 camisoles, 3 blazers and 4 pairs of shoes. It occurred to me that there's no reason why I have to have so much more to make it through the rest of my life. What I need is a basic set of very nice, flexible pieces for each part of my life: work, play, and the more formal occasions.
I am going to try out the personal shoppers at Nordstrom to see if I can get any help. I know I have to be very careful, because the work on commission, but I think I'll be able to tell if they're being honest with me. The service is free, and as I expressed in my last post, I definitely need help.
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