Closet Cleanup: Undecided pieces

Most of you know that I’ve been working on cleaning out my closet since January and I’m finally “finished.” Obviously, it’s a project I’ll never be done with, but the hardest part is over. I’ve given away a huge bin full of cloths, have quite the pile of things to be altered, packed some things away to store, and have a closet that now consists of only things that fit and flatter my body type (except a few skirts that are hanging around until I can replace them). I just have a few items that I’m questioning what to do with, so I’m posting pictures of them here for suggestions.

#1 long black skirt with little flowers on it http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....dskirt.jpg
I haven’t worn it in years, but it’s one of the few skirts I have that fits me well. When I did my thread on which skirts to keep and which to give away, some ladies suggested that I keep this one and have it hemmed to knee length. The problem is that the more I look at it I’m not so sure it would look any better at knee length. So should I keep it or give it away?

#2 brown zip-up sweater
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....pcardi.jpg
I wear this a lot in the winter, but I’m not sure if it’s flattering at all. It’s certainly not fitted. Any suggestions?

#3 teal sleeveless shirt (front, side, and back views)
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....alshit.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....rtside.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....rtback.jpg
I used to love this one, but it was just too big everywhere, so I took it in. It still doesn’t fit well though, and I think I made it worse. Now the fabric sticks out strangely bellow the bottom button (as you can see in the side view). It’s not too small, because there is plenty of extra fabric, especially in the back. Should I give up on fixing this one?

#4 red button–up shirt
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....ttonup.jpg
I used to really like this shirt, but I think I’ve grown out of the look. It seems a little country to me now. If I did keep it I’d have to have it taken it so it would fit me.

#5 pink striped shirt
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....green1.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....green2.jpg
I took two pictures of this one: one as it is, and one with me pinching the back together to see how it would look taken in. I used to wear this shirt all the time (and a purple one just like it), but the more I look at it the more I think it’s too t-shirt like to bother altering it.

#6 green and cream cardi
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....skirt1.jpg
http://i301.photobucket.com/al.....skirt2.jpg
Same two picture deal. Is it worth taking in?

My other two undecided pieces I did not take any pictures of. They are two white t-shirts that I used to use for layering. They have two problems 1) they are boxy and need to be taken in and 2) I’m not sure if there is any layering I would use them for that I couldn’t just use a cami or tank top.

It’s funny, but I seem to have answered most of my own questions. I’ll post this anyway, because it would be good to have a second or third opinion.

18 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I don't think any of them are worth keeping to be honest. Most of them don't seem to fit and wouldn't be worth altering. I wouldn't bother with that skirt. The print is dowdy and falls into the little house on the prairie category of florals.

Nicole

Hmmm Sarah, I think alot of those pieces are not alterable. I did like the green cardigan when you bunched it up, but I don't think you could have a sweater altered. Nothing else looked like the kind of style you are striving for. Keep in mind the age of something and how much it cost you originally, and how much it will cost you to replace it today. Not that you would replace it with an exact replica, but something to take it's place.

It sounds like you had a lot of clothes to work with--and it can be scary to get rid of so much stuff. You think, "What the heck am I going wear now?" But it will all come together, and it will pretty much force you to shop for replacements.

Antje

Sarah, I'm afraid they should all go, as they are big and bulky. The one piece I'd keep is the teal sleeveless shirt; it could be good with a belt, or under a vest or cardi. Migth be a good layering piece for color. Your recent photos show that you've successfully created new looks that are more flattering (e.g. with the shorter skirt length) and I think this will continue to evolve and you will not miss your other pieces.

Lannie

Active Member

I'm going to agree with the other girls that it should all go. It doesn't sound like you're too crazy about any of them anyway, so just purge it all and start fresh. As for the t-shirts, I really don't think it's generally worth altering a t-shirt, especially a plain white one. Just pitch them (or keep them for things like painting or gardening, if you like) and replace them with other layering pieces if you need them. I second Antje's comment that the photos you've posted recently show that your style is really evolving, so there's no need to hold on to things that don't make you feel fabulous. Congrats on the purging! It can be surprisingly hard work.

nancy

I have to agree with the other posts. I think you have real potential to look very pretty and young but the clothes look dowdy and do not highlight your assets. I would give the clothes away and start over.

Ana

(website)

I agree with the ladies above--just get rid of everything and look for some new pieces. I wanted to say that when you posted that picture of you dressed up for "Pirates of the Penzance" over in the "Who's Who" thread, I thought that looked more like "you" than anything I've seen you post. Obviously, I don't know you in person and so I don't know the real "you," but something about how you looked in the photo made me think, "THAT'S Sarah." You just looked fun and outgoing and young and happy, and in almost all the outfits and things you've posted, I just don't see that coming through.

I know clothes are just things, but I really liked Angie's post a few days ago on the psychology of fashion, and how we dress is sort of an outward representation of what we're like on the inside. I think when these two things don't match up anymore, we start to feel uneasy and unhappy with our wardrobe and like we have nothing to wear (at least that's how I feel). This is because we really don't have anything to wear--that matches up with how we want to express ourselves outwardly. I could be wrong, but I think what you're currently dressing yourself in is not really representing who you are on the inside. I think if you pitch this stuff and start with something totally new, it will help you find a defined style and some fabulous pieces that really "fit." Does this make sense? Let me know if I'm totally off base, but all of us are here to help if you need it, just remember that.

Becky

I don't have anything to add, Sarah. The comments above pretty much covered what I would have said. Have fun shopping for new pieces that make you feel and look fab!

Tanya

I agree with everyone else - I would get rid of all of them. You deserve to only wear stuff that makes you feel great about yourself.

Sarah

Thank you ladies. That was actually just what I was hopping to hear. At first I set these pieces aside as undecided, but the more I looked at them the more I thought "These aren't me." And I was pretty sure I should get rid of all of them. You all confirmed that.

Nicole, my mom has actually altered sweaters successfully for my sister, but not the button-up/cardi kind like this. I love the color, but I’ll pass it on to someone else. Yes, I did have a lot of cloths, but most of them were things that I should not be wearing for various reasons. You all have helped me realize that. It is kind of scary getting rid of so much, but nobody has to force me to shop for replacements. I love shopping.

Antje, I don’t think I’ll keep the teal shirt, as much as I love the color. I don’t think a belt wouldn’t fix the problem with the fabric sticking out, unless perhaps it was a low slung belt. I’ll just look for something else in that color in my future shopping trips. Teal is one of my favorite colors, and thankfully it seems to be fairly popular in recent years.

Ana, wow you really made me think! I read your post yesterday, but didn’t have time to respond right away due to having to fix dinner.

Self reflection time. For years I thought I loved acting and performing because it allowed me to become someone else, the person I wanted to be, but you’ve made me realize the real reason I love it. Performing allows me to be myself. It may sound sill, but it’s true.

On Mother’s day (just a couple of weeks ago) I was watching all the kids at church lead the singing. They were happy and doing big motions to all the songs. There was a little girl on the front row dancing as she sang, and I thought, “That was me once. What happened?” I came to the conclusion that something about the school I attended K-12 changed me. I attended a very strict, authoritarian Christian school and I become shy and introverted. I’m not really myself with people anymore until I get to know them well; I just can’t open up right away. I’ve gotten better as I’ve been away from that school atmosphere, so that is part of what makes me think it is the major cause. When I’m on stage or with friends I’m myself. I’m bold and expressive. Hopefully over time I can become myself all of the time. OK, end of monologue.

Thank you for the insight on me and on the psychology of style. How I dressed (and am trying to change now) absolutely does not reflect who I am; it reflects the mold I was forced into all those years in school. Perhaps expressing myself in my clothes will be a good step towards expressing myself more in life in general.

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