Hi,

I’m still chugging along with this challenge and starting week 12. DH is really surprised I’ve been able to maintain the challenge for 3 months. Current wardrobe totals are near the end. I tried to underline some subtopics in case you have a specific one in mind.

To read more about the challenge, including the rules, click here.

For a recap of week 9, click here.

Reflections for Week 12 (3 months!)

New clothes make the old one’s look well, old

I added Christmas gifts to my working closet during week 9 and it helped refresh my closet, but the new items also make the old one’s look well…used. This would bother me when an item starting to show some wear, but now I see it as a badge of usefulness instead. Old/Worn items in my closet mean smart purchasing decisions and a workhorse piece. This is good!

Donating takes on it’s own momentum

I originally was only going to donate the items I took out of my working closet to make room for my new Christmas gifts, but then I thought about a couple items in the boutique that would be better off in a new home. And before I knew it, I had one entire bag of clothes to donate, then two, then three and finally four! Granted some of these items were gear wear or lounge wear too, so the boutique is not down 4 bags, but I am quite happy to give these items a new home.

And after my closet purge, I still have many items sitting in the “boutique.” Sigh. But I am happy to see some space on that top shelf again.

The open space on the top shelf not only makes the closet feel less crowded, but it also brightens the space, because there’s nothing to block the light from bouncing off the walls. I’m looking forward to when the “boutique” is closed for good and the
top shelf is once again bare.

And while I was rummaging around in the “boutique” for items to donate, I updated my working closet too.

Photo-1-Clothes for donation.

Photo 2-The “new” boutique after purging. (And here [week 6-photo 6] is the boutique after a shelf fell and I had to relocated to a bag system.)

Photo 3-White for white; the white jumper on the right was always very rough to the touch, so it was replaced with the lace front jumper on the left

Photo 4-Grey for Cobalt; the grey knit on the right was showing signs of wear and I have lots of grey items, so it was replaced with the cobalt hoodie on the left

Photo 5-Demoting; the grey cardigan was gear and it’s not as soft as it used to be, also it’s missing a button so it was purged, the brown hoodie in the middle was demoted to gear, and the red hoodie on the left is the replacement.

Photo 6-The 3 tanks and grey metallic jeans on the right were replaced with the 3 tanks and leopard print jeans on the left. I was so eager to sport the metallic jeans and now I am so tired of them. But they were my trendiest bottom, and I didn’t want to loose a trendy bottom, so the leopard jeans fit nicely for this need.

Photo 7-Current working closet, fall/winter side (the pink basket is scarves).

Starting week 12, I have 53 items:

6 bottoms (no change in total number, one was purged/added)

3 hoodies (one was demoted to gear and two were added)

12 toppers (this includes: pullover sweaters, blazers and cardigans; no change in total number, one jumper was purged/added)

7 knits (donated one knit)

4 gear items (this small capsule was updated; one pair of jeans was demoted to gear, the turtleneck and pullover were updated)

1 shirt (for layering; no change)

3 LS T’s (for layering; no change)

4 tanks (for layering; no change in total number but these were updated)

6 thermal layers (no change)

5 scarves (no change but added into a basket for organization)

2 workout outfits (top and bottom; no change in total number but this small
capsule was updated)

Thanks for reading!