Having the luxury of a day off and between what felt like 15 loads of laundry and a bunch of pro-active cooking for next week, I did a very fast fall/winter closet changeover and quick edit. Usually I take a few days to do this, but I actually felt I did a thorough and considered edit, and here are my thoughts and results:

1. putting summer away:

stars of my summer footwear collection were mules, hands down. Best way to update outfits , were comfortable, easy and fun to buy. I tossed some t-shirts and random tops that never saw the light of day this summer. Nothing to learn in terms of a theme, other than I continued to have too many clothes this year. Summer footwear that never got worn and went into the donate bag - older sandals with higher block heel. Also, 2 pair of worn looking and no longer pristine fashion-ish sneakers. Not good enough to wear for work, so why keep them? Summer bags got sold on-line a few months ago ( 5 bags that were going unworn and worth selling ) and I got rid of an unused orange leather tote (you know, when you think a 40% off deal at BR is a great opportunity to buy something that doesn't fill a need nor a hole).

2. editing out jeans and leggings : I put away a new and unworn pair of floral embroidered jeans purchased in the spring. They fit well, look cute, and I bought an entire outfit based on this look , yet I never once reached for them. I think spring here is too short a season to invest in a denim trend , and these were a mistake. The embroidery is too far down the leg to allow me to crop them 2 inches , which might have made a difference. So, into the closet they go for re-evaluation next spring . I have enough jeans to last until I die, so I did get rid of a couple of pair of plain relaxed skinnies that just weren't special enough or different enough from the others. The issue is that none of my jeans are necessarily trendy or fashion forward , and the more current look I'd love to get into continues to elude me at retail. Tossed 3 pair of leggings that were past their prime. I fall into the trap of wearing boring oversized and dingy cat-hair covered sweatshirts and leggings when I'm at home, and I need to stop that. I say this every year going into the house-bound winter months - and I still keep doing it.

3. bringing up fall, and what didn't make the cut: (see photos below) a couple of sweaters with V necklines. Too low , and I'm not a layerer, even with a cami. A Cashmere 360 Skull sweater I may have worn twice. Expensive, but too straight-cut and completely the wrong colour for me. I was blinded by my favourite motif and didn't pay enough attention to colour and silhouette. I regret this mistake. Also put several sheer or filmy blouses into the pile that require a cami underneath. Again, I don't layer, and these are simply impractical. Then - and the big one - out goes anything plaid. I keep buying plaid shirts because I think I should, and I DON'T LIKE THEM. They are not "me", I don't like wearing shirts with collars unless they are super crisp and can stand up, and I have nowhere I'd even wear a plaid shirt ! Luckily, not much money was invested here. The houndstooth wrap blouse in the photo of blouses never got worn. Poor fit, and a duplicate of a summer piece that did fit and get worn. This one was a waste of $ and a rash purchase. 2 merino-wool sweaters from BR bought late last winter - also hit the donate pile. Merino is too itchy for me, and these also pilled and snagged after a few wears. Another bandwagon I don't need to jump on . Lastly , I got rid of several oversize blah-looking sweaters that even though were only a season old, were pilled and tired looking . I haven't got the frame and height to wear intentionally oversized sweaters, and need to stop being wooed by mannequins in stores dressed in slouchy oversized tops, pants and sneakers

4. winter boots and bags - I have too many shoes and boots. No secret there. I am also ruthless in editing footwear and I don't like carrying over boots for too many seasons. My eye changes from year to year , and I really dislike worn-looking footwear unless it's in a RATE boot or shoe. This year also marks a major change in what I'll wear in terms of heel height - same as many of us here on the forum. So - out went a couple of pair of heeled booties that were merely duplicates and no longer comfortable enough for everyday wear. One or two pair of going -out boots is plenty now. Two new suede and fringed bags/totes that I acquired last season and only used once or twice. I discovered I don't care for floppy loose bags and totes, and these felt messy and unpolished at the best of times. Trending or not, they aren't working for me and don't represent how I want to dress.

Also in the donate pile and photo'd below: a CM boucle jacket bought on sale last spring, never worn. Poor fit. Too big, too bulky and the wrong length. Big mistake. Not sure what happened there. Two beaded/sequinned tops I've been hanging on to in case I have an occasion to wear one to a holiday party. I've been concocting this scenario for at least 5 years now, and it's yet to happen. I am sick of looking at them. Bye bye. Total donated: one big green garbage bag full clothes, and another full of bags and footwear. Threw out 6 items.

Lessons:
1. be careful buying too many shoes/boots. I like frequent turnover here so important to keep the collection small.
2. no shirts, no plaid, and no merino wool. Don't accumulate too many sweaters - same principle as with shoes. No silky , filmy shirts and blouses for winter.
3. structured bags and totes only, unless it's a very small purse. I don't need nor use brightly coloured bags or totes - so stop with the sales goggles in that department.
4. no more buying. Wear the clothes in my closet ,enjoy them and relax.
Appreciate the opportunity to work in a place where trends and fashion aren't important and where my identity and sense of worth isn't dependent upon them . A thankful reprieve for awhile