Falling out of love with special pieces

I just finished a pretty big closet purge, and I was dismayed to find that some of the pieces I had really loved when I got them, and for a good amount of time afterwards, were languishing unworn. Several of the items in the "donate" pile were pieces I really thought I'd love forever!

This is new for me... Until fairly recenlty (immediately pre-YLF) my size fluctuated all over the place and I'd either grown out of favorite pieces or wear them to rags before I had a chance to get tired of them. Then, when I lost weight, joined YLF, and had to rebuild my entire wardrobe from the shoes up, there were the inevitable "misses" that got purged in relatively short order.

But this is new... the whole "I loved you but I'm moving on" thing. Gah. Yellow Anthropologie silk blouse! Ours was a torrid affair, but now it's over! Watercolor print pussy bow blouse, I thought we'd always be together! You, took, watercolor-print tank! And straight-leg dress pants! How did we drift so far apart?

This is normal, right? Because it feels pretty weird...

(Photos ca. two years ago. How things change!)

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11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Totally normal -- and reassuring! I am experiencing the same thing, Mary. I can see why you are falling out of love with those pieces. They're perfectly lovely, but I see you gravitating towards "stronger" looks lately. Perhaps a byproduct of the new independent phase in your life?

Susie

Yep, I think it's normal. Your style has evolved and you've moved on.

I hope they took the break up well and didn't get too clingy. (bad pun, huh?)

Anonymous

I think it is totally normal!

Suz

TOTALLY normal. These items are both really pretty on you, but styles have changed and YOUR style has changed. So it's okay.

It's normal, but also unnerving feeling if you haven't gone through this closet phase before. That's understandable.
I never used to purge. Now I'm ditching things that are perfectly fine, but they're not great [for me]. It's a step. If we buy and don't purge, the closet bloats. If we are going to continue a steady stream of influx, then we have to deal with the outgoing end of the equation, too!

deb

These two pieces are from way before I joined YLF and I would never pick them out for you. Maybe your style has changed since you purchased these thus the falling out of love.

Ornella

LOL at Susie

Interesting thoughts which will help me on my own quest for mature, sensible -- and ongoing -- purging. Coz I can so identify with "I thought I'll love you forever, my (insert garment)".

This has partly to do with style evolution, but I think it has more to do with the emotional attachment to the whole experience of our style journey and its beginnings. I know that when I found YLF it was like "Whoa!" Suddenly, nothing was a puzzle any longer. I could think of a million interesting (to me) ideas to wear those things that before I couldn't think of what to do with if my life depended on it. The feeling that suddenly everything is possible was (sometimes still is) overwhelming.

But, some of those pieces are suddenly not me any more. Strange and new feeling, but good.

Onward and upward. I think you really are going through major style shift and I would not be surprised if your wardrobe looked very different this time next year.

MsMaven

This has happened to me many times, and most often with prints and patterns. I will wear a certain print a lot for a few months and love it, and then for some reason turn on it. Maybe the light is different later, maybe I've changed.

I agree #1 must go--it just is not today's Mary. You've upped your look several notches. I'll bet that there is someone out there who would look and feel great in it.

kellygirl

SO normal. I can sympathize. I find that I end up parting ways with many old favorites every season.

ironkurtin

Yes. It's one reason I'm gravitating more and more to hardcore high value basics, because I find the special pieces just don't play well for a long time.

Transcona Shannon

Our styles are always evolving MaryK - let these go and create closet room for new loves!

TraceyLiz65

I am experiencing the same thing after completely rebuying this past year and half due to weight loss. There are things I have to go face and just donate,and it's been this little nagging in my head that I am dreading and putting off. I think this is inevitable and happens to most of us.

rachylou

Lol. Yes, normal.

Thistle

Totally. Normal.

Hopefully the break up wasn't too hard on you.

Yes, it's time to let them go and allow room for new relationships, those that understand you now.

Lisa

I think this naturally happens, because our tastes are always changing, so our favorites are bound to change often too. But if you wore the item and enjoyed it, then you got your money's worth, regardless of how long you own the item.

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