Help! Stuck in the middle...

Greek Goddess

I am waiting to hear which part of the world I will be travelling to with my new job. I won't hear till late spring or even early summer for definite. I have already packed away my winter clothes and have got together quite a nice wardrobe for the summer here in Greece.

I now have to think about getting rid of some clothes in order to clear the house for it to be sold. Due to not knowing what clothes I will need to take with me to the new job (starting September) I am finding it difficult to know what to keep and what to throw. Has anyone any suggestions as to how to figure this out? Should I keep a basic winter/summer clothes capsule for work or should I buy new outfits to suit the job? I am totally at a loss to know where to start. All my clothes in the house fit me and look good on me.

I can take a large suitcase full of clothes with me to the new job. It could be in places as diverse as India or Turkey! HELP! Pretty please.....

11 years ago

Urgent

9 replies

Latest reply was from Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Tanya

Veteran

Hmm, this is a very difficult situation indeed, especially since you do not know where you will be going. Would it possible for you to pack away the clothes and store them either in some rented storage or with friends/family so I do not throw away anything till you know more?

11 years ago

velvetychocolate

Veteran

It sounds like you should wait until you know where you'll be going. The only thing I can suggest is "be prepared" so that when you do find out - you have boxes ready, a list of places you might donate some of your clothing and so on. That way, when the time comes, you can just dive into action and get it all done very quickly. Be really organized about what's stored in boxes for now, with excellent labeling and such - so if you need to retrieve a few things, you'll know exactly where they are, before donating the rest.

Perhaps you can do a bit of a pre-select in terms of keeping only your favourite pieces in your closet (everything that is a "10" and that makes you happy), and box up the rest. Don't get rid of anything yet though, because what if you get sent to another warm climate or need cold weather pieces?

In the meantime, make sure that the pre-selected favourite pieces (for this spring and summer) still hanging in your bedroom closet will all fit into the giant suitcase.

Good luck - I would find this a bit unnerving - knowing I was going somewhere, but not knowing yet exactly where.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

First of all, congratulations! It sounds exciting, but then I love to travel. I can also see how this could be very stressful!

I agree with VC's suggestions of doing a sort of pre-screening of your closet. Maybe try organizing it by items according to climate. Which things might be useful not only in a hot location but for layering in cooler climates? What colors are your favorite and most-worn? What (if anything) is the dress code of your new job? How are you set for footwear? I've never tried sorting my clothes into capsules, as many here have done, but perhaps that idea may be helpful to you. I know some ladies here have done a brilliant job of that. Try searching the forum for "capsule" if this is not a familiar concept to you.

Best of luck!

11 years ago

Greek Goddess

Active Member

It is unnerving to be honest, it's making me feel a bit unsettled. Good advice re the boxes and labels, thanks for that. I had a sort out and donated lots of clothes before I put the summer things in the wardrobe. I think I might try to sort out some of the winter things so only things I would take with me are left. That should narrow it down a bit for me. Since I will be in Greece till late August I will be wearing the summer clothes for hot weather anyway. I just seem to have so much ''stuff'' and it's all good quality that fits. It's easy to spot which old clothes to get rid of but most of them have already gone to a new good home .

11 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

It is great to hear that your wardrobe is in such good shape. I am wondering if the possible places have varying levels of formality? I am also thinking that the modesty factor would be higher in Turkey than in other possible places with a similar climate? I am thinking of various ways you may want to slice and dice your various boxes. . .

11 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think this depends on the age of your existing things and their condition. If any items are getting dated or worn out, I would purge them. The other thing to consider is, do you have the funds or time to buy new things suited to your new place and job?

11 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Is it a long term job like the permanent move or will you be coming back to Greece at some point? If it si the latter that you can put the clothing you would not need in your new place into storage - who knows, you may need them sooner than you think. However if it is more or less permanent (or very long term) move then it make sense to get rid of warm clothes you would not need...this is a tough one indeed.

11 years ago

Greek Goddess

Active Member

It will be for at least a year. Our house has just gone on the market so if it doesn't sell then we can store things in the loft till we get back ( The real estate agent will have a key to show potential buyers around). If we still have the house then we will use it as a holiday home till it sells.

If the house sells then we will bank the money in the Uk and save it till we need to rent or buy. The job I am after gives free accommodation so that is not a problem. I have realised that since I have stopped spending due to working on the house and getting rid of things, I will have some money to buy new clothes should I need them for the new job. But I have so many nice things in my wardrobe that I am reluctant to part with them. I will have to be smart and covered wherever I go to work as most of them are conservative countries or ones where you have to dress modestly in public. To make it a bit simpler, many of the countries have rules about shoes, no open shoes , sandals or sports shoes to be worn in work, which cuts out about 90 percent of the shoes I currently own.

I think I might start a couple of capsules for modest and covered work clothes, one for the hot weather and one for cold. That would give me some kind of idea what to keep and what can go. Obviously they would be different from the clothes I will be wearing while I am still in Greece this summer.

Thanks for your suggestions, they are helping me formulate a few ideas so I can get started on sorting things out xxx

11 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like you've got a great place to start. If you know you'll need more closed shoes I'd start there, and keep an eye out for modest clothing. Start making lists of what you will want to store and what you will need to buy for each of the possible locations, and then when you learn the decision you can jump into action and get what you need quickly.

11 years ago

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