Seasonal sorting and editing. Taking charge of my closet and ready for change (my way). - YouLookFab Forum

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Seasonal sorting and editing. Taking charge of my closet and ready for change (my way).

Mainelady

Veteran

2020. The year of be-ready-for-anything has had me working hard to adapt to major life and work changes. Illness, covid -19, work from home and a snowstorm on May 9th have definitely demanded I bring my A game to whatever is happening.
This weekend, I began taking my A game to the walk in closet. Never mind the snow swirling outside my windows. I looked at all my boots and booties lined up so nicely. I have only worn one pair since March 13th. Humph. I reviewed each pair, determined them all to be in good- excellent condition and lovingly packed them away. I brought out my sneakers and flats. I vowed to wear a pair of sneakers, or shoes each day. No more slippers until I change into my cabin pants in the evening.

Next I reviewed my winter work wear. All in excellent condition, but like my booties, I haven’t worn any of it since March 13th. I made a donate pile of slacks that I did not wear once all winter. I have really enjoyed my more casual style and may decide to add a few dressier jackets and blazers to the pile. I’m in no rush and have room for a holding place in my closet.
Today I declared spring, no matter how chilly it is right now. I tired on all my spring/summer capris and crop pants. Again, all in great condition. I guess that is due to having a large wardrobe to rotate through, but I didn’t wear quite a few pairs last year. Some were a bit too snug. I have lost weight and now they fit well, but they didn’t make my heart sing, so I added several to the donate pile.

Still with me? Thanks for hanging it! Then, while still in trying on mode, I tried on every pair of summer shorts. Whoo hoo they all fit great! I’m not sure how soon I can wear them, but I sorted them into two piles. One for home and another pile to take to keep at the lake house.
I feel a bigger sense of calm and accomplishment than I have felt in a long time. Sorting and organizing makes me feel so good. I realize I have been ricocheting from unexpected event to unexpected event and frantically trying to keep the spinning plates from crashing to the floor.
I have been wearing skinny jeans every day since I began working from home. I am declaring them winter wear and shelving them in favor of boyfriend jeans, crops and patterns. Turtlenecks and socks are getting shelved, too.

Today I am wearing a springy long sleeved jersey with a pair of slightly distressed jeans with a wide, darker denim stripe down the sides, They are a roomy fit, with wider legs that hover 2” above my ankle bone. My bare feet are tucked into a pair of sassy pointy toe Rothy’s.
This is a very casual outfit, but I honestly feel quite fresh and Fab. 2020 has made me grapple with many changes, but I am embracing the changes I have chosen to make. Today, I am boss.

Thanks for sticking with my novella, if you have made it this far. I hope you are all well and making the most of every day!

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from cindysmith

Runcarla

Veteran

Sounds like a considered editing process. I believe you are contemplating retirement from the workforce in the next year or so? The weeding out of (unworn) more formal workplace items makes sense. This WFH experience is like a rehearsal of what is to come. Retirement is definitely not slippers and pj’s!

I, too, am ready for spring!

nemosmom

Veteran

You have the absolute BEST attitude, Mainelady! I nodded along with your points about the spinning plates, and feeling like you had to bring your A-game every day, the frustration over not being able to wear favorite booties, and tiring of the skinnies you've been wearing non-stop.

Good on you for keeping the momentum going in your closet! You are an inspiration!

Helena

Veteran

Great idea, and there is nothing like a good clear-out to add a little zen to the world when things are crazy around us!

Your process sounds thoughtful, relaxed and positive (not unlike yourself) and your decisions all sound bang on.

I agree that there is point where we must declare it's spring! I can't believe how long the wintry weather is lasting this year! But I am ready to burn my winter jacket

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*APPLAUSE*

(Go away snow!)

I love your thoughtful, thorough, calm and engaged wardrobe edit. Wholeheartedly agree with your pass alongs, and the excellent feeling post organization! What a year......

Sounds like the plates haven't crashed! WELL DONE, and take care.

Anonymous

I like the analogy of bringing your A game to every challenge. That's really insightful, despite sounding simple. I've not managed to do that this spring , juggling different unexpected challenges, and it's because I'm not organized...and thus not bringing my own A game to the table. That takes time, concentration and a solid effort . Sorry to hear that illness has been part of it for you , and hope you are recovering . And yes to what Carla said about this recent isolation being a trial of sorts for retirement ! I discovered I am NOT as ready as I thought I might be.

MsMaven

Veteran

Inspirational method for dealing with the snow so late in the year. Right now it appears many of the recent changes to our lives are going to be more or less permanent. Sounds like you will be ready for whatever comes next.

Mainelady

Veteran

Carla, everything you say is true! Yes, I am considering retiring at the end of next year, especially if we have to do remote learning next year. Not being able to engage with my students in our beloved classroom setting is not fun and flat out draining.

Hahaha! I hope retirement is not slippers and pjs! This stint at home has been a good trial run. Having a uniform of sorts (skinny jeans, t-neck, topper, jewelry and slippers) was helpful for quite a while. It required little thought, was comfortable and camera ready, since my jeans didn’t show. I get dressed everyday, but until today I have not taken a detour from my skinny jeans uniform.

Nemosmom, you are so kind and generous, I don’t feel like an inspiration, it if my experience is helpful, I am glad. I still have tops, sweaters, skirts and dresses to do. Tops And blouses will be next. I anticipate a big edit. Some will go to the lake house, but I suspect I am still going to have many to share.

TG, yes, let’s declare Spring! Seeing a sunny day is uplifting, even if the temps haven’t quite decided to join the party. Hahaha about your winter jacket! I refused to pull on a down jacket. I wore a hooded flannel shirt under a barn coat. That was the best I could muster. I refused to concede to winter.

Angie, thank you so much. You said it, what a year! The plates are still spinning and have not crashed yet. We still have 5 weeks of remote teaching and learning, so the danger is still there. I will breathe more easily when this school year can be put to rest.

lisaP, I think we are all bringing our A game, because we are all finding ways to make things work, despite how intense the focus and concentration are. I bet you are doing better than you think. Thank you for your kind words. I have been well. DH was diagnosed with heart issues in early January. It was a rugged road while we figured things out. Fortunately the problems have been identified and he is responding well to treatments. I am feeling like I could handle retirement. I really, really miss my students and colleagues, but when I haven’t been glued to the computer, I have had plenty to do, even in isolation.

Mainelady

Veteran

Ms.Maven. I agree with you. I think much of what we are seeing now will be our new norm for quite a while. We kind of have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and pausing to reflect upon our blessings.

Anonymous

Glad to hear your husband is doing well. Part of what I do at my second job involves the Centre's Cardiac Rehab program, which I find very interesting, inspiration and rewarding. I miss interacting with the clients .

Sal

Veteran

Great work Mainelady - sounds therapeutic and practical.

A challenge for teachers right now - some of my friends are in the same position here - managing online learning with children in all sorts of situations at home. I bet you are doing well,

rachylou

Veteran

I’m impressed! I went to the grocery and pharmacy and that’s it today.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Rachylou's comment made me smile. You are an inspiration and have handled so much with grace and aplomb. My DH also had some weird health issues before coronavirus hit (since sorted out) and the stress from that alone was enough to knock me off my A game. You have a wonderful attitude!

Mainelady

Veteran

Thank you, Sal. It is hard to know that many of my families are struggling right now. I know how to teach, just have to figure out how to do it differently. With just DH and my dog at home I am able to focus on my job. Parents and kids are juggling so much more. It is a heavy load for a lot of them.

Rachy, the grocery and pharmacy are important accomplishments. I try to limit my errand days and bunch all tasks into the same venture from home (groceries, pharmacy, mail, fuel, etc). Then the inevitable cleaning, showering and laundry follow up. On those days I will not have time for any clothing edits. I might not get another chance until the weekend, but I am looking forward to it!

Shevia, I am so glad your husband’s health challenges have been sorted. It is an incredibly stressful time. I am glad we are both on the other side of it. As hard as things sometimes get, I still try to focus on the positives and practice gratitude.

Anonymous

I would retire today if I could afford to!
I really hope that good comes out of this long term. Less commuting, more flexibility in work, slowing down and focusing on what adds value instead of the "rat race."
Yay to the wardrobe project, but boo to snow! Yes by all means declare it spring No before and after pics?

Mainelady

Veteran

Suntiger, I do think that we may find some silver linings through this journey. I hope we will be better able to prioritize, not sweat the small stuff, find flexibility within ourselves and the situations we find ourselves in.

Hahaha, as organized as I was, I was not organized enough to snap any pics. I’ll try to do better next time.

Windchime

Veteran

Good for you, Mainelady. It sounds like you brought both logic and heart to your closet editing. Glad you are feeling your wardrobe is once again in a good place for your life right now.

We might as well make the best of what life throws at us, right? Here in my part of Michigan, we didn’t have snow over the weekend, other than flurries, but it’s been really cold—into the 20’s at night—the last few days. I switched to a late spring wardrobe on May 1 but have had to pull out some winter things again recently, and I’m afraid I haven’t had the best attitude about it. Fortunately, warmer days are in the near future.

unfrumped

Veteran

Congratulations!
Love closet/ wardrobe sorting inspiration!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Good job! I did a little bit of that a couple of weeks ago and was happy to see that my old shorts and cropped spring/summer pants all fit. Some are looking a bit worse for the wear, but if no one is seeing me these days, I may as well give them a final season of wear.

It’s certainly an adjustment to operating in this changed world — I’ve only done a couple of Zoom meetings/events, so I can only imagine how odd it must be trying to teach children this way.

We are also starting to shift to a retirement mindset. My husband’s company has been hit very hard by this, just at a time when he was about to push for a last four years to our intended retirement (his 60th birthday would coincide with the 20th anniversary of him starting the business). So suffice to say we are both adjusting emotionally to our new reality, while being thankful we have resources to even consider retiring in our mid 50s.

cindysmith

Veteran

I did a major closet clean this morning. Well, 3/4 of one, as I have yet to tackle sweaters, bras, and socks.
I didn't do much purging, but I did a lot of organizing. I found things I've been searching for since march 6. Now, if I could only discover where I've hidden both pairs of bifocals, I'd be the happiest girl in the world.

Congratulations on all your hard work. I understand the feeling of liberation you must be feeling right now