WIW 5/31: Discovering a giant wardrobe hole

Yesterday I participated in a service project with my Rotary Club. We painted the teen room at our local Boys and Girls Club. Big fun -- I do love me a purple accent wall! But I discovered, as I got dressed in the morning, that I have a giant wardrobe hole - I've done so much purging that I had no clothes or shoes suitable for getting splashed with paint!! LOL

I finally found something to wear and breathed a huge sigh of relief when I found the Steve Madden velcro-fastened sneakers (a failed casual footwear experiment that somehow didn't get purged) on the top shelf of my closet! Take a close look, because this is probably the one and only time you will ever see me this grungy, with crazy hair and no makeup!!

I guess the lesson here is be careful not to purge EVERYTHING that's not suitable for public consumption!

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10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You can't NOT look great, Ms. Mary! Even in these duds!! So funny about the purga-thon. I don't think I have any painting clothes, either.

Kristin L

You still look great in your work clothes. And you're right, it's always good to keep a few older items to wear when things like this come up.

Adelfa

Oh dear! Not really having anything trashable, if I had to paint today I'd go with these items which could be replaced cheaply! Actually I don't think I'd mind not having the sneaks anymore, and I wouldn't mind being down one ON tee. The shorts I could get again for $20! Note to self and all that!

Whoops, the finds didn't attach? Here they are.

Old Navy

Women's The Flirt Denim Bermudas (11")

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Top Pick

Women's Vintage-Style V-Neck Tees

Amazon

TMAS Feiyue Martial Arts Shoes

Beth Ann

I have one drawer reserved for gardening, painting and hair dyeing clothing. I need to refresh this capsule, actually. Amazing, but true. You've just reminded me that sometimes we wear these things in public -- painting with a rotary club, or doing clean up at church. Since my DH just got another teaching assignment while attending my brother's graduation ceremony --- one of those waiting in line and seeing an acquaintance moments -- I'm thinking I should be a bit more intentional about looking "suitably grubby." You are amazingly grubby, of course, in true Mary style! The fit of the faded jeans is great for working and has modern ease!

Marmee

YLF, of course, in the old painting clothes! My husband just announced this morning that he wanted the whole family to help paint the basement floor, because it has to be done in 30 minutes. I just dropped a load of my clothes and the kids' at goodwill, and have no idea of what we will wear. I might have to go with Adelfa's idea!

christieanne

Good reminder to keep some of the t's and bottoms that are still wearable but maybe not in the best shape for projects and grubby chores. You look happy and did a GREAT deed and that's really the most important thing

lyn*

Wow, you're really looking great even in the painting clothes!!!

Neel

You can't look grungy if you tried! You will always be Miss Polished Mary even if you are painting ;). I think I have lots of painting clothes

Dee

I love seeing people's gear/functional looks here. Glad you found something to wear in the end. It got me thinking and I would probably end up pulling from my sleepwear (tees and flannel pants) but I have no shoes that I'd be willing to sacrifice!

rabbit

Yep, I realized I needed to keep at least one pair of pants that could get paint on them, or bleach from cleaning the tub. This is different from gardening clothes, which while they might get dirty, generally come clean in the wash. Paint, plaster, bleach, glue and hair dye don't. There has to be at least one top and bottom that protects my skin from them, and takes the fall for me.

Astrid

This is one of my wardrobe holes too, I really can't afford to ruin any of the few clothes I have. I wouldn't have anything I could splatter with paint here in Berlin! When my brother, sister and me painted the kitchen at home as a birthday present for our mum in January, I wore old jeans of my dad and one of his building lot T-shirts. I was glad I could borrow them.

Like your painting outfit btw.

Anonymous

How do you manage to look so good in painting gear?

Ornella

Hahahaha, I saw the title and thought to myself "NO WAY SHE has a wardrobe hole".

Great lesson, thanks.

Debra

I'm purging now, I'll keep this in mind

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Hah. That's fabulous, Mary. You paint in style. xo

deb

A perfect painting outfit.

Okay Mary I have something very serious to say to you. I'm not just flipping this comment of the cuff! I think your hair looks very European and 'undone' in the most stylish way. I'm trying to wear my hair more natural and I could only dream of it coming out this good. You might consider wearing your hair like this sometimes. It's very youthful. And it's a darn crime that you look so fresh with a bare face!

Suja

There's no way to be unstylish when helping someone or contributing to a great cause. True fabness comes from within.

crutcher

I painted my fence yesterday...Couldn't find any grungy jeans...all donated...I ended up wearing an old pair of cut offs, pants hose to the knee (because we are having a mosquito epidemic and an old long sleeve shirt...Moral: don't purge to the last grunge...leave one for emergencies like painting...
You look great in your paints...I wouldn't want anyone to have seen me yesterday...

ironkurtin

MissM I have done this myself! Luckily the boy has more than enough narsty jeans and tees for us both (no matter how hard I try). But I can see struggling without a grungy guy to steal from!

You look divine without makeup btw!

Lisa

I always seem to have something that I'm happy to add to the purge pile, even if it was not specific gear wear before the event came up. This way I have an automatic reason to shop, I just demoted an outfit.

Jaime

You look like you are one of the teens yourself. What I find interesting is how the baggy jeans give you a real hourglass vibe - usually your legs (deservedly) get all the attention.

Vicki

Hello, Ms. Casual, you look adorable and I say "Cheers" to that wardrobe hole and the purple wall!

Joy

You look adorable, but I understand the need for some grungy pieces. I had to go to the thrift store to find mine after purging. The kids will love the purple wall.

Diana

Ha, I had this exact problem when we had lab cleanup day. I didn't want to risk getting chemicals/bleach/cleaning products on any of my clothes that I actually liked.

You look MUCH better than I did though!

Missey

Hilarious! I have two crappy pair of jeans, an old pair of cons, and a couple of bespattered tees that I keep through every closer purge for this specific purpose! But don't think they don't get a once over with every purge.

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