Thoughts from the Editor: Letting Go of Stuff
Letting go (per the focus of this week’s episode of the podcast) and paring down have been at the forefront of my mind lately as I contemplate the reality of packing up not only my house, but my classroom full of 13 years of teaching. And so I found it to be quite serendipitous when I was flipping through the June issue of Elle US and was introduced to professional life and home organizer Laura Cattano.
Author of the blog The Order Obsessed, she is currently the guest coach at Elle.com and will be offering a post a week for the month of June (click here for her first lesson on organizing one’s boudoir). The idea of purging and ridding my life of items I haven’t used in years excites me tremendously. Even after having had two yard sales in the past three years, I still have items of decor and clothing I would like to shed (and plus my mover informed me, I will be paying per the pound, so I thought that was yet another motivator to let a few items go as well).
And as this past year was focused on the launch of the book, a dream-come-true event, and more recently, cementing the opportunity to move to Bend, my schedule hasn’t been as open as I would have liked to edit of my closet as I typically do twice a year. With that said however, in the next few weeks, I am looking forward to carving out an entire day to be ruthless (for anyone who lives in the area, I promise there will be a yard sale in July). ~Click here to follow a simple guide for editing your closet.
The feeling of letting go of anything opens up space in our lives for what is a better fit or simply leaves more room to breathe and move more freely, effortlessly and unencumbered.
I would like a bit more space between each of my hangers. I would like a to look at my closet again and see an item I want to wear on each hanger. I would like to have fewer clothes.
What I have discovered since I curated my first capsule wardrobe is that with each year, it becomes more precise, more in alignment with my genuine signature style. This also means that a few more clothing items must go, to make room for items that would work much better. Yes, it may appear frustrating that we have to let items go, but the feel-good-tingling-feeling is that we’re truly narrowing in, not only what we enjoy wearing, but what works best for our lives. Such a feeling of refinement is exactly the purpose of the capsule wardrobe.
And since we are on the note of editing our closets, TSLL reader Kristin recently introduced me to Cuyana’s Lean Closet idea which in many ways aligns with the simply luxurious approach: Purchasing quality items, however, fewer items. You might want to have a look.
But before I leave you today, I thought I’d offer a bit of inspiration of what you might want to consider tossing from your closet:
~Items that are always losing out to another option in your closet
~Items that are uncomfortable to wear for whatever reason: fit, fabric, length, etc.
~Items that date you or were purchased only to keep up with the trend of the season (which is now last season)
~Items that shrink your confidence
~Items that don’t look their best anymore: Stains, fading, tears, rips, etc.
~Sparkles, sequins (just let them go, I had to do the same thing)
~Shoes that are never, at any point of the day, comfortable
~Freebie T-shirts from any group you’ve been a part of that is simply taking up space
~Cheap, knock-off handbags (stick to three quality bags: clutch, tote, handbag for day, and you will be set)
~Any lingerie (underwear, bras, hose, etc) that has lost its luster, elasticity, etc.
Okay, now . . . I am setting the date with myself. I can’t wait. Can you?
~THOUGHTS FROM THE EDITOR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES:
~Why Not . . . Move Forward Successfully?
Image: (1)
The post Thoughts from the Editor: Letting Go of Stuff appeared first on The Simply Luxurious Life®.
