Spring (Closet) Cleaning

It's been ages. I feel like I've been scattered in a million different places over the last two weeks. Since my last blog post I've finished my junior year of college, found a summer apartment in Manhattan, moved out of my college apartment, traveled to my parent's house and have now returned to northern Virginia before heading up to New York in a few days.

What I've realized in this moving process is that I don't actually have a home at the moment. I'm in this really weird phase in my life where I can't settle down anywhere just yet because I am constantly transitioning from place to place. I don't mind, though. I know when I do have my own place (after I graduate next May) it will feel so much more rewarding after all of the running around I've done the last two years.

Something else I've realized is I need to scale back on stuff. Anyone close to me knows how organized I am and how I like to keep my life free of clutter. I try to pack light and I don't hold onto keepsakes. I'm not sentimental and I like to donate things I don't use or need. So why and HOW did I accumulate so much STUFF?

My mom swears it's because I online shop too much. I stand by my "I really don't have a lot of clothes" comment I made several times while my parents helped me move out of my college apartment. The clothes took the longest to move. I had to evaluate myself and then decide what to do differently.

I got rid of two trash bags full of clothes and one trash bag full of shoes. I sold most of them to Plato's closet and then donated the rest to Goodwill. It's hard to decide what to give and what to keep but I've devised a few rules to follow when trying to clean out one's closet:

1. If you haven't worn it, toss it

If you're cleaning out winter clothes and you have three sweaters you didn't wear once last winter, you should get rid of them. The same goes for shorts, dresses, tops, etc. Don't be a hoarder. 

2. If it isn't flattering, toss it

I've been known to keep an item because it was expensive or because it has a high end label sewn onto it. Neither of those things matter if the item isn't flattering! Things that are ill-fitting, poorly made or just overall unflattering - toss them ASAP.

3. If you aren't in love, toss it

This rule will make it easier to get dressed in the morning. It can be annoying to look into your closet and be repulsed by your clothes. If you get rid of the items you don't completely love, you will have an easier time managing your wardrobe.