Closet Overhaul!
Frustrated with having tons of clothes yet nothing to wear, yesterday I gutted my closet. I watch a lot of What Not to Wear, and I’m sure that was part of my inspiration. If you are in a rut, I definitely recommend pulling out the old and really thinking about your style goals. Into my donation pile went too-small thrifted ironic t-shirts and about five pairs of jeans that will not fit my body even if I do lose twenty pounds. Now, my closet officially only contains clothes that I love, and I love it.For my shopping inspiration, I have been reading lots of fashion posts lately. Most of them are so well-written and/or packed with photos that it’s pointless for my to reiterate. Instead, the links:
- Inside the Bebe summer catalog - Crystal posts her favorites, including hippie/bohemian dresses, bold colors and of course gladiator sandals.
- I love all of these pieces.
- spring/summer style: tie dye, bold colors, prints.
- This Dirty Girls post captures the functional yet chic style I strive for when living in a state infamous for rain, and a love that results in me spending days on grimy benches at gritty skate parks. This post’s author later encourages us to “Follow Chanel’s lead and start with black and white,” which has always been in my rule book.
- If you are only going to read one of these posts, read the above author’s post All you need is your own imagination. Flawlessly written, tons of quotes & images, and dead-on and concise tips at the end.
New goals in mind, at least 3/4 of of wardrobe ended up in a huge “get rid of” pile. Luckily I picked a good week for my closet cleaning, as Thursday was my birthday (I’m now 22). As my gift, the boyfriend has promised to take me shopping with his tax return check, and yesterday to celebrate, my mother took my sister and I shopping.
Photos after the cut…
We began at Value Village. My mom, my sister Natalie and I are all avid thrifters. My mother used to take me to secondhand stores as a kid and I remember looking at toys and Halloween costumes. As I heard over the intercom at VV yesterday, “Everything deserves a second chance.”
At Value Village, Natalie and I decided that I should at least take photos of the things I liked but wasn’t sure I would wear. These gladiator sandals I am definitely wishing I would have brought home with me. I passed them up because they were missing a tiny loop on one shoe. Today or tomorrow I may go back and see if they’re still there. As Tashina said, if I’m still thinking about them, I should have gotten them.
Glad I didn’t get:
I did get:
Shiny gold belt. I’d been looking for a belt a little more feminine than my studded ones. This one is obviously cheap, but it’s easy, pretty, versatile.
Donny called this a “Mom shirt”, but he hasn’t seen it on me. I love this for spring/summer.
Scarves are of course my favorite! I will be wearing the blue one just as soon as it’s dry. One of the first things I did today was wash my thrifted purchases. The blue scarf is a square, which is what I prefer. The other is a skinny rectangle, but I love the print.
Unrelated to fashion, I also picked up this glass from Value Village:
After VV, Nat and I decided we needed more basics to go with our eclectic pieces, so we headed on to Target, where I picked up three new tops. I’ll end this post with those purchases:
1. Jovovich-Hawk tank. This is the most flattering thing I have ever worn. The bottom flares out at the perfect place to be slimming rather than looking like maternity wear, and the tank version of fluttered sleeves made my arms look great. I cannot say enough how important it is to try things on! I went into the dressing room with a dozen items. If I had simply guessed which pieces I would like best, I would have been disappointed when I got home.
2. Gold toof skull. I usually hate graphic tees - they are so overdone and so many people don’t discriminate and will throw just any design on. But every time I saw this shirt it made me smile, and the 100% cotton tee fits great. I tend to wear almost exclusively tank tops, so there was also incentive to work different tops into my wardrobe. I’m actually wearing this tee as I type this!
3. Jovovich-Hawk black sweater. I am super super in love with this top. Sweaters like this are comfy, slimming, and can easily be dressed up or down. In basic black, it’s perfect for those days you just don’t feel like worrying about what you’re wearing, but still want to look put-together.
I still want this bag from Target, and stroked it gently before leaving the store. Buy it for me from my wishlist?
For a basic intro to hippie/gypsy style for this season, please check out (and please comment) my post here @ ArtCulture.
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16 Comments, Comment or Ping
Jennifer
I so need to do a major closet overhaul too! Seriously…having a closet full of only clothes that you love is the best. Half the time, I can’t even find what I want amongst all the stuff that I *never* wear.
Great post!
P.S. Go back and get those gladiator sandals!
May 11th, 2008
Crystal
I also need to clean out my closet because stuff shrinks or has stains. I donate clothes like every year!
Gosh, that looks like so much fun trying things on at the thrift store, I wish I had someone to go with me to one. Nice purchases!
May 11th, 2008
Marsadie
Love the gladiator sandals! & that faux fur vest is not so bad…
May 11th, 2008
Sasha
Happy Birthday
Your new tops are cute! I’m glad you didn’t get the poncho though
May 11th, 2008
Tashina
I love the “mom shirt”! It looks really cute on you and the pattern is awesome!
Cleaning out the closet is such a great feeling. Sometimes we hold on to things with the “what if” factor in mind, or because of sentimental value. Going through it, being honest with yourself, and donating or selling it is the best feeling ever. And then you have room for new stuff.
You should get the gladiators! They are cute and unique. My theory on purchases that I am unsure about is this : Put them back on the shelf. If you are still thinking about them the next day, then it’ll be worthwhile. If you go back and they are gone, it just wasn’t meant to be.
May 11th, 2008
Christine
Happy 22nd, a little late, haha. I hope you had a good one, and I love the so-called “Mom shirt”. I think it looks amazing on you. And super comfy as well!
May 11th, 2008
Britney
I like your green toes lol. Now I want some green nail polish.
May 11th, 2008
Tasha
Oh how I need to do a closet over haul and get rid of the things I dont wear. Like most girls, I have a ton of clothes, but I look in my closet and see nothing to wear. I want a shirt like your “mom shirt”, it’s cute and totally looks cute with the jeans your wearing (from what I can see of them).
I was in Target today and saw a lot of cute bags and was thinking to myself, “when did Target start carrying bags like this”…the bags made me smile a little bit. I LOVE THEM!
May 11th, 2008
Helga
Oh, I love the Mom top. It’s so feminine and pretty =) And the first dress @ highsnobette = ♥
I need to clean out my closet, too. I stopped wearing tons of my clothes, but until I can afford to go shopping for a brand new wardrobe, my closet needs to stay as it is =(
May 12th, 2008
Laarni
I love the mom shirt but wait that’s not a shirt. *giggles* i love these kind of cut because it kinda covers abs lol and it’s pretty safe to wear.
May 12th, 2008
Danielle
I just cleaned out my closet when I moved. I can’t believe how much stuff I was hanging on to that didn’t even remotely fit. I donated at least two huge boxes of clothes by the time I was done, and they were all in awesome condition, they just didn’t fit me anymore.
I actually have a question for you, and it’s probably silly — but I’d prefer to ask you since you’ve got awesome fashion sense and I’m not even remotely fashionable, lol. I’ve got a couple of shirts that I lovelovelove but are too short on me because my boobs grew (aka they’re almost belly shirts now).. is there any way I can layer them with something to still make them look good, or should I just give them up?
Sorry about the long comment.. *blushes*
May 12th, 2008
Amy
Happy belated birthday!!
I’m happy you posted about gutting out your closet. I’ve been thinking about doing that for well over a year now. I don’t even have any more room in there for any other clothes and all the clothes that are in there are either way too small or way too big (well way to big pre-preggers anyways)
I think I’ll be following in your footsteps probably this fall after I’ve taken off some (most) of my baby weight.
*I love that my post make you want to have a baby. It’s very flattering. Thank you!*
May 13th, 2008
Sofi
I love that skull top! I wish I had money to re-new my closet a little.
May 13th, 2008
Ciel
the mom shirt is my fave! definitely! it looks so elegant on you! definitely a summer must-have!!
May 13th, 2008
(Olivia)
Ooo I like the “Mom shirt”
May 13th, 2008
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