"I'm really worried that I'm going to remember these years as my 'bad hair years'" -Roxy Rogers.
I donated an absolutely painful amount of clothing to Value Village last night. Cheap Tupperware with wildly useful lids that I know in my heart I'm going to need? Toss it! ALF lunchbox that boyfriend I was super in love with brought me chocolate-cake-as-if-by-magic in? Gone! But letting go of that burnt orange and navy Jackie Onasis-ey 3/4 sleeve peacoat? I had to give it a hug and sit with it in my lap for nearly 8 minutes. Same goes for the cap sleeved shirt with Debbie Harry's mug emblazoned on it, the aquamarine and lavender-blue floor length satin formal skirt, and the red and white Woolworths letter sweater.
My father read Readers Digest patiently while I tenderly said goodbye to everything that didn't exactly fit, exactly match, or exactly get worn at least every 3 weeks one season out of the year. He carried the bag out to the car so that I wouldn't change my mind at the last second and pull half of it out.
"You sure get emotional about your clothes."
"Dad, you have no idea how much delight they bring me."
The bag weighed 30 pounds.
My only consolation is that setting clothing free, (much like setting boys free) allows you to replace what you gave up with something better.
Posted by Sonya at July 13, 2004 03:29 PM
oh, i have the same issues. the "you haven't worn it in over a year" rule is painful when it comes to certain vintage and/or costume-worthy items. but you are right - unless you're becoming a minimalist or something, out with the old only means in with the new!
Posted by: leblanc at July 13, 2004 04:24 PMI have exactly the same problem -- except with kitchen utensils and appliances. I have boxes of springform pans, baguette trays, three different espresso makers, pasta rollers, British Imperial Pint glasses, and gawd knows what else that I've kept in boxes for the past seven or eight years, just because I KNOW someday I'll live someplace where I can actually make cheesecake or macchiatos or spinach linguini again.
But, of course the major difference is that it's nearly impossible to outgrow a set of stainless steel mixing bowls, and Oster multi-speed blenders never go out of fashion...
Posted by: THE COMTE at July 14, 2004 10:52 AMgirl.
you crack me up
and - it's OK to get emo now and then about clothes and tupperware.
I recently had to give up a silk/cotton/steel wonderful queen size box spring because it wouldn't fit up the stairs! I nearly cried. Got to keep the fabulotastic mattress though, so at least that was some comfort.
When I have my painful downsizing yard sale, I will be crying on your shoulder because I know you understand.
Ooh. I feel you, too. I had to get tough with myself recently ("Girl, those pants be bad for you.") Good call on giving Dad the bag. I filled a bag with this-must-go-but-someone-else-might-want-it last fall and put it in the trunk of my car, and last month I was rummaging around looking for something else and unexpectedly renewed my acquaintance with Faded Audrey Hepburn Coat and Itty-Bitty Betsy Johnson Dress and Fisherman's Sweater I've Never Worn. Now I have to break up with them all over again.
Posted by: molly at July 14, 2004 02:12 PM