joyful2beeblogs

Summer is still quite present but Fall has begun. The evenings and nights will start out getting cooler and later the days will too. The light summer clothes will be put away for the warmer fall slacks and tops to be unpacked. 

Then winter makes the temperatures begin to change into colder weather (hopefully). There is always a hesitancy about doing this “changing of the guard” with my wardrobe too early. One doesn’t want to have all of the previous season’s clothes put away, in case Mother Nature decides on a heat wave that is out of sync with the present season’s conditions. So I leave a few favored clothes from the departing season folded up in the chest of drawers, where they can be accessed easily if needed.

Once while putting away the previous season’s clothes I was shocked at the large quantity of previous season’s clothing which I had collected over the years. Some of these clothes were not in as good condition as I preferred; while others were too big on me since I had lost weight the previous year. 

At one time I needed more than just casual blue jeans during the fall and winter months. Nicer looking clothes were appropriate since I was volunteering at a local chamber of commerce on a daily basis and I had a small photography business. I needed to wear nice clothes to be seen as a business woman and a volunteer. Okay, that was over 9 years ago.

Why am I keeping so many clothes now that I have closed my business and moved to another town? Shamefacedly I must admit that I went through many of my clothes nine years ago when I moved into my condo. But uncertainty about what my life would be like once I got settled in, caused me to hold on to more clothes than I donated. But I now know that I definitely don’t need all of these clothes. 

It’s not like I bought everything at one time. Rather they were purchased and lasted more years than I had expected. (Probably because I had enough clothes to rotate through them.) I really don’t need so many clothes now that I am retired. However with just my clothes being washed now, it is good to have a good load of clothes of similar colors to wash. (Logical?)

Well, I figure some of them will wear out eventually. But then I have to admit I do enjoy shopping for clothes. I don’t buy expensive clothes, but rather moderately priced clothes in the style I like; whether they are popular or not. So again why have I kept so many clothes for each season? The old ones don’t get worn enough to wear out fast enough to balance with the influx of new clothes.

Suddenly my mind sees millions of homeless people and people with little or no clothing to wear and I feel guilty. Okay I will go through these clothes and donate the ones from this season. So I pull out the bins and sort the clothes into “wanteds” and “unwanteds.”

 When I sort the clothes I will soon pull out the fall clothes and weed out the ones that no longer fit me or are not quite my favorite or shows “wear and tear.” Soon the thrift store I donate to will be putting out the autumn fashions. 

Why do clothes mean so much to me that I:  have such a collection; and enjoy shopping for them, even though I don’t go places often where I need to dress up. There is something deeper hidden in my psyche about clothes.

When I was newly married my husband told me I dressed “frumpy.” For a while he helped me pick out clothes to dress in his opinion “more stylishly.” He got tired of shopping with me but more importantly, I finally realized something: clothes, colors, styles and types of clothing I wore were really one way I had of expressing myself. If I felt happy, I wore bright colors. When I was relaxed I wore blues or light browns. If I were staying at home, I wore my jeans all the time. (A woman does need to have a selection to choose from after all.)

I also discovered that I had good taste in clothes after studying magazines and developing an eye for colors and styles. But there is more than the colors or styles of clothes that appeal to me.

I think it is the excitement of shopping and finding something that really calls out to me as being something I would feel nice or attractive in. Perhaps we women are still hunters at heart and enjoy the hunting of a good deal? I do love seeing prices marked down from $69 to $20 or less. Just think of all the money I save!

Actually I do make the clothes last longer by having more to circulate through. I like having a variety in colors, styles and match ups. Even if I buy clothes often, I can express my personality through their colors, textures and style. at discount prices. Clothes are important also as an influence on my mood and sometimes the way others perceive me.

Yea! I inspired myself. I will soon have a load of clothes to donate for fall and later winter! So this blog accomplished something! New season=new clothes to look for; less desired clothes= donations. Wonderful, next season I can buy some more new clothes!

How do you feel about your clothes and shopping?