Summer is still quite present, but Fall will begin soon enough. The evenings and nights will get 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.
There is always hesitancy about the “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 quantity of previous season’s clothing that I had collected over the years. Some of these clothes were not in as good condition as I would use; while others were too big on me, since I had lost weight the previous two or three years.
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 businesswoman and a volunteer. Okay, that was over 9 years ago.
Why am I keeping so many clothes now that I 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 those 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 that 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 show “wear and tear.” Soon, the thrift store that I donate to will be putting out the autumn fashions.
Why do clothes mean so much to me that I have a collection, and enjoy shopping for them, even though I don’t go places often where I need to dress up. There is something deeply hidden in my psyche about clothes.
When I was newly married, my husband told me that I dressed “frumpy.” For a while, he helped me pick out clothes to dress using 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 that 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 I really like. I want to feel nice or attractive in the clothes that I wear. 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 also important 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 equals 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?
joyful2beeblogs 
I love colors and I think ladies that dress in colors are the best!! 🙂
Happy Saturday!!
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Thank you, Moonskittles. I try. Lol
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🙂 Keep it up! 🙂
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Thank you sweet friend.
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❤ ❤
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Me too…and my husband! We go through them, but never get rid of enough and/or buy more. I am actually THINKING of trying the minimalist approach of owning 37 items. (I think that is the number) Then there are those very special-occasion things that we rarely wear, but are expensive to replace. It is a challenge. I like your point about donating items for the current season!
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Oh you made me laugh. I do all of the above and rationalize it for all of the above reasons. BUT I am here to say that for a very long and horrific period of my life getting dressed and putting on my makeup saved my life.
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There is a story I would love to hear! Do tell please??
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One of these days
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I also have clothes that get worn once every couple years – usually when I have a reception or something to go to and I need to look smart. In the middle of nowhere, popping out for a new outfit is a mult-hour production just in the driving. Good thing I also still wear the same size as a couple decades ago!
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I just scrolled down in my feed, and in the next article found the answer to your excess clothing: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/76972473/posts/1781844226
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Wow! That was a different and positively ecological use for old clothes. Thanks for sharing!!
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I’m a bit eclectic so I do most of my clothes shopping at resale or thrift shops. But it’s hit or miss because everything is pretty much one of a kind and you never know if you’re going to find anything in your size. I know this sounds a bit strange, but I like the ‘energy’ of pre-worn clothes. They seem to have a personality. I know – weird. But it takes a lot of time to shop that way and I just haven’t had the time lately, so my wardrobe is looking a bit puny. And I used to wear bright colors when I worked in an office, but I’ve become a black, gray, olive person over the past 10 years. Not nearly as much fun!
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It’s great to take stock of what you actually have and to really question yourself as to why you hold onto things! See my thoughts on budgeting for clothes and spring cleaning your closets.
https://takechargeofyourmoney.blog/2018/03/26/budget-for-clothing/
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I need to get rid of some clothes too. I’m a hoarder 🙈
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I totally understand the drive to collect clothes. They are a wonderful form of self expression and can make you feel like a million dollars. Thanks for commenting.
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once I stopped teaching, over a year ago, I have donated a major portion of my clothes and really don’t need many of them anymore. what I have kept are the ones I really love for whatever reason or the ones that are just soft and comfy and casual that I love to wear most often. I don’t even rotate them out anymore, they all fit in half of one closet and I just reach for whatever works with the weather. like you, I took awhile for me to have the confidence to choose clothes that favored me, in colors that I liked and were stylish and I’ve kept some dresses or outfits that I love just because mostly I’m all about comfort and the ones I really like at this point and I’m happy about that. I also feel good passing on clothes to someone who really needs them and can use them rather than just having them sitting in my closet unused. ps, you pics are great and red really suits you!
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Wow, are we related?? I donate clothes that I don’t need anymore to a store that helps people. We both like soft, comfy, and casual. Thank you for the compliments!! I like blues, too. Have a beautiful day!!
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I feel like we all do. Maybe we need to do a Marie kondo purge 🤔
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In the South here we have to have a variety of clothes because in late fall, sometimes we have 70 degree temperatures but a cold front can move in and make it in the 40s. Mother Nature can be mean.LOL
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I too enjoy shopping but recently that consigning and donating is good for me. Over the years I have collected and at times it came be overwhelming. I realized too that more things can add stress.
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That’s very true! If you spend money, something else always pops up toneed for you to pay it.
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