growing a minimalist wardrobe: an unshopping diary.

January – March 2015

Here’s an unshopping update.

It’s all bare ankles and hints of spring around here lately. Thank goodness. Yesterday, unpacking from a weekend away felt like the perfect time to do a quickie closet assessment. At the start of the year, I made a little promise to myself to catalog my seasonal closet clear-outs; to keep a little record of the ebb and flow of new additions and new removals.

Were this post to have an equivalent in the world of food bloggers, it might look like a post that catalogued the contents of a trash can, post refrigerator clean out. A reckoning of which heads of lettuces went limp and shriveled. Which herbs dried up in the crisper. But it would also highlight the seasonal treats. The bright new garlic scapes. The asparagus that I’ve got my eyes peeled for. A little bit of aspiration mixed in with the down and dirty.

Metaphored out? Let’s get to the good stuff: a list of what went, what I’m still pondering, and what I’ve set my sights on. Here’s hoping it inspires a similar unshopping trip in your own closet.

What I’m getting rid of:
1. Five year-old ankle-length skinny jeans. Because two years ago they shrunk to be a solid inch too short. And now the bum is wearing thin. And finally, gonzo.
2. Flannel tunic. Because it never really fit right and it made me feel frumpy every single time I wore it, which was only when there was nothing else left come laundry day.
3. Wool paperbag skirt. Because I didn’t wear it a single time this winter. And I only wore it once last winter. I finally admitted I bought the wrong size and gave it the old heave-ho.
4. Fancy chambray dress that I spent all my pennies on two years ago. It never fit properly. And I couldn’t return it. So I got it taken in. Except something got lost in translation and the hem was shortened a full two inches too much. And it looked even worse altered than not. Win some, lose some, finally let some things go.
5. Not-so-fancy button-up. I bought it six years ago. It never fit beautifully but it’s gotten even more misshapen over the years and the cuffs had started to fray. (Speaking of button-ups. Have you read last weekend’s newsletter?)

What I’m pondering:
1. Once-favorite ankle-length skinny jeans. I’m not really sure what happened—whether it was too many washes or too many days last spring worn squeezed over a pregnant frame—but my favorite pair of go-to jeans really gave up on me this winter. They went all baggy in the knees and wrinkly in the thighs and they’re practically begging to be replaced. Until I find something new, they’re in purgatory.

What I’ve added since January:
1. This dress. Buttons, short sleeves. I jumped the gun on spring a bit, but as soon as it’s sufficiently warm, I’m hoping this will be a weekly staple.*
2. White t-shirts (3). Because sometimes buying multiples of something does make sense. And a crisp white tee under an old cardigan makes the whole outfit feel fresh.

What’s on my wishlist:
1. Jeans. Clearly. I need a solid new everyday pair in a big-time way. I’ve got my eye on these and I’m about to pull the trigger to see if they end up working. (But these look awfully comfy, too.)
2. Dresses. I’ve always got my eyes peeled for dresses because I like to go from shower to dressed in about five minutes flat and dresses usually cut that time down to two minutes flat. These look they might be just right for summer days.

What about you guys? Any adventures in unshopping this winter?

More minimalist wardrobe posts, HERE.

PS. Denim donation.

*This new addition was a generous gift from Bridge & Burn an RMTL sponsor.