Post-curation Consideration

My plan for "Curating my closet" was to put a "Do Not Resuscitate" order on clothes that just don't work for me, eliminating one piece a week.

And then last week, I got rid of two tank tops.

It wasn't just a case of being an over achiever.

One tank top... was to make up for the fact that this week? This week I resuscitated a shirt.

I am a strong believer in waiting 6 months after deciding to keep something and my red gingham shirt, which didn't seem worthwhile in winter, became super important this summer. I needed it for our weekend at a friend's grandparents' cabin.

I haven't been smart enough to date when I put things into a box (it's often weeks or months before I get around to posting it on here), so when I take a load to the thrift store, I randomly choose. How this one escaped, I wasn't sure, but nothing says: "Lake wear" like a knotted red gingham shirt!

Basics gone bad

Has anyone riffled through their drawers in the morning, looking for "That black tank?" while your significant other watches you throw two, three, four black tanks over your back?

I used to justify saying I wore black tanks almost daily.

Then, I justified the merits of each.

Now as I am more likely to wear teal tank tops (yes, I have multiple. Yes, they are each a different shade. Yes, I do intend to keep all of them), I'm seeing my black tank tops as my husband does - yet another basic serving the exact same purpose. Really, do I need more than one, maybe two?

So this week, I'm getting rid of two black tank tops. You don't need to see them, do you? Use your imagination, it won't be hard.

Tired Academic

It took some convincing for me, but it's time for this jacket to go.

I bought this jacket when Zellers relocated in my hometown. I can't remember the year, but I remember it was Remembrance Day because I grabbed it when I went to buy more flour for the annual perogy making "fest".

But now, it's starting to look a little worn and disheveled. I've already replaced it with a similar style/colour jacket, but I will miss the corduroy! It was so hard to consider giving it away when I found its replacement, but now that I'm comfortably seated in my position within an academic environment, I'm ok with letting the symbol go!

Curating my Closet

Uh... I'm not feeling this blog any more. I know, it's a phase. For now my plan is to persevere, but it posting gets erratic, don't worry! I'm still happy and healthy!

Short Sleeved White Wrap Sweater

Why did I buy it? 

It was so long ago, I don't quite remember. I think I was working at an un-air conditioned museum during a hot summer, so I needed professional clothing suitable to really warm weather. 

Why did it work?
I wore it to death. I think wrap sweaters work for me - if for no other reason than they allow layering without the fuss of cardigans flapping away when open. 

Why didn't it work?
The cuffs of the sleeves are rolling up, and the whole sweater is definitely a dingy grey. 

How did I wear it?

What will happen to it?
I will need to replace this. Short sleeved sweaters seem to be a must for a business casual summer!

Curating my Closet

Denim Man-Capris

These pants aren't from the men's section. They aren't from the women's section either. I can't even say they are from the juniors section. These are straight up from the kids section. 

Why did I buy them?
Based on that intro paragraph, I do feel I have to justify. I hit a point in my life where I could be called no other shape than "rectangle". It was at a time when the fashion world seemed to cater to curves. After a frustrating day in Reitman's, looking to expand my summer wardrobe, I walked into their children's section and found these jeans on sale. A couple scissor cuts later (since the size 14 fit, but were too short, and the 16s were long enough but fell down immediately), I had a new pair of capris.

What worked?

Until gravity thinned out my waist a bit and transferred some of itself to my hips (which I'll say is a good thing, I just blame gravity because I don't understand what happened), they were the perfect solution to a world that didn't cater to 2X4s. 

What didn't work?

They really made me look like a bought my clothes from the K-Fed collection, and if I can remember the year correctly, I likely bought it when K-Fed was still with Brittany. 

How have I worn them?
Pretty much only on lazy weekends since the blog started. I think in the past, I only went through my closet in winter, as that's the only reason why I can see them kicking around still!

The Big Picture / Out the Window

I stood in the aisle at Canadian Tire and freaked the eff out. "$25 for varnish? Where is that money coming from?"

I stormed out the door and stomped all the way home (fortunately, not very far away - my poor knees!). We needed the varnish, but certainly not as much as Scott needed new shoes, and we have a road trip coming up, not to mention it's now wedding season... life just felt really expensive. Even though part of me knew that we had a plan in place for all of this, I just couldn't SEE how we could make ends me.

I'm a highly visual person. I was the kid that - when learning about the different bones in the body - pulled out the skeleton from the Halloween decorations, and made a came out of labeling each bone with sticky-notes. Why it had never occurred to me to make a giant poster of our budget is beyond me. But that's how Scott & I spent our Saturday night - making giant posters.

Now, when I stand in the aisle at Canadian Tire and freak out over the cost of varnish, I visualize the poster: "We have $50 set a side each month for household items. That is where this money will come from." And even better, when we want to do something, but life feels oh so very expensive, we made a poster of all the free/cheap things we can do in the city. Now, we have no excuse for yelling at each other over money or sitting at home, bored, on a weekend!

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Do you ever get the urge to just throw your clothes out the window? No, just me? That's fine, it works well into my "Curating My Closet" plan, anyway! I'm finding the more my brain gets wrapped around the idea of getting rid of something on a regular basis, the easier it is to weed through my closet to get rid of stuff. Don't love it? Don't need it!

Why did I buy it? 

Well, I didn't so much buy it as make it. I wanted a cropped sweater and this pattern was super easy to make. So easy, I made one for me and one for my sister. Rumour has it she doesn't like it, and has never worn it.

Why did it work?

It was easy! And it was cropped! And I made it!

Why didn't it work?

During the bedbug fiasco of 2011, it got washed with a number of colours and is a weird swampy white colour now.  It was also a bit more of a chunky knit than I had wanted. The good news is that making another one will solve both of those problems!

How did I wear it?

Curating a more mature me

No one said growing up is easy - but once you have it's easy to tell. You pass through the phase when you wear your shortest skirts and feel too self-conscious. Then, you don't wear them, but look wistfully at them every time you grab the longer, likely more tweed skirt beside it. Finally, you stick them in a box and don't think twice about giving that box away. And thus, I present

The Black Wrap Skirt

Why did I buy it? 

I think it was about 8 years ago (I was 20) and decided I was going to start wearing skirts. It was months, maybe years before I did. 

Why did it work? 

It's certainly not my shortest skirt, so I considered it appropriate for many situations.Of course, I only wore it once on the blog, and likely not much after that.

Why didn't it work?
It's a wrap skirt, so the same problem that happens with every short wrap skirt - it slides way too far open when you sit down.

How did I wear it?

Fading Away: Curating my Closet

 Green Sweater

Favourite articles of clothing are hard to pass on. However, it's much easier when you take pictures of yourself regularly, and you can actually see your clothes fading, stretching out, and just generally aging more poorly than you are.

Why did I buy it?
I've had this green sweater for so long I can't even remember when I got it.

Why did it work?
The sleeve length and the colour really worked on me - I think, at least.

Why didn't it work?
It got faded, and stretched out.

How have I worn it?
It's been so long that it's been faded that I have only worn it three times on the blog... all in really bad outfits. Ooops!

Getting Out the Door

Starting a new job means starting a new routine. Starting a new routine means the opportunity to start new habits. In addition to those general habits I discussed last week, there have been some new and treasured routines I have established. My favourite -- and possibly the most efficient -- routine I've established has been getting ready for bed.

Yes, there's always an episode of The Nanny prior to washing my face and brushing my teeth. There is the lingering by Scott's desk, taking much too long to say good night - even if he's coming to bed with me. However, it's what comes next that makes all the difference.

1. I sweep back out to the kitchen to make sure that I've got everything I need for my lunch ready to go.
2. I pack my purse, making sure I have my bus pass, id/key card, wallet and keys
3. I lay out my clothes & accessories, making sure nothing needs ironing, the colours match as well in real life as they do in my head, and that I have both a left and a right shoe.

Those three steps save me not just save me time in the morning because its already done, but it also allows me to solve any problems - from realizing I left the check on the counter, and having to make myself a peanut butter sandwich instead, to discovering a stain on my white shirt - with a cool head when time isn't as much of an issue. Despite having to leave 30 minutes earlier than I used to, I seem to have more time in the morning, including enough time to eat a balanced breakfast!

What steps do you take to make your mornings run a little smoother?

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Red Wrap

Why did I buy it?
Originally, this shirt had ribbons running down the sleeves, which you could tighten ruche the sleeves. That detail sold me on the shirt

Why did it work?
It's a faux wrap, and is a blue red, which I find works better with my complexion than an orange red

Why does it not work?
It's faded and a bit short. I've noticed these are 2 common problems within my wardrobe.

How did I wear it?

 What will happen to it?

I might have already packed it off to a thrift store! And it's been replaced by a very similarly styled deep red sweater I stole from my sister.

Setting a Schedule / Curating my Closet

Starting a new job means having the opportunity to start new routines. It's much needed in my household - we (rather I) have become a little more slovenly and lazy around here these last few weeks.

I have three goals:
1. Keep the apartment a little more organized
2. Do my share of the cooking
3. Resume the Couch to 5K routine (cold weather has side lined it)

Add to that the usual weekly duties (grocery shopping, blogging, date night) and I've decided to devote a chore to each day

Sunday: Blog writing
Monday: Running
Tuesday: Groceries (& cooking)
Wednesday: Running
Thursday: Laundry (& cooking)
Friday: Running & Date night
Saturday: Cleaning (& cooking)

Here's hoping it's evenly spread, so I'm not spread too thin!

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Blue Plaid Shirt

Why did I buy it?
I didn't - I swapped it from a friend. 

Why did it work? It's one of a few print shirts in my closet, and I enjoyed the blue with the pink in it. 

Why didn't it work? It's a little short, informal, and I got a little bored with it. 

How did I wear it?

 

What will happen to it? I've heard rumour of a Winnipeg clothing swap... maybe it will go there!

And just an update - while it's all good of me to take these "curating my closet" items out of rotation, I should announce that I finally took them out of my apartment. A full garbage bag of clothing (including some of Scott's) was dropped off at the thrift store this last weekend!

Should it stay or should it go?

Other than Saturday's missing post, you probably didn't notice I took a blog vacation. It was great. But onto the important discussions.

My mother and I discussed my curating closet rules and regulations this weekend. On the one hand, "one in, one out" seems like a good policy that would fall under the greater umbrella of curating my closet. Afterall, it would make sense, given the conversation stemmed from my assertion that I purchased a pair of black leather flats since my last pair were looking beat up - but no, my last pair wouldn't be featured on my Monday "give aways."

Here are my criteria for getting rid of clothing
1. It's in poor condition
2. It's inappropriate for my current stage of life
3. It does not fit, and cannot reasonably be assumed to fit, or altered to fit in the near future
4. It fails to work with the rest of my wardrobe

So said black flats? They may not be in good enough condition to wear to the office, but they still work within my casual wardrobe. And that is why I don't do a "one in, one out" policy, but rather a "one a week". Plus, since I don't shop on a weekly basis, I will still come out, at the end of the year, with fewer pieces in my closet than when I started!

This week's "out" item

Black Denim Skirt

Why did I buy it?
With a gym membership in hand, I gained a huge amount of confidence, and so my skirt hems jumped up a few inches. I tried one summer to wear it without tights under it, but it was quickly relegated to "let's cover up the legs" territory. 

Why did it work? 

I firmly believe that if you got it, flaunt it (in the appropriate places and the appropriate times)

Why didn't it work?
I'm not 16 any more. In fact, I wasn't at the time (I may have been 23). However, I feel that it's the time in my life where a raw edged black denim that barely covers my tushy may not be entirely appropriate, or, at least, comfortable. 

How did I wear it?

What will happen to it?

Off to the thrift store

Cleaning Up Winter / Curating my Closet

I can't believe I've gone all winter without sharing my favourite winter storage solution! Since winter is pretty hard in the Canadian prairies (this year being the exception - first time in 70 years that we haven't had a single day below -30!!!), I find it easier to get excited about going outside (ok, excitement isn't the right term. I'm never excited to go into the cold) if I can at least have fun with winter accessories. Of course, that means having quite a few sets of mitts, scarves and toques. While I used to keep them in decorative boxes on the shelf in the closet just inside our door, I was either too lazy to toss them up there, or was forever digging through the box to find a matching set.

I saw on Pinterest people were using over the door shoe organizers for cleaning supplies, and thought: "Why not for winter accessories?" While the "front door" to our apartment was too big for the door hangers provided, I simply hung it on the wall across from the closet. Sure, it's not the most attractive solution, but it's not visible from any where but right beside it. As soon as I'm convinced winter is over, it will hang over the door to our storage closet. Or who knows - maybe I'll move all accessories back into boxes, and actually use it as a shoe rack! That'd be one way to organize all my summer sandals!

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Black Blazer
(not pictured, sorry... last minute cold removed my ability to edit photos)

Why did I buy it?
I was on a jacket kick, loved the polka dot seam binding, and thought: 'can you go wrong with a black blazer'?

Why did it work?
It was a black blazer, need I say more?

Why didn't it work?
The lapel is too large for my frame, the silhouette isn't tailored enough, and it hits me a little short.

How have I worn it?
Never on the blog - an easy sign that it's not quite the right article for me!

What will happen to it?
I had given it to my sister a few months ago, but stole it back. Now I'll check with her to see if she wants it again.

Curating my Closet - Dye Job

 White Cardigan

Why did I buy it?
Do you really need to ask why I bought a white cardigan? It's a great basic, especially for pairing with sundresses on cool nights (you'll see what I mean)

What worked about it?
So versatile! It was also super comfy.

What didn't work about it?
It was cheap and *maybe* a size to small. With both of these together, you can pretty much guarantee the buttons pulled. I had to decide in the morning if I wanted it open or closed - I would safety pin between each button to make it look more pulled together.

Oh, and the last time I wore it, it was a hot, humid day, and I got caught in the rain. Since I was wearing a purple shirt, any where the shirt and sweater rubbed, the sweater turned light purple. Even after watching.

How have I worn it?
With tweed skirts

With trouser cut dress pants

 

With my pink sundress

 

 With prints

 

With jeans

What will happen to it?
I've already replaced it. I might see if I can turn it into a white cardigan vest, but most likely, it will go in the trash. Sigh - at least I didn't spend a lot on it!