Yet another season has started, and I completed another closet clean out. Every single one feels like the first. There are things I can part with, things I can’t, and things I’m slowly moving towards letting go of–a lot like the rest of my life. Each time I clean out, I think back to things like this. So, I’m re-sharing for all of us who may need it!
I clean out my closet. A lot. I feel like we talk about it. A lot.
And I’m not sure what that says about me. I’m fascinated by what we have in our closets. Closets are such a personal thing. The stories that they hold, the things that we keep–part of why I started my series about fashion stories (see here, here, and here). It’s no secret that my closet is vast, I collect vintage (and other things), view fashion as art, and am a firm believer that we should hang on to the things that bring us joy (even if they aren’t every-day wear).
However, every time I clean out my closet I have this fantasy of going minimalist. I’m convinced I’m going to get rid of SO MUCH. There are clean out theories I subscribe to, that I’ve given you, and I agree that things not being used don’t really have a place in our homes.
Then, I go through my clothes. My babies. And there are things I just can’t part with.
I came across this on Instagram recently:
(I would love to get credit for this. It clearly isn’t me. Yet–I loved it scrolling in the wee hours when I hadn’t quite woken up yet, but was somehow online. Yes. All of that. I haven’t been able to locate it in my likes or my feed–if you know this genius, please let me know and I will credit them!)
I love this take on the practice of cleaning our closets. There are some things that I WHOLE heartedly agree with: don’t settle for OK, hold out for the best, get rid of things that don’t showcase your best self, etc.
But. There are things that I’m not fully committed to. I think holding onto anything that brings you joy is valid. I think we do have items that are not wholly our every day lives in our closets, but I think that lets us explore things.
This little message really stuck with me. So I made us a video about it:
(Also, YouTube and I may be in a fight for that image being the saved one)
I’d love to know your thoughts on all this. If we want to clean out our closets, why can’t we get rid of stuff?
Wishing us all a week of only the best and amazing shoes! Xo RA
