The urge to purge
Over the past several months, I’ve stood in my closet and tried to look at its contents through the eyes of Stacy and Clinton.
That’s a fairly harsh view to take, especially when I’m not holding a $5K VISA check card. But I have to admit that it’s easier to see my options when I’m not distracted by the unwearable excesses.
Some items have gone straight into plastic bags for donation to Goodwill. And some are still hanging up, awaiting consignment. But they’re all out of my way, no longer intermingling with the clothes that I do wear.
Unfortunately, that means that I can see that I need to start choosing more carefully when I go shopping again next spring.
I’ve succumbed to the “tee-shirt-and-khakis” uniform shared by most moms. Sure, I may mix it up here and there with a skirt or a pair of jeans or even some knit gauchos, but generally speaking, my wardrobe is boring.
Shut up. Gauchos are comfortable.
I don’t wear mom jeans, and I’ve accepted the fact that I’ve passed my prime where it comes to shorts. I try to add a few trendy items each season without breaking the bank. But I’m convinced that it’s my size 2 late-twenties baggage that’s holding me back from finding my style as a size 6 mid-thirties mom.
So this weekend I will finish consigning all of my unwearable items. No matter how bloody expensive they were, nor how good my ass once looked in them. Because it’s never going to look good in this skirt again:

I swear that my previous career wasn’t spent as a hooker.
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Want a chance to win a $250 Coach gift certificate? Check out today’s Blog Blast - “So You Think You’ve Got Style?” - over at the Parent Bloggers Network, sponsored by Harper Collins’ latest title - “The Little Black Book of Style” by Nina Garcia, ELLE fashion director and Project Runway judge.











September 7th, 2007 at 6:10 am
I LOVE purging old clothes and I love when my closet looks almost empty. Is that weird????
September 7th, 2007 at 6:50 am
i love stacy and clinton. sometimes i put something on and say to myself, “wonder what s & c would think of this for me.” what’s more fun is seeing someone else and KNOWING what s & c would say
have fun purging. reminds me that i need to do the same.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:09 am
[...] The Urge To Purge [...]
September 7th, 2007 at 7:11 am
I couldn’t join in this blog blast because we just sold all of our old clothes (and then donated the stuff that didn’t sell). But I do think I sold a skirt like that, lol.
And yes, oh yes, gauchos are comfy. I just bought my first pair (maternity) last week and, uhm, well, I’ve lived in them all week.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Oh, absolutely bring on the gauchos! I am all about that trend.
As for that swirly skirt, quite hypnotizing!
September 7th, 2007 at 7:53 am
I love the purge too (although I’m a Trinny and Susannah girl) - knowing the rules is actually nice b/c when I go into a store I don’t end up buying random stuff on sale so I end up saving money by being picky. (although when the magic piece of clothing presents itself, look out debit card.)
September 7th, 2007 at 8:33 am
I’m sure you made that skirt look fabulous, Julie. If I threw away absolutely everything in my closet that wasn’t completely flattering, I’d have nothing left to wear
September 7th, 2007 at 9:18 am
I agree with Kari. It’s hypnotic.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Surely it was stylish at one time! Now? Not so much!
September 7th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
You know, I still don’t own a pair of gouchos. Looks like I’m missing out…
September 7th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I’m doing a bit closet-purging ceremony this weekend. Lots of plastic bags, lots of cursing and I’m thinking of burning some incense, too, to purge the evil spirits.
September 7th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
There’s nothing like pregnancy and its aftermath to make you realize that your entire wardrobe sucks. That’s where I am right now and I haven’t started shopping for new clothes because I’m waiting until I’m done breastfeeding. I hate everything I own.
September 7th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Just put some straps on it an it’s a sexy maternity nightie.
wowza.
September 7th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I’m kicking my husband off the tv in 20 minutes for a Stacy & Clinton fix! Purging, for me, is sooo traumatic, but it feels so good afterward!
September 8th, 2007 at 8:29 am
I have serious separation anxiety when it comes to getting rid of clothes. I don’t know what my problem is. I definitely need Stacy and Clinton to come to my house.
September 8th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Are you sure that isn’t a slip? heh heh
I LOVE purging closets.
I love getting rid of things.
I have a strict 6 month rule - if I’ve had it more than 6 months and it hasn’t been used (and isn’t seasonal or a photo *snort*) it gets purged.
Weeeeeeeeee!
Doesn’t it feel good.
September 9th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
While I try not to think of Stacy and Clinton when looking through my closet, I DO tend to mentally bring them along with me every time I go shopping. It’s very annoying hearing them constantly whisper, “Nope. Too twenty-something. Too lady-of-the-night. Too ‘I just crawled out of bed.’” I suppose that makes them really good friends, though.
September 9th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Stacy and Clinton totally got me out of shorts and miniskirts. In fact, I try not to show my knees in public anymore. And mom jeans? They looked bad on me when they WERE in style!
September 10th, 2007 at 3:56 am
I already admitted to still having my 80’s denim jacket with the rhinestone studs, so I guess there isn’t much worse to confess. I think I need to meet Stacy and Clinton.