For some people–like me–getting rid of clothing can be very mental. Blogger Julie Hage (Filling the Jars), says there are five emotional excuses for not decluttering. (That goes for decluttering anywhere in your home.) They are:

• Guilt (I spent a lot of money on that, I should wear it.)
• Hope (I know if I just lose 15 pounds, I can get into that again.)
• Feeling Overwhelmed (I can’t possibly even start on this mess–it’s too devastating to think about.)
• Fear (I might need that some day.)
• Stubbornness (No one is going to tell me I shouldn’t keep this!)

Some people (mostly guys) have no trouble just taking stuff out and giving it up. So why is it so HARD for others (mostly women)?

BECAUSE clearing clutter goes way beyond simply purging and donating. It can turn into a psychological process for some. Now that we’ve clarified that, we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves.

To be honest, I have probably used all of the above excuses.

But what I wasn’t prepared for when I began clearing out years of accumulated clothing was this thought: “I probably shouldn’t be wearing this because I’M TOO OLD.”

WOW…What a punch in the gut.

So I began the exhausting process of culling through my clothes for the rummage sale I was telling you about last week. I needed a little help, so I enlisted my dog, Ollie, to help. (He wasn’t doing anything anyway.)

He helped me identify the problem with each garment. Then I could objectively let it go.

Ollie said: KEEP If:

• It is a complimentary color
• You can put it on and wear it NOW
• It fits your lifestyle TODAY
• It’s flattering
• You feel great in it

Or,TOSS If:

• It’s too short
• It’s too clingy
• It’s too young
• Not a good color
• Not flattering (even if it fits)
• No occasion to wear (E.G., a suit you once wore when you worked, but now you’re retired.)

One other thing you can do if you’re not quite ready to give up something, OR, if it’s a special occasion garment that you know you won’t be wearing soon. Simply take it out of the closet and put it in another location, so it won’t be taking up valuable space and cluttering your closet visually.

It was an arduous process, but we made it through. I am donating about 35 garments. It’s a start.

Hey, once I put the clothes in my car to take to the sale, I couldn’t even remember what was in the pile.

Maybe a perk of getting older is that you won’t even remember the clothes you give away!

Give it a try!

And let us know how it goes.

Ollie and I want to hear from you.

And remember Susan Street’s quote from my last blog:

“Part of the magic of fashion is its ability to make us feel like the best version of ourselves; if the garment fails in its job, it isn’t your fault. In truth, the style isn’t suitable for you.”