my small wardrobe update








It has been almost 2 months since I took the leap and completely downsized my wardrobe.  You can read about that here if you'd like.  I have not even come close to wearing everything that I have, in fact I even gave away one of my silk blouses.  One of my worries was that I meet with my girlfriends each week for a dinner out and I thought they'd start to notice that I was wearing the same thing over and over.  Guess what?  I wore the same thing over and over before I cleaned out my closet.  Nobody has said a thing and I think it has helped me to be more creative with what I've got.

Yesterday was a warm day and so a white t shirt and jeans were fine.  I can't tell you how amazing it feels to open my drawers and closet, it's such a breath of fresh air.  I hope you don't think I'm too strange but I often do this, just stare into my closet. Okay, I know that does sound strange.:)

Another benefit has been that I seem to take better care of the clothes I have. Not that I abused my clothes before but now I have a new attitude towards them. At the end of the day I used to toss my clothes into the laundry basket without a care.  Now I carefully check to see if anything needs to be pre treated with detergent, repaired or maybe it just needs a brush down and can be re-hung and worn again.  I even fold my pj's instead of just shoving them in the drawer! Everything seems special to me now and I love that.  This is what I was hoping for.

Anyone else out there having similar feelings?  Do share.

74 comments

  1. I wear the same things all the time but so do my friends, none of us are really consumed by clothes. I have gotten rid of tons in the last ten months but I am still barely wearing half of my wardrobe, I think it would be different if I had to go to an office every day but I work in wellies and sweats outside or at home in sweats, and we aren't out at functions very often so I don't need masses. I love the feeling of seeing everything neatly hanging, the felling of 'just enough' tickles me pink, it really does. I'd feel sick with a stuffed wardrobe and drawers.

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    1. right! it tickles me pink too. well put. so so glad you are back tabs.

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    2. I second that. Havng Tabs back, tickles me pink:)

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    3. I am chiming in here too, so happy that Tabitha has come back.
      Tickle me (Elmo) I mean pink!

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    4. I think feeling sick is a great way to put it. I feel sick. I am in the middle of endless moving, cleaning out Mom's house and trying to make way in it for me and my husband and I am ready to light a match to the whole thing. My empty house in escrow is where we want to be. It has told us volumes of how bad we are living, with so much stuff and clutter. I can't stand to be at Mom's where everything is stacked boxes and shrink-wrapped furniture. I have not one, but TWO PODS (compartmental rented storage containers) clogging the driveway. The garage has a vintage car and piano; there's not even room for the cat. I feel like I am suffocating. It's immense stress. As soon as we close escrow and I can concentrate on the one house, I am doing a lifetime purging of both Mom's stuff and our own. I feel like a prisoner yearning to be free. And I'm imprisoned mostly of my own making because t'was I who bought all this stuff in the first place, busting the budget, needing to be ready for that every occasion and that rainy day when I might not be able to afford something. All it created was DISASTER. Wish me luck. Somewhere between clutter and my husband's minimalism is, well, minimalism. But I'm learning that minimalism can be beautiful.

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    5. I should clarify...I am moving to Mom's house because she passed away this year. She wasn't so much of gatherer as much as a keeper of odds 'n ends, a throwback to her U.S. Depression-era childhood when nothing was wasted...'use it up, wear it out, something-something or do without' (I think it was coined by Calvin Coolidge but not sure)...I think it's maybe "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." So, her 60-years-worth of living in this house means she kept an awful lot of bits and pieces of things like scraps of cloth, empty cardboard boxes, last year's Christmas paper wrapping and bows, etc. I get it, but I feel buried. But I'm not blaming her; my stuff outweighs hers. The two PODs in the driveway are an embarrassment to me. Try explaining it to the neighbors. These are small, cooky-cutter, tract homes, mid-century, plain...not a lot of room. I could fill a McMansion. It's a visible testimony to life gone awfully wrong at some point along the way. I will probably not blog after the first of the year. For three months, I will be doing nothing but having garage sales and a weekly donation truck at the door. This doesn't count what I'll truck to Salvation Army on my own. It's so troubling; all I can do is move forward and get smarter.

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    6. awww vicki i really really feel for you...it can't be easy. i went with a friend to an estate sale over the weekend. the owners died 3 years ago and the family just locked the house up trying to figure out what to do with all the contents. when they finally called in the estate sale guy he said the entire house was stacked with box upon box of her treasures. rats and termites took their toll. estate sale guy has been working on the house since august to get it ready for the sale. many beautiful collections were there but really who needs 24 rolling pins? it was, as always, fascinating. whenever i leave these sales i leave with the resolve to continue to pare down and exist as lightly as possible on this beautiful earth. good luck and be strong. be ruthless. no thing matters that much in this world. you have your health and your husband. much love and kindness to you both. x

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    7. Your comment really touched me, Janet. Thank you. It's very emotional. After all, I'm having to get rid of my mom's things. I just have to keep telling myself that they are things, not memories. Someone suggested I take a photo of the things I sell or give away. Seeing the photo can evoke a memory just the way the object does/did. (Photos take up less room!) It's much harder purging her belongings than my own. I'm trying to find good home for things along the way. I'm glad my cousin took her piano, but then as I said, I have Grandma's piano in the garage. And, wow, my husband has become really militant about all olf this... he is up to "here" with what he calls 'hoarding.' So, I've got my marching orders but they were my own first. I know what I have to do. But it does take strength (not my strong suit). I will keep in the back of my mind what you said...be ruthless. Even if it has the Rachel Ashwell mantra of "beauty, comfort, function," I know I can't keep every single thing that has those elements. I have to pick one of, who knows, dozens. Never been good at that...wanted it all. Oh well, marching on here...

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    8. oh Vicki, I know where you are at! My mother also had a packed and stacked double car garage and a house full of treasures. I sorted her estate and I gave so much stuff to charity, However I still got a shipping container full of things in my paddock. Then when husband cleared out his parent's house there was another container of old antique furniture and belongings. I said that it just could not all come into the house. I too found it easy to donate my own things rather than my mum's, which was great as I have most of her good stuff in my home, as I unpacked one of her boxes I filled it with my stuff. I kept her sewing fabrics and knitting wools and they are in huge big crates in the container- But i am going to donate them to charities who will make them into things. My sister took most of the furniture so I only really had a bedroom suite in the way of furniture and tons of what I call Kitchenalia, which I have given away over the last 8 years. I have gradually pared that container down and we can put it to good use storing seed and ag products as they are quite vermin proof. However, I can't see my husband EVER sorting through his parent's stuff. I think what will eventually happen is that as our kids leave home they will be able to have a couple of special pieces to have in their homes. they can take whatever they like from the container! Hhhhmn, not sure if this is a good thing or not! I certainly do not want to burden them with the museum maintenance I have had to endure. I am lucky in that my home is not cluttered and I have the space to sit containers and keep things stored, but it is still a huge burden that I don't particularly want or need. My husband was very militant also with my mother's stuff, however he started to fully understand only when he had to attend to his parent's things, he now knows exactly what it's like to have to choose what stays and goes. no one fully comprehends how hard it is until they have to go through it themselves. Just remember as hard as it is that you have to be ruthless for your own sake! Only keep things that will improve your future, rather than validate the past.

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  2. I always enjoy your blog and your goal of simple living- thank you! My Nana was very elegant but had a tiny wardrobe. When we look fondly at old pictures of her, she is wearing either her yellow suit or her green suit- they were her signature clothes and she loved them. She also took very good care of her clothes, so everything looked brand new. When we took her on summer holidays she had a tiny suitcase, but it lasted her for an entire week while I had a huge suitcase full of cheap tshirts,etc..

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    1. Wendy, that's like my 92 year old mum, she has about 4 outfits, keeps them meticulous and still turns heads - probably for her laugh though!

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    2. yes! this is what i think is important...you can look good and have a tiny wardrobe. mine is huge compared to your mum's and grandmothers.

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  3. Oh, I am so glad to hear you sometimes open your closet and just stare. I've been doing the same thing for years! It isn't because I am trying to figure out what to wear for the day it is because i am mentally (or visually) going through my culled wardrobe thinking "what in here do I not like/is not me/tend to not wear/should get rid of?" and "is there anything I need to replace or fill in?" such as if we plan on going camping in the mountains and do some fishing: do I have something appropriate for that? I like to have my wardrobe covered so I won't have to go out shopping at the spur of the moment frantically looking for something, thus probably ending up spending more money than I needed to. I like to be prepared for most occasions. I guess there is a method to the madness!

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    1. i am a visual person too. we are all so different aren't we? too much stuff makes me crazy and for others too little does. just happy to know i'm not alone!

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  4. I like to stare, too, Janet! I keep winnowing and winnowing.. I am still holding on to a few things in the back room as I do not know what the spring will hold work wise, but I keep going through and eliminating what does not make my heart sing. It gets smaller and smaller and smaller! Except for cords. I ended up buying 4 pairs of cords this winter and I am warm! You are so inspiring me to keep going!

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    1. i totally get hanging on until you know for sure. i think that's what i did too and it makes perfect sense. why get rid of something that you'll have to soon replace? you are inspiring me!

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  5. You're so right!! I always end up wearing the same few things. They're sort of my "uniform". I do hold onto unusual pieces that get worn on special occasions, but they are few and far between. I've has some of them for 20 years! Wow that makes me sound ancient :). What I do tend to always keep are accessories. Scarves, hats, gloves etc. I'm usually sorry when I let those go. Keep the inspiration coming Janet! xoJennifer

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  6. The starring into closet is so familiar, lol. I do it everyday and it is because I have a small group of clothes that actually fit and I wear them every week, so I have to remember which was worn last to not repeat myself so soon LOL.

    I have just read..."The Minimalist Woman's Guide to Having it All" by Meg Wolfe and will be using some of her ideas for getting rid of the clutter in my closet, home, and life. I have taken many boxes to donate over the last year but still have more to go which revealed how wasteful my previous years were. I am adding clothing made with quality and comfort in mind to last thru my now midlife years and future....and to be USED. I have even invested in a few staple items that I needed that work with my new vegan lifestyle. They were pre-owned, in mint condition and are working great. Thanks for the wonderful idea's you have given on this fabulous blog!

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    1. Oops that is "staring" not starring, lol!

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  7. Not strange at all Janet! Whenever I clear out and organize any area of my home I keep opening doors/drawers and look at it. I think it is just a great feeling of accomplishment that is uplifting. I think now that I'm in my late 50's (which I can't believe I'm saying) I just feel like stuff is strangling me and I want it gone gone gone! I always wear the same few outfits and I too am getting rid of the rest. I live a fairly simple life and comfort is number one now. I won't quit until I can go everywhere in my home and breathe peacefully and with contentment!! I just love your blog posts! sincerely, jeannette

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    1. jeannette i'm wondering if this is a 50's thing? maybe it's after decades of having too much that it finally feels good to let go? just wondering here. there is a sense of accomplishment and order that i do love.

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  8. I've really downsized my wardrobe but for some reason I'm hanging onto some concert and travel t-shirts. I've never worn any of them and never will. Every time I look in my t-shirt drawer, I think how ridiculous they are. I don't want to frame them or make a quilt with them. I just want them to disappear!

    Janet, with only one closet, where do you keep your "stuff" like photos, keepsakes, etc?

    I just looked at all your blog pictures and I love your simple, uncluttered home. It is perfection!

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    1. betty i still have my rolling stones concert t from when i was 17! i really am glad that is the only one i saved over the years b/c otherwise i'd feel like you. :)

      well i keep my photo albums in the office in the bottom of that china cabinet/armoire thing. keepsakes are scattered throughout the house. i do have a few rubbermaid containers in the basement that hold my pillow covers/linens that are not in use. i have one rubbermaid container that has the boys things from when they were small. that's about it. :)

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  9. I have struggled over the years to keep my wardrobe on the small size...I think it is because my mother has always had a vast wardrobe and still does. I learned from her that more is better. Thankfully I have been forced to rebuild my basics due to weight loss and now that my lifestyle has changed I am re-evaluating everything that I buy and because I am now on a pension I am buying more vintage and thrifted items. I love getting dressed as it is so much easier with fewer choices.
    Janet you have inspired me so much since I started reading your blog, I want to mention how much I appreciate your thoughts and posts.

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    1. leslie i'm so impressed with your weight loss. you look so fabulous. it must be exciting putting a new wardrobe together for a new you! i appreciate you too, v much. x

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  10. Rethinking purchasing something on sale that is "close" to fitting or hopefully fitting soon has been a hard habit for me to break. I still struggle, but with your inspiration it is getting easier to make discerning decisions!!!!

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    1. oh i can relate tina. i think i've finally crossed that bridge though and i have to say it feels good. hearing little things like this motiviate and continue to inspire me. thanks!

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  11. Honey, you do not look over 50 although who knows these days what 50 is supposed to look like, although you are a great example. You look healthy. Your hair is longer. Bravo.

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  12. I love staring at my wardrobe too. Everything hangs at the same height and on matching satin or velvet covered hangers. I cull all the time but have a lot of clothes. I love them all! Such a nice distraction from the stress and pressure of work.

    Folded pjs are key!

    Glad you have enjoyed the downsize. You look great.

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    1. i would love to stare at your wardrobe too! and i think it is all a distraction from the stress. it's fun!

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  13. I never stare at my closet or clothes because all it does is make me feel upset. Such is the sad difference. What I see is not good.

    I am so glad I found this blog. The readers and writer of this blog are keeping me on the right track. Thank you to all for sharing. I will get there, and I've been thinking about all of this for a really long time, but now more than ever is the doing of it. I can't wait.

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  14. I stare at my closet all the time! I keep my bedroom closet quite pared down with only the things I am currently wearing, I move stuff out of there all the time. My storage closet is full because I love clothes especially frocks, so pleasing, I de-clutter that closet as well but I look at both of them weekly so I can plan ahead and purge. I am still buying new things but not as much as before, I think I will always like the new thing in my closet, I get tired of certain colours. I've been wearing brown and green for months and after Christmas I'm planning to wear more black and navy.
    I'd like to be a minimalist but I think I have a split personality! At least where clothing is concerned.
    I am a minimalist in every other area of my house, we have almost no storage but there's nothing to store. I always like to know exactly where every item in my house is at any given time, that means it can't be in a box but needs to be on a shelf or hanging from a hook or on a hanger in a closet. Uncluttered and available for use... otherwise it goes and it doesn't bother me to be rid of it.
    You look amazing in white shirt and jeans!

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    1. i like your system dani. i forgot to add in the post that i did get rid of a blouse but gained the dress you sent me. can't wait to wear it!!!

      you are one of the most thoughtful dressers i've ever cyber met. i love the attention to detail that you put into your purchases. so inspiring and i've learned much from you.

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    2. Yeah to the both of you - DaniBP and Gardeners Cottage. I have learned a lot from both of you. It has been great for me to pare down our house and my clothes. It makes it all so much easier and free. Less choices....less procrastination at avoiding something...like things in storage or clothes I don't wear. Thanks so much. I love the encouragement from both of you. I ran onto La Canadienne boots and love them, thanks to DaniBP. Ann

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    3. Well, another great blog to follow; looks like fun. I love the referrals I get here about other great blogs! Looking forward to getting new posts now from dani.

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  15. I am currently losing weight and am facing an entire redo of my closet. It is intimidating, but exhilarating at the same time. I have an extensive wardrobe, and, if I continue to be successful in my weight loss, it should be necessary to go down a size shortly. It scares me to think that I will have to replace everything, but I have learned so much about building a smaller, better wardrobe that I look forward to the challenge. I told my husband today that this will be the first New Year's that I don't have to add weight loss as a resolution! I will be substituting gratitude as my goal this year,

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    1. congratulations kristien. you said something v important in your comment. how much have we all learned from ea other by reading real life blogs. not from the fashion dictates but from real life women. i for one have learned so much and i'm so very grateful for that. thank you!

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    2. And by the way, Leslie, thank you so much for your lovely words. I always look forward to your postings and hope you continue to have this conversation with us. Have a peaceful, blessed and SIMPLE holiday season!

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  16. Janet, you've been such an inspiration when it comes to living more simply. Because of you, I've gotten rid of so many things that I've been holding onto just because I've spent money on them. It feels liberating, and I've sold most of them on eBay. It felt good to get a bit of return on my investment.
    I've also been shopping for higher quality items to replace things I currently wear. Why buy something new when you can by something pre-loved and a lot better quality. I'm not in too big of a hurry. Just taking it slowly and finding exactly what I want. No more impulse buying! Thank you for that.

    Tim

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    1. hi tim. it really is the readers here that inspire me! you guys give me so much motivation!

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  17. I do so like your wardrobe posts, they're what brought me to you in the first place (Project 333)!!
    I have always wished I could just wear a t-shirt and jeans and look good. Sadly, short curvy ladies don't!!
    After much trial and error, I have realised that the simplest and neatest way for me to dress is in fun, comfortable dresses so now that my wardrobe is much reduced, curated and decluttered, it's the dresses that dominate and I am quickly and easily dressed - yay. And it's pretty colourful, too, I have no need to hide. There are still some much-loved items that hang in there in the hope that I will one day fit into them again (just a bit tight or one size down, I don't have overexaggerated ambitions!), but on the whole, getting dressed became a whole lot simpler! Mind you, we have only ever had very limited, European wardrobe storage, so I never had a big closet to fill - thankfully…

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    1. i think it takes time for us all to find the styles that suit us best. congrats on finding yours!

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  18. Much inspired by you I have done a major clean up of my wardrobe over the last year and for the first time also sold a lot of things - I didn't go directly via Ebay but found a company in Germany that basically does the selling for you - you can probably make more profit selling directly, but a lot of the things I sold were US brands that are not that well known in Europe and it was just so easy (you send them your stuff free of charge, they give you an evaluation and 3 days later the money is in your account... items they cannot sell they either send back to you (also free of charge) or you can ask them to donate to charity instead.... I made around 800 USD with this, which basically paid for a weeks holiday in the Yorkshire Dales....
    I also like to take care of my clothes & shoes - I never wash anything directly after wearing it only once or twice (unless I have to...) and I also like things to be neatly hung and folded
    And I also confess to being a 'starer' :-)

    xo Mireille

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    1. hi mirielle. wow that sounds like a fabulous site that does the selling for you. it really is a pain to sell on ebay but it is worth it. glad you are a starer too. :)!

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  19. When you said having less clothes now means you take better care of what you have, reminds me of what my mother used to say about people in the Depression era. She said 1 best dress only, always a hand-me-down, resized and whatever, and that was considered lucky and it was treasured. She always said that people tried to look their best, had standards, didn't matter if the clothes were patched, re-worked they were clean and their worn out shoes were polished. So, I guess that's what you were saying. The less you have, the more you appreciate what you do have.
    Thanks again Janet.
    Linda C.

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    1. yes that's exactly what i was talking about. when i was little we only got one school uniform a year. we did get 3 blouses but only one skirt, sweater and pair of shoes. so you had to take care of them. after school ea day they got taken off and hung up and play clothes were put on. i still do that to this day! funny huh?

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    2. I was talking about this to a friend the other day. We formerly, in my small town, had three really good shoe stores, where you were welcomed, your foot measured every time, with the guy making sure the shoe you chose fit you very well. Now, Janet, don't gasp, but...it was the day and the time...we're talking good leather shoes/heels that you kept for years as long as your size didn't change. I regularly got my stacked heels re-heeled at the cobbler's store and it was a weekly chore just like cleaning house to sit down with shoe polish and rehydrate that leather on all my pairs of shoes. They would look brand-new and were very comfortable. I'm not talking Depression-era; this was the '70s and '80s, not THAT long ago. And, yeah, clothes were made to last but you had your own responsibility even as a kid to change your clothes when you got home from school, mostly not to get mud or food all over them, or rip them in play. And Mom always wore an apron so she didn't get grease splatters and food stains on even her everyday clothes.

      Anyway, this is one of the things I want to get away from, this sort of throw-away, disposable kind of living where cheap stuff wears out and it just goes in the dumpster, aka the landfill, which is a really bad thing for our environment AND our pocketbooks. Just another example of mindless living; kind of pointless. I'm seeking a life that has more substance than how I've been living for a really long time. I actually used to iron things, like maybe 25 years ago. I kind of liked ironing; it was therapeutic. It was nice to lay my head down on a crisply-ironed pillowcase. I'm remembering things like that now. I would iron all of my daddy's handkerchiefs; snow-white cotton. I was just a little girl; Mom would give me a quarter or something but, I'm telling you, I could iron a man's shirt when I was maybe age 6 or 7. And my grandma always hung out her laundry. I can see the clean clothes flapping in the blue sky; I was little, and always looking up. It was a nice life. Such frugal people...with such bounty. I want that again; I am missing it.

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  20. Since I retired in June I am culling my wardrobe. I won't slouch around in yoga pants all day, but am trying to lose the work clothes and keep a few things for occasions, of which there are few! I love looking in my closet now, but still have to weed out the famous work uniform: black pants! I must have 10 pairs in 3 sizes! I love reading your blog!

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    1. hi debby. i must confess to being a yoga pant slouch at home. if i know i'll be home all day...i will wear what i call comfies and that usually means yoga pants. :)

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    2. Well, I guess I meant going all over town in yoga pants. Home all day? A different story!

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  21. Love your blog, especially the vegan recipes and posts about minimizing! (Also love your longer hair) . It says something about our current society when you see older homes with small closets that were enough years ago, and new homes with huge walk-in closets the size of a small bedroom! Perhaps instead of fitting the closet to the clothes we should reduce the clothing to fit the closet! I have way too many clothes but every time I read one of your posts about this topic it makes me go clean and get rid of a few things! Then I also look at it over and over for a while and enjoy the neatness of it all. Thanks so much for your inspiration. I think as we get older it's all about the quality vs. quantity - this includes the people we hang with! I have a question - aside from your diet what else do you do to keep fit. Do you run, walk? Yoga? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Lana! I like what you say, "Perhaps instead of fitting the closet to the clothes we should reduce the clothing to fit the closet!"
      It is a slow process, but it is ongoing! :-)

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    2. right lana. that does say something. somehow a family of 5 lived in this little house for 65 years prior to us moving in. somehow they managed.

      i walk 5 days a week for about an hour. yoga 3x week. and have recently added interval training in the afternoon. it sounds a lot more fancy than it is. i'll do a post on that soon. it's pretty interesting.

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    3. I grew up in a small house with two parents, one grandparent, two other siblings and a dog. We had one bathroom, one car, few clothes, no air conditioning.. I remember we had one or two small aluminum garbage cans that took a long time to fill. Mom cooked everything from scratch. Appliances and clothing was repaired, not thrown out. So much less wasteful than today. I think we were better for it. We lived in the city, so we walked everywhere. Gotta get back to that. Looking forward to your post on your exercise routine. Thanks

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    4. Hi Janet,
      At 57, I'm a huge fan of yoga and high intensity interval training using apps on my ipad for both. The yoga app was only 2.99 and the HIT app was free. Can't go near a class for those prices, and both are done with a minimum of equipment. Love it. Thanks for sharing your path. Inspiring, because you seem to be one of us, so the shared experience is much more applicable.

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  22. I stare too!! In my previous home there was a small pantry - and after working a late shift one night, I came home and, in order to unwind, while my husband was fast asleep, I completely organized and cleaned out the pantry, then stood there, glass of wine in hand, staring until the wee hours of the morning in utter contentment. Strange, I know. But it's one of life's great pleasures: a clean, well organized space - and the contentment it brings to those who appreciate them. Sheer joy. I'm so glad I'm not alone in this bizarre behavior! :)

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  23. AH! I need your help. What you are to chic minimalism I am to gauche maximalism. We all have a niche, I guess. Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas! I'm totally doing a Janet knockoff white table cloth with tartan overlay this year :) LOVED that.

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    1. stephen you gauche maximalist. lol

      that's a rl knockoff really!

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  24. I stare at my closet all the time. And it talks to me. Well, it talks BACK to me :-)
    Happy Holidays to you and yours!! xxSP

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  25. A white t-shirt and jeans is a classic! Also, black T and jeans...I have too many clothes and it's time to pare down as well. I think it's an ongoing project because I enjoy shopping for clothes but have more than I need. I keep my dressy stuff as that is barely 1/4 of my wardrobe but rarely require dressing up. Still, one must have something for a funeral, a wedding and a graduation etc. I wouldn't want to shop for those times at the last minute.

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  26. I enjoy closet gazing! You continue to inspire me. :)

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  27. Yes, absolutely! It's like it used to be a generation ago... I like it.

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  28. I am consistently inspired by you.
    Cortne @ cocoinmagnolia

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  29. You have inspired me. I need a project for Jan, so I am going to have a good sort out, and take everything to the charity shop that no longer cuts the mustard. I am 50 next year and I want to greet it feeling in good order so that I can kick it's ass :)

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  30. Hi Janet,

    I gaze in my closet, but not because I like the way it looks. I know I need to pare down more, but am slowly getting there. My husband recently said to me "do you know you have 11 pairs of jeans?" And I replied "did you count the white, black and brown ones?" (he hadn't) I took about a dozen items to a resale shop awhile back and they sold all but two. Next time I think I might try ebay instead, probably more profitable.

    I am definitely one of those individuals that tend to reach for the same things, probably because I feel I look better in those particular outfits and they are a "safe" choice. (especially if I am feeling less than attractive that day) :/

    As you can see your blog is making an impact...thanks for your inspiration!

    Linda
    xo

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  31. Janet:
    I'm not sure if you saw this article in the NY times or not; it also made NBC news: A couple with a child live on $17, 200 dollars a year: It's an interesting article: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/08/31/garden/20110901-maine.html?_r=1&

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  32. So show us your paired down spartan wardrobe.
    Bring it on.
    pve

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  33. Such interesting comments! I feel like I am in a hopeless situation. I am 66 years old and hate shopping for clothes. Everything looks too old or too young! I have given up and now buy from the thrift store and my wardrobe consists of a black pair of pants, and blue jeans with an assortment of T shirts. Totally discouraged. :(

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    Replies
    1. good morning diane!

      actually i don't think you are in a hopeless situation at all. many would love to be in your situation bc what you are facing is a fresh, blank slate! that's what i call putting a positive spin on it. :)

      i so know what you mean about things being too young or too old. i feel it and my friends who are your age feel it too.

      please don't give up and be discouraged. i wear the same blue jeans and pair of black pants over and over and over. i have 3 t shirts and just a handful of blouses/tops. a couple of skirts and dresses round it all off.

      do you have a friend who has a great sense of style that could go shopping with you?

      or go to pinterest and find a fashion blogger who's style you like and copy her.

      i don't think it takes a lot of clothes or money to be well-dressed. a little patience and determination will go a long way.

      let me know if you have any more questions that i can hopefully answer here for you.

      happy new year to you.
      x

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    2. Looking at it in a positive way is a wonderful reminder to be thankful. I am going to look at it as a fresh start, and keep a positive attitude.
      I am looking forward to your posts about putting together a wardrobe.

      Thanks and blessings for a wonderful new year.
      Diane

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kindness is never out of style.

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