Closet Cleaning Strategies
No Regrets ~ Part 2
“I Bought This For You!”

by | Oct 15, 2012 | Closet Organizing | 0 comments

Closet CleaningIn the past I always felt bad about buying clothes that did not work for me. “What a waste,” my mother would always say. “You just can’t throw it away. You got to use it.” My closet was full of perfectly nice clothing for someone….just not for me. For years I couldn’t bear to clean out my closet, hoping that I would loose weight, gain weight, change my coloring and over time, really need that buying mistake. Sorry mom. I have a new strategy now: I call it “No Regrets” and here’s how it works:

  • I will just admit to myself that circumstances were beyond my control when I purchased the item. It may have been “peer pressure”, or sheer desperation on not planning ahead, or, I felt I had to purchase something to support my friend who was giving a home shopping party.
  • My new strategy requires me to find that oddball piece of clothing a home, just
    not my home anymore!
  • Since I believed my mom when she said, “You can’t waste it, or throw it away” , I have learned to clean out my closet without wasting anything.  I separate what doesn’t work for me from my working closet. Now, I can really see the article of clothing objectively and start looking for the perfect person for that item. It is a little like matchmaking. Who really looks like this jacket, shirt, necklace, etc. more than I do? Now it becomes a fun adventure tracking down the woman who would appreciate my little “buying mistake.” When I find her, offer her the item, and she accepts it with pleasure…it is no longer my buying mistake is it is a gift I just “bought it for her”, not really knowing  that I was buying a gift at the time.

I can clean my closet without regret, and without the need to hang on to what doesn’t work for me simply because I bought it and couldn’t throw it away.

Yes, it is expensive buying clothing in other people’s colors, designs, shapes and styles and we all want to avoid the unnecessary expense. As a professional color and wardrobe consultant, mostly, I pick a lot of winners for my clients and myself, but occasionally, I pick few losers, too. The process is to keep improving, to get better at knowing who you are and what works with your coloring, your shape and YOU. Passing along what never worked for you to someone who can use it, feels great. It can help you move forward with no regrets.

In a funny way I think clothes have feelings too… They like to be wanted and appreciated. So I encourage you to find homes for your “buying mistakes”. It could be that you just bought them for a new friend and that person would appreciate your insightful generosity.

ColorInsight Clothing Swaps are the culmination of my “No Regrets” strategy. If you cannot find that perfect match… please feel free to bring your “buying mistakes” to a ColorInsight Clothing Swap. Bring what no longer works for you and take home the items that someone else bought with you in mind….only they didn’t realize it at the time!

October, January, and May are traditionally times for swaps…..you can get more information by viewing the ColorInsight Events Calendar.

I look forward to meeting you and helping you find your colors, your shape and your style!

Mary Lou Manlove
Color and Style Consultant

Look more credible, feel more comfortable, and be more confident in everything you do!