Yesterday I took the first step in the seasonal sorting of the closets.
There were two casualties:
The two skirts I made this summer are now too large, enough too large that they look sloppy and dowdy and do not stay in place. I can tie the sash tighter on the blue skirt, but doing so does not make it more attractive.
It is somewhat more difficult to give up things I have made, as opposed to things I have purchased. But I made myself promise that I would not hold on to them, that I would make them and wear them as much as possible, not hiding them in the closet, and willingly give them up when the time came. And so I did make them. And I did wear them frequently. And now it is time to part. It is true that for a moment I paused, thinking they would be easy enough to alter, but then I stopped myself. There will always be something new, no need to cry over clothes that have had their day.
If you missed them, the blue skirt was here. and the rose-print skirt was here.
There are two skirts which need minor alterations and are in the "wait-and-see" pile where there fate will be determined after I finish the entire closet purge.
This leaves three skirts, which is not a bad number from a purely functional standpoint.
There are two black pencil skirts much like this one (photo courtesy of Nordstrom.com). They are both St. John Santana Knit skirts. One is the length shown on the model, the other is slightly longer, hitting just at the bottom of the kneecap. This particular pencil skirt is something I consider a basic, and I have kept one in my closet for many many years. They get frequent wear, never bag out, and last forever.
At the moment, with my more casual lifestyle the short skirt is seeing the most wear, but the longer one is more dressy, and yes, more conservative. There may yet be times in my life when I wish to wear it though, so I have kept both.
The other skirt is less versatile and is also a skirt I posted on the sewing blog years ago. I still have it. It still looks good, or perhaps more exactly, it looks good again. It is a heavier wool skirt by Day Birger et Mikkelsen. I wish it would be cold enough to wear it for Thanksgiving, but that may be iffy; it will work for Christmas dinner as well.
Comments
5 responses to “So Long, Farewell…..”
Because of the weight loss I am finding that there are going to be a lot of items that don’t make the cut to be altered. One of the things I am in the market for is a black skirt that will endure for many years. I think I am going to wait for 5 more lbs. before I seriously start looking for one.
It is difficult to part with clothing that we’ve made (sewn, knitted, etc.), but I think you have the right attitude about it all. You love to dream and scheme of new items, so those simple alterations would probably end up at the back of the line – behind something more exciting.
Perhaps you could consign the sewn garments? Or would simply donating be easier?
The circle skirt is so gorgeous. And so perfect for holidays. I am going to part with just about everything I made in the first year of sewing, I mean I’ve put half of it on the lawn or given it away already. That’s cool. Gives me more space for new projects 🙂
Oh, that circle skirt is fabulous! Don’t you love it when the time comes round again for an old favourite to work. . . and when you happen to have saved it, rather than simply remember it and know it would work if you still had it!?
I can’t figure out how I missed the earlier post about that rose-bedecked pencil skirt — it’s great, and would be tough to part with, but that cut really needs to fit just so — I passed along a similar skirt not long ago after hanging on too long thinking I’d get it altered and then never getting round to it . . . I think your approach makes more sense.
Usually I tend to variate in weight from season to season. My husband tells me I`m like a teddy bear. I give away things that are to large or to small for me, and get new ones in return. Fair trades with my gfriends you know.