I was mucking around Long Island yesterday, waiting for the thrift stores to open, and I ended up in Central Islip, where all the churches were letting out at the exact same time. Everywhere I drove: church. People were dressed nicely, and seemed close and connected. Everyone looked pretty relaxed. One church had a procession down the road, and those people were grinning. What a nice way to spend a Sunday, I thought. Minus the religion part.
Me, I was looking for cheap spring clothes, which I was a bit conflicted about. At the beginning of the year I realized I just had so many things. How could I justify spending another dime on clothes when my closet was stuffed with items I hadn’t worn in years? So I decided not to buy any new clothes in 2011. Up until Sunday, I had succeeded at this goal, and even then I only spent less than twenty dollars, just a little treat for myself because I’ve been working awfully hard lately. And, because I live in a walking city, I am also giving myself permission to buy a couple of pairs of shoes. I also had a couple of pairs resoled this winter, which was worth every penny.
So I’ve been learning to work with what I have in my closet already, which has been an interesting process. It’s forced me to have a lot of honest conversations with myself, and I’ve ended up getting a rid of lot of what I have and paring things down to what fits, what looks good, and what can be worn to a reading and on my bicycle around town. One thing I’ve realized: I’m sick of clothes made from cheap materials. I’m not surprised at how poorly they age, but it’s still an eyesore in my closet, and I hate the way the fabric feels between my fingertips.
Also I wish I owned more skirts because I have nice legs but I’ve realized I don’t I know what kind of skirt I should be wearing. Also I will never look good in business casual attire. Also half of my winter coats are missing buttons. Also I should wear more orange. Also I own an absurd amount of plaid shirts and dresses. My closet is like a bunch of indie rock guys at a Fourth of July barbecue with all the plaid in there.
I’ve been ironing a lot. Last night I ironed for what felt like an hour. I ironed everything, and it just made the clothes feel a little bit newer. I should take better care of what I have while it still looks good, while I still have it in my possession.
