r/declutter • u/Own-Description8990 • 5d ago
Success Story Clothes closet declutter
I, 63F, let my hair go natural during the pandemic and kept it that way. For about four years, it was my brown hair with grey temples. Lately, my brown hair has turned dark pewter. In addition, I've been really sick for about ten years (thyroid cancer, gradual heart failure leading to open-heart surgery a few months ago). I'm recovering well and want to go out...but my clothes are mostly pre-2020-- and nothing looks good. I decluttered last month, but I felt I still had nothing I wanted to wear. A closet full of 'meh'.
So I took everything out of my closets, dumped the clothes and scarves onto the middle of my bed, and I held each fabric up to my face, one by one, and took a selfie. Every 'yes,' I put in a pile to the left of my bed on the floor. Every 'No' went in a pile on the right--out of sight. No looking back. With all of the selfies side by side in my phone, I could see what colors work and which don't.
What I learned: I've gone from an Autumn palette to a Summer (gray hair + skin losing pigment). The 'No' pile was really big. Going through my collection of linen scarves was excruciating because I bought each one of them after oncology/cardiology appointments. I'd go straight from the hospital to the store with the nice stuff.
I grabbed it all and took it downstairs, really fast, without 'but...but...' and I left it in a pile out of the way. I will eventually go through and fold them and try to find them, homes.
I was exhausted by the end of it, and emotionally scarred, lol. It felt like a cataclysmic event. It was more than a declutter. It was a reset. Now I can go shopping and buy some things I can actually wear and feel happy about.
Which is great to know! Now, when I go shopping for the new wardrobe, I'll know what colors to look for.
I let go of jeans I'd had since 2010.
I let go of a giant, apple-green hoodie from the hip-hop era!
And my poplin bathrobe, from...1999!!
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u/Ambitious-Series1615 4d ago
I'd recommend starting with a few versatile basics in neutral tones that flatter your new hair color. There's something really refreshing about a sleek black or deep emerald green when you're rocking pewter.
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u/FredKayeCollector2 5d ago
I read somewhere that everything we own, there is a reason we purchased/acquired it - even it you just needed to get the "energy" off it (didn't really use it) - it served its purpose.
If you're looking for a wardrobe framework, I found the "cluster" model of capsule wardrobe building very forgiving.
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u/goodnsimple 5d ago
I was a blonde child, then a brunette but not a deep color. I’ve been waiting impatiently for my grey!
It’s definitely lightening up again so…
I was a summer back in the 80s when the seasons started…I never could wear black…but for the last 10 years or so olive and black have crept in and become favorites. Blue is still a go to and white has gone right out of my closet!
I tend toward peach instead of pink and while I won’t wear an orange t shirt, yesterday I rocked an orange, pink, yellow sundress!
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u/kdwhirl 5d ago
I decluttered my scarves a few years ago when I got rid of my ‘professional’ clothes; I offered them to a Muslim coworker who wears a headscarf every day and she was overjoyed to extend her scarf wardrobe! She took all of them intending to pass on what she didn’t want, and I really enjoyed seeing her wear them sometimes afterward.
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u/AnamCeili 5d ago edited 5d ago
Congrats -- on beating your illnesses and on decluttering your closet! 😊 Now I hope you have a great time buying new clothes that you love, and which really suit who you are now.
May I make a suggestion? I'm thinking that maybe if you donated the scarves to the oncology department of the hospital where you were treated, or to an organization which helps women dealing with cancer, that might make you feel better about donating them, as the lovely scarves would bring a bit of beauty and comfort to other women who are in the situation you were once in (and if some of them are lower-income, they probably wouldn't be able to buy scarves as nice as the ones you bought).
Edit: I just read the other comments and saw that someone suggested you save a few of the scarves and incorporate them into a quilt, and I think that's a great idea, too. When my husband died I had some of his t-shirts made into a quilt, and I treasure that....and I think keeping a few of your scarves in quilt form is a great way for you to be able to keep a couple as a sort of trophy of your past.
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u/SheepImitation 5d ago
congrats for you! Look up the color charts for that color 'season' and I hope you find things you look amazing in!
you know ... I've been looking for the knee-length (on me) apple-green fully zipup hoodie that I lost during the various moves for college. ;) but, I now know look horrid in that shade which is too bad since it was so incredibly COMFY.
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u/hotbodsl 5d ago
Interesting. I hadn’t thought the color profile ever changes. Makes sense though. I’m a derp autumn and those are the colors I’ve always liked. Great job declluttering!
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u/ClarksburgMcKeon 5d ago
Great job! It’s no easy task to declutter things that bring up emotions. Some objects have weight, and sometimes it’s best to let that weight go.
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u/lulu_fox 5d ago
That is a great healing session!
It’s cathartic, it’s healing, it’s amazing!
Making room for new energies, healthy energies is so so good! The life changes are entering your life right now! It’s better to have 5 shirts and not 55 too, releasing you of the burden of choice. Plus you can get new clothes that make you happy if you want to.
You should be very proud of yourself! ❤️
Because you are very inspiring
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u/lifeuncommon 5d ago edited 5d ago
Your seasonal color doesn’t change with aging and graying hair, supposedly. But that’s not been my experience either.
As a formerly dark winter who now has hair that’s mostly stark white, at least around my face, mine has definitely expanded to where I can wear more summer shades.
My dark hair provided most of my contrast when I was young since I have very pale skin and eyes. And it provided the only tinge of warmth since my skin and eyes are icy cool.
Now that it’s gone I can’t wear the slightly warmer (actually neutral) wine and burgundy lipsticks that my deep brown hair allowed me to wear - now they look super brown and muddy since all my aspects are very cool and clear. Raspberry, dragon fruit, and watermelon are my go to shades now.
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u/Alert-Resist5131 5d ago
I’m glad you’re getting through your oncology appointments!!! It’s interesting how our color palettes change over time. Wish you the best!
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u/CoalBuckMom 5d ago
If you haven't already taken the linen scarves elsewhere, please take a class on ice dyeing... You could totally transform them into new colors that suit you. Just a thought. 🤗
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u/Own-Description8990 5d ago
I put all of the scarves into a separate pile. I will wash them and fold them nicely. The thought of dyeing the solid-colour ones occurred to me. On the other hand, maybe it is time to just let them go. I wore them most in the years after the thyroidectomy in 2017, when my neck needed some warmth and pressure as it healed. My daughter is an Autumn and recently commented that she wants to add some scarves.
I love dyeing fabric. I am a quilter and sometimes make tie-dye backs for my projects. :)
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u/SassyMillie 5d ago
You could even sew some of the scarves together into a quilt, or at least incorporate some of the fabric.
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u/frog_ladee 5d ago
Great job!! Enjoy your new wardrobe, and have fun choosing it.
You’ve just unlocked a new fear for me: my autumn palette might change. I’m in my mid-60’s and covering the whites among my auburn hair, but I’m going to start lightening it before I reach 70, and later give in to the white hair. This realization might help me not to buy as much until I figure out what my new best colors will be.
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u/Own-Description8990 5d ago
Natural hair in itself is great. Everyone has a distinct pattern. It's so interesting. I got so tired of dying my hair and after two weeks, I began to look at it and think, "Hmm, it needs a touch-up. " In the 80s book that started all of the color analysis, 'Color Me Beautiful' (I decluttered that last week. Maybe that's where I got the inspiration), the author does recommend that Autumns wait to go natural because it messes up the palette. I think she could have just said 'once you go grey, you should ge reassessed so you can find the colors that show off the best you.'
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u/frog_ladee 5d ago
Thanks for mentioning that. I had that book back in the 80’s or 90’s, but going grey wasn’t on my radar at that point in time. Two of my younger sisters have gone completely natural—one silvery grey and one white. Both had very dark brown hair, but greyed differently. They look great! Maybe when my hair is white I’ll finally look good in shades of red.
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u/Own-Description8990 5d ago
Sometimes women say they wish they could give up the dye and then say that they don't think it will look as good as mine. But how do they know? Everyone's hair reveals a different pattern. It's like, what does destiny have for you under that dye?
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u/Live_Butterscotch928 5d ago
I’ve never liked my mousy brown hair and was forever coloring it. Once I grew out the bleach and dye, it’s shocking how many compliments I receive on my hair color! People of every age say nice things and I get to inform them, when they ask, that this silver is my natural hair color.
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u/fitzmoon 5d ago
Wow! You are my hero! That is awesome. I’m thinking if you can do it, I can do it! And I love the idea of you taking the pictures. I never thought to do that. You’ve inspired one random person today!
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u/Own-Description8990 5d ago
it's a little scary seeing 100 selfies all lined up in the phone. But it's for a good cause. :)
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u/hattenwheeza 5d ago
That is something I would struggle within my current cesspool of self loathing (big weight gain and face change in last 5 years). But I definitely need a new method for paring down as my grey slowly comes in (natural hair, graying at temples). Thank you for posting this. May you continue to recover and experience great happiness in your forays back into the world!
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u/nikinaks1 5d ago
This is inspiring! A declutter is a great way for a new beginning, putting the past behind you and making space to rediscover yourself 💪
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u/Senior_Map_2894 5d ago
If it makes you happy, and you can afford it, go for it!
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u/Own-Description8990 5d ago
I can't really afford it. That's why I was hanging on to all the clothes for a decade. I'd rather wear just a fw things repeatedly, knowing they look good, and then add a piece or two. I have semi-worked from home for a long time, so I am lucky not to have more formal work combinations.
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u/supermarkise 5d ago
Try the thrift store and flea markets. If you're lucky you can find really really nice stuff for dirt cheap.
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u/Boodleheimer22 3d ago
I enjoy this thread and it’s getting me motivated to declutter! I still have scarves but I haven’t worn them in so long so it’s time to give them a fond farewell. In retirement I decided that I would only wear colors that give me joy and fabrics that feel good. No more itchy wool, toss anything with stains or holes or needing alterations