Should My Wardrobe Change with a New Living Space?
I don’t believe in jumping into new trends and styles based simply on the latest fashion featured on E! News, what your colleagues are wearing, or simply because you want to fit in with others at an event. However, I DO believe in the power of these factors. I am always influenced and inspired by what I see in magazines, on television, on fashion blogs, around town, at malls, and while visiting other cities. But I make it a point to acknowledge this very fact: What works for some people will not always work for me.
But this time, my biggest influence in re-wiring my wardrobe is moving from one home to another.
As my boyfriend Steve and I moved from a two-story condo in Rancho Cucamonga, California, to an Upland apartment-although only about 20 minutes away-I felt the need for a wardrobe update. Moving from an affluent area among senior citizens and lots of space to a complex where our friends live and music blares from people’s balconies while baby-daddy drama sometimes fills the air, I knew that it was time for “out with the old, and in with the new.” I enjoy walking up to my place with a little one asking me to pop his water balloon vs. pulling into my garage and having a next-door neighbor barely look at me. We were a bit desperate to move for various reasons, but for the most part, we were seeking a fun environment and a new peace of mind.
And that is exactly what I gain when I incorporate new accessories, shoes, and blouses into my existing wardrobe-a new peace of mind. Since we moved, I have been on a shopping (but affordable!) craze. Now, with a big backyard/back porch and a renovated apartment, including clean walls, beautiful carpet, and wooden kitchen floors, I am in love with the newness. I also feel this same warm fuzzy feeling inside when I tie my new scarves around my neck or strap on my black Betsey Johnson wedged heels. Fresh! Fun! Fabulous!
So what did I do with a lot of old clothes that have just been sitting in bags in my closet? Well, both Steve and I packed my car full of old, and still fashionable, clothes; we headed to the Goodwill, and dropped them all off without a second thought. Yes, my white college graduation skirt was in that bag, and the cute fur shrug I used to wear during my days at Nordstrom was in that bag. But I was OK with that. Not having touched either of those pieces for at least four years, I was more than happy to make them available for those less fortunate who are seeking some cute finds. Doing a good deed (or a “mitzvah” as my mother enjoys saying) matched my newfound peace of mind perfectly.
This time around, cleaning out my closet took less thought and debate, as I am more aware of what my needs are and how quantity doesn’t mean anything. It’s HOW you wear something and what you wear it with. That said, I am perfectly fine keeping my AG jeans, Nomad Tribe jeans, and pointed-flat Michelle K boots, because with new, flattering pieces to wear with each, I have been able to transform a bunch of old pieces into new personalities.
Reinvigorating my wardrobe has also aroused clarity regarding my shopping senses. Cut up are the credit cards, and out comes the checkbook. It’s the new Elana. Nice to meet you.
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