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The Emotional Closet Cleanse
As spring cleaning sweeps in, I find myself diving headfirst into the chaos. I’m all about clearing out the garage—goodbye to those old tricycles, the half-broken sled that collected dust for too many winters, and those hedge trimmers that terrified me more than the overgrown bushes. I happily toss old toys and stuffed animals into the donation pile, while clearing out forgotten notes and newspaper clippings from my desk. Honestly, I can’t even recall why I kept them in the first place. It’s such a liberating experience for me.
Now, my closet? That’s a different ballgame. My walk-in closet—just to be honest, I knew our home was the one for me the moment I laid eyes on this closet during the house tour—resembles an overstuffed costume closet from a musical, full of styles from the ’90s, 2000s, and today (it could totally be a SiriusXM channel, right?).
I’ve read all the advice from magazines and watched countless organization and fashion experts on TV who insist that if you haven’t worn something in a year or if it doesn’t fit perfectly, you should toss it. It makes sense, but my heart just won’t let me. Every piece of clothing holds a memory, a story, a connection, and I’m not ready to part with that.
The other day, I made a valiant effort to declutter. I held up my Ann Taylor gray wool suit (the one with the cute A-line skirt) and asked my partner if he thought I’d ever wear it again. “Are you planning to interview at an investment bank?” he joked. Deep down, I knew the suit was unlikely to see the light of day again, but I couldn’t let it go. This was my first professional skirt suit, purchased while I was earning my MBA back in 2001. It brought me luck during countless job interviews and made me feel confident, even if just for a moment.
These days, I do most of my freelance writing from home or my local Starbucks, where I feel chic in skinny jeans, ballet flats, and a comfy long-sleeve tee. If I have a meeting, I might throw on a velvet or corduroy blazer. Who knows, that Ann Taylor gray wool blazer might even work with my jeans one day. I can’t part with it just yet.
Then there’s the long purple silk skirt and pink cashmere sweater adorned with flowers, which my mom bought for my engagement party back in 1999. Shopping for my wedding was a bright spot during her battle with cancer, giving her hope when she needed it most. She eventually lost that fight just a few years later, making it impossible for me to part with that outfit. It carries so many precious memories from a time when my mom was by my side, showering me with love and laughter.
I almost donated a Lilly Pulitzer turquoise and hot pink mini dress, which I wore daily on my honeymoon in Hawaii over 16 years ago. But my husband suggested I keep it. And I got it! That dress is in one of my all-time favorite pictures of us, taken as the sun set in a breathtaking display of colors. We look so young and full of life—before kids, carpooling, and the weight of adulthood. There’s innocence and hope stitched into that dress, making it a keeper, and maybe even a hand-me-down for my daughter someday. After all, Lilly Pulitzer never goes out of style, right?
I find myself pondering if any of these beloved pieces might make a comeback. I still remember my mom lamenting that she wished she had saved her mini-skirts from the ’60s and bell bottoms from the ’70s. She even wore her wedding dress to a ’60s themed party because it was the only piece she had left from that era.
Looks like I’m set for any decade-themed party—another perk of this emotional attachment to my clothes. At the end of the day, I’m okay with holding onto these items. They are woven with memories I’m just not ready to let go of—at least not yet.
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Summary
Spring cleaning is a breeze for most areas of the house, but closets can be a different story. While it’s easy to declutter the garage or donate old toys, letting go of clothing can be challenging due to the emotional ties they hold. The author shares personal stories behind cherished items, highlighting the mixture of memories and attachment that makes parting with them difficult.