by LAURA EDWARDS
Sometimes there isn’t any better therapy than cleaning out your wardrobe.
It’s as if throwing away all those unused clothes signifies a clean slate, a fresh start – or at the very least room for newer, better things.
I did this recently.
Most of my clothes went to charity but I decided to make some money from the rest and sell them at a vintage market.
I set up a stall and as I carefully hung my clothes on the racks, they suddenly looked like new again – shinier, glossier.
I had gone into this ‘sales’ mode: sell the clothes, pocket the money, done and dusted. I was hoping to be as clinical as a clinician. I never thought emotions would come into it. Selling a house, yes. A car, maybe. But clothes?
Yet I still felt the sting of rejection when shoppers flitted nonchalantly through my clothes and abruptly turned on their heel, uninterested.
There was a pang of regret when the designer baby doll dress I bought for $300 – and had never worn – sold for $40.
And then came bitterness when a woman who is smaller than me, tried my Sass & Bide jeans that I can no longer get past my hips and looked…better than I did.
“Look away,” my friend consoled me, as the girl happily walked off with the jeans for $30.
Top Comments
This is why i love buying vintage/pre-owned clothes - it has a story and pre loved life history.......i often wonder when i buy a skirt or bag that is vintage what its life was like and make up stories in my head haha like a 1920s oroton clutch i recently acquired - i imagine it was worn by a lady who had class and style and wore it with matching white elbow length gloves...hahaha!!!
I love getting rid of my old/never worn clothes at least once or twice a year i will do a big overhaul of my wardrobe and give to charity ive never sold it..figured its better to give to those who cant afford nice clothes :) our company sponsors a children's charity and have clothing drives so i usually save all my unwanted items for that.
Love Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants - thanks for reminding me about this movie - so daggy but a great one to watch with your girlfriends, even in your 20s :) And great article too