by Shani, Dena and Daniella
Clothing – functional for all, a passion for many. Many
of us take pride in our wardrobes and enjoy getting dressed every day. We are
princesses of the King, after all, and our image should reflect that role.
Season after season, we shop enthusiastically and incorporate our new purchases
into our wardrobes – that new dress for Yom Tov, the summer set of our dreams,
that skirt we can’t live without. Slowly but surely, our closets fill up,
sometimes past capacity, and we get to a point where we need to reevaluate. The
question we are left with is what to do with the items we no longer wear. Read
on as we discuss the options.
* * *
First things
first: How can you be sure that you are ready to part with an item? Here are
our two rules:
1) The backwards
hanger rule: Start the year with all your clothes hanging with the hook of
the hanger pointing toward you. When you wear a garment, turn the hook the
right way when putting it back. At the end of the year, you will be able to
clearly see what has not been worn. If you haven’t worn it in a whole year,
chances are you can let it go.
2) The limited
hanger rule: Limit the number of hangers in your closet, so that, if you
want to buy something new, you will have to take something you already own out.
When you’re at the checkout counter, you need to have in mind the piece you’re
going to take out in exchange. This rule not only prevents your closet from
expanding but can also stop you from making frivolous purchases, since you
might actually like what you have at home better.
* * *
Frum clothing stores are not exempt from fast fashion. Whether
you are shopping there or at general retailers, think about your purchase. Can
you style it in at least three ways? Can you see it staying in your closet for
a while? Asking yourself these questions gives you more assurance that you will
make good use of your new purchase. It’s okay to get on-trend pieces, but make
sure you’re investing in staple pieces, too.
It is
important to note that we owe a tremendous amount of hakaras hatov to our local clothing stores for changing the way we
shop for our tznius wardrobes.
Instead of buying one of the few modest options in a secular store, and maybe
regretting that purchase soon after, we have the pleasure of shopping in our
community stores and choosing our style preferences rather than focusing on the
tznius factor alone.
Just as a smart
grocery shopper never shops without a list, a clothing shopper should make a
list of the items she is looking to buy. If you are already well stocked with
skirts, remember not to get swept up in the excitement of a new skirt you
really like but don’t actually need. When you have proper staple pieces, you
can pair them with less expensive trendy items to make them current.
There’s a lot of
talk about “capsule” collections these days. What they mean is six to eight pieces
that can be worn separately or together. For instance, if you have four tops,
two skirts, a blazer, and a cardigan – both solids and prints – in the same
color family, you can mix and match them to create many different outfits.
Always take into account colors that suit you; everyone has her own neutrals
and accent colors. And never try to force a silhouette that’s not best for you.
Spend your time trying on pieces with familiar shapes you know will flatter
you. Life changes, like a career change, a move, getting married, and becoming
a parent, or even a grandparent, require you to take a close look at your
closet and make different purchase decisions. As time goes on, some pieces
become dated and do not merit a place in your wardrobe. Switch them out for new
clothes you are proud to own and bring you joy. Always keep your budget in mind.
It is not worth blowing your grocery money on a new outfit. Choose pieces you
truly feel good about, and you won’t feel the need to keep up with everyone
else.
* * *
Once you’ve
decided to part ways with your clothing, there are a few things you can do:
1) Have a
clothing swap party: Get together with a group of your friends and exchange
clothing. Ask each friend to bring clothing in good condition that she is no
longer wearing. This gives everyone the feeling of getting something new
without spending any money. Clothing swaps also work quite nicely for kids’
clothes.
2) Sell it:
Clothing resale apps and websites are amazing platforms to get some cash in
exchange for clothing with a lot of life left. Poshmark is one of the top
places to go to for selling everyday items. They make it simple to post an
item, answer buyer questions, and ship the order. There are many frum
sellers on the app for those looking to purchase secondhand. Alternatives to
Poshmark are ThredUp and Mercari. Flyp is an app that will match you with a
seller to sell the items on your behalf on a commission basis. Options for
reselling higher-end items include TheRealReal and Vestiaire Collective.
3) Donate
it: For items not in pristine condition, donating is a wonderful option.
Items still need to be in good, wearable condition, but if you feel they are
unsellable, donation is your next best bet. You will give your unwanted items a
second life, help those who cannot afford to buy new clothes, and possibly
receive tax benefits. Donated items only have a tax benefit if you itemize
rather than take the standard deduction. When claiming a non-cash contribution,
remember to use the fair market value of the donated items. If you are claiming
a deduction of more than $500, you will need to itemize the donated articles. Check
for any used clothing gemachs in our community. Not only should we help
those closest to us first but our modest clothes would be most useful to our frum
neighbors. Of course, Goodwill and the like are worthwhile options, but in our
opinion, it is best to help our community first.
4) Upcycle
it: Upcycling is the process of creating something new out of unwanted
clothes. If you can sew, mending, altering, and restyling give new life to a
garment. If you’re the crafty type, repurposing clothing in less-than-stellar
condition may be the way to go. YouTube is full of tutorials on how to create
new clothing and accessories out of old sweaters, shirts, and dresses. From
headbands and scrunchies to quilts and tote bags, there are projects big and
small to repurpose our no longer-wanted items. You can make keepsakes out of
your baby’s onsies and other old clothing, like a quilt or their first initial
to hang in their room.
* * *
Our closets are an ever-changing snapshot
of our lives. They tell the story of the post-seminary young lady no longer in
uniform and ready to suit up in her own style; the cold-climate transplant who
never needed a coat or sweater collection until now; and the mother submitting
to the fact that her days of wearing an all-white ensemble are over. The
important thing is that the clothing we wear is the unspoken first impression
we present to the world, and our closet holds it all. Maintaining our closet as
a reflection of how we present ourselves means taking care to keep things in
order – not filling it beyond capacity with new purchases, taking time to
remove the items that no longer fit our image, and keeping the balance of “in”
and “out.” Then, when you are ready to sculpt your dream closet, you’ll be
equipped with options for what to do with the items that do not fit the vision
you are looking to create.
