Whip, chair, t-shirt rack
I'm moving this week, so pardon my invisibility (I'm actually getting a TON done - like the final edits for the Second Edition; finished! …which means that if you'd like to preorder and get the discount, now is a great time, ahem…but most of it isn't visible, unless you happen to be peeking in my windows looking for an accumulation of boxes).
However, the moving has raised an issue, an opportunity for improvement, that I might not have noticed otherwise: I have too many clothes.
Not because I love clothes, mind you - I like comfortable, well-fitting clothes that meet the needs of my activities, but beyond that I'm all about the simple, cheap and easy. However, I did learn to shop the way I think a lot of modern people do: When you, say, realize you need a pair of pants, you go get one - or two or three - that meet the need you've discovered, and add them to your collection. Which then means that eventually, even with some regular culling (which I try to do), after years of doing this, you wind up with a huge collection. Mine filled four garbage bags! I know I don't wear 75% of them hardly ever, but don't want to throw them out because they're perfectly functional, and I'm used to keeping them.
Well, that's enough of that - I've decided that I like an alternate clothing-system much better: One decides of an acceptable amount of clothing, and then as things need replacing or one's needs change, clothing is replaced with better items. Prefer black pants now? Great, buy 1x black pants and let go of 1x other pair. The wardrobe may change - and if you're lucky, the quality keeps increasing, as you let go of the least item while obtaining the best you can - but it doesn't grow. You have a set amount that you need / want, and you stick with that.
So that's my plan - once I'm done with the basic unpacking, I'll decide how much clothing I need, and pare down to that; then, as I upgrade, I'll ditch the least/lowest item to keep the numbers constant.
(Think I can do it? Could you?)
Here's my preliminary stab at a list of what I think I'd like to keep around. I'm in no way suggesting that everyone should have the same size list here - this is just what I think (initially) might work for me. And it's not all practical - note the high allowance of knee-socks! - the point is that it's finite. If this list doubles but I can keep to it, I'll be happy. (And still have less clothes than I do now…oy.)
PANTS: 5 pair jeans, 2 utility/not-jeans-with-pockets, 2 dress pants, 3 yoga / workout pants, 2 sleep/sweatpants, 1 fleece layer, 2 waterproof/camping pair, 3 technical/underlayers, 1 running shorts
SHIRTS: 7 t-shirts, 3 button-downs, 3 long-sleeves, 2 fleecy/hoodies, 3 workout tops, 2 technical/underlayer, 1 bulky sweater, 2 tank tops/sleepwear
FANCY: 3 dresses, 2 skirts, 2 business jackets, my silk taiji uniform, 1 pair nice pyjamas
UNDERTHINGS: 14 pants, 5 reg bras, 3 workout bras, 2 swimsuits (this category is already in line, I think; this is basically a listing of what I have)
SOCKS: 7 wool, 7 fun knee-highs, 3 cotton, 1 dressy, 2 pair tights
Originally published at *Transcendental *Logic. You can comment here or there.