Cleaning out my closet - The Big switch for Mommy

With the sudden change in temperature I found myself scrambling around trying to find appropriate clothes to wear.  What started as a simple task turned quickly into a big and messy project.  Henry was propped happily in his little bumbo and enjoyed grabbing at the variety of colors and textures that almost drowned him.  But that only lasted about a half hour and now after 3 days I'm finally starting to see the carpet in my closet again.

The big switch for mommy is complicated not just by season but also by a variety of sizes.  This family of six children came upon us quickly, all within 8 years which means to accomodate my body, my wardrobe has been in constant transition.  I wish I could keep it as simple as the kids with only 10 set outfits and one plastic bin as storage for the opposite season.  Instead I have a huge bin of transition/fat clothes, another bin of super pregnant/maternity clothes, and even more piles for what I would like to label "regular me/skinny clothes".  To complicate it even more there are certain items that are specifically designed for easy nursing and others that make nursing almost impossible.  The problem is within each of these categories there are various seasons so if I am looking for something specific (like I was this past weekend), I really have to dig.  I'm still trying to think of ways to simplify this process because in all honesty I certainly hope to be blessed with more children.   And as happy as I am to pretty much be back in my "regular clothes" I wistfully folded and put away my awkward pile of "transition/fat clothes".   I'm not ready to just pass it all on.

As for this current season I feel I have way more clothes than I even need.  In the past I had the habit of picking up one pair of good shoes and at least one outfit but my habit has caught up with me and now I simply can't justify it.  Besides, just being able to pull on the fall/winter "regular me/skinny clothes" is thrill enough- I enjoyed my spring/summer "regular me/skinny clothes" in the summer of '07 but last year's fall/winter clothes were those from the less desirable "transition/fat clothes" pile.     

Now some may be wondering what has happened to my interest in style, fashion, and trends.  Well I have come to believe it is all relative - check out the sartorialist for example.  What makes an individual look great are the simple principles such as fit, color, proportion, quality and condition of the garment, as well as being well groomed.  In fact, I believe current "trends" often confuse people and in return of wasting a lot of money they are led to looking quite staged and often times awkward.  I just want to be me when I dress.  I want to have fun but at the same time be practical.  So for me that means use up, wear out, store away, or re-fashion what I already have.  And don't forget the magic words "machine washable"! 

Well maybe I think too much about clothes.  But thinking about it ahead actually saves me time and money.  I can easily toss aside catalogs and pass up great sales when I know my closet is already full.