I’m back with another Konmari update. Yes, I’m still working on the first category!
After tidying the garments I wear on a daily basis (shirts, sweaters, pants, skirts, dresses), it was time to tackle everything else: workout wear, pajamas, outerwear, and accessories.
The Konmari Method: Clothing, Part 3
Workout clothing
I own very little workout clothing (do I look like I live at the gym??), just a few pairs of shorts for exercising. I had already decluttered the ones that no longer worked for me, so all I had to do was Konmari fold the ones I was keeping.
Pajamas
I have a lot more pajamas than I actually wear – mostly because I’m very picky about what I actually sleep in, and whatever it is has to be easy and comfortable to nurse in. Still, most of what I have brings me joy, so for now they stay. I was able to let go of one pair of pajamas and three pairs of pajama pants. (One is a pair I bought back in college – so, at least 15 years ago – and is not fit to be seen in anymore.) I also cleared out a couple of things that needed to be moved to a different drawer.
I still have pajamas in two(!) drawers. (Some of them are bulky.)
Pajamas and pajama pants.
Workout clothes and pajamas.
Outerwear
Against Marie Kondo’s express advice I left six coats and jackets in the coat closet as definite keeps without looking at them. That’s because I was doing my joy checks upstairs in my room (away from the children) and didn’t want to haul heavy coats up if I already knew I’d need them for the winter.
That left me with five jackets to consider.
I had one major surprise: a jacket I had been holding onto for years hoping to fit back into it no longer brought me joy. This is why it’s good to follow Konmari’s advice: if I had just left this jacket hanging in the closet (see my hypocritical statement above), I would not have realized it no longer brought me joy. It would still be sitting in the coat closet to this day.
I bought this jacket when I was in college, back in 2003 or 2004. I loved this jacket so much, and I wore it consistently for years. Even though I bought it at Target, I still felt it was unique. Nobody else wore a green jacket like this.
When I gained weight a few years back the jacket became too tight, and so I relegated it to the back of the closet. Now that I’m twenty two pounds lighter, I was looking forward to wearing it again, much like embracing an old friend.
I tried it on and looked in the mirror – and realized it no longer suited me at all. The color wasn’t all that flattering with my skin tone (since doing my seasonal color analysis I’ve learned that as a “cool winter” I look best in jewel tones, not so great in pea green). Being over ten years old, the style was a little outdated. It didn’t fit me right in the shoulders either. I also bought a much higher quality trench two years ago that serves in its place and is far more flattering.
Following the method, I thanked the green jacket for keeping me warm and bringing me joy for so many years. I hope that after I donate it someone finds it and gets joy out of it.
I also said goodbye to two more jackets that no longer fit or suited me. Coincidentally, they were also jackets from Target. (Marie Kondo is telling me something: stop buying cheap jackets from Target.)
Scarves/Hats
I started out with fifteen scarves and three hats. Some of them were scarves I made myself. A few were ones I bought, and the rest were gifts. Scarves must be a popular gift.
I had to trash two of them. One was badly stained; the other was falling apart.
In the end I decided to discard six scarves, two hats, and one pair of gloves. I kept six scarves, plus a Christmas hat. I also kept a Ravenclaw scarf I crocheted. Maybe one day my daughters will use it for dress up when they eventually get into Harry Potter. (Yet they will never know the agony of having to wait for each new book to come out.)
Have you ever held on to a favorite item for a long time, and then realized it no longer worked for you? I’d love to know – leave a comment below!
Follow me as I tackle more accessories in The Konmari Method: Clothing, Part 4!
Pin it for Later!
Resources:
The Lifechanging Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Spark Joy by Marie Kondo
The Lifechanging Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story by Marie Kondo