Cleaning out the Closets.... again

Not to long ago I spent the better part of a Sunday afternoon ago cleaning out my closet. It was not even my closet I was going to focus on. That project would have to wait at least for a rainy day. Today it would be the  handbags I have in them. I have so many they actually should be housed in their very own space not crammed and tucked into wherever I can find room.  And that was indeed the  inspiration for this cleaning: Making room. If only I could clear out, give some away,even have a small sale for friends I'd have room to see the stuff in this closet and really use them I thought. 

So with a sincere endeavor I pulled bags out  of dark corners and dug for those on the highest shelves. Dusted off those I hadn't seen in forever and took inventory of it all. What did I want? What could I really use?  What  I could  absolutely  not live without? I used these questions to  guide me.

Unfortunately not much progress was made. For every bag there was a story or a potential one yet to happen . On they went in my head.  I remember this cute one. Or this would come in handy rushing to yoga on a rainy day (already an oxymoron if ever there was one) or the great bait: This would look divine in the spring, winter summer or....

A friend of mine had a similar experience recently. Between sips of wine we laughed at her retelling of her attempt at closet cleaning. Classic stories about reasons for her inability to part with her possessions. Many mini movies in their own right. Funny enough I remember thinking is she kidding. I would be so much more ruthless if that were me. 

Well, it is me. And my stories are sisters to hers. And I too talked myself out of so little change. I must be a Taurus. I am. But she isn't. Likely excuse. It's not change that we girls don't like I got to thinking. It's the idea that we love our stuff. And the possibility that one day I can look fabulous running in the rain to my yoga class is happiness to me. 

Always be ready. I'll blame it on the girl scouts. Although that doesn't much help my closet and making space. That being said ,  I've found quite a few things I love and started using again. Thrilled to do so. Cleaning out does that. Accountability is what I call it. And it does put the kibosh on shopping  awhile. But not for long. 

So I'll think of something when the time comes again. Mini storage perhaps?  Oh that'll help. Same time next year.

What's in your Bag

I'm a virtual shopper. Browsing the net and creating shopping carts is often part of how I spend an evening at home. Ok, maybe a lot of how. I call it multi-tasking. By now part of my DNA I'm sure. I'm not totally convinced  I would buy  sofas,  chairs, art work or mattress online.  Some things are meant to be seen and tested in real time sat on, walked around, visually  measured in inches and feet. But than there are those the strike a cord in the heart.  Just like that its' love. For those moments the internet created carts. Bags where true love can be gathered and kept.

Some sites I've learned hold your cart forever and some for a few hours only. Painful lesson. Here today.  Gone today. Sites seduce you.Especially when something is in your size. Shoes, for instance, always seem to have a precarious future. Strike while the iron is hot least you should loose it. The color, the size all convincing you,"Yup. Get it in that bag or cart just in case" I don't always buy but I do keep active carts. "Hope springs eternal" I say.

Right now I have carts filled with everything from a Cuisinart Mixer to wallpaper found on One Kings Lane. How can one not surf the net when you're bombarded daily with emails offering the world at large?  It's both tempting and hilarious shopping in either anticipation of a purchase or the hope of a future one. Whether the purchase or purchases makes  it to your front door or one goes back on the site to put it in the cart again isn't even always the goal or  the end of the world. It could  sometimes feel like that. The fun is we get to create worlds in worlds. Each bag holds potential. I think we get a chance to float with happiness for a while crushing on those Jimmy Choo shoes or eyes dreamy just thinking of that gorgeous wallpaper for the powder room -which I don't even have-  But in our minds for a monemt or two, for day or a week we live in that world. That bag, that cart, creates a persona we enjoy.

My potential  persona these days holds  Pilcro jeans from Anthropologie. Had never heard of them. But love them now.  Rachel Comey shoes and Margaret Howell tops from La Garconne. If I could dress form a site that one would be on the top of my list. I have comfy lounge pants from Gillian O'Malley at Target. I've worn them before and they're the best. And dearest to my pounding heart Ferragamo Vara  pumps from both Gilt and Saks Fifth Avenue. I love those classic mid heel they reissued a few years ago so much I secured them on a few sites, including the Ferragamo site itself.  Have to have them. Can't wait to play out the droll Edie Beale or cool secretary look. When I see those Vara pumps that's what comes to mind. 

Hope springs eternal. Carts hold dreams. Bags hold futures that keep dreams going. What's in your bag?