The speaker embarks on a massive closet clean-out, acknowledging that they have a problem with accumulating clothes. To tackle this issue, they establish a set of criteria to decide what to keep and what to discard, including:
1. Frequency of wear
2. Comfort and quality of fabric
3. Sentimental value
4. Alignment with their personal style
5. Whether the item sparks joy (inspired by Marie Kondo's philosophy)
As they sort through their clothes, the speaker reflects on their relationship with fashion, advertising, and consumerism. They discuss the tendency to fantasize about wearing certain items and the disappointment that follows when they don't live up to expectations.
Throughout the process, the speaker also tackles their underwear, socks, and pajamas, using a continuum of sexy to comfortable to organize their items. They ultimately narrow down their wardrobe to around 50 pieces, selling or donating items that don't meet their criteria.
The speaker concludes that the experience has been "life-changing," freeing up space in their apartment and reducing stress. They emphasize that their goal is not to make room for new purchases but to appreciate what they already have and be more mindful of their consumption habits.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The speaker has a large collection of clothes and is doing a closet clean-out.
2. They have five criteria for deciding whether to keep a piece of clothing: it must be worn often, fit well, be made of comfortable and high-quality fabric, make them feel like themselves, and spark joy.
3. The speaker has a tendency to keep sentimental items, but is trying to avoid this.
4. They have a lot of t-shirts and is deciding which ones to keep and which to get rid of.
5. The speaker has a collection of bras and is getting rid of the ones that don't fit well or are no longer worn.
6. They have a system for organizing their underwear, with sexy underwear on one side and comfortable underwear on the other.
7. The speaker is getting rid of socks and underwear that are no longer wearable.
8. They have a desk drawer full of pajamas and athleisure wear.
9. The speaker's mom is a chemistry PhD, and they have a periodic table t-shirt that they are keeping.
10. The speaker has narrowed down their comfy clothes to just a few items and is putting them in their bedroom dresser.
11. They have decided to sell around 100 pieces of clothing, or half of their wardrobe.
12. The speaker is donating clothes that are too small or not in good condition.
13. They have discarded used socks and underwear.
14. The speaker is happy with their newly organized closet and feels like they have kept the perfect amount of clothes.
15. They are not planning to go on a shopping spree to replenish their wardrobe.
16. The speaker has learned that getting rid of stuff is a lot of work and that even cheap or free clothing comes at a cost, including environmental impact and space in their home and head.