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it goes.
THE ITEM KEPT BECAUSE ONE DAY,
IT MAY BE CHIC AGAIN
     
    There is no look so strange or unflattering that it will not be recycled. These days it seems to happen withstunning alacrity. Many a woman scoffed at the idea that leggings would ever return, and here they are, back with a vengeance. However, one only has so much space and one never knows if you’ll find a trend equally compelling on the next (or third or fourth) go round. Better to move on.
SCENES OF FORMER TRIUMPHS
     
    These are items that you would never, ever wear but keep for purely sentimental reasons. The T-shirt that reads HAPPY SIXTIETH, IRV ! or the ratty sweater you were wearing when you got into graduate school. Yes, they remind you of wonderful times, but they have to go. Irv’s birthday will live on in your memory, as will the thrill of receiving that fat envelope. Let the physical items go on to new adventures. You’ll retain the wonderful memories
and
more shelf space. It’s a win/win situation!

     
THE REPEATS, REDUXES, AND REPRISES
     
    Perhaps you find nothing as restful as a day spent at your local mall, fighting the crowds for yet another cardigan because . . . who doesn’t need twelve black angoracardigans? If you shop like a drunken sailor, chances are that you own far more than you will ever be able to wear. This leads to Creeping Closet Syndrome—the sad state of affairs in which your wardrobe takes over your home. *
EXCEPTIONS
     
    We are loath to admit it, but in certain very rare cases it is permissible to keep a piece that is never worn. We’ve all asked older relatives why they didn’t hold on to that fabulous outfit we’ve seen in photos. It is permissible to keep something for posterity. However, it is highly unlikely that more than one piece per closet overhaul is worthy of preservation for the sake of unborn grandchildren. Assess with a keen eye.
    If radical shape-shifting is going on—a diet or pregnancy—of course it makes sense to hold on to items that will soon fit again. Be honest, though. If those last ten pounds have been on their way out for the last ten years, why not make room in the closet for things that will fit now? Carpe diem!
     
    Are you ready? Begin! Toss, toss, toss into the Give-Away Pile . It is surprising how liberating divesting oneself of old outfits can be. You are allowing your closetto represent who you are
now
. You’ve just gotten better and better, why not let your closet come along, too?
     
WHAT YOU LOVE
     
    Well done! The wheat and chaff have been parted. Only delightful pieces should remain. Now that they are all mingling together and not lost in the closet, look for a connection, a narrative through-line. In other words, is there something that the pieces you love have in common? Bright colors, marabou trim? Sumptuous fabrics and shades of gray? Sometimes seeing all of one’s favorites grouped together can be a bit of a shock. One may think of herself as a Jackie Bouvier type, but her most beloved pieces are more like burlesque star Tempest Storm. What to do?
    First, congratulations—your soul has spoken! A discovery has been made. Look closely at the pieces. What do they have in common? Is it a shared silhouette? Are they waist enhancing or perhaps light and ethereal? What the pieces have in common can be thought of as their form. If, for instance, favored pieces tend toward the ethereal, it does not mean that dressing head-to-toe like a fairy is a good idea. It means that incorporating pieces light of form will ensure that you are happy when the closet door opens. Let us now return to Mr. Kierkegaard for the second of his two important ideas.
     
    Imagine a gin martini served in a pint glass or a Wagnerian opera–version of
Sex and the City
. Both might have their . . .
intoxicating
charms, but neither would be a flawless fit. The martini would be undrinkable becauseit would get warm much faster than you could quaff it. The glass the martini is served in is an essential