these things are soooo sentimental. I've given a lot away, but lately I've been keeping stuff like this in a suitcase in a closet where I never need it and tell myself I can part ways with it if I ever want to.
It's crazy how sentimental this stuff can be! I think I'm coming around to being okay with keeping something even if it isn't being used, and like the point of, "i can part ways if I ever want to." If I ever feel strongly about giving it away, I can do that – but right now, it's probably not the time
aw, loved this Julie! I read it as an ode to textile print design😆😍slightly niche but I’m a sucker for 90s coldwater creek so I’d vote keep based on that alone lol but also it looks so cute on you and you have such a history with it. keep keep keep!
I love this essay!! My version of “the skirt” is a pair of elastic-waist high-waisted mom jeans that I bought on a trip to the one thrift store in my college town with friends our sophomore year, in 2008. We were looking for outfits to be The Babysitters Club for halloween. Those jeans, purchased in irony for a Halloween, sat in the bottom of my dresser drawer for the rest of college, but found their way into the regular rotation of my non-ironic (or ironic?) Brooklyn wardrobe in my post-college years. What in 2008 I considered UNFLATTERING in 2019 I considered flattering - I even considered wearing them on my second date with my now husband?! The elastic waist made them forgiving in the early months of pregnancy, but I’m now two years postpartum. They have been relegated to a bin in the basement and I’ve been scared to try them on, for fear they won’t go over my thighs. They nevertheless recently survived a major purge when we moved from the Bay to Chicago.
I’m on team “keep it” for both of us - I think this relic of my recent past is still meaningful for me to hold onto, and part of me wonders whether these jeans/the skirt have something unexpected to offer us down the road.
Caroline!! I absolutely love this, and the parallels our stories share (Bay area! College thrifting trip! Obsessed). I’d bet many of us have a version of “the skirt” — thanks for sharing yours.
I’ll make you a deal: I’ll keep mine for as long as you keep yours 🤝
Okay, also team keep it! I’ve been thinking a lot about personal artifacts in our digital age and feel like we need more of them, TBH. Things that say, “I was out living” vs a much of digital memories stored away in the cloud that’s rarely re-accessed or is at risk of disappearing.
You could always cut a little square and take it to Framebridge for framing to turn it into a keepsake.
I was sifting through a box of photos the other week looking for a very simple specific picture, and at first I thought "I wish I could just search 'statue' and find it," but then 20 minutes passed and I was looking at photos I haven't revisted in years and took that back. there is something really lovely about tactile experiences. Great point for the 'keep' column!
I’m 46 & in a “memory box” in my wardrobe sits a top & dress I wore the hell out of in my late teens. I haven’t worn either for decades & they would never fit me now but I like knowing they are there. They are like photos (& because I was a teen in the 90’s I have very few actual photos) , reminding me of the girl I once was & the life I lived in those clothes.
Keep it. The fact you’ve written all these words about the skirt says it means more to you than just an article of clothing.
I love the memory box for clothes — a beautiful way to preserve that version of yourself. It is comforting knowing those things are there, waiting for us, still ours <3.
I think sometimes we feel pressure to get rid of clothes because we don’t wear them anymore and that is what we are *supposed* to do to make room for the new clothes. But I think you can keep a skirt that tells so much of your life story, even if you never wear it again, just as you might keep an old camera or pocket knife or mug. You could start an archive box or maybe you could even find a way to frame it (the print is lovely!). Embrace the sentimentality I say!
This! This is the part that I think is below the surface for me. I feel guilty holding on to clothes, that don't have a lot of monetary value but a ton of emotional value, because it feels flippant or something. But I don't blink twice at the magnets on my fridge that remind me of places I've been or other similarly sentimental items.
But there's something about clothes where there is this pressure — holding on to something someone can use makes me feel guilty and a bit materialistic! But I like the idea of separating it from its function and focusing on all it symbolizes for me.
I’ve moved countries a few times with clothing items — skirts, shoes, tops — that I refuse to relinquish and never let me down. So I love your skirt story. Thank you for writing it.
I loved reading this. I love how much you love this skirt and that your husband doesn’t (what is wrong with them they can be so wrong about certain items of clothing!) I hope you keep it. I hope you fall in love with it again. It’s beautiful. I have a dress like this that has so many memories and when I put it on I think “oh this dress is just asking for trouble”. It’s not even particularly sexy it just there is something about it and I’ve tried to give it away and I haven’t yet. I might just have to go put it on now after reading this.
Thank you for reading! I really do love this skirt, even if I don't love wearing it right now. You and some other commenters have helped me see that I really should keep it, not just for now but for the foreseeable future!
And yeah, what is wrong with the husbands?? Every husband has one article of clothing they 'hate' that everyone else thinks is so cute!
You never know- you might fall in love with the skirt again! I donated my version of this skirt years ago and I regret it, though it took a few years to get to that point.
The most important thing you should remember is Marie Kondo DOESNT EVEN FOLLOW HER KONMARI METHOD ANYMORE. So. There's that.
I forgot about that!! hah!
these things are soooo sentimental. I've given a lot away, but lately I've been keeping stuff like this in a suitcase in a closet where I never need it and tell myself I can part ways with it if I ever want to.
It's crazy how sentimental this stuff can be! I think I'm coming around to being okay with keeping something even if it isn't being used, and like the point of, "i can part ways if I ever want to." If I ever feel strongly about giving it away, I can do that – but right now, it's probably not the time
aw, loved this Julie! I read it as an ode to textile print design😆😍slightly niche but I’m a sucker for 90s coldwater creek so I’d vote keep based on that alone lol but also it looks so cute on you and you have such a history with it. keep keep keep!
😍 love this take! There’s something special about 90s Coldwater creek (and similar). I’m keeping! It’s back in the closet!
I love this essay!! My version of “the skirt” is a pair of elastic-waist high-waisted mom jeans that I bought on a trip to the one thrift store in my college town with friends our sophomore year, in 2008. We were looking for outfits to be The Babysitters Club for halloween. Those jeans, purchased in irony for a Halloween, sat in the bottom of my dresser drawer for the rest of college, but found their way into the regular rotation of my non-ironic (or ironic?) Brooklyn wardrobe in my post-college years. What in 2008 I considered UNFLATTERING in 2019 I considered flattering - I even considered wearing them on my second date with my now husband?! The elastic waist made them forgiving in the early months of pregnancy, but I’m now two years postpartum. They have been relegated to a bin in the basement and I’ve been scared to try them on, for fear they won’t go over my thighs. They nevertheless recently survived a major purge when we moved from the Bay to Chicago.
I’m on team “keep it” for both of us - I think this relic of my recent past is still meaningful for me to hold onto, and part of me wonders whether these jeans/the skirt have something unexpected to offer us down the road.
Caroline!! I absolutely love this, and the parallels our stories share (Bay area! College thrifting trip! Obsessed). I’d bet many of us have a version of “the skirt” — thanks for sharing yours.
I’ll make you a deal: I’ll keep mine for as long as you keep yours 🤝
Okay, also team keep it! I’ve been thinking a lot about personal artifacts in our digital age and feel like we need more of them, TBH. Things that say, “I was out living” vs a much of digital memories stored away in the cloud that’s rarely re-accessed or is at risk of disappearing.
You could always cut a little square and take it to Framebridge for framing to turn it into a keepsake.
I was sifting through a box of photos the other week looking for a very simple specific picture, and at first I thought "I wish I could just search 'statue' and find it," but then 20 minutes passed and I was looking at photos I haven't revisted in years and took that back. there is something really lovely about tactile experiences. Great point for the 'keep' column!
I’m 46 & in a “memory box” in my wardrobe sits a top & dress I wore the hell out of in my late teens. I haven’t worn either for decades & they would never fit me now but I like knowing they are there. They are like photos (& because I was a teen in the 90’s I have very few actual photos) , reminding me of the girl I once was & the life I lived in those clothes.
Keep it. The fact you’ve written all these words about the skirt says it means more to you than just an article of clothing.
I love the memory box for clothes — a beautiful way to preserve that version of yourself. It is comforting knowing those things are there, waiting for us, still ours <3.
I think sometimes we feel pressure to get rid of clothes because we don’t wear them anymore and that is what we are *supposed* to do to make room for the new clothes. But I think you can keep a skirt that tells so much of your life story, even if you never wear it again, just as you might keep an old camera or pocket knife or mug. You could start an archive box or maybe you could even find a way to frame it (the print is lovely!). Embrace the sentimentality I say!
This! This is the part that I think is below the surface for me. I feel guilty holding on to clothes, that don't have a lot of monetary value but a ton of emotional value, because it feels flippant or something. But I don't blink twice at the magnets on my fridge that remind me of places I've been or other similarly sentimental items.
But there's something about clothes where there is this pressure — holding on to something someone can use makes me feel guilty and a bit materialistic! But I like the idea of separating it from its function and focusing on all it symbolizes for me.
That skirt!!!! It’s been around a minute for sure. If I knew how to sew 🧵 I’d offer to make it into a pillow but…then it wouldn’t be your skirt! 🌺
True — then it wouldn't be!
I’ve moved countries a few times with clothing items — skirts, shoes, tops — that I refuse to relinquish and never let me down. So I love your skirt story. Thank you for writing it.
Thank you Debra! Thanks for reading, and yes, I am thinking this skirt is sitting in the 'refuse to relinquish' pile too!
I loved reading this. I love how much you love this skirt and that your husband doesn’t (what is wrong with them they can be so wrong about certain items of clothing!) I hope you keep it. I hope you fall in love with it again. It’s beautiful. I have a dress like this that has so many memories and when I put it on I think “oh this dress is just asking for trouble”. It’s not even particularly sexy it just there is something about it and I’ve tried to give it away and I haven’t yet. I might just have to go put it on now after reading this.
Thank you for reading! I really do love this skirt, even if I don't love wearing it right now. You and some other commenters have helped me see that I really should keep it, not just for now but for the foreseeable future!
And yeah, what is wrong with the husbands?? Every husband has one article of clothing they 'hate' that everyone else thinks is so cute!
You never know- you might fall in love with the skirt again! I donated my version of this skirt years ago and I regret it, though it took a few years to get to that point.
I'm definitely worried about the hindsight regret. And sure, I could probably thrift another one, but it wouldn't be THIS skirt.
I hope something similar finds its way to you, if you are still missing it.