It’s been a rather convulse period with course finals and all, I barely managed to keep a semblance of sanity, not without coming down with a cold and an unspecified eye allergy.

Full in exploration of one of my truest TROUSSEAU ERAS in which, as Rachel Tashjian Wise describes in her most coveted newsletter Opulent Tips

unsuitable belongings from earlier times are expunged and new, more apropos garments are acquired with precision and grace.

I have been expunging, a lot, with spurs of determination mitigated by bouts of grace.

Rummaging through your closet in search of the unworn is a cathartic ritual that reconnects you with your body and your style.

How is it going

An introspective journey that started with one self-imposed rule and led me to realize I was focusing on the wrong side of the closet. All I was committed to was finding what to buy that is not there yet, strategizing on how to be smart and pace myself to only buy 5 things.

With the purpose of reducing my carbon footprint, my tunnel vision was busy buying, when as close as in my book there’s a whole chapter dedicated to “But first, shop in your closet”.

When I shifted lane, boom, the fireworks, ed è subito sera .

I may have already bought those 5 items half way through the year, but I don’t think I have never been happier or more satisfied with my wardrobe.

I know where things are, I have monetized on pieces that were idling (I have so many heels from the life when I used to stand on them for 8 hours a day) and still deserving of a new life, I became acquainted with my new body, embraced how much it changed, I have consciously uncoupled with so much stuff, stuff that had no reason of lingering in my closet, transformed, altered, upcycled, reshaped a bunch of garments that had monetary and sentimental value, yet I wasn’t wearing.

in numbers

Mended and altered:

• 1 blazer

• 1 sleeveless car coat

• 1 vintage MARNI dress

• 3 pairs of jeans

• 1 pair of cotton trousers

• 1 pair of coulottes

• 1 long silk caftan-like dress bought on Poshmark 2 years ago and never worn because it was from my moomoo period, until the pictures below showed up on my Pinterest.

In the process of being upcycled

1. with the imprimatur of designer and former student Alejandro Barzaga: 2 skirts and 1 dress

2. with the genius free hand of Pangea Kali Virga, a multifaceted conceptual artist, fashion designer and dear friend: 1 dress with a whole bunch of T shirts

Now, something I want to emphasize: to have the opportunity to witness the calm and graceful process of the craft with two talented designers, is a privilege.

I regard their time and skills as highly as I would a painter painting my portrait. I enjoy all steps of the process from the preliminary exchange of ideas to the final reveal, and the apparent idle time in between that serves to let the confetti settle down and for their sensibility to go vroom vroom.

This is how you hone your personal style and support talent.

Donated to the local all-women shelter:

• 1 mini handbag

• 1 pair of cords

• 2 tops

Mailed to Thredup: 1 jean jacket, 1 overall, 1 pair of clogs, 2 pairs of cords, 2 blouses, 2 summer dresses

Sold on The Real Real: 1 raincoat, 3 sandals.

Bought:

1. on Etsy the summer basket, the staple of my glorious summers in Tuscany

2. on Poshmark, the classic Sperry Top Siders brown boat shoes because Miuccia made me do it

3. at a stylist’s closet sale: blue Clark’s Wallabees (this was a totally unexpected find that couldn’t be

LESSONS LEARNED

Am I surprised at how much stuff I got rid of?

Yes.

Because of the amount of money I spent in second-hand clothes that I never wore and/or didn’t need.

Because the new purchases I have made are items that belong to a précis I have formulated as a result of the higher plan I have committed to.

Because more are the things that have found a new home than the ones I welcomed.

Because I bought only as a result of a whole lot of reasoning, intention, speculation, consideration, rumination.

Because the concept of wardrobe essentials is BS.