Closet Circulation Recap

Of all the garments and accessories I wore (and photographed) in October 2006, about half of them are no longer in my wardrobe. A quarter of them are on hold (not worn, but lingering in my closet). The last quarter is in rotation through my daily oufits.


Of the 29 items no longer in my closet, I donated or swapped half of them away because the style no longer suited me. Eight items didn’t fit right or were uncomfortable. I ruined a sweater and a skirt. I lost a pair of earrings. And I wore out four pairs of shoes.

I have a hard time letting go of a wardrobe item just because I no longer like the style. I have 14 things on hold, mostly accessories, because they just don’t excite me anymore. Some of them are in the swap pile. I need to reevaluate the rest. Should they be swapped? Repurposed? Altered?

The 16 items still in rotation are either great performers, beautiful garments, or have sentimental value. I must have worn my Nine West boots 200 times by now and they haven’t been resoled, yet. I just polish them a few times a year. My Forever 21, pin-striped trousers were cheap, but still look good. (And manage to accommodate weight fluctuations.) My velvet jackets may be a little stodgy, but are so lovely and perfect for the fall and winter. I’m doing my best to hold on to the blogoversary garments. The cardigan was ruined. I’ve gone through a few pairs of shoes. But I still have the skirt and lace blouse!

Where are the duds you were wearing five years ago? Would you say that half of them are no longer in your wardrobe? Do some things linger on, unworn? Why do you decide to discard garments and accessories? What is your criteria for keeping them?

Closet Circulation - Chocolate Girl

This is my final outfit from October of five years ago.

In
Earrings, Girl Props - I have an abiding love for anything remotely Bollywood, so these earrings stay in rotation.

Out
Blazer, Apt 9 – swapped away when the style no longer suited me.
Skirt, Newport News – also swapped. I went through a period of ridding my closet of the mid-length skirts.
Shoes, Mossimo – I believe I donated these to the thrift store. They were always a bit too big and my feet would slide toward the ends, smashing my toes.
Silk tank, Target – this cami’s boxy fit never worked for me. I don’t remember its fate…either swapped or donated.

Hold
Faux pearls, Okinawa - these really should be moved to my swap set.
Scarf, Walmart - scarves don’t take up much room, so, even though I don’t wear it, the scarf has escaped past purges and lingers on.

Closet Circulation - Pearls and Bows

As you can see, I’ve always had a fondness for matchiness. Pink blouse + pink belt. Pearl belt + pearl necklace. Black lace trim on skirt + black mules.

Out
Bodysuit, Victoria’s Secret – down with snap crotches!
Mules, Nine West – I’m pretty sure I bought these when I still lived in Okinawa, so it would be a miracle if they were still around today.

Hold
Skirt, Victoria’s Secret - this skirt is one half of the interview suit I bought just before leaving the military. I rarely wear either half any more, and the style doesn’t really suit me, but I keep it around in case I have a suit emergency.
Faux pearls, Okinawa - these hang with my necklace collection, but haven’t been worn since August 2007.
“Pearl” belt, Target - no longer my style, so it’s in my swap set!

Closet Circulation - Boring, but Warm

2006 and 2011 Kasmira agree; this outfit is boring. But 2011 Kasmira would have found a way to jazz this up. I’d prove it to you, except that most of the items are long gone.

In
Necklace, Newport News - this classic is still one of my favorites. Someone once left me a comment advising me to get rid of “that grandma necklace.” Little did they know that grandmothers are one of my style icons.

Out
Chenille sweater, INC – warm, but unflattering.
Flannel trousers, Express – also, warm, but unflattering.

Closet Circulation - Travel Trousseau (Day 3)

I left Kansas City this day and headed back to Cincinnati and a rehearsal for Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge. I was a little overwhelmed with the long day. Little did I know that was only a preview of my hectic life to come.

In
Tweed blazer, The Limited - nice and warm for the fall!
Boots, Nine West - again.

Out
Suede skirt, Mossimo – see? I told you I wore this a lot!

Hold
Necklace, Target - I can’t remember the last time I wore it. (You can actually see the pendant here.)
Cami, Deep Los Angeles - this cami (and it’s pink twin) exposes far more boob than makes me comfortable, but it’s so pretty. I can’t quite let it go.

Now, I travel for work about once a month and juggle multiple personal priorities. When does life get simpler?

Closet Circulation - Travel Trousseau (Day 2)

Before I started traveling with my tripod, I had some really awkward outfit photos in hotel rooms. I was restricted to balancing the camera on tabletops, augmented with stacks of books. I had a terrible time getting my entire body in the shot.

In
Boots, Nine West - yup, those same boots
Beads, Claire’s - these still come in handy every now and again.

Out
Tank, NY & Co – too tight, buh-bye.
Suede skirt, Mossimo – this skirt cost me less than $30 and I certainly got my cost-per-wear out of it (mostly in the pre-blog days). As my tastes skewed towards shorter hemlines, I finally sent this skirt packing.

Hold
Cardigan, Victoria’s Secret – this sweater is currently in my swap pile! It’s a lovely fabrication (silk and cashmere), but I dislike the lack of structure.

Now, I either travel with the full-sized tripod (and DSLR) or a mini tripod (and the Canon Powershot). No more missing feet (or heads)!

Closet Circulation - Travel Trousseau (Day 1)

The next three days document my first business travel outfits. I attempted a "capsule wardrobe," like I'd seen in magazines.

In
Tweed blazer, The Limited - the style seems outdated, but I still drag this blazer out a few times a year because I paid over $100 for it.

Out
Tank, NY & Co – this top was just too tight for work. Instead of continuing to be self-conscious in it, I donated it to charity.
Trousers, Victoria’s Secret – cuffed trousers + high heels = face plant. I nearly killed myself in these pants so often that I replaced them with a non-cuffed pair.
Earrings, Claire’s – chandelier earrings are so early 2000’s.

I chose a palette of pink, green, and brown for the trip. It served me well, at the time. Now, I’d be bored with such a limited range of colors.

Closet Circulation - Bold Jewelry

Oh, how my past self would be appalled at my present self. 2006 Kasmira thought wearing both earrings and a necklace at once was “bold.” 2011 Kasmira might wear earrings, a stack of bracelets, and seven (or maybe just five) necklaces.

In
Nine West boots - these are some long-lived boots!

Out
Skirt, Casual Corner – This skirt was a little too formfitting at the top. I gave it away when I grew out of it.
Wrap shirt, Newport News – I decided this style of shirt wasn’t for me and swapped it away.
Cami, Mossimo – this cami ended at my waist. (I prefer a hip-length cami.) I donated it to the thrift store.
Earrings, World Market – these are not “out” by choice, but are MIA! I hope they turn up in a coat pocket or purse, someday.

Hold
Necklace, Target – I thought this was “bold” in 2006. Now I think it’s “boring.”

Closet Circulation - Red Velvet Mandarin

I’m not sure why there was an entire week between this entry and the last, in October 2007. Back then, no one read my blog and no one noticed when I missed a few days. Now, I usually get a concerned email when my blog goes silent.

In
Velvet jacket, Cami - I have a few velvet blazers. (Is four too many?)
Top, Moda International - I can only identify this blouse from the descriptors I used in the original post. It is the same top that I wore in Knockout.
Pinstriped pants, Forever 21 - This is the only pair of pants I still regularly wear.

Hold
Faux pearl necklace, JC Penny – this is the same necklace I wore earlier in the month. It’s in my deconstruction pile.
Earrings, Liz Claiborne – yet another pair of earrings I no longer wear but continue to retain.

I could repeat this exact outfit, too, but, again, I’ll just repeat the blazer.

Closet Circulation - Victorian

This is the first outfit that I still own in its entirety.

In
Velvet jacket, NY &Co - the elbows and cuffs are a bit worn, but I still wear this jacket every winter.
Lace shirt, Newport News - I no longer wear this blouse often, but still consider wearing it often! I have to keep it around since it's a part of my blogoversary outfit.

Hold
Pants, Moda International – I don’t really wear pants anymore, but I keep them around in case I have some sort of pants-mandatory event.
Booties, Style & Co – I stopped regularly wearing these booties when I stopped wearing pants. I occasionally drag them out to wear with a dress or jeans.
Earrings, Claire’s – I am so over chandelier earrings, but this pair lingers on in my jewelry box.

Since I still have it all, and it still fits, I considered wearing this exact outfit again, today. Instead, I'll wear the jacket and the lace shirt's twin (in black). I can't bring myself to wear the pants and booties, so I'll pair the tops with something a little more "me." And instead of chandelier earrings, I'll wear a statement necklace. I'll see what I can do about replicating that sultry gaze, as well. When Beefy's taking the pictures, I tend to get more silly than serious.

Closet Circulation - Booty Skirt

I used to be a Victoria’s Secret catalog junkie. I rarely bought the underthings. Instead, I ordered tons of Moda International, the VS clothing line.

Out
Oxford bodysuit, Moda International - I liked the clean look of this body suit (I had it in pink and white, too), but the lower part was really uncomfortable.
Tweedy skirt, Moda International - this skirt requires a perfect fit. My weight fluctuates too much to keep it in my closet.

Nothing "In." Nothing on "Hold." I'm not sure where those earrings are.

I haven’t ordered anything new from the VS catalog in years. It is a little predictable, yet pricy, for my current tastes.

Closet Circulation - Empire Waist Dress

Brown and black all looked the same in my early photos. I shot my outfits against a white background, using a direct flash, and all the dark colors looked black. Here, I’m wearing brown boots, but you’d never know it.

In
Black shrug, INC - I still wear this silk blend shrug. It saves bare arms from the office a/c chill!
Brown boots, Nine West - These are still going strong, as well! I’ve been wearing them for five years and all they’ve needed is regular polishing.

Out
Dress, Max Studio – I never liked this dress’ length and I finally grew bored of the color palette. I swapped it away.

Hold
Necklace, Target – this necklace is no longer my style, but it continues to hang with the rest of my collection. It’s time for it to go!

Closet Circulation - Ladylike in Black, White, and Red

My color palette choices have certainly evolved in five years. I used to do a lot of black, white, and red looks. Now, that feels too predictable.

In
Red cardigan, Moda International - this is the twin of the green cardi I wore in my first post. It has escaped any unfortunate accidents (so far!)

Out
Skirt, NY & Co – this skirt was always a size too large. I finally swapped it away.
Pumps, Michelle D – I used to go through black pumps like toilet paper. (That’s a nice mental picture!) Cincinnati sidewalks eat heels for breakfast. (Is that image any better?) This pair eventually succumbed.
Camisole, Cuddle Duds – this cami was never meant to be outerwear, but I didn't wear it as underwear, either. Buh-bye.

Hold
Necklace, JC Penney – I still own this necklace, but dislike the length. I intend to take it apart and use the beads in a project.

I am, however, still a fan of a "ladylike" style. Not that I behave anything like a lady!

Closet Circulation - End of Summer Pale

I have to laugh at my facial expressions in the early blog days. The “terrified grin” was all too common!

In
Earrings, Target - I own these earrings, but haven’t worn them in ages. They are a little “plain jane” for my tastes, now….no color, predictable design, meh. They should go in the swap pile*.

Out
White button-down, Gap – this was always a wee bit small and I eventually passed it on to a good home.
Skirt, Okinawa – I unsuccessfully tried to dye this skirt. I was going for mustard yellow, but got a muddy orange. To make matters worse, the skirt shrank in the process, but the lining didn’t.
Tan pumps, Target – these are the same shoes I wore in my very first post. They got lots of wear before they fell apart. Every woman needs a nude heel!

*Edited on Oct 11 to update the fate of the earrings. I covered them in neon pink spray paint and find them drab no longer!

Closet Circulation - Indian Summer

The second rule* of style diary photos: Never cut off your feet. Because…

- People want to see your shoes
- No feet = stumpy legs

In
Cami, Express - I rarely wear it (or camis at all).

Out
Turquoise tunic, Ann Taylor – swapped!
Velveteen skirt, Delia*s – donated to the thrift store. It was too short and unstructured for my style.
Flats, Rocket Dog – they aren’t visible in the photo (but they can be spotted in the actual blog entry). These were my favorite flats ever and I wore them until they fell apart.

Hold
Scarf, Maurices – it’s in my swap pile

*The first rule: Never cut off your head.

Closet Circulation - Black and Winter White

Over the years, I’ve struggled with including my face in my outfit pictures. After all, this is What I Wore 2Day, not What My Face Looked Like 2Day.

I didn’t anticipate that my blog would become well read and that I’d lose my anonymity. I also didn’t expect the cruel comments about my face, hair, and expression that I found on forums and other community sites. On day two of my blog, neither of those things had yet happened, but I did encounter my first “bad face” day. So, I cropped off my head.

In
Sweater dress, Melton - I’ve sewn one tie back on, but no other malfunctions, yet.
Shrug, INC - this has proven to be a wardrobe staple.
Faux pearl necklace with medallion, Newport News - another past and current fave.

Out
Shoes? – I can’t tell what pair I was wearing, but I’ve probably trashed them by now.

While my blog contains a handful of photos cropped in this way, I’ve shown my face in most entries. I don’t always like my wrinkles, my profile, or my hair, but headless photos are too impersonal. I’m willing to risk recognition and criticism to create a blog that is really “me.”

Closet Circulation - Limey

If you’ve looked through my entire archive of outfits, you might think, “Kasmira has a HUGE closet.”

Well, it is kind of big, but I no longer own many of the items from this blog’s beginning. I’ve got a pretty steady rotation in and out of my closet. In honor of five years of outfit journaling, let’s look back, each day, at an outfit from October 2006. I’ll tell you what’s still in my closet, what’s out, and what’s on hold.

In
Lace blouse, Newport News - still in good condition.
Tweedy skirt, Talbot’s - the lining is ripped, the seat is stretched out, and the hook and eye are missing, but it zips!

Out
Silk blend cardigan, Moda International – the pits were stained with purple dye when I wore a non-colorfast shirt underneath.
Pumps, Target – I think these just wore out. I'm hard on shoes. Especially cheap shoes.

The basic elements of this outfit lasted me through four blogoversaries. Those Talbot’s skirts are made to last! Talbot’s is one of my favorite brands to find in thrift stores. The brand’s garments have years of wear in them.