It’s a simple concept: only surround yourself with things you love.
Club Monaco silk top // J.Crew cardigan // J.Crew necklace // J.Crew fluted skirt // Wolford tights // Tory Burch Reva flats
For instance, I love this outfit.
One of the major principles of the KonMari Method is to go through everything you own and ask “Does it spark joy?” and if it doesn’t, get rid of it. Go with your gut and don’t rationalize. It really did make going through my clothes easy; I didn’t have to ask if I could make three outfits with an item or if I’d worn it within the past six months, I could ignore the rationalization that sometimes goes on in my head (people at work really like this skirt!), and just ask it I love it or not now. Not if I loved it before. So a few dresses I haven’t worn in ages stay. Anything I wore just because I felt I should or pieces I used to love but don’t anymore went.
But it’s much harder with other areas of the house. In the kitchen, do these oven mitts spark joy? Well, not really, but I need to have oven mitts. I don’t think it means I should throw them out and buy oven mitts I love (or should I?). In the bathroom, do I love this bottle of glasses lens cleaner? Does this nail file spark joy? Do I have strong feelings for this Revlon Pedi-Expert? (Actually I do, it’s essentially a cheese grater for your heels and it’s the best thing I’ve tried to deal with my terrible feet.)
So there’s stuff I love, and stuff I need. I don’t know if it’s possible to have 100% stuff I love. But 85-90% is probably ok, right?
You do look fabulous! I can see why that outfit sparks joy. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!! :) I put it together and it's navy and black so I was a little hesitant, but I went with it and loved it. I wore it to my first day on my new job!
DeleteThis is brilliant! It puts into words something I've been doing myself. I shifted how I looked at shopping sometime last year, and it had a lot to do with buying pieces that made me happy and excited. Asking "Does it spark joy?" seems to sum it up perfectly. I agree that it's made shopping for clothing and cleaning out my closet easier, but it is much harder with other stuff around the house.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently purging our entire apartment, Getting rid of dishes, kitchen utensils, linens, and the crap stuffed in office drawers in much trickier than cleaning out clothes. Does this spatula spark joy? lol Plus, practicality becomes much more important than how much you love something. I think that's why it's no fun cleaning things out. And that's why people hoard and collect more and more stuff.
I say buy oven mitts you love. Mine are from Anthro, and I adore them. They do spark joy. Wherever we can bring a bit of joy into our lives, we should. And if a $12 pot holder achieves that, why not?
<3 Liz
www.withwonderandwhimsy.com
The thrifty side of me (which doesn't come out very often) won't let me throw away perfectly good oven mitts for the sake of ones that spark more joy. But when they fall apart, that's another story. :)
DeleteI love that outfit (especially the skirt). I've been trying hard to only buy things if I really, really love them. Not just because it's on sale and I'm bored. Every time I travel, I'm reminded of how I can very happily wear the same clothes over and over for weeks at a time. Then I go home, and those clothes disappear into my closet and I forget about them. Less is more...
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about the other things like oven mitts. It wouldn't be practical to throw out things only to buy new ones but when it comes time to replace them on the other hand...
It's really tough to buy things only if I really really love them. There's always shopping for boredom, or thinking that something is really necessary for work, etc. Less is more, but it's hard to stick to that...
DeleteI love this outfit on you! I need to do what you did with my own closet. I am a rationalizer. I will try to rationalize anything. I have been digging through my closet and finding things I love and cannot wait to wear and other things I am happy to donate.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes!!! Buy fun oven mitts! They really do make a difference. I love Anthro oven mitts. The ones your whole hand can go in. They wash well and are cheap for the joy they bring.
I have the worst heels. I need to try your suggestion.
Jenni
I can't recommend the Revlon pedi-expert enough. There's even a YouTube video about it, and it worked the same for me as it did for the woman in the video. The only problem is I kinda need my callouses for all the walking I do, but they're just so ugly...
DeleteHahaha, "does this nail file spark joy?" I love it. :) And you are right to love that outfit -- the spots and flared skirt are so flirty and fun! I do hold on to certain items of clothing for sentimental reasons, I admit, even if I don't really think I'll wear it again in the immediate future. But does that count as sparking joy? Because I do love the pieces because of the memories...
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