Mission: top of the wardrobe

Mission Boxes on the Top of the Wardrobe accomplished.........25 tops, 12 skirts, 10 dresses and 5 jumpers safely in the charity shop bag. Running total of 'out' = 86. Am embarrassed by how many unlovely things I have kept for years: of all the things re-assigned to the 'out' bag, only one was lovely enough to offer to a friend: i really don't do pink, even soft, pale rose pink, and i'm too fat for strapless satin numbers at the moment. Lets hope she thinks its a nice pass-me-on! i imagine she will look stunning in it.

It's really shocked me how indiscriminately I have horded things that could have been passed on months - even years - ago. Either that or my tastes have changed extremely radically. That and the bad habit of picking things up because they are cheap, relatively nice and might come in. From now on, I'm only going to pick things up that are properly gorgeous and a definite will-love and will-wear.

How to decide what to keep, given that 'doesn't fit' wasn't the guiding principle? Well.........anything of great sentimental value, I kept. Likewise anything made of fabric that I actively loved and really didn't want to part with - and will possibly re-make into something else towards the close of this century. Anything with fancy dress, theatrical and/or circus potential is a keep - well, you never know. Nikki's parties, for a start. And I have a nephew who may need occassional access to Extreme Dressing Up Box numbers. Comedy genius is a keep: stretchy tiger two-piece, and more Flash Gordon style silver dresses that I am prepared to own up to. Just plain bonkers is a keep: strapless bra entirely covered in fuschia pink feathers (for which we have Claire C to thank) and lime green swirly lava lamp patterned leggings (WTF? i have no idea where they came from!). Odd but gorgeous also a keep: Karen Millen white and gold snowflake vest with real feather collar (you'll have to take my word for the gorgeousness rating of this one). Those of you who know me well, the dayglo frog green one-piece is a ..........keep! Well you DO never know, and I remember only too well being 13, having to play a locust in a school play, and being totally beaten by getting the outfit together.

might go for the 100 before the day is out.............