The suit

I have a ritual that goes something like this. Before I put an article of clothing into the charity bag for our monthly drop-off, I wear it one more time.

My thinking is that I need to be sure that the skirt, top or shoes really are no longer part of my wardrobe. So as I pull the item out of the wardrobe, for one last time, I smile and wear it, knowing shortly it will be just a distant memory.

Often I recall, with a rather silly nostalgia, all the times I wore the clothing. I think back to how I got hold of it in the first place. Was it a gift from a relative? A mad purchase during a meeting abroad? Was it an impulse buy in the Christmas sales? Usually I can recall a whole lot of memories, often fond ones.

So today, I followed my ritual. I pulled out that blue suit that I bought years ago. In the nineties suits were THE thing to wear if you wanted to get on in the work place. As I put it on, I smiled one last time in my mirror.

I have to admit that wearing a suit did seem odd, as dresses and cute little top and trousers with nice dangly necklace are more my thing these days. But I was assured that someone somewhere would benefit from receiving this decade old suit, as it was in good condition just not the look I was after.

People don’t generally comment on my attire at work, it’s possible to receive the odd compliment on an unusual colour or style, but once a week would be the max.

Today I got 5 comments!!!

“Have you got an interview today?
“Wow, you’re wearing a suit
“That colour looks great on you, is it a new suit?”
“That’s an unusual look for you”
“Are you going to an interview today?”

To all of them I replied honestly and said no, it was my last outing of this attire, until I put it in the charity bag. This clearly made my colleagues laugh out loud, they thought I was insane.

I have to say, as I was a little taken aback, about how much attention my colleagues clearly have been paying to what I am wearing over the past few years!!!

So as anyone else out there got any traditions, on how to part with old or unused clothes?