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minimizing jewelry

2/13/2018

8 Comments

 
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In trying to clean up the landing zone in my closet this week, I decided to put a bracelet that I really only wear in the summer in with the rest of my jewelry. A small box of jewelry resides in the box of off-season clothing on the top shelf of my closet. I don't wear that jewelry every day...or very often at all. Mostly it is a box of pieces that trigger memories of certain periods in my life or of money spent.

I'm not one of those people who minimizes all at once. I've gone through my jewelry many times, letting a few pieces go each time. This time felt a little different. I haven't accessorized much for quite a few years. This feels like quite an established preference (though of course, I can change always my mind).  :) Curently, I wear three rings + glasses + (rarely) a watch. 

Here's what happened this time:
-A small selection of the sweet pieces that my girls made + gave me over the years were placed into the memory boxes that I keep next to that box of off-season clothes. I keep notes + drawings they've made me, books they've written, + special little bits from over the years there...one for each of them.
-I put a watch that I bought when I was 17 + want to keep (because it does still work + I like it) into the keepsake box that I have for things from my pre-marriage years.
-Lots of pieces were tarnished. They can surely be cleaned, but the tarnish made me realize that these things hold little value or immediate wearability, if I do not wear them often or spend time caring for them. I'm going to let someone else find joy in doing both.
-Some pieces are no longer my style + hanging onto them is simply unnecessary.
-I offered the things I'd purged to my girls, pointing out a couple of special pieces that I thought they might like. Each accepted a silver ring. I didn't want to obligate them to keeping anything by placing my own meaning onto the pieces...that would just pass the burden on to them. If they liked or wanted something...great! If not, that's great too!
-This reminded Julia about the tiny collection of jewelry she has + to consider wearing it. It sparked Jo to go through her collection in order to see if she had anything to pass on. Jo mentioned feeling a little sad about letting a necklace go that she distinctly remembers receiving when she was in first grade (she's a senior in college now). She knows she will never wear it again. We mentioned putting it away as a memory or taking a picture of it before letting it go...but in the end she decided to keep the chain + let the charm go.

I don't have any experience reselling jewelry, but did find this article that seems helpful + reliable. I don't feel that any of my pieces are worth the effort, so they will simply be donated.

All of my pieces were lovely + good, but I don't need to own everything that is lovely + good. This realization goes a long way into recognizing enough + being able to stop over-purchasing as well. I am perpetually enrolled in "enough" training.  :)

My little collection is really quite small now...a pair of earrings, a couple of hair clips, a necklace that symbolizes the preciousness of our little tribe, the leather bracelet that set off this cleanse, + two colorful, handmade bracelets. Along with the pieces I wear every day...the volume of this collection feels authentic + offers the possibility of dressing up just enough. And my overall feeling? Relief.  :)

Love,
Jane
8 Comments
Priscilla Bettis link
2/13/2018 07:14:37 am

I'm happy for your feeling of relief. I have found that a very small jewelry collection makes decisions of what to wear or what to pack or where to keep it that much easier.

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Jane link
2/14/2018 03:01:40 pm

Thank you! I'm sure it does! :)

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Rebekah Jaunty
2/13/2018 10:54:31 am

"All of my pieces were lovely + good, but I don't need to own everything that is lovely + good."

Yes, and you/I/one couldn't possibly, no matter how hard we tried!

Like you, I'm someone who cycles back and minimizes certain categories repeatedly. I still have more pieces than you, but I'm gradually learning to be satisfied with less and less.

I have a personal rule that anything wearable I buy has to make my wardrobe BETTER (in my mind), not only bigger. This rules out so, so many purchases--- years ago, I used to pick up blah secondhand clothes just to 1) scratch the shopping itch and 2) stretch out the time between laundry days. And wouldn't you know it, my wardrobe was full of blah, okayish clothes that sorta kinda fit. I'm smarter now!

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Jane link
2/14/2018 03:06:27 pm

I love your personal rule! With a smaller wardrobe, it's pretty important for each new addition to really complement the whole shebang...not just go with one or two things. I'm going to keep that in mind too. :)

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Heather
2/13/2018 04:41:13 pm

I’ve been a slow jewelry purger over the years, too! I’m guilty of still hanging on to some earrings I’ve thought my girls might want when they’re teenagers. :) Have you posted a picture of the leather bracelet before? I’ve been interested in making some.

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Jane link
2/14/2018 03:09:07 pm

I kept some earrings that I thought my girls would maybe like too...but now they are old enough to want/not want them. :) There is a picture of the bracelet way back here: https://www.fairdare.org/blog/simple-wardrobe-foundation-for-change . :)

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Celia link
2/14/2018 09:04:33 am

I always love hearing how you think through things, Jane!

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Jane link
2/14/2018 03:10:12 pm

Thank you for saying that! It's quite a ramble. :)

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