In September 2007, my high school graduating class celebrated its 40th anniversary. I didn’t attend the reunion, but I was curious if I could “get into” the dress I wore to graduation June 8, 1967. To my surprise, I did, the dress barely fit!
My Summer of Love dress is a homemade black and silver shantung empire dress with an attached self tie. The hem length is just above the knee and is perfect!
One afternoon I dropped by Anna’s Alterations to see if she could repair the hem and flip over the self tie. I was laughing after she said, “Why would you want to wear this dress?”
I was caught up in the moment of an old dress that I would never wear again. I had memories not only of making the dress but of wearing it several times during the summer of 1967.
Anna’s question reminds me of conversations with my downsizing clients whose closets are packed and crammed full of wonderful old clothes with memories. Some may even have rented space to store their “old memories of good-times clothes.” These clients will never again be able to wear these dresses or suits. If they do try to wear them, the clothes will have aged either in style or fabric. The clothes will not make them look their best at an older age — just as my graduation dress would not have helped me look my best.
I have the satisfaction of being able to wear the dress; what more do I want?
Like old, cherished clothes the shoulder pad is also a dilemma for my downsizing clients. My clients have boxes and bags of saved shoulder pads in all sizes and fabric colors. Shoulder pads represent good times in the economy. My clients bought more clothes with pads since that made them feel good; shoulder pads filled out their shoulders to match the width of their hips.
These women looked put-together in their outfits; even their hair was big. With these outfits, women of the later 1980s and early 1990s were empowered like generals. Although these same women are a lot older now, they still believe some day they will need their shoulder pads. Some of the suits have died on the hanger with the pads permanently in deformed shapes.
I even discovered that clients want to give their shoulder pads to the Salvation Army or to the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop. When I ask them who will buy these old, used shoulder pads at these thrift stores, a good moment goes by and then there is a grin on their face. They realize no one wants their shoulder pads! Off to the trash bin — you can’t even recycle a shoulder pad!
We need to realize the importance of memories in downsizing our wardrobe. If need be, keep one outfit to look at. I am keeping my high school graduation dress along with several other graduation dresses collected from the women in my family: including my daughter, her grandmother, and my sister. When I truly need to downsize or when I die, off the dresses will go to a vintage shop or just maybe they will be tossed in the bin!
Thank you Anna Wolf for your words of wisdom!
–MaryAnne
