'Too Nice' To Wear
Stephanie Gisondi-Little
Founder, Professional, Organizer, Consultant, Gets It Done
I came across this lovely marriage of form and function; a beautiful dustpan! My immediate response was an emphatic, bug-eyed YESS! A most exquisite and thoughtful rendering, like art that elevates daily duties. I went so far as to send it to my art advisor friend because it was such a genius and pleasing object. And then I proceeded to tell her, 'It's too nice to use.' Translation, it's so perfect and lovely and it would make me feel bad to have it stained, damaged, or worse...deteriorate over time.
This is exactly the mindset so many of us have brought to clothing and accessories. I see it frequently in the closets of clients. I know it has informed my own shopping and dressing habits. (Why buy a white silk blouse when stains are inevitable with kids around? Why carry that 'it' bag when snacks may sully it?)
And then, there is an oft-paraphrased quote attributed to many over the years;
' Life is short. Use the Fine China'.
Can there be a more true statement? Life IS short. While we may wrestle with perfectionism (moi!), it helps me greatly to bear in mind what I already know as fact; when life is winding down, I won't want to look at a bunch of 'museum pieces' in my closet and say, I wish had, I should have, why didn't I?
Every day is an opportunity to wear what makes you feel like a special person embarking on a special occasion. This doesn't mean silks, satins and suits for all; rather, whatever you determine to be YOUR definition of special, pleasing, or worth it can be your starting point for inspiration. No garment in this world is indestructible over time - nor is any plate or even our own body - and this clarifies that everything is in flux at all times, no matter how we aim or wish to control. Ultimately, I believe there is so much more satisfaction to be wrung out of every purchase, trade or donation by shifting perspectives to this filter. Protective perfectionism and scarcity mindsets can go jump in a lake.
In the end, every dust kitty deserves a beautiful dust pan and more far importantly, so do YOU.