Thread: How do You Know When It's Time to Say Goodbye?

...to your old costumes, that is.

I'd love to make room for some new sparklies, but in theory, I should let a couple go. It was easy to pawn off my beginner costumes, plus a few that just never fit me right - but I'm not sure if I can part with any of the costumes in my existing wardrobe. I love them too much!

When culling your herd, how do you decide which ones to let go? Is it the ones that are least flattering? The ones you wear the least? Is it easy for you to let go? Or, like me, do you tend to get all weird and sentimental and sappy over your costumes?

*sings* If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me....wooooooooo-ooooooo-ooooooooh, baby, please don't go.....cr.:

I couldn't give away or sell any of mine, even if they were saleable. They have so much history!

One of my fellow teachers has a costuming blog - she's done it in Japanese for years and recently created one in English where she shows the costumes she's made - and she remarks about some of them, there are ones she intended to sell because she was replacing them with a new one in the same colour, but can't bear to do it. AND this is a woman who's very pragmatic!

Perhaps you could have a special shelf or cupboard that is like an old folks' home for your old favourites? Then one day you might open it and feel OK about culling, or else use it as a place for tips down memory lane.

Oops, wrong thread!!!

Hmm, once you get the new ones wont you love those too? Maybe you can think of it as a transference of love, not a loss? Good luck!

I'm very practical about getting rid of mine -- the only way to keep getting new ones is to keep letting go of the old! I'm not a sentimental person, though. I don't keep greeting cards, etc. Things are just things to me, and once they've served their purpose I don't find it hard to let go usually.

I do it based on what I reach for less. Doesn't matter what the reason is - though usually it's because that costume is less flattering, doesn't quite fit as well, or isn't as versatile as something else.

BUT I try to hang onto one dress and one folkloric style at all times, just in case. Other than that, whatever I'm not reaching for is the first to go.

I put mine either way back in my closet or pack them with love in a box. I can't let go of them either - they are like my little babies!

<Going over the edge?>

Ask 'em!

I made two out of three of mine so I doubt anyone would want to buy them anyway. I don't keep cards and stuff but I know already that I will have the same problem as you are having now. Good luck!

This is interesting.

Do you see costumes as symbols of your life or ability? I am selling off a bunch o stuff, and for me it is a bit bittersweet ... letting go of costumes and stuff means I have to admit that I'm moving on to a different phase (either style, or age change or figure size change...whatever). Even if I get new stuff, there's that feeling of letting go.

And there's the sinking feeling in the back of my mind that I'll never find anything so nice, or flattering, or that I like as much, or whatever...

if i don't LOVE the way they look on me or they don't fit close to perfect, they're gone. i don't have time anymore to rejuvenate costumes or deal with 4 inches of overlap...i'm also done padding to high heavens so i end up with football breasts.

i worked really hard (15 pounds hard) to buy myself 2 new pharaonics back in december. those i won't get rid of until i stop wanting to wear them. so they do have some sentimental value.

i had a beautiful bedlah but it had so much overlap and the cups were huge so i let it go...even though it belonged to one of my dear mentors...i just couldn't make it work

just do it quick, like a bandaid

If you have good photos of yourself in said costumes, then they will always be with you (thereby making room for more!)

I *still* keep a costume I bought from Sandra ages ago - one of the first she sold. It doesn't fit since I've had the baby, but I keep it the same way I keep the jeans I wore on my honeymoon. Motivation!

Everything else - eh - when it doesn't fit or doesn't flatter it's gone. But I do make sure to get photos done first. That way if I REALLY regret selling it I can contact the maker and get a new one made.

I think its also a nice way to give them a new life. If you don't LOVE them and aren't dancing in them, chances are there is someone out there who will. I like the idea of making another dancer really really happy with a costume that once did the same for me, but at a cheaper cost. It just keeps the feeling of the costume alive... more so than it would ever be hanging in the closet for years to come.

So I guess its time to let it go when it doesn't get the chance to dance :)

Hmmmm, these have all been great words of advice and wisdom. It's amazing how much of ourselves (and sometimes, our baggage) we attach to objects in general....

I think you need to let go of them if you think they'll fit me..... (*winks*)

Sonja, that is truly some sage advice, as always

Heads-up: I might part with the Creamsicle....if I remember correctly, you coveted this.

Originally Posted by Sonja2

I think you need to let go of them if you think they'll fit me..... (*winks*)

in line too

It is really hard. I would recommend you wait until you are ready so you don't have any regrets. Also, prices are sort of low right now, so it's better to wait anyway.

Originally Posted by jamielynn

If you have good photos of yourself in said costumes, then they will always be with you (thereby making room for more!)

Oh, no no nooooo. The sensory memory of actually touching the thing is immense. Even seeing it in person is way different than a photo.

This is coming from a person who had to keep their black fisherman's rib jersey from 1984 for literally 20 years or longer, mind. The first time I tried to get rid of it I *could not do it*. I'm still not entirely sure it's not lurking in a bag somewhere. And I can't for the life of me remember when I cleared out my Docs, or WHY. In the past three years I have missed those things!

Clearly I just need a house with an entire wing devoted to Stuff.