Friday Five: It's All About the Look

Sally writes at RevGals: In readiness for my move in 6 weeks time I spent almost all of yesterday morning sorting through my wardrobe ( closet, I am so British :-) marvelling at how I had accumulated so much stuff! The result is three large sacks full of clothes to be given away. Some came into the category of " what was I thinking", some too big now ( at last), and others I will never shrink into again. Some are going simply because I want to streamline my wardrobe. So how about you:

This is quite apropos for me as, with a campus interview for a college teaching position imminent, I need to buy some appropriate clothes--and sort through what I and we have to simplify things for the move that will, please Godde, follow about the same time at Sally's!

1. Are you a hoarder, or are you good at sorting and clearing?

I am good at sorting and clearing, and it has been built in to our many moves....Though time shortage sometimes gets me out of the habit. I recently gave away many of my clothes, dividing them between the Goodwill and (for the nursing clothes) the crisis pregnancy center. I also helped my daughter Ladybug go through her clothes this week and we have a pile for the Goodwill and a pile of uniforms for her old Montessori.

2. What is the oddest garment you possess and why?

Probably the lovely violet chasuble with a chi-rho, which swims on me....Without a settled church appointment I buy or make my own vestments, which mostly consist of stoles (all I can make) and one gorgeous red chasuble with a Brigid's cross made by my best friend. I got the chasuble at a bargain online and it is well made--but I should have bought the simple style, which looked small on the model. (Male, of course). This is the longer, fuller monastic style with a hood and even on a slightly taller than average woman it is way too big!

3. Do you have a favourite look/ colour?

Colors: hot pink, purple, red. Look: comfy yet elegant.

4. Thrift/ Charity shops, love them or hate them?

Love them. It's fun to find clothes there, so sometimes takes too long, but what I really love is the knick-knack shelves, for my collection of angels, Mary's, Jesus's, Goddesses, etc. I learned from a previous spiritual director the lovely practice of having full and diverse shelves for people to choose items from and build an altar for the session, if they like. Those will get culled too, though, for the move.

5. Money is no object, what one item would you buy?

Really comfortable and professional looking shoes to teach in...or maybe a comfy yet elegant bespoke skirt suit for the same purpose!