Out of the darkness, into the light

During the period of the nine days (from Rosh Chodesh Av until the fast of Tisha b'Av) it is the custom not to purchase new clothing, nor to wear new clothing that has not previously been worn. Many also have the custom not to launder clothes, or to wear laundered clothes. As we go through this introspective time, we should let go of what does not serve us well, and create space for new, wonderful amd useful things to come our way. We evaluate our behavior towards our fellow man, and also our relationship with Hashem and our midot. It's a great time for taking on another chumrah (stringency), something to strengthen your faith. For some, that may be dressing in a more appropriate manner. Taking pains perhaps, to only wear shirts with elbow length sleeves, or to always cover one's knees. This is a good time for us to go through our closets, and remove those items of clothing that no longer belong.

Let's face it, certain aspects of the 80s just shouldn't make a comeback...
Image courtesy of  http://80soutfit.com/

It is never easy to physically get rid of things. Whether it is the junk in the garage that might be useful again one day, or the clothes in our closet that haven't been worn in a long time, it's a process, and it requires determination and commitment. But the end result is similar to that feeling after the fast - you feel cleansed, detoxed and ready to start again (alright, maybe not immediately after the fast, but once you've had something to eat and drink). So use this time of year to cleanse your closet, ready to start fresh after Tisha b'Av.

Let's walk through the process together and keep it simple. Start by choosing one section of your closet. Shirts. Remove all your shirts and put them on your bed. If you haven't worn a shirt for a year or more, give it away.
If it has a stain that will not budge, give it away. If it's a shirt you purchased on impulse, but have nothing to wear it with, put it in a secondary pile - to be decided later. Once you have your piles of "keep", "giveaway", and "tbd", return the "keep" items to your closet, and move on to the next section - skirts. Work the same way, removing those that have not been worn for a long time, or that no longer fit, are ripped, are stained etc. Add to your existing piles. Perhaps you'll find a skirt you forgot about it that matches that impulse-buy shirt! Perhaps not... Are there skirts that are too short? Skirts that sit too low on the hips, revealing your belly button and you have no matching top that hangs long enough? Give it away!
On and on you go, and soon, your closet will not only be neat and organized, but it will contain only the clothing that you actually wear. Don't forget to go through socks and underwear while you're at it. And shoes! (Don't worry, now you'll have an excuse to buy more shoes!)

Now look at the clothes that remain. They should all fit with your style, they should make you feel good, they should make you feel dressed appropriately. So now you have all this extra space in the closet, it's time to go shopping baby! And come on, we all need a little retain therapy once in a while, especially after the nine days when we are forbidden from buying new clothes...

Available at Kosher Fashions website

Kosher Fashions is pleased to inform you that we have a post-Tisha b'Av sale beginning on July 17. Stay tuned, and bookmark the Kosher Fashions webstore. Everything must go!