PARTING CAN BE SWEET – WITHOUT THE SORROW

WITH THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS looming, I enlisted the help of my best friend Cait to help me clear out my wardrobe. Unlike many of us, she is ruthless when it comes to closet space. She is logical, less sentimental than I am and she somehow eschews the process of getting lost in the story of buying and owning clothes. Is she superhuman? Possibly! We took dresses with tags still on them, bags used once, knits, capes and coats from the rails, and took them into my office to sell them to my colleagues for charity. ’Tis the season after all, when giving to those less fortunate ranks high - combined with the idea that having less makes you more thankful and a lot more savvy with what you wear.

As I write this, I’m tucked up on the couch, my bones still frozen from the trek to see the Christmas tree lights glisten for the first time on Grafton Street – and I could not be more thankful for my Marks & Spencer fleece pyjamas and a cashmere knit. Both were found in the ruthless packing but I managed to convince Cait that a) I absolutely couldn’t live without my Zoe Jordan sweater and b) the M&S pyjamas were a recent gift.

We also found my beloved houndstooth blazer buried between other coats. It’s black and white, double-breasted with a velvet panelled collar and I have fallen back in love with it because it smartens up T-shirts and jeans which I’m still living in while I continue my nonsurrender to tights. The same level of love was re-ignited for an embellished brown mac. This is neat and tailored and has a touch of Audrey – it’s elongated and cinched at the waist, and pulls together boyfriend jeans and dresses perfectly.

I was also thankful to rediscover a pair of over-the-knee boots which were bunched up in a dusty corner of the spare room wardrobe. They are slouchy and the sort of luxurious suede that wear better with age – most importantly they are still wearable after a day traipsing around in them. Painless feet equal gratitude.

We also discovered high-waist vintage jeans bought in a market in LA, worn fleetingly because they are snug on the stomach and bum but serve as constant inspiration to stay motivated. They currently don’t fit but I promise they will.

While my colleagues bought many of my offerings, I still have two suitcases of clothes – although they close much more easily – which I have big plans for. The Point Village Christmas market (December 7-10) along with the annual festive flea at Cork Street market (November 26) should put a big dent in them followed by a trip across town to my aunt – who used to be the one giving to me but has happily reserved all the sample items in my wardrobe... for a good cause.

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