I spent the latter part of yesterday (although as I’m writing this I mean today, which is quite strange) working with a client to edit the contents of his closet. It was challenging, as all closets are, since clothes have a distinct knack for melding into the emotional realm for people.

Working with him was another fascinating reminder of how t-shirts in particular trip people up. For men and women, t-shirts, more than dresses or bags or hats or pants or other wardrobe categories can feel like the impossible.

Maybe it’s the cotton; the softness of the material. Maybe it’s that those t-shirts have felt the most like a second skin, and as such, have become a part of you in your mind. And then of course there’s the possibility that you’re beholden to your tees for their graphics. The events they recall, the places they proclaim–the memories.

This weekend I’m prescribing a thorough edit of your t-shirt collection. Not the whole closet, and not even all the tops. Just t-shirts.

Gather them from far and wide, from drawer to laundry hamper.

Ask yourself which t-shirts you really love and are genuinely excited to wear.

Take a good, close look at the state of your tees, too; armpit stains, crazy pilling, holes, and stains just aren’t your best look. But which I mean they’re a very bad look. And something you deserve much better than.

Let go of the ill-fitting t-shirts that are either too boxy or too big or not flattering.

Trust yourself and your preferences; if you only ever wear yellow shirts, you don’t need a purple tee just to fill out the rainbow in your drawer.

Then fold your keepers beautifully, place them carefully back in their designated home, and go give your mama a kiss–it’s probably mother’s day by now.

Psssst: for more help dealing with commemorative t-shirts, read this guy. 

For help neating your t-shirt drawer, check out this post. 

As always, if you decide to tackle this weekend’s assignment, please help to motivate the masses to follow your lead by sharing your work on social media using the hashtag #livesimplybyme.

Image credits: unknown, Miss Moss