Poll Results: What is in Your Closet that You No Longer Wear?


Vintage Tea Dress by Ingrid Mida 2008
Over the course of the past six weeks, I've run an informal poll on the sidebar of my blog asking readers to  answer a four questions about what is in their closets. There were 56 respondents to the initial poll question.

Do you keep items of clothing in your closet that you no longer wear?
The vast majority of respondents (94%) answered yes.

How many items of clothing that you are no longer wearing do you have?
71% (38 people) had more than 10 items of clothing in their closet that they no longer wear.
15% (8 people) had between 1-5 items.
13% (7 people) had between 5-10 items.

What items of clothing that you no longer wear are you keeping? 
Possible choices included: wedding dress, other formal attire, work clothing, clothing gift from someone, clothing belonging to a beloved family member, and other.

Because multiple answers were permitted, the results are not as clear. 48 people answered this question about 2-3 items of clothing. It would appear that the vast majority of kept clothing includes: wedding dresses, formal attire and work clothing.

Why do you think you are keeping these items of clothing?
Of the 43 people that responded to this question, most people (79%) answered that they kept an item because they might wear it someday.
The next most popular answer was that it reminded them of a special time or event in their life.
Other possible answers included that it was too expensive to throw away which got 12 votes and it was given to me by someone that I care about which got 11 votes.

Although my poll was informal and unscientific, I think the results suggest that this would be a fruitful area of research. Although I already have one masters degree, I'm contemplating going back for another and I think this would be a fruitful area of research. To read about the project that inspired my poll, click here.

If you would like to answer a more detailed questionnaire about the clothing in your closet, please email me at artismylife@mac.com. And as well, I'm interested in posting more stories about a memory related to a special item of clothing for my Memories of a Dress Project.

What is in the back of your closet that you no longer wear? Do tell!

The Reader

The Reader by Fragonard

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.
                                                          Chinese Proverb



I love books almost as much as I love art. These two passions consume my time and my money. I am never without a book on my bedside table; in fact, there is a stack of books several feet high on the floor, all waiting to be read. There is bad weather in the forecast for this weekend and you can be sure that I'll have my nose in a book, and it won't be an e-book. I love the feel and smell of books. They have been my constant friend and companion. I have many favourites but some that have left a lingering essence in my psyche include: The Bell Jar, Anna Karenina, Little Women, Charlotte's Web, Heidi, The Fountainhead, Mrs. Dalloway, Emma, Tess of the Duberville....

What are you reading? Do you have any favourites to share with me?

Read Me Like a Book!

The Little Balloonist, Bookwork Sculpture by Ingrid Mida 2009

As a writer, an avid reader and as the daughter of a librarian, I have a special fondness for books. Creating art out of books and fashion magazines has been a relatively recent exploration. It took some courage to cut up a pristine book because I’ve always had such reverence for the written word. However, with the recent popularity of the e-readers, I fear that books will become a rarity and so I chose to celebrate them in a series of book sculptures.

Three of my bookworks will be on display (including Homage to the Bell Jar) as part of the Read Me Like a Book! exhibition at the Collingwood Public Library which opens today. All works are text based and were selected by curator Allison Billings to help celebrate the reopening of the library.  Having spent many summers of my childhood in Collingwood, it seemed like the perfect venue for this new and quirky artwork. 

Read Me Like a Book!
55 St. Marie Street
Collingwood, Ontario
705-445-1571

September 1 - 26, 2010 
Copyright © Fashion and Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Blogger Template designed by Click Bank Engine.