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We’ve been missing Project Runway. Between Heidi Klum continuing to generate baby Seals and Tim Gunn leaving the Parson’s School to join Liz Claiborne, the show has been on hiatus. We happened onto a preview of Bravo’s new spin-off, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, and then watched the first episode.

In this format, Tim is just as sincere, frank, and caring toward this show’s participant as he was to Project Runway’s designers. He doesn’t make fun of people for their odd, outdated, or simply awful fashion choices, but instead tries to instill self-confidence and bring out the person’s individual style. It’s inspiring.

Part of the process on Guide to Style is getting rid of clothes that are old, ill-fitting or unflattering. Tim and Veronica Webb go through the person’s closets and help sort the clothes into four piles – keep, mend, give away, and throw away. I decided it was time to do some sorting of my own.

I have been holding onto lots of clothes. First, I can physically wear many of the clothes I had in high school, and some of my mom’s clothes from college, so if an article of clothing still fits, it’s hard for me to get rid of it. Second, I have had plenty of places to store these clothes (parts of three closets, not counting our workout clothes). Brian’s been encouraging me to at least get rid of tacky 80s outfits that I wore in middle school, but it was time to take things a step further. I was ready to be objective and make some decisions.

I’m pleased to report that I have a garbage bag full of clothing ready to go to Goodwill. It was fun to try on my high school graduation dress, parachute-shaped Outback Red pants, and my classic 1989 black denim jacket, but it was also easy to see that I didn’t need to keep those. I said goodbye to the suit I wore to my first real job interview, and the next suit I bought for tent-side presentations (it’s army green with a velvet collar, shudder). Thank goodness my style has matured a bit in the last 10 years, or at least I met Brian and he’s nudged me in the right direction. It was a little harder to admit the vintage 1950s houndstooth skirt and a who-knows-how-old but always-made-me-feel-professional navy blue wool blazer were looking too tired and faded to keep, but with a strong second opinion from Brian they too made their way out of the closet and onto the pile.

I am very happy that TV was a good influence this week. If Tim and Veronica happen to stop by, I won’t be embarrassed to open my closets. Next step – work on my list of 10 Essential Items: Basic black dress, Trench coat, Classic dress pants, Skirt, Blazer, Classic white shirt, Day dress, Cashmere sweater, Jeans, A comfortable alternative to a sweatsuit. I’m about halfway there.