That’s the joke, isn’t it? Women (and & yes this happens to men too!) have overflowing closets and yet still stares blankly into the textile abyss and with a big frustrated sigh saying, “I have NOTHING to wear!” Hilarious. Our clothes are not our enemy. The predicament we are in is all on us! Fortunately, we can avoid this if we could just find out WHY we are always feeling this way!
Your closet is a disaster zone
It’s hard to become inspired or to be creative when your closet is chaotic. How are you able to see all your garments? In the mess of it all, you tend to grab the cleanest thing you can see. Soon enough, your latest laundry load is the only thing in your rotation.
The Fix: When your closet is organized and clean, you will reaching for your other items more often because you are visually reminded that they exist. There you are, metallic shorts! Now some people like to categorize their closet by color. But since my closet is filled with crazy patterns and colors, I prefer to organize by occasion, such as basics, athletic wear, weddings/formal, etc. Whichever way is more methodical for you, go for it! You want to give your clothes equal opportunity to snag a spot in your OOTD.
You buy too many trends for the sake of being on trend
Trends are fun and can help influence your style. But too often I see people who let the trends dictate their personal style. So as soon as fashion turns over to the next big thing, your closet is now stocked with all the previous season's crazes and you are left having to constantly turn over your closet equally as fast.
The Fix: STOP buying everything on trend, especially the ones you don’t LOVE! I take inspiration from the seasonal trends, I don’t live by them. You should be freshening up your closet seasonally by picking up things that you can see yourself still wearing when this fad fades. Create balance by adding timeless pieces and basics. This will ensure your wardrobe's longevity and you won't be finding your style to be dated so quickly.
Your clothes don’t fit you properly
This has become my number one criteria on deciding which pieces to let go of. You shouldn’t have to go through too much effort to figure out how to make your clothes work. Things in your closet should be comfortable and look good on you at any given time.
The Fix: If you have investment or sentimental pieces that fit too big, have them tailored! If you have a “for tailoring” pile that has been building up for over a year, toss it. If you haven’t done it by now, it's likely you will never get to it. For the things that are too small, unless you are pregnant, generally speaking, you should give them away or sell them. You shouldn’t be telling yourself that one day you will fit into your former smaller size. Instead, focus on garments that flatter your body! When things look good on you, you are more likely to wear them.
You buy things you don't love
This was a lesson I picked up from the minimalist movement. It has saved me so much money! In the past, I always get suckered in for deals and sales. Then I started noticing that during my bi-annual closet purge, I had so many items I was barely touching. Why? Because the things I bought I felt just okay about. I didn’t love it and it didn’t inspire me. I was a victim of a marketing ploy!
The Fix: Before leaving a store, ask yourself 3, 4, even 5 times whether or not you could “live without” this piece. Leave things that are comparable to the stuff you already have. If you do love it, will you realistically integrate it with your current wardrobe? When you make every purchase a thoughtful one, you will most likely end up with more things you love and enjoy and less of the "fillers".
You buy things without any outfits in mind
You go to the store and you see an amazing embroidered blouse. Definitely statement top! You purchase it without even thinking what you plan to wear it with! It now hangs undisturbed amongst your other impulse purchases. It’s easy to like something. You are naturally drawn to things based on your taste, but sometimes that doesn’t translate to your wardrobe.
The Fix: Think before buying! Yes as I mentioned you’ve got to love the items you are buying, however, you also need to look how it fits with the rest of your wardrobe and your lifestyle. Can you create multiple outfits with it? Will you actually wear this piece or do you just like the aesthetic? If you like the aesthetic, there maybe something similar which is more suitable for you.
You keep buying the same shit
When everything in your closet are just slightly different copies of each other, you will definitely feel bored and like you have nothing to wear. When you organize your closet and group like pieces together, you will be able to visualize how many of the same thing you actually have. You will also be able to tell where the gaps are.
The Fix: Resist the urge to buy things you already have. Instead, think outside your boundaries and give a chance to something out of the ordinary that peaks your interest. Try things on in store so you can prove to yourself which new style work for you.
Everyone has seen you in all your clothes
“I never wear the same thing twice” said the person with unlimited funds. That mantra is too rich for my blood. As a normal person, you are guaranteed to wear things over and over. That’s what we want, right? Your problem here is, everyone has seen that outfit so many times. You aren’t maximizing the potential of your closet if you have set outfits.
The Fix: Experiment, experiment, experiment! Exercise your creativity and stop defaulting to the same outfit. You can reinvent your pieces you know. Turn dresses into tunics, match patterns to patterns, mix up textures, there are an infinite amount of possibilities. If you feel lost, look up some inspiration on Pinterest or Lookbook. Experiment by pairing it with some items you never would have.
Your clothes are old and out of style
It happens to all of us! Our wardrobe goes through regular wear and tear and eventually we need to retire them. Tired and worn out items will definitely bore us.
The Fix: It’s so easy! GET RID OF THEM! If you are generally a crafty person, you can consider upcycling some items and make them new again. Otherwise, consider donating or reselling the items in good condition. There is no point wasting closet space on things that you feel “blah” about.
It is so frustrating to look at all the things you have an feel like you still don't have enough. In reality the only thing you are lacking is inspiration. You can regain this with just a few tweaks to your lifestyle.
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