I talked a while back on Instagram about getting to a point where I absolutely HAD to cull my wardrobe. I had clothes across three (!) closets, and a very blah attitude about what I was wearing most days. I also was only wearing the same 10-20 items at a time, so I knew that there was a ton of stuff in there that was just collecting dust.The process was daunting. I got every.single.item. out of the closets (minus undergarments. Ain't nobody got time for that!) and stacked it all on our spare bed. Then I went through and separated everything into three categories:
I love this and wear it all the dang time.
I love this but I don't wear it because ______.
I do not love this and I am going to donate it.
After I had three piles, I tried on everything in both the love piles. Some of the stuff that I loved and wore all the dang time had really seen better days. If I had multiple things that served the same purpose (black tees, for example!), I kept the ones in the best shape and donated the rest.The second pile was a little harder to work through. So often, as an anxiety shopper, I would buy things that I loved, but that didn't work well with my body type, didn't fit, or wasn't really my style or in my color scheme. I loved them all, but I had to be brutally honest about what worked and what didn't, and by trying it all on, I discovered some new loves and was able to let go of so much!As I put my wardrobe back together, I made sure everything was organized by item, fit in to my color palette, and could easily be seen.The impact on my self-care has been INCREDIBLE.The last thing you want to deal with when you're overwhelmed, running low on energy, and have a ton going on, is feeling like you have to figure out what to put on, what goes together, what fits, etc. What ends up happening is you throw something on, think "well, this is as good as it gets today!," throw your hair up and go, right?That was me, every morning. No makeup, no hair styling, no real love for what I was wearing...just blah. I am not saying that you need to wear makeup or look cute or do your hair to have worth or feel good or any of that. I am saying that for me, not putting any time into my appearance and leaning in to the chaotic feeling of "just throwing something on" bled into all parts of my day and my routines.Once all my clothes could be worn together, and they fit, it was easier to take that energy and put it somewhere else (like hair! or housework! or creativity!). I also discovered that there were other areas I could streamline. I reworked how I did laundry (it's also easier with less clothes!). I cut my hair shorter because I'd rather it be easy and quick to style than "on trend." Another nice perk is that I don't feel the urge to anxiety shop for clothes that much any more. If I do, I pour my energy in to finding a replacement for a beloved item that needed to go, or a piece I know I am missing in my wardrobe. (Currently? A rain jacket. Thank you Oklahoma springtime!)Are there still days I roll out in leggings and an O State tee with my hair up? Hell yes! Now, though, it's not just the next day in an unending string of dressed down days. It's an exception. One that I want to make while I'm hanging around the house or running errands or having a lazy day. That small significant difference has been a big one.Want to revolutionize your closet? Here are some tips and resources for learning more and putting together a capsule wardrobe of your own.
Pick (and stick to!) a color palette (see mine in the photos)
Be BRUTAL in your sorting.
If it's a sentimental piece, something that you can't quite decide on, or something that you just can't make yourself let go of, store it away, out of sight, for at least 6 months. Revisit when you can. (I put my stuff in under-the-bed-tubs I got on Amazon.)
Check out @cottonstem on Instagram. That girl has really inspired me around capsule wardrobes!
Do you have a capsule wardrobe? Has it helped you? Are you struggling with putting one together? Tell me in the comments! I would love to hear all about it!
