Writing a personal style statement or manifesto is a powerful step in deciding how you want to present yourself to the world with your clothes, but sometimes the quickest way to make big change in our wardrobe is by figuring out what we are NOT, which we can often feel viscerally. And yet, somehow those items that just don't get us at all love to loiter in our closets.
Here is a list of 5 categories to let go of immediately as you begin to reveal the current masterpiece that is you.
"Not Now" Clothes: These are the ones you're saving for “when your body is different”--smaller, fitter, surgically augmented, pregnant, etc. One of my mentors, Karen Kingston, said in her book Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui that "what resists, persists." Love your now--the size and shape of the body you have, which does so much good work for you every day. Lavish some high quality fabrics that fit you beautifully on that perfectly wonderful body of yours and trust that if you need something in that "Not Now" category someday, you will be able to get it easily. IF you are still in child-bearing years and have reasonably short-term plans to need maternity clothes (or similar), choose your favorites and store them together in one, clear bin in your closet.
Imaginary Life Clothes Do you have clothes (and accessories!) for a special activity or hobby (skiing, painting, Marching Band, dinner with heads of state, Pickleball) that you have either never done, don't do now or haven't in a REALLY long time? Maybe some of these items still have the price tags on them. Create some space to grow into and be who you really want by letting go of these items. I promise you that when you get an invitation to a State dinner, you will be so excited to shop for the perfect outfit right then.
The SWAG Don't be like Michael Scott on this one. Unless you genuinely like and use/wear an item such as a race t-shirt, a hat, a frisbee, or any other freebie, don't let others' message create noise in the sanctity of your style lounge! Now I have some free chip clips I love and use, but now I have purged my free stuff, I have a policy of "just say no," when it comes to accepting them in the first place. Because purging is a LOT more work than not bringing it home at all.
"Expensive" Mistakes I get it. You spent what feels like a lot of money on something and now, although you don't really want to use or wear it, you get to use it as a talisman for making yourself feel tremendous amounts of guilt and disappointment every time you look at it. I mean why WOULDN'T you keep it? 😆 The thing is, despite your attachment to your story about how terrible and wasteful you are for having bought it...the money spent is in the past and is gone--. Isn't that a relief? Great! I bet someone else could enjoy this brand new item (or make it their own terrible mistake!). New things and energy--money! better-suited clothes!-- are always on the way to you, so you better make room. Donate that pricey wardrobe fail and move on with no regrets!
Gifts from Susie So-and-So You love Susie So-and-So and she loves you, but that chartreuse onesie she very lovingly got you for your birthday is just not your style. That does not negate the love you and Susie So-and-So share or her kindness in giving it to you. I mean, YOU have even made some expensive mistakes (see above) about yourself, but you are still a good person. Susie is still a good person. The value in the gift was sent and received the moment of the exchange; the burden of keeping it is not the gift. Someone else out there is just waiting for a chartreuse onesie; let them live into their dreams, too!
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