Let’s be honest about it. When was the last time you put on an entire outfit that you were thrilled to wear? It’s both exciting and terrifying to get dressed, go out there, and be seen to the world after more than a year with minimal touch with the outside world Personal style has always been an external statement of how you perceive yourself and how you want others to see you—a very personal outward representation of how you see yourself and how you want others to see you. It’s time to reflect on what you learnt about yourself this past year as we enter a pleasant post-vaccination season, commonly known as #shotgirlsummer.
After a Year in Sweatpants, It’s Time to Get Excited About Your Clothes Again
Did Zoom therapy help you change careers, start a new passion, or learn more about yourself? Or did you simply discover that you’d been living with far too much and that you’re happy with the bare essentials? Follow these four steps to fall in love with your favorite pieces all over again, and maybe even recognize the growth you’ve undergone in the process, whether you’re no longer feeling connected to the clothes in your closet or you need a confidence boost to get back into the groove of choosing everyday outfits.
Step One: Make a Goal for Your Closet Audit: What Do You Want to Get Out of It?
While you may not need to assess whether or not an item provides you joy, you should examine each piece of clothes to see if it fits the person you are today rather than the person you were before the pandemic. As professional organizer and life coach Faith Roberson puts it, “organization isn’t just about the goods; it’s also about arranging yourself.” It’s a question about how you’ve evolved over the previous year and who you aim to be as we move forward.

“‘Why am I crying while putting a belt in a Goodwill bag?’ clients may inquire. It’s all about what you’ve gained and what you’ve lost “Faith expressed her thoughts. “It’s unavoidable to have an emotional discussion. What do you wish to experience? Because of what you’ve been through, your tastes have most definitely changed.” Basically, leave room for the unexpected. Decluttering is about more than just getting rid of clothes; it’s also about acknowledging that you’ve changed. Take some time to think about what you’ve just learned.
Pro Tip: This advice also applies to returning to work. You’re returning to work in a new way. Even Google is adjusting its attitude toward the workplace. Whether you’ve lost your job, switched industries, or are returning to the same cubicle, take the same care with your professional attire. What image do you wish to project in this environment?
Step two is to create a plan. Let Go of Perfectionism When It Comes to Organizing
We see what it looks like to be organized and perfect thanks to social media, home renovation shows, and self-help books. It adds unnecessary pressure when you start with such grandiose goals. Why are you doing this to please yourself? This establishes the tone for your own (reasonable) expectations. “Determine why you want to clean out your closet. Writing it down and having that affirmation for yourself is an important aspect of preparation, especially if you start to feel insecure “Faith expressed her thoughts. “Affirmations can be cheesy, so try saying them in the third person, such as “Faith has excellent taste.” It generates a sense of distance and has been statistically shown to improve believability scores.” It’s time to try on your garments once you’ve put down your goal. This may elicit concerns, but this is when you return to your affirmations, whether they’re body-positive encouragement or a reminder of why you’re taking on this undertaking.

“Does it bring you joy?” can feel like a loaded question at times. Instead of Marie Kondoing your way out of half your closet (I adore her, but it’s difficult! ), make an excuse to put on a solo fashion show. Playing dress-up with your own belongings in the comfort of your own bedroom can make things feel lighter and relieve the burden of decision-making. You want to include a feeling of play into your everyday interactions with your closet, just like you would in any other relationship. You’ll recall why you liked a particular top, realize that you’ve never liked that sweater, and feel as if you’re going shopping in your own closet.
Step 3: Prepare for the “I Don’t Have Anything to Wear” Situation.
You may start the fun part when you’ve formed a stack of Keep, Maybe, and Goodbye piles. Most likely, your “Maybe” pile is full of items you like but don’t know what to do with, or you simply don’t have a replacement. Start a list of goods that need to be replaced or a space that needs to be filled with a notepad and pen. You’ll shop with this list in the future to avoid overspending on clothes you don’t need. It’s what Faith refers to as her “Shop with Intention list.”

Begin mixing and combining items from your Maybe and Keep piles. Are there any outfits to be had as a result of it? Those who are left behind are a good sign that it’s time to move them to the Goodbye pile. Ask yourself, “What am I doing?” on a regular basis “Is this a true reflection of who I am now? Does it make me feel like I’m on the same page as myself?” Clothes serve as a gateway to a new world. It’s all about merging old with new, even if it’s old.
Pro tip: Hang your stuff back up as entire ensembles so you know you have some intriguing pieces ready to wear when happy hour returns.
Step 4: Accept the New You
Parting with one’s belongings is a painful experience. You still don’t believe us? Faith became a qualified life coach in order to assist her clients, who frequently required emotional assistance when decluttering their homes. On the one hand, building a new closet (even with existing parts) is exhilarating, but letting go of what no longer serves you can be daunting. Change is difficult. If you’re in a situation where you can’t afford new clothing right now, Faith reminds us that generosity breeds generosity.

Pro tip: Hang your clothes back up together as whole outfits so you know you have some intriguing pieces ready to wear when happy hour returns.
“You can donate your clothes, sell them on Poshmark, or gift them to friends-a it’s lovely karma exchange,” Faith explained. “If you don’t believe it, volunteer somewhere where you can see that others require what you don’t. You’re more at a loss than a gain if you’re frugal and hold on to something you don’t want.” It’s a way of making room for yourself and the person you’ve become. Get out there and flaunt your new ‘fits now that you’ve developed the correct mindset. Remember, you’re doing fantastically well—and you look fantastic!
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