Downsizing my wardrobe was scary the first time I did it. Getting rid of clothes just to have less seemed wasteful to a clutterer like myself. I paid for those clothes, and at one point I liked those clothes.
If we are honest with ourselves, we only wear about 20% of our clothes. Getting rid of the clothes I no longer wore wasn’t as scary as it seemed. And honestly, since my style is black tee shirts and jeans – how many black tee shirts and pairs of jeans does a girl need really. The process changed the way I think about my clothes, my self-esteem, and my spending habits.
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of a core set of essential clothing items that do not go out of fashion. Each season you add in some seasonal pieces to round it out. Having a capsule wardrobe simplifies your morning routine by taking the frustration and stress out of getting dressed in the morning.
1. It only takes me minutes to get dressed in the mornings now. I used to spend time trying on different outfits and then tossing them to the closet floor because I did not like how things looked on me. Some mornings I would put on on 5 to 10 tops. I was stressed, feeling inadequate and sweaty from all that changing. Always beginning my day frustrated wore on me. These mornings I can get up and get dressed, knowing that everything in my closet fits and looks good on me. Knowing this is such an empowering feeling to have first thing in the morning. And my closet floor is a lot cleaner!
2. A capsule wardrobe allows for what I truly love in my life. It creates space for the things I want. I no longer spend hours shopping for clothing or picking up all the discarded clothes from the closet floor. Also, the mental burden from the stress caused by the clutter and the low self-esteem made me tired. Now I can spend that time with my family or on a hobby I enjoy. It has shown me that material things are not at the core of my happiness. I permit myself to take time for myself and indulge in a little self-care.
3. I can do this decluttering thing! As a clutterer, I was afraid that I could not get rid of stuff. Looking at the piles and piles of things around my house made getting organized seem like an impossible task. I could never start the decluttering process because I thought I was bound to fail. Going through my closet and only keeping those items that fit and looked good on me was encouraging. It showed me that I could declutter and get rid of unwanted items. It was work, but a lot less work than I had imagined. Every morning when I see my clean, organized closet, I know that change is possible. I remind myself that little tasks will add up to the big change I am working towards.
4. I shop smarter now. When I shop, I remind myself that I can only buy things I truly love and which look good on me. I allow myself to spend more on each item of clothing because I know that it will be in my closet for a while. Knowing this, I have spent some time researching the fit of clothing on my body type. Now when I shop, I know what I’m looking for in how the clothing looks and feels. In the past, many of my purchases would be disappointments in the end. Now, I’m happy with the clothing I purchase and rarely think back on a purchase with regret. Honestly, I can’t tell you how much I’ve saved with this one rule.
5. I have finally found my style and feel good about the way I dress. I didn’t realize how much negative self-talk occurred while I was getting dressed until I created a capsule wardrobe. Knowing that whatever I choose from my closet is going to fit and look good has given me a confidence boost. I don’t worry as much about how I look. I figure that if I shopped smart, then I’m fine. I have found styles that look good on my body just as it is right now. When that changes, I can find some new clothes to fit my new body.
Starting each day feeling good about yourself (or at least not feeling bad) is a wonderful feeling. Knowing that you have time in your mornings to get dressed and have your morning coffee is a great way to start the day. Feeling empowered and being able to see at least some aspect of my cluttered life becoming more organized is absolutely wonderful.
Leave a Reply