How to love your old clothes again?

When was the last occasion you were happy to put on an outfit? It’s scary and exciting to finally get dressed after a long time of not being in contact with the outside world.

Personal style is a way to show what’s inside to others. It’s a personal expression of who you are and how you want other people to see you. As we enter a happy post-vaccination season–also known as #shotgirlsummer–it’s time to reflect on what you learned about yourself this past year. Are you looking to change your job, find a hobby, or learn more about yourself through Zoom therapy? Did you realize that you had been living with too many things and that the best clothes are the most basic? These four steps will help you fall in love again with your favorite pieces, whether you are feeling disconnected from them or need to feel more confident in choosing outfits for everyday.

Step 1: Create an intention–What do you want to achieve from your Closet Audit?

Although you don’t necessarily need to decide if an article brings you joy, you can take each piece of clothing out and see if it reflects who you are now as opposed to the person you were prior the pandemic. Faith Roberson is a professional organizer and life coach who likes to remind us that organization isn’t about organizing the stuff. It’s about organizing ourselves. It is asking yourself how your life has changed over the past year and what you want to be when you get out of it.

“Clients will ask me why I’m crying while I’m putting a belt in a Goodwill Bag.” Faith stated that it’s all about what you have lost and what you have gained. The emotional conversation is inevitable. What do you want? Because of the experiences you have had, your tastes may have changed.

Let there be room for the unexpected. Decluttering doesn’t just involve getting rid of clothes; it’s also about acknowledging what you have changed. This truth will take time to be processed.

Pro Tip: This also applies to returning to work. You are going to return to work differently. Google and other companies are changing the way they approach the office. No matter if you have lost your job or moved industries, it doesn’t matter if you are returning to the same cubicle. You should approach your professional attire with the same intention. What image do you want to project in this space?

Step 2: Get rid of the perfectionist approach to organizing

We are inspired by social media, self-help books and home improvement shows to see how it feels to be organized and perfect. It adds unnecessary pressure to those who start with lofty expectations. What are you doing? This is the starting point for your (realistic) standards.

Identify why you want to get rid of your closet. Faith stated that preparing involves writing down the affirmation and repeating it to yourself. This is especially important if you feel insecure. Although affirmations can seem cheesy at first, you should try using the third person such as “Faith has wonderful taste.” It is scientifically proven that it creates a sense distance and improves believability.

Once you have your purpose clearly written, it is time to put on your clothes. You may feel insecure, but this is the time to go back to your affirmations.

Pro Tip: “Does this bring you joy?” Sometimes it can feel like a loaded question. Marie Kondoing is not the best way to get rid of half of your clothes (I love Marie Kondo, but it’s difficult!). Instead, give yourself a reason to be a solo fashionista. Playing dress-up in your bedroom can help you feel more relaxed and relieve the pressure of making decisions. You want to bring a sense of fun into your daily interaction with your closet, just like any other relationship. You will remember why you liked a particular top and have an epiphany about why you don’t like that sweater. It will make you feel like you are going to the mall shopping for clothes.

Step 3: Don’t be late for the “I Have Nothing to Wear” Moment

After you have accumulated a pile of Keep, Maybe, and Goodbye piles, it’s time to get to the fun part. Your “Maybe” pile may be full of pieces that you love but don’t know what to do with or you simply don’t have the right replacement. Get a pen and a notebook to make a list of the items you need to replace, or to fill in any gaps. This list will be useful for shopping in the future to avoid overspending on clothes that you don’t need. Faith calls it “Shop with an intention list.”

Mix and match your Maybe pile and your Keep pile. Are there any outfits that you can make from it? If they are not being used, it is a sign that it’s time to move them to the Goodbye pile. Ask yourself: “Does it represent me today?” , “Is it aligned with me?”. Clothes can be a gateway to the new world. It doesn’t matter if the clothes are old or new, it’s all about mixing with what’s new.

Pro Tip: Keep your items together in full outfits. This will let you know that you have some great pieces ready to go when happy hour returns.

Step 4: Accept the New You

Parting with clothes can be an emotional act. Faith became a certified coach in order to support her clients when they were decluttering. It’s thrilling to create a new closet, even with existing items. But it can also be frightening to let go of what you don’t need. It’s hard to make changes.

Faith reminds us that generosity breeds generosity, even if you are in a difficult financial situation.

Faith stated that you have options. You can either donate your clothes or sell them on Poshmark. Or you can give them away to friends. It’s a wonderful karmic exchange. If you don’t believe it, you can volunteer at a place where people will need what you don’t want. If you are frugal and hold on to things you don’t need, you’re more at risk than you are if you do.

It is a way to make space for yourself, and the person you have grown into. Once you have the right mindset, go out and show your new looks. You’re doing great, and you look amazing!