Create a capsule wardrobe

“I started with the wardrobe I had, tried everything on, put away everything that wasn't a favorite, and then started wardrobe tracking. I started planning and testing out outfits based on what I need for my actual life. If I found I really 'needed' something else I pulled the next closest thing out of storage and styled the outfit and then noted whatever it was that kept the garment from being perfect. The I started taking things to the tailor a few pieces at a time to tweak fits. Then I started looking for 'better' versions of the meh pieces. And I spreadsheet-ed everything in my wardrobe to track the 'versatility' of the pieces and either culled the low versatility pieces or found a more versatile version of them. The thing that made the most difference it that I tried my best not to buy new things that I hadn't tested some version of. My wardrobe still isn't perfect. I have more pieces that need upgrading or tweaking, and I do still need some sort of lightweight cropped trouser. But there's almost nothing in my closet that I don't feel excited to style. I have more than 100 core outfits that I am excited to wear and that fit my lifestyle.”

“There was a large pile of items I felt resistance to letting go of. As I looked at that pile, I felt a tremendous amount of discouragement and shame. I wanted to give up this idea of simplicity and just keep what I had, that would be much easier, much more comfortable. Detachment is uncomfortable before it is freeing. I was determined. When I felt this resistance I asked myself why? Why was I holding on to these things? I pressed into the attachment and uncovered many fears and lies I have believed about my identity in clothing. [...] I was ready to be free and that meant letting go of not just the excess but also letting go of the identity that the excess had created.”