I chose minimalistic ideals over fast fashion and it put me on a path to restoring my self-worth after marketing tried to destroy me.
I first decided to take a look at my habits surrounding clothing ownership when I started to add up the amount of money I was spending each month on clothing. When I realized I was spending enough to pay next month’s rent, I knew it was time to stop giving my money to people who don't deserve it and start digging into my relationship with clothing.
Let’s take a look at this segment from a Huffington Post article on Fast Fashion:
“Once upon a time, there were two fashion seasons: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Fast forward to 2014 and the fashion industry is churning out 52 ‘micro-seasons’ per year. With new trends coming out every week, the goal of fast fashion is for consumers to buy as many garments as possible, as quickly as possible.”
There is an entire industry dedicated to convincing us we need something, by telling us we will be happy when we own it. My money was going directly into the pocket of someone who capitalized off of giving me the idea that I wasn’t good enough without their product.
I bought into this idea, subconsciously, for years. I realized I had been tricked. I had spent a lot of money and never found true contentedness in doing so.
I felt angry and embarrassed, but I also felt empowered that I could let go and begin to see the value I hold in my own beauty, on my own terms, without seeing myself through the lens of comparison.
Over the last two years, I have collected a few tricks to help in downsizing ownership, I would like to share them with you here.
1. Clean up your mindset first
Try to recognize when you feel yourself wanting items. If you can address where the want comes from rather than going out and temporarily subsiding the want through making impulsive purchases, you may learn there is some inner healing that needs to be done and that a new shirt won’t ever address these internal issues.
2. Organize what you already own
Go through your clothing and, with each item, ask yourself if you would feel excited to go out in it right now. Ask yourself how confident it makes you feel. How functional and comfortable is the item?
Pro Tip: Each time you use something hang it up on the left side of your closet, by the end of one month look through what remains on the right side. You may be surprised at how much you don’t actually use!
3. Once you have cleared your space, avoid repeating old habits
Stop yourself before bringing anything home. This is the best way to prevent yourself from owning too much, spending too much and throwing away too much. This includes free boxes, Portlanders!
4. One in, one out
When you do find something that you feel adds value to your life and will last a long time, get it! I find success in avoiding clutter by putting one item in a free box for each item I bring home. Keep in mind, however, that even donated or free boxed items are not guaranteed to be re-used and may very well wind up in a landfill.
Every day that I push myself to live this way, I find more confidence in myself. I find that I care a little bit less about the beauty standards of the media, as well as of my peers. I find that I enjoy how my actions and words speak about my character, rather than relying on fashion for friendships or status. I have also found that I save a lot of time getting ready because I feel beautiful in everything I own. Most of all, I have found that while I have come so far in my ideas on ownership, I have so much work to do, both inside and out!
