I came to the recent realization that although I love fashion, I absolutely hate my wardrobe. It’s filled with shirts and jeans that I avoid until I have nothing else to wear (because doing laundry is the devil). I often find myself completely bored and unimpressed with my outfits. But my god, when I have the time and energy to rifle through all my clothing and piece together the perfect ensemble, the feeling of satisfaction is tremendous.

That feeling sticks with me the whole day. I am excited to go out into the world and share my creation with others — even if no one notices that my wardrobe choices that day were on point.

More and more, I’m seeing how fashion is, in my opinion, the best form of art. (Mostly) everyone wears clothes (probably). I mean, I don’t know a single person who doesn’t. Whether you put any effort into your outfit or not, what you wear tells a story. I’ve decided to start telling one that doesn’t scream, “I’m broke and lazy and completely Mid-Western.”

Important note: there is nothing wrong with dressing like your broke or lazy or midwestern. I just don’t feel I’m accurately portraying who I am when I wear the clothing I wear. Remember that fashion is an expression of who you are. Thus, there are no wrong choices! (Despite what Blair Waldorf might think.)

Step 1: Annihilate your closet.

I recently learned that in 1930, the average woman owned only 36 items of clothing. That is a drastically different number than what I currently possess. So I started thinking: why do I have all these clothes if I never want to wear them?

"I bought this for cheap."
"I was given this."
"I stole this from a friend. I should give it back.”

Those are the thoughts I had as I examined the items in my closet piece by piece.

Without even realizing it, I have inherited this idea that quantity is better than quality, and I apply this to all aspects of my life — friends, extracurricular activities, one could even argue my food choices.

But what does possessing a surplus of anything really give me? The first answer I can think of is a headache.

So, I cleaned out my closet. Vigorously and harshly. To do this, I asked myself three questions.

Do I actually like this piece of clothing?
Does it fit well?
Is it free of any stains or holes that bother me?

If each answer was yes, I kept the item. If the answer was no, I put it aside to donate, give away, etc. in the coming weeks. This did two things. One, it really downsized my closet. And two, it made me realize that I do have some good wardrobe pieces to work with.

I see that freeing myself from unnecessary clothing items gives me a solid foundation that will allow me to start building a wardrobe I'm proud of.

Step 2: Scrutinize your fashion preferences.

I am not ashamed to admit that Pinterest is my favorite place on the internet, and I have thousands of pins to prove it. I adore the idea of keeping a record of everything I enjoy in one place. And, besides figuring out what you want to eat for dinner or what hairstyle you want at your future wedding, you can also use Pinterest to examine your fashion preferences.

I used to believe that I had a very grunge-y style. I love heavy eyeliner, leather jackets and edgy tights. However, that’s only a piece of my style. After looking at my Pinterest boards, I found that I am also very simplistic and girly. I love bows and lace and skater skirts.

Most surprisingly, I realize that Japanese street fashion really peaks my interest — decora in particular. It’s so colorful, vibrant and quirky! Being completely open and honest with my fashion preferences, even if its not considered the norm in my region, allowed me to really pinpoint what kind of clothing I should look for when I go shopping.

Step 3: Figure out what you're missing.

While analyzing my Pinterest board, I realized there were items of clothing that kept popping up. I have countless pins featuring big, chunky knit scarves and knee-high socks. I also found that I have an obsession with short overalls. Figure out what pieces you like but don’t own, and shopping will be a lot easier.

Step 4: Come to terms with the fact that this will be a process.

Now that I have an idea of what items I like and what styles I'd like those items in, I have to sit back and wait. I can’t just go out and spend $500 on clothes. Since I am a college student, most of my money goes toward books and food. Creating a wardrobe that I am completely satisfied with will take time, and that’s OK! I think that’s part of the fun. Fall in love with your clothing choices one at a time, and remember: quality is better than quantity!