
I've written about mindset shifts for closet contentment before (you can check it out here). Closet contentment is a feeling of satisfaction when you walk in your closet, certainty when you get dressed each day, and a lightened mental load about your personal style
However, I initially omitted the mindset shift I personally felt moved the needle most for me. In hindsight, I think it was because this suggestion won't be right for women who are just beginning their style journey as it requires a wardrobe of pieces you love. On the other hand, if you're a collector of clothes with a closet waiting to be worn, read on.
The mindset shift that made a huge difference for me happened last year when I decided to always assume I had something to wear in my closet. This may seem trivial, but the reality is I had the tendency to "back-up browse" for random occasions even when I wasn't planning to buy something new.
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After the shift, instead of debating whether I needed to make a purchase, when I put a meeting, dinner, or event on the calendar: I went into my closet, looked at the pieces I've collected over time, and styled an outfit. Nine times out of ten I had a complete look, no purchase necessary.
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Mentally committing to styling a look out of my existing wardrobe ended up being a time-saver, even if I went through the process of experimenting with a couple of looks. Pro-tip: this mindset shift enhanced my personal style because I created many new looks with pieces I owned.
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I felt much more relaxed assuming I had an option in my closet. I embraced wearing pieces more frequently and older items that had fallen out of rotation.
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In short, over time my mental load became lighter when I let myself fully reap the benefits of this wardrobe I've been curating over time.
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I still shopped and bought new things (I am who I am), but with more of an eye on my overall wardrobe and lifestyle instead of singular happenings.
If you want to enjoy your existing wardrobe more fully, I encourage you to try out the mindset shift of assuming you have something to wear. Take the time to plan your look with pieces you've loved and curated over time. I promise it's just as satisfying and much less stressful than trying to buy something at the last minute.
Side note: January and February are a great time to focus on what's currently in your closet and how to wear it. My Edit and Integrate sessions are geared towards letting go of what's not right for you and creating complete styled looks with what you already own (click the hyperlinks for pricing and details).
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