How Do You Feel About Fashion? (Podcast Transcript)
/Welcome to this episode of the Small Soul Podcast! This is a podcast about the power of questions. In each episode, I’ll ask you a small question that will hopefully help you get to know yourself a bit better. Let’s begin. Here’s your question: How do you feel about fashion?
This episode is going to be a bit different from other episodes. Mostly, it is going to be perhaps a little less serious. Because in this episode, I’m going to be talking about clothes. Let me begin with a confession: I like to buy things. I like the sensation of getting a package in the mail, or finding a new mug at Goodwill or TJMaxx, or pulling on a new pair of pants or pajamas. My senior year in college, I worked the early morning shift at a bakery in town, and after my shift was over, I’d wander over to the box stores that were only a few blocks away. Browsing the racks at Old Navy or the stacks at Barnes and Noble was a way for me to relax. I never spent a ton of money, but I’d buy myself something pretty much every few days. This might have been harmless enough, but after awhile, I found myself racking up quite a bit of credit card debt because I was young, naïve, and new to the credit card world. Fast forward about 15 years, and while I am definitely more responsible with my money today, I still find myself pulled in by the allure of the next shiny new thing. As is the case with most habits, awareness is perhaps the first step towards better health. So, as we embark on a new month, I’m going to set myself--and you, if you’d like one--a challenge. I’m going to shop my own closet for 30 days.
Now, this is in no way an original idea. I think I first heard about this concept of ‘shopping your own closet’ on the Happier podcast, hosted by Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft. And if you do a quick hashtag search on Instagram, you’ll see dozens of posts about the idea of using and celebrating what you have instead of going out and buying something new. And that’s the basic idea: For 30 days, I’m going to approach my clothes, shoes, and jewelry as if they were my own personal store (because actually, they are). I’m going to try to wear something different every single day. At the end of the month, I’m going to really be honest with myself about the things I own, but just never really want to wear, and I’m going to take those things to Goodwill where they can hopefully brighten up someone else’s day. As a way to help keep myself accountable, I’ll be posting some of the outfits I wear and the items I find in my closet over on my Instagram account. You can find me at smallsoulblog.
Okay. Before we wrap up, I thought I’d give you a list of ways you can be brave when it comes to expressing yourself through the things you wear. Now, I am by no means a fashion expert. In the main, I try to wear things that are comfortable, and sometimes that rules out the truly fashionable things. Still, I’ve always felt that the clothes we wear say a lot about who we are and what we value, and I’ve also always felt that wearing what you want to wear can sometimes take a lot of courage. We live in a society that sends us lots of messages about what we ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ wear. For example, I live in a state that definitely celebrates simple and outdoorsy fashion over the latest trends. You’ll see a lot of Patagonia and Dankso shoes where I live. I like Patagonia (though it’s a little too pricey for my taste) and if I didn’t feel like I was going to fall over and break my ankle every time I wore Danskos, I’d probably wear those too, but here’s the thing: I don’t feel like myself when I wear Patagonia or Danskos. And for me, one of the top priorities when I get dressed is that I feel like myself. The other truth is that sometimes, I’m a little afraid to wear the things that make me feel like myself, because I might stand out a bit when I go to work or run errands. That’s another part of this 30 day challenge: To wear the things we bought because we loved them, but haven’t really worn because we’re worried what other people might think. So this month will be an exercise in frugality, but also in courage. In self-awareness and authenticity. I’m excited to see what it brings.
Okay, here’s my How to Shop Your Own Closet List:
Try to wear something new every day. This doesn’t have to be an entire outfit, but at least one thing you wear should be something you maybe haven’t worn or considered in a while.
Include your jewelry and shoes. Wear that pair of earrings you think are too big. Wear sneakers with a dress.
Keep an ongoing “to donate” pile. Grab a trash bag or a box, and each time you wear something that doesn’t make you feel good, put it in that pile.
Pay attention to how each piece of clothing makes you feel. Do those jeans make you feel claustrophobic? It might be time to add them to the donate pile. Do those giant elephant earrings make you happy, even if a little self-conscious? Plan on wearing them regularly from now on. What you feel matters more than what others think. And truthfully, they’re probably either admiring your giant elephant earrings or didn’t notice them at all.
Sign up for the free Shop Your Closet challenge weekly e-mail by sending me a message at bethyhunter@gmail.com, or by clicking HERE!
That’s a wrap for this episode. Remember, sometimes the things that matter are the lighthearted things. Clothes can matter. Fashion, matters. If you think about it, it’s all about how we show up as our truest selves in the world. Thank you so much for being here. Until next time, I’m Beth, and this is the Small Soul Podcast.