How I learned to Only Own Clothing I love

I was the woman with a walk-in closet full to the brim with clothing…all “organized” by color and style, much of it with the tags still on. There were labeled containers to hold accessories I never wore, shoe racks for shoes I never touched, and hooks for purses that were never opened. It looked beautiful and full, until the day it collapsed. Literally…the rack holding it all collapsed and my beautiful, “well organized” wardrobe was in a giant heap on the closet floor. This was the first time I began to think that perhaps I had a problem with excessive amounts of clothing. How I learned to only own clothing I love, started the day I had this realization.

Spark Joy

Over time, along with everyone else, I discovered Marie Kondo and her idea of clothing “sparking joy”. I used the method to go through my closet. Although I got rid of a large amount, I still didn’t quite understand what she was talking about.

Fast forward a bit and a couple of pregnancies providing me the opportunity to experience the pure excitement of starting my wardrobe over from scratch. I LOVED my maternity clothing. Each piece carefully selected, as I knew it was only going to be worn for a brief period of time. I had few items but was happy with everything. It was lovely on laundry day.

Starting over from scratch

Post babies I looked at my closet and knew I needed to switch things up a bit. My body was different, my clothing needs were different. I ended up donating a lot of it and this time last year my mom took me birthday shopping for a brand new wardrobe. Much like I did with my maternity clothing, I was selective, minimal and careful with my decisions.

I own much less clothing now and yet how it feels like I have so much more. It’s easy to get dressed in the morning when there are fewer options and I know I will like what I put on. My closet doesn’t need any sort of organizational system because now that I have fewer items they organize themselves. Everything is front and center and easy to see and grab. I learned to only own clothing I love.

I get it when Marie Kondo speaks of clothing “sparking joy” and can describe what this means to me in a very specific way.

This is how I define sparking joy

1. I want to purchase doubles of the item. It’s the shirt I want in multiple colors. Or buy extra because I’m going to be sad when it wears out.

2. If the piece of clothing becomes damaged I don’t just say “oh well, time to donate it”, but instead take the time to sit and repair it.

3. It is the clothing that when all of my laundry is clean I reach for first. I would wear it everyday if I could.

4. It is the clothing that I put on effortlessly. I don’t have to adjust it all day or worry something is showing that shouldn’t be. It isn’t itchy or tight or uncomfortable. Clothing doesn’t need to be painful.

5. It is the clothing that allows me to lay on the floor and play with Ninja Turtle figurines or Barbies or snuggle up in the chair and read to my babies. Because that is my priority right now. Not my clothes.

This is what it means to me for clothing to spark joy. It doesn’t matter what brand it is or how much it costs. This is how I know whether or not this item deserves my time and energy and a place in my home. Every single item of clothing feels this way and if it doesn’t it is not worth taking up space in my closet, life, body, or mind. This is how I learned how to only own clothing I love.