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For most of us, the answer is no.
We wear on average about 50%¹ of the clothing that we own. In countries like the US and Canada, the researched number has been shown to be closer to 20%.
The 80% that goes unworn? It just hangs in our closet unused and basically unloved. For tips on how to responsibly part with your clothing, visit out Circular Fashion page.
Think of all of the resources: Financially, environmentally, time-wise and mentally that went into the creation, browsing, deciding, shipping and buying of these clothes. All for not.
This is why Encircled created the #WearYourCloset Challenge.
We believe that the most sustainable thing you can do is actually wear the clothing you own.
Revolutionary, right?
To get started on the right track for this, we recommend setting wardrobe intentions and making sure the clothing you actually own helps you cultivate those feelings when you wear it.
Instead of New Year’s resolutions, we prefer the teachings of Danielle Laporte and The Desire Map. The Desire Map advocates that instead of setting hard goals for your life, you need to identify what feelings you want to create in your life, and take actions towards that instead of an achievement.
For example, let’s say you want to feel more freedom in your life. How can you take actions that will create those feelings? And do you have any goals/actions planned that will work against those feelings?
As an example, for a feeling like freedom, perhaps a goal of owning your own home may work against that. Purchasing a home, while seen by many as an investment is also a huge financial undertaking and long-term commitment.
Checking your goals versus your feelings is a great way to ensure you are aligned with your core desired feelings in life.
What we wear can massively impact how we feel about ourselves.
If you’re constantly fidgeting with your pants throughout the day, or perhaps a too tight top, or looking at your pilled sweater sleeve all day, it can impact your mindset.
If it takes you hours to get dressed because you can’t find the right fit, style or design, you’ll wind up frustrated and annoyed by the time you get out of the house.
It’s important to value your clothing, and choose carefully when purchasing, wearing and taking care of your clothing.
Grab a pen and notebook and write down a few thoughts so you can start feeling amazing.
Is there something in your wardrobe that’s really working for you right now. Perhaps, you’ve shifted to a wardrobe that aligns more with how you spend your time or you have the budget to invest in a few quality items.
Is your closet too cluttered? Does nothing fit? Do you feel embarrassed about certain items? Share it all. Anything goes here.
Recall a few times when you tried to get dressed/pick an outfit this past year that didn’t work. Why? What happened? What was frustrating?
Now, recall a few times when you got dressed and felt AMAZING! What outfit did you wear? What made it so special? How did you feel?
Now that you know how you want to feel, and have discovered a few times you either haven’t or have felt this way in the past, it’s time to take action towards cultivating these feelings in your life and wardrobe.
What are you missing in your wardrobe?
What do you have too much of?
What do you want less of in your wardrobe this year?
What do you want more of in your wardrobe?
What action(s) can you take to achieve how you want to feel in your wardrobe?
This is a BIG question. Think back to your Core Desired Feelings for your wardrobe, and truly dream about any time you’ve felt how you want to feel getting dressed, or wearing an outfit.
Some examples --
The desire to create a feeling like ‘confidence’ in your wardrobe may lead you to ask what makes you NOT feel confident right now. Is it that you don’t know your style, or maybe your wardrobe doesn’t reflect that style? A few key actions would be to do more research on your style (hint, hint, our Minimalist Wardrobe Workbook could help with that!), or link in with a local stylist for some advice on how to get the right clothing for your lifestyle, or start following some blogs or Instagram accounts that reflect your ideal style.
Perhaps you feel like your wardrobe is too blah, and you want to feel more bold. Ask yourself how you can create that feeling! Do you need to add a few key statement accessories? Could you integrate colour more? Is there a style you’ve always wanted to try but shy away from?
Creating a more mindful wardrobe involves being more thoughtful about your purchases. If you’re just starting out with a closet full of Forever 21 (no judgement!), making a plan for how to transition your wardrobe to more ethical sustainable clothing one is key. A good starting point would be to research brands that would align with your values, and possibly start building a clothing budget. Also, doing a closet cleanse would help you see what you have, and what you need, so that you don’t purchase things unnecessarily.
No matter what your wardrobe intentions are, one thing is clear and that’s that we’re not wearing what we actually own.
If you’re ready to challenge yourself, and your closet, try our 7-day Wear Your Closet Challenge.
You’ll have 7 days to wear 7 rarely-worn items, and if you can’t you have to agree to let them go. If you can? You may just discover a hidden gem that you forgot about in your closet.
Either way, it’s a win.
About the Author
Kristi Soomer
Kristi is the founder/CEO of Encircled and a licensed Desire Map Facilitator. You can find her on Instagram @encircled_ or @kristisoomer
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