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On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

  • Writer: meaganballen
    meaganballen
  • Jun 11, 2022
  • 4 min read

Updated: Oct 1, 2023

About two years ago, I started thinking about why I was dressing the way I was, did I like the clothes I was wearing, did my clothes say what I wanted them to say, did it matter what my clothes said about me, how could I get away with wearing my pajamas to my office, so on and so forth.


And then I tore both hip labrums, had to stay home for almost a year between discovering I tore said labrums, MRIs and doctor visits, surgery, a second surgery, vertigo from said surgery, COVID during recovery, then actual recovery.


So I had lots of time to sit around, stare at my clothes, and wonder why I had picked to buy the things I had bought and what to do about it.


Since I had the free time and I needed some kind of hobby I could do exclusively from the couch with an ice machine Velcro'd to my hips, I started reading about capsule wardrobes.


For those of you who didn't sit on the couch for a year with nothing better to do and have no idea what a capsule wardrobe is, it's essentially a closet full of clothing that can be interchangeable to maximize the number of outfits that your clothes can create. Capsule wardrobes often consist of more expensive pieces that will last a long time, be durable, can be hip no matter the current trend, and are loved well. Capsule wardrobes are the way of the minimalist future, and the older I get, the more minimalism intrigues me.


So I sat on my couch with my ice and I read articles. I watched countless YouTube videos (I see you Christina Mychas). I scrolled through Instagram reels and TikTok. I researched eco-friendly, plus-size inclusive companies that I would be okay buying from to build my wardrobe.


And then I started the experiment that helped me the most: I started taking pictures every morning of the actual outfits I was picking out to wear from my closet.


I didn't come up with this amazing idea on my own (once again, shout out to Christina Mychas) but I'm so thankful I did this before I started shopping for real*


*I had to put an asterisk here because I did shop a lot before I found what I actually wanted to wear. I tried to shop exclusively second hand, but did succumb to the allure of cheap prices from SHEIN for awhile, which taught me to research companies more and question why items are so cheap. Since I couldn't get out and shop at real stores, I relied on having things shipped to my home and figuring out what my style was through trying a bunch of different styles.


So I started crafting outfits out of my clothes and the different styles I had purchased to try. I took pictures so I could think about how the outfit made me feel throughout the day (with confidence levels and comfort levels) but also look back and see if I liked the actual look of the outfit. I paid attention to what I was reaching for the most, but when it got more difficult to remember, I had pictures to go back and help me remember. Some days I pushed myself out of my comfort level with a shirt or a pair of pants just to see if I still felt like I was out of my comfort level by the end of the day, or if I had realized that I was killing it in that outfit (honestly, this ended up being about 25% killing it and 75% I put that shirt or pair of pants in a pile to sell at second hand clothing stores, donate, or gift to friends if they wanted anything. But I got some pretty cool outfits and a good confidence boost with that 25%).





What I found is that I like a lot of solid colors, or block color shirts/sweaters, but every so often I like to shake things up with a bold, usually flowery pattern. I like a 70s vibe. I don't need to be afraid to lean into the 90s kid that I am. When I know I'm going to have a busy day at work, I want to pick the simplest and comfiest of outfits so that I don't have to think about my clothes at all that day. I re-remembered that my tattoos covering my arm are a statement piece all on their own. And I love, absolutely love, more than anything else in the clothing world, pockets. I no longer have time for pants or shorts or even dresses that do not have pockets. Get out of here Satan with those fake pockets on pants.


So with this new information, I gave myself a dress code of sorts. I started shopping at places like Aerie and American Eagle and Nordstrom and Target that will never be perfect but match my beliefs a little better than places I was shopping at. Once I was able to get off my couch more and not need the ice packs as often, I started exploring my city and found some cool second hand shops (if you're in the Knoxville area, I highly recommend Planet XChange and NTY Clothing Exchange). And I did the hard thing of listening to Marie Kondo's advice of telling some clothes in my closet "Thank you for your service but you no longer spark joy for me" and taking them out of the rotation.


And most importantly, I get to decide how I dress. I get to decide what makes me comfy and what makes me feel like fire on a date night and what is cozy on a weekend and what is good for my work days (and I'm lucky to work at a place that doesn't really have a dress code so I can get away with overalls and t-shirts and shorts if I want). I get to decide if I wear a crop top while running errands or that a swimsuit covered in flamingos is in fact my favorite thing in the world.


Taking the time to cultivate a wardrobe that makes you happy, finding the haircut that makes you feel the most you, realizing that you do love crazy-colored lipstick or glasses from the 90s or whatever your thing turns out to be, it's all pretty cool cause you're pretty cool. So go find your things.





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