The art of letting go – in style

MANILA, Philippines – You had it good. You’ve been to many places, seen many things, and shared many moments together. You seemed like the perfect fit.

But something better came along. Something that made you feel better, got you a lot more compliments… and made you look forward to waking up and getting ready in the morning.

Have you ever felt this way… about clothes? (*cue ba-dum-tsss*)

Anyone who enjoys dressing up will acknowledge that, over the years, you will accumulate quite a few pieces – and you’re not going to wear most of them forever. These days, the fashion cycle is much faster, and what may be fashionable today may not look as good tomorrow.

If you always find yourself thinking “I have nothing to wear” while staring at a cabinet full of clothes, it may be time for a wardrobe detox. So how do you know when it’s time to stop holding on to a piece? What do you keep, toss, or sell?

To show you how, we’ve enlisted the help of top bloggers Camille Co, David Guison, and Patricia Prieto.

Lesson #1: Trust your instincts

The very first lesson you need to learn: you don’t need to follow every trend. According to these bloggers, personal style is more important

“I just like sticking to styles and looks that I like and feel comfortable in,” Patricia says. David agrees. “If a certain trend doesn’t look good on you, no matter how current or how trendy it is, don’t follow it.”

We may not all get clothing sponsorships, but Camille insists that budget constraints should never be a hindrance to being true to your love of dressing up. “Its about creativity, being resourceful. There’s always a way to be fashionable without spending so much,” she says.

It’s not about quantity, but quality. All you need are a few key pieces to take you from one trend to another.

“In my closet, the keepers are usually the pieces I don’t get to wear that often – like a leather jacket or an olive green parka,” David shares. “They’re usually from high-end brands which means that they can last for years and still in good condition.”

“For me, it’s jeans, pencil skirts, basic tank tops and a good blazer,” Patricia says. “I know a piece is a keeper when it’s something I pick out whenever I feel like I have nothing to wear.”

Your own set of “keepers” doesn’t have to be made up entirely of basics or premium labels. It all boils down to your instinct. “I ask myself if I really, really love it,” Camille says. “If your gut feel really tells you ‘don’t let go of it,’ then make it stay.”

Lesson #2: Mistakes are part of the experience

The three bloggers acknowledge that being stylish takes work – and that looking fasyown involves hits and misses.

“Over the years I’ve struggled to find what my personal style is,” David says. “Year after year when we look at our old photos, we always laugh and say how bad we are!”

In Camille’s case, her style faux pas was about not getting the right fit – literally. “I hate fitting clothes. I always just buy stuff and tantsa na lang (just guess) if it fits me or it’s my size. So there are times that I really regret if hindi ko na siya maayos (I can’t alter it), like if it’s too small, then I’d have to give it to my sister, of course she’d be so happy.”

It’s completely normal to fall out of love with an item – even if it’s still in good condition. The three bloggers share a similar set of criteria when doing a wardrobe detox (or “purging,” as Camille likes to put it):

• You haven’t worn it for more than 6 months
• You’ve outgrown it or it doesn’t flatter your figure anymore
• You feel uncomfortable when wearing it (especially shoes)
• You have other items that have a similar style or cut

Fortunately, letting go always has a silver lining. Like Camille, you can simply give your clothes away. But more often than not, these three bloggers find themselves selling their old favorites in bazaars or online retail sites. Earning a little extra for an old piece definitely eases some of the regret.

Lesson #3: Get Digital

For Camille, David, and Patricia, the Internet is a huge part of their style as much as their actual outfits. On the web, they post their outfits, meet their readers, and get feedback. Naturally, their process of updating – or purging – their wardrobes have also gone digital.

The three often meet their readers and buyers through annual bazaars, but they’re also fans of the convenience of online retail portals. “I personally love buying at Ayosdito.ph,” David shares. “They have a team that filters out the bogus buyers and sellers. They also don’t allow the seller to post the same ad twice,”

Those on a budget can expect to find a lot of rare, branded finds online – for a fraction of the store price. Of course, not every item sold on the Web is a treasure. Here are the bloggers’ pro tips for making that online purchase:

• Shop at trusted sites that have security features
• Always look at reviews, research on the seller, and check out how the sizing compares with brands you already have
• Choose sellers who upload actual product shots rather than stock images

Lesson #4: Yes, it’s “just” fashion

There’s a reason why we can’t stop poring over these bloggers’ Instagram accounts and scrolling through their posts. They make dressing up look fun. And if we’ll take their word for it, everyone deserves to have fun with fashion. “If you want to present the best version of you then fashion is the best tool for that,” Camille says.

“Fashion is a a great way for people to know who you are without having to say anything. You don’t need to spend too much to look good,” Patricia says. “You can look like a million bucks with a P10 top as long as you’re confident.”

Camille’s final bit of advice is just to relax and rock what you’ve got. “The thing about fashion is it’s like a ferris wheel. It keeps going round and round. As long as you know how to rework things and know how to style these pieces together then you’re good with just a few basic pieces and some unique stuff.” – Rappler.com