Binging and Purging
American consumerism is on the wane…at least that’s what the pundits have pronounced and recent economic indicators demonstrate. This is a welcome development for us fans of environmental preservation and sustainable living.
So if binging is no longer in fashion, might we conclude that a national purge will follow? Is it logical to assume that in order to complete the evolution from free spending to frugal nation, we must rid ourselves of the extras and the obsolete?
I submit that to truly shed that deeply embedded tenet of the American psyche, consumption, we must let go of the clutter in our consciences. We must develop exacting standards, allowing in only that which nurtures and is necessary. It can begin in the closet.
In my business as a wardrobe consultant, I work with clients to build their skills around creating an efficient, harmonious, and flattering collection of clothing. But the true transformation is not merely about a change of outfit. It is a psychological shift—an exorcism of a self-image laden with insecurities, judgments, and perceptions, mostly self-imposed and accumulated over a lifetime.
After a recent closet edit, I asked my client what was the most valuable takeaway from our session. She said, “I didn’t just get rid of clothes. I got rid of deeper shit. I got rid of clothes that would hide me.” The purging was a catharsis…an emancipation of a new self-image that would support her goals, dreams, and hopes for the future.
Here’s hoping the country is on the cusp of a new self-image, rooted in humble confidence, sustainable generosity, and stylish simplicity.
—Katherine Bass is a wardrobe consultant. Learn more about her services and fashion philosophies at www.katherinebass.com.