Surviving A Closet Meltdown!

We all do it.
Some of us do it once a month.
Some of us once a week.
And there are even those who do it once a day.
I am talking about having a closet meltdown.

You know, those irrational and overly emotional moments of complete break down when you realize that you have nothing to wear?? You have an entire closet full of clothes but you have nothing to wear!

This weekend, I had three holiday parties to go to in one day and when I opened my closet to get dressed it was as if I was staring into the great abyss. I couldn't find a dang thing to wear. Even though I swore I went shopping two week earlier - now all of a sudden everything I had didn't look right or didn't feel fashionable enough.

Just a short perusal of my closet content will reveal the sordid and sorry history of my body loathing and body love.
You can document periods in my life when I was hopeful (the skinny jeans) or hateful (the elastic waist pants). You can see where I was following some crazy Hollywood trend or when I was really listening to my Inner Style.

For many of us, our closets aren't the truest reflection of our bodies as they are right now.

How many of you hold on to sizes that you wore years ago because you are convinced that one day you will squeeze back into them again?? How many of you hold on to pieces of clothing that hold a special memory for you in your life? First date, second marriage, promotion at work? And how many hold on to pieces of clothing that hold painful memories for you? Like say the 'thin' jeans you swear you will get into next summer?

Since our clothing is our emotional costume we must be really clear on what part we want to play. That of crazy girl who diets regularly to fit into a style that she should have stopped wearing 10 years ago?? Or that of sensible, graceful woman who has learned to dress her body lovingly and calmly, accepting all of it's lumps, bumps, and curves. I am somewhere in between these two roles.

I think closet meltdowns are synonymous with our emotional state. When we are feeling free, alive, and happy, we can skip into our closets and pick out an outfit easy as pie. When we are burdened, feeling 'ugly', or have a lot on our mind, then our clothing choices seem to feel monumental. I ended up writing an entire chapter about the daily dance we do in our closets in my book "Do I Look Fat In This?" If you want to read an excerpt you can go to http://beauty.ivillage.com/fashion/0,,90dr930r,00.html

As for my closet melt down on the eve of my 3 holiday party weekend, after a half hour of moping in front of my closet, I just decided to go with the ol' tried and true...the little black dress. Luckily, I stockpile 2 or 3 beautiful black dresses that I wear to death and they tend to hide all of my insecurities both inside and out. They are a clothing band-aid of sorts.

Sometimes we forget that our greatest accessory can be the way we feel about ourselves. So I decided to dress up my outfit that night with a big, grand SMILE. And voila - it worked! A few minutes after entering party #1 - I realized no one gave a hoot about what I was wearing...they were all too busy worrying about what they were wearing!

An important lesson learned and a minor closet meltdown averted...at least for now.
Or until the next time I open my closet...

Comments

That sounds just like me.Sadly I'm going through one of those "ugly" phases.Having read this I feel better,about understanding it.
Smile's in place.
Good post.

me too!
today i couldn't find anything to wear and it made me crazy because i had the outfit all picked out in my mind.
also, i have problems buying clothes because i am pear shaped and the tops all fit but the pants don't. anyone any thoughts>?

I don't just hang onto skinny clothes. I hang onto the pants that are now too big on me just in case I need them again. I have a shelf in my closet that just holds my "fat pants," and I only own one pair of "skinny pants."

I am in on the challenge. I have your book and think you are great. We can do it!!!

ahhhh help everyone today is a really bad day for me and i am struggling wtih not just my body image but everything! feel terrible and i am just in a sour mood. i just feel like i am never going to lose this weight...help!

Mattybee, its going to get better! Today isn't your day, thats okay, tomarrow will be! Weight loss happens a day at a time. Get bundled up on your lunch break and take a walk, once you get those endorphins pumping I promise you'll feel alot better. Have you joined the challenge? I have, and I think we can all do this together. I'm wishing you well and sending good thoughts your way

for me, everyday is a meltdown day when it comes to choosing an outfit. What I wear and how I feel in it dictates my mood for the day.
I too hang onto my skinny jeans as well as my fat jeans. I keep the fat jeans "just in case" I need them...it would break my heart to have to go out and buy "fat pants" because in my mind, that would be giving in to the fact that I had gained weight, I know it is a messed up kind of way of of looking at it...like seriously, whether I had to buy new fat pants or pull an old pair out of my closet, the fact would still remain the same...I had gained weight.
I am seriously thinking of joining the challenge for the new year...our winters are long here and I would just love to unveil a toned body come spring...I think the challenge is a great idea (kudos to whoever initiated it!)...Support from those in the same boat so to speak would be very encouraging and motivating...

:)

thanks karme, the day got better.
i had a rough night though and now reading your post is reminding me i am not alone. i also joined the challenge today.

jess i hope i get to meet you one day you are my role model.

Hi Everyone -

Mattybee - way to go!! I hope I get to meet you too one day!

And Memorythief - thanks for your posts - I do hope you join the challenge. We are trying to get at least 20 people from this blog on there and we can do it together - so far we have about 17....do I hear more???

You guys are great - thanks for sharing...and you know what - I get a lot of comfort by remembering that each and every day we have a new chance to make a different choice. We are not locked into our past mistakes at all but rather have a new beginning every single second of the day.

xoxox

I will join the challenge this weekend...

LOOK OUT 2007!

I just discovered this blog this morning (amen to shift work!)

You rock Jess!

:)

Are we talking about the iLose It for Good Challenge?

yes kerstin - we are indeed talking about the ilose it for good challenge...we have about 18 signed up so far from this blog - if we can hit 20 - i am joining in....
(hmmmm I have a hunch you guys are gonna call my bluff, huh?)

:)

Well, I just joined. so that's 19! :)

That makes 20... Jess, your turn to sign up!

Hi all,

I'm new to this blog, but I just joined the challenge. This topic is one of the big motivators for me. I have all kinds of pants in my closet that I can't wear because I can no longer fit them over my thighs. It's an awful feeling. And then I get depressed. It's a cycle. Well I've been doing a so-so job of trying to loose the weight and a group like this is exactly what I need. Some help motivating me to stop snacking and start moving.

I'm really excited to be in this challenge with you all. Here's to a new self-image in 2007!

I feel that you've so well written down all my feelings, the good ones and of course the down ones.... at least somebody understands me too!!
You're doing a great job, I love to read all your blogs. Waiting for the next one already. Lots of success!!!

I chatted with my sister this morning and she told me to peruse the site, she and I are both in a pact to loose weight this year once and for all. We dont live near each other and have set a date in May to do our reveals, I know we will need help and encouragement. This may the answer.

I've just joined and I am excited to use this site to stay in touch with all of you. Good luck to us all.

I need to lose 10 lbs. I have a stack of pants that don't fit and just broke down and bought 3 pair that do fit. The 10 lbs. crept on over the lat year...new marriage, newly built home, and last baby girl going off to college (I miss her!) I keep setting dates by which I will fit into the "skinny" pants. I know I would feel better if only they fit again!

This is an awesome sight...just joined today...

My name is Belaine I don't know how many more people you need but I think you got over 20.I didn't join today I think it was the other day.Since monday 12/08/07 I've been eating more healhty and going to aerobics classes in the morning and going back to the gym and walking,cycling,and doing the row machine with my husband at night.So far I've lost 8 pounds I've been fat for to long and I want the weight off of me.This challenge keeps me going.Every morning I don't feel like going I turn on my computer check me e-mail and there you are encouraging me so I go and go strong every day because of this challenge.
THANK-YOU
Belaine Carroll

I really needed to read this article and all of the letters today. I lost 27 pounds over the last 4 months, and I have kind of stopped my routine. I need to get back at it. I want to lose just 15 or 20 more. The weather is colder now and I just don't have the excitement to get outside and walk, but I sure do want to be in that bikini for the summer time at the beach. Thanks to all of you that wrote. I have been surprized at how quickly I lost weight when I really made my mind up to do so--eat well and really stick to an exercise that I enjoy. Keep it up eveyone and don't get discouraged with little slips. They can lead to huge set backs or just tiny bumps in your road on this journey---It is ultimately YOUR choice :)

I'm joining today!! I can relate so much with what everyone is writing. I am going to clean out my closet this weekend. I've been holding on to things hoping to fit into them again, but now I'm thinking, hey when I lose the 25 pounds, I want new clothes not those old ones!!! So Stacey and Belaine please share how you lost your weight.

Thanks,
Beth