The topic of overconsumption has been a hot one in the fashion industry for a while now. With the popularity of clothing haul videos and the convenience of stores like SheIn, Zara, H&M, and the most infamous of them all, Amazon, the temptation to buy more because of the low price is growing. However, when we do purchase a haul in the hopes it will fix all our fashion related problems, we end up unsatisfied and with a wardrobe that is no better than before the big purchase.

One of the biggest consequences of overconsuming is that (most of the items never get worn) it’s hard to know what’s actually in your closet. Most of the time, buying a large number of items very often will cause you to forget what’s even in there. Having too much too quickly becomes overwhelming. When your closet is stuffed, there’s no room to see each individual piece. Consuming so much so quickly doesn’t give you the chance to truly wear the item enough to understand why you love it or hate it. Do you ever look at an item in your closet and wonder why you never wear it? Chances are, there’s so much in there that you haven’t experienced that specific clothing item enough to know what about it is lacking for you. Your clothes should be worn and loved over and over again. Of course, your freakum dress is only pulled out for those special occasions, but a good blazer and quality work dress are something you grab weekly. So, make sure those items can withstand the wear and tear of everyday life. 

Overconsumption will also lead to you lacking a strong style story in your closet. Your style story is a combination of who you are, the purposes your closet serves, your best coloring and silhouettes, and more. All of these things come together to create a closet that is cohesive and unique to you. Typically, over-consumption will cause you to buy things you don’t need or even truly want, causing your closet to feel confusing and discombobulated. Many of our clients have a walk-in closet filled to the brim, yet still feel their wardrobes lack interchangeability and versatility. That is because buying a large amount at once can lead to one-trick pony purchases that can’t be easily styled, aren’t flattering, or are duplicates of something they already have.

Duplicates are one of the most common consequences of overshopping. Having a variety of items in white and black, especially with shirts, makes sense. Things like shirts tend to become dirty the fastest from sweat stains, deodorant marks, and the occasional food spillage. And white and black are staple colors for most people to complete an outfit. But having five of the same ribbed racerback tank top is when things become excessive. Unless your closet absolutely requires you to have that many of the same basics, there’s no need to fill your closet with three light washed denim jackets.  

Another downside to overconsuming is that it can hurt your bank account unnecessarily. Yes, the items may be a good price, but each piece being $25 will add up over time. Plus, if you don’t truly like the item, then you don’t receive a good ratio of cost per wear. The more you wear an item, the less the cost matters because you receive your money’s worth. A $200 pair of jeans can be expensive for some, but if you wear them once a week for a year, then those jeans only cost you $3.84. Spending more money on something that you love and will stand the test of time is usually more beneficial in the long run. Calculate how much you spend on clothes on average at a time and consider using that amount to buy four good pieces, rather than eight cheap ones. 

We might think that buying a bunch of clothes we saw on someone else will eradicate the frustrations we have with our closet, but buying clothes without a vision and a clear purpose that is appropriate for your body and personal style will only make the situation worse because now you’re not only overwhelmed but also have to figure out what to do with all the items you don’t like. Not knowing what you have can easily lead to unnecessary multiples of items. You’ll also waste money on things that never get worn rather than buying higher-quality items you love wearing. Being clear about what you have, what you like, and what you don’t like will make your style story more clear in your wardrobe. The first thing a personal stylist will do for you if you’re suffering from the consequences of overconsumption is figuring out what your personal style looks like and next help you clean out your closet of the things that do not fit in that style narrative. After that, the fun part of building up your new wardrobe can begin.