Wardrobe Switchover Time: Am I Ready for a Hardcore Closet Cleanout?

Every year, when summer winds down and fall appears, I go through a bit of a closet purge. I take a closer look at all my summer clothes and note what I didn’t have ANY interest in wearing over the past 3-5 months. When I’ve been routinely bypassing the items, it gives me just enough separation that I can purge a little easier.

And I’m chomping at the bit to do that closet cleanout again… but this year feels different. Like the stakes are higher?

As for why. Well, it has been almost a full year at my current job, and since it’s mostly remote, I’m only going into the office maybe 1-2 times a month. So, my need for work clothes is drastically lower than it’s ever been. And there are many items that I find myself passing over time and time again. Especially when I only need 2 professional-looking outfits a month.

And honestly, I’m pretty sure I could literally wear the EXACT SAME OUTFIT to work every time I go to the office and not one person would notice.

So really, this should be easy. I SHOULD be able to do a ruthless purge and keep only my absolute favorites. Go big or go home, right?

Here’s the problem: I’m kind of scared.

Because as much as I adore my job (and I really do, because it’s an awesome fit and they also seem to really appreciate me, which is amazing), I’ve been laid off before. And that kind of experience sticks with you. It’s scary, it’s scarring, and it changes the way you look at work forever. Even 14 years later, I still feel that little devil on my shoulder, whispering warnings not to get too comfortable.

So even though my rational brain says that I don’t need a ton of business formal blazers and dresses anymore, the anxious little voice in my head is whispering, “BUT WHAT IF???”

What if I get rid of 80% of my formal office wardrobe and then suddenly lose my job and have to start all over again? What if I need to look polished and professional five days a week again, and all I’ve got left are joggers, sundresses, and a handful of Teams-appropriate tops?

The thing is, rationally I know that’s not the end of the world. I’ll still keep enough items that I can mix and match for plenty of outfits. And of course, thrifting makes it easy to snag office-ready clothes for cheap.

So maybe the real answer is this: I WANT to do a hardcore purge and keep only the things I truly love… but I’ll also hang on to a tiny “just in case” capsule of work basics. You know, insurance against my ‘what if’ anxiety.

And just for funsies, here is every outfit I’ve worn into the office or for a work event since I’ve been at my current job (since last October) … which is 30 outfits total:

And right off the bat, I see at least 7 items that I could easily purge because I don’t love them. And plenty of outfit pieces that could be repeated in different ways. Okay, I’ve convinced myself. I’m going to do it. I’m going to do a full HARDCORE purge. (Spoiler Alert: I wrote this post on Friday night and spent the weekend attacking my closet. I posted a few Reels on my Instagram account showing my process and will post a Closet Purge update later this week!)

Are you the kind of person who hangs on to clothes ‘just in case’ or do you go full Marie Kondo and purge with no regrets? And for those of you who have lost a job before, do we EVER get over the fear that it will happen again?