What I learnt about personal style after selling my wardrobe online

The best way to really see what you do and don’t like, sartorially speaking.

In today’s social media-fuelled world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that more is more. We’re constantly being shown new products, aesthetics and labels. It’s a vicious cycle. Validation is one click away and then a few days later, it’s at your doorstep.

I know it doesn’t sound nearly as fun, but it’s better for your bank balance, your personal style and your closet space to have – and to buy – less.

When I was young, I dreamt of having a full closet: one that was bursting at the seams with possibility. The reality of that dream isn’t quite as romantic as I thought it would be at 12 years old. 

A far cry from the luxuriously large walk-in wardrobe I’d envisioned as an adolescent, I live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment and the closet space leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve had to buy an extra clothing rack to sit in my bedroom, and I’ve even shoved a small chest of drawers and a shelf into the built-in cupboards to hold extra things. If nothing else, I’m an expert in creating space where there isn’t any. 

I’d spend my mornings frustrated because I could never find what I was looking for. Everything was packed so tight that my cupboard doors kept popping open on their own. And despite the illusion that I had so much to wear, I’d built a wardrobe that wasn’t cohesive. I had to learn the hard way that personal style doesn’t come from an expansive collection of clothes. Instead, it’s better to lean on resale platforms like eBay, and cull.

What is personal style, anyway?

It’s a term that’s thrown around a lot, especially on social media, but what does it mean in real-world terms? Everyone has their own definition but to me, it’s an aesthetic or blend of aesthetics that can be easily described, demonstrated by a few key pieces in your wardrobe, and is not based on a key trend of the moment. 

That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to stick to one aesthetic all the time, but it means each piece in your wardrobe is there for a reason. As an example, I would describe my style as ’90s with a modern, queer twist. It’s a lot of dark denim, flowy skirts, browns and burgundy, but with boxy masculine silhouettes thrown in. 

The cull

It would be easy for us to think that having a lot of clothes is a shortcut to developing personal style. I had to learn the hard way that unfortunately, that’s not true.

In fact, I learned through culling my wardrobe that less is absolutely more. Once I started using resale platforms like eBay and parting ways with my pieces, the clothes I really valued stood out. I said goodbye to pieces I didn’t love as much, I never got around to wearing or that didn’t fit me quite right. I managed to cut away all that my personal style wasn’t and everything that it was remained. And I didn’t have to buy anything.

One of the pieces I parted ways with was a pair of black corduroy pants. They had survived many culls before, even though I had never (ever) reached for them. I kept folding them up and popping them towards the back of my cupboard because ‘What if one day I need a pair of black corduroys?’ They still fit, but weren’t a shape I loved: they were a little too high-waisted, too short in the leg and they just never looked quite right. I listed them on eBay, and within a few days someone snapped them up and they were off in the post. It was satisfying knowing that they were going to someone who would value them more than I ever did. 

There was the designer belt that I’d had since I was a teenager, and even though I loved it seven years ago, it would only fit me when it was worn high-waisted. That’s not a silhouette that fits with my personal style today. It was snapped up quickly, only a day or two after I listed it on eBay. 

Then there was a pair of Asics trainers I bought thinking I’d love, but they never truly made it into the shoe rotation. Even though they were hard to give up, I knew that they were better off in the hands of someone who really knew how to style them. There were also the Adidas Falcons (I’m clearly a sucker for buying shoes I don’t need). I bought these secondhand a few years back, thinking they were going to be a staple. Unfortunately, they never quite matched my love for the New Balance trainers sitting in my wardrobe, and ended up collecting dust on my shelf. 

It’s frustrating when you spend hard-earned money on something and it never gets the wear you’d planned. Thanks to eBay, they’ll have a second (or in this case, third) life. 

Now I can buy intentionally

The other great thing about selling is that you get some cash back in your pocket. Once you’ve culled and sold, and figured out what you value in your closet, you’ll be better placed to make intentional decisions about new pieces to spend your money on. I know that I certainly was.

Generally, when we think of curating our personal style, our minds go straight to buying new items. It might seem counterintuitive, but culling has helped me define my style more than buying ever has. As trite as that might sound, I’ve actually never felt more ‘stylish’ than when I’ve had a smaller wardrobe. 

To start whittling down your wardrobe in the name of personal style, head to eBay.