Underconsumptioncore and Closet Editing
The Getting Dressed Chronicles #1
Hello and welcome to a multi-part series I’m calling The Getting Dressed Chronicles. This is where I’m writing about clothes and shopping and personal style, the kind of things I’m texting and DMing my IRL friends about lately.
Read on for the first edition of TGDC which includes my recent thoughts on underconsumption, thrifting, and editing my closet (again). Feel free to hop into the comments at any time to share your thoughts. Thanks for being here!
Underconsumptioncore, yay or nay?
Have you seen the underconsumption trend on social media yet? If not, check out the type of videos I’m referring to here. It first crossed my TikTok feed a few months ago, in the form of a wonderful creator, Abi, who is taking her followers along on her overconsumption healing journey. After deep-diving into Abi’s account, which is beautifully non-judgmental and vulnerable, the algorithm did its thing. Soon I was being fed videos about everything from helpful hacks to squeeze the last out of your favourite stick bronzers, to somewhat braggy videos from folks who own a single threadbare winter coat.
Here are a few videos that have inspired thought and conversation about things like haters online and makeup expiration dates:
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At worst, imo, “underconsumptioncore,” is a little Millennials and their avocado toast coded, with creators equating expired eyeshadow palettes to early retirement. Though a meaningful sentiment, social media has a way of taking an objective and personal habit—shopping less—and constructing an entire (at times preachy and pretentious) personality around it.
At best, though, the trend has me reflecting on my shopping habits, which I think is always worthwhile. I’m sharing a few of these reflections here today.
Thrifting ≠ Intentional Shopping
SPEAKING of overconsumption, I’m finally realizing that thrifting doesn’t necessarily mean shopping intentionally. Sure, it’s more sustainable, and I’m sure there are restrained thrifters in our midst, but I’m not consistently one of them. My biggest aha moment came recently when I pulled out my spring-summer clothes for the warmer season. (And yes, I had the winter version of this epiphany several months ago and wrote about it here).
My early summer outfits were mainly fully secondhand (something I’ve prided myself on for a while now). But what I quickly noticed was that my summer wardrobe just didn’t make me feel good anymore. Outfit Meltdowns™️ were abundant due to simply having too much stuff. Many pieces—like a cute but awkwardly sweat-showing light grey ribbed tank dress—felt uncomfortable, and don’t even get me started on the mountain of shoes that held only one work-appropriate option.
It wasn’t a stretch for me to see that thrifting was still leading to me owning too many clothes. Makes sense, right? When at the thrift trying to decide between two almost-perfect pairs of sandals, each $3.99, it’s easy to say What the heck?! and get both. This also goes for thrifted clothes that are an awesome find, but not quite the right fit or colour (like said light grey dress), or items that feel like they might sit outside my comfort zone/style words but come home with me anyways, just in case.
Since doing a major summer closet overhaul, I’ve limited what I take home from the thrift with me, and try to go only with a specific intention in mind.
Has this been a perfect undertaking? Absolutely not. But awareness is the first step towards change, right? 😅
Closet Editing Can Be Ongoing
To rectify the mess I’d made for myself, one Sunday—outfit-planning day—I began an expedited version of
’s closet editing system, summer edition. (Read about the winter process here).I quickly (maniacally?) wrenched items out of my closet and dumped them on our spare room bed. My internal monologue was along the lines of, Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. Ew. Wtf. Wait, what about this one—nope! Hate!
Afterwards, what remained were my favourite basics—the only items I’d been reaching for anyways—and a few glaring gaps, such as versatile sandals and high school teacher friendly shorts, which I made note of.
I’ve been slowly chipping away at the pile of stuff I yanked out, filling bags of absolutely nots to be donated or listed on Poshmark, and making a pile of maybes and hows (as in I love this but how tf do I style this pieces) that I’m not quite ready to part with.
Outfits are being repeated, but the meltdowns have stopped. My husband seems pleased with the extra white space in our closet (but wonders why I’ve banned him from looking inside the spare room 🤣).
So, while underconsumption is a nice idea that seems to suit some folks just fine and is inspiring important conversations, I think it’s a lifestyle I’ll avoid subscribing to wholeheartedly. Instead, I’ll aim to balance liking nice things with a *normal* amount of consumption, a continual work in progress for me.
Thrifting will continue to be my first love, but I’m doing so more mindfully and being extra cutthroat with myself when I get to the toss-back stage and edit my cart.
And, finally, it might seem that finding balance between style experimentation and closet space is a lesson I’ll learn each season, but I am absolutely getting closer to a year-round getting dressed strategy (and thus, my true personal style).
Where are you up to these days with shopping, thrifting, and closet editing? Is there a strategy that’s working for you (or not)?
Next time I write I want to tell you about how my new wishlist philosophy and how I feel about my three style words these days. If you want to get updates about new posts, make sure you’re subscribed to this free publication.
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Talk soon, friend.
