If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been on a hardcore decluttering binge (like here). It’s liberating to live with less stuff, but it’s also forced me to take a closer look at this season of life and stop focusing on a past season!

On Instagram, I’m frequently asked, “What about the clothes I have just in case I need them in the future?”

It’s a great question and one that I’ve struggled with for a while.

Throughout high school and college, I was involved in a lot of different activities and clubs that required something specific: khaki pants, a long-sleeved black shirt, black shoes… the list goes on! Even over the past few years I’ve bought a special dress for swing dancing or a themed annual event. It was a hassle when I didn’t have the exact thing I thought I needed, so I started holding on to a bunch of clothing just in case I needed it again in the future.

This has resulted in an accumulation of clothes I’m keeping “just in case” I need them in the future. One of my favorite Instagram accounts, @thelaminmalist, says that we keep these items of clothing out of fear, not necessity. It might be fear that we won’t “fit in” with the crowd, fear of being unprepared, or simply the fear of letting go.