Personal Style: Why Are We Suffering from Overstuffed Closets and Nothing to Wear? My Conversation with Chellie Carlson
We’ve all been there—standing in front of a closet packed with clothes and feeling like we have nothing to wear. But why does this happen? Why do we keep buying, keep accumulating, and still feel stuck?
I recently spoke with Chellie Carlson, a transformational wardrobe stylist with over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, to unpack the deeper reasons behind this frustrating cycle. Chellie works with high-achieving professionals, guiding them through a process that’s less about chasing trends and more about aligning their wardrobe with their values, self-worth, and authentic personal style.
If you’ve ever wondered why you keep shopping but don’t feel stylish, why your closet feels overwhelming, or how to refine your style without overconsumption, this conversation is for you.
The Psychology of Overconsumption
One of the biggest takeaways from my conversation with Chellie was the way our shopping habits are tied to self-worth. We often think we’re making logical purchases, but in reality, much of our shopping is driven by subtle emotional triggers.
Social media plays a massive role in this. We see influencers and brands telling us that the "right" bag, blazer, or trend piece will complete our wardrobe or fix our confidence. But, as Chellie pointed out, this leads us to accumulate more without actually solving the core issue—understanding what really feels like us.
Instead of buying with intention, we stay on what she calls “the hamster wheel” of consumption—always seeking the next thing, always hoping a new piece will finally make us feel stylish. But that moment never quite arrives.
Closet Editing: Why Letting Go is the First Step
Before we can build a wardrobe that feels authentic, we need to release what no longer serves us. Chellie shared that so many of us are holding onto pieces that don’t fit, don’t feel right, or are tied to a past version of ourselves.
Some of us hoard items out of scarcity mindset (“What if I need this someday?”). Others keep clothes out of nostalgia (“I used to love this” or “This fit me before”). And then there’s the fantasy future self wardrobe—the pieces we hold onto “just in case” our life suddenly includes events it currently doesn’t.
Chellie’s advice? If it doesn’t fit your life now, if it doesn’t feel like you, it’s time to let it go. The fewer decisions you have to make each morning, the more clarity and confidence you’ll have.
Dressing For Who You’re Becoming
One of my favorite things Chellie said during our conversation was:
“You have to dress for the version of yourself you’re becoming—not for the past or some imaginary future.”
That really stuck with me. So many of us dream about who we want to be in five years—maybe more successful, more confident, more at ease in our skin. But we rarely connect that vision to the choices we make today.
A simple but powerful shift? Ask yourself:
Does this piece fit the person I want to be?
Will I love this in five years?
Does this feel good when I put it on—not just physically, but energetically?
When we start dressing in alignment with our future selves, we begin to step into that version of who we are becoming.
Tailoring & The Myth of the "Perfect Size"
One of the most freeing things Chellie teaches is that clothing size is irrelevant. Instead of trying to squeeze into a number that doesn’t fit, she recommends sizing up and tailoring down.
Most of us have been conditioned to think there’s something wrong with our bodies when clothes don’t fit off the rack. But the truth? Clothes are designed for a general body type that may not match yours at all. Instead of blaming your body, find a good tailor and make the clothes work for you.
And for those of us who avoid shopping altogether because nothing seems to fit right—tailoring might be the missing piece.
Curious About How to Break Free From the Overstuffed Closet Paradox?
When you are ready to break-free from the overstuffed closet paradox, Chellie suggests focusing on quality over quantity. Most of us own far more than we need—and yet we end up wearing the same 10-15% of our closet on repeat.
Her advice? Instead of buying more, focus on building a wardrobe with:
✔ Foundational pieces that fit your lifestyle (not just what magazines say you "should" own)
✔ A handful of statement pieces that reflect your personality
✔ A strong tailoring game to make every piece fit like it was made for you
✔ Mindful purchasing—buying with intention, not impulse
She also challenged the idea that outfit repeating is a bad thing. In reality, when you refine your style, you’ll naturally wear your favorite outfits often—because they make you feel great.
Let’s Stay Curious Together.
My conversation with Chellie was a powerful reminder that style isn’t about having more—it’s about having what aligns with you.
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by shopping, struggled with body image, or wondered how to create a wardrobe you love without the overwhelm, I encourage you to listen to the full episode.
Chellie shares so much wisdom about confidence, the psychology of style, and practical ways to edit, refine, and invest in a wardrobe that truly serves you.
What’s your biggest takeaway from this conversation? Does your closet reflect who you are today—or are you holding onto clothes from a past version of yourself? I’d love to hear your thoughts—connect with me over on Instagram at @curiouslifeofachildfreewoman and let’s keep the conversation going.
And if this episode resonated with you, be sure to check out the full conversation with Chellie Carlson. I promise—it’ll change the way you think about your closet, your style, and yourself.
