When you’re neurodivergent like me, designing a wardrobe you love isn’t just about style (though it also is very much about that for me). It’s also about finding clothes that make me feel energized, comfortable, and excited to wear them.
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that for me, this means leaning into my sensory traits – seeking fabrics that feel good, avoiding ones that don’t; seeking patterns and colors that excite me; not buying, or sprucing up ones that don’t.
And now, I wear almost exclusively natural materials like cotton, linen, and wool because these materials feel best. I love the way they are soft but not in an artificial way. I love that they are breathable and keep me from overheating. I love that they are more sustainable and align with my values.
I also prioritize incorporating lots of color and patterns into my wardrobe. When I’m shopping, I only buy pieces that align with the colors and patterns I enjoy. For me, it’s a lot of blues, reds, pinks, and greens — bright, bold colors. And if I’m wearing more of a neutral color, I can almost guarantee that I’m wearing colorful accessories to supplement and still get that energy from my stim colors.
Lastly, I love stripes. I have over 20 striped items of clothing, easily. I used to shame myself for buying yet another striped item, but now, I embrace it. Stripes make me happy and I love leaning into that.
If you, too, want to design your wardrobe to energize you, here are a few tips and tricks for getting started:
Don’t Like It? Get Rid Of It!
This is your sign to get rid of anything in your closet that makes you cringe. (Yes, right now!) Is it itchy? Does it have a terrible tag you can’t remove? Do you hate the way the collar touches your neck? Does the pattern stress you out? Is it not soft enough? Get it outta there. It will only add extra clutter when you’re making decisions about what to wear, and we both know you’re not going to pick it anyway. Donate, resell, or give it away to someone who will enjoy it more than you.
One way I’ve actually seen which clothes I don’t like is by flipping the hanger when I put clothes I wear away. That way, by the end of the season when I go to change over my wardrobe, I can see which clothes I never wore and consider getting rid of them.
What Clothes Do You Like?
Next, take inventory of what you do like. What clothes in your closet (or your laundry chair, let’s be honest) do you wear the most? Which fabrics, styles, patterns do you look forward to wearing? And chances are, if they’re always on your laundry chair or you wear them the minute they’re clean, they’re items you really like. Take note of their qualities and next time you go shopping, keep that in mind.
Wear What You Love
Don’t be afraid to wear the same thing every day. Embrace uniform dressing. Wear the clothes you love. If you want to buy more clothes, buy clothes that fit the criteria you’ve determined you love. Or buy multiples of the exact same item in different colors (or the same color, if you want!).
The key to loving everything you own is letting go of any preconceived notions that you have to dress a certain way or can’t outfit repeat. Instead, lean into what feels good to you and what works for your brain and body.
