The In-Between Closet

(A love letter to all the clothes we’ve loved, lost, and outgrown — and the ones still waiting to be worn.)

Let’s talk about the dirty little secret so many of us carry….

You’re not shopping for your body now. You’re shopping for your “someday” self. Or maybe you’re not even shopping because you’re waiting for that magic number to appear on the scale.

You’ve probably said it — I’ll buy that when I lose the weight.

Or you’re hanging on to clothes that “used to fit,” waiting for the magic day they slide on again without effort or emotion.

But in the meantime? You’re stuck. Staring at a closet full of clothes that don’t fit — and nothing to wear.

Here’s the truth: style should never be sacrificed because you’re embarrassed about your size.
You still deserve to feel beautiful. Polished. Powerful. Comfortable. Now.

We’ve all been there. The baby weight. The menopause shift. The “happy weight” that comes with love, a new city, or just living a slower life.

Bodies change — and that’s not a problem to solve. It’s a reality to honor.

So what do you do with a closet full of clothes that no longer fit who you are today?

✨ Start with a little kindness.

To yourself first. Then to the clothes.

Because maybe that dress you wore the summer you felt unstoppable? It was for that version of you. And that version deserves a hug, a thank-you, and a graceful exit from your wardrobe. You don’t have to keep it forever for it to have meant something.

I have a dress that’s been hanging in my closet since a wedding I attended seven years ago. I remember it vividly — it was the middle of a hot summer, and we were outside in an idyllic garden setting. The bride arrived in a real horse-drawn carriage. My dress was perfect for the afternoon: cute, understated for a guest. I still remember for dancing under the stars later that night. But since then, I’ve worn it maybe once.

When flipping through the hangers in my closet, I always pause when I see it, smile lovingly at the memory, and keep flipping. The truth is, I probably won’t wear it again — but it’s so hard to let it go.

So believe me, I understand the pain of parting with clothes that carry meaning. Someone once reminded me of Marie Kondo’s advice: if it doesn’t bring you joy, let it go. But here’s my update — because so many of our clothes do bring us joy. They hold memories baked into the very fabric, which is exactly what makes them hard to release.

So now I say: hold on to the joy, not the dress.

Give those clothes a new life. Go through your closet — if you haven’t worn it in a while, fold it up, remember the adventures fondly, and then donate it. Let someone else have the opportunity to make new memories.

Clothes represent a time in your life — not the rest of your life.

🛍 Build a capsule that meets you now.

How often do we get to reinvent ourselves? As many times as we want to throughout our lives. The great part about that is clothes help us do it easily. They’re statements without uttering a word. So this is your opportunity to show the world who you are right now.

• Invest in versatile pre loved pieces that actually fit today (bonus: way less guilt when your size shifts again).

• Prioritize comfort with shape — not to hide, but to feel fully at home in your skin. Some days call for structure; others call for softness. Wrap styles that embrace you, button-ups that breathe, flowy dresses that move with you — these aren’t fallback pieces. They’re intentional choices that honor how you feel, how you live, and how you show up.

• Your style doesn’t shrink or expand with your size — it evolves. Let go of the number on the tag and focus on what makes you feel good. Find pieces that move with you, spark joy, and show up for the life you’re living now. That’s what makes a piece worth wearing.

• Edit with intention. Start small. Pick 5–10 pieces that make you feel amazing and build from there. Think about what your actual life looks like — the errands, the date nights, the lazy Sundays — and shop for that life, not the fantasy one.

• Play with proportions. Try mixing fitted with flowy, cropped with high-waisted, or oversized with structured. Sometimes, a new silhouette can shift your whole mindset.

• Reclaim the mirror. Let this be the season you stop waiting to love your body and start dressing it with care. It’s not about flattering — it’s about feeling aligned.

• Trust your eye. When thrifting, lean into pieces that spark something in you — even if they’re outside your usual style. This is your fresh start. Let it surprise you.

💫 Let your capsule breathe.

Think of your wardrobe like a living, evolving playlist — not a greatest hits album frozen in time.

Every season, check in. What feels good now? What no longer serves you? What’s missing that would make getting dressed fun again?

You don’t need a hundred pieces. Just the right ones for the version of you who is showing up today.

Because that version? She still deserves to look amazing.

Even in the in-between.