We met at our usual spot. I was already at the table when Luna showed up — five minutes late, holding coffee and a bag she didn’t want to talk about.
“I was just walking,” she said, sliding into the chair. “Then I saw a sale sign. And now I own two blouses.”
She sipped her coffee. “I don’t even remember trying one of them on.”
I laughed. “So basically a blackout.”
“Basically.”
Our Closets Have Nothing in Common
Luna can wear just about anything and make it work. A beaded tank top with wide-leg sweatpants? Somehow chic. She once wore a neon scrunchie on purpose and got compliments.
I’m the opposite. I like clothes I don’t have to think about. My closet is a row of navy, beige, and white. I own the same linen pants in three colors and rotate through a very small number of tops that I actually like.
She looked at me, then looked down at her outfit — a patterned dress layered under a cardigan with gold buttons and chunky sneakers. “You always look… put together. But not in a boring way. Just very… calm.”
“That’s one word for it,” I said. “You look like you had fun getting dressed. I look like I checked the weather and gave up halfway through.”
She shrugged. “Still. I’d trade you for one morning of peace.”
“I Open My Closet and Feel Nothing”
She told me she’s been feeling a little off lately — not just with her closet, but the whole act of getting dressed.
“I used to enjoy it,” she said. “Picking out outfits. Shopping. Trying new things. But lately it just feels like noise. Like I’m constantly buying and editing and still ending up with nothing I want to wear.”
I knew the feeling. I’d had it too, before I stopped trying so hard.
“I don’t know,” I said. “At some point I just got tired of the cycle. I’d buy things that felt exciting for five minutes. Then they’d sit in my closet. And I’d feel kind of annoyed at myself every time I saw them.”
She nodded. “She nodded. “Yeah. And honestly? Most of the stuff in my closet doesn’t even feel like me anymore. I don’t know who I was shopping for….It just does not feel ME when i am shopping, and i realized it is because i do not have found yet my style…..”
The Turning Point
I told her about a list I made last year — just a quick note on my phone of things I actually wear. Not what I think I should wear. Just the pieces I reach for without thinking. A cotton button-down. Linen trousers. That one sweater I’ve worn into the ground.
“I didn’t mean to build a uniform,” I said. “It just sort of happened. And now it’s easier. And I like it more.”
She paused. “So… no fun stuff?”
“Oh, I still try things on,” I said. “But most of it doesn’t come home with me. And if it does, I return it two days later when I realize it makes no sense in my life.”
Is It Boring to Dress Simply?
She asked if I ever felt like I was playing it too safe.
“Sometimes,” I said. “But I also don’t miss the feeling of tugging at clothes all day. Or spending thirty minutes trying to make something work just because it looked good in the store.”
She leaned back in her chair. “I think I’ve confused dressing well with dressing loudly. And maybe I’m just… kind of tired.”
A Good Place to Start
We finished our coffees, and just as we were about to leave, she asked, “If I wanted to start fresh — not a full overhaul, just a shift — where would I begin?”
I thought for a second.
“A white tee that fits properly. Trousers you don’t dread putting on. And maybe a sweater that feels nice even when you’re doing nothing.”
She smiled. “So… the opposite of what’s in my closet.”
“Pretty much.”
If you’re feeling the same way — stuck somewhere between a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear — this piece might help: 👉 How to Add Old Money Vibes to Your Wardrobe (Without Replacing Everything)
What We Borrow From Each Other
Luna’s not going to give up sequins, and I’m not going to start wearing platforms. But we’ve found a sort of middle ground over the years.
She’ll send me a picture of loafers and ask, “Too safe?”
I’ll borrow her earrings when I want to feel like I tried.
And maybe that’s the real win — not picking one style over another, but just getting to a place where your clothes feel like they fit your life. Even if your life includes both beige and glitter.
