It’s healthy and worthwhile to care about our hobbies and interests. Just because you take something seriously doesn’t mean you’re overdoing it. For example, you might absolutely love gardening, and really care about how your marrows and tomato plants turn out this year.
Yet an issue can arise when obligation makes us fall out of love with something we’ve derived joy from in the past. Fashion is a good example of this. The work of fashion is never “done,” so to speak, and so you’ll find while old styles can come back into fashion, it’s easy to look outdated if you’re not mindful.
It’s always healthy to check, then, if this habit is still giving you joy or if it feels like a tiresome effort. There are many ways to check this. In this post, we’ll go deep into how to identify fashion ennui, and how to make dressing yourself feel wonderful once more:
Shopping Feels Like a Chore
Fashion does have a fair amount of work to it, be that carrying all of your goods to the checkout, checking sizing and fitting or figuring out how you want to dress for the season. But when shopping becomes exhausting rather than exciting, your sense of obligation might be playing too big a role. Always remember that choosing pieces should be enjoyable, not an endless cycle of stress and second-guessing.
Unfortunately, trends can make it feel like nothing in the closet is good enough, and you may find yourself constantly searching for the “perfect” item. This means that instead of picking what feels right, decisions may be made based on external pressure or hoping to fit in with others. The fun of discovering personal style gets lost in the rush to keep up.
Shopping should be an experience that adds value, not one that drains energy. That’s why we’d recommend focusing on beautiful fashion brands you love that helps you nail the size you’re looking for.
Dressing Up Feels Like a Performance
Getting dressed should be about feeling comfortable and confident, not about putting on a show for others, but unfortunately, it’s hard to detach ourselves from that mindset. However, if every outfit is chosen based on what people might think as opposed to personal preference, you’re not going to make honest decisions and really explore your taste. That’s why fashion can feel overbearing and why you may have lost love for it.
While you don’t always have to dress to express yourself as opposed to just comfort, the outfits you care about should be something of a statement that says “this is me, and I don’t apologise for it.” If too much time is spent worrying about whether a look is “right,” the fun is lost.
So, just focus on what feels best. It’s okay if you’re not sure what that is, or if you’re just experimenting.
Social Media Is Dictating Your Wardrobe
Social media can be a great source of fashion inspiration and there are definitely people worth following, but it can also make it feel like you’re always falling behind. After all, a fashion influencer wants you to think they’re the authority, as it encourages you to follow them. In 2025 we even have a constant stream of influencers showing off the latest trends with massive free hauls, and so it’s easy to feel like your wardrobe is outdated before you’ve even had a chance to enjoy what you already own.
The issue here isn’t that social media exists, but that it moves at a completely unrealistic pace. Unfortunately, many people think they have to constantly refreshing their wardrobe just to fit in with what’s popular online. But you might never actually get to settle into your own personal style that way.
Remember that your outfits don’t have to be brand new, expensive, or trendy to be stylish. Maybe you’ll thrift something just as amazing as whatever the hot new brand is.
Every Outfit Choice Feels Intense
Some days, you just need to throw on whatever is clean and get out the door, and that’s okay. Life isn’t a fashion show for the most part. So, if picking an outfit feels like a major decision every single time, it might be a sign that your engagement with your wardrobe is more difficult than it needs to be and also quite demanding..
Caring about what you wear is great of course, and we’re sure you look great, but if you find yourself agonizing over every tiny detail, it could be worth stepping back and remembering that clothes are just clothes for the most part. It’s not that deep, as the kids say. As long as you have something comfortable that fits and keeps you warm, that’s the main function resolved. You don’t need to impress anyone. You don’t need to look like you just stepped out of a magazine.
If getting dressed is feeling more like a test than a creative outlet, try simplifying things. A few go-to outfits you love can take the pressure off, and reminding yourself that not every look has to be a masterpiece can make getting dressed feel like less of a chore.
Labels & Brands Feel Too Important
Designer labels can be fun to wear and they do have an interesting history behind them, but they don’t define good style and sometimes they can seem the opposite of it. If the name on the tag feels more important than how an item looks or feels, to you it might be time to rethink what matters.
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying high-end pieces that you save for of course (some can even be good investments) but if you feel inadequate unless your outfit hits a certain level of expense, that’s an issue. Remember that some of the most well-dressed people mix and match luxury with budget-friendly options, or if they’re confident they can make something simple look good.
Fashion isn’t a competition after all, and it’s important to remember that.
Wardrobe Organization Is Becoming An Obsession
A well-organized wardrobe is a great thing, but if more time is being spent arranging clothes than actually wearing them, you’e going to feel frustrated every time you open it. You shouldn’t have to feel like you’re in a battle the moment you sort through your hanging rack.
If you find that your approach has become a little obsessive, including constantly re-folding, color-coordinating, or curating a “perfect” collection, it can take the joy out of actually enjoying what you own. Capsule wardrobes can be fun to put together of course, but if you’re worried about not having the perfect outfit it’s wise to plan for simplicity instead.
Money Is Being Spent For The Wrong Reasons
It’s easy to have a habit of hoarding and collecting whatever it is you appreciate, for example you might adore buying books even if you haven’t read the last ten you’ve purchased. You might have the same approach to clothes, especially if you’re planning a future wardrobe.
Remember that impulse buys can be fun in the moment, but they don’t always lead to a wardrobe you love. If you’ve ever looked at your closet and thought, “I have so many clothes, but nothing to wear,” chances are a lot of those pieces were bought for reasons other than personal style, and it might be stifling how you feel about your fashion choices.
Outfit Repeating Feels Like A Failure
There’s nothing wrong with wearing an outfit more than once. In fact, re-wearing clothes is one of the best signs that you’re making smart, sustainable fashion choices and you’re not contributing to fast and disposable fashion.
However, somehow, social media and fast fashion have made people feel like they always need something new, and that you have to space out what you wear unless you’re not doing it right. This can be fine if you always want to look fresh, but it’s also quite demanding.
Just remind yourself that nobody else is paying nearly as much attention as you are. It can be quite freeing to realize this.
Fashion Rules Feel Limiting
Fashion is supposed to be creative, but sometimes, it can start to feel like a set of rules that have to be followed and that all your fun parameters have been planed away. If you’ve ever felt like you “can’t” wear something because of an outdated fashion rule, consider if this still serves you. Double denim has always looked cool, who cares what those people say!
Remember that some of the best-dressed people are the ones who experiment, break rules, and wear what makes them happy for the most part. The only rule you have to follow is (within decency limits of course), if the clothes feel good on you and if you like expressing yourself that way.
With this advice, we hope you can take another look at fashion and consider if prior attitudes are serving you. It’s one of those art forms with so many limitations and so much discourse that it’s easy to feel frustrated. Consider this your chance to overcome that!
Image: Pexels – CC0 License
