Your Essence + Your Closet: Decluttering Strategies

[@Nerdy-By-Nature]

Obviously very late to the party but that mini TedTalk on Left Up not needing the "good girl" clothes to be a good caring person was quite healing. I'll be proudly wearing head to toe red today, knowing that the caring person I am shines through best when I'm showing my authentic self. Thanks so much for your creativity and compassion, sweet baby angel Rita 😘

[@jenniferrodriguez8866]

I think this would make a good chapter in that style essence book I hope you write someday! :-)

[@shannon750]

I totally agree- love your essence system!

[@catherinecampbell1215]

I'm getting rid of most of my band tees. I am not a band tee gal. I just got them because I thought they made me look cool. I feel the happiest and most myself when I am wearing floral outfits or classic pieces that are well made and fit well. I bought this beautiful floral dress from the 90s at Savers and when I put it on this morning, I could not stop smiling. I just loved the way I looked and felt in the dress. I am going to start buying clothes that make me feel the way that dress made me feel today; confident and beautiful.

[@EmilyStevens-b7b]

the R+D approach is so *freeing*! Thank you so much for creating this system and this video. I definitely easily get overwhelmed by so many options, but minimizing to so little options is also stressful. I redid my closet with a new layout and am really liking it. :) thank you!

[@haleyjarret8162]

Rita, this made me laugh so many times! Did not expect a closet cleaning video to be so fun and joyful. Love your style philosophy! I connect to it so much.

[@StyleThoughtsbyRita]

Thank you 🤗

[@cavewitch]

Omg. #3 for right + up! No wonder I hate everything in my closet. Every piece is an attempt to “be normal”. They all just hang there looking like a disguise.

[@laurendavis7337]

Rita, you are so well-spoken and informative. I’ve been into Kibbe styling for some time now (DC here), but I wasn’t familiar with the quadrant perspective until I found your channel. I’ve fully embraced my R+U essence and that “ice queen” style identity after years of poor purchases: pure Dramatic severity, a VERY short-lived boho/FN phase (so bad), to uncomfortably tight/short Romantic, overtly sexy clothes. Your different approaches just affirm that I’ve finally embraced my true essence and style. Bring on those cool, muted, “boring” neutrals and classic tailoring! Your ensemble approach to the R+U closet is spot on, and the cardigan comment made me laugh. Keep up the great work!

[@rebekahglennellis7434]

lovely video! this is a very stressful time but it's fun and uplifting to have this. the comments about left+up costumes that don't really fit is so funny because literally yesterday I was wearing an outfit I loved a year, year and a half ago and told my friends "I feel like I'm cosplaying." time to fold up that blouse for a bit!

[@adeldelion]

Yes! The good girl / normal person comments really resonated. Whenever I dress with someone else's expectations in mind, I feel like I'm cosplaying too.

[@bioluminescent13]

I kept smiling cuz I felt called out haha

[@kalinapier2788]

Oh yes, I definitely have a Left+Up system of decluttering. I change the way I live so often (plus extreme weight yoyo-ing) that I frequently cull most of my entire wardrobe. This leads to a lot of frustration as it takes some time to work out how to move through my new world dressed, when I have so little left to work with.

[@bootscatsbootscatsboots]

100%

[@lapetitepoire5]

This is a great video! I'm definitely a right/down and your point about those out-of-comfort-zone clothes is SO TRUE. I have made so many mistakes over the years of picking up these pieces that were trendy but very "not me", and hung in my closet with the tags attached for ages before I finally conceded they were bad ideas. As a petite who struggles to shop for clothes that fit, I tend to hang onto things for a very long time, so decluttering is always stressful. But I appreciate the tip about organizing what I have better. VERY useful!

[@marleyen]

Another costuming activity for L+U is making "normal" clothes part of an outfit where they stop looking "normal". It is funny and satisfying, but some pieces are sooo normal I just can't~

[@dahliaherrod4301]

So I worked for several years in retail in sales and operations. I love an organized closet and adhere to the principles I learned over time. Here's what worked for me as a right/up flamboyant natural. I split my closet between tops and bottoms. Then I organized by categories: coats, blouses, tanks, tees; leggings, trousers, skirts, etc.. I put dresses in the middle. Then I organized my tops by shirt length and move them around according to the season. Then in each subcategory, I organize by color-ROYGBIV. It sounds like a lot and it was the first time. It's been a dream after that because it makes it easier to find and pair items. I know where everything is and I declutter seasonally. I can't stand an overfull closet with useless items just sitting there. Hope this helps!

[@loelli__]

Im gonna try this!! 💖

[@yensid4294]

Yep, I organize by type : dresses, tops, pants. skirts, jackets & then by color. Sometimes I will add a scarf or belt or shawl over the dress to save space but usually everything is grouped together by type/color/long/short

[@dahliaherrod4301]

@@yensid4294 ooh I like that idea of pairing hats and scarves. I might try that one

[@Androgynary]

Thank you for adding time stamps!

[@wavyisfree]

I related the left up people so much I think I will go to that direction after this video!

[@hibazafran1765]

« It’s so far out of your comfort zone it’s like a three hour drive » 😂 😂 😂 and this video is my final confirmation that I’m a LD

[@andie2423]

Hello from New Zealand! I just found you, omg we would be friends in real life you are absolutely gorgeous authentic and inspirational. I am 60+ and I wish I knew you years ago. With much Love from me, this Soft-Natural Right-Down human being.

[@StyleThoughtsbyRita]

thank you so much beautiful, so grateful to have you here! 💖💖💖💖

[@Just_Kirsty]

I know I'm very late, but I just recently found your channel and I have NEVER heard of a system that resonated THAT much with me as yours does. I click the most with the Left+Down essence (Ruby Style Key) and whatever you say about this essence just rings a thousand bells for me. It feels like you're actually talking about me. And you said so many things my mom always says about me, which to me make so much sense. You just explain them with other words and more holistically so I understand better what my mom actually means. I know when I pick outfits just by how I feel that day, I get the most compliments, I feel the most like myself and on top of that feel like I can conquer the world while if I try to put my body into clothes that fit into a certain aesthetic that is meant to look good on me (whether it's Kibbe or Kitchener or just my Seasonal Color palette or even a combination of both which would throw me most likely in the Right+Down essence, but one that sits close to Right+Up within the spectrum of Right+Down if that makes sense), I feel insecure, like I don't really belong anywhere, almost like loosing myself, loosing my spark and getting dressed always feels like a chore rather than something intuitive that can be really fun. I don't know which of the Ruby style key archetypes I could be. But I feel I hover somewhere in between The Wildflower and The Outsider, because they both in some way resonate with me and how I feel. I remember a day I wore a specific top that I really felt like wearing that day and it was significantly more chill outside than I had thought, but I still felt like wearing this top and nothing else on my upper body, so I did. My mom said "You must be freezing. But hey, it's cool how you're just moving into the direction of being unapologetically you, no matter if that fits that moment or not.", and I honestly didn't know what she meant that day, but now I understand it. I then drifted away from it again and felt lost. But ever since I started watching your videos, I am getting the hang of it again. Because I now understand what's important to me. And this video is very helpful too. I remember many decluttering sessions which ended up in piles of clothes that I just couldn't figure out what to do with. Mainly because I didn't go with what I feel like in these clothes but how they look like on. I can get very out of hand in terms of clothes, because I like so many different styles and know they look nice on me, but I NEVER (or barely ever) go with how I feel in them. I am glad I finally understood that about my hairstyle though. Coz that's the same for me. I like so many and tried so many but always come back to the same pixie cut because that's what feels the best. Same with hair color. Make up is the same for me. I just go with what I feel like. And if that's super dramatic make up that day, I will wear it, no matter where I go. If it's a bare face, I'll go with a bare face, even if that day photos are taken for a newspaper frontpage. THAT's me and nothing else. Thank you for your work, you're truly amazing.

[@StyleThoughtsbyRita]

Thank you Julia! I'm so happy that my content is helping you connect with your self through style!!

[@staceycorbett80]

Oh my gosh! Yes I was just talking to a friend about closet clearing/organizing and was like 🤔 But this is so helpful and perfect timing with the weather changing.

[@PM-dl1iu]

Rita I just discovered you but you're the best

[@StyleThoughtsbyRita]

Yay thank you ♥️♥️♥️

[@jellybeesplease]

I've been on quite the journey with how I dress myself. Even since I was little, I've been drawn to looking a bit quirky/unusual. It's hard to know if I'm left up/down or maybe I can do both? That's probably down to my kibbe type as a soft natural though. Overall, I love to wear bold, colourful pieces like the artist I am! Handcrafted pieces, thrifted, chucked together pieces, bits of shell made into a necklace... There's something so human about collecting and adorning oneself with little stories. I'd like to thank you for your videos because they are helping ignite my passion in fashion. I don't leave the house much anymore but I can curate outfits until I'm ready to head out there!

[@ontheturquoisetrail]

Loving your videos.Thank you!! At first I thought I was right down, but am learning I am definitely left down :).

[@danielleb.cotton4757]

This is one of my favorite videos you have ever made. I love the real talk you're giving us

[@EH012]

Literally clearing closet RN - and your essence system has already helped so much with that! The purchases I've made since learning of it have been so much more enjoyable, too. Love your content, Rita! Thank you 💜

[@amandal4099]

I literally cleaned out my bathroom drawer yesterday lol. Going for the closet today! Thanks for this. I'm loving this concept (I'm a Left Down) ♡

[@claudiaconner3659]

Ha, you had this LD woman at 'picky.' 😉

[@svetlananana9609]

Thank you!!!! In the midst of moving or specifically prepare-procrastinating to move since months and move-move in a month=) Your tips are fresh and "old" known tips are yummier in your context

[@sashayy1232]

interesting concept! same feeling huge sadness over whats going on. i think your left up discussion is def a topic would be great to get into more :)))

[@StyleThoughtsbyRita]

💖 If you want my help finding your essence (and cleaning your closet) -- book a style talk with me here! calendly.com/stylethoughtsbyrita/style-talk-with-rita 💖 If you want more Rita in your life, follow me on IG @stylethoughtsbyrita

[@Keapix]

RU definitely spoke to me, especially the cardigans 😂

[@shmagly1939]

I remembered my attempt at wearing polo shirts. Awful.

[@brickhouse8213]

Two of my favorite topics:)

[@sherryedwards695]

Hi Rita. Great topic. I appreciate your comment about Ukraine. My great grandparents immigrated from Ukraine to Canada in early 1900's. I'm not sure if I still have any family left there but my thoughts and prayers go to Ukraine. I am still de-cluttering my wardrobe on one of the coin and then still go shopping. Yesterday I went to a store and bought 2 identical blouses. I am trying out the coastal grandmother style. I am a True Spring and 1 blouse is aqua and the other is orange. Perfect colours for me. But then this morning I realized that I shouldn't wear a rounded scooped neckline when I have a diamond-shaped face. The blouses are tunic length which is not a good proportion for short-waisted. I think I got the fabric correct. They are not linen but viscose but still beachy and floaty. However, a rectangle shape which is not flattering on an hourglass shape. Now with my covid apple belly these blouses are not doing me any favours with the added fabric pieces on the belly region. But I love these blouses and I am not returning them. Then I bought 2 long floaty knit type of vests. Both too long for my height. One is a cool Summer sage green with clear sequins. The other has a mixture of my Spring colours. I call these a Boho style which I am trying to grow away from. Then of all things I bought a classic scarf in Summer colours of red, white and blue Tommy Hilfiger style. I can't tell you what I was attracted to and it's not even silk. Now to top everything off I have been searching everywhere for a white bucket hat. Must be the in thing because I can't find one anywhere. So I found one in a Summer red which I should have not bought because it's not a warm Spring colour. I know better but I still buy items that I shouldn't. Would it be possible for you to make a video of what we should and shouldn't buy? Thanks again for a great video.

[@inquiry6274]

What a fun concept for a video !

[@sashayy1232]

interesting concept! same feeling huge sadness over whats going on.

[@rowenadunlop6449]

Thank you Rita! This is awesome :)

[@ullafiig2535]

So useful. Thank you !

[@MichelleSMV]

I really felt that about the clothes that don't fit or aren't really me. I hold on to them and think "I'm gonna lose those 10kg and then I can wear this" Or something like that and then keep them forever (until there comes a time where I just toss everything lol). I really need to just let go of them lol

[@StyleThoughtsbyRita]

Probably if you lose 10kg you will want something different anyway... Letting go is an important life skill, in trying to cultivate it ❤️

[@MichelleSMV]

@@StyleThoughtsbyRita Definitely! I completely agree. Thank you so much

[@labb592]

Right Up; I cannot wear sweats but this video makes me realize even leggings out in public & make it make sense with my personality 😂

[@erikacavalcante1811]

Great 🤩😊⚘❤👍

[@sheofthemoon]

i can't quite decide if i'm R+U (the princess) or R+D 'cause i wear a lot of jeans and t-shirts but i hate that since it feels so boring. i just love skirts and dresses so i buy some of them but i never wear them because these pieces are out of my comfort zone and i just dont see myself in that way and i never really put any effort in my style. i guess i felt ashamed about it

[@Nicole-wd8yg]

R+U ... I tried loving cardigans. I really did, but it just isn't for me

[@StyleThoughtsbyRita]

The mystery of r+u and cardigans

[@Nicole-wd8yg]

​@@StyleThoughtsbyRita yessss!! I also tried the earthy/boho style with maxi flowy skirts and dresses bc I was seeing people wearing it and was wondering why it didn't look good on me when it just isn't my style😂

[@StyleThoughtsbyRita]

@@Nicole-wd8yg my mom loves all this because she is a totally l+D "cool girl" and she buys me some stuff and I'm just like "I WISH I could pull this off"

[@melonyhosoi9283]

😊 p♥r♥o♥m♥o♥s♥m