The Butterfly Effect, Issue 34
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Edit Yourself
‍On subtraction, refinement, and becoming more yourself.
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Girl Math: believe it or not one of the most important tools in your arsenal isn’t addition. It’s subtraction. The best stylists don’t constantly add. They remove.
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Your closet.
Your home.
Your schedule.
Your words.
Even your opinions.
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Personal style isn’t accumulation. It’s editing. With intent.
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Ten white tee shirts isn’t style. Style is culling through the white tee shirts to pick the one or two that fit your style and speak to you personally. For me, it’s the Re/Done x Hanes classic tee. The fit? Perfect. Not too body-con, just the right weight and length, it skims beautifully.
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The same goes for every category in your wardrobe: denim, knits, trousers, skirts, shoes, and bags. Let the best lead the pack. The rest—kick them to the curb. Everything left in your closet should speak to your personal style, feel good on you, and give you confidence.
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The beauty of the edit is that it streamlines day-to-day dressing. When you focus on the pieces that make you feel good and express your style, everything you have is elevated.
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If it seems overwhelming, start small. Start with one category and edit ruthlessly. Take the white tee shirts. Anything discolored, stained, ripped, or pulled out of shape goes automatically. Next try every remaining tee on to assess the fit. Take a picture of yourself in each one. Note which ones make you feel the most confident. Those are the winners. Donate the rest.
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Editing isn’t punishment. It’s refinement—the art of curation in practice. It’s not about throwing everything out and starting again. It’s about keeping the best and putting your best foot forward every day. That’s the confidence a successful edit creates.
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Maybe the next thing to buy isn’t another tee shirt.
Maybe it’s the courage to let five go.
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Me—I’ve already edited my tee shirts; now, I’m starting on my denim collection.
Snip, snip.