When Getting Dressed Was Simple: A Look Back at How We Used to Dress
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about fashion—where it is now, and where it used to be.
And honestly… it feels like two completely different worlds.
When I was growing up, getting dressed wasn’t complicated. We didn’t have “athleisure,” “workwear capsules,” “loungewear collections,” or five different closets for five different versions of ourselves.
We had clothes.
And we wore them.
Most days, it was jeans and a t-shirt. Maybe a sweater. Maybe a jacket if it was cold. You had a few outfits you loved, and you rotated them. Nobody cared if you wore the same thing twice in a week. That was normal.
Even pajamas were different.
They matched.
Top and bottom. Usually soft cotton. Sometimes with patterns. And you didn’t wear them out of the house. You got dressed during the day. Pajamas were for bedtime.
There was something comforting about that.
Clothes Were Made Better
Another thing I’ve noticed?
Older clothes lasted.
You could wash something a hundred times and it still held its shape. Fabric was thicker. Stitching was stronger. Buttons didn’t fall off after two wears.
Now, so much clothing feels disposable.
Buy it.
Wear it twice.
Wash it.
It’s ruined.
And then you’re expected to buy more.
It’s exhausting.
Fashion Wasn’t So Loud
Back then, fashion didn’t scream at you.
There weren’t weekly “micro-trends.” No pressure to constantly reinvent yourself. No endless scrolling telling you that what you own is suddenly “out.”
You wore what you liked.
You wore what fit.
You wore what felt like you.
And that was enough.
Now It Feels Like a System
Today, fashion feels like a system designed to keep us buying.
You’re told you need:
Loungewear
Workout clothes
Work clothes
Going-out clothes
Seasonal clothes
Vacation clothes
Special-event clothes
Matching sets
Trendy pieces
Statement pieces
And don’t forget the accessories.
And the bags.
And the shoes.
And the “must-haves.”
It never ends.
No wonder so many of us feel overwhelmed by our closets.
Looking at Old Photos Changed Everything
Recently, I’ve been looking at old family photos.
And what stood out to me wasn’t just the memories.
It was the clothes.
We looked put together.
Not perfect.
Not styled.
Not curated.
Just… real.
My mom dressed me in sweet, simple outfits. Matching sets. Thoughtful colors. Things that made sense.
Then somewhere along the way, like most teenagers, I lost my way a little. Trends took over. Comfort disappeared. Confidence wavered.
And now, as an adult, I feel like I’m coming back to myself.
Back to simplicity.
Back to quality.
Back to choosing things because I love them—not because an ad told me to.
What I’m Learning Now
I don’t want a huge wardrobe anymore.
I want:
A few great jeans
A few great tops
A couple jackets I love
Comfortable shoes
Pieces that feel like “me”
I want clothes that last.
That fit well.
That don’t make me anxious.
I want getting dressed to feel easy again.
Like it used to.
Maybe We’re All Craving That
I think a lot of us are tired.
Tired of trends.
Tired of clutter.
Tired of feeling like we’re behind.
Maybe that’s why so many people are thrifting.
Buying vintage.
Rewearing.
Simplifying.
We’re trying to go back.
Not backward in time.
But back to peace.
Back to enough.
Final Thought
Fashion doesn’t have to be complicated.
It doesn’t have to be expensive.
It doesn’t have to be trendy.
It doesn’t have to change every season.
Sometimes, the best style is the one that lets you breathe.
And that’s what I’m choosing now.
