Okay, so I was scrolling through my phone the other day, trying to avoid replying to a work email, and I ended up deep in some random forum thread about wardrobe essentials. You know how it goes â one minute you’re looking for a new pair of jeans, the next you’re reading about someone’s entire philosophy on layering. It got me thinking about my own closet situation, which is… let’s call it ‘eclectically organized.’
Anyway, that rabbit hole reminded me of this thing I’ve been tinkering with lately. It’s not an app or anything fancy, just a simple spreadsheet I set up. I started it mostly to stop buying the same black t-shirt five times (true story), but it’s turned into this weirdly satisfying little project. I call it my style tracker, but really it’s just a list with some notes. I jot down what I wear on days I actually like my outfit, or when I get a compliment, and it’s helped me notice patterns I wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Like, last week, I pulled out this vintage corduroy jacket I forgot I owned. Threw it on over a plain white tee and some old jeans, and honestly? Felt like a million bucks. My friend Sam even said, ‘Whoa, where’d that come from?’ So, of course, into the tracker it went. The note says: ‘Corduroy jacket â cozy, works with basics, makes jeans look intentional.’ See? Not rocket science, but having it written down somehow makes it stick.
This whole process got me looking at my clothes differently. Instead of just seeing a pile of fabric, I started seeing combinations, gaps, and little victories. I even began adding a column for where I bought things, which is hilarious because half the entries are just ‘thrift store’ or ‘that weird pop-up shop by the subway.’ But it’s useful! Now, if I’m eyeing something new, I can check my spreadsheet and see if I already have three versions of it. (Spoiler: I usually do.)
The funniest part is how it’s bled into other stuff. I was making coffee this morning, staring at my half-dead plant, and I caught myself thinking, ‘I should make a tracker for watering this thing.’ Maybe not, but you get the idea. It’s less about the tool and more about paying attention. My Basetao spreadsheet (yeah, I named it after my cat, don’t judge) is basically a digital scrapbook for my closet. No ratings, no rankings, just me and my corduroy jacket having a moment.
Oh, and speaking of moments, I wore that jacket again yesterday to meet a friend for coffee. We sat outside, even though it was a bit chilly, and I remember thinking how the sun hit the fabric just right. Didn’t need to check my style log for that one â some things just feel good, you know? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I hear my actual cat, Basetao, knocking something off the counter. Probably my coffee.