Tallahassee Reflects on Overconsumption and Rediscovering Identity Through "Shopping My Closet"

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In a personal essay, Tallahassee reflects on the experience of being a self-proclaimed "shopaholic" who was obsessed with the latest fashion trends and constantly buying new clothes, only to have them end up in a landfill or donated to Goodwill. The author discusses how they were trying to communicate their identity and actualize it through building a wardrobe, but realized none of the clothes truly represented who they are. Tallahassee also examines how fashion trends are often cyclical and how the act of obtaining certain products has become a reflection of one's lifestyle rather than just a luxury.

Why it matters

This essay provides a thoughtful examination of the overconsumption and identity issues that can arise from an obsession with fashion and shopping. It highlights how the pursuit of the latest trends can become detrimental to one's sense of self and the environment, and encourages readers to reconsider their relationship with clothing and consumption.

The details

Tallahassee describes their past experience of constantly searching for the "next high" of the latest fashionable items, only to have those clothes quickly become outdated and end up in landfills or donation centers. The author realized that they were trying to communicate and actualize their identity through their wardrobe, but the clothes never truly represented who they are. The essay also explores how fashion trends are often cyclical, with certain brands and styles making comebacks, and how the act of obtaining certain products has become more about reflecting one's lifestyle than just a luxury.

• The essay was published on February 12, 2026.