There was a stage in my life from 17-to-25 (once I started working) where I was a fashion horse. Every time I got a paycheck it went to Ebay, some other website, or a downtown store like Charles Tyrwhitt or Banana Republic.

I was one of those high school/college kids who worked in retail and because we got an extra discount, I’d spend my paycheck the same day I got it at the store.

This eventually built my closet to stuff of legend. My closet was my most prized possession. I’d spend nights haggling over what to wear like a female, but I had options; plenty of them. My friends always talk about me being late when we go out to dinner or a club and it’s because of that.

My mom would always tell me: ‘You have way too many shoes, sneakers, t-shirts and jeans.’ I would always tell her to leave me and mi ropa alone.

But as I look back now, she was right. Absolutely right. My shoe/sneaker game has been whittled down to maybe 12-15 pairs tops. I’ve given up maybe 15 pairs in the last two years to family and local charities. All shoes that were in near perfect condition, but the money I’d receive for them on Ebay wasn’t worth the listing so I just gave them away.

The same goes for dress shirts and pants. Truthfully, there’s still some stuff in my closet right now ‘you’ may want to take a look at.

But, despite growing older and wiser, my love for clothes hasn’t died, but my trigger happy ‘purchase’ impulses have as has my dependence on clothes to make me feel better about myself.

Before it was about having anything and everything. Now, it’s just about buying what I need.

For example, I have a navy pinstripe and a grey suit. I love both of them. Would I like a nice, cotton beige suit? Of course. Maybe a wool light grey one like Diddy always wears? Absolutely. A slim all black/navy one ala Anderson Cooper? Without a doubt. But they would just sit in my closet all year with maybe two wears tops.

I dont need one ‘right now.’ I don’t need them because my job doesn’t require me to have them. I work in a corporate environment, but a lax one.

How many pairs of jeans do I have? Three – one white, black, and blue. Dress shirts? Maybe 7 that I actually use.

My needs? I don’t have many at the moment.

Wants:
Three suits
Black John Lobb’s
Brown Testoni’s
A black trenchcoat for fall
A new pair of loafers
A few spread collar dress shirts
A pair of Tim Duncan foamposites
A pair of old-school David Robinson’s
Marmot Polo’s in all colors.

Needs:
Nothing.

A few months ago, I even overdosed on dress watches and got a ton in different colors. Granted, they were cheap, but were they necessary? Nope.

Nowadays, you can catch Claudio wearing his staples. The usual American Apparel V-Necks that show off my Uncle Jessie chest hairs with Vidal Sasson Mousse on them (just kidding, but my chest hair game is the best in upstate Manhattan). On my legs, Dior or Levi’s jeans and any pair of the shoes I have left over from my last dump.

Before, when I made purchases, they were heat of the moment ones. Things that were ‘hot’ right now. Today? I just buy what I need and in the end that feels much better than what you want.

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