I’m not getting to personal, am I? Actually, that’s not my intention. As you ponder the “grown up” question, think less about chronology, or even maturity, and more about your state of…style.

For example, do you have tell-tale signs of high school lying around? An ‘83 yearbook on your coffee table may be cool, but your varsity field hockey jersey, even signed by the whole team, perched above your buffet is most likely in the 99^th percentile of uncool. 

We all have our sentimental favorite things. Some we’ve held onto from childhood. Others may have been handed down from parents, grandparents and dear relatives. Still others we bought ourselves at flea markets and secondhand stores as temporary fixes. (The latter should automatically come with a “sell-by date.”)

The point is, if you want to grow up, stylistically speaking, it’s time to gradually purge/store/donate the stuff you’ve inherited at best, and endured at worst. Bite the bullet and create a whole new look of your own.