if you would prefer to watch the video version of this click here
I have been working on decluttering my closet for a year or so. Every time it's the same routine: take all the clothes out, filter through the clothes, try some on, and put everything back in all organized. The result is always the same, too: a messy, overfilled closet no longer than one month later. I didn't realize it, but my method to decluttering was not getting me to my goal of living a simple and mess free life. So, I finally figured out a foolproof method to decluttering my closet and believe it or not, I have a small number of clothes that I actually WEAR! Here are the steps: 1) Grab four bags. These can be garbage bags if you have a ton of clothes or grocery bags if you only want to go through one type of clothing at a time. 2) Dump out all of your clothes or your one type of clothing onto a clean surface. Yes, dump them out! Somewhere where you will have space to sort through them. I don't suggest your bed or anywhere else where you're prone to procrastinate and throw the clothes off before finishing the sorting process. 3) Sort your clothes into four categories. Dirty: This is the easiest category. Anything that is dirty goes in this bag. Get Rid Of: Put any clothes that you definitely don't want in this section. You want to immediately get rid of clothes that: -Have holes, are worn, discolored, etc. -Don't fit. Do NOT keep clothes that you will one day fit into. These clothes take up space and are a reminder that you don't fit in them. That's not a good feeling. Plus, if you do get to the point where those clothes will fit, they may no longer be your style. You can always buy different clothes later. In order to have success, you have to let go of these clothes. -Don't make you feel good. -Are scratchy, irritating, etc. -You don't wear often. This wouldn't include special occasion outfits, but don't keep more than one or two of these. Maybe: These are clothes that you aren't sure whether or not you should keep or get rid of. It's okay to have this be the largest pile you sort. It was mine. Keep: These are clothes that you love and definitely want to keep. Only put them in the keep pile if you have worn these clothes within the last load of laundry you have done. Trust me. 4) Put the dirty, get rid of, and keep piles aside. 5) Try on the maybe pile. You are going to try on ALL of your maybe clothes and sort them into two categories: Get rid of and maybe keep. Ignore the size and cost of the items. If you worry about the size on the tag, it will keep you from seeing how it fits on you. Likewise, if you worry about the cost of the item or who gave it to you, it will keep you from making the choice to get rid of the item. Don't keep anything out of guilt or sentiment that you know you want to get rid of. Here are some more guidelines when deciding what to keep and get rid of: -Will I wear it at least 10 times this season? -Does it fit? Does it fit well? -Does it make me feel good? -Is it worn, have holes, rips, or missing buttons? -Would I be willing to fix anything that's wrong with it TODAY? If yes, DO IT. Don't wait. - Would I buy it again if I saw it in stores? -Is it a good brand? 6) Wear your maybe keep clothes. Each day, pick out an outfit using ONLY the maybe clothes. This includes underwear, socks, shoes, tops, bottoms, jewelry, everything. If you can't stand to wear any of these items for even an hour, go ahead and take the item off and put it in the get rid of pile. Then, pick a new item from the maybe keep pile. This is the foolproof method to getting rid of your clothes because you will really get to know the items you try on. You will know if you feel good when you wear them, if they are comfortable, if they fit, etc. Don't skip this step. This is the one way you will be sure no maybe clothes slip back into the closet. Be honest with this process and let go of anything that doesn't work. 7) Take care of the other categories: Dirty clothes: Wash your dirty clothes and repeat steps 1-6. Don't let your dirty clothes make their way into your closet without doing this method! Take the time to do this process with each load of laundry. Keep clothes: organize your keep clothes and put them back into your closet. I suggest only displaying the clothes that you will wear within this season. Store the other seasons for later. I separate mine into summer/fall and winter/spring. Get rid of clothes: Sort these clothes into a few categories: donate, give to a friend, re-purpose, trash/recycle, and sell. The only clothes that should go in the trash are those that are broken beyond repair and those that cannot be re-purposed for things like rags. 8) Celebrate! By now, you should love everything that is in your closet. If you find yourself still skipping over items or find things you don't like, get rid of them! Nothing feels better than loving all the clothes in your closet. You may need to get some new clothes if you've gotten rid of a lot. I suggest going to thrift stores first. You can read why here. But remember, only keep clothes that you can wear at least 10 times this season. Don't buy so many clothes that you can't do this. I hope this method is as successful for you as it is for me. I am grateful to be able to declutter and live a simpler life. It makes it easier not holding on to clothes and it makes it a heck of a lot easier picking clothes out in the morning. What do you think? Does this method work for you? Have your tried it? What methods do you use?
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I am the youngest in a family of three siblings. Growing up, my sister got hand-me-downs from my brother and I got hand-me-downs from my sister. I loved getting hand-me-downs because I got to change my style with new (to me) clothes for free! Nowadays, I don’t get many hand-me-downs from my sister, though sometimes we do share clothes. More often than not, I get my clothes at the thrift store. Many people cringe at the thought of rummaging through other people’s old stuff, but I’m here to tell you why I absolutely love shopping at thrift stores!
1. Shopping secondhand is overall way way way way (WAY) cheaper than shopping retail. I see adorable dresses and other items at retail stores starting at $45 and going all the way up to $100+. That is a price tag I cannot realistically fit into my budget or justify “indulging” in. On Sundays and Mondays, I go to the Goodwill where they have $1 day. Let me explain: This store has six different colored tags. Each week, one color tag is 50% off and one color tag is 75% off for that entire week. On Sundays and Mondays, another color is $1 regardless of the price tag! To top it all off, I have a card that costs $10 a year that gives me 10% off every single visit or 25% off on my birthday. I am not sponsored by Goodwill. I just seriously love the savings! My strategy: Go into the store and look for items with these three colors. It saves SO much money! Not all Goodwills (and other stores for that matter) have the same exact same sales, but most thrift stores DO have sales. So make sure to check your local thrift stores for their sales! But I know what you might be thinking: “thrift stores are disgusting—I would never wear someone else’s clothes. And to that I say: Read my next point. 2. There are GEMS in thrift stores! During each visit I tend to find BRAND NEW clothes with the original tags (and let me tell you, some of those tags are $$$)! I’m not picky. I go in and look for clothes that look gently used without rips, stains, tears, damages to the zippers, etc. Likewise, I look for furniture items and décor that are gently used. While not everything is perfect, there are so many nice things in thrift stores that are priced cheap. Most things can easily be washed when brought home and then used right after. 3. Buying used creates less of a demand for new clothes. This is a big point that may often not be thought about, but it hits on two big things: the environment and human ethics. I’ll briefly talk about both. The environment: Each time we go to a store and buy brand news clothes, we are creating a demand for even more clothes to be created. The same goes for any other product. This demand requires resources from our environment to make the clothes. Each time we go and buy something new, we are impacting the environment. Each time we buy secondhand, we are decreasing that demand for new clothes and are even preventing old clothes from going to the landfill. Buying secondhand is a great way to reduce and reuse clothes! Humans: A significant amount of clothing is manufactured outside of the United States. There are many who work in factories with harsh conditions and very low pay in order to make these clothes. By buying clothes in retail stores that come from these factories, we are creating a bigger demand. This increase in demand can make workers work longer, harder, and without compensation. There are many films on human ethics and merchandise. One is China Blue. By buying secondhand, you aren’t creating a higher demand for these clothes. Furthermore, buying items on clearance also does this (and saves money!). One other thing that you can do if you buy new is to look for items that are made in the United States or are Fair Trade certified. I am no expert on this topic and I’m not perfect with what I buy and where it comes from, but I do my best to be mindful of what I’m buying and who it might be affecting. 4. Items at thrift stores are always changing! When I went through a skirts only phase of modesty in high school, I found that retail stores did not have modest skirts. Most of the skirts were too short for my liking and even those that were long were either very sheer or had long revealing slits. Looking at thrift stores, I was able to find a variety of styles of skirts from a variety of years they were made. You don’t always know what you are going to find at a thrift store, but that’s the fun in going! Not only that, but there are all sorts of products—not just clothes. 5. It's easier to go out with the old and in with the new! Last but not least, since you’ve saved so much money shopping at thrift stores, it’s not the end of the world if something breaks, gets worn out, or you tire of it. Spending $1 on clothes makes it easy to let go of a shirt that has a hole or pants that no longer fit right. It also makes it easier to let go when kids rapidly grow out of the clothes you bought. If you want a change of décor, that can go too! It becomes a lot easier to let go of items because you haven’t invested so much time and money into them. It’s a fantastic feeling to be able to let go of the old and make way for the new (to you)! However, do be mindful of how you get rid of your items. If you can, donate, sell, or rehome items that are still in working condition. Recycle what you can or find other ways to use them that do not involve the landfill. For instance, that T-shirt with the hole in it? Tear it up and use it as rags! There are so many reasons why I love shopping secondhand. Hopefully this blog inspires you to give them a chance, too! Want to see more? Click here to watch a Goodwill haul I did*! *Not sponsored Your thoughts: What is your experience shopping secondhand? What’s the best or worst thing you have found? ~Jess Below are three outfits that I have particularly enjoyed wearing for the start of spring 2016! I tell you what I like about them and how they can be altered to fit other modest needs. Outfit 1:Dress: Goodwill Belt: Old Navy Leggings: Kohl's Why I like it: I LOVE this outfit because of the beautiful and bold spring-time leggings. I like this dress because it has a babydoll style to it (I especially love how it flairs out at the bottom). How does it fit into modesty: For me, this dress is long enough to cover my intimates and I don't have to worry about it when I bend over. Is it perfect for all modest wearers? Probably not. I am tall so a lot of dresses tend to look short on me, but I feel modest wearing this outfit since everything I want to be covered is. I also like how the neckline covers enough up top so I don't have to worry about showing anything when I bend down. Alterations: A black skirt could be added underneath to extend the dress. A cute sleeved undershirt could be added to cover shoulders and arms. A cardigan or jacket could also be added on top of the dress. Jewelry can be added, too! Outfit 2: Dress: Kohl's Bracelet: Kohl's Leggings: Costco Why I like it: I LOVE this outfit because of the fun, light, flowy dress. I wore this for Easter 2016 as well as for my graduation back in June 2014. It is feminine, shapes my body well, and flows out in all the right places. This is a fun uplifting piece that I will definitely be using more! How does it fit into modesty: For me, this dress is long enough to cover my intimates and I have added layers underneath for added protection for my chest, back, and legs. Is it perfect for all modest wearers? Probably not. I had to change my bra a few times just to make sure the cutout didn't expose it. The lower cut in the front and the cut out in the back would be two things that may make other modest wearers uncomfortable. Check out the alterations below to see how to fix these potential problem areas! Alterations: A plain white, beige, or pink top (with sleeves or sleeveless, your choice!) can be added underneath. This will give protection to the arms, chest, and back cutout and will still allow modest wearers to wear this fun dress! In terms of length, a flowy skirt or slip can be added to extend the dress. Try different types of skirts and different colors. You can keep it all flowy or use a straight skirt. Outfit 3: Dress: Goodwill Brand: Calvin Klein Why I like it: I adore this dress! It was perfect for the cold winter weather and makes for a nice transition into spring. For this outfit, I simply paired it with some red socks and was ready to go. The dress is fun to twirl around in as you can see in my video here.
How does it fit into modesty: For me, this dress is long enough to cover my intimates and is a good length where I don't have to worry about wearing anything underneath. The sleeves are long and the turtle neck is a plus! Alterations: Although this dress doesn't require much altering, a pair of leggings or tights can be added underneath for some extra coverage and warmth! Add jewelry to give this outfit a statement piece or leave the dress to be a statement on its own! My BIG IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This blog shares my opinion on jeans, leggings, and modesty. This opinion is not universal and I do not mean to say that my guidelines for modesty are for everyone. I believe that we all have our own way of dressing and determining what clothes to wear. I do not intend for my guidelines to be used as a judgment or comparison mechanism for how others dress. I do not think that what one wears determines the goodness of that person or their religion. I believe in friendly comments and an open mind! In my first blog I wrote about how I stopped wearing leggings as pants (for the most part. Read that here) and why I deem them immodest when worn as pants. However, in my modesty guidelines, I stated that I am okay with wearing jeans (I used to HATE jeans by the way). This is a question that I have asked and is something I’m sure you may be wondering, too: “Jess, how are jeans any more modest than leggings.” I’m glad you asked! Let me tell you how. First, I would like to say that I do not believe all jeans are modest.
So then…How are jeans more modest? Jeans are more modest than leggings because they have pockets (albeit sometimes fake or very shallow. Why??) that skillfully cover the bum. How is this modest? It covers those darn panty lines that love showing up when one wears leggings as pants. I find that I can wear just about any pair of underwear I want with jeans and not have to worry about panty lines. Leggings, however, tend to require certain underwear (thongs and thin panties) so that the lines do not show. The reason this makes leggings immodest is the fact that leggings are too thin and are prepared to show off what one has underneath. This includes one’s underwear, one’s outlined bum, and one’s crotch. These areas are intimate and are not meant to be a show and tell to the world. I find that jeans, when they fit right and are thick enough, do a good job of covering these areas. Many have also asked “is it really appropriate to be showing off your legs at all? Shouldn’t you just wear a skirt?” My answer: No. BUT I love a good skirt! Let me elaborate: This is where my personal preference and beliefs come into play (not that they weren’t in play before). I think that leggings as pants are inappropriate because of how much they reveal in intimate areas. I think that some jeans can be worn so long as they fit well, are without rips, are of a higher cut (I prefer them to sit on my hips), and are not skin tight or baggy beyond control. These are my personal beliefs that you may or may not agree with. I think it is important for everyone to come up with their own guidelines for clothes that work for them! So, what are my guidelines on jeans? YES to jeans that sit on my hips or higher NO to jeans with rips or tears in them (especially in the legs, bum, and crotch) YES to jeans that are of a nice thicker-than-leggings material with pockets (so as not to worry about my intimates showing) NO to jeans that reveal anything when I bend over YES to 1-2 pairs of jeans that fit WELL (because I don’t want to have a ton, and only need one or two) NO to white jeans (they are basically see through) and... NO to jeans that have stains or drawings on them! My bottom of the line rule is that if I wouldn’t wear it in the classroom as a teacher on a casual Friday, I probably shouldn’t wear it anywhere else but at home or other private places (or even at all). Here are some examples of jeans to give you a visual of my guidelines. Would I Wear It?Thank you all so much for reading and I do hope that this was helpful to you in some way. Remember to leave a friendly comment down below and I will catch you in my next blog!
~Jess Dedicated to my friends
who knew the answer all along My HUGE DISCLAIMER: I am in no way stating that there is only one right way to wear clothes and that my guidelines are for everyone to follow. I do not believe that what one wears determines the goodness of that person or their religion. I do not believe that people who wear leggings as pants are bad people. I wore leggings as pants and sometimes I still do. The guidelines listed in this blog are simply guidelines. I do not believe there is one set of correct rules for clothing that applies to all people. I do not think that guidelines are forever. Change can be good. These are my opinions and only mine. I am happy to and encourage others to have other beliefs from my own that best fit them. Lastly, please do not think that your clothes are the end all be all to determine who you are as a person! I honestly never thought I would be writing a blog on this topic. I’ve seen it written again and again about everyone’s opinion on the matter. I usually disagreed with those opinions. In fact, I loved leggings. Unlike jeans, they fit my long legs and my wide hips with ease. They’re slimming and go with just about anything. So why on Earth would I ever say that leggings are not pants? Well… I’ll tell you. I suppose it all started in high school. I dreaded the days when I would have to try pants on in the fitting rooms of retail stores. I had just finished middle school, where I strictly followed the dress code of no bra straps showing, no tight clothes, and no shorts shorter than your fingers tips when arms were at your sides. But this was high school, and there were no pressing dress codes. So, leggings came into my life and I no longer had to worry about pants being an issue or the crying that came from trying on clothes that never fit. Fast forward to my junior year of high school. My at-the-time boyfriend and I broke up and I felt exposed emotionally and physically. I became aware of how I dressed and how I could cover myself more, or rather differently, so as not to feel like I was allowing others to view my body in such an intimate way. I began wearing only skirts. I talk about that experience here and address if I still wear only skirts today. My senior year of high school I went back to leggings and have been wearing them up to today. So why am I of the leggings are not pants opinion? WELL… My college is notorious for dressing with ripped clothes and minimal coverage. It is eye opening to see people walking by in the dining hall wearing a bra as a shirt or jeans with rips on each side of the bum. Three people during one of my meals walked by in tight leggings where I could see a little too many intimate details of their rears. I looked down at myself and thought surely my leggings are thick enough to be pants. And honestly, they are fairly thicker than what those individuals were wearing, but not thick enough to be pants. That was it. I decided that leggings are not pants and I need to take a journey to modesty. So what does my journey to modesty look like? You can see that here. But below you can find my guidelines: NO to leggings as pants YES to jeans (but how are those more modest than leggings? I write about that here) NO to showing cleavage YES to tank tops NO to revealing tops (crop tops, fish net, etc) YES to wearing clothes I LOVE in a modest way: Skirts, shorts, pants, dresses, and tops. and... YES to leggings as pants WHEN at home! AND THAT’S IT! Simple guidelines that I can change or adapt as needed. I am excited for this journey and if you would like to watch it go ahead and subscribe to my Youtube channel here where I show you modest OOTDs (outfit of the days) and more! Thank you all for reading and remember to leave a friendly comment down below! ~Jess |
Life can get stressful! My goal for this blog is to inspire others to step away from that stress and honor God with their lifestyle in the way He intends them to.
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