The Garments I Put on For Consolation and Confidence

Final month I shared a journey by the recesses of my mind, or a minimum of, the clothes and appearance-related recesses of my mind. Should you haven’t learn that publish but, I like to recommend you go there first since immediately’s article is the second on this mini-series. At present I’ll take you on a journey by my closet, with far much less emotional toil and much more sensible lists.

Now that you just all understand how I FEEL about my clothes, I do know you need to know what clothes I put on. Proper?!?

My Uniform

Given my previous penchant for weird outfit concoctions, I by no means pictured myself as a uniform particular person. However now, with two children, one job, 9 chickens and one homestead? Uniform me up, child. I didn’t deliberately got down to create a uniform, it simply occurred as I spotted that I need to put on snug clothes each single day. Up to now, I used to be keen to endure for vogue. Now? 0% curiosity. Lower than 0. Destructive % curiosity. Right here’s one thing I’ve discovered about myself: I don’t do small screens or high-waisted denims.

Since we take pleasure in all 4 seasons right here in rural Vermont, my uniform rotates commensurately. I’ll take you thru my closet for every season, which is definitely the identical closet as a result of all of my stuff now matches into my aspect of our master suite closet.

Winter

1) Leggings

I put on leggings day by day. I gave away each single pair of pants I owned for the easy purpose that I DON’T LIKE PANTS. I’ve NEVER appreciated sporting pants as a result of I discover them so uncomfortable. I can keep in mind in first grade begging my mother to not purchase me pants. I don’t know why, I simply hate how they really feel. However, I used to put on denims (skinny ones, even) as a result of they had been of the style. Now? Hells no.

I discovered two pairs of Felina leggings (unopened of their package deal!) at a yard sale like 4 years in the past and liked them a lot that I purchased this 6-pack on-line (affiliate hyperlink). Additionally, not going to lie, they’ve added 6 new colours since I final purchased them and, uh, no touch upon whether or not or not I’m proper now, at this second, clicking over to purchase them… Ahem.

Right here’s what I really like about them:

• They’re extraordinarily snug.
• They’ve a smooth waistband that doesn’t dig in, roll down or slide round.
• They don’t seem to be “slimming.” In different phrases, they don’t attempt to compress my pure abdomen area. My abdomen is what it’s, I don’t want some piece of spandex making an attempt to hem in my pure state.
• They aren’t dishevelled or bunchy
• They’re low-cost!
• They appear to be extremely sturdy, particularly in gentle of how low-cost they’re and what number of instances I’ve worn them over the previous 4 years. I’ll be aware that I don’t put them within the dryer, I allow them to line dry.

I put on them for:

• Fancy events!
• Non-fancy events!
• All of the events!
• Beneath my snowpants within the winter for out of doors recreation!
• Doing yoga!

2) Attire

Over my leggings I put on a gown. Each single day. As aforementioned, since I HATE pants, I really like clothes. I don’t put on skirts as a result of then I’d must coordinate a shirt with it and that’s an excessive amount of effort. A gown is an entire outfit multi functional! Pair with leggings and you’re performed! I additionally like clothes as a result of I really feel like they translate effectively to completely different conditions: fancy sufficient for church, snug sufficient for grocery purchasing, good sufficient for a dinner out.

I’m not snug sporting a shirt with leggings as a result of I don’t like my bum using on the market within the wind (until I’m doing yoga).

Listed here are the sorts of winter clothes I personal:

• Lengthy-sleeved turtleneck clothes
• Lengthy-sleeved scoopneck clothes
• Lengthy-sleeve cowlneck clothes

Basically, I personal the identical gown in numerous colours and completely different neck traces. All of my clothes are:

• Knee-length.
• A-line (flowy?) with no waist band, with out zippers or buttons and with out patterns.
• I’m allergic to wool, in order that they’re all artificial or cotton.
• All of them have absolutely lengthy sleeves as a result of it’s approach too chilly right here to fiddle with partial-sleeve conditions. I’m going to pay the identical quantity and never get all the sleeve?? I believe not.

I’m not against patterns, however I by no means appear to search out any that I like. Plus, with strong shade clothes, I’m capable of combine and match every little thing with my different-colored leggings and my…

3) Sweaters

Being in Vermont, I have to prime my clothes off with a sweater. 

All of my sweaters are:

• Knee-length
• Open within the entrance
• Totally different colours and patterns
• Not wool

I’m capable of combine and match the sweaters with the clothes and leggings for near-endless mixture potentialities.

4) Lengthy Underwear Tops

On very chilly days–or for out of doors recreation–I put on an artificial long-sleeved shirt beneath my gown and/or snowpants. I’ve tried many alternative manufacturers and I like this one the perfect (affiliate hyperlink). They’re clean and slim sufficient to go beneath all my clothes with out being bunchy and heat sufficient to put on whereas snowboarding/snowshoeing.

5) Snowpants

I slip my bib total snowpants* both over my gown or over my leggings and lengthy underwear prime and I’m good to go (affiliate hyperlink). I desire total snowpants as a result of they maintain me hotter and snow doesn’t go down the again. I like them roomy in order that I can tuck a gown in if I need and, they supply loads of flexibility after I’m snowboarding/snowshoeing.

*Word: these should not the model I’ve, so I can’t communicate to their particular high quality–they don’t appear to make mine anymore, however mine are the identical fundamental concept as these.

6) Winter Gear

Since we spend a number of time outdoors year-round, heat gear is a necessity. I’ve:

Carrying all of this–with my leggings and lengthy underwear prime beneath my snowpants–I’m good to go in any climate. The one instances I get chilly are if it’s about -10 Fahrenheit and actually windy.

Summer time

You may be unsurprised to study that my summer season wardrobe bears a hanging resemblance to my winter apparel…

1) Brief Leggings

Sure certainly, my hatred of pants extends to a detestation of shorts. This is sort of a lifelong hatred, so why battle it? I personal zero pairs of shorts and I’ve zero regrets.

By the magic of the web, a Fb mother’s group, and a good quantity of analysis, I found my magical summer season unicorn: quick leggings! I’ve 5 pairs of those in black (affiliate hyperlink).

They’re tremendous snug, not compression or slimming, don’t roll or bunch and attain to only above my knee. Carrying these allows me to climb, hike, sit on the ground with my children and never flash anybody. An actual precedence for me. I additionally put on these for hot-weather yoga paired with an outdated t-shirt.

I put on these each single day beneath…

2) Attire

Unsurprisingly, I put on a short-sleeved gown day by day in the summertime.

3) Cardigans

I’ve three lightweight, flow-y cardigans that I throw over my gown within the occasion of a petite summer season chill.

4) Overalls

For warm-weather out of doors labor and mountain climbing, I put on one among my two pairs of males’s overalls, which I really like (affiliate hyperlink). They’re terribly snug, roomy, and have tons of pockets for preserving instruments in–very useful after I’m out working within the backyard or cleansing the hen coop. I additionally discover them far more snug for mountain climbing than conventional mountain climbing pants. I’ll by no means return!

5) Solar shirts

I personal two of those sun-shielding, long-sleeved shirts, which I put on beneath my overalls for all train/homestead labor (affiliate hyperlink).

6) Swimsuit/Quasi-Westsuit

I personal this long-sleeved, long-shorts swimsuit thingy, which I am keen on (affiliate hyperlink). I put on it when swimming and paddle boarding and it’s the swimsuit of my goals. I’m absolutely lined from the solar and in no hazard of flashing, which as beforehand famous is a precedence for me.

I really like that it has:

• Lengthy sleeves
• Is made from a sturdy materials
• Sown-in chestal-region basis (no have to put on something beneath it)
• UPF 50+ solar safety
• Knee-length shorts, which I recognize for some actual apparent causes

Pajamas

The one different class of clothes I personal are of the “lounge/pajama” varietal.

I’ve just a few pairs of pajama pants and a few of Mr. FW’s outdated basketball shorts, which I put on on the odd event that I need to put on shorts round the home (often after I’m cleansing and it’s actually scorching). Rounding it out are some giant, outdated, cotton t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies.

And…. that’s it!

That’s The Full Checklist

I’ve gotten rid of just about every little thing else as a result of I by no means wore it. I noticed no level in preserving stacks of denims, skirts and tops that I by no means wore. I’ve realized that I want to decorate for myself as a result of nobody else cares and life is simply too quick to be uncomfortable. I believe I look put-together and respectable more often than not, due to my easy gown and leggings combos. I’m not forging any new vogue frontiers right here, however I do really feel assured day by day.

It takes me about 2 minutes to dress as a result of I’ve a U-Choose-3 menu day by day:

1. One gown (short-sleeved or long-sleeved)
2. One pair of leggings (quick or lengthy)
3. One sweater (heavy or gentle)

My system removes all of the guesswork and energy. I’ve so many different issues to spend time occupied with that my garments don’t charge. I’ve additionally accepted that I like modest stuff, not as a result of I’m conservative (the alternative!), however as a result of it makes me snug. I’m clothes on-line considering, “the place’d the remainder of the gown go?!?” My midriff won’t be on show anytime quickly and I’m wonderful with that. I really feel assured, wholesome and enticing in my full-coverage outfits.

Oh, Sneakers!

I nearly forgot about footwear. Sure, I do put on these.

Summer time:

• 1 pair of these black, canvas, low-top converse sneakers–bought new 1 million years in the past (affiliate hyperlink).
• 1 pair of these mountain climbing footwear–a hand-me-down from a buddy who wanted a distinct dimension (affiliate hyperlink).
• 1 pair of flip flops for the seashore and pool ($1 from a yard sale!)
• 3 pairs of ballet flats (bought from Goal like 12 years in the past and nonetheless going robust)
• 1 pair of knee-high rubber boots for hen/homestead labor ($5 at a yard sale!)

I’ve some fancy heels leftover from my dress-up days, which I very often put on, however truthfully, they’re too uncomfortable. Though they’re very cute, which might be why I can’t bear to provide them away…

Winter

• 1 pair of these insulated muck boots, bought new 5 years in the past (affiliate hyperlink). I put on these for every little thing: snowshoeing, out of doors labor, going locations. It’s too chilly for anything.
• For the uncommon occasion necessitating a “fancy” shoe, I’ll put on my muck boots and pack my ballet flats to vary into. Final 12 months I did this precisely one time: for our Christmas Eve church service. My ft had been so chilly whereas I used to be singing with the choir that I’ll by no means do that once more.

Fall/Spring

• I’ve a number of pairs of cute boots leftover from my fancy days that I wish to put on earlier than it will get too chilly OR if it’s dry outdoors (in the course of the pre-snow section).

Did You Purchase all of this Used?

Nope. Nope I completely didn’t. Curious of us can scroll again by my years of Month-to-month Expense Experiences, which embrace all the garments I’ve bought.

Once I made the transition from OUTFITS to clothes, I purchased most of it new. Up to now, thrift looking for myself was a treasure hunt and I wore all method of weird issues as a result of it was enjoyable! Now, I simply want stuff that I like and that matches. When I discovered leggings I appreciated, I purchased 6 pairs of the very same leggings (in numerous colours!). Once I discover a gown I really like, I usually purchase a number of in numerous colours. I’ll say that I have a tendency to purchase pretty cheap clothes and essentially the most I’ve ever spent on a single merchandise is about $50.

There’s nothing mistaken with shopping for nicer, costlier items, I simply appear to have the ability to discover stuff I like at locations like Kohl’s, Outdated Navy and Goal. It really works for me, it may not be just right for you! Anytime I want/need a new gown, the very first place I verify is Kohl’s, particularly the Apt 9 model. I personal extra Apt 9 gadgets than anything and I’ve for years! I began purchasing at Kohl’s in highschool and by no means stopped.

For no matter purpose, that model most practically matches my vogue sense and finances. It additionally appears to carry up rather well over time. I’ve owned Apt 9 stuff for over a decade that also seems nice. I’ll be aware that I do line-dry all of my clothes apart from my pajamas, socks and lingerie. You possibly can inform I’ve a uniform when it’s laundry day and all my equivalent clothes are hanging up within the breeze.

I nonetheless discover nice gadgets at thrift shops often and there are a number of in our space that I like quite a bit. I’ll say that, since I solely put on clothes, it’s fast and straightforward for me to breeze by the gown part in a thrift retailer. Both they’ve clothes I like or they don’t! I really like that about my simplified model.

Will You Purchase Extra Clothes?

Most likely. I usually purchase 1 or 2 new clothes every season only for fun-sies. I haven’t purchased new leggings or sweaters in a number of years as a result of I appear to have loads of these. However, I take pleasure in discovering a brand new gown that I like and, I attempt very arduous to observe the 1 in, 1 out rule. If one thing new joins the closet, one thing outdated should be donated.

The one factor I don’t have proper now could be a flowery gown. We’re going to a marriage in November (with three separate occasions!) and I’m debating if I need to attempt to discover one thing fancy. Alternately, I’d simply put on my good, black, long-sleeved sweater gown–which was a present from my fabulous mother-in-law and is pictured above within the kitchen w/the children–with a flowery necklace. That’s what I’ve been doing for all “fancy” occasions up so far and it’s labored out completely wonderful. I’ve no need to be uncomfortable at this wedding ceremony and I’m unsure I care sufficient to spend cash on one thing I’ll put on very hardly ever. However it could be enjoyable to get one thing glitzy… Nonetheless, I actually don’t like purchasing, which is why my uniform fits me so effectively. I don’t must go attempt on 1,000,000 clothes to search out one I like–I do know my dimension and my model.

Will You Ever Change Your Uniform?

Most likely. Who is aware of? I’m rather more open to variation and alter than I was. Up to now, I felt like I needed to make one determination FOR LIFE and by no means deviate. Now, I’m of the mindset that, “that is what actually works for me proper now.” There’s nobody proper method to gown or purchase clothes or current your self on the earth. We’re all amalgamations of our experiences and tastes and what’s proper for me proper now may not be best for you. What’s proper for me proper now may not even be proper for me in one other 10 years! Enshrining that sense of flexibility and openness has actually helped me to be much less inflexible, much less anxious and happier. That and taking my Zoloft each morning.

What do you put on? What clothes makes you cheerful and comfy?