I love lists. I have so many to-do lists. I have a little notebook dedicated to lists. Lists of songs to listen to in order to get myself pumped for the day. Lists of fruits and vegetables I’d like to try to grow someday. Lists of really cool artists. Once (HUGE nerd alert), I would open the dictionary at random, find interesting words, and write them down in a little notebook (mixed with words I didn’t know from books).
But my favorite list right now is my clothing do’s and my clothing don’ts lists. See, I used to shop a lot. An unhealthy amount. Product of my raising. Product of my culture. I had an unbelievable amount of clothing. My mother would try to be helpful, if it isn’t completely satisfying when you try something on, then don’t get that. But I fell prey to other people thinking things looked good on me.
Also, I’m working on being a part-time minimalist. I hate thinking too much about what I’m going to wear. It stresses me out. How about I just look nice all the time (unless I’m working and messing up my clothes)? I know VERY well, now anyway, that there are certain things that I will refuse to wear, no matter how much I liked it in the store. Why waste my time and money? Also, why not make my life super easy and make all of my clothes match? I can just grab things at random and just automatically look good! That’s all I want in my life.
I make my lists based on me. On my body shape, on my skin tone, on what makes me feel comfortable, on what makes me feel nice. I think everyone should personalize lists like this to themselves. It’s a little bit of work to make so much of your life easier.
My (personal) clothing don’ts:
- Visible elastic
- Bright colors
- Awkwardly short shirts
- Mini skirts
- White socks
- White
- Bulgy pockets
- Cap sleeves
- Empire waists
- Words/symbols (unless band/movies I love, I don’t generally advertise for free)
- Tight skirts
- Platform shoes
- Too warm colors (yellow and orange, gross)
- Ruffles
- Puffy sleeves
- Itchy sweaters
- Turtlenecks
- Slacks
- Anything that causes me pain.
- Anything that rides up and needs fixed constantly
- Transparent clothing
- Brown (I can wax poetic on my hatred of brown clothing/accessories. I’m a cool skin tone, so it isn’t great on me anyway. Also, there’s like a billion shades of brown, good luck matching your belt and your shoes and your purse. You know what’s good? Black. Black always matches black. Black always matches gray. And white. But brown? Not for me.)
- Bedazzling
- Knee high boots (or higher)
My (personal) clothing do’s:
- Stripes (I love stripes passionately)
- Black clothing
- Teal clothing
- Gray clothing
- Burgundy clothing
- Deep green clothing
- Sweaters
- Dresses cut at my waist
- Simple designs on jean pockets (no bedazzling, no sparkles, but not just blank)
- Socks for flats with grips
- Plain t-shirts
- Tank tops that perfectly hide my bra straps
- Skirts that dance when I spin
- Short boots
- Black socks (particularly ankle cut)
- Big, comfy hoodies
- Clothes made to fit me
- Hidden, good-sized pockets
- Blue jeans that actually fit my hips/butt, which is no easy feat
I would love to see other people think of something like this. I mean, you go shopping, you find something you think you like, but it has something on the don’t list? Don’t get it, you won’t wear it. You know you. You do you.
-Smudged
The Painted Spreadsheet 