I don’t know if it’s a Chicago thing, but I feel like my weekends for the whole summer are already booked.
There are weddings, birthday parties, graduations and then so many outdoor events that I feel like all I do on the weekends is run around.
It’s nice seeing people at these different events, but it does get a bit tiring after a while. I’m also concerned about what to wear to all these outings. I can’t necessarily repeat outfits if I’m seeing the same people over and over. We’ll all get bored!
I’m also trying to cut back on my shopping this year, so that provides another roadblock. I don’t necessarily want to go out and buy a new outfit every time I have somewhere new to go. So, I’ve been doing an inventory of my closet to see if I can find some new combination of clothes.
It’s amazing how stuck you can get when you’ve always worn a particular shirt with one pair of pants. Or if you always put two colors together. Even if you switch out one shirt for another, it makes a drastic difference in your wardrobe.
Plus, I have so many tank tops and long-sleeved shirts in various colors, I can switch them around with different outfits to see what works best.
This is another reason for me to get more organized with my clothes. Then it becomes much easier to take stock of what I have and see what combinations work well together.
One nice staple I love having in the summer, though, are linen pants and skirts. Just switching around to different tops makes it so easy and versatile to wear those pieces.
Even putting on a new hijab that you don’t normally wear with something makes a nice change.
Let’s see how the rest of this summer goes. If I can’t find something nice to wear, I may just have to stop rejecting invitations and sit at home in my PJ’s.
Pop Culture Hijabi is a weekly column by Nadia Malik. Malik is a former newspaper reporter based in Chicago who’s now making her way as a freelancer. She spends entirely too much time watching TV and reading pop culture, fashion and TV blogs. She also occasionally consumes serious books and news. No, really. You can reach her at info@hijabtrendz.com with “pop culture hijabi” in the subject line, follow her at www.twitter.com/nadiamalik or simply leave a comment below.
Being from Chicago I think that it might slightly be a Chicago thing
Chicagoans love get togethers, at least my family does. And for some reason they get very uppity if you wear the same outfit with the same people twice. And I hear you about the many many weddings…which I think is a midwest thing in general. They invite EVERYONE.
I like to try ebay for new outfits. Sometimes you can get something really great for really cheap. And cardigans really help change up an outfit, jewelry too.
I feel your pain with the outfits but my dilemma is that I have a ton of stuff that just doesn’t fit. I’m debating to wait until I can get back into them or give them away. It’s hard to part with stuff though
I agree its hard to part with stuff! Although moving really helps you clean out your closet LOL
Great article.
If you can’t recycle it TODAY (i.e. using the different combos), then THROW IT OUT! Stop waiting to lose wait or gain weight or whatever. If you reach your desired weight, then as part of the treat you should go out and buy something NEW.
There is a great feeling of freedom you have when you divest yourself of baggage- mental, spiritual and material!
LK, I love cardigans. It’s so easy to put together new outfits with them. The problem is when it’s summer. It’s WAY too hot these days to wear layers!
Mariam, I have the same problem. I totally want to keep things forever, even if I know I don’t need them.
Nabeela, I agree. It feels nice after purging. It’s just getting the willpower to actually do it.
LK, I love cardigans. It’s so easy to put together new outfits with them. The problem is when it’s summer. It’s WAY too hot these days to wear layers!
Mariam, I have the same problem. I totally want to keep things forever, even if I know I don’t need them.
Nabeela, I agree. It feels nice after purging. It’s just getting the willpower to actually do it.