Shopping the Sales & Money Management

So as much as I love a good sale or discount on clothing items or accessories, I feel like that in itself can spiral into its own addiction of sorts. My parents have always been pretty mindful when it comes to saving money and a couple of those habits have rubbed off onto me, but when it comes to this topic in general, I feel like those penny-pinching methods can become outdated as time goes on.

Now If you’re someone who doesn’t like spending money on something that’s full priced, that’s totally fine. I love shopping for things that are discounted or on sale, but I don’t want that mindset/habit to dictate how I manage my money 24/7. We all deserve to treat ourselves every once in a while, and if I take the time to do my research first before splurging on something nice, then I’ll know that the item I’m purchasing will be something l’ll enjoy for years.

Shopping for me used to be an addiction of sorts, especially when it came to accessories in particular. Every time I went into stores like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe or Charming Charlie, the first place I’d run to is the handbags. My collection back then was in an almost constant state of change as I would wear one for a couple months then toss it because I had grown bored with it. When you add those clearance deals or store-wide sales to the mix, you can pretty much imagine how easily swept up I would get into buying those purses because not only were they cute, but they were also on sale. This is where I started moving into an addictive mindset with my shopping habits because while there's obviously nothing wrong with buying things on sale, there is a problem if every discounted item you buy doesn't stay in your home for very long or if all those little purchases accumulate over time. For example, I used to have 20-25 handbags as a teenager (this includes wallets as well) and every time I was ready to declutter, I wasn't very mindful with why I was decluttering those items to begin with. I was just shopping, using them for 2-3 months, and then discarding them out of boredom. Not only did this create a lot of waste, but it also proved to me that I wasn't being all that mindful with my shopping habits. I'm grateful that most of what I bought back then was fairly cheap instead of expensive because by then, I would have gotten into trouble.

One thing I’ve learned with this topic in particular and how it ties into minimalism is that if you cut down on purchases that don’t benefit your own personal lifestyle, you’ll have more money saved up that you can use on other things that will add more value. A lot of what I’ve learned from my parents does still apply to me, but I’m trying to branch out a little more every now and then. It’s all about balance really, so as long as you stay true to your budget and not go overboard with your spending habits, you’ll be in good hands.

My Minimalist Closet + My Organizing Tips

So with me working with the capsule wardrobe system, I like to section off my hanging clothes by season as well as color. However, I'd say that function comes into play a little bit as well. I like to keep my dresses in their own separate section as well as my jackets, which are separated by season as well.

I have three bins and one basket sitting in my closet. The first one on the far left has all of my every day t-shirts that I like to wear around the house. I then have a smaller bin in the middle which contains my socks. The last bin I have contains my lounge and sportswear bottoms (ex. joggers, leggings, sweatpants, gym shorts, etc.). This way, whenever I'm home for the day, all I have to do is walk into my closet and pick out what I want to wear without any stress. Now I do have more t-shirts that I like to wear to sleep in, but I like to keep those separate from my every day ones.

The rest of my clothes are stored away in my dresser, and if I'm being honest, it's taken me a while to have everything organized in a way that's satisfactory for me. I like to keep all of my heavier knits, sweaters, pajamas and other pants in there as well as my underwear and bras. I know that some women might prefer to hang up their every day pants (like jeans and trousers for example), but I just like keeping them tucked away since I have room for them in my dresser. 

So in the last basket that I keep in my closet is for my bathing suits. I also have a couple pairs of flip flops that I keep in the bottom of that, so that makes reaching for them easy whenever I want to spend some time in my neighborhood pool during the summer months. Now when it comes to shoe storage/organization, I have a small bookshelf that's perfect for all the shoes I wear on the daily. I also have a bigger bookcase in my bedroom, so I like to use that for shoe storage as well. However, because I like to keep things minimal, I only have 4 pairs of shoes sitting on display right now. The rest of what's on there are storage boxes that contains other accessories, lighter-weight cardigans and other miscellaneous items. I also have a couple handbags on display on the bookcase that I enjoy using. 

My closet has been through a lot of phases throughout the years, but I feel like I've finally found a system that works for me and that I can easily stick to. In the past, I used to have a lot more stuff and because of that, I always felt that I needed to keep things better organized by simply buying more organizing products. However, once I eliminated all that extra clutter a year or so ago, I found that all those purchases I've made were simply unnecessary and I just needed to own less stuff. This is probably the one thing I love most about minimalism because when you have less stuff, the less stressed you feel when getting ready in the morning. It honestly just feels amazing to have more control of my surroundings instead of the other way around. 

Negative/Toxic Habits to Work on This Year

If there's anything that I've learned throughout my early 20's (and onward still), it's that life is full of choices that we make either consciously or subconsciously without realizing it. I don't claim to be perfect nor do I think I have all the answers, but one thing I do try to actively do is keep myself aware of my habits and work on what's not benefiting me personally. So with that being said, I'd like to share some habits that I feel like we can all work on overcoming so that we can live a better and happier life.

1. People pleasing- when we worry about what others think of us or actively try to gain other people's approval of who we think we should be, we automatically give away a part of ourselves without realizing it. We all have this energy inside of us that's meant for us to take care of personally, and no one else can really tell you how to live your life but yourself. By this, I'm not saying to never listen to anyone else's advice, but to simply trust yourself and follow your own instincts. Part of what makes people pleasing so toxic is that the more you do that, the less likely you are to listen to your own inner voice and instincts because you're more focused on keeping everyone else happy, and I don't think anyone would want to live like that.

2. Taking things personally- I've struggled with this a lot (and sometimes I still do), but every time I find myself holding onto this habit, I realize how that bad that makes me feel both mentally and emotionally. Believe it or not, every one of us on this earth is unique in some way- we're not made to be perfect or to be mindless drones. If someone tells you something that lowers your self-esteem or makes you feel less adequate, try to move forward from that and understand that those words have more to do with that person and less to do with you.

3. Sweating the small stuff- Worrying in my opinion is one of the easiest ways to drain your energy, especially if it's about very trivial matters. This could be anything from the weather to bad traffic, or even what your hair or makeup looks like when you go out in public. If all of those little things actually mattered, then people would have said something, but I honestly doubt that anyone would care. What matters more in the end anyways is how you treat other people as well as how you treat yourself.

4. Complaining & projecting your insecurities onto other people- For me personally, talking about the negatives in life or just complaining about everything can lead to a lot of negative and depressing thoughts afterwards. And while I realize that not every day is going to be great and we're all going to have our moments, I feel like the least we can do is try catching ourselves the moment we realize we're complaining or criticizing, and then try to turn that around into something more positive or constructive. We all know the saying hopefully: "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." It just takes effort to make that a standard for yourself, so the more you practice restraint and respect for others, the better off you'll be in the end.

Maybe it's just part of us being human, knowing that we're going to say or do things that others may or may not like, but I do hope that these tips and insights are helpful to you in some way. I myself am human as well of course, but I do the best I can to keep my own mental/emotional well-being in check- it just takes effort and practice like anything else in life. And if no one else has told you this today, I'm here for you and I believe in you. Your life is special and you are worth it.

Insight Post: Ethical/Sustainable Fashion Brands vs. High-End Designer Brands

With fashion becoming more diverse these days, I feel like there’s a lot of different approaches that one can take when it comes to this topic in general. From my perspective however, I feel like slow fashion is the better route considering its impact on the environment.

I feel as if sustainable fashion companies aren’t widely known of as of right now, but I’m glad that the effort is being made at least in some places. I think it’d be great to be able to support those companies somewhere down the line because unlike other brands, you’ll get full transparency when it comes where their goods are being made and what kinds of materials are being put into their garments.

The only designer items that I honestly own are a Coach wristlet and a Steve Madden purse. I personally have never been one to follow more high end brands as I prefer function over style with a median price point, but in knowing this, I wouldn’t say that I’d stay away from designer items all together. I do think it’d be nice to one day own a handbag from Angela Roi or Matt & Nat, and on the other end of the spectrum, I’ve always admired the Celine tote bags or Chloe bags with the chain detailing.

So with all of this being said, I do feel like investing in good quality items is worth it in the long run as long as you know what it is you’re looking for. I feel as if it’s easy for some of us women to get swept up in brand loyalty for a number of reasons, but because of where I’m at now with my spending habits, I don’t think it’d be wise for me at least to keep shopping and spending just for the sake of it. I’d rather just keep my collection minimal with pieces that I know I’ll use and love for many years.

My Career Journey + Creating Your Own Opportunities

This post isn’t an excuse nor is it me looking to explain myself out of fear of being judged. Everyone’s lives are different and everyone’s budgets are different. To put it simply, I just don’t have the means to do what other sustainable fashion bloggers are doing at the moment. I’m still living at home and working in retail is tough sometimes. With me saying all of this, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to make that change, because at some point, I do want to. Slow fashion is something I feel very passionately about and want to support in the far off future. I never really thought that I’d find myself in the position I’m in now with this blog and I know my audience is small, but I’m content with that. I’m not looking to become famous or anything because all I want is to make an impact.

When I first started this blog, I only saw it as a hobby. It was a side interest I had as I wanted to write down things that would come to mind, but my main job was working in a grocery store. I stayed with that job for 3 and a half years, and then I got the opportunity to work in an elementary school cafeteria. The work there was a little more demanding and it did pose some challenges for me, but I do feel like it was a good learning experience in some ways. Once I left that place after staying there for half a year, I decided to take a little bit of a break. And even though my first two jobs left me with a lot of experience, I still just felt lost and kind of doubtful in my own abilities. When I decided to go to this job training school last year, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into; I just wanted to stop feeling down on myself. When I came out, I felt a lot more confident in my skills and in my ability to maintain a job.

This job I have now as a cashier has its perks, especially since I’m working in a thrift store. Sometimes, being there makes me feel excited and happy, and other days, being there makes me feel frustrated or stressed out. Overall though, I do enjoy what I’m doing and I like the people that I’m working with. I feel like there’s enough variety with the job I have now because whenever I’m not helping other customers, I’m either processing new or used clothing or sorting the big piles of donations that people drop off.

One thing I’m starting to believe in now is creating your own opportunities, because sometimes, the world will not give that to you freely. One has to be willing to put in the effort and work hard in order to achieve your goals. Sometimes, people like to be cliche and say things like “the world is your oyster” and whatnot, but from my perspective and experiences at least, I believe in the opposite. I enjoy hard work, even if it that work proves to be difficult or challenging sometimes. Now of course, I realize that I may be a little more privileged than others, but I’m grateful for what I have and the experiences that come along with that.

Mindful Shopping: Trendy Clothing

Florals, stripes and animal print are the first 3 things that come to mind when I think of trends in clothing. You can find a lot of trendy clothes pretty much anywhere from the mall and department stores to thrift stores or second hand shops. However, if you’re not careful with yourself, you could end up leaving with much more than what you came in for to begin with.

I feel my style has always been a tad girly, but just like me with my life in general, my style has and continues to change as a I grow older. And while I still very much love floral printed tops or skirts, I can also appreciate more basic trends like monochrome beige or sunshine colors (bright red or yellow). The fun thing about fashion is that you get to try out different trends as they come and go, but at the same time, knowing that very thing can lead to a lot a waste in the long haul.

If there’s anything that I’ve become a big believer in, it’s list-making and managing your personal needs with that. I always like to write down whatever items come to mind that I feel are essential for my wardrobe, and once I’ve done that, I’ll gather up inspiration on Pinterest. Once I’m ready to start shopping (whether if that’s online or in person), there are 5 questions that I try to keep in mind:
Which prints or patterns do I like most on me?
Is there a specific fit or style that I’m looking for?
Is there a specific neckline I’m looking for?
Is there a specific material or fabric I’m looking for?
Can I make 3 or 4 different outfits with this one piece?

Shopping for clothes (or anything else for that matter) can be fun, but I personally find more joy in finding pieces that I will love and wear forever. If you use the guidelines I’ve provided here, then you’ll be on your way to finding a closet full of great clothes that you’ll love forever. I hope this post will inspire you in some way to build your “dream wardrobe”.

How I Got Into Slow Fashion & My Personal Style

For most of my early 20’s, my shopping habits were wasteful in more ways than one. Be it, I still shop at fast fashion places on occasion, but that’s only because of budget reasons. I want to say that the first video I watched on slow fashion was something that the blogger Lavendaire posted where she explains into more detail what goes on behind the doors of most fast fashion businesses. From there, I decided to watch more, but I still wasn’t taking it all that seriously when it comes to my shopping habits and decluttering my own wardrobe. 

When I first stumbled across Signe Hansen’s channel Use Less, I was immediately inspired by the idea of capsule wardrobes and doing more with less. Mistakes were made in the process for me as I adapted to this more restrictive mindset that didn’t feel like my own. That, plus the clothes I had didn’t match my lifestyle as most of what I had was either too dressy or too casual. It took me some time to figure out what my personal style really is, but once I did with the help of Erin Elizabeth (a lifestyle blogger based in Canada), I suddenly felt less stressed and more confident with what I was doing. 

I feel like it takes a lot of trial and error to really find your personal style. The thing about style though is that it’s going to continually change as you get older, but if you stick to clothing items you know you love and feel good in, then the rest won’t matter. There’s really no “one size fits all” approach to style as it’s going to look different on everyone, so even if people say you should wear this color or that pattern, you can still do what works best for you. Knowing this has helped me a lot because while I still enjoy color, I also have enough basics to even it out. 

So for me personally, I’d say that my style is a touch feminine, comfortable and classic. I like experimenting with color, but some days, I actually prefer a more basic look, especially for work. The only time you’ll see me in all out comfy and casual clothes is when I’m at home, like shorts or sweatpants and a t-shirt. Now when it comes to accessorizing, I mainly go for minimal and effortless touches. However; if I’m wearing an outfit that’s more neutral or basic, I’d typically spice up that up with a statement bag or necklace. Now this doesn’t happen all that often outside of work, but I do love a good jeans, t-shirt and blazer combo. I think wearing that with a simple necklace and stud earrings would look good together, or even a pair of statement earrings if you’re into that. 

So whether if you’ve only relied on one resource or multiple resources like me, I feel that there’s a lot you can do to be creative with your style when owning less. Shopping your own closet can be fun, especially if you feel like you’re in a rut and you don’t know what to wear. I personally love trying on different outfit combinations with what I already have, and I usually approach this by selecting one top I want to wear more often and pairing it with everything I have. This may sound time consuming, so perhaps you might want to try a styling app of some sort, but using the try-on approach is what works best for me.