How to make the most out of your clothes

Are you tired of getting up each morning and muddling through your closet to find something to wear? When you finally throw together some clothes, you hear your child calling for help because they need something to wear too. You head into the kitchen and start prepping for breakfast. It is at that exact moment when another child comes down the stairs in a hideous outfit you won’t let them be seen in…Ugh… the joys of motherhood!

Although you don’t want that child to be seen in the crazy pastel pattern leggings that do not match the crazy BOLD printed top and mismatching socks, sometimes it’s just not worth the battle to have them change. I know how you feel. It’s hard enough to get everyone up and out of the house on time with hair that doesn’t look crazy. Sometimes what they have on just falls between the cracks.

I’ve been there too, sick of looking through my closet for things to put together and stuck in the rut of wearing the same things. I had a full closet of clothes that never got worn, and yet I was still out buying more. I did not enjoy seeing my kids come up with crazy outfits that, of course, they were thrilled about! Finding a solution to this morning mess became a top priority in my mom life. How can I get my kids to choose things that match and look nice? I still wanted to give them a choice, but I also did not want to look like a crazy lady walking into the store.

The Clothing Solution

Only buy clothes you LOVE

I know this may seem like an easy solution, but really, don’t buy things that you won’t be excited to see your kids (or yourself) put on. If the things in the closet are only my most favorite options, then I will be happy with whatever they choose to wear that day…assuming it’s NOT out of the dirty wash. HAH! Even if you cannot afford to buy new clothes each season, you can take the time to make good choices at garage sales and second-hand stores.

Set your closets up in OUTFITS

You have all these cute clothes that you love now, but why, oh why do they keep coming down with things that don’t go together? I buy all my clothes in outfits, and when I put them in their closets, I hang them up as outfits. This means that whatever they choose to wear it will at least match.

Now, I said set up THEIR closets in outfits, but I also do this with my own closet. Let’s face it, ladies, how many things do you have in your closet that you do not wear? What’s the point of having it? Unless it’s off season, there is no reason to keep something you don’t wear. Bless someone else with it or have a garage sale.

This includes my closet!

My closet is also all set up in outfits, and I hang them all. When I do the wash, I add the new clothes to the back of the rack. Each day, I choose the first thing in line. ‘What’s that?” you say. What if I don’t like it? Well, if I don’t like it or don’t want to wear it, I ask myself why? Is it the color? Is it too big, too small? Uncomfortable? Whatever the reason, I either decide if I want to keep it (or part of it) and then I move on. If I don’t love it today, why would I want to wear it tomorrow? And if you DO like PART of the outfit, then I have some tips for that too in the section below labeled Shopping Made Easy.

If you do not like the outfit make a change

You buy an outfit, and at the time, you think it’s adorable. But, now you do not think so anymore. Is there part of the outfit you do like? Do you like the jeans just not the top, or do you like the top just not the skirt, or is the dress just too short and needs to go? Whatever you decide, don’t put it back in the closet. Take the part you like, and read below in Shopping Made Easy to find out what to do with it. The part you don’t like may be a blessing to someone else, so donate it and don’t look back.

Shopping made easy

This weekend, I get a girl’s day out, and we are going to the outlets! YIPPEE! It’s so fun, but I also spend a lot of money. When I come home, I have a lot of cute things, but I’m usually missing something to go with them. Being the outfits person that I am, I find a great way to have a goal when I’m shopping (and not just buy things I like) is to take those clothes that I love from home and find something to go with them. This way, I’m finding a way to make the clothes we ALREADY have work again. Each time I find an outfit or part of an outfit that I don’t love, I get rid of it. If there is a part I do still love, I add it to a bag I have hanging by my back door.

When I get some time away or have to run some errands, I take the bag with me. Inside are all the things that I actually NEED something to go with. This is a great way to make sure the colors actually match up and you like the way the two things go together. Plus, it makes shopping feel like you are being more frugal instead of just buying because you like something.

How much do we actually need

You can read about my laundry theory here, but because I do everyone’s laundry on the same day each week, this also helps determine how many clothes we need. I try to buy each person 7-9 outfits (THAT I REALLY LOVE) each season (or when growth spurts happen). This way they have only a few great options, and each week, they get washed and are back in the closet. There’s no slipping through the cracks. We don’t have clothing items that don’t ever get worn because what’s the point in that? And obviously, we all know that kids tend to wear the same few outfits. They have favorites just like we do. Even if you have a month’s worth of options for them, they still have that favorite sweat-shirt that they put on the second it’s out of the dryer.

Now with this being said, I do this for my kids, but obviously, I have more than 7-9 outfits in my closet. I do try to make sure that I work through all my clothes though by choosing the next thing in line each day. If I don’t want to wear it, I definitely do not keep it!

Now RUN!

Does this seem like some great planning? Then, Run! Run to those closets and start putting outfits together. Find the things you think look great and hang them on a hanger together. Get rid of the things you do not love. Start a bag of things that you love but don’t have anything to go with. See those things with tags still on them? I’m betting that someone doesn’t like those even though they are brand new. Bless another family with them! You won’t regret it, and I promise you will feel better when you go to get dressed tomorrow. Your kids will come down in great outfits and everyone will be off to a wonderful day!

Onemorelittlething’s other helpful hints

If you loved this post you may also love my laundry theory!  Another one to check out is my Freezer meal theory, along with my freezer meals and jar salads. Don’t get run down by the “little” things life brings, stand up and conquer them!