While I was doing dresses week(s) here on my blog, I was cross posting them on my Face Book, as well (without the pictures cropped). One of my FB friends asked if I would write an article about how I compile and organize my wardrobe/closet.
I told her I didn't have much to tell, and gave her the rundown of my meager system, but she said she thought it sounded like a good one, and worth sharing, so why not?
I like simple. If you know me, you may have figured that out. I LOVE my Home Management Binder, because it helps keep things simple. Things are organized, categorized, and simplified. I don't go overboard, though. I'll leave things in a more general format, rather than super specialized, in many cases.
I started my wardrobe system when I was a kid. I always struggled with figuring out what to wear each day, and I never ended up liking my outfits. For example, I recently saw one of my childhood pictures, and I was wearing a sports football shirt, paired with bright, floral jeans. That... didn't work... LOL.
One day, I decided to go through all the clothes I had, and match them up in outfits that I thought looked good. I then tried on each outfit, and changed it up, and tweaked things here and there until I thought it looked good. It didn't really matter much to me if others liked it or not. I was the one wearing the clothes, so I wanted to dress how I thought looked nice. That was my focus. It took hours, but I finally had a complete outfit on each hanger.
I memorized which pieces went with which outfit set up, and I never changed them up, or I could end up messing up another outfit. I no longer needed to worry about what to wear the next day, because I would just grab the pre-set-up outfit off of the first hanger in line. When I'd put away my laundry each week, I would again hang up my clothes according to outfits. The clothes being put into the closet were put in the back, and the outfit to be worn was always the next one in line.
Fast forward to 2005, when I became dresses only. I rarely ever buy a skirt, unless it comes with a shirt and/or jacket, etc. Else, I have to go through the trouble of finding a matching shirt that fits nicely with the skirt, etc. Now in saying that, I am currently wearing a skirt and short sleeved sweater. At the moment, this is my only skirt, and is literally the first time, since being dresses only, that I have matched a skirt with a top.
I tend to buy skirt outfit sets, but most of the time, dresses. I have my modesty rules. The dress has to go below the knee, the top cannot show cleavage, and I don't do sleeveless or straps. It has to at least have short sleeves. I can get maxi dresses that pass all of my rules, except maybe the neckline. The neckline is easy to fix, because I can either pin or sew it up, wear a shirt underneath, or wear a sweater or jacket over it.
These days, I purchase most of my dresses from Ross. Their slogan of "dress for less" is very true. Their prices often beat even Wal-Mart. They also usually have a clearance rack. I kid you not, one time I bought a brand new dress from the Ross clearance rack for .49 cents. I've also gotten dresses on clearance for a few bucks from them, as well.
I have many friends who like to swim, but won't do so in public, because of modesty. I don't mind swimming in public. I usually get my swimsuits from Wal-Mart. Especially over the past few years, as I've noticed they have been carrying the Catalina line, which offers many modest swim suits. I have a swim dress from Wal-Mart by the Catalina line, which I love.
You may be wondering how my closet is organized. It is very simple. I grab the dress in the front to wear for the day, and when I put away laundry, I put the freshly laundered dresses in the back. My dresses are on the left side of my closet. On the right side are my exercising outfits. I also hang those up according to outfits, and wear the front one first, and put the freshly laundered ones in the back. Between my dresses and exercise outfits, is my swimsuit and cover up. It is my divider, dividing my exercise clothes and my dresses from each other. I keep my indoor and outdoor exercise shoes next to the bed, and my flip flops and daily outside shoes by the door. The back of my closet, and the shelves are reserved and used for storage. I often put things there that I want to go through soon, to find things I can give away.
A friend at church once asked me how I decide what to wear for church each week. I told her I dress this way every single day, so I don't have to decide what to wear for church, as I'm always dressed nice. I've never liked dressing down. I've always believed that if I'm dressed nicely, then I'm ready to be spontaneous. I can go out right away. There is also no embarrassment, should I get an unexpected guest. I always try to keep my house clean, and my outfits nice. I think it helps me feel good about myself and my day, and helps me feel energetic for my home schooling and homemaking tasks.
If you dress down while at home, I challenge you to go a week dressing nicely each day, and see if it blesses you, and makes a difference.
"It’s like a person building a house by digging deep and laying the foundation on bedrock. When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn’t shake the house because it was well built. 49 But those who don’t put into practice what they hear are like a person who built a house without a foundation. The floodwater smashed against it and it collapsed instantly. It was completely destroyed." -Luke 6:48-49 CEB
"The Lord lives! Bless God, my rock! Let my God, the rock of my salvation, be lifted high!" -2 Samuel 22:47 CEB
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32 CEB
"Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -John 14:6 CEB |
The terms "Christian" and "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" have been thrown around so much, that for many people, they have lost their original savor. What is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Is it going to church? Is it being a "good person?" Is it via doing certain rituals, or following certain traditions? No, it is so much simpler than that.
Jesus says:
"Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me." -Revelation 3:20 CEB
Let Jesus into your heart and life. Put your faith and trust in Him, and in Him alone.
Why did Jesus Christ come to this earth? He came to pay for our sins. Have you ever broken any of the Ten Commandments? Did you know that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that just looking at someone with lust in your heart is the same thing as committing adultery in your heart?
Many people will say I'm a good person. Sure, I've stolen a few paper clips in my time, and I've told some lies, but I've never killed anyone, so I'm good enough for heaven. Don't be so sure. Have you ever felt hatred toward someone? If so, then you are guilty of committing murder in your heart:
"Everyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that murderers don’t have eternal life residing in them." -1 John 3:15 CEB
If you have stolen, lied, lusted after someone, hated someone, loved someone or something more than God, etc., then you have broken at least 5 of the Ten Commandments. Do you really think you'd make it to heaven? Not according to God's Word:
"Don’t you know that people who are unjust won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Those who are sexually immoral, those who worship false gods, adulterers, both participants in same-sex intercourse, thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10 CEB
But there is good news:
"That is what some of you used to be! But you were washed clean, you were made holy to God, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:11 CEB
We are all sinners:
"All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory" -Romans 3:23 CEB
Even Mary, the woman chosen by God to be a vessel that would carry Jesus in her womb, was a sinner, and in need of a Savior:
"In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior." - Mary said this in Luke 1:47 (CEB). Only sinners need a Savior, and Mary also accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior.
We are all imperfect, fallible sinners:
"This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:5-8 CEB
The blood of Jesus Christ is what cleanses us from all sins. Jesus came to this earth to die to pay for our sins. You see, Leviticus tells us that 'the life is in the blood,' and that it takes spilt blood to atone for sin.
When we choose to truly believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and to live our lives for Christ, then Christ's spilt blood cleanses us from our sins:
"Come now, and let’s settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow. If they are red as crimson, they will become like wool." -Isaiah 1:18 CEB
Jesus tells us this:
"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son." - Jesus said this, in John 3:16-18 (CEB)
Paul gives us a simple "step by step process" on how to be saved:
"Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation. The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame." -Romans 10:9-11 CEB
Jesus is our one and only mediator:
"There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the human Christ Jesus" -1 Timothy 2:5 CEB
Jesus is our High Priest:
"Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin." -Hebrews 4:14-15 CEB
We are to follow the Lord and the Bible, not traditions of people:
"Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you?" -Matthew 15:3 CEB
Jesus is God:
"Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory." -1 Timothy 3:16 CEB
If Jesus isn't the Lord of your life, then I hope that you will let Him into your heart and life this very moment.
"But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8 CEB
Have you built your foundation on the Rock of Salvation?
Jesus is the way. If you would like to receive Jesus into your heart and life, then let Him know. Pray to the Lord, telling Him that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and that you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for your sins. Tell this to God in your own words, from your heart.
"The wages that sin pays are death, but God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23 CEB
Believe, and Receive:
"You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ." -Ephesians 1:13 CEB
When you believe on Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit. You are sealed as a child of God.
If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior, and you believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place, to pay the death penalty for your sins, and that Christ rose from the dead three days later, and you are ready to let Him lead your life, and you will live for Him, then you are saved, and born again.
