LilyJo: Don't throw that out... I'll take it!!

While growing up, I remember several women mentioning, "Don't throw out your clothes. Everything comes back into style." If I continued to accumulate clothes since hearing this, I would be considered a hoarder!! There are styles in my closet that will NEVER come back around! Fortunately for me, I don't care if it is in style or not. If I like something I'm going to wear it. Several of the people closest to me have given me pieces that hang in my closet or sit in my drawers. Personally, I love the history: the mink fur cape that once belonged to my cousin's grandmother, the rabbit fur that my mom got for her first anniversary from my father, a couple pairs of leather gloves that my grandmother Lily used to wear, countless silk scarves from my grandmother Jo.... so many of my favorite items were given to me! These are the pieces that will sit in my closet seasons come and seasons go, regardless of what is "in style!" It is so important in my life to be realistic about my outfit. I can't ride horses in sandals, and I prefer not to go to the beach in stilettos. I like a wide variety of activities, and my wardrobe has a wide variety of items. I like the idea of wearing surprising pieces together, which are not the obvious choices when you look into your closet. I was always extremely obsessive about matching perfectly growing up: pink floral dress, pink bow, pink purse, pink shoes... make me vomit! I might as well have covered myself in Pepto Bismal. The color choice wasn't always pink, but I always leaned toward dressing and accessorizing monochromatic. It was usually not the best look; I'm not going to lie. Slowly, I began to study women with innovative style—the "it girls:" Kate Moss, Edie Sedgwick, Sienna Miller, Twiggy, Rachel Zoe, etc. I noticed that their outfits looked very natural because they had on pieces that you normally wouldn't see together. Once I realized this, I slowly broke my matchy-matchy habit. Now my sisters will look at me and ask if I am really going to wear the odd combination. I answer, "Of course!"

When I shop, I look for fun pieces—items that you don't see everywhere. Occasionally, I will fall in love with an extremely popular item and collect it everywhere I shop. Currently, this obsession is leggings. I shop all over the place. I don't judge! I give everybody a chance to sell me something. I am usually not shopping for anything specific, seeing as though I don't need anything. But I do find myself shopping everywhere. I hate to admit it, but I am a complete impulse shopper. Rarely do I try items on (unless it's over my clothing or a rather large investment). I browse every store I walk by, picking up items as I shop the aisles, leaving some of the items behind as I find "better" items.... but always finding at least one piece that I cannot live without. This is a problem!! As I stated in a previous blog, I am a fashion student... “student” being the key word here. I work three days a week at my sister's and her friend's restaurant. It is a country restaurant... cowgirl attire (we'll get into that another day). What I am trying to say without sounding too rude, since we're not supposed to talk about the mula, is that I am not driving around in a Ferrari. Damned bad luck! ; ) I am on a budget. I pay my bills and spend the rest of my money at random boutiques on clothes and other fun, impractical items. Now, on the rare occasion when I am looking for something specific, I head to Nordstrom. I can always find what I want at Nordstrom: probably because, realistically, I shouldn't be shopping there. Who's to tell me I can't give up food for a week in order to buy a pair of jeans? We all make sacrifices! I am kidding, of course. I have family that will feed me. God bless them! I justify my shopping habit by telling myself that it is my job to stay up-to-date! I haven't formally sat down with my loved ones about this little problem, but I am absolutely positive that anybody who has seen my room and closet is completely aware that I am a shopper!

In order for you to understand the task of getting dressed, and a little more about my personality, I will give you a tour of my closet and point out some of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe! I regularly go through my closet and get rid of anything that I don't want. All of the high-end items I take to resale boutiques where they give cash for clothes. I donate all of the clothes that I buy at fast fashion stores. I'm guessing I donate approximately fifty items a year. It's safe to say that I don't believe in the idea of keeping everything you buy. Still, I can't find room to fit anything new. Here is a little peek inside my overflowing closet!