Tag: clothes

My KonMari Journey | Clothing Declutter + Reorganization

Happy Wednesday! Today I am excited to begin a new series here on my blog all about my journey implementing the KonMari method in my life. You may have heard of the famous book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. I recently read its companion book, Spark Joy, in which Marie breaks down her KonMari method and explains step-by-step how to tidy your home. I absolutely fell in love with this book, and I knew I had to begin implementing her method right away. In today’s first post about my KonMari journey, I will quickly share about my decluttering history, and then my process trying the KonMari method for the first time with my clothing.

If you’ve been following my blog for some time, you’ll know that I’ve been simplifying my life for the past two-three years. I’ve spent a lot of time decluttering my belongings, and I’ve shared the process with you when it came to makeup and nail polish. I cannot tell you how many bags of clothing, household goods, books, and more I’ve donated over the past couple years, but I somehow still have more stuff than I need or want. I think this is mainly due to merging all of my college and law school things with everything that I left at my parents house when I moved to school. I will admit that I’ve been a pack rat all my life, finding a lot of meaning in what I deem to be sentimental items. After getting rid of so many belongings on my own, I was ready to read Spark Joy by Marie Kondo and adopt her tidying process. I knew it would give me that final push I needed for all of those items to which I have emotional attachment.

You can learn more about the KonMari method by reading one of her books, but, in essence, it focuses on only keeping items that bring you joy. I absolutely love this tidying method, as there is no room to rationalize about whether or not I need to keep an item. If it doesn’t bring me joy in some way, it needs to go. I’ve decided to follow the KonMari method as closely as I can to see if it can work for me. I know there are many opinions about this method ranging from extremely positive to extremely negative. I see a lot of value in the KonMari method, and am sharing this personal journey with you in hopes that it will inspire you to rethink how you declutter and organize your home as well.

Marie Kondo lays out a specific guide to decluttering, and it begins with clothing. The KonMari method requires you to gather each and every item in a category from everywhere in your home and place it in a giant pile. You then hold every item individually and decide whether or not it sparks joy. I know this might sound a bit ridiculous, but I soon got the hang of it! My first eye-opening experience was looking at my giant clothing pile. I put my clothes on my full size bed, using a spare sheet as a drop cloth. Woah! My pile was HUGE! I did not expect it to be so large, as I think I operate on quite a limited wardrobe. Of course, this pile includes all of my clothing, from socks and underwear, to jeans and tops, to jackets, and so on. Still, I did not anticipate having such a huge pile through which to sift!

Overall, I found the sorting process quite easy. Because I’ve been regularly donating clothes, what was left in my wardrobe were mainly items that sparked joy. I didn’t get rid of too much, but I was able to fill a kitchen sized garbage bag with clothing to donate, create a small pile of clothes I want to sell, and a decent size pile of things to put in the garbage. I like to sell name brand clothing that is in excellent condition on the website ThredUp. While I would ultimately like to donate all the rest, some of my clothing was quite old and damaged. For instance, the t-shirt sitting on the top of the pile is so worn with age there are several holes in the back, and the design is washed out almost completely. Needless to say, those items no longer brought me joy!

Here is a look at everything I kept. While I was, at first, a bit disappointed that I did not get rid of more, I had to remind myself that the quantity of the items does not matter so long as they all bring me joy. I did keep a pair of jeans from Target that I eventually want to replace, so I made a note of that in my planner. I highly recommend keeping a notebook handy so you can record when there is an item you want to repurchase or upgrade in the near future when you have the money.

My next step was to fold and store my clothing using the KonMari folding method. Marie recommends folding as many clothes as you can, and provides detailed instructions on how to achieve the desired result. I admit that it took me quite a while to fold all my clothes, and I often had to refold items before getting the hang of this new-to-me method. That being said, I am beyond thrilled with the result! Not only can I fit a lot more clothes into my drawers, but they are easy to see and access. The above photograph shows my top drawer filled with camisoles, everyday t-shirts, and sweaters. I’m so in love with the look of the drawers, and now that I’ve used this storage method for a little while, I’m happy to say they are also functional and easy to use.

Everything that cannot be easily folded, such as coats, dresses, professional clothing, and fluttery tops, hangs in the closet. Following Marie’s recommendation, I grouped items by category, faced them to the right, and went from long to short. This is completely different from how I used to organize my closet, but I’m really enjoying the result. I got used to this change in just a few days.

The entire process of tidying and storing my clothes took me four hours and ten minutes. I did this on a Sunday and did take breaks! While I was quite tired at the end of the day, I felt very accomplished. Not only did my drawers and closet look amazing, but I already felt more joyful. I definitely think the state of our surroundings impacts our mood, and after completing the first step in my KonMari tidying campaign, I felt awesome.

I hope you enjoyed this first blog post in my new series documenting my KonMari journey with all of you! I will be posting about my tidying campaign every Wednesday on this blog, so make sure to follow so you will see all of my updates! Next week will cover clothing accessories, such as bags, jewelry, scarves, etc. Please let me know in the comments how you liked this blog post, and if there is anything you want me to mention about the KonMari method in my next post.

Buy Spark Joy by Mari Kondo on Amazon HERE to learn more about the KonMari method.

This post includes affiliate and referral links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

 

5 Secrets to Successful Clearance Sale Shopping!

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to share with you five of my best tips for scoring big at clearance sales. I was recently scouring the racks at the mall looking for some new pieces for my spring wardrobe, and I realized that some of the tricks I implement when shopping can be helpful to others. Not only do I always buy things on sale, but I also worked in retail clothing stores during high school and college, so I learned my way around the clearance racks from the inside! Let me share with you my top five secrets to successful clearance sale shopping!

 

All of the tips I’m sharing with you today are based on shopping for clothing on clearance. However, feel free to adapt them to whatever product you are hoping to buy!

SECRET 1: Look through ALL of the clothing racks no matter the size!

Clearance racks get very disorganized at clothing stores no matter how many times the associates organize them, and items get put back in the wrong place all the time. I’ve gotten in the habit of looking through the entire clearance section of every store so I don’t miss out on amazing pieces that are just stuffed into the wrong place. Plus, sizes range dramatically from brand to brand, and sometimes even within the same brand. Make sure you don’t limit yourself by just looking through one size rack!

SECRET 2: Use a coupon to save even more money! 

Many stores allow customers to use coupons on clearance items. I like to plan out my shopping trips, and try to search for coupons at home before I go to the store. That allows me to read through the fine print on the coupon and see if there are any exclusions. However, if I end up in a store unplanned, I simply whip out my iPhone while shopping and do a quick search for coupons online. You can easily show the cashier the coupon right on your phone without needing to print it. This saves paper, too!

SECRET 3: Only buy items you will actually wear! 

I know first hand how tempting it is to buy clothing just because it’s cheap. This is especially true if it’s from a name brand I really like. Always make sure the item you are buying is in good condition, and that you will actually wear it. If you can’t visualize yourself wearing the item regularly (or for a specific event if it is a fancy dress, for example), don’t buy it. It’s better to buy an $80 blouse that you wear every week than ten $10 blouses you don’t really like and end up living in your closet.

SECRET 4: Try items on in the store! 

I always try on clothes in the store, but this is even more important when you are buying clearance items, as some stores do not allow returns or exchanges on discounted merchandise. You do not want to be stuck with ill-fitting jeans even if you did spend just $20 on them! Of course, some items can look very different on your body than they do on the hanger, so it’s always helpful to see how it fits your shape, too.

SECRET 5: Look at each item of clothing! 

In addition to looking through the entire clearance section, I recommend looking at each individual item of clothing. This is going to be a time consuming process, but I always find more hidden gems when I go through the clearance racks carefully. At my first retail job, my manager taught me how to tidy the hangers by pushing all of the clothing down to the end of the rack, and then moving each item to the other side to neaten it. This is now the technique I use when shopping! You never know what is hidden between bulky sweaters, or falling off a hanger in the middle of a stuffed rack.

That wraps up my five secrets to successful clearance sale shopping! While these tips do require you to take your time looking through the clearance racks, I think it is worth it in the end. You won’t find a hidden gem every time you shop, but I know when I implement these tricks I usually find much more! I hope that you found my shopping secrets helpful, and that you can use them the next time you go shopping! Feel free to share your finds with me on social media using the hashtag #PolishlandSaves!

What are your shopping secrets?! Share with me in a comment!

Jet Away June | My Go-To Airport Outfit

Happy Monday! I’m back with another Jet Away June post! Today I thought I would share with you what I like to wear whenever I fly. Like most people, I don’t think one needs to look like a supermodel when traveling. With airport security and long hours stuck in a tiny airplane seat, comfort is definitely key. At the same time, I feel my best when I’m somewhat put together, so there are no pajamas and sweatpants for this girl! Let me go ahead and share my airport fashion tips with all of you!

SHOES

 Sperry Top-Sider Boat Shoe in Linen/Gold Camo [BUY]

Shoes are probably the most important part of your airport outfit! Because they need to be removed when going through security, I always wear something that easily slips on and off. Many people wear flip flops or sandals, but I hate the thought of my bare feet touching the airport floor, so I wear shoes that allow me to wear socks as well. I’m a huge Sperry fan. Not only are they super comfortable, but they come in many styles and colors. I wear mine to the airport with socks, and they take off my socks later. 

Helpful Tip: If you’re traveling during winter, wear your boots on the plane. It will save you a lot of room in your suitcase! 

PANTS

Delias Taylor Super Skinny Jeans [BUY]

Some people are most comfortable in yoga pants or leggings, but I love my jeans! I find jeans so comfortable, especially a good pair of skinnies. Plus, they are durable and can be worn multiple times during your trip. I love the Taylor style from Delias, but my other favorite stores to buy jeans are American Eagle and Express. I’m always scanning the sale racks for a great pair of Express jeans!

TOP

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delias Eat Sleep Blog Repeat Tee [BUY]                                          Delias Open Cardigan [BUY]

When traveling, I always like to dress in layers. For my top, I like to wear a t-shirt with some sort of design on it. Whether it’s a graphic tee, or a comfortable blouse, I stick to short sleeves. Then, I always wear a cardigan in case I get cold. I find that airplanes are always chilly inside, so layers are a must. I own a few black cardigans, and always bring one with me since black goes with almost everything.

MY COMPLETE OUTFIT

Jet Away June | My Go-To Airport OutfitWHAT I’M WEARING:

  • Sperry Top-Siders (same as linked above)
  • Express Jeans
  • Julie’s Closet Top
  • 14th and Union Cardigan

Here I am in my go-to airport outfit! As you can see, it is very casual and comfortable, but I still feel put together. I chose a flowy top that isn’t constricting, and you may notice I’m not wearing any jewelry whatsoever. I find it best to leave the accessories in my luggage until I arrive at my destination so I don’t lose anything on the plane. Of course, if you wear a wedding ring or another piece of sentimental jewelry at all times you can choose to leave that on throughout your trip!

I hope you found this post helpful as you plan your next adventure! Of course, there is no wrong way to dress for the airplane, so if you are someone who does feel more comfortable in sweats and flip flops wear what makes you feel at ease. Let me know what you like to wear when traveling in the comments, or tag me in your photos on social media using the hashtag #JetAwayJune.
Sperry Top Sider
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Back to School Week | Cute & Casual School Outfits

Happy Wednesday! Today’s post is a first on Adventures in Polishland — fashion! One of the best parts of going back to school each year is putting together some cute, new outfits. Whether you’re going on a shopping spree, or searching through your closets, they key to the perfect school ensemble is feeling comfortable and looking great, too. I usually keep it pretty casual at school since I’m there to learn above everything else. Let me show you a couple outfits I plan on wearing this fall, plus some of my favorite clothing stores and back to school must haves!

7bc105e7-b4b7-4d7a-aff8-4454858f19a5wallpaperFirst up is my go-to look — jeans and a t-shirt! Whether you’re in middle school, or law school like I am, you can never go wrong with the basics. To liven my outfit up a bit, I chose a feminine floral top, and added a necklace. I’ll share the product details below.

  • Top: Forever 21 – $13.80 – not sold online
  • Necklace: Forever 21 – $10.80 – CLICK
  • Jeans: American Eagle – $44.95 – CLICK
  • Shoes: Converse – $49.90 – CLICK

f50d3cfb-4785-40f7-87ab-a40f593c5349wallpaperFor days you want to look a bit more polished, swap the sneakers out for some flats, and choose dark colored denim. I’m totally ready to hit the law library in this outfit! Below I’ll link to the products I’m wearing, but since the jeans and shoes are from older brands I’ll find similar items for you.

  • Top: Forever 21 – $15.80 – CLICK
  • Necklace: Forever 21 – Spring Collection
  • Jeans: PLNDR – $24.99 – CLICK
  • Shoes: Delias – $19.90 – CLICK
  • Bag: Michael Kors – $103.50 – CLICK
  • Casebook: Amazon – $125.49 – CLICK

Back to School Fashion Must Haves!

Sperry Top-Siders are my favorite shoes! They’re comfortable, cute, and come in a ton of colors.
To carry those books, sport a cute bag! I love leopard print — it never goes out of style.
Don’t be late! Invest in a stylin’ watch to get you to class on time. I love my rose gold one from Michael Kors!

Best Stores for Bagainistas!

  1. JCPenney – Arizona jeans are my favorite! They come in all sizes and lengths, not to mention colors and styles, too.
  2. Forever 21 – Always super affordable, and always trendy!
  3. Delias – Cute, comfy, and cool clothing! Seriously!
  4. Express – Shop during clearance events and you’ll snag amazing deals. They have beautiful dresses!
  5. BaubleBar – Gorgeous jewelry and great prices. I love their statement necklaces!

That wraps up my fashion post for Back to School Week! I hope you liked the outfits I put together, and the pieces I picked out. When you head back to school, remember to wear what you like and what makes you feel most confident. Respect your school dress code (and your parents!), but let your real style show through. Let me know your favorite stores to shop at in the comments!

 

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

dELiA*s