The other day, when I finished school, the first step outside felt like stepping off the airplane to a tropical oasis I had not yet visited. However, instead, it’s Michigan.
The summer season is returning in the northern hemisphere, which means it’s time for the annual closet cleanout. It’s finally time to say goodbye to those winter coats, snow boots, and especially to those sweatpants that you wore at least three times every week during the colder season. However, there are many ways to reunite with your closet and make it the best possible, especially while on a tight budget.
Cleaning out winter clothing:
For starters, it’s time to clean out your closet. Even though it’s easy to feel attached to those clothes you used to wear every day back in middle school, it’s time to let them go. Donating to local thrift stores or homeless shelters is one of the best ways to get rid of extra clothes off your hands and send them to a good cause. However, for those looking for a little extra cash on hand, starting an online Depop or Poshmark is both incredible ways great way to sell your clothes for cheap, and also to have a little extra money on hand.
Shopping recommendations:
Now, to get into the fun stuff. Fashion has always been a big part of my life, as I often quickly switch up my style. However, summer is not only the season to wear cute outfits without covering them up with a coat, but also to find the most comfortable clothing to wear without sweating all my makeup off. Although it might seem difficult at first, in reality, it’s truly not as hard as it seems.
First, one of my favorite summer fashion trends has to be any outfits associated with mini or pencil jean skirts, or any regular skirts. When I was younger, I had always been a girl who hated wearing skirts. However, now that I am grown and matured, I quickly realized that skirts are the perfect and most convenient way to create adorable summer outfits that not only look put together, but also aren’t super pricey. Whether it’s a mini jean skirt or a flowy fairy skirt, they all fit perfectly into the summer clothing category. On the chillier days, paired with a cute, dainty floral cardigan, a skirt makes for a perfect piece of clothing to add to your wardrobe this season.
Next, shoes. In my opinion, shopping for shoes in the summertime has to be one of the most difficult tasks because, depending on the activity you are performing that day, shoes can vary. They can vary from sandals to tennis shoes within the blink of an eye. I like to keep a spare pair of sandals in my car, in case, after any walking or long, drawn-out physical activity, I want to slip into a comfier pair of shoes. Some of my favorite types of sandals are any off-brand plastic material Birkenstocks, typically in black or white, with only two straps. These shoes are super convenient and always match my outfits. However, for fancier and more put-together outfits, I prefer to pick a fancier type of sandal. Sandals are not all that I would recommend wearing in the summer, as in some cases, they don’t always fit the vibe. The Adidas Campus 00’s make for a perfect pair of shoes to pair with some cute bloomer shorts, along with any type of New Balance also fit perfectly.
Now, finally, for shirts. Shirts are, in my opinion, one of the best items of clothing to shop for, as they are so versatile. For both winter and summer, shirts are some of my favorite clothing pieces to invest in, as they are the ones that pull the outfit together. For summer, I believe that Brandy Melville will always have the cutest and most adorable tank tops and camis. From the little buttons to small lace details, these shirts are perfect down to the last bit. Their quality completely outweighs their prices, making them the perfect shirts to invest in. I believe that thrifting bottoms and investing in tops is the way to go, as from my experience, stores typically tend to rack up the price of bottoms much higher than the price of tops.
How to shop:
Shopping for clothing is hard. However, with an idea in mind and a Pinterest board set out, it’s not all that difficult. Typically, before going on a shopping trip, I tend to check my Pinterest boards to see what I want to be on the lookout for. Whether it’s a pair of low-waisted Miss Me jeans or a Lululemon tank top, it’s best to always have a game plan.
Now, for the actual shopping part. Keep an eye out for the clearance sections in the pricier stores. The clothing shop Altar’d State has one of the best clearance sections I’ve ever seen. It’s almost the size of a small store, and often, after searching for a good fifteen minutes, it’s easy to find some higher-end products for under half of the price. In my head, I never settle for the exact price unless it’s reasonable; otherwise, keep an eye out for sales.
Finally, for my favorite part of my shopping addiction, thrifting. Thrifting is a great way to save tons of money and still create the perfect summer closet. When thrifting, it’s easy to get distracted and buy items that you will never end up wearing and end up throwing in the “donate” bin months later. A way to avoid these distractions of clothing is, once again, to look back at your game plan and don’t settle on anything that, first of all, isn’t a reasonable price, and second of all, is not on your wishlist. It’s easy to fold and buy things that you think are adorable in the moment. However, in three weeks, it will most likely be lying in the back of your closet until it ends up at Goodwill in three years.
Although I am no shopping expert, I would consider myself quite experienced. So, take my word, at least on some of my shopping tips, as someone who thrifts religiously. Summer clothing doesn’t only need to be fashionable, but also fit comfortably, in the way you wish for it to. Finding clothing pieces that suit you and express you is the way to make the ultimate summer outfit.
