How to Create a Conscious Wardrobe

I still remember my confusion when my husband and I stepped onto the hotel bus. We had intended to go to the park in Downtown Houston after a day walking around the streets.  Apparently, we stood out and that was apart from the fact that I was the only hijab-wearing woman around.  As the driver told us during our friendly conversation, “You look like tourists.”

I scrunched my eyebrows. Tourists? It just did not make any sense. Red dotted skirt and the jean jacket was the exact same that I wore a few days ago leaving the house to go to the airport.  In fact, that same skirt has carried me to grocery shopping, tea-sipping, sushi munching, and all sorts of every day activities right here at our small, desert home town.  Yet, in Houston, I looked like a tourist in my everyday wear.  I was secretly proud.  My clothes, the ones that I own, the ones that I love are now just ballin’.  At least I think so.  Isn’t that what he meant? But here is the thing: That’s all I own.

This journey of loving my wardrobe is something that started a long time ago and is still an evolving process.  Some of the items I have tailored to change their look – a few of my dresses have been cut down to make skirts, for example, as my style changes.  Yes, my clothes now cost four times more than they ever did… actually, it may just be more than that but I buy much less and love them a lot more.  Here are the steps I recommend to creating a wardrobe that makes you feel like a, there is just no better word, baller:

1 . Trim Your Closet – Raise Your Standards

Take a hard look at all of the clothes you own.  Pay attention to which ones you have rarely worn (or only once, you know you have those!) and which ones get the most wear.  The ones that get the most wear stay, and the ones which have been taking up space (although in a pretty way) that have never been worn or never been used need to find their way out of your home.  Pay special attention to getting rid of the items which you bought because you wanted to get out of your comfort zone and yet, you just could not find it in you to do so. With each item that leaves your wardrobe, note why it has been elected to be in that pile.  Did it not fit right?  Was the fabric uncomfortable?  Did you not find the color appealing on your skin? Did it not look right on yourself?  While you are making the purge, it is so important to be brutal.  Ignore the thoughts that say “I can wear it if there is xyz” because the likelihood of having that “xyz” is very slim. The visual clutter is only adding to the anxiety of getting dressed every day as well as feeding the baser part of yourself which only desires to “have more” in this increasingly consumerist world.  As believers, we are expected to raise our standards in everyday actions.  So let’s raise our standards and be above the mall-surfing, sales-loving society which tricks the minds into achieving a temporary high with each swipe of the card at the cashier.  Understanding your personal psychology behind each shopping trip will also help you to minimize them in the future.

2. Create Outfits – Feel the Gratitude

Now you have a nicely trimmed closet which only holds the items that you find comfortable and that match your style.  You may have a few or you may have a lot.  The key is to have a curated few.  So go through your items and create a month or two of outfits.  Mix and match items, create layers, play around with textures if you must but create outfits which you love.  This process, also known as the creation of a minimalist wardrobe, will not only assist in you making the most of your clothes, but it will also make you feel a greater appreciation for the items you own. Anuschka Rees’ Curated Closet is a great book to help guide you through the process of creating outfits.  Among the suggestions that Rees shares is the one about finding your style by creating a portfolio.  If you are struggling with understanding your style, she recommends using sites like Pinterest to find the outfits that not only appeal to you but also those you can visualize yourself wearing.  Being honest with yourself about your preferences rather than what you want your preferences to be is the key.

Playing around with your own clothes in the closet and creating different outfits will help you to see the versatility of each item and make you fall in love with it just a little more. At this point, you are not purchasing any new items and only using your current clothes to create outfits. This is important, do not skip this step! Essentially the goal is to wear every item out so you know exactly what you will have to replace later.  If you do not wear an item out because you simply did not use it like you planned, donate it and mentally note that such an item simply does not fit your style. To curate a wardrobe is to create one that fits you, the wearer.  It defies all societal restrictions and fashion trends.  A curated wardrobe is meant to make you feel comfortable – in body and mind – and beautiful. You may choose to look into capsule wardrobes and take on challenges such as Project 333 to help you to start looking at your wardrobe in a different light and to give yourself a structure if that is what you prefer.  Additionally, spend an hour so on YouTube looking into creators talking about minimalist, green, and capsule wardrobes, such as Erin’s channel My Green Closet, to deepen your understanding and get a better grip on creating outfits you love.

3. Find Your Conscious Purpose – Solidify Your Intentions

As you begin wearing those outfits in your every day life, begin contemplating on your values.  When embarking upon a conscious lifestyle, the first trap that a person falls into is caring about too many things at once.  Allow me to explain further. While there is no doubt that the clothing industry is devastating the earth, its oceans and coral reefs are being destroyed, as well as the green house gases emanating from the manufacturers that are creating havoc in the environment.  Also, the unacceptable treatment of workers situated in small factories across the world is abhorrent. From labor laws to animal cruelty to harmful dyes and product sustainability, there are lots of causes that are out there which make a soft heart quiver with passion.  It is easy to feel outrage when every single well known company violates at least one of these moral laws.  If you delve into it too much, then you will find yourself feeling restricted in buying anything from any store because an ideal shop is just so difficult to find.  Try finding good vegan shoes that last throughout your daily commute, that will keep you looking forever! But if you try to search for leather shoes made ethically by skilled, unexploited artisans, then you will have better luck.  So narrow your search and find your bare minimum:  What is a cause you just simply can not give up.

Although my heart longs to be involved in sustainable and eco-friendly products, it is more attached to the cause of fighting unfair labor practices.  If I can mix the two causes and find a shop that addresses them, that is great.  But if I am unable to, then at least I will not give up my stand on fair trade practices.  So with yourself, find out what is your bare minimum.  Which cause you can relax on for now and which you just can not give up. Do so without guilt because injustice has existed before and will continue to exist, our job is simply to do our best.  After making the intentions and looking deep into your conscious, you have made a decision, then stick to it and do not let anything sway you away from it except if it is to move towards an even better direction.

4. Begin to Make New Purchases – Invoke God’s Blessings

If you follow a minimalist wardrobe method, then you will notice that the clothes you already own are probably beginning to wear out much quicker.  You probably did not notice the quality that is severely lacking in clothes nowadays – trust me, I am well familiar with that rabbit hole – your clothes are beginning to show all of the washes you have put them through. This is the time when you begin to consider replacing these items in your wardrobe. After having worn your outfits multiple times (ideally, at least three months), you know exactly which items are the most worn and how you personally use them.  Now you can look at new clothes which fall within your conscious style.  Look at which companies champion your cause and support them.  You will find that those items are a lot more expensive than you are used to buying at your local mall. That is not strange, that is completely normal.  Because you have not been purchasing any new clothes for the past few months, you should have a few bucks saved to replace that shirt.  Instead of buying 5 items for $100, you may only be able to purchase one.  But that one would be of higher quality, made with values that you admire, and will not end up in you compromising your conscious.  Your purchase will not only add a well loved, quality piece in your closet, but it will also support a company doing things right. This is a purchase that is thoughtful, mindful, and made by a person observing taqwa (God consciousness).

Make sure each purchase is tied to a specific cause.  You may be supporting: eco-friendly products, fair trade practices, muslim-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, sustainable manufacturing practices, vegan and animal-cruelty-free products and/or many other causes.  Once you hit the “add to cart” button after thoroughly researching your wardrobe needs as well as the values you wish to support, each item will begin to feel a lot more than just an item.  And the moment this becomes a habit, you just will not be able to walk through Forever 21 without realizing the horrendous practices such stores promote.  Even if you like an item, it will be put right back on the hanger after failing to pass your bare minimum standard of conscious shopping of a believer.

5. Understand the Process –  Being Patient is a Trait of a Believer

The process of curating your wardrobe will not be done in five months and possibly, not even in a year.  As you grow and change, your style will evolve as well as your values and wallet.  All of these changes will impact the progress of your wardrobe and what goes in it.  So do understand that this is a process that does evolve and does require patience.  As you grow into a better version of yourself, you may choose to wear more neutrals or wear more colors, wear only skirts or dresses, or suits and blazers.  Embrace those changes while working on making tweaks into your already loved pieces.  As I mentioned earlier, I converted some of the dresses into skirts because they better fit my style choices when once dresses were a preferred option. If the shirt rips from the seams, instead of tossing it, I elect to get it fixed (side note: I am hopeless in front of a sewing machine) because I not only paid a higher price for it, but more importantly, I genuinely love it.  Thinking of that shirt or that item not existing in my wardrobe causes me a little of bit of sadness because every piece was well loved before I bought it.

Being human is to make mistakes.  So be gentle and firm with yourself if you do fall into a marketing trap and getting that one top from a regular retailer in the mall. It is okay to fall between the cracks once or twice, but do not allow yourself that freedom and remind yourself the reason that you have embarked on this journey.  Each item that you purchase mindfully is an act of Ibadah (worship) as you are trying to do something that will please Allah.  Not spending needlessly and not supporting unethical and immoral practices is something that is noble and a righteous cause.  Even though you may be taking small steps in your mind, you are indeed collecting righteous acts for your book of deeds, insha’Allah (God Willing).  As I mentioned previously, it is not about you changing the world with your purchase, but it is about you doing what you can in the best possible way. So take these little steps with grace, patience, and gratitude, ask Allah to help you through the process, and enjoy the wardrobe that is created as a result of it all.

-S