A More Beautiful Life Collective

In this post, we are talking about the problem of our overstuffed closets. We will talk about the importance of stewarding our clothes and the types of clothes we should include in our closets. Then, we will think of what our dress code of modern modesty should be. We will think about the traits with which we should be clothed: Modesty, Virtue, Grace, Dignity, and Strength. Then, we will look at some practical tips for how to limit the clutter in your closets, including Outfit Formulas and Capsule Wardrobes.

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An Overfilled Wardrobe

This is the tale of the overfilled wardrobe: 

I reached toward the shelf where I had stacked pair after pair of shorts, leggings, and other random things my children had brought into the closet. Stepping deftly over the landmine of hangers and shoes, I pulled out a pair of shorts that I had bought in high school and tried to squeeze them over had-two-babies-sized hips. When I finally gave up and threw those shorts to the floor to deal with later, the teetering stack of clothes finally shifted burying me alive in a pit of despair… or at least a pit of clothes half of which I would never wear again. 

Our clothes bring out the best and worst in us. They can reveal our personality, make us feel snuggly and warm, and make us feel beautiful. They can distract us, make us vain, and put us into debt. They can make us feel ugly, make us feel fat, or make us feel uncomfortable. 

It’s funny how a little piece of fabric plays such a huge role in our lives, yet most of us never truly think about the clothes we wear. Or at least if we do, we think about it only in terms of the perennial complaint: “I have nothing to wear!” 

Well, today we are going to solve that complaint, while simultaneously decluttering your wardrobe and your heart. 

If you knew me, you might think it’s laughable that I would write a post on anything to do with clothes. I am not a ‘fashionista’ by any stretch of the imagination. Often I finally jump on trends years after they start, and generally, by the time I finally decide to try something new, the trend is on its way out. Practical is a much higher compliment in my mind than cute. 

But, still, as I look at my closet, I see an ocean of unworn, too-small, not flattering clothes. If I feel a need to declutter my closet, I know that it’s probably something we all struggle with. 

Clothing has Consequences

According to Vox, the average American buys 68 pieces of clothing a year with that number trending ever upward. Fast Fashion companies like H&M and Shein are becoming a much larger share of the fashion market. 

As these companies are on the rise, Americans are re-wearing clothes less and less. Currently, people are on average only wearing clothes 7-10 times before tossing it out. This translates to about 24 billion pounds of clothing thrown away each year. This equals about 100 pounds of clothing thrown away per person! 

Returned clothes also contribute to the problem with “most of the items returned to retailers from consumers end[ing] up in landfill. This is mainly because it costs more for the company to put them back in circulation than to get rid of them. Reverse logistics company Optoro also estimates that in the same year, 16 million tonnes of CO2 emissions were created by online returns in the US in 2020 – the equivalent to the emissions of 3.5 million cars on the road for a year.”

This is obviously bad for the environment and hurts the world’s poorest as companies are concerned with churning out products at a breakneck pace with a profitable bottom line. But, it is also bad for our wallets. The average American spends $1,800 on clothing per year – to only throw it out and buy more clothes the next year!

Our propensity to consume with no skin in the game to try to steward and conserve is a very modern problem with far-reaching consequences. 

More than this, we only wear about 10-20% of our wardrobe anyway, but the constant influx of clothes contributes to decision fatigue and wardrobe overwhelm. 

We have a fast fashion problem. To be honest, it is irresponsible, both with the planet and with the fiscal resources and time that God has given us. 

But what is the solution? 

Before the fashion industry became popular with the advent of the textile mills, cotton industry, and cheap overseas labor, fabric for clothes was worn, reworn, altered, and worn again. The fabric might first be a dress until it was worn out, and then, it would be made into a shirt, baby clothes, a tie, or napkins. (There’s actually a sweet children’s book about this process based on an old Jewish song called Jewish Had a Little Overcoat.)

We have to be mindful about what we are clothing ourselves with as we work to steward what we have well. 

A New Trend: Modern Modesty

As we consider stewarding our resources well, our focus turns to what is in our closets. We know we shouldn’t succumb to fast fashion just because we want to buy the next thing that’s on trend. But, then what should we buy? 

In a Guardian article about a supermodel reconciling her Muslim faith and her work, it says, “Aden’s re-emergence comes at an interesting moment where modest fashion is seeing an uptick in attention. On Pinterest, searches for “modest fashion outfits” are up 80% since last year and “modest outfits” by 40%. “Through rising search data, it’s clear that more considered and covered looks are becoming increasingly popular, especially among Gen Z,” says Jenna Waller, head of fashion at Pinterest UK.”

Modern Modesty is a trend that is driven in part by a growth in Islamic ideals in modern fashion. I believe that we need to reclaim this trend as a Christian trend, putting a stake in the ground to be modest. Most Christians admire the idea of modesty, but we don’t necessarily know what we mean by modest. 

But, I do think that we need to emphasize modern modesty in our clothes. We need to recognize that the types of clothes that we wear matter, and we should try to include clothes in our wardrobes that represent our values.

Some Christian circles are completely rejecting any similarities to modern fashion and are opting for dressing ‘traditionally.’ This can mean a ‘Duggar’ look with long skirts and tennis shoes or it can mean a cottagecore, homestead aesthetic that is growing more and more popular on social media by the day. Many of the posts on Instagram that follow this say they are following biblical femininity. So, do we need to look like that to follow the Bible?

In the same vein, there is also a return of Headcoverings in Christian Circles. A highly recommended book about head coverings is Head Covering: A Forgotten Christian Practice for Modern Times. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my list. Headcoverings had largely fallen out of favor at the end of the 20th century, but now people are arguing that we should bring back this style to faithfully apply 1 Corinthians 11. Are headcoverings necessary to follow the ‘dress code’ of modern modesty?

How should we dress in order to honor God? 

What should be our fashion style?: A look at modern modesty

I remember the days of dress codes at school. I was never one to try to push the limits, but I remember being so frustrated at the arbitrary rules. We could wear shorts, but they had to be knee-length. But, we could wear jeans with holes in them as long as they were fingertip length. Leggings became popular while I was in high school, so then they had to make rules about what was acceptable (under knee-length dresses – yes; by themselves – no). As a teacher, it was a struggle trying to navigate a dress code because the standards seemed arbitrary. I knew sometimes that I would be uncomfortable with what my students were wearing, but it was hard to put my feelings into words about why the thing they were wearing was not right (at least in terms they would understand). More than that, there is a push now to do away with dress codes because they single out girls. And, who’s to say what’s right and wrong? 

This is a good example of how it’s hard to create rules – and laws – with no common sense of morality. 

Dress codes outside of school are practically underheard of. The Duggars did have a dress code which gained them noterarity. Eventually, they all came to terms with breaking their dress codes by wearing pants and getting facial piercings. It was their way of ‘breaking free.’ 

That’s what dress codes symbolize right? A legalistic code or law that seems arbitrary and confining. 

But, we’ve been given a better way. A way that cuts through the noise of what the world says – and our old bitter feelings about schoolgirl dress codes. 

“I have nothing to wear!”: To have a style of modern modesty, clothe yourself with truth.

The truth is that focusing on our clothes is avoiding the real heart issue in the matter. 

It’s not about whether or not your skirt falls above or below your fingertips or whether your straps are three-finger widths. When you make what you wear about this, you end up complicating your convictions with legalistic rules. 

Our focus should not be what we are ‘allowed’ to wear to virtue signal that we are good Christians… or accumulating more trendy clothes as status symbols. Instead, it is all about clothing our hearts with things that glorify God. 

1 Peter 3:3-5

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.

Proverbs 31:25, 30

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

    she can laugh at the days to come.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Matthew 6:28-34

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

These verses emphasize that it is not the particulars of our clothes that matter most. It is how that clothing honors God. To have a style of modern modesty, we need to clothe ourselves with the truth of God’s word and let that adorn us.

Our Dress Code: Modern Modesty

Modern modesty style doesn’t start with our physical clothes or a legalistic dress code stating what can and can’t be covered. It starts with the traits we are clothing ourselves with.

This is what your spiritual wardrobe should be full of if you want a style of modern modesty:

• Modesty: To be modest is the opposite of being vain. It is being humble and unassuming. You are not looking for praise or for people to notice you. You are focusing on lifting them up instead of them lifting you up. 
• Virtue: Having virtue is having a high moral standard. We clothe ourselves with excellence, with holiness. Recognizing that the way we live impacts our testimony. 
• Grace: To have grace is to have a gentle and quiet spirit. It is to have contentment, forgiveness, and kindness towards others. 
• Dignity: We dignify ourselves when we dress appropriately. We are not content to be a ‘hot mess.’ We work hard to make sure we are presentable and our families are presentable. 
• Strength: Through our work and the power of the holy spirit, we are made strong. We are not weak and at the mercy of everyone else. We have power in what we can accomplish. 

Using these traits as guidelines, you can begin to work out your convictions concerning your clothes. You should measure up each outfit and decide: Does it exemplify modesty, virtue, grace, strength, and dignity? If so, put it on and wear it with a smile. If not, it’s time to declutter. 

In doing this, you can declutter your closet so that your style follows modern modesty.

How to Declutter Your Closet for Modern Modesty

Remember where we started? The pile of laundry that had fallen on me and suffocated me? Well, when I decided what I needed to wear – that it needed to be modest, virtuous, graceful, and full of strength and dignity, I had a measuring stick for what I should keep and what I shouldn’t. 

To declutter your closet, it’s helpful to follow the same steps that we do with decluttering other areas of our homes. Grab 4 laundry baskets labeled Keep, Donate, Other Rooms, and Throw Away. Then, go through each piece in your closet and determine where it needs to go. 

As you ask yourself if it follows your dress code of modern modesty, you may realize that you hate the way some things fit you… or you are holding onto clothes that you would never be able to wear. Some things fit just fine, but you don’t like them. Other things are worn out to rags. Use this time to give away all of that. You can donate anything in good shape. 

Once you’ve gone through everything, you can organize your closet based on what you want to keep. I normally like to separate my clothes by type. I keep pants together, as well as dresses, shirts, and sweaters. Then I use baskets or drawers to keep my pajamas, shorts, and other things. 

Be sure to go through all of the other things that accumulate in your closet like hats, gloves, purses, and bags. 

Decluttering Your Outfits

Just going through your closets and intentionally can free up a lot of space in your mind and on your shelves. 

You can stop there if you want to. But, you don’t have to. 

If you want to further declutter your wardrobes, you can try out one of these two options. 

Seasonal Wardrobes or Capsule Wardrobes

As I mentioned before, we only wear about 10-20% of our wardrobe anyway. To clear out the clutter in our closets, you can weed out all of those unworn clothes and pack them away. The clothes that are left are your capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a curated collection of items that can be made into lots of different outfits. Generally, the idea is to try to only include about 30-40 pieces of clothing.

A Capsule Wardrobe includes 9 pairs of shoes, 9 bottoms, 15 tops, 2 dresses, and 2 jackets/coats. You can pack away the other items, and if you find that you are missing a certain item, you could always add it back into your wardrobe. You will probably find that you actually enjoy the limited options. It will make it easier to get dressed in the morning. As you pick clothes, think if they follow your modern modesty dress code. If not, you may decide you want to go ahead and donate that piece.

A Capsule Wardrobe can be rotated once a month (or just worn forever). Another variation of this would be to do a seasonal wardrobe, which builds in different outfits based on each season while allowing you to free up some of your closet space. 

Outfit Formulas 

Outfit Formulas are similar to a capsule wardrobe in that you are limiting what you can wear, but they take it a step further. Instead of just limiting yourself to certain pieces of clothing, you are limiting yourself to a particular outfit. 

An outfit formula is exactly what it sounds like: You pick a particular outfit that you genuinely like to wear and you wear it every day. 

Some examples of an outfit formula: 

• Leggings with a T-shirt
• Shorts or pants with a T-shirt
• A sweater and pants
• Slacks and a dress shirt
• Capris and a button-up shirt

Most of us have our own outfit formulas that we follow naturally because of work or because they are what we like to wear. The difference between what we normally do and what choosing to wear Outfit Formulas daily is that Outfit Formulas limit your options every day. When you go into your closet, you will always be choosing to wear the same type of outfit, so you just pick the next one. 

This was an idea popularized by Steve Jobs that has taken off.  The benefit of Outfit Formulas is that it limits your options – both in your physical closet and also as you go shopping. Jobs always wore black pants, a black turtleneck, and new balance shoes. You could add some more variation in your closet, while still getting the benefits. Knowing that a piece does not fit in your outfit formula reduces the pressure to buy it just because it’s ‘on trend.’ Limiting your choices of outfits makes you realize that you only need about 1-2 weeks worth of clothes. 

Importantly, your capsule wardrobes and/or your outfit formulas should follow your personal dress code of modern modesty. You want each thing you include in your closet to match up with your convictions.

Modern Modesty Outfit Formulas: A Dress and a Cardigan Every Day

When I first started staying home, I wore leggings or athletic shorts and a T-shirt every day. As a teacher, I dressed professionally, but it didn’t seem like there was much point in doing that if I was going to be at home, scrubbing toilets and getting sweaty working outside. 

After a few months of this, I realized that I was putting off ‘getting ready’ and that once I was ready, I just felt sloppy. I didn’t feel ready for my day much less clothed with dignity and strength. So, I decided to try to wear a dress every day for a week, which became two, then three, and eventually turned into four months. 

My outfit formula is a dress with a cardigan or jean jacket. Since it’s winter, I layer my knee-length dresses with leggings sometimes. I almost always wear my high-top boots with my dresses too. 

What I’ve learned from wearing dresses every day:

• (1) I don’t get tired of wearing the same outfit each day. Because I’m wearing dresses, they all look different. I have enough dresses to last about 2 ½ weeks before re-wearing the same one and wearing cardigans gives another flare to each dress. 
• (2) Dresses make me feel put together, feminine, and prepared for my day. I also feel more modest because I’ve thrown out anything that is too tight, unflattering, or low-cut.  
• (3) I never feel like I don’t have anything to wear. I just wear the next dress on my hanger. 
• (4) I know that I don’t need to purchase any other clothes. 2 ½ weeks’ worth of dresses is actually quite a lot. But, if I do want a new outfit, just because, I know what I need to buy. And, since it’s a dress – as long as it’s modest – I don’t need to worry about it matching anything because I can wear it by itself. 
• (5) I haven’t found that it is harder to ‘do life’ in dresses any more than any other clothes. As long as you are okay with getting dresses a little dirty (all of mine are machine washable and durable) and you have dresses that aren’t too short, they are just like wearing shorts. I also find that they are way more comfortable than pants especially as you go through post-baby changes to your body. 

Now You Try: Declutter Your Closet

We all have a messed up relationship with clothes, accumulating too much of what we don’t need. Our clothes may not represent our values, as we ‘conform more to the world’ rather than to Christ. How we dress ourselves matters, but we shouldn’t give way to legalism. The dress code of modern modesty can help you to navigate what should and shouldn’t be in your closet.

The solution is to clothe yourselves with the values of modesty, virtue, grace, strength, and dignity. In doing this, you can make sure that the things in your closet match up with your dress code of modern modesty. As you sift through your wardrobe, you may need to declutter some things. Using outfit formulas or capsule wardrobes declutters your decision-making and your wardrobe at the same time. 

What outfit formulas do you wear? What is the hardest part of decluttering your wardrobe? Do you have a dress code that you have created for yourself?

Let me know in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to get our latest content sent straight to your inbox!