Creating a Simple and Feminine Wardrobe (Proverbs 31:22)

     Is there a particular style of clothing that you love to wear but have trouble finding? There is for me too. Dresses. I am fairly tall, so finding long, flowy dresses I can wear is not easy. Recently I found one that fit me perfectly, and it was like getting a special gift from the Lord! Finding the right clothing is not the only clothing struggle we girls have, is it? Most of you can probably relate to having a drawer or closet that is far too full and still having trouble putting together an outfit. In this next post in the Proverbs 31 series, we are going to discuss these and other aspects of our dress.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Proverbs 31:22

1. Seasonal Wardrobe (Proverbs 31:22)

     The coverings of tapestry the Proverbs 31 woman made are probably furniture covers. We also get some insight into the way that she dressed. Let’s discuss our wardrobes, shall we? One thing that I have found that can be helpful to focus on is seasonal wardrobes. Probably you have certain pieces that you mostly wear in a particular season, right? You probably have some bright cheerful colors that are best worn in spring and summer and some warm cozy pieces you save for winter.

     If you leave all of those mixed together in your closet, it can make it very overwhelming. There may be so much there that you don’t even know where to start to pick something out. Possibly your eyes will focus mainly on the pieces that are not for that season and make you feel as if you have nothing to wear.

     This is why I like to keep some of my clothing packed away. Leave out the things that you will wear in that season, and pack the rest away. Some items may be versatile enough that you can leave them out all the time, but most will not. There may be a few special pieces that you also want to leave hanging up to protect them. Make sure to pack away any clothing that doesn’t fit if you are saving clothing for possible weight loss.

     Another benefit of the seasonal wardrobe is that you will not see the clothing you have packed away and may start to forget about it. When that season rolls around and you pull out those clothes, it will be like getting new clothing! You won’t have looked at them all through the season until you are tired of them. This gives you the opportunity to enjoy having “new” clothing without buying anything!

2. Limited Wardrobe

     One of the biggest drawbacks to the seasonal wardrobe is the work involved in switching out the clothes. This is especially true if you are someone who deals with rather limited energy. There is one simple way to make this job easier: have less clothes! I know, it’s not actually as simple as it sounds.

     If you already have a large wardrobe, you may not feel inclined to get rid of anything. I encourage you to take it a little at a time. Maybe you could start by getting rid of things that are very worn or that no longer fit. If you are really not interested in getting rid of anything, you could try packing some things away. Divide out what you want to keep in your rotating seasonal wardrobe. Put the rest in a tub or bin. As items in your seasonal wardrobe wear out, you can replace them with items from your storage.

3. Dressing Nicely

     We live in a society that dresses more and more casually. Sometimes, it seems as if dressing sloppy is more in style than dressing nicely. As daughters of the King, we represent Him in the way that we dress. I’m not saying that we always have to wear our Sunday best, or that we have to wear expensive clothing. I just want to encourage you to think about who you are representing and dress accordingly. 

     Proverbs 31:22 calls the Proverbs 31 woman’s clothing silk (the silk could possibly be linen such as what she makes and sells) and purple. This was what the rich wore as we see in Luke.

There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.

Luke 16:19

     It seems that the Proverbs 31 woman enjoyed dressing nicely. But, I want to point out how far down in the passage this verse is found. She wasn’t putting her desire for beautiful clothing above caring for the needs of her family and even giving to the poor. There is nothing wrong with wanting to dress right for good motives, but we must be careful to not focus too much on this area. We need a balance where we do our best without letting it take too much attention!

    Personally, I’ve found that I enjoy wearing things on a regular basis that I used to would have saved for special occasions. This doesn’t mean that my everyday clothing is more expensive, but I enjoy wearing flowy, beautiful skirts, and nice tops through the week. You don’t have to be going anywhere to “dress up.” After all, your family is the most important people in your life, and they see you right in your home. Embrace dressing femininely and beautifully for God’s glory!

4. Choosing Appropriate Fabric

     One thing to think about when planning your seasonal wardrobe is material type. I enjoy wearing wrap skirts from India. They are inexpensive and one size fits many. My sister and I are very different sizes, but we can share them! Anyway, we have some silk skirts that we enjoy wearing in the spring and summer. They are colorful and also very flowy and cool.

     We also have some cotton wrap skirts. While we don’t wear them as much as the silk skirts, they are heavier, and much better suited to winter. Remember to consider fabric type when you are sorting your clothing into a seasonal wardrobe.

5. Mix and Match

     You may be thinking, “If I limit myself to a smaller, season wardrobe, won’t I get tired of wearing the same thing over and over again?” Good question! That is where mixing and matching comes into place. If you keep some solid colors and neutrals in your closet, then you can mix and match your outfits. When you have so many items, it often dampens creativity. With fewer items to work with, try matching them up in new ways.

     Maybe you have a skirt with multiple colors that you always put the same shirt with. Instead, choose a different colored shirt that also matches a color in the skirt. Voila! You have a new outfit. It’s the same clothes you already had, just worn in a different way. If you continue doing this, you may find that even with fewer pieces in your closet, you are wearing more outfit combinations than before.

6. Layers and Cardigans

     It’s only been the last few years that I have discovered how nice cardigans can be. I recommend keeping some in your seasonal wardrobe. They come in different colors, so you can change those out along with your other clothes. An outfit can take on a new look when you put a cardigan on over it.

    One thing that I really like about some cardigans is their sleeve length. Ones with longer sleeves are great for wearing over shirts that don’t have sleeves as long as what I prefer. All cardigans don’t have sleeves, but they can still be fun to wear for a new look!

7. Making it Fun!

     Don’t look at your wardrobe goals as something confining. Enjoy yourself! Put together your wardrobe in a way that makes sense to you and helps to make your life more simple.

     Arrange your wardrobe in a way that helps you enjoy getting dressed for the day. I know there can be some hindrances for this. Sometimes we may wish that our body type was different or that we had more money to spend on clothing or that the style of clothing we like was easier to find.

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1 Peter 3:3-4

     Instead of focusing on these things, get dressed each day with a heart of praise and gratitude to the Lord. Thank the Lord for the clothes He has blessed you with and for a new day to serve Him! After all, our attitude and expression on our face is the most prominent thing we wear. And with Jesus’ help, we can change that by being thankful and cheerful!

Simple Takeaway

1. Make a seasonal wardrobe. Try to only keep the clothes in your closet that you will be wearing that season.
2. Simplify your wardrobe. Keep less items in your closet and experiment in creatively mixing and matching these items to make new outfit combinations.
3. Thank the Lord for the clothing He has given you. As His ambassador, dress in a way that is pleasing to Him and wear a genuine smile of gratitude as you go about your day!

Let’s Chat!

     What changes would you like to make to your wardrobe? Do you have any other wardrobe suggestions to share with the ladies here?

     Until next time, keep a grateful heart and dress as a representative of the King of kings!

In Christ,

Bethany