Welcome back MyXXFam! If you’ve been around for a while you know that since starting this blog two years ago I made the decision to abstain from buying new for reasons we’ve already talked about. I’ve instead opted for sustainable choices, acquiring new (to me) items through clothing swaps, thrifting, and upcycling. My aim has been to show that you do not need to subscribe to consumer culture to look fly, and that living with less stuff adds quality to your life. So today, we’re taking a trip down memory lane and sharing the versatility of my most worn pieces over the last two years! Turns out, I’ve never styled my most worn pieces together, so at the end of this post you’ll get to see the quintessential outfit. Curious about the original blog post each look was featured in? Click on each image for a direct link!
The striped bra
When combing the catalog for my most worn top, it came as no shock to me that the winner (by far) looked more like a bra than a shirt. This black and white striped top is mad comfortable, the perfect lightweight layering piece, and highlights all of my favorite things; my fat panza, bountiful titties, and love of thick black and white stripes. Over the years I’ve decluttered my closet multiple times, and while this item has seen better days, it always makes the cut because I continue to get a lot of use out of it. One benefit of living with less is that I’ve become an intentional shopper. Knowing what I use and love helps with curbing impulse purchases and gives me something to search for when browsing racks at the thrift store.
The black skater skirt
While some items on this list were a surprise, I knew this black skater skirt would be my most worn bottom as it is easily my favorite piece of all time. It won by a landslide having been featured six times over the last two years and I wear it weekly. Originally from ASOS, the classic shape and material of this skirt makes it easy to dress up or down, it’s a poly-viscose that doesn’t fade in the wash, and it drapes beautifully. Admittedly this silhouette is deep in my comfort zone with its fit and flare style, and I love how it can turn my favorite black tops into skater dresses! Plus, it’s the perfect length to show off my favorite body part; them fat thunder thighs. In my wardrobe, black items dominate, but over the years I’ve whittled down my options down to a handful of great quality pieces. If you’re looking to invest, a black skirt in your favorite cut is the shit, and you can find tons of them at the thrift store.
The denim vest
Aah, denim. One item that is conspicuously absent from the pages of MyXXFLY are jeans. While skirts are my jam, and finding cute jeans in my size at the thrift store is a tall order, that doesn’t mean I don’t love me some denim. This vest is probably old enough to buy liquor if vests were you know, people, and not fabric. It belonged to my mother long before it came into my possession and it is fucking timeless. The kind of wardrobe staple that always comes back around into fashion despite its trashy hillbilly roots, throw this motherfucker on for an effortlessly fly aesthetic in a material that only wears better with age. Do you have a favorite denim piece? I’m forever in search of the perfect vintage denim shirt/jacket, because that vintage denim was made to last forever.
The birkenstocks
Birkenstocks are the archetypal tree-hugger sandal for their easy design and durable construction. I bought this pair at a Nordstrom rack about 5 years ago and wear them as my house shoes daily. They’re definitely an investment, and if you’ve heard that they’re an absolute pain to break in I can attest that they are, but once the cork footbed molds to the contours of your foot? You can wear them forever. My only qualms with this sandal is that they’re a pain in the ass to clean (I’ve used the water and baking soda method with relative success), and because they’re like a second skin, they can trap that funky-ass feet smell if you’re not careful (so avoid getting them wet)! Do you own a pair? What are your favorite methods for shoe cleaning?
Honorable mention: black leather boots
Finishing off this round up is the honorable mention black leather boot. I purchased these basic black men’s work boots just months before starting this blog for a trip to New York City. They are waterproof, have a non-skid sole, and the lace up front makes it easy to layer socks or tuck in pants during the winter time. If you hadn’t noticed ya girl Yesenia only fucks with utilitarian footwear, and this boot is exactly that. While designed for function over fashion, these boots give me all the Daria Morgendorffer vibes and make high school Yesenia very very happy.
So now without further ado, here are my most worn pieces in one complete outfit, MyXXFLY avatar if you will:
Not too bad, eh?
Two years ago I did not fathom how adopting a sustainable wardrobe would change my life. I began this journey as someone raised in an environment with a propensity toward hoarding, and I had hundreds if not thousands of things. “Retail therapy” when practiced in excess is an effective way to rob the working class of their hard earned money and more importantly, time. Capitalism sees the human being as a consumer and keeps us chasing things by attaching happiness to the external. Biology gives us a momentary high when we consume and advertising exploits this. What we’re left with is a culture that does not encourage introspection, one where money is revered over wisdom, and so we are left with a population that is deeply unfulfilled without knowing why.
Making a conscious effort to minimize my consumption has changed my perception of the world and made my life deeply politicized. I have more gratitude in my day to day life, have rediscovered the joy of living, and have more time to do the things I love with the people I love. I did not have to give up my affinity for style either, in fact, living with less has made me more resourceful and creative. This mindset for living simply has also spilled into every other corner of my life and has given me the freedom and mobility I would not otherwise enjoy had I been tethered to my stuff.
So what would your most worn pieces look like together? If you’re up to the task I challenge you to adopt a sustainable lifestyle for just one month by following this pyramid:
It is an immense privilege to see the “buyerarchy of needs” and choose to follow it, because for so many of us our lives are structured this way out of necessity. Changing the way we think about our needs and resources has the potential to change our quality of life if we let it, so are you up for the challenge? Let us know in the comments or tag @myxxfly on social media! Have you ever toyed with paring down and living a simpler life? What about the lifestyle appeals (or doesn’t appeal) to you? Leave a comment below and let’s chat about it! We hope you enjoyed this post as much as we enjoyed this process of self-discovery, and we look forward to sharing more along the way. See you next time, and keep your double-x fly!
