CLOTHES!? Part 1

SO as girls the thing that seems the most daunting is, what am I going to wear for 18 months? Where do I find it? What should I bring? How do I not look terrible? These are all great questions. Its important to follow your packing list because each mission is different as are each mission presidents standards. I can only say what I know from my mission and what I have heard from other friends in their missions. One thing is for certain you CAN look cute during your mission and still be a successful missionary. Lets talk about the two important S's: SKIRTS and SHOES

SKIRTS

Okay its important to remember that you can only bring about 8-10 skits and these are things that you will wear for 18 months straight! When I bought my mission clothes I liked to separate my skirts into categories so that it was easy to know what to shop for. 

Formal Skirts (2)  

You will need more presentable and formal skirts for occasions like Zone Conferences, Baptisms, and Church. The Elders wear their nice suits and ties for these occasions and the sister missionaries should have the same formal attire.

This is an example. Its still comfortable and not a tight and form-fitting pencil skirt but is nice and can be worn with a lot of things. Its important to remember that you don't buy clothes to match you skirts but to buy skirts that match you clothes. 

Patterned Skirts (2) 

These are important so that you can have something fun to wear. Usually with a patterned skirt you'll want to wear some of your more plan and neutral tops.

Solid Skirts (3)

Solid skirts a nice because it easy to wear all of your patterned tops with them and they can go with a million different things

Find the most comfortable skirt you can and buy it! (1-2) 

Sister missionaries have weight fluctuations like no other! Don't go into the mission thinking you will lose a lot of weight and buy some skirts that are snug right now! MISTAKE! There will be times when you will just want to wear something really comfortable, have a fat day, or just want something easy. Comfortable doesn't mean ugly, it not like sweat pants. I had a skirt I had like this that was black and stretchy and went with everything. I wore it more then any other skirt and it was still presentable. 

SHOES 

These are the most important thing you will bring with you during your mission other then your testimony and desire to serve! I had a companion go home after 9 months of her mission due to an injury from bad shoes and saw many other sisters who had to go home or who spent many days in the house, injured because they didn't wear the right shoes. We are going to be cute but functional! Its possible! 

Just like the skirts it is important to separate the shoes into different categories

Formal Shoes (1) 

These are what you will wear with your formal skirts. It is important to have nice shoes for these occasions and not wear your everyday proselytizing shoes that WILL get trashed. These should last you your whole mission and still be in good shape by the end. 

This is a good example. Something cute and simple that you will NOT wear other then during special occasions and change when you go out to proselyte. 

The Proselyting Shoes (1-2)

These Eccos (missionaries best friend) are fun, simple and have a nice rubber sole that you will appreciate after 9 long hours a days of walking

These are pumas... go figure... which means they are SUPER comfy and durable.

Boots (1)

NOW this depends on where you go... odiously southern California and southern Chile are completely different so you will want to know what the climate is like. My mission letter told me to bring a pair of leather boots... umm it rain by the foot everyday for 5 months in my mission so I am so glad I got rain boots! Also in really cold and snowy places you will want a nice pair of boots.