Instagram is now a part of almost everyone’s daily routine. Wake up, Insta, eat, Insta, drink coffee while Instagramming, poop, Insta. You get it. Here are some fashion bloggers and designers that should inspire your winter style this season.

1. @songofstyle — Aimee Song is a Los Angeles based interior designer but is also known for her impeccable style. She also has a blog that gets more than a million views.

2. @stone_cold_fox — Designers Cydney Morris and Dallas Wand are the brains behind this awesome fashion clothing brand. Get inspired by what goes into producing these lovely clothes.

3. @viciously_cyd — Get to know one of the designers from Stone Cold Fox yourself. Get behind-the-scenes footage through Cydney Morris’ personal Instagram. Also see what sparks her wild designs.

4. @freepeople — Get inside the minds who create the most beautiful pieces that we wish we could wear every day. See what gets them in the designing mood.

5. Bldg 25 Free People clothing blog — Learn how to make your home or dorm room into a Free People sanctuary through the DIY section or take a look behind their photo shoots and mood boards for their catalogues.

Every morning and evening we wash our faces, hoping to rid ourselves of any potentially harmful substances that have come in contact with the surface of our precious skin. We want to know that we’re cleansing our skin with the best possible ingredients, which is one of the main reasons why I love making my own beauty products.

Not all skin is created equal though, so I’ve come up with recipes for three different cleansing concoctions: one for dry skin, one for oily skin and one for normal skin. Protecting and caring for your skin — especially facial skin is important. This can work for both men and women as it gets colder in the Northwest and Northeast. As my grandma always says, it’s never too early to start protecting your skin from aging.

Homemade facial cleanser is easy and a lot cheaper, lasts longer and does more for your skin than the commercial cleansers. When you create your own facial cleanser, they do not contain chemical additives and aggressive preservatives, which are in traditional products. Store-bought cleansers are formulated to strip the skin of its natural oils can end up leaving your skin tight and dry because of the harsh ingredients.

In each of these recipes (except normal skin) you will notice that honey is a main component. Honey has been a beauty secret for thousands of years. It dates all the way back to Cleopatra who used to take baths filled with it. This sticky, but yummy stuff is incredibly good for your skin. It’s understandable that the whole idea of slathering your face with something super sticky may not seem appealing, once you discover all the wonderful benefits of raw honey you are going to want to put it in everything. Honey is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. It acts as an antibacterial and anti-fungal agent and helps disinfect and speed the healing process of acne. It soaks up impurities and helps detoxify your skin, so say goodbye to all the germs! Honey is loaded with antioxidants (the good stuff your face needs and wants) and it helps restore damaged and wrinkled skin.

Dry Skin: During these colder seasons, the skin lacks moisture. The most important part of this cleanser is the base is plain yogurt. Yogurt is full of protein to soften your skin. But at the same time, it’s acidic so it will exfoliate your skin, removing unwanted dead cells from the surface of your skin. That’s where the honey comes in. It will draw moisture into your skin and keep it there, plus olive oil with add more moisture. Last but not least, apples give your skin vitamins A, B and C plus a dash of antioxidants to keep you looking fresh.

Homemade Facial Cleanser for dry skin:

– 2 apple slices, peeled

– ½ cup plain yogurt

– ½ tablespoon olive oil

– ½ tablespoon honey

– Now blend in food processor until smooth

– Massage onto skin and leave on five minutes

– Rinse with lukewarm water

– One batch can last up to two weeks if used twice a day

Let’s talk about why yogurt is good for your skin. Yogurt is full of protein, enzymes and zinc. It does a really good job cleaning up and softening your skin at the same time. Yogurt also lightens dark spots and blemishes, which can also help protect your face with its antioxidant. Yogurt is a great buddy to have in your fridge because it’s not afraid of working hard to bring back the skin’s youthful glow. Best of all, it’s not harsh and pretty much all skin types can benefit from a slathering of yogurt. Other ways yogurt comes in handy is by dabbing a little bit on your blemishes. Leave it on no longer than 10 minutes. This can help reduce the redness. You can smear yogurt on sunburns by applying it to areas that hurt for half an hour before showering. It’ll cool you down and help lessen your glowing redness.

Oily Skin: For those whose skin tends to always look shiny, let oatmeal and lemons be your new cherished friends. Lemon acts as an astringent as well as disinfectant. It kills any bacteria that may cause breakouts, while oatmeal exfoliates the skin, soaking up excess oils in the process. Don’t forget the honey. Honey will restore moisture into your skin, balancing out any dryness that has been caused by the lemon.

Homemade Facial Cleanser for oily skin:

– ½ cup rolled oats

– ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

– ¼ cup water

– ½ tablespoon honey

– Combine all ingredients in bowl

– Massage onto skin for 30 seconds

– Rinse with lukewarm water.

– One batch can last up to two weeks if used twice a day

Normal Skin: If your skin is a combination of dry and oily, this cleanser is for you. The yogurt and cucumber nourish and clear your skin without drying it, while mint adds a pleasant soothing experience.

Homemade Facial Cleanser for normal skin:

– ½ cup plain yogurt

– ½ medium cucumber, peeled

– 5 medium mint leaves

– Now blend in food processor until smooth

– Massage onto skin and leave on five minutes

– Rinse with lukewarm water

– One batch can last up to two weeks if used twice a day

Making facial cleansers is easier than you think. The neat part of making your own products is that it’s easy to customize, so if you have specific needs for your skin, you can be your own mastermind behind the most awesome facial cleanser for you. Cleanse gently, prevent acne and heal breakouts by incorporating these homemade recipes into your mornings and nights. There is always room for more, so feel free to add your own ingredients to these basic ones.

A little girl’s rough hands slowly linked with his. He froze. Her touch startled him, woke him and opened his eyes. He stood there still, too scared to glance down at her. Bright red and green lights flash obnoxiously. The smell of old wet trash is in the air. His blurry vision finally focused. He saw the little girl’s mother slowly walk toward him.

Andrew Van Asselt’s team crowded around the mother and her daughters, trying to bring them to safety from the streets. The mother paused from the conversation and looked at Van Asselt, then at her young daughter. “How much?” she asked Van Asselt.

His mind, body and heart froze with confusion. “In that instant, I felt overwhelmed with anger, sad and disgusted. I was at a complete loss of words,” Van Asselt said.

He was on his first missionary trip in Tijuana, Mexico. They started the operation in the Red Light district. At every block of Tijuana there were girls and women age 16 to 50 standing every three feet. “It was a culture shock and opened my eyes,” Van Asselt said. “I can’t believe there is a world like this.”

Human trafficking and slavery is still around. The industry of trafficking made about $3.2 billion just last year. That is more than Nike, Google and Starbucks combined. More than 17,500 men, women and children are trafficked into the United States every year, according to CNN World.

Van Asselt grew up in Eugene’s Cal Young neighborhood. He left for college at the University of Nations in Los Angeles. He worked for a missionary and trained with the Los Angeles Police Department. Besides his enthusiasm for bringing awareness to human trafficking, he discovered his love for fashion. Being a well-dressed man himself, he enjoyed his life in Los Angeles and all the fashion shows he went to.

“I thought to myself, ‘I’ve always loved clothes and coming up with new outfits in my head. I could make my own line. I can do it,’” he said. So he put his two passions together and built a company that will change lives. Through fashion, Van Asselt is determined to bring awareness and keep women, men and children out of human trafficking.

Van Asselt had a small idea to bring awareness in Oregon. He considered it a shot in the dark. He thought selling his own hand-made clothing, putting on fashion shows and raising money for safe houses could make a difference. It happened.

Now, a year and half later, Van Asselt is at work in his studio full of paintings donated from previous shows. Near his bed stand racks and racks of Coalition for Justice apparel. “Eugene sucks when it comes to fashion. It’s hard to start a company when fashion doesn’t exist here,” said Van Asselt said as he smooths out the wrinkles of his new jacket he is trying to sew together. The monotone noise of the sewing machine acts as background noise as Van Asselt continues to talk. “My goal is to make and start a fashion district here in Eugene.”

Ninety percent of Van Asselt’s customers are from Norway and Sweden. It all started in spring of 2010, when a friend from Norway asked him to come and sell his line of T-shirts there.

“I told them I would love to but I couldn’t. I was living on my friend’s sofa at the time. The money that I had went to buying material for my T-shirts,” Van Asselt said. He pauses from sewing before continuing his story and took a deep breath. “Then, my friend called a couple of weeks later and goes, ‘Hey, we got you a ticket to come to Norway and sell your shirts. See you soon!’ So I packed my bags and left.”

Since then, Van Asselt travels to Norway and Sweden to continue selling his line about three times a year.

“Many people have passions and dreams, but Andrew knows the importance of pursuing his and with that he can and will make a difference in this world,” said Bob De Groot, owner and founder of the company Dare to Dream. De Groot went to the same missionary school as Van Asselt.

Van Asselt’s cause is not just human trafficking. His recent line, “Dare to Dream” goes toward helping families in Kenya, Africa, and teaching them how to start and maintain a business. The end result is to have that family raise enough money to adopt a child in their community.

Van Asselt cuts a new piece of fabric for the jacket. He feeds the sewing machine more thread. “Ouch!” he says and tries to fix the needle. There were about five needles to choose from. He chooses one of the bigger needles and inserts it in the compartment of the sewing machine. The vibrating sound of the machine starts up and his hands carefully move to feed the fabric toward the needle.

Throughout his garage, there are paintings and artwork that friends have made for his line and fashion shows. One that is center of the room is the loudest of them all. It has blends of red, yellow, purple and turquoise. Together the colors intertwine and create a giant flower symbolizing unity.

The atmosphere and environment of every place Van Asselt travels to inspires the next fashion line. He wants to open up a boutique where customers don’t just shop but get educated while they are there. “No matter what, you’re going to help someone,” he said.

For every item Coalition for Justice sells, some of the money goes toward helping someone in need. Right now, 40 percent of his proceeds go to a safe house in Springfield called Hope Ranch Ministries, which provides safety and healing for the survivors of human trafficking.

“Beginning February of this year (2013) he had a fashion show bringing awareness to human trafficking at New Hope Christian College. Everything was donated to Hope Ranch,” said Diana Janz, founder of Hope Ranch. “I have never seen anybody as passionate as Andrew. He is completely immersed in what he does.”

Coalition for Justice is a one-man show. The sewing and the design, from directing and producing the shows, Van Asselt does it all. The website, the business end, the photography, it’s all him. Once Van Asselt opens his boutique in Eugene, the money will go toward a safe house for women.

“I want to teach the women who come to the safe house how to sew dresses,” Van Asselt says with excitement. “Then I want to use dresses to sell in my stores. Every dress will have a story behind it.”

The monotone noise of the sewing machine still goes on as Van Asselt talks. By now, the tone is more like a song to him. He hangs up the finished jacket on his homemade metal rack and shuffles around some fabric. “Do you think these colors go good together?” he asks, grabbing both sheets of fabric and heading back to the sewing machine. With a quick adjustment of thread, colors and needles, he smooths out the fabric and feeds the needle.

This season’s inspiration ranges from height of contrast, over-the-knee boots, simple, casual luxury, slouchy pants to emerald green and bringing back the old.

One of the best upcoming trends this season may surprise you. Some would call it anti-color blocking. Others would say simple and classic. Point is, achromatic hues can be so much more chic when worn together.

Daytime Outfit: A loose-fitting peplum can be flattering on certain body types. This specific style has a relaxed vibe, perfect for a day of running errands. Or a simple white tank peplum with light-wash skinnies will get the job done as well.

Daytime outfit: skinny black jeans and a white blouse tank top. To keep yourself warm, throw on a leather jacket or a black and white knit cardigan.

Nighttime outfit: Pair some heels with any laid-back look. It will take your style to the next level. Look into head-turning styles like peep-toed booties, bootie wedges, over the knee boots, etc.

Layering is key when it comes to fall fashion for multiple reasons. One is that it’s affordable. Two is that it’s realistic. We’re college students and we can’t afford to continually buy new clothing items. I encourage you to find new ways to layer and to use your basic clothing items in your closet. Trust me, it will save you so much money. When shopping, invest more money in items that you see yourself wearing at least 10 times. I try to envision 10 different outfits. If 10 is too much, aim for seven.

Don’t forget to leave your house with a super-cute hat. According to New York Fall Fashion Week, designers like Kate Spade and Tracy Reese made sure to set the knit beanie trend. When in doubt, put a beanie on it! There are other types of hats you can wear this season, too. Fedoras, floppy knits and even baseball caps are at your disposal.

Daytime outfit: knit sweater with a pleated skirt. Top it off with a floppy knit hat and over-the-knee boots with stockings.

Nighttime outfit: Swap out the floppy knit for a beanie and the knit sweater for a cargo or leather jacket for an edgier look once the sun sets. Keep the over-the-knee boots; they’re pretty versatile.

Daytime outfit: Pair the leopard print with cuffed boyfriend jeans. Stay with the basics. Feelin’ a little sassy? Finish the outfit off with some fringe ankle booties or hidden wedge booties.

Still have that obnoxious leopard print item in your closet? Don’t throw it away just yet. In fact, pull it out. It’s about time that oldie becomes a goodie again. One of fall 2013’s hottest trends is already in your closet. What a great way to save your money by recycling, right? Play with different colors of leopard this season. Classic brown and black will always be in style, so have a bit of fun and choose a pink or red version instead. Go crazy. But don’t get too excited and overdo it. A little leopard can go a long way, so stick to one piece featuring the cat print.

Daytime outfit: Pair the leopard print with cuffed boyfriend jeans. Stay with the basics. Feelin’ a little sassy? Finish the outfit off with some fringe ankle booties or hidden wedge booties.

Nighttime outfit: Convert that daytime outfit by pairing leopard print with a pair of dark wash skinnies and throw on those one-strap heels. Or reverse. Wear a leopard print skirt on bottom with a simple black tank up top. This can work for both day and evening wear.

Add emerald green to your closet, and I’m not just saying that because of where I work. According to Pantone’s show at New York Fall Fashion Week, it’s a top color for 2013. Don’t ignore how cute emerald green can look when paired with jewel tones, such as garnet, amethyst and sapphire. It’s a great pop of color for this season and can be paired with any outfit and style. Look for different ways to incorporate the shade into your wardrobe. A structured bag or high heels in this vibrant hue is like an exclamation point at the end of your ensemble.

Nighttime outfit: Swap out the floppy knit for a beanie and the knit sweater for a cargo or leather jacket for an edgier look once the sun sets. Keep the over over-the-knee boots; they’re pretty versatile.

Another way to save your money is by re-using your white clothes from spring and summer (if appropriate). Take a chance on winter white. When the temperatures are low, we all have a tendency to reach for dark colors, but why not grab a winter white piece instead? Don’t think you can wear winter white only for a night out. A classy coat fits in at the office and denim works for the weekend. Save your flouncy pieces for spring. Choose weather appropriate staples such as chunky knits, jeans and jackets that make sense in autumn.

Don’t bail on the peplum just yet! It’s the trend that won’t die, so hop on the bandwagon if you haven’t already! Find the right peplum for you. Where it is placed on a dress, shirt or skirt can determine just how good you look. Don’t underestimate how flattering a peplum can be. It can be super helpful and can define your waist or add curves to a boyish figure.

Daytime outfit: A loose-fitting peplum can be flattering on certain body types. This specific style has a relaxed vibe, perfect for a day of running errands. Or a simple white tank peplum with light-wash skinnies will get the job done as well.

Nighttime outfit: Wear the same peplum you wore earlier! Instead of casual skinnies, pair with a mini skirt or leather pants to spice things up.

Take advice from designers BCBG MAXAZRIA and add interest to your fall outfit choices by piling on a few extra pieces. Mix textures with your pants, skirts and tops. A sheer dress over leather pants allows you to layer without looking bulky. Don’t go crazy with colors or patterns when layering though. An outfit with many components should look as streamlined as possible.
 
Watch the screen captured time lapse of illustrator, Kenneth Osborn, creating digital drawings below.

Illustrations by: Kenneth Osborn
Video by: Will Cuddy

Graduating in only three and one-half years, Joseph Steven Nainoaonahoku Wilmes, a journalism major and multimedia minor University of Oregon graduate from Beaverton, Ore., reflects back on his time as a student at the UO after having now spent one year in the post-graduation “real world.”

Working at Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District he revealed, “I know that working at a rec center as a sports instructor and after school program leader isn’t what I wanted to do after college, but it isn’t a terrible job. It doesn’t pay the seven-figure salary that I was going for, but it’s my fault in the end. I didn’t produce a résumé during my free time at the UO.”

Starting out, he had no set ideas on what he wanted to do with his four years at the UO.

“I never really knew what I wanted to do in life as a high school senior,” he said. “As a college graduate, I’m still somewhat confused.”

He experienced all the common panics each college student goes through at some point or another. From the fear of that one professor who fails students based on a single typo to the classic feeling of under-involvement, he admits that these issues are rooted within one’s own personal attitude and actions.

“One of my regrets would be not joining as many clubs,” he said. “I should have been an activist or started up a ping pong club or something. My super boring résumé with a B-minus GPA average would have been much more attractive with a diverse participation in UO clubs.”

While he worked for UO Housing Services as a sandwich artist and spent a large portion of his time focused on academics in order to graduate quickly, he shared the sentiment of feeling overwhelmed amongst the countless amount of clubs and groups UO has to offer. But regardless, he acknowledges his lack of participation put a damper on his overall experience. This regret played a role both in and outside the classroom.

“I just wanted to go to class, take the exam and go home,” he said. “I didn’t try to communicate much with my professors. I saw my professors as if they were there to teach the course, and I was there to fill in the bubbles of my Scantron.”

At a university with more than 16,000 undergraduate students, it’s very difficult to avoid feeling out-shined and outdone. But he advised: “Don’t be lazy. You’re paying so much money to go to school — you would be silly to not be the best you can be. Work hard and play hard.”

So while Wilmes has looked back on his college experience with a few regrets, for now he plans to keep enjoying his time as a fresh grad.

“I want to be 22 for a bit longer,” he said, “Sooner or later, someone will give me a ‘big boy’ job. I know it will come eventually, so I’m not rushing right now.”

The notorious image of being buried beneath debt post-graduation has become more prevalent each year due to the exponential growth in tuition rates. Since 1978, the U.S. has seen a 1,120 percent increase in college tuition and fees.

53

The percentage of students graduating from the University of Oregon with tuition and fees debt.

$22,736

The average debt a UO graduate is stuck with upon walking.

$26,600.

The national average for student loan debt held by university graduates.  According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 62 percent of graduates from public universities and 72 percent of private nonprofit graduates exit with student loans.

But despite these soaring costs, which include classes, books and room and board, students also continue to dole out cash for all the other college “necessities.”

$500

This is how much the average college student spends per  year on alcohol and curbs their late-night hunger by spending up to $1,820 on fast food.

After four years, the costs of just these two categories alone can peak at an extra $7,460. For the average Duck exiting with debt, that bumps up the expenditures to $30,196, and that cost does not even begin to include the money students spend on other luxuries.

If you are a poor college student like me and can’t afford to buy a new pair of sandals for spring term, keep reading.

My TOMS had a hole in the toe and one day I decided to cut off that entire part of the shoe. Cut up your TOMS? What? Yes, I said it. It’s spring, and your toes need a little breathing room.

After a while — like, a month — TOMS get really worn out. Why throw away a nice pair of shoes when you can just turn them into sandals? This process will take 10 minutes tops and is so easy that anyone can do it. It’s also a win/win situation: You don’t have to spend a penny, and you get a new pair of sandals — It’s like Christmas in the spring!

All  you need is your old TOMS and a good pair of scissors:

1. Take a look at your TOMS. There is a covered part (where your toes are) and an uncovered part (where the rest of your foot is).

2. There are three sections you will/could cut that are covered. Cut along the stitching of each section.

3. Now, if you are bad at cutting out squares, you should probably stop and have someone else do this part. On the uncovered part of the future sandal where there IS fabric, you can cut two to three squares. If you don’t like squares, you can do triangles, circles, stars … whatever floats your boat.

Voila! You have a new pair of TOMS sandals.

If you have a collection of Mason jars stacked in a corner of  your house, we’ve got some great ideas to reuse them. They can be great household tools or decorations.

Mason jar photo frame

This would be a great gift that wouldn’t require much money, or if you just want a creative way to display a simple picture. What you will need is a Mason jar, a picture you would like to display, something to stuff in the jar (tissue, candy, fabric, practically anything. Be creative!), satin ribbon and a flower (to place on top of the jar. This is optional, some people like it closed with the lid or just leaving the jar open.)

Start off by printing your picture. I would recommend printing it out in black and white or sepia: It will emphasize the vintage feel. Then carefully place the photo facing outward in the jar. You do not need to tape or glue the picture in there. It will stay, I promise. After you place the picture, stuff the rest of the jar with whatever you want. I was poor and found this tissue from a shopping bag and just stuffed it. Look around your house, choose material that will enhance your photo and vibe.

If you want, you can top off the jar with a flower or simply seal it with the lid or leave it open. For the finishing touch, tie a ribbon around the jar.

Mason Lights

You can use your Mason jars as lights around the house. An easy way is simply placing a tealite candle inside the jar and call it good. Or, you can go over the top, and use a light bulb and a long extension light cord (with light plug attached), which I found at Ikea and a drill that will make a half inch hole.

What you want to do is drill the half-inch hole into the thin metal lid of the jar. That’s the hard part. After you have done that, take your extension light cord and screw the light bulb on one side of the lid and the other part of the cord on the outer part of the extension cord. Now, plug the cord in and hang your Mason light however you like. TA-DA!

Mason soap jar

To repurpose a Mason jar to be a soap dispenser, start off by drilling a half-inch hole in the lid of the jar. Make sure you measure and mark the center of the lid. This is where you will put the soap dispenser pump (found at any hardware store, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) Fill the jar with liquid soap, insert the pump and start washing your hands.

Mason plant jar

Need a creative way to display your flowers? Change it up and spray paint your Mason jars. Place the flowers and add your own special touch with a ribbon, by painting your initials on the jar or drawing an animal on it.

You can also literally plant a flower, veggies or whatever you would like to plant inside the jar. All you would have to do is add soil, then watch your plant grow.

Spray paint your Mason jars

Spray paint adds character if you want to give your Mason jars a different look and feel. You can spray paint them for all of the projects we’ve mentioned so far, but if you are a simple person and just want painted jars around your house, do whatever floats your boat.

Use as a drinking tool

If you’re not the creative type, you can always save your jars and use them as cups. This idea comes in handy when you host parties, especially during spring term when you can serve iced lemon/cucumber water or beer.

If you are hosting a lunch or dinner with a group of friends, use these jars as a name card place holder, lamps, candle holders, center pieces, etc. These DIY ideas aren’t just for decorating your home — they can be great gifts that wouldn’t require you to spend a lot of money or any money at all.

Spring is finally here and it’s time to get excited for brighter colors and a new wardrobe. For this spring, some awesome trends include bright coral, pastel colors (an oldie but always a goodie), slit maxi skirts, floral patterns, head bands, summer scarves — the list is endless.

Despite these great sunny trends, living in Oregon means we have to remember that spring can be the most bipolar weather ever. It will rain. Here’s how to make that comfortable transition into spring without freezing your limbs off to look chic.

Before leaving the house, don’t forget a trench or some sort of waterproof material in case the rain shows up. In order to look stylish in the rain, invest in a trench coat, cargo jacket, bomber jacket, puffy parka — basically anything that will keep you warm.

Don’t get rid of your boots just yet. Boots are still in during the spring, especially combat boots or anything other than tacky polka dot rain boots. Boots are a must-have accessory because they can add an edgy look. They also make an outfit more causal or class appropriate.

Let’s make that transition from leggings to jeans. Leave the leggings in winter term. When the sun shines on your leggings, EVERYTHING is exposed (just saying). Start breaking out those skinny jeans. They give off a more relaxed, chic feel.

Flowy dresses are making an appearance this spring. These type of dresses fit really well on every body type. Try it with a belt! Anything belted makes a figure look slimming.

Rule of thumb: Anything flowy that catches the eye is a must-have for spring. No bright and tight — it’ll hug your body and highlight certain parts that you didn’t know you had.

You’re welcome.

Let’s be real. Trying to throw out your old clothes can be like getting a tooth pulled. It sucks and it’s dreadful. No one wants to do it, and it’s hard to admit when you don’t need a particular item anymore. I hate to break it to you, but it’s time to throw away that hideous jean skirt.

A great way to force yourself to get rid of your clothes is what I call a clothing diet. This method is one of the most effective ways to declutter. How it works is that you limit yourself to wearing only six to 10 items for one month to figure out which pieces are most important to your lifestyle.

If you don’t want to go to those drastic measures, there is another easy way to clean up your closet. Go through your clothes and find the pieces you know you will never wear again because they are damaged or stained, they were bad decisions or hideous or you don’t feel or look awesome in them.

When it comes to closet decluttering, you have to be ruthless and honest with yourself. Have your roommates or friends help you with the process. With certain clothing items, ask yourself, “Will I ever get around to getting the stain out?” “Will I get this zipper fixed?” “Will I need to go on a diet to fit into these clothes?” Try hosting a clothing swap party with your friends or sorority sisters or look into donation centers for the clothes you don’t need.

If you haven’t worn something in ages, you can use the clever hanger trick. The trick suggests using hangers to mark what you have actually worn over time. First, turn the hangers of all your clothing away from you, then as you wear things, turn the hanger around. Set a calendar reminder to go off in six or 12 months, then when your time period has passed, open your closet and remove every piece of clothing on a backward hanger. Chances are good that you can give those items away without pain because you just demonstrated that you don’t wear them.

The Golden Rule of decluttering: If you haven’t worn it in six to 12 months, get rid of it.