Ok, first I will tell you what I wish I had done. Then I
will go through pieces of clothing individually and tell you what you need and
what you don’t. I'll also leave the comments open so if you have any questions ask away!
In Japan, they have these beautiful shops called recycle
shops. I love them. Most sisters do. They are full of cheap clothing (if you
find the right one) and it is still in excellent condition. I would get skirts
for the equivalent of a dollar here. Now that isn’t every shop but you can
still find pretty good deals at an average one. The other great thing about
Japanese clothes is that everything is modest. Well, not everything. But I had
no problem finding modest skirts and shirts and dresses even. There were three
other stores I absolutely loved too; Honeys, GU and UNQLO. Honeys has a skirt
that just about every sister missionary ends up with by the end of her mission.
A-line, beautiful colors, twirls really nicely and depending on your height
hits between mid-shin and just above the ankle. GU and UNQLO have the best
shirts. I love their button downs. But, they have great sales. You can get
shirts and skirts for around $5.00 American
What I wish I had done was bought clothes for DI and
salvation army here for the MTC, and brought some cute things from home too,
then at the end of the MTC sent home the cute clothes and brought the DI
clothes I wasn’t attached to to japan. That way, you have cute clothes for
picture days in the MTC and then you are completely unattached to the other
clothes and can just get rid of those clothes as you buy clothes in Japan that
are actually cute and modest and much cheaper than anything modest in America.
So, my suggestion is go out and buy cheap clothes from second
hand shops for the mission field, and bring a few cute things too for the MTC
and if you want the field too or just send them home. Then, when you get into
the field go shopping! BUT, do not buy everything all at once. Make it a
mission long process, otherwise you will end up with things you don’t really
like and won’t have money for things you love later on.
OK, time for individual pieces..
-You only need one blazer. It is too hot for blazers most
of the year. I found mine at target. They lasted my entire mission and were
more of a boyfriend cut so they were comfortable too.
-G’s. I had them for summer and every other season. You
want cotton or dry-lux in the summer. It is just too hot for anything else. You
WILL get heat rashes. And those hurt! I had thermal bottoms too for the winter.
Wore them every day. They were the best. The tops are cut a little high so It
makes them hard to wear.
-Don’t bother with thermal underwear. Get thermal G’s and
fleece lined tights. Fleece lined tights will be your best friend during the
winter. You can get them in Japan, but if you are tall they won’t. They don’t
stretch like normal tights.
-Do not bring lots and lots of shoes. It takes up space
and it’s a waste of money. You will walk right through your cheap shoes. My wing-tips
(oxfords) from clarks lasted my entire mission. And so did the black flats I
got from lands end. BUT, they both had more of a pointed toe and so I began to
develop bunions. Buy shoes with a wider toe/ rounder toe. Round toed shoes aren’t
as cute but they are a lot better than bunions and misshapen feet. My feet do
not look the same as they did when I left on my mission. My parents had to send
me shoes half way through. They got clarks which lasted till the end and then
were given to my last companion because they still had a lot of life left in
them. Loafers are nice too- As long as the toes aren’t pointed. Slip on shoes are the easiest. In Japan we
take our shoes off at the door.
-Winter boots. You want a pair of nice winter boots. I
got timberland riding boots. They lasted through two winters of walking and the
tread didn’t even begin to look worn. Those were power house boots. My shoe purchases can be seen here.
-Rain boots. Get rain boots! You can find them in Japan
pretty easily unless you are a size 8 or bigger. Then it gets a little harder.
I had Hunter packable tours. They cracked less than half way through my
mission. But, I would buy them again. They were the most comfortable rain boots
I had my entire mission. I went through three pairs.
-Bring lots and lots of peds! But try and get the ones
that feel more like tights than socks. I’m convinced part of the reason my feet
look so terrible is from restricting socks. You can find them at target I
think. I got all of mine from old navy. They were too restrictive. And, as you
wash them they get progressively smaller and more disfigured.
-Boot socks. I brought way to many pairs. You only need
one or two. If you wear them over tights (which you will because it is so cold)
they shouldn’t get smelly.
-Tights. Tights are your best friend. I love tights! I
brought lots of colored tights too. Make sure you bring muted colors. Aqua blue
or neon orange are not appropriate. I brought dark red, dark green, a muted
mustard, navy and gray. I also had a few patterned ones. Don’t bring fish net
styles though-that’s trashy and not professional. I also really like stockings.
If you are tall, bring your own. You won’t find them in Japan.
*I really loved honeys black tights with a higher denier.
I wore them all the time. They were the best and soooo comfy. I got a size LL.
-Exercise clothes. I brought enough tops to work out
every day. Guess what girls, chances are you will not go out every day. I only
had a few companions who wanted to do that. I would only bring two or three exercise
tops plus one t-shirt. And then pring a pair of yoga pants and capris. I got
mine at Wal-Mart I think they were Danskin. They are great. I’m actually
wearing my capris right now!
-If you want to buy jeans go get a pair at a second hand
shop. I didn’t wear my jeans once in the field. But I loved them, so I had to
carry them around the entire time. Everyone wears jeans on p-day in the MTC
though. It was a special treat.
-RAIN SUIT!!! You absolutely want one of these. And do
not go cheap. You will regret it every day of your life during the rainy
season. I got mine at L.L. Bean. It was a little on the pricey side but it
lasted and stayed waterproof. I had a few companions who had water-resistant
suits (that is NOT the same as water-proof) and one who’s suit decided it didn’t
want to protect her from the rain by the end of her mission. Each piece at L.L.
Bean is around $70 but they are guaranteed. Waterproof pants are also great in
the snow. I used my pants almost all year round. DO NOT GO CHEAP ON YOUR RAIN
GEAR.
-Bring a winter coat. I had one that had two layers. You
could zip them together and wear them as one warm winter jacket or zip them
apart and use the inside layer as a spring jacket. It wasn’t the prettiest
thing but it worked great. I gave it to another missionary when I left, it was
still going strong.
-Bring winter scarves; Big, warm, thick ones. And gloves.
Make sure they are water-proof. And if you are prone to losing gloves you
should probably bring an extra pair. And don’t forget hats, or head bands.
Those are a must. Head bands work well with helmets and hats are great for
streeting.
-You want sweaters. Sweaters are the greatest in the
winter and the summer. Bring a few. And then get some more in Japan. They have
cute sweaters. I loved sweaters for layering in the winter. And in the summer,
I would bring one with me to appointments and put it on when we got to someone’s
house so no one could see my sweaty pits.
-You don’t need two pairs of pajamas. One set is fine.
Sweat pants and a t-shirt are fine too. Or you can use the workout clothes that
probably won’t get used for anything else.
-BIKER SHORTS. These are a must. I never wore them and
there were some days I wish I had brought them. It makes riding a bicycle sooo
much easier. Make sure they go above your knee. Way above your knee. You look
pretty goofy when you can see your shorts hanging down past your skirt.
-Bring shower sandals for the MTC and then ditch them.
You won’t use them in the field.
-don’t bother stocking up on hair ties and such. You can
find them pretty easily in Japan. BUT, if you have blonde hair or use blonde
bobbypins, bring lots. Those are REALLY hard to find.
-Bring accessories. Belts, scarves and necklaces. But don’t
go overboard. Just bring a few of each. I brought way to many scarves and could
only wear them for a small season. The rest of the year was just too hot. You
can wear them at the end of fall and for a few weeks at the beginning of
winter. Then, once winter gets going you want nothing but big, thick, warm
scarves. During spring and summer it is just too hot for scarves. You can also
find really cute accessories here. I loved the necklaces here. Also, if you go
to Forever21 in Japan their accessories get market down to a dollar or two.
Great deal!
-Polar fleece jacket or sweatshirt. You’ll want this in
the apartment at night and during the winter. It is cold!
-Make sure you have a WATCH!
-layers/ shade tops are a must. You can also buy these
really nice tank tops at GU and UNIQLO that work great during the summer. They are
designed to let heat out. And during the winter they have a line called Heat
Tech. It keeps you warm. Both are pretty great. And they come in basics.
Shirts, tanks, turtle necks…
-During the summer you will want loose fitting tops. They
are more breathable, and you are less likely to get pit stains. Linen is also
really great during the summer. Summers are hot, hot, hot. It is really humid.
-The rest of the year you can wear just about anything. I
brought basic long sleeves that could be layered with a sweater and scarf and
that was my winter wardrobe. I also loved layering with button downs. You can
get the cutest button downs in Japan.
-Dresses. Dresses are wonderful in the summer. This dress was great. Lasted my entire mission and was passed onto another companion.
Japan recycle shops are also full of vintage dresses. They have $7.00 dress
shops that sister missionaries love. We all had vintage dresses.
-Skirts. I love pencil skirts BUT they do not work on
bicycles. Nope. Even if you can do it it end up ruining them. Structured pencil
skirts start tearing at the split and jersey pencil skirts will develop this
odd bulge where the fabric gets stretched over the bicycle seat. But, I would
bring at least one for Sundays and special occasions when you want to loot
nice. A-line skirts are the easiest. A more narrow a-line skirt is best for
bicycles. They don’t require being clipped up. Bicycles are dangerous! They eat
skirts. Missions are NOT the place for maxi skirt. Don’t bring them, don’t wear
them, don’t be that sister missionary. Skirts are really easy to find in Japan.
