Malls are great with a wide variety of clothing stores to choose from to buy the essentials. If you're not a big "mall" person, there are other stores that can offer a variety of styles and prices. Outlet stores are a great way to get discounted prices for designer clothes. Target and Walmart offer different styles, but don't always have the most unique attire. These stores would be a good place to buy the basic must-haves for your wardrobe. TJ Maxx and Ross are stores based on size, and you can choose from the styles in stock. The problem with these stores are, you may find something you love in a size larger or smaller than you, but it may not be available in your size. No matter what style you have, some items are essential for everyday wear. Most essential items can be paired with any outfit you choose, and you wear them more than anything else. Essential clothing items include things like tanktops and leggings. You'll need at least one for every day of the week, and you can get them in a variety of colors and designs. Be sure to have at least one plain white and one plain black of each. Blazers add a classy look to any outfit, and they can also be used for business purposes as well. Cardigans can go over a variety of tops, but they also create an outfit when you put them over a simple tanktop. You can pair blazers and cardigans with almost any outfit, but have enough to choose from throughout the week. Two or three blazers will be good, while you should invest in 3-4 different styles of cardigans. Simple t-shirts and sweatpants are perfect for those lazy days around the house. If the t-shirt is stylish enough, you can wear it as part of an outfit. You should have at least one t-shirt for every day of the week, and own about 3-4 pairs of sweatpants for lounging. Stylish t-shirts include v-neck and flowy tees, and they can come in solid colors or with logos. Try not to get offensive or obscene language on them. Even if it's not your style, a little black dress will come in handy when you need to dress up or go on a date. At least one dress is important, but if you like the style, there are many different colors and designs to choose. Sundresses, if they're your style, are nice for warm sunny days or beach days. White dress shirts can be dressy for presentations at school, or they can be casual when paired with some jeans. You should have at least one white dress shirt for professional or business reasons. If you're going for the casual look, you might not want to button the shirt all the way to the top. You can also roll the sleeves up to be less dressy. Denim jeans are must-haves for a night out, and they can go with just about any top. You can wear jeans a couple times in between washes, so 3-4 jeans in different styles would work well. You should own at least one boot-cut and one skinny-leg pair, while having at least one dark-wash and one light-wash pair. Buying jeans can be expensive, but you don't want to be stingy with the quality. If you buy cheaper jeans, they'll be more likely to rip and you might have to buy new ones more often. A good pair of jeans can last you a few years. Shorts are important for the warmer days when you don't want to wear long heavy jeans. Skirts can be worn any time depending on what kind of style you prefer. Shorter skirts are available in the summertime, while maxi-skirts can be worn in the winter. If you get 2-3 skirts, you can mix and match during the week. You should have a variety of shorts and skirts to choose from, and at least one for every day of the week. Denim shorts can last longer than non-denim, but you want to make sure you're comfortable for the hot summer days. Pajamas are comfortable at night, but they come in many different styles. Choose what's comfortable for you to get the most rest, and purchase as needed. Undergarments can be an expensive shopping experience, but it's important to purchase well-fitting items and buy them as needed. You'll notice an immediate difference when you switch from old, worn out underwear that doesn't fit you. Depending on where you live, this might be a long trench coat or something heavier like a warm winter parka. This is important for winter wear when the months get a little chillier. A lighter trench coat can come in handy for southern-wear, while a parka would be nice for those northern winter nights.

Summary: Go to the store. Buy essential clothing. Shop for cardigans and blazers. Get t-shirts and sweatpants. Get a little black dress. Shop for dress shirts. Buy new jeans. Shop for shorts and skirts. Buy pajamas and undergarments. Get a long warm coat.

If you feel like you have a million things to say, pick one message that you feel really passionate about. You can always make a few signs to represent your ideas, but it is best to choose one message per sign. Then, decide whether you want to use text and imagery to convey your message, an image or a symbol without text. If you want to say something about women's rights to fair pay, you could write, "equal pay for equal work." If you want to say something about human rights at a women's march, you could write, "women's rights are human rights." If you want to say something about the inequitable impacts of global climate change, you could use the term "climate justice." To convey the urgency of the need to tackle climate change, you could write, "climate justice now." Then, you could visually highlight this statement with a symbol, such as an image of the planet melting on an ice cream cone. If you decide to use text to convey your message, compose a short, clear statement to represent your message. In terms of brevity, you are best sticking to a statement of seven words or less, since it can be hard to fit long text on a protest sign. You can say a lot in seven words! At the March on Washington in 1963, protestors held signs saying, "we demand an end to bias now." These seven words convey the urgent need to end racial bias in America. You may want to convey your message with a symbol, which can be used either in place of text or alongside a written message. You could make your sign really popular by using an eye-popping and recognizable symbol, such as a peace sign! The peace sign was designed by British artist Gerald Holtom. It was originally designed for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). The symbol for the female sex is often used in women's marches and feminist campaigns. The equal sign can be used to represent equality. The fist can be used as a symbol for social justice. Symbols that go well together can be combined. Protests often have popular slogans and statements that are repeated on many signs. To stand out from the crowd, you should personalize your statement! For instance, if you are a fan of a particular show or film, draw on your fan wisdom to make a political statement. If you identify as queer, transgender, female, working class or something else, connect your statement to this particular identity or intersection of identities. After composing your statement but prior to writing it on the sign, you may want to get some feedback from friends. They could give you really helpful advice. If you get critical feedback, try rewriting the message to improve whatever is missing, such as clarity, brevity, wit, force or personal resonance. If you are protesting with friends, you could also ask whether your statement goes well with the signs they will be carrying. People often read signs in relation to one another, especially when protestors stand next to one another.
Summary: Figure out what you want to say. Practice brevity when using text on protest signs. Choose a symbol. Make your message personal. Get peer feedback.