THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING ON STRONG FOUNDATIONS…
I have been attempting a closet clear out for over a year…
You might remember when it all started. It was a rather embarrassing situation. I’ve slowly been selling pieces and giving things to charity but I still feel like I have way more stuff than I need. Obviously it’s an ongoing project but I hate that feeling of ‘having nothing to wear’. You know it, you’re standing in front of your wardrobe wondering where that one perfect T-shirt is that hangs just so. When you can’t find it anywhere all hell breaks loose because ‘it’s the only thing that looks good right now.’ I know I’m not alone in having these mini-emotional breakdowns… I’ve seen some of you getting ready to go out (evil eyes Charlie and Shini).
Anyway, things are changing. I’m pairing down.
I think I’ve been inspired by Ivania – she’s the absolute queen of minimalism. As much as I love having loads of options I actually much prefer things to be simple. I’ve picked out a handful of items that make up pretty much what I’ve been wearing the last few weeks. They are as follows: a Paul & Joe Sister leather biker jacket, a Cabbages & Roses striped Breton top, skinny jeans from 7 for all Mankind, a white shirt from MiH and a cotton dress from Laura Ashley which used to be my moms (I had about 4 feet of fabric cut off the length). For accessories I’ve been sticking to a cotton floral tote I got at Banana Republic about five years ago, a pair of Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses and an old baseball hat because, you know, they’re so trendy. For shoes I’ve just been switching between my black and white Converse. That’s it. That’s what I’ve honestly been wearing. It doesn’t make for very interesting outfit posts but it’s real life.
My goal over the next few months is to start investing in key pieces to help expand this little mini-summer wardrobe. My goal is to only spend money on things that fit with the paired back attitude… so no spur of the moment crazy purchases. My goal is to have a working wardrobe that is easy to navigate and style. Let’s see what happens. I’ve got my fingers crossed for my restraint.
I am far too scared to do this. Keep thinking of getting rid of some clothes, I mean I clean up my wardrobe every 6 months and give to charity. But I can’t stop wanting to buy stuff and I think it comes down to the satisfaction of browsing stuff online instead of actually wearing them out? *don’t tell my boyfriend though* I really hope it goes well, maybe then you can give me the courage to do the same thing!
Nora
Oh how brave of you! I love your choices, I am a huge fan of white converse, I think they go with everything!
Best of luck!!
I’m at the very beginning of this process. It’s all topsy-turvy. I’m moving to a bigger flat, but can’t face moving all the clothes I never wear. More closet space, fewer clothes. That’s my battle cry.
There’s the one-day-I’ll-be-a-size-8 again dress (horse = bolted, pigs = fly, etc). The size 10 jeans I wore when I met the MrMr ten years ago (bootleg, faded, ugly-as-sin sentimentality). The vintage Chanel with the coffee stains and ripped sleeves (it’s CHANEL!). The stuff I forget I have when I attempt a reorganise, swear to wear as it gets folded neatly back in my closet, and find scrunched up at the back when I go back in to reorganise again. The blah blah blah blah blah…
It goes. All of it. I’m taking me with me. And my chucks. All the way, baby. xo
Yesss! It makes me so happy to hear this. You are not alone! xx
oh i will always love striped tops – they are just the perfect staple!
This is very interesting, Jen… As I’ve been working on 2 upcoming collections, I’ve felt torn between the desire to create basic, simple, incredibly wearable wardrobe staples (that I personally will not want to stop wearing) and the pressure to make something really remarkable, visually complex and richly conceptual (though not always functional in real life). In the end, for the MOST part, I’ve gone with the “I would actually wear this a lot” options.
So what’s interesting to me is that I feel like lately there have been so many punch-you-in-the-face trends going on in the fashion world- spikey shoes, dangerously high heels (I’ve got scars to prove it), neon brights, metallics… Super awesome looks, but let’s get a little bit real… that stuff pretty much exists for picture taking. So it’s surprising but cool to see you paring down to such a subdued minimal wardrobe. What I love about it is that for one thing, it’s totally you. I know you’re going to keep loving those pieces for a long time. It’s not trendy, it represents your personal style. Secondly, it’s full of pieces that are all comfortable and infinitely wearable. And, ideally, good quality so they’re going to last you a long time.
I’m so ready for a shift in the way we buy and wear clothes. As a designer, one of my goals is to provide clothes that are going to help make that shift easier- I want my soft t-shirts and tank tops to be the ones you wear 3 times a week year round because they make you feel and look so good. But it’s still a bit of a trade-off, isn’t it? I think we all need at least one or two punch-you-in-the-face items in the mix for days we need something special.
I couldn’t agree more. The punch-in-your-face piece I’m coveting at the moment is the Prada flame heels. Only, their 900 euros and sold out pretty much everywhere. Boo hoo. My life is so hard.
Actually what I need though are staples… so that’s what I’m going to try to focus on (for now). xx
p.s. I can’t wait to see the new collections!
do it do it, well it’s started but you know what i mean. it makes a lotta sense, plus it’s got to feel good. i’m not where you are but i’ve pretty much got a uniform that i tend to stick to these days which is the start of what you have made. i’ve just bunged a load of stuff on ebay this afternoon actually. hope all is well jen
Ahh, I’ve been feeling the exact same way lately–not so much that I have too many clothes, but more so that the clothes I have aren’t reflective of me.
Good luck!
It takes massive skills to have a closet full of amazing pieces in all patterns shapes and textures, but I think it takes even more to have a minimal closet where pieces work witheachother seamlessly. I lack in both but especially the latter. In fact, I think life would be generally simpler and happier if my wardrobe was 1/4 the size!
Completely agree. My wardrobe is definitely the former…and it takes me so long to work out how to wear things together! Sadly some of the most amazing pieces never get worn at all because they are just too difficult/I don’t have the freaking timmmmmeeee
I really need to do the same thing. Currently in my closet: a Breton that I loved and wore too much but I don’t want to throw away, a few pairs of jeans that are too big for me but fall into the “who knows maybe one day…?” category, then there are the way too many jeans that don’t fit, the t-shirts that became too small after washing them and trust me the list goes on…
The only thing I think I am not going to try to reduce is the quantity of handbags I own…just because I love them
Anyways I really need to take the time to clean my closet but somehow a lot of them are full of great memories and I don’t want to get rid of them :p
I’m sure I have breakdowns more often than Charlie and Shini…
You’ve just saved me £70, you’re probably a little confused right now. I’ve just been catching up on my fave blogs and alternating between some online shopping, read your post went back to shopping and I realised that my basket was filled with a few items that I’ve just impulsively bought, had a little though “will I actually wear it though?” and as painful as it was, discarded a few of the items so thanks! I am so guilty of buying things because I like the look of them but like you (and I’m sure many, many others) my key items that I always go back to consist of around 15-20 items, a grey marl tee, perfect pair of skinnies, a great pair of brogues etc so I’m really cutting back on buying stuff on impulse and instead invest on good quality items that I know I will wear and that won’t simply be shoved at back of wardrobe after a few wears. XX
I am ALL about this. I love this post. When I moved to Paris I got rid of almost everything I own – it was Oxfam’s lucky day. I feel might lighter, cleaner, fresher now I’ve paired back. It’s all about strong basics and some key seasonal pieces for me.
AnotherGarcon.blogspot.com
woa i thought you stopped blogging! turns out my google reader was broken!
i’m so glad!
xo
merv
http://www.lateybirdy.com
wish I could be minimalistic :/
xx
SurfAddictFashionista
http://reapap.blogspot.com/
Yes, I’m feeling this, Jen. When I was living overseas, keeping a minimal closet was definitely key (in part because I had the mindset of ‘what can I fit/not fit in my xxkg luggage limit). Sadly, I’ve discovered that since I’ve been home that my wardrobe has blossomed again and really needs some paring down. But I think my old flare jeans might have to stay– new paint pants for the studio? Good luck continuing to cultivate your working wardrobe xx
closet clean up was one of the first things I did after my weddign last month. I dreaded the moment for so long, and then i just did it. I gave to friends and charity two big suitcases of clothes I wasn`t wearing for years (but I still took them with me when moving, like I am going to need them. sure.) and the closet is still almost full. What is that strange feeling and fear of letting them go? I don`t have anything to wear, but I keep not wearing most of the stuff I have in my closet. that is just nuts. But i doo agree with whole basic fundations philosophy. I just don`t know how to implement it.
This is exactly what I was thinking about lately! I should stop investing in all those things from Zara and Co and start saving for classic things, for clothes that I want to wear and wear! I bought so many things in Zara and well, to be honest, there are only a few that I really wear….. shame…..
I started this process about 5 years ago and have never looked back. My wardrobe isn’t perfect for me yet, but it is sooo much smaller and I love seeing space in my closet. Another unexpected bonus has been that it is now much easier for me to pack my carry on suitcase for travel – less choices equals less agonising over what to take! I sincerely wish you good luck! I have looked at a lot of your posts and adore your style of converse sneakers with dresses – this is something I want to start carrying off with confidence and the right style of dresses for summer.