I love poring through lists. Something wonderful and calming happens when things and ideas are corralled from the chaos of infinite possibility and organized into discrete bundles. I know that probably made me sound like a fanatic of order, which is pretty far from the truth as I enjoy variability and variation in many aspects of life. When it comes to things like clothes though, I find that the sheer amount of choice can lead to overconsumption, and ultimately frustration in - you know what I'm talking about - having absolutely nothing to wear despite piles upon piles of clothes staring at you in the face.
It's a crazy situation and feels counterintuitive, but it makes perfect sense when you realize one thing:
-We like what we like, and we wear what we like.
Think about it.
When you last stared that Goliath of clothes in its face, frantically searching for your work outfit or school outfit, or what have you, what did you end up reaching for? Chances are you went for your tried and true favorites - maybe it was that pair of trousers that made your legs look miles long and gives your butt that perfect lift, or maybe it was the trusty blouse that drapes where it needs to and holds structure where it's called for. I'm guessing you didn't go for the flashy yet fabulous sequined piece you picked up because it was on sale and so gloriously sparkly that it's really only good for a night out clubbing but what the hey, it's on sale!
Don't get me wrong - I love colors, prints, texture, and sparkle, and they have a definite and permanent place in my wardrobe. I find however, that because we have so many choices just begging to be scooped up, we tend to gravitate towards the more 'interesting' ones first, and neglect the wardrobe basics that in reality form a good 80% (give or take) of what you'll actually wear. Let this happen through enough sale cycles, and you'll find that your wardrobe is full of beautiful and interesting pieces - but with hardly a matching partner for them in sight. And that's when you end up flailing your hands up in frustration, pronouncing you have nothing to wear.
The great thing is, once you realize these patterns, you will become more conscious of your shopping choices and begin to think of your purchases as parts of an integrated whole wardrobe. Like I said before, there is room for those beautiful and unique finds, and you don't need to feel that you'll never get a chance to wear them. You can and absolutely should - it'll make you feel good to work those special pieces into your days and project a look that you're completely confident and happy to sport. You just need to make sure you have your wardrobe essentials that will 1). on their own form functional and still stylish looks; and 2). serve as building blocks, or anchors, for outfits spotlighting that fantastic fur vest or textured tweedy mini.
I won't promise that it will all come together in a snap; personal style is constantly evolving based on your lifestyle and wardrobe needs. However, there are some things that just always seem to work for you, and which you find you reach for most often. Think about your life - are you a student or are you working, or maybe a combination of both? What kind of environments do you work in, and what are their dress codes? What kind of recreational activities are you involved in? Do you frequent nightclubs or are you there just occasionally? And so on. The answers to these questions will help form the framework of what you'll need in each situation. From there, you can build working wardrobes comprised of the key pieces, plus a few extras to add your own unique stamp.
There are great tools we can use to help us keep track of our likes and needs. Pinterest is a great one - you can create a board for any collection you're thinking of - I'm thinking work clothes, going-out clothes, casual wear, evening wear, you name it! While you're at it, why not start a board to pin your essentials - the workhorses that'll get you through any situation and which play happily with your fun finds. Track what you like and what you end up buying, and also track what you end up wearing the most - you'll start to see trends that will help you build your wardrobe so that it works for you, and not the other way around!
For me, my essentials are the following (here comes the list making, finally!):
I work in a 9-5 office setting, where the dress code is officially 'business casual,' which in reality can run the gamut in what is considered acceptable. I try to dress on the 'dressier' end of business casual - I don't need to wear a full suit to work every day, but I try to keep my look clean cut, simple, and pressed. This means tailored trousers or pants made with good, substantial material, pencil or A-line skirts (always at the knee or just above), and for tops - simple sweaters that fit well, or pretty tops paired with a cardigan or blazer.
For casual wear, I have more leeway to express my style, which actually doesn't veer too much from my work clothes in theme - again, I try to keep it simple and polished. My tops function for both work and casual settings, and I usually end up swapping out the trousers or skirts for great jeans. This means my clothes can often do double duty so they get more wear, which makes me feel good and that their purchase was justified!
Here is a list of my essential items:
1. Well-fitting pants
My favorites are slim-legged black trousers for work, and skinny leg black jeans for casual wear.
I'm currently on the hunt for slim/straight legged dark rinse jeans, and a pair of boyfriend-cut jeans that doesn't make me look stunted or sloppy :-P
2. Versatile silk tops
Silk feels amazing against your skin, is a great insulating layer in the winter, and instantly adds polish to your look. I find myself reaching most for my printed sleeveless tops, and my ivory Equipment and Rag & Bone blouses I scored off of eBay! I wear them on their own, or layered under a cardigan, blazer, or V-neck sweater, all year round.
Currently hunting for burgundy and navy silk blouses :-)
3. Plain colored sweaters
I like them best in merino wool with a V-neck. My MVPs are my gray V-neck, and plain black sweaters, both round and V-necks. I can't get enough of them - layered on top of a collared blouse or printed top, underneath a blazer for warmth, on their own with jeans or printed pants. I probably wear a black sweater 1-2 times per week.
Also in this category are cardigans - a more relaxed version of blazers. I'm always reaching for my plain black and deep blue cardigans in colder weather, and my lightweight camel and mustard ones in warmer weather.
4. Blazers
It's a crazy situation and feels counterintuitive, but it makes perfect sense when you realize one thing:
-We like what we like, and we wear what we like.
Think about it.
When you last stared that Goliath of clothes in its face, frantically searching for your work outfit or school outfit, or what have you, what did you end up reaching for? Chances are you went for your tried and true favorites - maybe it was that pair of trousers that made your legs look miles long and gives your butt that perfect lift, or maybe it was the trusty blouse that drapes where it needs to and holds structure where it's called for. I'm guessing you didn't go for the flashy yet fabulous sequined piece you picked up because it was on sale and so gloriously sparkly that it's really only good for a night out clubbing but what the hey, it's on sale!
Don't get me wrong - I love colors, prints, texture, and sparkle, and they have a definite and permanent place in my wardrobe. I find however, that because we have so many choices just begging to be scooped up, we tend to gravitate towards the more 'interesting' ones first, and neglect the wardrobe basics that in reality form a good 80% (give or take) of what you'll actually wear. Let this happen through enough sale cycles, and you'll find that your wardrobe is full of beautiful and interesting pieces - but with hardly a matching partner for them in sight. And that's when you end up flailing your hands up in frustration, pronouncing you have nothing to wear.
The great thing is, once you realize these patterns, you will become more conscious of your shopping choices and begin to think of your purchases as parts of an integrated whole wardrobe. Like I said before, there is room for those beautiful and unique finds, and you don't need to feel that you'll never get a chance to wear them. You can and absolutely should - it'll make you feel good to work those special pieces into your days and project a look that you're completely confident and happy to sport. You just need to make sure you have your wardrobe essentials that will 1). on their own form functional and still stylish looks; and 2). serve as building blocks, or anchors, for outfits spotlighting that fantastic fur vest or textured tweedy mini.
I won't promise that it will all come together in a snap; personal style is constantly evolving based on your lifestyle and wardrobe needs. However, there are some things that just always seem to work for you, and which you find you reach for most often. Think about your life - are you a student or are you working, or maybe a combination of both? What kind of environments do you work in, and what are their dress codes? What kind of recreational activities are you involved in? Do you frequent nightclubs or are you there just occasionally? And so on. The answers to these questions will help form the framework of what you'll need in each situation. From there, you can build working wardrobes comprised of the key pieces, plus a few extras to add your own unique stamp.
There are great tools we can use to help us keep track of our likes and needs. Pinterest is a great one - you can create a board for any collection you're thinking of - I'm thinking work clothes, going-out clothes, casual wear, evening wear, you name it! While you're at it, why not start a board to pin your essentials - the workhorses that'll get you through any situation and which play happily with your fun finds. Track what you like and what you end up buying, and also track what you end up wearing the most - you'll start to see trends that will help you build your wardrobe so that it works for you, and not the other way around!
For me, my essentials are the following (here comes the list making, finally!):
I work in a 9-5 office setting, where the dress code is officially 'business casual,' which in reality can run the gamut in what is considered acceptable. I try to dress on the 'dressier' end of business casual - I don't need to wear a full suit to work every day, but I try to keep my look clean cut, simple, and pressed. This means tailored trousers or pants made with good, substantial material, pencil or A-line skirts (always at the knee or just above), and for tops - simple sweaters that fit well, or pretty tops paired with a cardigan or blazer.
For casual wear, I have more leeway to express my style, which actually doesn't veer too much from my work clothes in theme - again, I try to keep it simple and polished. My tops function for both work and casual settings, and I usually end up swapping out the trousers or skirts for great jeans. This means my clothes can often do double duty so they get more wear, which makes me feel good and that their purchase was justified!
Here is a list of my essential items:
1. Well-fitting pants
My favorites are slim-legged black trousers for work, and skinny leg black jeans for casual wear.
I'm currently on the hunt for slim/straight legged dark rinse jeans, and a pair of boyfriend-cut jeans that doesn't make me look stunted or sloppy :-P
2. Versatile silk tops
Silk feels amazing against your skin, is a great insulating layer in the winter, and instantly adds polish to your look. I find myself reaching most for my printed sleeveless tops, and my ivory Equipment and Rag & Bone blouses I scored off of eBay! I wear them on their own, or layered under a cardigan, blazer, or V-neck sweater, all year round.
Currently hunting for burgundy and navy silk blouses :-)
3. Plain colored sweaters
I like them best in merino wool with a V-neck. My MVPs are my gray V-neck, and plain black sweaters, both round and V-necks. I can't get enough of them - layered on top of a collared blouse or printed top, underneath a blazer for warmth, on their own with jeans or printed pants. I probably wear a black sweater 1-2 times per week.
Also in this category are cardigans - a more relaxed version of blazers. I'm always reaching for my plain black and deep blue cardigans in colder weather, and my lightweight camel and mustard ones in warmer weather.
4. Blazers
I realize this sounds nebulous, and this is for a good reason. I can't just stick to one type of blazer - I love them and the crisp sharpness they add to any outfit :) Since the rest of my essentials are fairly basic, I can play more with my blazers. My favorites are my black and white tweed, my mustard wool-blend, my black menswear-inspired blazer that doubles as outerwear, and my gray wrinkle-resistant poly-blend that travels like a dream. My cream colored cotton blazer is great for the spring and summer.
Looking for a deep olive-green wool blend, and a sharp black tuxedo to round out the collection.
5. Great outerwear
It's the first garment that'll be noticed when worn, and makes the greatest impact. Blazers can multi-task as outerwear for mild weather, so that helps keep the actual coats and jackets needed to a minimum. I'm still working on getting my essentials down for this category. I've narrowed it to the following:
-Camel coat, double breasted and past the knees, with a belt and generous lapels. Still looking for this, maybe I'll get lucky with a Max Mara? We can hope!
-Tweed, single breasted, past the hip, cozy cocoon-ish shape. I'm anxiously awaiting my Madewell/Sézane collab I just scored for nearly 70% off - I'll do a post once I receive it!
-Leather jacket, black, moto-inspired - Sézane's Joplin is my ideal. Again, on the wish list to save for! Currently in my closet is a caramel Chloé - I got this on consignment for a steal, and can't wait to break it out from spring through fall.
-Black down coat, hooded, past the knees - My current coat just reaches my knees, has a cozy pillow collar, and is something I can't live without on the coldest winter days. It's a keeper, and if I can get one with a hood and that reaches past my knees, that would be amazing.
-Black wool coat, double breasted/trench style, past the knees - can't go wrong with this staple. On the hunt for this one!
-Lightweight military-inspired olive green jacket - My Elizabeth and James is not leaving my closet anytime soon :)
-Spring through fall trench - I found a great one by Vanessa Bruno with a pretty, slightly flared bottom. I'm looking forward to breaking it out again when it gets warmer!
6. Layering tees
White linen tees for spring and summer, black V and round necks all year round, slouchy navy and blush linen, and the softest olive green from Vince are my staples. The foundation for a myriad of outfits - always in heavy rotation.
7. Black tights
My favorites are from New York and Company. They have a great slimming effect at the tummy, are jet-black opaque, and the material is the best - satiny smooth, never snags, runs, or gets loose. They are like anchors - I can always count on them under skirts and dress, and add extra warmth under pants. I make a point to pick up a pair or two whenever I'm at the Gallery in Philly.
Fleece-lined tights are the best in the winter, too. So cozy, soft, and warm!
8. Scarves
On constant rotation are my leopard print, my orange floral, and my navy Alexander McQueen. Scarves can multi-task like no other accessory, use them often to add punch to pretty much any outfit :)
I had a lot of fun making this list, and hope it was helpful for anyone who's looking to clean up their closet (hello, spring cleaning! Just around the corner), loves clothes, and/or loves lists too. I'll be sure to share my thoughts on the Madewell tweed coat once it arrives home. I'd also like to do a post on shoe staples to help with cutting down clutter and making sure your purchases actually get used, so please stay tuned for more!
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