Thoughts on Packing My Wardrobe

While our loft is being remodelled we have moved into temporary accommodation in the same building. This meant moving my clothing, footwear, and accessories to the temporary unit. It was quite the slog. But we’re fabulously settled into the temporary unit, and are here till about July. 

It was cathartic and enjoyable to pack up and move my entire wardrobe. Here are some thoughts about the process.

Regular Editing Pays Off

I regularly edit my wardrobe, so there was nothing to pass on as I packed. This streamlined the process. Every wardrobe item is loved, and has its place in my life. Three pairs of shoes and jeans are on their way out, but I’m hanging onto them until I can find replacements.

Organized and Neat Storage Pays Off

Every wardrobe item is neatly folded, hung, and stored in a designated and easy-to-reach spot. This made it easy to pack items into gigantic reusable moving bags. I have a small jewellery collection, which I keep in a Chinese wooden box on the bedside table. It was simple to move it to our temporary accommodation.

Item Appreciation

As I packed each item I was filled with gratitude and appreciation for my fab-for-me wardrobe. I feel fortunate to have a functional wardrobe that fulfills my needs, prevents boredom, and makes me happy. I enjoyed seeing how old, and very old wardrobe items are keeping up with the momentum of the new.

More Items Than Expected

You don’t think you have as much as you do until you need to pack it up and move it out. Despite my moderately sized and well-edited wardrobe, I was surprised at how many moving bags it filled. At times I thought, I am never shopping again. On that note, I intend to shop very minimally, if at all during our remodel. 

Four Seasons at Once

The weather in Seattle from March to July is variable. It can be damp, grey, icy cold, very wet, and awfully windy. It can also be gorgeously mild, sunny, and hot from time to time. That’s why I packed all my clothing and wardrobe basics, which includes occasion wear and every item of outerwear. I don’t want to be caught off guard needing to purchase something because I put it into storage. To me, that is a waste of time, effort and money. It’s best to have it all with me, and that’s that. That said, I put 30% of my footwear capsule, and 60% of my handbag capsule into storage. I can live without some of my shoes for four months, and need ten out of my twenty-four bags to feel great in daily outfits.

These are the bags I’ll be sporting until we move back into our loft in July. They are currently packed on a shelf by the front door, ready to grab and complement my outfit of the day.

Moved Bags

We also moved Greg’s entire wardrobe, and put some of his shoes into storage with mine. With a bit of planning and forethought, we managed to store and organize our wardrobes extremely well in our temporary unit. Now we have four months to recover from the move before we move everything back into our newly remodelled loft.

Outfit Formula: Denim on Denim

Denim on denim is on-trend. Sometimes the denim top and bottom are broken up with a layering top, or mixed-media trim on the denim. Wearing the same denim wash on the top and bottom without the break of a layering top is especially fashionable, and in some silhouettes fashion-forward. 

This collection shows some examples.

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AGOLDE Wayne Jacket
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AGOLDE Charli Vest
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COS
Oversized Denim Jacket
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If you like the look, here are four specific ways to wear it.

1. Blue and Black

A denim shirt in a mid-blue wash is combined with faded black wide leg cargo jeans. I like how the white buttons of the shirt add visual interest to the outfit. It’s worn over the jeans like a tunic. A black complement of boots, bag, and cap are the finishing touch

Blue and Black

2. Co-ord

A denim top and bottom can be made of exactly the same denim to create a perfectly matching co-ordinate. You can see the suited effect here in textured light wash denim. Wide crops on the bottom, and a boxy denim jacket up top. The jacket is worn like a top for a jumpsuit effect. Dressy white sandals match the white in the textured pattern and add a glam touch.

Co-ord

3. Broken Up

Here, a dark denim oversized jacket is worn with dark denim oversized lantern jeans. The two are a slightly different wash, as well as broken up by a patterned white layering tee. The jeans have a pattern on the one leg too, all of which break up the expanse of the denim. White sneakers match the top, while their gum soles bookend the hair of the model.

Broken Up

4. Accessorized

This version of denim on denim is accessorized with a tan belt that matches tan footwear, and a mismatched lilac bag. These additions break up the expanse of the denim. A neck scarf would do the same. The on-trend silhouettes of choice are super wide leg jeans and a short boxy denim jacket. Both are the same faded blue denim. Adding statement jewellery would further break up the expanse of denim.

Accessorized

I like denim on denim, and especially outfits 2 and 4. I fancy wearing the same denim wash on the top and bottom, and would wear a perfectly matching denim co-ord in a heartbeat. Either in blue, white, or a non-neutral denim. In fact, I can put the look together by shopping my closet. Coincidentally, my shocking pink jeans are an almost identical match with my shocking pink denim jacket. I can create a co-ord with a well-matched dark blue denim too. I’m excited!

Link Love: Mood-Boosting Brights

I’ve been catching up with Alyson Walsh’s on That’s Not My Age, and found these articles on colourful dressing and make-up uplifting and inspiring. The comments section is always worth a read too.

Older and Bolder. The Mood-Boosting Benefits of Wearing Bright Clothes.

How to Wear Red Lipstick (at Every Age).

This conversation with Rene Macdonald, founder of fashion label Lisou London, on her love for bold patterns and colours.

Fab Links from Our Members

Aloha Emily enjoyed this post on Iris Apfel fans who love rainbow dressing. She adds: “The more I work with Angie, the more I have confidence to wear the brights I love!”

Nuancedream thought this post was funny and pretty truthful: “The description of ‘cozy fit’ is priceless.”

As someone who loves to wear all sorts of fun pants and jeans — dressy bottoms are a fave! — Angie much relates to the trend that trousers are now the main event: “To me, they are elegant, practical and covered! That said, I’m as much of a dress fan.”

If you haven’t seen the movie “Air” yet, Angie highly recommends it: “It’s the true tale about Nike and Michael Jordan, way before Nike was as big as it is now. Rivals Adidas and Converse are hot on their heels. The Air Jordan is born! It’s a story of greatness in every way, and changed the world for the better. Michael Jordan’s mother plays a crucial part in all of this. ‘80s fans like me will enjoy the era and year in which it is set. Must see!”

L’Abeille directs us to Derek Guy’s post about the difference between a sport coat and a blazer.

Roberta recommends this thoughtful examination of garments and our emotional connection to some of them, and how we can approach our wardrobe with our emotions in addition to limiting our acquisition. She thought the comments were equally interesting.

Roundups

Simpler Items

This week's list of top picks list is about basic pieces.

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Assorted Items

Items for Summer, both in and out of air conditioning.

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Casual Summer Vibes

This week's top picks are good for a casual Summer vibe.

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Summery Earth Tones

These items are for those who like to wear casual earth tones in warm and hot weather.

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Hints of Spring

Some tried-and-tested winning items to refresh your style for Spring.

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Dressier Items

An assortment of dressier top picks might be just what the doctor ordered.

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Wonderful White Bottoms For All

Wear white bottoms because you like their crisp, bright, graphic, fresh, and modern integrity. They aren’t as streamlined and elongating as their dark counterparts, but there is more to being happy in an outfit than looking narrow and tall. 

Fab in White Bottoms

Wearing nude-for-you undies underneath white bottoms creates an opaque effect. Make sure that pocket linings don’t grin though to the fronts of the bottoms too obviously. A roomier silhouette or pocketless style will prevent pockets from grinning.

If optical white bottoms are too crisp and stark, choose a warmer cream, ecru or tan. A cool-toned pale grey or light blue wash also works as “your white.” White jeans are dressier than faded blue, and white skirts can work instead of pants and jeans.

Leopard and Hot Pink for Spring

A new outfit from Sabra of My Style Is My Brand, whom we introduced to YLF in May 2022.

Sabra has tucked a hot pink bodysuit into very slouchy, oversized high-rise jeans with trendy extra broad stitched-down cuffs. She dresses up this casual denim look with a hip-length navy pinstripe gilet that she created by removing the sleeves from a men’s thrifted blazer. A leopard print belt tempers the volume of the jeans. The warm-toned pattern is repeated in our blogger’s unique wool felt hat. Hard-edge black monk-strap shoes ground the outfit. She piles on the jewellery with statement triple circle dangly earrings, a lariat necklace, metallic bracelets and a big emerald cocktail ring. The green is repeated in playful argyle socks. Oversized specs with tortoise-shell rim cleverly match the belt and hat, while Sabra’s lipstick matches the body-con top. Finally a self-patterned clutch in a darker pink echoes the colour of the top.

Sabra - 1

Sabra - 2