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Ask Angie: How do I keep from going overboard when I embrace a trend?

nancylee

Veteran

Ever since I joined Team Midi this past weekend, I've become obsessed with finding more midis to stock my closet.....but I'm also a little wary. In the past, I've tended to go overboard (and then overbuy) when I embrace a new trend, and I don't want to end up with a closet full of too much of the same (or similar) things. On the other hand, stocking up can be a good thing.

FWIW, I also do this when I find a silhouette or shape that looks good on me. I immediately stock up on more of the same or similar items since I know they will "work" for me. In the case of my new VC midi skirt, t's both a trend I'm embracing and a shape that flatters, so I'm feeling a doubly strong impulse to buy!

Is this reasonable behavior for building a curated closet--or is it maybe a little obsessive? Do you follow any guidelines yourself?

Shopping

17 replies

Latest reply was from mrseccentric

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Not Angie, but I used to do this, too. I have found both having a budget and limiting the number of similar purchases go hand in hand. If you want to get super strict about it, you could limit yourself to a light neutral, dark neutral and then a color or pattern in any one common silhouette. So, if I want flowy blouses I might get a light dusty rose, a black, and then a red and white geometric print and then call it quits. Would I want more? Probably. Would I need more to incorporate the trend? Probably not.
So, when I open the closet 2 years from now and decide flowy blouses are not me anymore, I don't have 10 to purge.

nancylee

Veteran

That is excellent and well-reasoned advice, Mo. I've had that crummy experience of opening my closet to find 10 of something that is suddenly out of fashion (I'm thinking of empire-cut tops!) that I have to purge and replace.

bj1111

Veteran

first start with a cheapo version. if i like it, i look for the best one that i can find. in the process, i figure out if i really want it for the long haul...ie it is part of my style identity (like asymmetric sweaters) or if it's a flash in the pan (i'm looking at you, lace top).

even with this, i still struggle with not duplicating...because when i'm looking, i find very nearly perfect ones that i wind up getting (oh yes, you colored coated leather look pants).

Carole

Veteran

I could have asked the same question, Nancylee. I do the same thing. I love Mo's answer, I have debated about establishing a budget, but until then I like the light neutral, dark neutral and one color or pattern idea. A very organiized and resonable plan to live with.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Another good point by bj, is it part of your style identity (like Cocolion with her colored denim). For me, one pair of red zippered moto jeans was enough in the colored denim. I already had black skinnies and white straight legs. Once again, light neutral, dark neutral, color. Done!
But for Denise this would barely scratch the surface

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Just wrote a response that disappeared into the ether.

Great question, Nancy - and great advice, Malina.

Not that I'm very good at taking it. I just bought 3 pair of wedge sandals in 2 weeks! Yes, I like the wedge. Yes, I needed footwear. But I don't think I bought mindfully enough. I bought several that really serve the same purpose and now I feel as if I still need a few more pairs! Argh!!!!

I guess another way to look at it would be in terms of capsules. If you will wear a midi skirt like this more than once per week for multiple seasons, then perhaps you need more than 2. If not, well....maybe it's overkill. But that depends on how large a wardrobe you want, as well.

I find I always get torn between my desire for a relatively but not totally strict minimalist wardrobe and my LOVE for something I LOVE. It is hard not to want to duplicate what's perfect. And sometimes it does make sense. I couldn't make do with only one or two pairs of jeans. I'm really glad I have skinnies, straight legs, and boot cuts, and glad to own my new white jeans for a change. I may not wear all pairs each week, but I wear each of them enough to warrant the expense.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I'm sometimes guilty of this too, Nancylee. I'm a creature of habit, for one thing, and being very short leads to fit challenges, so when I find something that really works, I've got a tendency to want to buy more and hoard. Which then leads to having multiple items that either (a) I'm totally bored of, or (b) have gone out of style.

There is one thing that has really helped me. I now buy a garment with the clear intention of wearing it for no more than five years, and probably more like two or three. This has freed me to wear something and not worry too much if it gets worn out. In fact, my goal IS to wear it out. I have learned that few things annoy me more than having items that I used to love, that are still in good condition, but which I cannot wear or do not want to wear anymore!

I still take good care of my clothes, but I finally (belatedly?) understand that most garments are not intended to last for my whole lifetime. Styles change, and so will my face and figure, as well as my tastes and preferences. It's nice to be able to purchase new clothes without guilt, because the old ones have been worn frequently and enjoyed until they are not longer wearable.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is all great advice

Nancy, you really have to road test your looks for a while too. Don't go out buying up duplicates *yet*. SYC!

I was wearing midis (flared and pencil) before they were trendy, and will continue to do so when they aren't the hottest thing either. To my eye, they are a classic. If you love them - buy them and wear them.

I think the very important thing to do right now is buy up the colour. THAT I see disappearing.

catgirl

Veteran

I've done this too. Joe's Jeans bootcuts in triplicate with different washes (though I wear all of them and have no other bootcut jeans). Tons of orange-red items. Black boots galore. Current obsession with newly discovered silky buttondowns.

I think the key is to remember when such stocking up has worked to your benefit (things you've always loved and are dear to your heart over time - for me, slouchy pants, emerald, cropped tops), especially with items that are not always easy to find, vs. when it has resulted in wastefulness (crewneck cardigan overload, anyone?).

It's hardest when you find something totally new to you. For me, it's the button-downs. For you, the midis. Hard to resist!

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I don't have anything to add but i just wanted to say thanks for asking this i found the responses very useful!

nancylee

Veteran

I'm so glad I posted this question. Your responses are so insightful and full of sound advice. It's also good to know I'm not the only one who struggles with this.

Mo, your formula of going for three trend items at a time is such a great rule of thumb. And your added insight about considering whether the item is an integral part of your style identity is so helpful. Right now, it's too soon to know if midis are going to play a large role in my wardrobe, so it doesn't make sense to buy lots of them.

"It is hard not to want to duplicate what's perfect." Suz, you expressed the dilemma perfectly (maybe you should consider being a writer..haha!). It definitely makes sense to consider how much of a role the new items will play in your wardrobe. Perfect-fitting jeans are worth it in duplicate...other items, maybe not.

Elisabeth, like you I am slooowly coming to realize and accept that a wardrobe is never "done." So much of what you posted really resonated with me. I'm going to try to apply more of the smart insights you shared to my purchases going forward.

Angie, it's good to know you consider midis a classic look. And I plan to follow your advice and see how they work with my wardrobe right now before adding any more. Maybe by fall I'll have a better feel for how much midis will factor into my look.

Una and Nicole, it's good to know I'm not alone in this. Una, great suggestion. I can recall plenty of times when buying in multiples worked in my favor (Paige Hidden Hills denim...four pair and I wear them all the time) and many more when it didn't (arggh...cardigans!).

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to try to sit on my hands and just wear the midis I own for now. My bank account and my already-full closet thank you.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

This is a great discussion. I found another breezy, floaty, summer top today (of course I was just going to the store to make a return!). My style is definitely shifting away from the pile of close-fitting tees and bootcut jeans that were my summer uniform a couple of years ago. I'm putting the brakes on any more summer top purchases because I think I'm fully stocked now with more than enough options to keep me from getting bored, but it's tough to stop when you connect with a particular style.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

"It's tough to stop when you connect with a particular style."

Exactly - and especially, maybe, if it's new to you. Or if you fear it's going to disappear from the stores.

Elisabeth, I really liked what you said, as well. I think in the back of my mind I still have this idea that I'll buy my wardrobe and it will be "done" (for at least a few years). That's certainly what my husband thinks, LOL! But it isn't going to be that way and there's no need to buy as if it were.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Just wanted to chime in and thank Nancy for this thread. Great responses all round! So very helpful.

catgirl

Veteran

One more to add. Long boyfriend cardis. Why? Did I get three of them? Sigh.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Great question, Nancy. I am so bad at this. I totally jump on trends and tend to duplicate in multiple colors. Last fall I bought two sweater ponchos in purple and orange, and almost bought a third (glad I held off). That's how I ended up with so many pairs of cashmere sweaters and colored denim too. I stocked up on floral bias cut skirts in the 90's/2000's and now they're out, so I am worried that my wardrobe will end up dated in 5-10 years.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

uh oh. Natalie, you make a very important point!

"...and now they're out, so I am worried that my wardrobe will end up dated in 5-10 years."

ANY wardrobe will be dated in 5 years if you don't add anything new to it! It is in the nature of fashion to change, and none of us can see the future. No matter how on trend, classic, or futuristic your wardrobe is at any point in time, 5 years from that point it's not going to look fresh. (Not to mention the wear and tear on the clothing.)

It's vital to keep this in mind, and not overbuy in the present so that you have no 'room' left in the future to add current/fresh/new to you pieces. If you just keep wearing the same stuff for decades on end you'll look dated and feel bored and stale.

That's why i like to count my clothing and get a rough idea of how many different outfits i can make for summer or winter or whatever. Then i can see if i'll actually have a nice amount of variety, if i have some big gaping holes, and what it is i could use.

Great thread and good luck to us all! steph