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Please help me complete my list!

Astrid

Veteran

Scarlet's post about wanting a whole new wardrobe got me thinking about a minimalist wardrobe and my own style wishes.

I really like the idea of having a minimalist wardrobe! Even after my closet clean-up that left me with relatively few clothes I still wear mostly the same things over and over and I am completely comfortable with that. At the same time I feel like I have to do a lot more planning if I really want to achieve a minimalist wardrobe that's working for me. I really like all of the things I bought since YLF, but I could have been much more strategic in my approach. It would only be sensible to create sort of a 'battle plan', even more so because I'm working on a limited budget.

I know that a lot of people created lists some months ago and I borrowed the structure of my list from Aida and Una. I tried to use two color charts to explain my best colors, because I know that I look best in a cool summer palette. I used the colors from the list, but that doesn't mean I actually have them all in my wardrobe right now.

I have black with my 'don't wear colors', although I still wear black at the moment and my two most used skirts are black. But I know that black doesn't really suit me at all - it is too harsh in real life (it doesn't look as bad in the pictures) and I like other colors better. I want to try to reduce it as much as possible

The colors in #1 and #2 correspond to the numbers mentioned in the list. #3 is a polyvore collage I did some time ago and I think it condenses fairly well what I like.

Here's the list:

PRIMARY NEUTRALS: Dark navy (1), Medium Gray / (Dark) Taupe (2)

SECONDARY NEUTRALS: Cadet Blue / Soft Blue Gray / Soft White (1), Pewter (2)

MAIN COLORS: Plum (1), Dusty Teal / Light Navy / Medium Blue / Raspberry (2)

ACCENT COLORS: Deep Blue Green / Blue-ish Red / Watermelon (1)

DON'T WEAR COLORS: Warm colors, black

ELEMENTS OF LOVE:
A-line skirts
Full skirts
Cardigans
Dresses
Scarves
Tights
Belts
Flats
Waist definition
Knee-length
Clean lines
Colors
Abstract/geometric patterns
Solids
Silver

ASPIRATION ADJECTIVES:
simple
clean
elegant
feminine
fun
colorful
versatile
practical
comfortable
approachable
modern classic

Can you help me to refine this a little bit? If you have by chance some links about achieving a minimalist wardrobe, send them my way!

(I think I have to lose one of my fashion personas after rereading this - and I just did it!)

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Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I don't know if this helps or not, but in listing what I have I made a notation that the basic minimums in each category would be:

a light neutral, dark neutral and then a color or print

dressy and casual versions of each

summer and winter versions of each

So this would mean a total of 12 tops would techincally cover all bases. I have several times this many, but I'm not looking for a minimalist wardrobe, just a cohesive one

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, Mo! That definitely sounds sensible.

Kat

Veteran

Great question Astrid and good advice Mo. I am extremely interested in this idea and, while I'm afraid I don't have much to offer, I do want to say thanks for asking the question and I will follow with keen interest all feedback you receive.

Elly

Veteran

Hmm--- I think you need to figure out why you are drawn to the adjectives you are--- simply for aesthetic reasons, or are they something you want to portray about yourself to other people for some reason? If so, those reasons will help guide you in the direction you need to go.

I think because you have certain silhouettes you love (fuller skirts, scarves) and a color palette nailed down that it is possible to have both a fun/feminine side and a elegant side without looking like you have two disparate wardrobes.

I also think it is important to decide how different you want/need your looks to be. You are a student who works somewhere casual, so do you want to dress the same for your social life, work, and school, or do you feel the need to differentiate between a work look and a date look in a significant way? Also, make sure to leave room for those special occasions like interviews and weddings that don't play well with your everyday life clothing, but are still important to a functioning wardrobe.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the great input, Elly!

I'm not completely sure why I'm drawn to the adjectives I used, I think it may be both. I like clean and simple pieces for their aesthetic appeal, but I also like the message they convey. I simply don't like any fuss in my life and I'm all about organization and effectiveness, in every way. As for the 'elegant' - clean and simple pieces look always more elegant to me, so I think that would not be an antagonism (for me). I think it should be possible to combine this with a fun/feminine side. Maybe with color? If you look at the pics below you can maybe see what I think about when I say 'clean' looking. I think these are simple and elegant, but the colors are fun! So 'colorful' could be a good way to factor 'fun' into 'simple'. As for the approachable, maybe I want to portray myself in this way because I'm sometimes intimidated by the way other people dress and don't like it. I don't want to do the same to other people.

I don't think my looks have to be that different. I don't really need capsules and most of the time I dress in the morning and go from Uni to dinner with friends to the cinema to running errands et cetera without a stop at my flat. That's the reason I have 'versatile' and 'practical' on my list. What other people would describe as a casual style would probably be fairly dressy in my neck of the woods. Chances are that even for the time after Uni I won't be required to change my dressing habits much. I probably won't ever work in a (business) formal environment. But you're right, I have to remember the special occasions!

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Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Based on your list, one piece I would recommend would be your equivalent of the LBD. In your case it should probably be navy, since you love that colour. A versatile navy dress would provide an ideal canvas on which to highlight the scarves, boots, tights and other things you love, while still being exceedingly practical. For myself I would make that dress a sheath, since I've found the silhouette infinitely practical, but perhaps yours would have a bit of an a-line. Something you could both layer over tops or pop a cardigan/jacket over, though, would ensure maximum versatility in your minimalist wardrobe. And that piece could also serve as the basis for any special occasions you may have while still being relevant to your daily style.
Just a thought.

Have you tried breaking the list down by the type of garment you need? I.E. x tops, y bottoms (with a clear division between skirts and pants) etc?

Laurinda

Veteran

Here is a Navy/Gray/Lavender wardrobe.
Might be too formal, but might be a good starting point for switching in compatible choices:

http://theviviennefiles.blogsp.....ender.html

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, Michelle! I love your idea of a navy dress as one of the pieces on my list! It would have to be a-line, because I'm a pear and that's the silhouette I have the least problems with. I had a little black dress I really loved, but it's now too small anyway. A navy dress as a replacement sounds great!

I haven't broken the list down yet, I think this one here is more of a guide to my desired style and preferences. But I want to create a list like you mentioned, to make future shopping easier. I'll try to think about it tomorrow and I'll definitely post the other list for input!

Edit: Laurinda, thanks for the link, I'll have a look!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oooh, Astrid. I don't have any real advice, but I wanted to thank you for getting this discussion started. I would choose a very similar colour palette, though right now I have some black pieces that I won't be getting rid of just because they are so useful (a sheath dress and a flippy skirt and a pair of black jeans). Like you, I would prefer to make my main neutral a dark navy and would love to find a LND.

I don't see any contradiction between "simple" and "fun" and I agree that colour is one way to make a simple, classic outfit pop. Also, don't forget your smile, which is your best accessory! Your smile ALWAYS makes you approachable, and I believe with your hair, you will always look feminine.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, Suz! Didn't think about the hair and smile. I suppose my long curls are a statement of their own. And as long as I don't don the evil eye...

I hear you about the black pieces. I'm going to keep my two skirts for awhile, they are just too practical. But I'll definitely won't buy more black! Navy suits my coloring much better.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, how fun to read your list!! i love small wardrobes and wardrobe planning, it's great to see other people's thoughts and you learn so much!

a couple of ideas i've found useful - list your activities in a typical month (school, exercise, hiking, cinema, errands, etc.) to compare against your list. 'Would your list allow you to dress for all these activities? and the %'s should match, for example if you go to church every Sunday and to work every day and would need different looks for each activity, you would want to have 5 times more 'work' clothes than 'Sunday best' clothes (that's a crummy explanation but i hope it comes across????)

the same applies to seasons in your area. if you have 9 months of summer and 3 months of winter where you live, your wardrobe should be about 1/4 winter clothing and 3/4 summer appropriate.

as far as adding a fun, feminine touch to your looks you can add a lot to a simple look with hair and makeup. accessories also make much more of an impact with simpler outfits - for example pearl jewelry will read as much more feminine than an angular silver piece,round or almond toe pumps will seem more femme than pointy-toes ones, etc.

have fun! can't wait to see your ongoing thoughts on this, steph

Kate

Veteran

What a great thread with excellent advice! And I'm looking forward to seeing your list that Michelle suggested. (I am all about lists...) I love the idea of a navy dress, let the hunt begin! And be sure to spend some time browsing the blog that Laurinda linked to, she has lots of advice about small wardrobes, and even more examples to look at.

It seems like our aspiration adjectives and elements of love have a lot in common, though our color schemes are different. The biggest thing I've struggled with when not wearing jeans is making sure I have enough different neutrals that I can layer. I can only wear so many different shades of brown in one outfit, which pushes me to wear more colors! I still have a lot more black in my wardrobe than I would prefer (1 each of pants, tights, skirt, dress, and blazer), and I'm not sure if I'll ever completely get it out of my wardrobe. Granted, you also have more neutrals than I do, so maybe this won't be a problem for you.

I've also found that there are some parts of my wardrobe where I don't want to survive with the bare minimum. Mo's idea of tops is wonderful, but tops are my weakness. In my earlier YLF days I owned 64!!! I'm now down to 28. I could probably still be happy with 21 (three weeks worth). But I know from two semesters abroad that 10 is far too few for me. I can deal with a tiny collection of shoes, purses, and pants. But tops are a different story. For you it might be something else, perhaps scarves? Anyway, what I want to say is that if you find there are certain types of items where you crave variety you don't need to fight it!

I'm not sure what else I can add at this point. I think that the smaller you want your wardrobe to be, the more individualized the advice needs to be, and at the end of the day you'll have to figure out a lot on your own. What works wonderfully for someone else with a small wardrobe still might not work well for you. There's a lot of introspection involved, and some trial and error. But it's can still be fun!

Anonymous

Astrid, I applaud your efforts with your wardrobe. Small is probably the most difficult thing to do...like packing for a two week trip in a carry-on. It can certainly be done but required editing, discipline, and creativity. Please keep us updated about your progress and thoughts on this topic.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, I have no advice, but I will be watching this with interest, as it's something I need to do, too.

Just an aside, do you find it difficult to find your neutral colours in stores? Particularly taupe, cadet blue and blue grey? Those are good neutrals on me, too, but here, the stores are a sea of black clothes

Astrid

Veteran

mrseccentric, your explanation came across very well! The idea of having your type of clothing proportional to your activities seems logical. I don't know the degree to which this can be applied to my wardrobe, but I'll think about it. I mentioned it before, I don't really need big capsules in my life, maybe only the odd outfit for a special occasion. You're right about the seasons! I have four seasons here, but not a really long summer (we had almost none this year).

Kate, I already had a look at the blog and she really has some great ideas. I'm going to read some more, maybe I can use something in my planning. Great tip about having enough neutrals for layering. I'm not sure if this will be a problem, I think it depends on how many of my neutrals are available in the stores. And it's good of you to remind me of the fact that it doesn't have to be the barest minimum in each category. That's what I didn't like about some blog post about a minimalist wardrobe, this dogma of 'you are only allowed to have ... pieces of these'. I think it has to work for each person individually and you shouldn't lose the fun while doing it! I realize that I have to do most of the initial work myself, but since making lists and organizing is fun to me, I'm hopeful...

Joy, I'll keep you all up to date! It helps immensely to write things down anyway, I think it's a lot easier in the end when you write your thoughts out in the process.

BLady, I have some problems with this, yes. That's one of the reasons I still have black in my wardrobe, although it's also a bad habit from the past, I guess. I have less of a problem with navy and medium grey, but the colors you mentioned are hard to find. There's a lot of black here too!

I'm going to try myself on the list Michelle mentioned this afternoon and will post it here.

Astrid

Veteran

Okay, I tried myself on the list.

DRESSES

1 LND (fall/winter/spring, knee length)
1 Summerdress (color and or pattern)
1 Warm winterdress (in a neutral with pattern or a color)
1 Dressy dress (for special occasions)

SKIRTS

1 Solid light neutral color (spring/summer)
1 Patterned (spring/summer)
1 Solid dark neutral color (spring/summer/fall)

1 Solid dark neutral color (fall/winter, wool/tweed/velvet...)
1 Patterned (fall/winter, wool/tweed/velvet...)
1 Solid color (fall/winter, wool/tweed/velvet...)

1 Dressy skirt (for special occasions)

PANTS

1 Pair of Bootcut jeans
1 Pair of dress pants in a dark neutral color (fall/winter/spring)
1 Pair of solid light neutral shorts (spring/summer)

CARDIGANS

1 Solid dark neutral (shorter, with skirts)
1 Solid dark neutral (longer, with pants)
1 Solid light neutral (shorter, with skirts)
1 Solid color (shorter, with skirts)
1 Patterned (shorter, with skirts)

TOPS

4 Long sleeves (2 neutral solids, 2 color and or pattern)
2 Elbow length sleeves (color, pattern)

T-SHIRTS/SLEEVELESS TOPS

3 Dark neutral
3 Light neutral
3 Solid color
2 Longer tops for pants
... color and or pattern

BLOUSES

2 Long sleeves (solid neutral, color and or pattern)
2 Short sleeves (solid neutral, color and or pattern)

SWEATERS

2 Short knit sweaters for skirts (solid color, pattern)
1 Long knit sweater for pants

COATS

1 Warm winter coat (solid neutral or color, knee length)
1 Lightweight coat (solid neutral or color, knee length)

JACKETS

1 Blazer (fall/winter/spring, wool/tweed, solid neutral)
1 Lightweight jacket (spring/summer/fall, solid neutral/color)
1 Denim jacket (cropped, solid wash)
1 Dressy blazer
1 Waistcoat

SHOES

1 Boots (flats, neutral)
1 Booties (flats or small heel, different neutral or color)
1 Oxfords (small heel, different neutral or color)
2 Ballet flats (neutral, color)
1 Sandals (neutral or color)
1 Pumps (small heel, neutral)

BAGS

1 Everyday leather bag (neutral solid color)
1 Everyday leather bag (color, pattern ...)
1 Crossbody bag (small, solid neutral)
1 Canvas bag (spring/summer)
1 Bag for a special occasion

OTHER THINGS

1 One or two piece swimsuit
1 Cap/hat (to go with both coats)
1 Pair of gloves (to go with both coats)
4 Belts (for belting in the waist, solid dark neutral, solid light neutral, two colors)
Scarves
Tights
Jewelry

IN ADDITION:

Sleepwear, Loungewear, Underwear, Sportswear, Gear

Do you have any suggestions? I'm not really sure about some things. Would you change something, add something or leave something out?

Thanks for reading all of this!

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Wow! i'm 'on the go' today so i'll dig into this later - Wow!

just one little idea....i'm very picky about clothes, colors i like are hard to find, fit is a huge issue, etc. plus i'm very hard on clothing. i got to a point where my 'closet' was quite streamlined, it functioned well and i really enjoyed it- until -

one of my workhorses got a naughty stain on it and i didn't have a thing to use to replace it with!! for me, this let me know that i needed to have some 'padding' built into my wardrobe strategy in order for it to function at it's best and to avoid these type of emergencies.

Thank you so much Astrid for putting this here for all of us to learn from!!!! take care, steph

Kate

Veteran

It looks wonderful! The only thing I think might be missing is a purse for special occasions. The other thing I would pay attention to is how often you do laundry, and if you'll be able to make it until laundry day if you spill on one of your key items. For example, I only really need one pair of jeans, but I'm searching for another so that if I spill, sit in something, etc, I can still survive until laundry day. Other items (coats) just aren't worth duplicating for me, so if it gets dirty I need to clean it right away (luckily that rarely happens). This fits into mrseccentric's idea of wiggle room.

Also, how much of the capsule do you already have, and how much is a wish list? If you have a lot to get and need help prioritizing I'd be happy to help!

Scarlet

Veteran

Hi Astrid,

So I am not that good at the organized approach to fashion, but my impressions are this:

1.) I think you have a good eye for color. I would completely trust your instincts, and I think you can add a lot of interest to your wardrobe by exploring color. I also think you have a sharp eye for fit and I would trust that too.

2.) I love Michelle's suggestion of a dress. I have the impression you are more comfortable with a skirt than trousers, and a dress is just another variant of this silhouette. A dress that you can layer, or not, depending on the weather would be a great choice. Be sure you buy something that works with the lengths of your coat(s).

3.) I think you could extend your wardrobe by buying a couple of pieces with a great cut. My impression is that most of your pieces are pretty classic in style and you add interest through accessorizing and color. However, I think the sweater in your polyvore collage is a great example of what you could add to the mix. It has a neutral color but beautiful drape and texture. You could wear it with skirts or trousers, or even over a dress. A couple of pieces along those lines would be great for your wardrobe.

4.) I can't remember if you found a good winter coat. I think a parka with a slightly rough/military edge would look great on you and would compliment the femininity of your skirts. If you want something more tailored, keep an eye on Zara and an eye on Comptoir sales--they have good sale prices and BEAUTIFUL coats.

5.) I find at the end of the day the most important thing I must have is shoes. I must have the shoes that get me through the day and make the outfit. That is probably the area I would concentrate on first followed closely by coats. (I am not saying you don't have the right shoes--I don't know that. I am just saying that when it comes down to how to get dressed in the morning, shoes are critical.)

6.) For strict advice on a minimal wardrobe on a budget I recommend reading "a guide to elegance" (written originally in French, I think, but I read it in English). It is a little outdated, but there are still plenty of pearls of wisdom, and in any case it is an entertaining read.

Astrid

Veteran

Steph, I'll make sure to have some 'padding'! Good thought.

Kate, I'll add the purse. And another thing I just thought about, a waistcoat. I normally do my laundry on the weekend. Sometimes I skip one weekend and wait two weeks, but that's rather an exception. I still need to buy most of these pieces. I have some and some that will do for a while until I can buy a replacement. But most of this is a wish list. I would be glad to have help when it comes to prioritizing! My most important need at the moment is a warm winter coat.

Scarlet, thank you for your well-thought-out response!
I'm definitely more comfortable in skirts, I think my list shows this fairly well. You're right, I think a dress like Michelle mentioned should be one of my priorities, next to a coat. Thanks for reminding me to check dress and coat length!
And thanks so much for reminding me to look out for pieces with a great cut! I didn't notice this myself, but when I thought about I realized you're right. I don't know the reason why I tend to neglect cut a little, but I'll try to keep it in mind.
Now I have so many new things to consider, I think I have to write myself a little overview to take with me to shop, besides the list.
I haven't found a great coat yet, I'm still searching. Mainly for a warm winter coat. My lightweight coat is okay, although I would replace this one too if I found a fab alternative. I'll keep an eye on Zara and Comptoir!
I agree with the shoes. I don't have the perfect shoes for any category. But I have really fussy and wide feet, so shoe shopping is always a problem for me. I think this will be the most complicated category to fill!
Thanks for the book recommendation, do you mean this one? http://www.amazon.de/Guide-Ele.....0060757345 I'll have to order it in English, my French isn't that good. Yay for some entertaining new reading!

Scarlet

Veteran

Actually Astrid, given the weather I wonder if you don't need a puffer for a winter coat (a down jacket) if you have only one. Yes, that is the book I meant. Happy shopping

Astrid

Veteran

I thought about it. But I have to confess that I don't like the typical look of puffers all that much, even the ones that fulfill Angie's criteria. I very much prefer a plane outer fabric.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is so interesting. Thank you for posting here, Astrid. I've been scribbling away in a journal but will make it all public when I get a bit clearer on my thoughts; seeing your process has been helpful.

I, too, would like a minimal wardrobe. Maybe not QUITE as minimalist as it is now that I have cleaned the closet, but minimal!

Aida

Veteran

WOW you did a great job with both lists! It sounds like you've gotten some great advice. How does what you currently have in your closet measure up to your second list? Lots/few holes? Duplicates in certain areas?

louisea

This has been an interesting thread for me. I too envision a functional minimal wardrobe. I will be watching your journey closely as I start on my own

Refugee

Veteran

I am not necessarily looking for a minimalist wardrobe but am trying to be more organized in my journey and avoid orphans. I am working on a spreadsheet to help me with this. First I have a tab for each category. Within each category I have a list of items. I add items and details to each item as they occur to me. Then I also have 2 columns for each item. The first column is works for now. I check this column if I have something in my wardrobe that fulfills the requirements of the item but is lacking in some way. The second column is the perfect squee. This is for those items that I have that are exactly what I want right now. For example in the works for now column is my denim skirt. I like it and wear it but there are things about it that I would improve on. In the perfect squee column is my white button down. At this time, I have no need for it to be any different than it is.
Now all of these things can change and even the white button down may move to the OK for now column at some point. And I continue to add/delete/refine all of this but it is really helping me.

Elly

Veteran

I think everyone has added some great points to this thread and I too love to see what others are doing with minimalist wardrobes.

I do remember you saying that you live in a cold climate, so it may be worth it to add things like silk long underwear or a thicker tight or legging and extra gloves.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I think your list is really comprehensive, Astrid - you did a great job. I need to get on and do this myself (but here in the UK we are in the weird transition weather where it's chilly in the morning and hot by the mid-afternoon, it's all I can do to be comfortable at both ends of the day lol).

I echo what is said about shoes - when I started to try and work out outfits that worked (there are very few in my wardrobe at the moment) I found it was the shoes that were lacking. I bought two pairs of summer shoes which made a huge difference. I have fussy, tricky to fit feet too, and I think I just gave up as it was hard to find shoes. I'm glad I persevered, and now I'm doing it for autumn/winter, too!

If you have a small wardrobe, then things like scarves, gloves and jewellery are really important, too - they also make great gifts, so if someone is asking what you would like for your birthday, you could steer them in that direction, maybe?

Refugee - that's amazingly organised!

Astrid

Veteran

Suz, I'm looking forward to reading your take on this when you feel ready to post!

Thanks, Aida! I've got a lot of holes and not so many duplicates. So I'm not going to purge much, but fill the holes and replace some things. I'll have to look through my wardrobe again and decide if an item measures up to the different criteria and can be a part of the second list. I'll do that when I have more time and my whole wardrobe together again. I'm thinking about posting a version of the list were you can see the items.

louisea, good luck! I would love to see how other people do this!

Refugee, that's amazing. Perfectly organized - I'll think about adopting this!

Elly, a second pair of gloves wouldn't be uncalled-for, that's true. I left the categories like tights, underwear et cetera purposely vague, because I think that I'll have to buy these things as and when required.

Thanks, ButterflyLady! Yes, I'll try to show perseverance when it comes to shoes. You're right that I'll need good ones. I think I also realised that shoes are a category where I'll have to be ready to spend some money. I agree that scarves and jewelry are important in a small wardrobe - I didn't set boundaries for these items for this very reason! I'll have fun with this. And they are really perfect birthday gifts, I actually got most of my current real jewelry as a gift.