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Team wear... or keep for best...

Anonymous

Ingunn (hope you don't mind me using you as an example Ingunn) made a point on her pic perfect wiw yesterday, that resonated with me... she posted a picture of herself wearing an LBD and had styled it a couple of different ways saying the dress got worn regularly, I'm assuming for both day and evening wear. Now... as I don't posess an LBD (or whatever dark shade suits me) I always kind of assumed something like that would be strictly for evenings out and as such I would keep it in my wardrobe for if ever I got invited out (which rarely happens ). Now If I did that I'm guessing it would just languish in the back of my wardrobe only to be fetched out when needed for an unexpected night out and it's possible it may not fit anymore or it may be dated. So... should I get one and wear the heck out of it by styling it for day as well as night?
You see, I'm wondering if it would show signs of wear and tear more quickly, then if I did need it for a night out would it look past its best?
What do you do? Do you keep items just for special occasions or do you make them multi-task? If you make them multi task then I assume you would just purchase new more regularly. So tell me your thoughts.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Kristin L

Anonymous

I was brought up to keep things for best but YLF has given me permission to pull them out to mix with more casual items for everyday wear. I'm loving it. Even a LBD is going to get dated over time so why not wear it?

shedev

Veteran

Team wear. Besides becoming dated, you may change sizes or your preferences may change.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I wear my dressy things to work once in a while, but not in heavy rotation. For example, I may wear a basic pencil skirt once every other week but my LBD equivilant once every other month. I don't think I was doing that consciously so that it wouldn't wear out fast, but I guess it works out that way.

Anonymous

Interesting replies, thanks ladies.
Another thing I thought was that if one was to mix with the same people most of the time and then you all went on a night out wouldn't they think, 'oh she's got a dress on that we've seen loads of time before' ?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it depends on the level of formality we are talking about.

I have a few special occasion pieces that I rarely wear except for special occasions. A true cocktail dress would fit into that category. (I don't actually own one of those, but I do have a fancy skirt.)

But a simple going-out-to-dinner LBD (or similar) -- a sheath or a shift or a wrap -- is a good candidate for daily wear.

It depends on the cut and the fabrication, though. As well as on your style persona. As an elegant eclectic, you might choose a dress with more detailing than Ingunn's, which might make it more identifiable, less of a blank canvas. But without that detailing, it would not feel like "you."

I actually wear my own (very simple jersey) LBD more often for casual wear than for dressy! My life is casual. And the dress is easy to mix, as Ingunn shows. So I do it. As a result, the dress is pretty much worn out after two years of almost once per week wear. But big deal. I will get another one.

Anonymous

You are absoloutely right Suz, I do like a bit more detail and that would make it identifiable by people who regularly saw me. I think what I need is a dress or other garment for arguments sake, that I can wear for day wear, that I could grab for a dinner out. I never go to formal do's and have never posessed a cocktail dress or evening dress. God, I sound like flippin' Cinderella!
Anyway I'm guessing I need a morphing dress!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think to be a good morphing dress it might have to be a bit simpler than your natural taste would skew. You have to see it as a canvas for accessories. Not that it can't have any detailing. You can certainly do with some -- subtle trim, a few pleats or some ruching. It just can't scream "party dress." I find a simpler shape works best.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Sounds like you've found a wardrobe hole! I love your details, and think that Ingunn's and Ornella's layering of their LBDs might be an inspiration for you. Also, you might consider a skirt and blouse as a near-LBD.

The advantage of a simple, versatile piece is that it could go out to a formal "do" or even a funeral on short notice.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I don't often layer blouses under dresses (just doesn't feel like my style) but I do love to dress down my dresses by wearing capri leggings or jeans underneath, or denim jacket or cardigan on top, so I can make my wardrobe do double duty for work and MOTG.

jenanded

Veteran

Diane, I too am a bit of a Cinders and don't go out too much. I find my 'good' work clothes which I wear very regularly but also take quite good care of seem to last really well anyhow. So then when I do have a 'do' I will ramp them up with maybe a necklace/stockings/heels or whatever... I am not sure about you but I don't really travel in circles or probably personally care if someone thought I wore something twice... a good black dress/skirt/top or whatever is nice in whatever company. I notice many of the other women also do the same. However, on that note I did have a run of events last year so did buy a couple of more evening-y tops - lace, velvet and probably wouldn't mind with a bit of sparkle that I could wear under a wrap dress/under a black suit/ with a skirt... I have bought fancy things before and just didnt ever get the wear out of them.

Anonymous

Suz, yes I may have to go simpler than I usually do for a dress style in order for it to be versatile. Beth Ann separates is a possible anwer, thanks.
Natalie good ideas for MOTG. Jenanded I don't suppose my friends would mind if they recognised something I wear regularly, but I think it's me who would mind.
Beth Ann is right though it is a wardrobe hole that needs filling.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Diane, I'm honored to be your example here. You are spot on, my dress is used mainly for work and daily wear, and more rarely as party wear, as I am among those who hardly get invited out at all I bought the dress in February, and I splurged on it because I hope to wear it a lot, and for quite some time. It is a classic cut and with no details, and very easy to layer. I have worn it 5-6 times already. I also have another sheath, a little more dressy with lace on the skirt and a little shiny fabric, and it is not half as versatile. It cost less than 25% of what I gave for my new LBD, but over time, the cost per wear on my new dress will whittle down to almost nothing. I recommend to have one versatile dress that get a lot of wear above having a few dressier ones that only lingers in the closet.

Anonymous

Thank you for replying Ingunn. I agree that dressier items would really linger in my closet too. My reason for this post is that last Friday I went with hubby out for a meal with friends to celebrate his 50th and I didn't go very dressed up (with the exception of 2, my friends aren't overly dressy people). However 4 of us went to a snazzy wine bar afterwards on the spur of the moment and I felt all wrong, I wasnt quite dressy enough and it made me realise I needed a more vesatile piece for just such an occurance. If I don't get a dress I think at least I need a couple of separates that could be used for an impromptu night out with a bit of tweaking, stylewise or with accessories.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Yes, Diane, I understand perfectly what you mean. A versatile piece for such occasions is indispensable. I suggest either a very simple dress in a dark color you like (brighter are more difficult to accessorize, perhaps), or a neutral, dressy skirt and a pretty blouse/top. With separates, you have even more options to combine the two with other pieces, i.e. a dressy top + jeans could be fun on a casual event, or the skirt with a shirt instead etc. For me, the LBD was a noticeable hole, and I'm very happy to have it sorted out for now. I layer over, under, I wear with blazers, denim, leather, I can also wear a sweater or blouse on top, to make it look like a skirt. I suppose I could wear it every day for a month, at least, without repeating myself

Anonymous

I've no doubt you could Queen capsule! Ingunn

Thistle

Veteran

Wear, wear, wear!! The entire point of having clothes is to wear them, IMHO. If you can wear a LBD for daytime as well as evenng, do it.

Yes, you may wear it out more quickly. Then replace it. It means you got your money's worth out of it. A good quality dress you know you are going to wear is something you can spend more on. A higher quality garment will show less wear as well.

jayne

Veteran

I am not a wearer by nature, but a hoarder. YLF has me both purging regularly and wearing things much more often. I still reserve a few things for parties but I have a difference from before, I now wear them to casual parties also by pairing those with more casual items. So the wear is up.

Peri

Veteran

In theory, team wear. I really want a wardrobe that works like that and I have experienced saving things for the best and having them feel dated over the years but with not that much actual use.

But in reality...team save. My life is casual. I have about 5 dresses and there is no way I'd really be wearing them for anything but dressed up. Partly because of shoe issues but really just because it wouldn't fit my life. At least this is a very small part of my wardrobe.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I am on team wear. I have a couple of dresses that I can wear for dress-up and that I can also wear for work over leggings or tights. They are distinctive, too. One is the "pup-tent dress" here: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....tent-dress . It was new this winter, so I haven't worn it to work more than once yet, but it will get its wearing time, I'm sure.

The other is an above-knee sweater dress (smooth sweater fabric, not chunky knit) with a large scroll print in dark colors that I love (wine, forest green, brown, black, gray). I find I can wear it with several different cardigans or jackets for a different look, and it dresses up for holiday parties, too. I don't worry about people seeing me in the same thing repeatedly, because the occasions that I wear a dress are still rather few and far between.

I agree with Suz that fancy-dress occasions are another thing, but for the usual dinner or party or theater outing, I like the type of thing I've described here.

Anonymous

Thank you Thistle, Jayne, Peri and Firecracker. What interesting replies and plenty of ideas for me to try. I have had a history of team hoard or save and I want to break free from it. It's tricky to break old habits though I'm going to have a good try as it's such a waste. Firecracker thanks for the link, I remember that dress its so unusual and creative, very you.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Have a look aat these numbers, Diane, they might put this into perspective, too. The more essential it is to you, the more it should be worth. But this doesn't mean that you must splurge on a dress, on the contrary! If you plan to wear it very often, that might be a good idea, but if it is a new direction for you, it might be wise to test drive a cheaper version first.

Anonymous

Thanks Ingunn, I haven't had a chance to look at your other thread as I've been out. But the maths makes a lot of sense doesn't it? I like your idea of test driving a cheaper version. If I decided to make something I could try a cheaper fabric first also. I think I know what my homework is going to be, researching and a lot of adding up

Kristin L

Veteran

Very interesting question and discussion! Personally, I'm trying to break out of Team Keep for Best. I haven't quite figured out how to make a few items, like my black and navy dress, more casual for everyday.