I get a bee in my bonnet about obtaining certain wardrobe items. I hunt around for ages, often years, until the perfect option pops up. My hunts are vigorous when my need is time sensitive, but often they aren’t. I keep a mental list of the items in the back of my mind and even if they aren’t always at the top of my shopping list, I don’t forget about them. More often than not I eventually end up nabbing exactly what I want.

Here are recent examples of items I’ve crossed off my shopping list after a long wait:

• Flat black over the knee boots: I waited 2 years for these because my feet are fussy and my calves on the narrow side. Then my dream pair by Stuart Weitzman appeared at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I grabbed them at pre-selections before you could say Bobs your uncle. They are perfect in every way and I can see them becoming wardrobe work horses.
• Black Tuxedo jacket: I waited a year for a style with the tiniest bit of sheen, lots of stretch and the perfect fit. A cropped Theory tuxedo jacket called my name at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and I think I got the last one in my size. I’m going to wear it with everything – from Converse sneakers to cocktail dresses.
• Flat oxford shoes: I also waited over a year before getting these because none of the available oxfords satisfied my need for comfortable fast walking shoes. That is, until the Fitzwell Justice beauties came my way. I already want to wear them with everything.

I’m an impatient person my nature, but I am patient when it comes to filling the gaps in my wardrobe with the right item. As desperate as I was for the perfect tuxedo jacket last year – I just had to do without because nothing was quite right. Now I’ll be making up for lost time.

It does take discipline though. Sometimes it feels like the clock is ticking on that latest trend and the pressure is on to be a part of it. But this doesn’t change the fact that clothes are expensive and when an item isn’t perfect, it isn’t worth it. One compromise leads to another and pretty soon you have a wardrobe full of mediocre items, or even orphans.

Are you patient when it comes to finding the right items for your wardrobe? How long will you wait before you lose interest?

By Greg.

The tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has found its way into fashion. In a highly controversial photo shoot, Italian Vogue is using the disaster as the backdrop to a dark feature that appears in the August issue.

Personally, I find the images disturbing. Especially the reference to affected wildlife with model Kristen McMenamy wearing feathers and posing like a stricken animal on an oily beach. But disturbing is the point. From Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief, Franca Sozzani:

“In the face of this dramatic, catastrophic stalling, the images of Steven Meisel make up a precious reportage that delivers an artistic impact. Unforgettable images, created purposely to unnerve the viewer, capture the reality of the situation.”

The shoot has generated an enormous amount of commentary, drawing attention to the spill and its impact. And drawing attention to Vogue of course.

Reaction is quite divided. Many people think the feature is inappropriate and exploitative, while others see it as an environmental statement that is bringing attention to the disaster. Sozzani and McMenamy have both defended the shoot by saying that it sends a message to take better care of nature.

What do you think, education or exploitation?

Bodysuits were everywhere in the early and mid 90’s. I had several and one of them looked identical to the lace bodysuit below, but in black. I wore it with a black camisole, Levis 501s and biker boots.

In keeping with the 90’s fashion revival, bodysuits have been making a comeback. But the trend is very, very fringe – which might be a good thing. When I wore bodysuits, even though my top stayed neatly tucked into my bottoms, I plucked at my knickers all day long. I also fussed with the press studs down below each time I went to the loo. Some of the bodysuit styles were so high cut on the leg that baring hip skin when you sat down was inevitable.

So I’m saying no thank you to permanent wedgies, exposed hip skin and extra fumbling in the loo. How say you?

No matter how on top of your wardrobe you are, there are some gaps that never seem to go away. But these gaps are not always about what you need. Sometimes they are more about what you want. Either way, you just can’t seem to get enough of the item.

Here are examples of both from my wardrobe:

• Need: I just can’t get enough knitwear. I live in a climate where we wear knitwear a good nine months of the year, and I’m always cold. But my allergic reactions to wool are no fun, and it’s hard to find fabulous knitwear that’s warm but does not itch. I also won’t pay a premium price for knitwear because it ends up pilling most of the time anyway. It would also be really nice to get knitwear in a few more colours — I’m sick of grey and black knitwear and have reached the stage where I do not want to purchase any more, even though I actually need it.
• Want: I just can’t get enough handbags: I have far too many of these wonderful accessories, but I’m not counting. At least I’m quite strict about getting rid of an old one when a new one comes into my closet. I’m emotional and irrational about handbags and I always want more.

Over to you. What items can you just not get enough of, and are they “wants” or “needs”?

By the way, I bopped in my chair to this song while I was writing the above. There is NOTHING like good 80’s music accompanied by a corny video. It might be a strange love, but I also just can’t seem to get enough of Depeche Mode.