https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:56:40 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1319710 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 06:51:28 +0000 Alana in Canada 1319710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gigi--thank you so much for telling me that! It is so hard to be patient--but I did three things today which should help: 1) I sat down and took a good hard look at our finances for the next couple of months. (September is always bad) </p> <p>2) I looked at a ton of examples of capsule wardrobes this evening (30 outfits from 20 pieces, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://greaterthanrubies.net/summer-remix-challenge-pieces-link-up/">start here</a> and 3) analysed my own summer wardrobe capsule.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1319698 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 05:36:21 +0000 Gigi 1319698@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Alana, when I first started on YLF, I bought a lot of things that I shouldn't have for the reason you state: my choices felt very limited due to sizing issues. I am a very small petite size, and most garments have me swimming in fabric. So when I first started shopping, if I found something that fit me (!) and that I liked pretty well,&nbsp;I would duplicate. Well, some months later, I found that slowly but surely, I was finding other clothes that fit, and I was also finding that other silhouettes, styles, and colors were interesting to me.&nbsp;If I would have to do it over again, I would not have duplicated my earliest purchases. There wasn't a single duplication that was truly a good choice aside from the two t-shirts that I got, one in white and one in red. All the other duplicates have gone to consignment. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1319472 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 00:22:01 +0000 Alana in Canada 1319472@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Christie-Anne. I am just anxious because I am excited (new clothes!) and worried because&nbsp;as a plus size,&nbsp;my choices feel quite limited.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1319445 Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:44:20 +0000 christieanne 1319445@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I understand now. My feeling is that since you are creating a capsule that will be worn just a few times a week (days off, after work) then duplicates are not needed. And black slacks are just about the easiest thing to buy year round. I would look at adding another bottom choice as needed when fall hits. Until then, work with what you have. Maybe the other bottom is a pair of black jeans or ink blue bottoms?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1319424 Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:24:30 +0000 Alana in Canada 1319424@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great advice, Kate. When I say I have two pairs of pants for fall/winter--I mean I have two pairs of pants! I suppose we could include my white NYDJ jeans--but I don't know how I feel about wearing white in winter--especially as our winters are so filthy, cuff wise. I do have a lighter weight peg leg denim--but they won't be warm enough come mid-October. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1319347 Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:48:29 +0000 Kate 1319347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Alana, I think whether they are too similar for you depends on what you want your options to be. &nbsp;Of your 3 pants, you've got one pair of jeans and the charcoal pair. &nbsp;What else do you currently have? &nbsp;What else do you want to have? &nbsp;If you aren't certain of what the third pair should be, and have enough bottoms to get you through a couple weeks of autumn weather, I would hold off on purchasing more pants until you are certain what type of pants you want to add to your wardrobe. &nbsp;A lot of the learning process for a minimal wardrobe&nbsp;happens through experimentation and lived experience.<br />&nbsp;<br />Also, if you own pants that you don't love but are a decent color and fabric, they can very easily be made narrower and/or shorter to try out different options. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1319017 Wed, 30 Jul 2014 16:07:15 +0000 Alana in Canada 1319017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Christieanne--good question. I work at a retail store where casual rules the day (as well as a big ol' orange apron, lol!) so this capsule is for my "at home" and "Mom on the go" wardrobe. This wardrobe does not need to be all that big. Currently, it consists of these two new pieces, a pair of jeans,&nbsp;a few turtlenecks and two very old cardigans (both navy).&nbsp;</p> <p>Katie--I am glad you figured out hat doesn't work for you. But,&nbsp;now I am more confused than ever. To my eye (which is as yet quite uneducated in these things) you have planned two similiar&nbsp;silhouettes for your bottoms. Straight leg (2) and skinnies (4). In the skinnies you plan to have blck, denim, plum, and brown. Depending on their tones, the brown and black or the jeans and the black could read as similar, just as my charcoal and the black (that got away) do.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1318736 Wed, 30 Jul 2014 10:38:54 +0000 Kate 1318736@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also think it's good that you let these pants "get away". &nbsp;I&nbsp;try not to duplicate both style and color at the same time. &nbsp;My ideal&nbsp;pants collection is 1 pair each of: <ol> <li>skinny jeans</li> <li>straight leg jeans</li> <li>black skinnies</li> <li>black straight leg suit pants</li> <li>brown skinnies</li> <li>plum skinnies</li> </ol> When it's cold, my outfit of choice is skinnies tucked into knee high boots. &nbsp;I also try to get skinnies that will look good&nbsp;with my booties and/or oxfords. &nbsp;</p> <p>It took years of trial and error (luckily some of those started before I found YLF) to figure out which silhouettes I don't like wearing. &nbsp;I tried to love wide leg pants, but it just didn't work. &nbsp;Ankle and capri pants also don't make me feel fab.</p> <p>I also want to mention that my ideal doesn't match my current reality - I've got an extra old pair of skinny jeans that I can certainly live without but am holding on to for lounging around and walk the dog. &nbsp;I've also got olive skinnies rather than plum skinnies, and they aren't as versatile as I would like. &nbsp;And I've got brown straight leg pants instead of brown skinnies. &nbsp;For me, figuring out what I want my pants wardrobe to look like has also been helpful for shopping. &nbsp;I know what new items will replace specific old items and what old items don't need to be replaced. &nbsp;This also helps me think about my pants priorities if I'm tempted to unnecessarily duplicate or to buy a replacement long before it is needed. &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1317861 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 17:07:00 +0000 christieanne 1317861@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Although the idea of wardrobe minimalism fascinates me and I admire the "uniform" concept on others, I know in my heart I can't do it. I just love variety and working in the department store field, am far too tempted by all the newness I see.&nbsp;<br />I have a question though - sorry if you have been through this before and I missed it - are you building a capsule wardrobe for a certain purpose or for all occasions?&nbsp;<br />I am not sure how I could dress without my black pants honestly. I have other bottoms (red, grey, blue....) but black in bootcut trousers and slim cut long and crop. Black mixes with the jewel tones in my closet really well.&nbsp;<br />Also, I hate laundry so having a few options helps.&nbsp;<br />But if you only have a top or two to mix with that silhouette and the tops go perfectly with the charcoal pants, then I don't see the need for black.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1317728 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:55:16 +0000 Alana in Canada 1317728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lisa--Excellent point about colour!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1317719 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:50:06 +0000 Lisa 1317719@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A great question. &nbsp;I have been working on reducing the size of my wardrobe and as others have mentioned, when you only have 4 or 5 pairs of jeans/trousers, there is a fine line for how many of the same style to own. &nbsp;For myself, I like to duplicate my workhorse style. &nbsp;In past years it was bootcuts, so I owned say 3 bootcuts and 2 skinnies. &nbsp;Now It's reversed and I own more skinnies than bootcuts. &nbsp;I'm also careful about colors, regardless of the style of bottom. &nbsp;When I owned 5 denim blue bottoms, regardless of the style, I got bored because it was blue everyday, so now I keep in mind to own a printed pair, a colored pair that's not blue, etc, which also gives me variety. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1317514 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 03:52:30 +0000 Alana in Canada 1317514@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Desmo April-- I hope you can find some pants which fit and are flattering and comfortable. There's got to be something soon.&nbsp;I hate shiny poly, too.</p> <p>Laura--yes, I remember reading the post about duplicates. It is partly what made me wonder about whether it would be a good idea to get essentially the same pant but in black instead of grey. But, right now, my plan is to have three bottoms, total, and I realised I would be sad if those black CK's were pant #3.&nbsp;<br />I have read the splitting wears post--but I really didn't understand it all that well.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1317113 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 19:18:29 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1317113@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think there was an Angie blog post not too long ago about whether we duplicated, and whether the duplicates were worn or not. Some people duplicated exactly, while others varied in color or size (common with jeans iirc). I tend to duplicate in color, but only two colors at most unless it is a layering piece, and the two colors should be quite different from one another.</p> <p>For pants, I wouldn't necessarily duplicate the same cut/fabric in black and charcoal grey, because they're not different enough to find different uses. I think it was Viva, maybe, that started a thread about 'splitting your wears' a few months ago that you might find interesting. I know that there aren't always that many other color choices, especially in bottoms - sometimes you might get lucky and find a navy or a chocolate brown but of course they require a whole different set of shoes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1317003 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 17:08:55 +0000 Desmo April 1317003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Since there are significantly fewer choices for pants as a plus size I have definitely duplicated pant styles but not generally in the same color. </p> <p>Finding pants that fit, flatter, are comfortable and that I like can be an epic undertaking. I haven't actually found a pair of pants (not jeans) that hit all requirements in months. So many are in horrible fabrics--shiny poly blends.</p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316978 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:25:29 +0000 Alana in Canada 1316978@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Clearlyclaire--thank you for weighing in! Yes, good point about the lumps and bumps, lol! I do want another pair of pants--so I will wait and&nbsp;see what is out there. It is early days, yet. Next year I think I will have a better idea of what I want.</p> <p>Mo--I am used to wearing one pair of pants per season so I guess my threshold/comfort zone is OK with less variety.&nbsp;&nbsp;Right now I have 7 (7!) different bottoms suitable for summer wear and it's too many! They are all different--so, given how tiny my wardrobe is--I actually have an utterly abandoned orphan and one partially abandoned one (though I'd wear that last one if I had another top to go with. Currently, there's only one. Wait, I just thought of two more. Yay! I know what I'm wearing tomorrow. :)) I am a little overwhelmed, actually, with so many choices. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316961 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:54:59 +0000 Mo 1316961@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Depends on your threshold for variety, or lack thereof. &nbsp;I need variety so I would not make 2 of my very few pants almost identical. &nbsp;I'm not much for duplication in general. &nbsp;Besides layering/foundation items, I want visual difference in my wardrobe. It's like dinner - I wouldn't want lasagne one night and then spaghetti bolognese the next and then ravioli, etc etc etc. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316942 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:20:44 +0000 Anonymous 1316942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Alana. I've been accused of being a wardrobe minimalist, so I will weigh in. ;)<br />I don't buy exact (or so close that they might as well be exact) duplicates of pants. I usually only have 3-4 pair for F/W and I'd like them to be different. If two of them were the same, I would feel like I was&nbsp;wearing the same pair all the time. Which is fine, but I like a little&nbsp;variety.&nbsp;</p> <p>That said, you have to work within your budget, and with&nbsp;what's available. A light colored ponte knit pant might be hard to wear. If the fabric isn't thick enough it could highlight lumps and bumps so maybe that's why you don't see them on offer everywhere. Of course, if you wear a long top over, that would be less of an issue. I think I've seen them in a medium heather grey if that would work for you.&nbsp;So if you only can find the pants you love in a few similar dark colors, you might decide to duplicate, especially if your jeans are all in order.&nbsp;</p> <p>It's really hard for me to make these decisions early though. It isn't until I get into the season that my favorites emerge. What to do? Oh, and I'm so sorry about your cashier at the Bay! It sounds like she was intent on ruining at perfectly good sale transaction. Good for you for looking at the bright side.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316936 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:13:02 +0000 carter 1316936@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Alana. I ended up changing out quite a bit after that post. In the end, I went with a tucked silhouette (jeans x 2, capris, belt, fluid top) and an untucked silhouette (skinny pants, other capris, top meant to be worn untucked--blouse or sweater with banded bottom). I ended up taking 4 bottoms, a blazer, 2 long cardis, a casual jacket, and 8 tops. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316925 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:01:15 +0000 Alana in Canada 1316925@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jenny H--got it.&nbsp;<br />Marlene--it is a bit early to tell, for sure, lol!</p> <p>If I do want a bit of variety and I like long over lean, and I have these pants and straight leg jeans--what should my third pant silhouette be?<br />Angie, Inge? Anyone?</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316913 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:52:11 +0000 Marlene 1316913@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would wait to see how much of a workhorse they are before duplicating. &nbsp;Then duplication only if you need them to prevent laundry bottlenecks. &nbsp;I have 3 pairs of ponte pants since I wear them OFTEN in the fall and winter. &nbsp;So it makes sense for me. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316903 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:42:01 +0000 Jenny H 1316903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I prefer to have as much variety as I can in my small wardrobe. It's just a matter of priority-- I prioritize variety over duplication. There might be cases where I would duplicate-- for example, I have been considering a second Everlane V neck tee-- but for me these are the exceptions. Again, I think there is no wrong answer for this though-- whatever works for you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316892 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:28:50 +0000 Alana in Canada 1316892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gigi--Good point about waiting to see if they will get bottle-necked in the laundry.&nbsp;</p> <p>Frannieb -- The other colours may turn out to be fantasies, though.&nbsp;</p> <p>Suz--I work in the "service field." I am a salesperson. I give stellar customer service, if I may say so. The company I work for stresses customer service. They support me. If those pants had been paint, I could have honoured that sales price--without calling a manager. They take the long view as this woman did not. I could have easily over spent at the Bay all year long this year just because of that one transaction. They could have bought my devotion for $50. But they didn't. Anyway. I am glad you like the charcoal ones.&nbsp;</p> <p>Jenny H--Why doesn't it make sense for you? Is it a question of having more variety? </p> <p>Transcona Shannon--how often it is what Suz said, lol! The point made about not being able to see a difference irl (beyween having a charcoal pair and a black pair) gave me pause.&nbsp;</p> <p>Just how many varieties of pant are there, anyway? To my mind there are only, really, four?<br />slim ankle, straight leg, boot cut, flare, and then the wide leg.<br />(straight leg and boot cut look too similar to me to count as different.)</p> <p>Carter--you mentioned you had two silhouettes on bottom. I went and had a look--fabulous capsule!--and to my eye there was really only one, though one style was cropped and the other wasn't. Then again,&nbsp;I'm probably not using the word "silhouette" correctly. I thought that was brilliant by the way. Keeping the shape similar meant that tops were completely interchangeable--but having different lengths meant the eye saw difference and so things stayed interesting.&nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316824 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:11:28 +0000 Transcona Shannon 1316824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What Suz said. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316814 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:58:59 +0000 Jenny H 1316814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I aspire to be a wardrobe minimalist, and I do try not to duplicate the exact same silhouette in different colors. It doesn't make sense for my small wardrobe. That said, I don't think there is a right way or a wrong way to do it, and maybe it would make sense for your small wardrobe to have duplicates like this. &nbsp;I like what&nbsp;Suz said about waiting to see how fundamental that shape is to your wardrobe before duplicating.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316803 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:43:50 +0000 Suz 1316803@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, the Bay. &nbsp; <b>Ha</b>!!!&nbsp;</p> <p>Our U.S. friends do not know our Customer Service nightmares. We could tell them stories...</p> <p>Too bad those black pants got away....but I would counsel what the others said. Wait and see how fundamental the shape is to your wardrobe and then decide to duplicate or not. By the way, those ones look great! And my charcoal pants always read as black on the monitors, too. They're pretty dark, after all. And a casual eye in real life might not even notice the difference.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316796 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:33:43 +0000 frannieb 1316796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp;I'm still learning myself - I agree too wait before you start duplicating and see how much wear you get out of the first pair especially if you are trying to be a minimalist and have you eye on other color pants. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316713 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 05:58:40 +0000 Gigi 1316713@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not a minimalist either. But first of all, let me say that that saleslady must have been on the Sales Prevention Force not to honor that reduced tag. That can seriously tick off a customer enough that they won't ever come back!</p> <p>As for the pants, I guess I would wait and see how often you wear these black pants before duplicating. If you find that you're wearing them twice a week and that they're always in the laundry when you want to wear them, then duplicating the pant might be a good idea. But when you're just starting out building a wardrobe, I would be leery of duplicating before you've tried other stuff out. It looks like from your comment above that you are already on the lookout for light gray or winter white pants. I would concentrate on finding similar silhouettes in other colors before duplicating what you already have. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316701 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 04:33:51 +0000 Alana in Canada 1316701@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Carter!</p> <p>Yes, long over lean is definitely one of my preferred silhouettes!&nbsp;</p> <p>Yes, I am sorry for the crappy picture--I would take anothr except that after I took that pic, I too off &nbsp;my pants--and promptly mislaid them. It is the darn'dest thing.</p> <p>The jeans I have are straight leg. But I totally get the point: perhaps repeating the silhouette is not a bad thing--but maybe in a lighter colour than these. Hmmm. It was a complete fluke I came across those CKs. What are the chances I'll find plus sized winter white (or light silver grey)&nbsp;ponte knit 60s style ski pants? ('cause that would be awesome.)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316691 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 04:17:04 +0000 carter 1316691@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well...I am not--by any stretch of the imagination--a wardrobe minimalist. However, on my last European trip of 16 days, I took 16 pieces that fit in two silhouettes, and I had plenty of options even though we changed for dinner almost every night (I dressed 29 times). So, to your point, limiting silhouettes seems to be a great way to get the most possible mileage from a small wardrobe. Is the long over lean silhouette in this picture one you would like to wear often? If so, another pair of lean bottoms seems to be the right choice. I will say that the charcoal pants look black on my screen. If they are that dark IRL, the casual observer may not realize they are actually a different pair of pants. If you want a pair of black bottoms, maybe your jeans could be the lean variety and the black pair could be something different? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/question-for-wardrobe-minimalists#post-1316644 Mon, 28 Jul 2014 03:26:38 +0000 Alana in Canada 1316644@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So, I cruised by the Bay today to see what they had in for Fall. (a rack here, a rack there). There were a pair of knit pants in black, by Calvin Klein,&nbsp;in a cut <i>identical&nbsp;</i>to the ones I purchased a few days ago&nbsp;in grey from Pennington's.&nbsp;I tried them on, they looked good and the sales sticker said $36 so I was going to buy them. They rang up at $86, though and there was no talking the saleslady into honouring the reduced tag (in fact, she worked it off with her fingernail as we were talking.) So, I left them.</p> <p>It has occurred to me since, though, that perhaps that was best.&nbsp;</p> <p>If I am building a small first fall wardrobe--and I only plan on having 3-5 pairs of pants (and one of those are jeans) then maybe getting identical pairs in black and dark grey would not be diverse enough?&nbsp;</p> <p>And we aren't talking a classic "straight pant" silhouette, but a sort of skinny peg leg shape (which may or may not be trendy. Are they? Man, I know <i>nothing</i>. What do you think? Are these on their way out given how loose fitting everything seems to be getting?)</p> <p>I'll include the pic I took of my new pants to give you an idea of what they look like. They were so similar it occurred to me that these pants I bought the night before last were probably direct copies of the CK's. I mean seam placement, shape, waistband,&nbsp;--the CK's were a bit weightier, but that I would expect.&nbsp;</p> <p>But, fellow minimalists, what would you do? </p> <p>Keep them--matching silhouettes means easier mixing!<br />Let them go-- vive la difference!&nbsp;</p> </p>