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Breaking a bad shopping/editing cycle

Helena

Veteran

Hi all, just sharing some thoughts I've had, inspired by all the essentials discussion. As some of you know, simplicity is one of mantras, and as such, many of the capsule/minimalist fashion challenges have appealed to me. But I always got frustrated with myself because I seemed to still go through shopping splurges, despite all my minimizing, and end up constantly editing my closet. I've largely broken out of that in the last year, but I now have an idea what was going wrong:
- I would decide to minimize, and end up paring my wardrobe down to my essentials, getting rid of non-essentials and statement pieces.
- then, in a fit of wardrobe boredom, I would analyse my wardrobe again, see all the duplicates in my essentials, dedupe, buy non-essentials and statements ... And the cycle starts again.
-thinking through the concept of essentials has made the light bulb come on about balancing these aspects of my wardrobe, rather than swinging back and forth between them. Hooray!! Only took me five years lol!! *facepalm*

What revelations have you had in 2108 so far?

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from Suzanimal

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think for those of us who rely quite strongly on essentials it can be tempting to pare down exclusively to that...but of course it leads to boredom for most of us -- unless the essentials have interesting and wonderful design features of their own. This is one reason why I think that if one has truly determined a style persona or style direction, a few more expensive and higher quality essentials can be crucial.

I think I overbought statements last year. I haven't worn some of them at all this season, even though I "like" them in theory still.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*VERY BIG CHUCKLE*

We are always learning, Helena. (Me too). Good job identifying the irony of your edit-shop cycle. What a win.

rachylou

Veteran

You know, I’ve never had a minimal amount of clothing, but I’ve experimented with the ‘lifestyle’ by living off a reduced set. That actually increased my buying, because I wore through clothes unbelievably fast. And boy is it rotten when you can’t get the same thing again and the new thing doesn’t look as good with everything but you need it now!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Soooo, Suz makes a lot of sense - as usual. She has a wardrobe rich in essentials (me too), so it's easy to focus on them.

Suz, I want to see the statements that didn't get much wear.

LaPed

Veteran

Rachy -- my thoughts to a T! Living with a small/minimalist wardrobe, you are just constantly replacing things. I find it a bit exhausting. Part of me wishes I could just buy clothes in 12-packs so I don't have to be constantly looking for replacements. I spend half of every year looking for black jeans; I always end up wearing them out before I'm able to duplicate...

TG -- this is interesting that you edit out statements. Could it be the statements you're choosing don't have a high joy factor, and maybe aren't the right fit for your personality? I know I have a hard time adding accessories if I treat them as just another box to check off my to-do list. I only ever find them as spontaneous wildcards...

Runcarla

Veteran

4 years in as a YLF member, and yes, I'm getting it this time 'round as well-thanks to Angie's blogs, posts like yours, and participation in challenges, etc.

My strategy going forward is to upgrade the quality of my essentials as they need replacement (turtlenecks, mariner t-shirts, straight leg jeans, even the quality of my sneakers) and each year add a handful of trendy items that will elevate an outfit. The trendy items don't have to be high quality, but might be.

I'm keeping a fashion journal with a list of needs and wants. It goes with me when I go shopping and during the process, right up to checkout, I cross refer what I've got in my cart with the list. I might be as specific as 'black turtleneck' or as general as 'trendy pant' or even 'something in Panetone colour of the year'!

Going into 2018 my closet is the tightest and most cohesive it has ever been, but it is lacking a little in punch. I need a few trendy items to elevate my style going forward.

Anonymous

The concept of essentials, as it applies to my own style, still eludes me. Like you, I like to edit and keep the numbers down, but I do that, and then have nothing interesting to wear. Essentials all seem slightly boring to me - so I don't spend any time thinking about them. I'm still unsure what it all means.

Helena

Veteran

Hi everyone, first off, I've corrected the appalling spelling in that post! Sorry, I was writing on my phone.

Suz, you are right - I am trying to be willing to spend a little more if a piece is an essential, since I know I will get my money's worth out of them. I love your essential-rich wardrobe; it's always an inspiration. Perhaps your statement pieces will come out to play in the spring!

Angie, thanks for the encouragement!

Rachy, I agree, as well as constantly searching for the 'perfect' piece, which is frustrating, and also results in lots of editing and re-buying.

LaPed, I think I enjoy statements sparingly - so for these pieces, I think I need to evaluate them by different criteria than essentials. If I have an essential that I rarely wear, then perhaps I need to think about whether it's not right for some reason - but if I have a statement that I rarely wear, that could be just because I rarely wear statements in general. Also, I think I need to use an 80/20 mentality in wardrobe planning ... i.e. should be 80% essentials and 20% non-essentials or statements ... or perhaps even 90%/10% ... then I have the essentials I need to feel together and grounded, but the non-essentials and statements I need for boredom-busting.

I am also guilty of using a 'checkbox' mentality in my wardrobe but I'm much better now and have abandoned those generic 'must have' type lists and articles - again, Angie's good influence sinking in!

Helena

Veteran

Carla, great strategy; that's about what I need to do to!

Lisa, perhaps you are more of a statement lady?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisa p, I can help you put an essentials list together for you, if you like.

Anonymous

I can see how this pattern of purging/buying could happen.
I guess the goal for you will be to hang on to anything that’s a statement for a little longer than you think is necessary.

There is also the issue tha LaP brings up: maybe you don’t know what a good statement is for you.

I personally haven’t figured out statements. I’m not sure I even own a single statement! But I think I WANT statements in my life! So this year, instead of thinking “I’m not somebody who enjoys statements” , I am going to change my thinking to, “I need to grow my style to include statements that work for me”.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Wow! What an astute and useful observation. I bet I do a bit of this myself.

Anonymous

Helena- Do you think you would like to wear statements more often?
That is the big thing for me: my outfits are very streamlined and simple, and I think always wearing a statement of some sort might improve my view of the outfit, which I often find “boring” but I can’t find anything better to wear!

Christina F.

Veteran

I think Recovering Shopaholic posted about this a lot when she was still active on that blog. And posited that there’s a wardrobe size that is kind of a set point for everyone, and even after purging they will trend back up to it. I think you have a set point!

Anonymous

Yes please , Angie !

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Very interesting thoughts from everyone as usual.I think my problem is that I find buying basics and essentials a bit ,well,boring.Long sleeved t shirts are definitely an essential for me but I don’t get excited about buying one in the same way as I do a statement piece., but as we all now know that means lots of clothes,no outfits!So if you are a good essentials buyer but not so quick on the statement pieces I would not worry.I think that’s easier and cheaper to “correct”.and at least you will have outfits to wear while shopping.

Helena

Veteran

Christina, I think you and she are on to something there!

Smittie, you ask good questions, and I'm not sure of the answers, but I definitely need to ponder them. I'm not sure I own any true statements either, or at least, it's hard to say ... my style is pretty simple and understated, so that seems almost opposed to 'statement' - I'm not sure how the two work together.

What I consider statements in my wardrobe are things like my red purse, and red sneakers (which I edited - darn it!!!), which add a little 'pop' to my simple outfits (but I don't think they'd turn any heads the way a true 'statement' would).

Right now I have a lot of non-essentials: for the most part, classic pieces in colors rather than neutrals (and a few different-silhouette pieces). I find these pretty easy to wear, but I like to use them just to break up my usual neutral uniform of slim fits and skinnies.

Looking forward to seeing how you figure out your statements Smittie!

Helena

Veteran

Cardiff girl, great point; quite right.

unfrumped

Veteran

Great post and discoveries! I look forward to reading about how that is working out.
I live the idea of “ high quality essentials” such as a closet stocked, but not stuffed, with an array of neutral or best color perfectly tailored pants, skirts, tops. Kind a sea of calm sophistication.
However I have trouble getting good fit in so many brands, or something is too short, too long, or has a weird detail that won’t work, it’s frustrating. Then I tend to “ settle “ on something but have trouble culling unless it’s really SO obviously wrong. I often feel I know just what I’m looking for but can’t find it.

Jane

Veteran

Two weeks in to a major wardrobe clear out I got rid of everything that I hadn't worn at all, and made me feel guilty. Wow, what a relief to get back to a kind of neutral position. So that was a revelation to me.

And now I am going to try and keep to a kind of retail exile until late March (when study results come through). Just to see how it feels.

I also read and continue to read Shopping Brake, which is very helpful.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Statements can be different for different people. I would agree that your pops of red were your statement pieces. Or, maybe a wardrobe item that has more volume or asymmetrical cut...I have trouble identifying statements in my wardrobe, too. Probably the loudest things I own are these shoes (find). And I treat my Kara purse as a statement even though the size and color do not draw attention (but I think the weave its unique and interesting).

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

Lots of you cull much easier than me. Even some things I haven't worn I still like a lot in my head. It's usually a whole outfit and I assume that I just don't find such an outfit practical for my everyday life. So I just bought more "essential" trousers yesterday x2, one dress for Art Deco type dressing up to replace one I've got too big in the tummy for as we have a "Prohibition" party soon, and one camo singlet that is perfect with my olive pants. All from visiting an outlet store that's new to me. Now in 2017 I only bought 18 items all year after restraining myself very hard all year, and culling with the forum's help. I certainly wonder if I have a wardrobe "set point" as per Christina. I read Recovering Shopaholic intensely in 2016 and found YLF through it. I got to it by Googling "What is a normal sized wardrobe?"!

Sal

Veteran

I can see this TG- I have also fallen into this pattern. I think statements can vary from person to person and may be only a smattering in your closet, or maybe half in someone else's. As to what will work - it is harder to know - I suspect statements end up being mistakes more than essentials. And some statements can be very lightly worn - but that does not mean that they are not needed.

I have a few statements that I wear very regularly - a floral inner dress, silver loafers, a couple of winter coats - and a few that might only get worn twice a year - some green heels, a yellow floral tee shirt. But they provide pizazz and happiness when they are worn.

And I think a Brighter sweater is a statement- a great one for you.

delurked

Veteran

I am no minimalist, but wearying of constant editing I can relate to. I’m focusing on essentials and basics that will see me through most of my daily life, trying to get the fit as best as possible. Then bring in accents and statements that can make things interesting. That’s my goal at least. A good read, thanks.

Helena

Veteran

Thank you Sal, that's really helpful. I like the sound of your statements. You're right, for me a bright top is a good statement, even though it might be someone else's essential! Thanks delurked and glad it was useful for you and others too

karen13

Veteran

I am only about 2 years into paying attention to my wardrobe, and I am definitely purging some early buying mistakes. Like Carla, I'm trying to keep a notebook where I write down "need burgundy belt," or "navy" boots" to really make an outfit. The I am trying to see if I can make other EXISTING pieces work with the wanted item. It is early days, but I am hoping this will cut down on the random "Oh Shiny" purchases that get orphaned because I don't have the things to support them.

I have resisted spending time on thing like categorizing essentials, identifying statements and tracking wears, but I can see why Angie advises us to. I got a lot of insight into the style moniker and descriptors that I had previously resisted.

Vix

Veteran

Hi TG --

Q: do your statements work with your other workhorse items?

As in, could you go from chilling in your standard "streamlined and simple" outfits to adding a statement (or two) and have it all meld together and feel like you?

If not, that's where I'd start exploring.

Also: I feel like the default advice is to jazz up a plainER outfit with colored accessories but I for one am not a fan of colored shoes on myself. [I make up for it with my taste in jewelry haha.] So maybe try a more statement piece in your favorite neutral and see how it works out...

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

This is such a thought-provoking post. Those "minimalist wardrobe" lists are also really appealing to me, and I've been guilty of forgetting that those are supposed to be a base, rather than the sum total of what you own. I do think it takes some trial and error to find the balance that works for you.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have been thinking about essentials - duplicating essentials actually makes a lot of sense. I could imagine having duplicates of one pair of jeans and wearing them every day. I don't want to do that, but could manage. Maybe you should focus on which part of your wardrobe you like to play with and which you would just as soon keep the same. A certain sort of minimalist blogger hunts for the "perfect" one of a few things and that's it. I think it is more important for essentials to be very good than statements, and it makes sense to duplicate there. Sorry for rambling!

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