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Five essential pieces

Shauntelle

(website)

Went home last night and tried on pretty much everything in my closet that was Spring/Summer appropriate.

I'm pretty much starting from scratch here. In fact, I've spent the morning making trying to make peace with the fact I have three lovely pencil skirts I never wore and a really lovely black and white sheath dress that will be posted on YLF for someone else to enjoy soon...

So, if you had to start from scratch, unable to buy a completely new wardrobe all in one go, what would you consider essential pieces. I'm talking stuff you could mix and match to get through a week of work and home.

Right now I have three pair of make-do pants... the fit isn't quite right, but they'll do until I can do better. And two non-winter shirts... (one is a diagonal stripe, so yay for that!). I'll be hitting the thrift stores in the next few days, but I want a good idea of what I should be looking for that will be remixable... cause I spent the whole winter basically wearing the same 5 outfits and I DON'T want to do that again if I can help it.

(oh, and it's been confirmed, I'm definitely a pretty pear!)

Thanks for the input!

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from kimlee

catgirl

Veteran

What are your requirements in terms of casual or dressy at work? I'm excited to help with this if I can.

Queen Mum

Veteran

#1 a great fitting simple sheath dress
#2 cardigan
#3 jacket
#4/5 2 more spring blouses

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I would say a skirt, jacket, cardigan (maybe short sleeve since you're in ATL), and 2 more tops - all of which in colors that can be worn with each other.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Might I suggest a pair of truly well-fitting jeans? Assuming you have a casual element to your life, this would open possibilities. My five would be jeans (maybe straight-leg or boot cut), a skirt, a dress, a cardigan and a jacket. You can acquire layering sheels and tees easily and inexpensively and mix things up that way. Now, I'm a girl who likes variety, so please take this with a grain of salt if it's not your way!
First and foremost, though, have you had a proper bra fitting? If not, scratch all of this and get one done. It may take a bite out of your clothing budget, but it will be worth it, I promise.

Kim

Veteran

White button down shirt, a jacket or cardi, a pair of dark wash denim jeans, two layering t shirts. Along with some shoes, accessories (scarfs, bags, belts jewelry) and what you have already I could make a bunch of business casual and casual outfits. Certainly enough to see me through to updating other parts of my wardrobe.

Think color co-ordinated, so pick two or three main neutrals that suit your skin tone and two accent colors. Make all your purchases in these colors so they will all mix and match.

catgirl

Veteran

I think Michelle's suggestions are great, since tops can be relatively inexpensive if you are easy to fit.

Shauntelle

(website)

AG, my office is fairly casual... I can't wear jeans every day, but I also have never had to wear a suit. I'm the only girl here and the guys normally wear khakis and a polo shirt or sweater. I tend to be the dressiest one! We have casual Friday every week, so jeans are a go on the day.

Michelle... if you aren't very busty, do you still think a bra fitting is necessary? My girls are um... well, let's say there's enough so that they sit up pretty, but not so much that I have to worry about being too revealing in a low cut top! The only way I get cleavage is wearing a padded pushup with a double set of cutlets added... maybe! lol

Shauntelle

(website)

Tried on some spring dresses at Ross and boy was it a no-go! I really have to rethink how I dress myself. The shapes I used to automatically pick up and know would be perfect now look... well, either too young or not so good. I think I may need more structure than the average sundress. sigh. This will get better, right?

Aida

Veteran

Based on what you have, I would say:
1- a skirt or dress that can be worn to work or dressed down for the weekend; I would say not limited to solids or neutrals but make sure if it's colorful that it's cohesive with your other colors
2- a structured lightweight jacket in a light colored neutral that suits you
3- a cardigan in a bright color that's suited to you, in lightweight material and likely short sleeved
4- a white/ivory or chambray/denim button-up in a lightweight material, sleeve length up to you but I find those long sleeve ones with tabs pretty versatile
5- a pretty tank in a non-casual fabrication that can be layered or worn on its own

This doesn't include accessories though. As far as those go, I'd suggest: one pair of sandals, one or two brightly colored/printed scarves, a long pendant necklace, and a black or brown medium width belt (whichever is the neutral you use).

Lastly, I cannot remember who linked this but it may give you some other ideas:
http://www.redbookmag.com/beau.....e#fbIndex1

Shauntelle

(website)

Oh Aida thank you for your input and thank you so much for that link because it's perfect inspiration for me.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Shauntell, yes, I would still highly recommend a bra fitting even though you're not overly busty. You'd be absolutely amazed at how many women on the forum believed they were an A cup, only to realize they should have been wearing a C! The stats are actually astonishing -- something like 80 per cent of American women are wearing the bra size. I forget the exact number, but I'm honestly not exagerating.
Here's a fantastic resource on bra-fitting, put together by our very own Maya. It's a fabulous breakdown on bra fit, how it works, etc.
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ing-thread

Also, don't forget that we're often our own worst critics. The clothing items you're writing off may not actually look as bad as you think! Would you be willing to post some pictures? Maybe the situation will seem less dyre to a fresh set of eyes.

Aida

Veteran

I think you could come up with a pretty good list based off everyone's suggestions That link has some great ideas, right? I'm always amazed to see how the variety of outfits one can come up with from limited items as long as those items are well coordinated.

EDIT: Angie's must have list for spring/summer is also a good place to get some inspiration! http://youlookfab.com/2011/03/.....mmer-2011/

Steph

Veteran

Shauntelle, I'm going to agree with Michelle that a bra fitting is important, regardless of your size. Alicat posted this in another thread the other day, and if you scroll down near the bottom and see the "correct vs. incorrect" photos, you will notice the difference on the model, who is not all that busty at all: http://breakoutbras.stores.yahoo.net/noname1.html

I'm not sure that I could really limit things to five essential items. From what you posted you have three pairs of pants that are acceptable but not great, and two tops. That's totally fine, but even if you add five items to that mix, I think you will probably feel like you are ending up wearing the same five outfits. But if you're going to truly stick with five items, and the goal is to maximize the number of combinations you can make, I would probably go with:

1.) Jeans. You can wear them to work one day a week and then both days on the weekends. Unless you just don't really wear casual pants, I think a pair of jeans that fits well is really important.
2.) A basic skirt in a basic, neutral color (black, grey, navy, brown, tan, whatever works best with your coloring and the clothes you have).
3.) A white button-down.
4.) A knit top in a neutral color.
5.) A simple dress that is versatile and you can wear on its own, with a belt, with a shirt underneath, or with a cardigan* or jacket* over it. I realize that finding such a dress is very difficult (I have never managed it), but if you could, that would really increase your options.

I added the asterisk because I realize that a cardigan and jacket aren't on the list of five items, and thus the assumption would be that you won't have those things. I would want to add them, but couldn't figure out what else to take away. I feel like you need at least two more tops, because you can't go through an entire season with just two tops. I considered dropping the skirt from the list (since you already have three pairs of pants), but I feel like it would help to add variety to your options. So...this is tough! If I could add a sixth item, I would go with either a jacket or a cardigan, based on what you prefer. I actually don't wear jackets or cardigans much at all, so you can definitely have a wardrobe without them, but I do have a lot of tops to make up for it.

Shauntelle

(website)

Michelle, you must have been sending me really strong vibes because after dinner, I went through my closet again, this time letting my husband be the final judge on if something was ill-fitting or not. I also pulled out a couple of things I had tucked away for "the right occasion." Anyway, my base wardrobe is now:

3 pair of trousers (2 grey, 1 black) - I'll work on replacing these with better fitting ones shortly

2 nice work appropriate dresses, 2 casual dresses and 2 maybe dresses. After I wash and iron the maybe's, I'll post pics to get ideas on if these are keepers or not.

3 pair of jeans (the fit on all of these are weird. the dark blue fit fine, but only to wear with flats, the grey fit okay but have really big pockets, and the 3rd pair are capris... once again the fit is okay, but the pockets are big and draw attention to my bottom...which doesn't need any help getting attention!)

1 blue jean jacket with mandarin (super cute, I forgot I had it!)

2 pin-striped suit jackets

1 white linen jacket with a mandarin collar

1 pencil skirt (and another that's a maybe... again, I'll have to take a picture to let you guys decide... I think it's a little too vavoom on the backside but hubby likes it)

I really need shirts. I have 2 that fit right and are season appropriate. I also have one shirt that's really cute, but it's sheer and I don't know how to wear it, so it's a maybe.

Steph, just to clarify, I didn't mean for the five items to be my whole spring/summer wardrobe. I just needed a place to start in terms of shopping because I was feeling overwhelmed. My plan is to get some basics to mix and match and then to add to that weekly with thrifting and sales.

Thanks so much everyone for the input! I will go check out the bra fitting links now.

Shauntelle

(website)

wow-- Michelle, you and Steph were right on the money about the ill-fitting bra... according to those instructions, I should wear a 30C... definitely different from the 34A and 32B's I have been wearing. Think I'll be bra shopping on my lunch break tomorrow!

Anonymous

Shauntelle, 30 bands are hard to find but Nordstroms has some in a great Calvin Klein tee shirt bra (one style has lace below the band and is very pretty, another is more plain) and some fancy Betsy Johnson bras including black lace and pink bows...something I've never seen before in a small size. I was wearing 34AA and was fitted in a 30D. So much better for looks and comfort. I encourage you to get fitted at a good place like Nordstroms.

Steph

Veteran

First off, yay on bra shopping. Personally, I never find it that fun, but the result is so great! As Joy said, finding a 30 band size can be difficult, but you will definitely be able to find some online if necessary.

Now that you have a much bigger list of clothing items, I would change my list of five. I think now I would focus on:
1.) A pair of jeans you really love
2.) A button-down shirt in a color that works with the rest of your clothing
3. and 4.) Two more tops in styles you like in colors that work with the rest of your clothing.
5.) A cardigan or a blazer (if you don't like the idea of pairing your current suit jackets with the pants/jeans/dresses you own)

And while buying all of those, I would keep an eye out for that super versatile dress that you can wear in many different ways, assuming the dresses you already own don't fit the bill.

It sounds like you are in good shape to begin shopping!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

- Great fitting pair of jeans (straight or boot cut, PPL is essential)
- Skirt
- Dress
- Silk blouse (either feminine and sheer with a camisole or classic)
- Jacket/blazer

With the requirement / challenge that everything should go together, somehow.

This is Michele's list but I put a silk blouse in place of the cardi. Good luck!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Shauntell, if I may make a suggestion? For your first proper bra fitting, go straight to the experts. I took the liberty of seeing if there's an Intimacy location in Atlanta, an you're in luck! Here are the details:
http://myintimacy.com/index.ph.....riteria:2/

I'm in Canada and can't speak specifically to the Intimacy experience, but others here including bra guru Maya positively swear by the store. I shop at exclusively at specialty stores that carry the same sort of stock and have the same mandate as intimacy, and I can say without hesitation that it's the best way to go.
Just be prepared to shell out more than you've been used to at first. I promise it will be worth it, though, and at least now you're going in well-informed!

kimlee

Veteran

I am work in an office that is business casual and have come to find that my 5 essential pieces are:

1. A great fitting sheath dress in either black or grey. I purchased one last fall and was able to style in numerous ways, for both work and play.

2. A pair of dress pants that fit well.

3. A cardigan or jacket.

4. 2 or 3 spring appropriate top - If you have a JC Penney's nearby, they have some fantastic tops for a very low price. (See my post from 3/22 for an example)

5. Dark jeans - These can be used for casual Fridays, running errands on the weekend, or a low key night out on the town.