How much is Enough for my non-dominant season (long)?

At the Nordstrom half-yearly sale, I picked up a new blue Tahari dress (a keeper for sure, I love dresses), and a Nic+Zoe floral skirt:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ni.....sultback=0

I’m confident the skirt is flattering, and I’ve pulled together two different looks from pieces already in my closet with it. But I find I’m refraining from cutting off the tags because I don’t know if I really need it. I live in the US Pacific Northwest where we have cold wet springs, and short, wonderful summers. I wear business casual clothing to work, five days a week.

Currently for my summer work capsule my main bottoms/dresses are:

4 dresses (black sheath, black fit and flare, black and white jersey, new blue poplin)
2 skirts (Denim pencil, black conversation print)
3 slacks (black ankle, black and white check wide legged linen, blue bootleg)
3 jeans (trouser, wide leg, straight leg)

This means I can go 12 days without a repeat. I have plenty of colorful tops and jackets I pair these with. Most of the dresses/bottoms are 2-4 seasons, only a couple are summer only. The skirt would probably be summer only – unless I suddenly join Team Nude Hose next spring!

Any insight into how to decide how much is enough for one’s non-dominant season?

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Guess it depends on what size wardrobe you have and want. I think a summer only skirt is just fine even if summer is only 2 months long. But I have almost 150 pieces, not including shoes. There are a few items I wear only 3 or 4 times a year and don't have any problem with that whatsoever. Of course, moving between climates flips my dominant season on it's head every couple of years, so maybe I'm not the best to ask!
Now, if you want a smaller wardrobe and to wear things more often, maybe skip the skirt.

Classically Casual

Perhaps another consideration is the age/condition of your existing skirts. I like the idea of replacing basics over time as one finds a great piece. It's more thoughtful & kinder to the budget.

Nadya

Thanks - it really helped me hone in on what I think is the right question: how much do I like to repeat things? I tend to prefer to wear things more, I feel like they're "wasted" if I don't get to wear items multiple times, and if I really like something I want to wear it!

What I'm considering now is that I may want to wear my multi-season items LESS once summer starts and put my summer-only pieces into heavy rotation.

Sveta

Your current work wardrobe sounds nice but it is a bit dark and somber for summer. Personally I like to switch to lighter and brighter colors for summer because they make me feel more summery (even if I am at work). This patterned skirt is completely appropriate for business casual work setting and can be a huge wardrobe jolt for you.

Sveta, you are so right about color! Partly this is because plus size clothing in stores often comes in black, black, or black :-). I once got so frustrated I actually wrote a letter to the buyer at my local Nordstom!

But, I hadn't realized HOW dark my summer work wardrobe was until I wrote it all down for this post! Your point is definitely well taken.

Makrame

I really like your idea of switching out multi-season items to increase the usage of your summer-only items. I am like you in not wanting to "waste" clothes so I try to switch to summer colors, white denim and other seasonal items in the summer, knowing that dark jeans and dress pants will get more wear in the fall and spring. That skirt is very pretty!

christieanne

That skirt is such a pretty print! And you like it on. I think you should keep. It might come in handy to have some pretty colors in case an occasion calls for something you can dress up as well.

I know what you mean about black and dark colors - I have been repeating in my head the "no more black" mantra and what did I buy today? Black trouser jeans (fills a big hole) and black slouchy trousers. Totally unintentional however lol.

I think the two new pieces will work in well and I agree that you need to bring some newness into a capsule occasionally at least to keep things creative.

Anonymous

Such a pretty skirt. It sounds like you have a good handle on your clothing needs. Do you feel like this skirt's cost is disproportionate to the amount of wear it will get or something? It sounds like you've been pretty wise with the rest of your wardrobe choices. If you never find fun prints like this in your size, it might be worth it to keep, especially if it's an element of love. You could easily dress it down with a T and denim jacket for casual wear too.

Thanks for all your help sorting this out!
@Makrame, regarding "wasting clothes" - In high school most girls wanted a new dress for every formal dance. I thought after going to all the trouble and expensive of finding a dress I loved, I wanted to wear it as much as possible! I wore the same dress to all my sophomore and junior year formals. This kind of thinking is probably why I became an engineer

@Christieanne - I've had a moratorium on black shirts for a couple years because I realized they were taking over my closet. I do break it occasionally too, like yesterday when a striped black, grey and white rayon tee came home with me. Because, stripes and slinky !

@Claire: you are so smart to suggest dressing it down! I could throw this on with my orange Born flat sandals, a tee (or chambray shirt?) and maybe a skinny belt and go out to a pub. Thank you!

Category