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I want variety, or do I really?

Katerina

Veteran

Dear Fabbers,
There have been very interesting discussions lately here about wardrobe editing, trends and staying true to ones style.
I have been thinking about one aspect in particular - variety.

My wardrobe is size wise on the larger side - many items. I have accepted it and made more room for my clothes in my home. I always thought that I crave variety, hence I would not be happy with a smaller wardrobe. But when I look at the contents and the structure of my wardrobe - there is not so much variety - many very similarly cut pieces in various colours and fabrications. Very little pattern, few skirts, few dresses. Large amount of trousers. Large amount of blazers and jackets, including many leather pieces. Few knitted pieces. Similar goes for footwear. Many pairs of Chelsea boots and oxfords. Some sneakers. Some pumps. Not that many other types of shoes. I have a couple of favorite outfit formulas and I pretty much stick to them. A blazer or a jacket (structured), a silk top or a blouse, trousers, boots or oxfords and a scarf. A structured large or medium sized bag. Sunglasses and occasionally brooches or a statement necklace.

So, in a way, I don’t need so much variety, my style stays the same and has been the same for many years. But at the same time, I want variety within the categories of items I do wear (trousers, blazers, jackets etc.). I also want to wear many colours and play with colour combinations. I even like to repeat some items in different colours.

The problem with this kind of wardrobe structure is that sometimes, items compete for wears. In other words, how different must a jacket be to make a different piece and not merely do the same job as the one I already have.... What is variety?

What is your opinion on the matter? How is your wardrobe built? What is variety to you and how much variety do you need or want?

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from cindysmith

Runs With Scissors

Veteran

I am right there with you -- I stick with my favorite styles or silhouettes. But if I didn't have a ton of variety within those groups, I'd be bored. I may assemble very similar outfits (to other people's eyes) but rarely do I repeat an outfit exactly. Like you, I love scarves, and they're key to making this possible.

I have wondered if wanting variety in the details is the trait of a collector. I have a few collections, though today I only "collect" clothes.

Carla

Veteran

I am a uniform dresser with a few favoured silhouettes and a limited palette of colours, but even with my smaller collection of clothes, I have variety within categories (like you). For example I have 2 pairs of white jeans. Both are high waisted and cropped. One is fit closer to the body and has a finished hem that I sometimes roll. The other has a looser fit and a frayed hem. I don't really see them as fully interchangeable. They each have a different vibe and I will purposefully select one over the other, depending on the vibe of the outfit I want to create. There is something different going on with my my black bottoms - three nearly identical in waist band style (jogger stretchy waist with pull through tie) style, but one summer weight 7/8 length, one winter weight 7/8 length, and a third ground-skimming long. So I can do a nearly identical look in summer or winter with nearly identical bottoms, but cooler or warmer fabrics, and the longer pant for a different feel altogether. What I DON'T have is variety in colour. Black, white, blue jean, and olive are the only pants colours I own.

Not all garments of the same colour are created equal! I can totally understand having multiple similar garments in different colours or multiple silhouettes or fabrications in identical colours in a more generously sized closet. It all comes down to the curator of the closet.

FWIW, my clothes closet is sorted by colour vs item type.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So interesting. For me, the feeling of "variety" or "change" relates primarily to silhouette, and secondarily to colour. I feel most "variety" from an item in a new-to-me or less familiar silhouette and a less-usual-for-me colour. (Typically that would be a colour in my palette vs. a neutral in my palette -- I don't veer wildly off palette, ever.)

My wardrobe falls into what Angie calls the moderate range. For me, it still feels "big," because in the past I had far fewer clothes — and far more occasions where I felt badly dressed, or where I stood in front of my closet stressing about what to wear! The fact that I never do that any more and that I wear all my clothes (albeit some items far more often than others) suggests to me that my current wardrobe is more or less the right size for my needs.

I could reduce my numbers by reducing my available silhouettes. I already keep to a fairly limited colour palette. But truthfully, I don't want to reduce my numbers by more than 20 or so items. I like having options!

I think your need for variety within categories of your "uniform" makes perfect sense. Rock on! You have amazing style and always look uniquely like yourself. It ain't broke, so don't try to fix it!

If you are worried about "competition" between items, maybe make a list of how many possible days/ occasions you'd have to wear Item Type A and decide how often you'd like to wear each version of Item Type A per season. Weed out what feels extraneous, to a holding zone at first, and then to a donate pile if you wish. But don't feel pressure to do so. If you are wearing and enjoying all your clothes and they have longevity in your closet and you have space for them -- you don't have a problem.

Katerina

Veteran

Runs With Scissors, exactly! I have wondered the exact same thing and wanted to mention collecting, but didn’t in the end. I collect scarves so in that area I have many pieces that are similar to each other and differ in the details only. They could be quite interchangeable in outfits. I think collecting is about owning interesting, unique pieces based on the parameters of the collection (vintage, Hermès, designers, size, fabric or some other). It is not only about wearing the pieces. Being able to actually wear the collection is just an additional treat.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I agree with Suz,if it ain’t broken...
But to answer your question,l think that to have say 20 pairs of identical black trousers (arbitrary number )would feel too many for me unless they were all subtly different.So I would find a different leg ie wide,skinny,straight to be different enough to justify their inclusion.Different fabrication would also count as would different purposes,dressy v.casual.But as Suz has said don’t feel under any pressure to reduce wardrobe items unless you are really sure that you no longer have a use for them or a desire to own them.Your wardrobe looks great from what I have seen,Enjoy it!

Katerina

Veteran

Runcarla, you have a great, perfectly curated well functioning wardrobe. I am nodding along regarding the black pants. Isn’t it great to be able to create almost the same outfits for the different seasons? I have also black pants in different fabric weights - they are real essentials. Interesting about your white jeans and the different vibes - I totally get it.

notsaf

Veteran

Katerina, compared to me (I was writing about this earlier!) you have a lot of variety in your wardrobe in terms of non-neutral prints and color, but also the fabrics and the details of the garments you choose. You also have a signature silhouette and exquisite accessories are a key part of your look, as much as delicate colors. You clearly are a collector and a curator! So I say enjoy it, and stick with the silhouette and everything else that makes your style so lovely! Variety is just another one of those "horses for courses" parts of who we are.

Katerina

Veteran

Suz, thank you for the good idea. As my wardrobe is now, I don’t feel I have to pass on existing items because of downsizing, so I only edit out those which for one reason or another do not work. If there are any “doubles”, they will eventually wear out and get edited then. My thoughts are more about shopping. Not making the mistake of buying basically the same thing I already have in some variation and do not need. I admire your wardrobe very much. You love blue and you have a clearly decided colour palette, but your outfits are always interesting and chic, and never ever boring. There is a great variety of different silhouettes and variety of “styles” within your style. Very carefully curated and well managed wardrobe.

Katerina

Veteran

Cardiff girl, thank you. I agree with you completely about the black trousers. What is funny though, is that because I don’t wear jeans very often, I have maybe three pairs of blue jeans all together. When it comes to blue jeans - I don’t pay so much attention to the details as other people, who are more jeans people and who see the various details, colours and vibes much clearer.

Notsaf, thank you very much. I have read your excellent post. You are very wise and clever.

Anonymous

I'm in Suz's camp, where variety is within silhouette rather than colour. This issue is clearly something I'm not good with yet - as I'm not convinced I need variety yet I still have too many variations of a black blazer or a black pant or basic dark denim jeans. So - figuring out whether it's really variety I seek, or something else all together is my personal task for right now. I do feel very strongly about owning more than I can wear though, and that's where I beat myself up over having too many pieces of everything . There are only so many days in a season, and so many hours in a day......

unfrumped

Veteran

I think this is a great question. I think about if becyiam prone to adding more work clothes than I can wear ENOUGH times per season to make md feel good about it (sweaters !).
Like suz, I feel more different in different silhouettes , then colors. I’m very temperature- sensitive so want much warmer things in winter than high summer.
I have pants in maybe 7 , or a bit more, pretty different styles depending on your eye or definition. Then I might have similar style in different weight fabrics but not for each one. Then some similar styles & weights( cotton- rich ankle pant for example) in different colors.
Short answer is, I’ve been trying more to resist duplication including saying, I really like this style pant and maybe I could also use it in wool, but I’ll stick with this one only and wear it more times in its seasons because maybe I have some winter pants that are another style I love, but I don’t have an exact summer version.
So it’s kind of saying, I’m trying not to maintain all styles/ all fabrics / all colors / ALL THE TIME. The seasons help shift silhouettes a bit already.
Very similar with jackets- I can use shorter and longer jackets depending on bottoms, but it’s overkill to have all options available all the time and with lots of colors.
Colors are almost serendipitous- though sometimes pounced on when available- so I might build a capsule when I find perfect style pants in NOT black, in a way that looks different. Column of color, for example.

One thing you might do is take s lot of photos of outfits you think are “ different “ and see, if compared, you really think they give a different “ vibe” of kind of blend together as same. That’s not bad, just might help show what makes YOU feel like you have variety and how to make purchases or style items to get that difference.

Katerina

Veteran

I am with you Lisa. An important question in this context is how long you normally want to keep the blazers or pants. I normally keep mine at least several years and thus do not “need” to wear each of them so often. I don’t need or want to update these very often (try to buy “classics”, if there is such a thing They last longer if they are many....

Katerina

Veteran

Unfrumped, that is an excellent point - not to maintain all styles, all fabrics, all colours ALL THE TIME.
Thank you for the idea with the photos. Such an excercise will be very useful.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I do think Unfrumped makes an excellent point here. It depends a bit on climate and lifestyle...but for me...some silhouettes simply work better in summer than winter. Part of the reason I enjoy spring/summer dressing is because I can vary the silhouette more often than I can in winter. I also feel better in a wider range of "my" colours and neutrals in the warmer months when I can balance them with bare skin. And when I feel fine wearing light coloured footwear that bookends my hair.

In winter, so much of me needs to be covered. I can't use bare skin as a structural element in my outfits. With my light hair, and mostly dark clothing (because, winter!!!) this means it's harder to create outfit balance and cohesion. Therefore my outfit creation becomes more limited. Hence, I get bored. Especially since my winter season is longest. (Vancouver makes this much easier than Kingston -- gratitude!!!)

With your dark hair, Katerina, this might not be as big a problem for you. But in every season you will look your best with some contrast due to your high contrast colouring. And in some seasons, that is going to be easier to create than in others.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

We all experience and crave change in different ways, Katerina. You have a narrow assortment of wardrobe items, but their range is very, very deep. Just thinking of how DEEP your capsules of scarves, bags, brooches, jackets and sunnies are, for example. It's WOW. You like what you like, have KILLER style, milk your signature looks, and aren't bored with them. Please carry on!

Generally, I crave a change in colour rather than in silhouette (I guess I'm in the minority?). But that's not always true. For example, I love dark blue and white jeans - and prefer a larger assortment of silhouettes in each of the colours, as opposed to the same silhouette in many colours.

I have several colours in my wardrobe. Yet it's focused and versatile because I wear it all together and there is a lot duplication of "my colours". I don't feel chaotic. I feel very in control, and enjoy the many possibilities.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Just following on what Angie said - I think like her you have a deep affinity for colour mixing. You go for variety in colour and pattern, rather than silhouette. I actually see lots of variety in your outfits. You are very adventurous colour mixer (compared to me). I love your style. As long as you are finding your wardrobe manageable in terms of size and are enjoying wearing all the items in it, I don’t think there is a problem with items competing for the same role in a particular silhouette. Wear each of them in their turn, and enjoy!

Sal

Veteran

I love your style and your approach Katerina and I think it works exceptionally well. The reason you can go deep into colour and pattern is because you have limited your shapes, and because your pieces have longevity. There comes a point when an additional pink jacket or cream scarf does not add much to your options, but when you love them, care for them and wear them I don't think you need to worry.

If you feel you have enough options then maybe one in, one out would help. I roughly do this although I tweak a bit - eg I have reduced my tops and increased my skirt options over the last year.

Anonymous

Katerina, what you are doing works well for you. I also have a larger sized wardrobe and crave variety. Changing silhouettes is something I like to do only occasionally because it is like starting over to learn what works for me, but it is still fun. I have lived happily with 12 items in a suitcase for 3 weeks or done a 30 items for 30 days challenge. But, at the end, I can’t wait to wear other items from my wardrobe for that season.
I have sort of a daily uniform of jeans or crops, a sleeveless or short sleeved top under a jacket, cardigan or poncho. But, although I love white and blue jeans, I need more variation so add wide legs, colors, patterns, side tuxedo stripes, etc. Same with other pieces. My cardigans are few but vary mostly in length or fabric. I try to make color capsules that vary by season
Scarves are a very very important part of my outfits all year. Earrings and bracelets are most important for me in summer when I can leave off a coat or outdoor jacket.
To avoid duplications, I try to ask myself when making any new purchase, “If I did not have this piece, what would I wear instead?”

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

If I can see or feel the difference between two items in a category (let's say black blazers) then it is enough variety for me even though casual observers (i.e. everyone, with the exception of this forum, because, frankly no one is paying that much attention to what I wear!). I have several dark long shorts and many pairs of jeans that are similar but not the same to me. So basically what Carla said - if you can imagine a reason you would choose one over the other, that is variety enough.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

This is an excellent point Katerina. I have been musing on this as I look down my list of tracked wears, particularly noticed it in Sally’s July challenge. I have too many tops on my autumn/winter/spring tops list. I have 26, and ( before going back on the forum this afternoon) had just counted my wears of all these tops since our autumn started in March. It was 112. I have only worn dresses occasionally. When I wear jumpers (sweaters) I do wear a top, usually a mock turtleneck, underneath, because otherwise I feel itchy, and sometimes I need to take the jumper off as well if I get really hot say while doing a procedure. So there has to be a top under there.
If there are a few days where it seems I didn’t wear a top ( since there are about 170 days since start of March until now) then I was either wearing what I call a “summer” top- when it was still warm autumn-or I was wearing a dress.
So I’ve only been able to wear the tops 4-5 times each on average this season. I do like variety, but then I also like to be Team Wear when I buy something new- so in fact my new orange top is the most worn with 14 wears, which has displaced other things. I am going to have to either edit out some tops, or not buy so many, or live with a larger wardrobe! So I relate to your thinking!!

SarahD8

Veteran

Katerina, like you I also prefer to wear a relatively narrow range of silhouettes but crave variety in color. Like you I am happy to buy the same item in different colors if it really works well for me.

For my wardrobe, in order for items in the same color not to be duplicates they would have to be different in either cut (a long cardigan vs. a cropped one), season (a lightweight flat-knit cardigan for warm spring vs. a thick cable-knit one for winter), or style (a high-necked Victorian white blouse vs. a tuxedo-pleat collared one).

So, I own a big, cozy, long black cardigan. I'm not likely to buy another one, even if it were distinct in certain ways (e.g., a different collar or style of buttons), because it would fill pretty much the same function. I'd rather save my budget and wardrobe space for a big, cozy, long cardigan of a different color.

But, I agree with other posters that you seem to manage your large wardrobe well and enjoy all your clothes, so I say no worries!

Bijou

Veteran

I have a large wardrobe and find it is functional for me. I have my go-to items, fitted dresses, pencil skirts, cropped jackets, basic knits and then different items to mix things up. However, if I was to reduce my wardrobe down I would prioritise my go-tos and ditch the rest. When I need to feel fab it is the old favourites that are the winners each and every time.

Recently I tried on a suit that fitted perfectly and was beautifully tailored, perfect for my work and would mix and match with other items I own. I did not buy it. The reason, despite it being so appropriate with the masculine styling did not feel like me. I felt like I should love it, but it felt wrong and something that a "cool girl" would wear. And there's the rub, I don't identify myself as a 'cool girl'. I could buy that suit and inject the pretty to make it more me, but that is a bit of effort and I don't really feel the need to bother.

I bought a black peplum vest suit instead and wore it immediately. Sticking with my preferred silhouette, maybe it was not adventurous but on the other hand, I bought something that I love and will wear and is subtly different from anything else I own. To me it is different and fresh and at the end of the day isn't that what matters? I don't need to look cool, I prefer to look like myself.

For me, accessories are really important, particularly bags and shoes. I love to co-ordinate the colour of my bag to my outfit, and find my boots or statement footwear a way of injecting a modern touch to what is often a more retro silhouette.

Jane

Veteran

You have a wonderful wardrobe and your joy in fashion shows through in the care you take to select outfits.

I don’t think I need so much variety but I am probably a uniform dresser. But I like to have enough latitude so that if something comes along I like, I can include without worrying too much.

Cee

Veteran

Going by the comics I read in the '60s and '70s ( yes, I'm OAF ) we should be all be wearing leotard style bodysuits, knee high boots, skullcaps and capes by now !!

Style Fan

Veteran

Katerina, you have a wonderful sense of style. Your "uniform" works well for you. As Carla pointed out, there are differences between each piece of clothing that create variety.
I am a collector. I don't collect things like I use to but I do look at my clothing as a collection. I think my wardrobe would be considered smallish but I am retired. When I was working it was a different story.
I also wear the same colours and silhouettes as I did decades ago. It works for me. I don't crave variety. I crave quality. I want really well made clothing that will last a long time. I am willing to buy one pair of pants instead of five.

The Cat

Veteran

Katerina, you have a fabulous style, which seems to serve you well. I might have said this before, but will use this opportunity to say it again: Though you are much younger than Gitte Lee, your impressing style reminds me of hers, and she is one of the most timeless elegant ladies I know about. Just take a look at these blog posts at Advanced Style: https://www.advanced.style/?s=GITTE+LEE
Interestingly (and inspirational, I think), Gitte Lee "has her own timeless and elegant and uniform ready for all occasions . Her outfits are the same for every season, a sweater, long coat, and pair of loose trousers. She wears her signature black glasses and different hats to protect her skin from the sun. The true secret to Gitte’s style is that she changes fabrics to suit the season, lighter cotton for the summer, and heavier fabrics during the colder months, but sticks to a simple and clean color palette and structure and accessorizes to suit each outfit. Each beautiful combination is subtly different with the change of a hat or bag and they can be worn day or night in all types of weather." - Quote from blog post "Gitte Lee: The Art of Personal Style" at Advanced Style.

I am among those who crave variety in colours and colour mixing, not in silhouettes. I feel a need for non-neutrals as well as neutrals, and all my outfits nowadays consist of at least one (and often more) of each. However, for decades I have worn--and I am still a happy wearer of--styles like: midi dresses; midi skirts; straight long trousers; round-neck and turtleneck tops; ballet flats; riding boots; medium and long length blazers and cardigans; midi coats; button-shaped earrings; wide-brimmed hats; berets; structured shoulder bags. And most of my outfits don't feel completed without either a necklace or a scarf or both.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Katerina, this is how I think about duplication in my wardrobe--not "does it look just like the other?" but "does it fill the same role?" For me, then, a jumpsuit and the joggers Angie highlighted recently would be duplicates, because I can't think of a place I'd wear one but not the other, a mood that one would work for but not the other, a body part I could distract attention from with one but not hte other (that would be different depending on body)... My impression is that your many solid-color pants and blazers all fill different roles and work for different occasions and moods, despite their general similarity. (A metaphor might make it clearer--fiction, non-fiction, and reference books are all different things, but items with the categories are not interchangeable. Those can all be broken into more categories, perhaps by era and language in which they were written, but still, a German Romantic poem, for example (my son is studying them in school now) is not interchangeable with other German Romantic poems--they belong to that overall general category, but can say "the world is a wonderful, marvelous place" or "I'm plunging myself into the abyss because life is meaningless" or anything in-between.)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for that link to Gitte Lee, The Cat. So true -- Katerina could be her much younger style sister! And wow, what amazing style. What you (Katerina) have in common with Gitte is the timeless drama. It's fabulous, it's you, and there is no need to change it when it works so well on you!

I also nodded along with those who said that each pair of black trousers can be subtly different and fill a different function -- that makes complete sense to me!

Christina F.

Veteran

I live variety in color and pattern, mostly. I have been adding to the silhouettes I use, over time, so I like variety there too. But I wouldn't get so tired of fit and flare dresses, for instance, if I wore them for a week straight. (Though I'd probably be tired of wearing dresses of any kind for a week straight.) That's as long as they were different colors, of course. I'd get tired of wearing blue dresses all week, though, even if they were all different shapes.

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