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May be lame but I need the list

Trishalee

What are the must have items that everyone needs in their wardrobe? I need a list-I'm fashionably challenged. I have a closet stuffed with clothes and nothing to wear. I'm a nurse and I wear scrubs at work. In life I want some polish. Jeans and tees are great but everyday is not the image I want. I have stellar accessories. I have invested in quality items so my shoes, bags, scarves, jewelry, sunnies etc etc are of a good caliber. Several years ago I invested in a black Chanel 255 bag and have never used it. Why you may ask? Because it just wouldn't look right with jeans and a "Heal with Steal" surgery sweatshirt.

I have a perfectly tailored black trench coat, black ankle pants that fit well, some nice skirts that are not too boho for me (I love the look but it always makes me feel dumpy when I go too boho), a black blazer nicely tailored, and a bunch of t-shirty type tops. That is what my fashionista friend says is worthy of keeping from my entire closet. I get to keep all my accessories with the exception of one hideous scarf I bought on a whim in Venice.

Last week I purchased some nice fitting bermuda shorts. I have great wedge shoes and a nice clutch but no top to go with it. I saw Angie's article and loved to look. I'm large breasted so tops are always an issue with me. I also bought some white jeans.

Please help me build a new closet.

Dressing

32 replies

Latest reply was from

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Angie has a whole pinterest board with 2.55 looks

http://pinterest.com/youlookfab/255/

Also I wear scrubs to work and use my off hours to express myself.

Marlene

Veteran

I've been collecting wardrobe lists on my pinterest board. have a look through and see if any are helpful for you. I think the best one has 50 items a fashionista needs. maybe it would work for you?

http://pinterest.com/enginemom/fashion-tips/

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You won't love me for this, but the truth is, there are no "must haves" that every woman needs --- except maybe a great bra and a great haircut.

Angie always says those are the first steps to a style evolution. Bra fitting if you haven't had one in six months, and evaluate the hair. And specs, too, if you wear them.

Apart from there, it becomes a question first of figuring out what you do in your life when you are not wearing scrubs. What sort of capsules do you need? Maybe you are not wearing your fab accessories because you don't have the stuff to go with them, or maybe you're not wearing them because they are for your fantasy life? (A lot of us are guilty of buying for a fantasy life, so if that's you, don't feel bad!)

Having said that, most of the time you can work dressy accessories into more casual outfits, and if they are great quality, there is every reason to keep them and find a way to make them work. It just takes some imagination and inspiration.

For now, it might help to make a list of your most frequent activities. And those times when you find yourself staring at the closet thinking: ACK!!!! And maybe we can work from there!

PS You are not lame! And looking at lists can be really helpful as a jumping off point!

unfrumped

Veteran

Hi! No lame-er than I, that's for sure! It sounds like you have some great wardrobe items already, but you may need to focus on tops, even though they're hardest.

You might start by trying to get a handle on one or 2 styles of tops that work with your figure and with the types of bottoms you like to wear and really focus on shopping for those. You may have to try on a lot! If you have photos, that can help.

In the bigger picture, it sounds like you are interested in the "not work" part of life for wardrobe building, so lots of folks have foound it helps to make a list of the actual activities for which they need outfits. Then, try to think of what's your clothing style--how would you like to look and feel, if you could, in those situations? Observations of people you know or on the street, magazine photos, internet, Pinterest are good sources of inspiration.

Trishalee

Wow! Thanks annagybe. There are many looks there that I could definitely see myself in.

You understand the issue with changing into scrubs the minute you get to work. It's hard to put effort into dressing only to undress 10 minutes later, unfortunately then I look horrible when I leave work. Time for a change!

Trishalee

Suz-I absolutely have clothes for a life I'm not living but somehow my go to clothes are not great for the live I am living. Dumpy. My life isn't dumpy so why have I chosen to dress that way for so long?

Unfrumped-that is great advise. My tops are pathetic. I tend to look good in wrap dresses so I'm hoping to find some wrap tops. Being large chested I need a set in sleeve as dolman sleeves make me look twice a big and pregnant.

Marlene-the pinterest list is a great starting point. I love it.

I'm sitting here looking at my living room. It is so beautiful, perfectly edited I am told. A designer came in and asked to take pictures for her look book. Why has this not jumped into my closet?

Trishalee

Suz-I DID just get a bra fitting about a month ago. It made a tremendous difference in my appearance. I have a great hair stylist who keeps my hair in line and current. I even (bonus points) went for a complete new makeup look as I grew tired of my old routine. Bra fitting is vital especially when you are large and droppy on top.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Hi! Here are some links from Angie about building wardrobe capsules. I would read these to get started.
http://youlookfab.com/2012/04/.....sules-101/
http://youlookfab.com/2012/09/.....rchetypes/
http://youlookfab.com/2009/06/.....lifestyle/
http://youlookfab.com/2012/08/.....e-capsule/
http://youlookfab.com/2011/08/.....orkhorses/
http://youlookfab.com/2013/01/.....ping-list/

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sounds as if you are off to a fantastic start, then! And you have great instincts and great style. It is all a question of letting it blossom.

Starting a Pinterest board of looks you love and can see yourself wearing in real life might be a great way to begin. And also thinking about specific outfits from your past that made you feel fantastic. Can you isolate what made them feel great? That can help with the style direction.

rachylou

Veteran

I have to say analyzing what I do and what I need clothes for was one of the biggest things that has produced a feeling of satisfaction with my closet. I was trained to *the list* as a child. Sometimes I'd come out frumpy, sometimes chic, but it felt really stodgy to me.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Some of the nurses on my unit have wonderfully adorable scrubs - I don't know how you feel about your workwear, but that might be something to look into, too

In fact, there have been times I suspect they look cuter than me in their scrubs, even though I can wear whatever the heck I want :p

Krista

Veteran

The only way I was able to build my wardrobe and figure out what worked/didn't work was to plan my outfits in advance and then track how I felt about them when I wore them. I did all of this in an excel spreadsheet, and I've included a picture of it below. It also takes time to isolate what outfits and pieces of your wardrobe work for you, so don't get frustrated with yourself too quickly. It's a journey - and a very fun and healing one, at that!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Lots of magazines publish lists. The best one I've seen recently is from this blogger:

http://coffeestainedcashmere.b.....rsion.html

MsMary

Veteran

I just want to say "amen!" to everything Suz said above! I am a gigantic copier of outfits from Pinterest and find it really helps me broaden my style horizons.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

All the nurses I know work 12 hour shifts, so I think you'd be excused looking a bit bedraggled after that.
I used to work 10 hour shifts, now I'm doing 8. Unless I'm going out after work I usually don't care how I look to and from work, because I'm only in street clothes for my commute.
Try to think in terms of capsules. For example I'm a regular opera goer, so I have an opera dress capsule. Since I don't need office clothes I don't have a need for professional dress items. I do have a few pieces for conferences though.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Trishalee --

I have add-on advice to all the good resource/thoughts above --

Personal style, wherever it's expressed, is less about the pieces and more about the combinations.

Really LOOK at your "beautiful, perfectly edited" living room (and probably the other rooms in your house) and figure out how to translate that same style into your outfits.

This will take a left brain/right brain effort as you use both your analytical head and your intuitive heart. Is it:

* how you use neutrals or "color-colors" solo and/or together?
* your mix of time periods and styles?
* your use of prints/patterns and textures?
* how you use classic shapes or colors but add something X, Y, or Z?

I know the idea may sound a bit zany, but I've BTDT -- and when I started dressing like the mo' fixed part of my fixer-upper I became much happier.

With clothing as with interior design, I love/admire many styles...but what feels like "me" at any given time will be a small subset of all the possible directions, you know? If you want, you can see/read about my "Ohhhh" revelation here:

http://buildingacolorfullife.w.....-glamour-d

Please keep us posted on what you discover about your preferences; should be fun for us if a little tiresome-during, great-after for you!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Such good advice here - I agree with Suz. Although these essentials lists are a great place to start ultimately your list needs to come from you & your life not from an outside source.

tarzy

Veteran

Congratulations! The first step is admitting you have a problem...

So many of here are on similar journeys - you're in excellent company. I think it helps to pin down your style before you think about the particular pieces you might need.

How great that you've invested in some quality pieces! Personally, I love the look of a Chanel bag with jeans and a tee shirt. (I would love to own a Chanel bag.) I really like that mix of high and low as Angie calls it, but if that doesn't speak to you, that's a great thing to know. What would you love to wear your Chanel bag with? Do you have a vision of how you would like to dress, or are you still trying to figure it out?

krishnidoux

Veteran

There is a reason why you don't wear your nice clothes. Something must not be working out for you. Or it is missing a "missing link" that would bring it all on up to date and make you feel beautiful? Or, again, it is not practical for you at the moment. Something is not comfortable...

You need to take a long hard look at you closet right now and ask yourself why exactly is it that you are not reaching for these items.

Then my next advice is taking pictures of yourself. It is such an eye opener!

Sometimes the reason why we don't wear some clothes is proportion. We don't feel right in a certain cut, and when we see it on a pic we realize why.

Kristin L

Veteran

I have a bunch of lists on my pinterest as well.

http://pinterest.com/oppositeo.....-together/

Nicole D

Veteran

Agree with those who have pointed out that it is individualized what makes it onto a "must have" list. I think you need a few pieces for each part of your life that are good quality, reflect "you" and make you feel fab when you wear them.
For me, it's:
Casual: comfy jeans, cool sunglasses, comfy mid-heeled booties and a utility jacket, plus lots of goo layering pieces.
Work: Comfy pumps, hoisery that fits and flatters, a killer blazer, a few silk blouses, and a few dresses that display enough sensual capital to make an impact, but are still professional

Have fun developing our own list.

Trishalee

First you are all so KIND and helpful. It is amazing to receive support from complete strangers who are willing to give their time and hard earned advise. So Thank You all for the links, tips and hints from your own journeys.

I believe that thinking in terms of "capsules" is going to help me stop buying clothes that simply don't work into my life.

Krishnidoux you are very intuitive. I need to spend some time figuring all that out. Pictures *shudder*

Tarzy-I am trying to figure out "My" style. The styles I love are not the styles for someone with my body type. I love the Audrey Hepburn look but it simply does not work for the large breasted.

Vix-you have sparked something in my brain. I need to dress like I belong in my house. There is a huge disconnect. I love to decorate. What would I wear if someone were to take a picture of my living room with me in it??? The colors are my colors and so is the style. I need to translate it into clothing now.

Suz-I will start a board of thing I see myself in. Currently I have boards of things I like but could never wear. Might as well put those minutes (ok hours) of pinterest to work for me.

Thanks again everyone. So much to think about. I have to believe it gets easier once the time is taken to sort through it all.

bj1111

Veteran

There is always a way to wear something...why don't you think you can't wear the outfits you've pinned?

Mia

Veteran

I have read more than once that it really takes 3-5 years to build a wardrobe and that's my experience in rebuilding a wardrobe after a lifestyle change so do not be too hard on yourself. Sounds like you have made some excellent progress already on many fronts.

I read a lot of books along the way and wish I had discovered blogs like this one a lot earlier. Tons of experience and helpful ideas here. I also looked at lists from a number of sources like NIna Garcia and Stacey and Clinton. I like lists and this appealed to me but in the end thinking about my wardrobe in terms of capsules related to the areas of my life worked better for me i.e. run errands capsule, corporate wife capsule, workout capsule, community volunteer etc, etc.

Colour consultation was very useful to me. I break the "rules" now and then but being clear about the colour palette I wanted to work with was incredibly helpful and pays dividends every time I travel or shop or get dressed.

Sounds like you have some terrific "cake" in your closet already and maybe it's time to whip up the "frosting"? All occasion tops are hard but worth the search. DVF and Marni make some great ones if budget allows or can be used as inspiration.

Enjoy and keep us posted...

Wendi1984

One thing that has helped me as I've tried to improve my wardrobe and find ways to feel more "put together" and express my sense of style is trying to stick to a small group of coordinating colors for most "big" items, then mixing and matching them with various accessories. So most of my clothes are either neutrals (largely black, gray, and white, with a couple khaki items), pink or turquoise. Then I have a few different shoes, jeans (dark straight leg and lighter boyfriend skinnies with a cropped leg), skirts (gray maxi, black/white striped maxi, black shorter a-line), layering tops (denim jacket, cardigans), and some statement necklaces, scarves, etc. I feel like I can wear "jeans and a t-shirt" with a couple of touches, and look put together. It really helps me to have a lot of items in coordinating colors, so I can come up with a lot of combinations. (I used to just buy whatever color appealed to me at the store, and I ended up with a lot of "orphans" that only went with one other thing in the closet.)

I did branch out a little today and buy a navy and white striped peplum top, and a light heather blue maxi skirt. I will wear the top with jeans, khakis, or the new skirt. The skirt will go with all my neutral tops and some colors.

It definitely helps to look at "capsule wardrobe" pictures and see how you can get a lot of looks from fewer pieces if you think about coordinating colors when you shop.

harmonica

Veteran

just wanted to chime in and say that you have embarked on a fun and interesting journey! I love lists too, but as Suz said - they need to be adjusted to your lifestyle and climate, so starting with a list of your activities would probably help you a long way. and get rid of all the ill fitting clothes and the ones that don't make your heart sing. YLF will be here to support you all the way there are lots of great advice from the ladies here, so I'll just say welcome and keep up doing small steps. you have already made a great start

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Just reiterating that blanket lists don't fit our unique needs. I have some items that many ladies would wear weekly, that see once a year wear in my closet - trench coat, pencil skirt, white button down shirt, suit. Shop with your lifestyle in mind and you'll do great.
I also agree with keeping a color palette in mind, so that remixing is a bit easier. I don't necessarily tell myself I can't have this or that color, but I tend towards the same big 4 mixed with my choice neutrals and it makes things a lot more coherent.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I'm obsessed with packing lists and wardrobe essential lists, although I NEVER follow their advice... so I enjoyed this thread and the advice. And the new pinterest sites to check out

Can somebody tell me what 2.55 is??

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Classic Chanel bag, Elizabeth. With the quilting and chain.

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