my new maxim: only keep and buy things that I would take on vacation

While visiting family the past three weeks (and living out of a carry-on) I did a lot of thinking about wardrobe editing. Thinking in terms of what I would bring on a vacation with me has been extremely helpful. It ties into some ideas currently being discussed in this thread: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....greenglove about only keeping and buying your best stuff, even with lounge wear.

Basically, there are some specific items that I would bring with me pretty much anywhere (my go to boots, booties, and/or sandals, a couple of basic tops, my skinny jeans, a couple of dresses, a couple of cardis, sunglasses, and a handful of jewelry). These are the absolute basics and essentials of my wardrobe.

Others would be necessary in some packing situations (snow boots, water sandals, running shoes, rain jacket, ski jacket, wedding guest dress, swim suit, etc), and I only need so many of them. I can't imagine a time when I'll need more than my two swimsuits (but if you can, more power to you), so I can safely limit my swimsuit wardrobe to two. I only need one or two of most of these items, but depending on where you live or what you do it might make sense to have more.

Then there are the items that are never necessary, but depending on the trip would come with me. They play well with others, are presentable, and keep me from getting completely sick of my "core wardrobe". These are also worth keeping.

And then there's everything else. The lounge wear and exercise shirts that I would never dream of bringing with me, even if I was going on an extended hospital stay, locking myself away in a cabin, or volunteering after a natural disaster. The shoes that are nice, but not my favorites and never perfect enough or versatile enough to take anywhere. Those couple pairs of socks and underwear that I hold onto in case I'm not able to do laundry for more than 30 days, but when am I ever going to pack 30+ days worth of clothing for any trip? The tops and sweaters that I wear once every month or two just to keep myself from admitting that I don't love them and probably shouldn't have bought them in the first place, that (like the shoes) aren't perfect or versatile enough to bring on vacation anywhere. I could go on, but I'll leave it here and hope that you know exactly which kinds of items I'm talking about. These are the things I don't need; the things I would never take with me anywhere, no matter where I might go.

I would LOVE to hear your feedback! Especially if you already follow wardrobe guidelines like this, think that this approach could be helpful, or see some flaws that I'm missing.

14 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

That's a great way of thinking about it! You're right - I think a lot of my closet is full of things that is okay; but I definitely wouldn't take it with me when I want to look my absolute fab-est!

I can't think of any trip where I'd pack more than 30 days of clothes; maybe a world cruise!

I need to do something similar. But I have so many lounge and/or gear times to dress for that I can't reasonably think in terms of vacation worthy items only. I can, however, think in terms of decent quality and fit for those occasions. And, like you, I do sometimes wear so-so stuff more often because I don't care if it gets ruined while puttering around the house or whatever.
Moreover, I need to decide when enough is enough. I have five red shirts and none is perfect. I am donating at least 2 the minute my (hopefully) perfect new red tunic comes. I think I need to quit getting 'almosts' and hold out for 'perfects'. Part of that is having to shop mostly online and not being able to try on, part of that is not wanting to let go of what I do have, and part of that is not knowing when something is right or simply almost right. Hmmmm . . .

crazyone

I guess the flaw that I see is that to me travel friendly means lightweight and wrinkle-resistant. But some of my best loved items don't fit this bill.

catgirl

This is a great idea! I had an even more extreme vision the other night as I was chucking clothes around in the closet, which was to only keep things I would want to save in a fire.

Re: travel, my main problem is that I have had horrible luck with airlines either losing or destroying my bags (ask me about the time a plane ran over my suitcase). So I tend to take my least favorite items with me, unless I'm going somewhere I need to be dressy. Plus I figure I can throw them out and buy new stuff if I'm going somewhere I can shop...

anne

It is an interesting theory, and one I was thought of a few years ago when thinking about capsule dressing.
My tendencies are towards a minimal wardrobe size and even though I have had to increase my wardrobe size since becoming a SAHM I still have a lot less clothes than you Kate, or many on YLF. I suspect that you could easily cut a lot out, and know that you are working on this in a most admirably methodical way!

That said there was a great post of Already Pretty a while ago which I can't seem to find (perhaps someone can) about not culling some items that might not get worn much but still have some use in your wardrobe. Items you might not buy again if you had the chance, but can still use.

Suz

I think this is an interesting premise, but it wouldn't work for me, because I tend to need a different type of capsule on holiday than I might need in my day-to-day life—either dressier (because I'm going to a large urban centre and will be out and about) or more sporty (because it is an outdoor holiday with kids.)

Having said that, I really, really, REALLY like the idea of a wardrobe that includes only items that one LOVES. They may or may not get worn all the time; if you rarely get invited to formal occasions yet still need a formal dress, you may only wear it once or twice a year—yet you should love it and feel wonderful in it.

I tend towards closet minimalism and I have recently done a huge purge, but even then I probably still have items that I could dispose of. And, as I find the "perfect" replacements, I hope to do just that!

modgrl

I love this idea. It is a great to have a small workable wardrobe of only perfect things.

It wouldn't exactly work for me because I have many capsules in my life. I tend to demote things from work, to MOTG, to lounge in that order. I'm pretty tough on my clothes too, I need to keep those demoted things around because they wear out fast digging for worms and chasing the dogs.

Modgrl, this is part of my problem too - I have at least five different regular clothing needs: business formal, business casual, truly casual, gear, lounge (and sometimes formal)...

Charmian

Hmm, interesting! I see a few folks saying "it doesn't quite work for me because I have so many capsules". Maybe a different "spin" on Kate's proposal would be "only put items into capsule X if you would take it on a travelling-version of that capsule"? So you'd have "business formal that I'd take travelling", "gear that I'd take travelling", etc.

Would that lead to an extremely specialized wardrobe, with pieces that don't span capsules? Like anne, I have an extremely tiny tiny wardrobe (but unlike anne, mine's not nearly as edited/polished!) ... would love to hear some feedback from ladies with larger wardrobes than mine!

Kate

Charmian, I love the idea of "only put items into capsule X if you would take it on a travelling-version of that capsule"! I guess part of why this thinking works for me is that I have gone on trips the use so many of my different capsules. I've packed for conferences, weddings, gutting houses in New Orleans (I packed only shirts that I could throw away afterward), skiing, hanging out, painting/yard work at my parent's house, Hawaii, driving cross country in the summer (comfort was key!), winter in Ohio, a rock music festival, hiking and beach walks at Thanksgiving time, a semester in South Africa, a semester in Europe, etc. For me, it isn't much of a stretch to imagine packing all of my different capsules because at one point or another I've had to pack them.

For me, many of my absolute basics and some of the extras that play well with others are versatile and span many of my capsules. For me, the bigger I let my wardrobe get the more I allow it to specialize. If I make sure to keep my wardrobe small, I prioritize versatile items. Many people encourage changing things up with accessories, but my reality is that I play favorites with accessories. I don't need a huge collection of shoes, belts, or earrings, I need a well constructed core that can take me anywhere. Bigger and more specialized just means that I'm not using everything as much as I should, because I naturally favor the more versatile items even on occasions when I could take advantage of something more specialized.

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