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My travel wardrobe has me wanting less

Raisin

Veteran

On my recent trip to Croatia I took a very small wardrobe of 3 pants, about 4 tops, 1 jacket, 1 shorts, 1 dress and 3 shoes. It worked really well, and now that I'm home I realize I really liked the ease of dressing, and the low fuss of my outfits. I kind of came to the realization that about half my wardrobe consists of pieces that work pretty well, and in the same fashion as my travel wardrobe. The other half are still pieces that I really like, but don't wear as much or hardly ever because they're not as easy, or it might not be practical that day. These include things like silk tops, dresses....etc.

I have a major urge to really pare it down and work with a small group of clothes. But I do still like the other pieces.....but some of them I feel like, why am I keeping them, I really don't wear them. Some I will wear once in a while, and post a photo here, but really, but day-to-day comfort level is what I wore on my trip. I guess I have bought quite a few pieces that I do quite like, but maybe aren't quite practical for my lifestyle.

I'm not sure if this is just something I'm ruminating over or something I will act on....

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I feel this from time to time, but then I get back to liking having that option that I might just wear a couple times a year. If space is not an issue, I wouldn't go tossing the rest just yet. Maybe separate your capsule from the rest for a while just to see how it goes.

Anonymous

I'm nodding my head along with you as I read your post! In fact, I followed a link here that Sarah A (I think) posted yesterday:
http://into-mind.com/2013/01/0.....be-revamp/
and I culled a few of those things that I wasn't wearing and didn't want to wear again. It was a big deal for me because some of them I spent some money on, but I've since found things that I like better and wear more. Something on that site about unwanted things sapping creativity...anyway, I took them to the consignment store yesterday and it was very freeing.

OTH, if your items are special occasion items and they're still right for your style, I would hang onto them. You could just put them in another closet so you're not looking at them all the time.

Kristin L

Veteran

Is it possible for you to do a trial run of sorts? Maybe put the things your unsure about away for a bit and see if you need it more often than you think?

I've been going through a large purge myself recently and it has been pretty liberating. But, I have to go slowly.

unfrumped

Veteran

That's a good observation and maybe an action too. Maybe your "other" clothes just need to be highly selected for specific needs-wedding, funeral,party. Then you might have a few things you don't wear as often, but you know why they're there.Of course you might be able to work toward more overlap with your comfort clothes, too.

Isabel

Veteran

I think that this a somewhat common feeling after a trip. Remember though, your trip is not your everyday life. I would suggest that you pack some things away and try a smaller wardrobe. If something needs to be moved back in, you still have it. I did that for Spring. I packed up a whole bunch of things and I am working with much less. If it works well, I hope to have a better idea of what to give away from a practical perspective.

Good Luck ! ( and Croatia...WOW....I have heard that it is a very beautiful country )

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, I had a very opposite feeling after my trip - that I was so sick of the limited wardrobe options and I did not want to see the pieces I took with me for a month after I got home!
I think a trial for "other" wardrobe part is a good idea: after all you can always cull later if you don't feel a need for them.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I reached this same conclusion after putting together a decent travel capsule first and realizing that I really don't need much more than that. Well, maybe 2 travel capsules because fall/winter is so cold here. Limiting the palette was the key for me. I'd rather get good use out of stuff I own, own less and spend a little more on quality. The more I edited (I don't say purge, it's has a nasty feel), the better I felt about what was left. And now I'm seeing spaces for things I never would have considered, like a crocodile print scarf that matches 2 of my jackets, or the persimmon/coral shoes that would be fantastic with my fall clothes. I don't hobby shop, hate it actually, so getting excited about finding the additions is pretty fun. If shopping and getting new stuff is a pasttime, a small wardrobe might feel like a diet in all the wrong ways. For me, I finally feel like I'm getting my grown-up act together.

Raisin

Veteran

You guys are right, it doesn't hurt to just put a few items away and work with less. I just took out about 10 items, and my wardrobe is not big to begin with. I feel fine though, it's almost like once I got them out of my closet physically, then I'm ok to let them go. It's seeing them in there and knowing that they are good quality and money was spent on them that makes it hard. So for now they're just in a bag. Who knows, may e they'll make it to the consignment store. Well see how much I miss them. I also realized there's a couple pieces I hold onto because I like them for some reasons, but they're not perfect. Like this well fitting, easy care stretchy dress I have. The only issue is the colors and pattern are not quite me anymore, but it's still pretty. Maybe I will let it go when I find a better version.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think taking the clothes out of your wardrobe, without actually taking them to consignment is a great move, you will see if you miss them. Keeping an item until you replace it with something better/more your current style is an ongoing process imo.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I will say that it took me until year 2 here to start getting rid of the 'good enough' items. Like the dress that fit and flattered, but just wasn't my colors.
Even just today I passed on a pair of pants I love the style of because the fit just isn't ideal. You have to know what your own threshold is with these 'almost' items. I do not, however, let frequency of wear dictate whether an item deserves to stay. As I said, some things I'm totally happy to wear just a few times a year. And I'm not talking special occasion stuff. That's just me, though.

Anonymous

I'm such a serial editor, I think I get happy chemicals that course through my veins when I decide that I'm through with something or that it's not 'me' anymore. Usually, I put stuff in a spare closet, but I've found that once I get that feeling about something....it's only a matter of time before I cull it. Then I feel like I'm 'that' much closer to finding and realizing the style I'm aspiring to.

Yesterday, I bagged up a huge bag (to be fair, it was a lot of sleep/loungewear and a small amount of "fashion") and I didn't even want to sleep on it. I wanted it out of here before I could change my mind. Sometimes there is nothing really wrong with an item, but it's just no longer me. I would never tell anyone else to do this, but I find a strange sense of pleasure in it.

Carla

Veteran

Interesting post. I've been thinking about what outfit I would put together if I could only wear one thing, for the rest of my life! It is my favourite travel outfit...black jeans style straight cut pants with a bit of stretch, a black and white striped mariner T, my Chelsea boots, a black trench coat, a pashmina.

I don't know if it is the complete comfort factor, or the happiness factor of loving travel so much!

Having spent the last 4 months editing/ purging (I like the term 'curating' ) my closet, I find I'm not the mad shopper I thought I would be now that the process is more or less complete. I really like, even love most of the stuff I've got and I want to play with it while adding a few choice items. The choice items have to meet a very high standard now, thanks to what I'm learning from Angie, and the Fabbers!

Set aside the stuff you don't love right now, but don't send them away quite yet. We all get the itch to spring clean after the long winter. (I'm purging my kitchen this weekend!)

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I guess you missed my recent epiphany after my trip

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....e-epiphany

I'm in purge mode right now.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Like Claire, I'm a serial culler. I need to get it out of my closet if it doesn't feel like me. The only thing I do hesitate about (from past experience) is stuff that I might actually be wearing more than I am wearing if weather conditions were different. You know, sometimes you have a cold or rainy spring and don't get to wear this or that item much...but the next year it might be in constant rotation. Another year, you'd hardly wear your trench because it never rains... that kind of thing. Also, if it is a silk blouse that you might in fact wear for a dinner out or other special occasion, it might be worth hanging onto. But you know, I cull about three times a season!! And feel so much better for it.

sarah

Veteran

Rae, I realize I felt the same way after my trip, too! And it makes me think that I need to plan a "fake" travel capsule for summer - a set of go-to outfits that I can don without thinking and that I know will work. Thanks for the inspiration! Hope you had a great trip.

Scarlet

Veteran

I didn't get a chance to comment on your other thread but I was blown away by your travel wardrobe. I feel like that is the direction I want to move in myself too. Relentlessly practical (but chic). Just as an example I have a DVF silk top that I love, but every time I wear it I know it needs special washing and ironing and I just don't have the time right now. Also in terms of physical space I need to downsize what I have. I wish I knew someone who I could pass on some of my nice things to. It would make it much easier to let go.

I have to say though, ironically, I find packing stressful because I hate to pair things down and to be cut off from my options. I do like to have a good variety of clothing.

Astrid

Veteran

I always feel the same when I'm back in Berlin after living out of the bag when I visited my parents. I don't have some of the great pieces yet I want to have, but I feel kind of unburdened when I dress two weeks with the little stuff I've been taking. Obviously I can't reduce my whole wardrobe too much because I need to be prepared for all kinds of weather, but I really don't want to have too much for a season. I'm looking forward to hear your further musings on the topic! Your travel capsule was great.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I find traveling always spurs purges. It very much refines a functional style and shows how a single item can be terribly useful, or not useful at all. It's very cleansing to head home and get rid of things that absence has NOT made fonder!

However, I also find that living as if my closet were a small suitcase gets very boring after awhile. Trips are usually pretty short, and fairly interesting, so there's not enough time to get tired of things (and if you are, whatever, you only need to wear it for X more days), you have more tolerance for wearing something not quite as fresh as you might like, and there's no need for 4-season wear. Vacations are also usually "themed" - work, pleasure, family. My life is less so.

So, generally, I find post-purge there's closet creep.

Lisa

Veteran

I also find my travel wardrobes make dressing so easy. I pack a very small color palette for travel and always one base (black or brown or blue but not all of them). My regular closet has 3 bases and while it makes dressing more of a challenge, I do find I tire of clothes so having the 3 bases let's me rotate without going on major shopping binges.

Carole

Veteran

I came to this realization after a big trip, too. There's something about a well thought out capsule that makes life so much simpler. No wasting time rummaging through trying to find something new to wear. Everything is right there-you can see it all right in front of you. Colorful scarves and accessories at the ready help to mix things up. I'm trying this at home right now. I have a small 10 piece capsule I'm dressing from for a couple weeks.

Speed Dressing!

rachylou

Veteran

The one thing about a very very minimalist wardrobe, I found out, is that you wear out your clothes at an alarming (to me) rate. I sorta love pieces and want them to be around for years, not months.

Raisin

Veteran

It's weird that just getting them out of my closet has helped a lot. I don't know if I'll get rid of all of them yet, but I just don't feel like I want them back right now, that's for sure. Especially since I had to fill up valuable space with 3 pairs of work pants and 2 shirts, since I'm back to work on Monday. Lol, my uniform is bulky and it looks like 1/3 of my wardrobe is uniform now :$

Day Vies

Veteran

I like long trips because they make you realize how little you need to dress well, function and feel like yourself. A whole closet feels excessive after managing with 10 or so pieces for a few weeks. No advice here but I think if you haven't touched it in a year it might be time to let it go (especially if it doesn't make you happy anymore).

Raisin

Veteran

Yes good point DV. Even though I like some of the pieces, mannof the, haven't been worn in a year. So it's almost like I just like them because they are pretty, but not practical for me or not my style. I guess that's why I don't miss them now that they're outta my closet. Next step, consignment!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Interesting. I'm just the opposite, more like Sveta. I wanted to hug my closet when I got home after three weeks in the arctic, and even more so after two months of driving across the country! I got so sick of those same tops and hoodies, and I missed my fab shoes. But much of my travel involves a lot of gear and choices that put comfort and function ahead of style. I also tend to go places that have extreme weather situations (you dont need jeans in Hawaii or silk blouses in the Arctic) and don't require any dressing up. I'm also a little afraid to take my very favorite things on any trip that involves checking bags for flights. But most of all, I just plain like to have lots of options in my closet. I'm always editing, but I'm always adding too. I don't think I will ever be a minimalist wardrobe person, and I'm ok with that!