Something strange has been happening to me

Cococat

I have had this incredible urge to get rid of everything in my wardrobe and start afresh. I have been filling bags and taking them to the thrift store. So far I've filled 4 huge bags, and I know I could fill at least another 4. I'm not sure how much I should get rid of, but I'm trying to be ruthless and only keep things that I love. It's terrifying, but thrilling at the same time.

Along with reducing the size of my wardrobe, I have decided that I want to dress differently now. I'm not sure how to describe how I want to look, but I'm thinking that it would be a more creative look, but simple, and sharp. I'm drawn to black and white and unusual shapes and pairings. It's all a bit of a jumble in my head at the moment but I have been creating an inspiration board on Pinterest and trying to figure out how I can interpret some of the looks with what I already have.

Here's my board. https://www.pinterest.com/nata.....spiration/

I also want to stop buying so much. I would prefer to choose just a few beautiful things each season, and wear them out. I don't think I've ever worn something out! It will be a huge change for me and I'm hoping I can do it. It's been so easy to buy buy buy, but I'm getting rid of some things with tags still on them and I don't want to do that any more. It's so wasteful.

I would welcome any advice about making such a huge change and how to define and move into a new style of dressing. Are there common themes to the looks on my board, apart from black and white? Am I being realistic wanting to interpret looks from fashion editors etc.?

Thanks for reading.

10 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Cococat

Stephanie

Active Member

Ha! This is exactly what happened to me. In the spring I did a huge overhaul and emptied almost my entire wardrobe. It feels crazy but also so good. I'm on a similar path in wanting to buy fewer things and keep only thins I love. The idea of opening my closet and being excited to wear everything in it is so exciting to me.

For me, I think I actually was a little too ruthless. I over purged as another forum member described it. So be careful that you don't get rid of everything unless you have the budget to refill with what you like kind of quickly.

I see modern with an avant garde twist and a touch of eclectic in your pins. Dramatic cuts and fancy footwear...I like! But there are some classic pieces in there too, like skinnies, and a lot of nice coats.

i know it's not as exciting, but maybe start building up the basics aka "building blocks" of your ideal wardrobe first. Once you know what look you're going for, make a list of 5-6 key pieces that would make a big impact right now (the blog into mind is where I'm taking this cue from) and buy those first. Then brand out and add a few statement pieces that define your style. I love your pin board!

10 years ago

Kamya

Active Member

I actually couldn't see that board of yours on Pinterest but I do think this idea of yours of having a whole wardrobe with a new style is a very intelligent idea and that I just wanted to tell you since I don't have any good ideas at present for you I try and think of something!In the meantime, bes of luck for your style transition.....!

10 years ago

Anonymous

I don't think you're going crazy at all - and totally agree with the feeling of excitement and thrill such a process can generate. We all go through periods of growth , whether it's spiritual, emotional, physical, whatever...and changing your look and your closet is a natural by-product of that process. I think it's great! As for advice, I have none. I am a relentless purger, but still haven't figured out how to stick to my goal of "less is more" . Getting there

10 years ago

Elly

Veteran

You're pinterest seems kinda feminine avant-garde? Looks cool!

I'm a small wardrobe enthusiast and I am moving, so I've recently done the whole "purge all the dregs in the closet" thing and got rid of about 4 bags of clothing (most of it was men's tees and formalwear I'd been collecting for the past 10 years or so). I have been working with a reduced wardrobe for several years now and am slowly growing/changing it to meet my needs as they evolve (new job, etc.). I routinely wear things out and here is my advice/preaching:

balance is really important-- it is great to have an ideal, but you need to experiment with what you will actually wear before going whole hog-- likewise, a really really small wardrobe might not be for you because of your lifestyle or personality
Angie recently did a post where she classified pieces as essentials/workhorses, as the backbone, or as specialists-- when talking about wearing things out it is really easy just to purge down to essentials. However, I've personally found that you need to have a few other pieces to wear that may not be the bread and butter but for the days when you can't stand to wear THAT sweater again, when everything you own needs washed, or when your only pair of skinny jeans bites the dust-- plus, you still need something to wear to funerals, interviews, and other last minute occasions
The holding zone concept might be a good thing to try--- you can keep out your new essentials, shop for completer pieces if necessary, and then shop your holding zone as needed

This might not apply to you. I'm coming for a different place than many forum members. I started on my wardrobe journey without a lot in my closet-- I was undergoing a job change and had previously worked in a field where I had to wear safety gear and wore old clothes from my student days as casual wear in my off time. A lot of my stuff was "gear" not real clothes, and many of the rest of the pieces were worn out or otherwise outdated or tired. So I started with an interview capsule and from there have had to build a smart casual professional wardrobe that suits my unique work needs, and a new casual and formal capsule. I had seven work tops last winter and only 2 survived! I'm at the point where I need to add a bit more because replacing EVERYTHING every season isn't as much fun as it sounds. Having a backbone, or at least more essentials would solve that-- and make laundry and logistics easier.

10 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have a similar urge. I haven't actually done anything about it yet, but I'm thinking.

For me, 2 sides are at war. One side loves to play with new trends and enjoys a bit of variety. I don't have what in YLF terms is a large wardrobe, but it is moderate (about 120 pieces for 4 seasons). I wear everything, but some items not too often.

The other side of me craves greater simplicity and, for want of a better word, "sharpness." I am also attracted to black and white -- trouble is, that level of contrast is pretty high for me. I like a touch of avant-garde but it also needs to be wearable for my casual life. The drama appeals -- but then is difficult for me to wear IRL.

Anyway -- none of this answers your dilemma. I am wondering if you are going through personal upheaval of some kind? Usually that is when we crave a big fashion change. And perhaps the change will help direct you where you want to go. It may be a very good thing.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having a small wardrobe. Shopping becomes a bit more fraught, I find, because at the end of each season you have more actual needs vs. wants. Then, if you're unable to find the right pieces to fill those gaps, you have a problem. So it can end up resulting in more buying rather than less.

10 years ago

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

You know I've been going through this for a while; you've seen me through my journey of purging and trying to find some sort of balance in my non-cohesive wardrobe.

I've always associated with you on the fact that we like to add and add and add and wear everything with great joy ( well, when we can find it in our overstuffed wardrobes!) and then forget it and find the next beautiful thing to wear. There comes a point where it gets tiring. To be honest, I hated folding SO MANY CLOTHES and figuring out the best way to store them!

I love your Pinterest board. It's very YOU. My only advice - don't stress too much! Your wardrobe didn't grow too big in one day; it won't grow smaller in one day either. I haven't worn out anything ever either....but I see it happening this summer! Not too much though, a couple of things here and there. But it IS happening.

The thing that helped me a lot was to try to find a ' pattern' in how I dressed. Yes, I had 1000 odd pieces, but what made me want to wear 20 pieces more often than the others? What were the common elements there?

Another thing - once you do figure out that you love love love a silhouette, don't try and find too much variety in it. Wear the couple of things you have over and over and over. Sometimes, you kind of get 'over' something real fast...and sometimes you know it's a Iove that will last. The only way to actually wear out your clothes is to wear them all as often as you can... Now it's up to you what combination works - a capsule where everything works with everything so all your pieces are worn regularly; or actually repeating the same outfit over and over with the same pieces, without feeling bored. For me - the latter works better than the former. But that's me.....you've got to pave your own way...

I wish you all the best!

10 years ago

Cococat

Veteran

I've just woken up and turned on the computer to read your replies, Thank you! I'm off to hula class so no time to respond but...I'll be back.

10 years ago

deb

Veteran

I see straight lines with a playful twist on your board. To me the simplicity of the straight line is broken up with the playful part and I think you can keep anything that has those qualities and put them together. If nothing else, it will show you how much you really like the look on your body. In the past I have really liked a style but my body just did not carry it off well.

10 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The first word that came to mind upon looking at your board is architectural. I see a lot of amazing pieces that probably need to be higher end to look right. I am currently selling off a great deal of my wardrobe to finance a few key pieces (to be determined). I don't know if you can consign anything, but I find selling 10 to buy one very satisfying somehow.

10 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

I am so excited! Many of us have had this same experience. It will quite possibly be the best things you have done for yourself in ages You wont' look back

My only advice is go with it. Expect to still make some mistakes along the way and keep in our mind the fact that even once we are 'settled', for lack of a better word, on a style/look/aesthetic, we do continue to evolve so change is always in front of us.

I have quite a few of those outfits pinned too and feel I have a reasonable sense of where you might be headed. I have been using the descriptor Chic Avant Garde and I could see this applying to you also:) You seem attracted to simplicity, neutrals and strong but not overpowering detail. I think Fashion editors are great people to look at because so many of them have established a fabulous 'uniform' and worked out their style. They are not flitting from trend to trend but rather know what works for them and stick with it, adding updates to stay current.

Once you start shopping, be super picky, buy quality and love what you buy. I do believe there is an element to this process that is almost natural/organic when you let yourself 'be yourself' stylistically.

10 years ago

Sal

Veteran

That sounds very exciting Coco, I love the chic pinterest board. Lots of emphasis on the silhouette.

I have seen you in some pieces that would work with this look so at least you have somewhere to start:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....s-purchase

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-degrees-c

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....tern-skirt

I have seen some wonderful shapes this year at Country Road and NZ designer Zambesi often has interesting black architectural clothing too.

10 years ago

Cococat

Veteran

Stephanie, great advice and thank you for introducing me to the into mind blog. I'm going to have a good long read. I've devoured everything I could find that Angie and others have written on ylf about paring down and finding your style. I need all the help I can get. I'm practical and logical (it's the scientist in me...lol) and floundering at the moment because I don't have a plan of attack, apart from serious purging.

Thank you Lisa. It feels like I'm going through some sort of transition. I'm 56 and I have to face the fact that I can't/shouldn't wear some of the things I used to wear because I'm older now. I'm also getting a little frustrated with work and I feel that I should be dressing differently to be taken more seriously. I'm in academia, and technically I can wear whatever I want....which I do, often very feminine dresses and almost always high heels, but I feel that it screams frivolous and I don't want that (as much as I like to think gender bias doesn't exist, it certainly does).

Elly, great advice and thank you for sharing your experience. I don't think that a really really small wardrobe will ever be for me, but I want it to be a LOT smaller and I like the idea of essentials and specialists. A holding zone will be a great idea, because I do have to go to special events, but not often.

Suz, I think that I'm going to have a similar struggle. I love following the new trends and playing with my wardrobe....but it's got so out of control (the quantity of clothes etc) that it's just not working anymore. The other problem, is that every weekend my sis and I take my 88 year old mum to the shops, and we see beautiful things and enable each other to buy buy buy. It's going to be so difficult, but I'm feeling very motivated at the moment. I'm going to count my wardrobe items after my initial purge. I've been too embarrased to do it before.

Maneera, you are spot on! I like to add and add
and add and have fun wearing the new thing and then forget it and find the next
beautiful thing to wear. But it gets so tiring and things get hidden and I buy almost the same thing because I forgot what I had. In my purge so far I have found so many beautiful things that have been hidden.

10 years ago

Cococat

Veteran

Thank you Deb, Shevia, Deborah and Sally! Such great advice from all of you.

Shevia, I agree that higher end will make it easier to get the look right. I do have a few nice higher end pieces that I'm going to wear now instead of letting them languish, and if I buy less, I can afford better....well that's my plan anyway.

Deborah, my plan is to be super picky. In fact I'm going to do my best to hold off shopping until we go to Bali in Feb. I may not succeed but I will try at least to be very strategic with what I buy. Surprisingly, amongst the sarongs and Bintang Tshirts, there are a couple of local designers who fit my new aesthetic and I would love to buy a few pieces.

Sally, thank you for linking some of my outfits! The lantern skirt and black bell sleeve top are both favourite pieces and both from CR! I also love Zambesi, which I visit when in NZ.

As I have been purging I have found some beautiful things that I have resurrected....two blouses that I sewed from Vogue designer patterns, both very unusual and well made (I was taking lessons at the time), a fabulous black cocoon trench made from light cotton, a black A-line skirt trimmed with vintage kimono fabric, a black bustle skirt that's midi length, and an unusual black skirt that I bought in Bali years ago made from panels of different length fabric sewn to a quilted band at the waist. It's not for every day, but would be great for certain occasions. I actually have quite a few avante guard pieces that still look very modern even though they're old. I need to figure out how to wear them.

There will be lots of pics to come.

10 years ago

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