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About: When Your Style Comes Back Home

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Style Evolving vs. Coming Home

Kathleen

Angie's post about her style shift has really had me thinking about my own style over the last few years. I'm not sure if it's because I'm getting older (46 today), or because of the health issues I've been dealing with recently but I'm really drawn to paring down my style and only buying pieces I really love. I've been reading some other blog posts to try to help me figure out a plan on how to do that like the one below but I think some of them take the simplicity idea a bit too far. I do like a bit of variety and some color.

http://www.whowhatwear.com/how.....h-wardrobe

My current job is business casual, emphasis on the casual so I don't have a lot of need for dressy outfits unless I'm on vacation or the odd night out. Most days I wear either jeans or dark slim pants, a t-shirt and a merino wool or cashmere sweater. At work I will need to dress warmer than the weather might dictate outside, as my company has a cold storage facility so it's often pretty cold even in the office. I also can't wear heels at work. For shoes, I usually wear flat boots, brogues, flats or old school type sneakers most days.

I'm hoping maybe I can get some YLF advice on how to pare down my wardrobe while still adding a bit of interest.

18 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

MsMaven

Veteran

In theory the idea of a limited wardrobe appeals to me, as well as what some of the bloggers call French "strict style," but in practice I am unable to do it. I don't get past the first idea to buy good quality basics. Lately it's been difficult to buy good quality basics--so much is geared for the youth market and basics often seem frumpy and outdated.
When I do find something, I tend to save it for best, because I'm afraid it won't last. Also, when shopping in a store or online, I get distracted easily--great for merchants but not for the budget.

I'm also going through a shift since I've let my hair grow out to its natural color.

There is a lot of good advice here--have you searched through Angie's blog posts? Lots of accumulated wisdom.

Sara L.

Veteran

You can add interest with accessories - jewelry, scarves, etc. In addition, I find interesting shoes can add a lot of oomph to an outfit.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Footwear!! Get updates of the kind of style you can wear at work. Also, do you need to switch up your hairstyle? And can you layer with jackets at work? A third piece often adds flair.

SecretSquirrel

(website)

Happy birthday Kathleen!

What sort of things do you want to pare down in your current wardrobe? You mention not needing to be so dressy at work - do you feel your current wardrobe doesn't reflect your life? That may be a useful point to start thinking what you would prefer to wear.

Kathleen

I love shoes. I keep telling myself that I don't need any more shoes as I probably have about 100 pairs.

I have an appointment on Saturday with a hairstylist who specializes in curly hair so I'm going to be curious what she recommends for me. My hair is between wavy and curly on it's own, and longer than it's been in years right now.

I do wear jackets sometimes, although more often outside of work as I feel a little overdressed at this job in a jacket. I miss wearing jackets more often as I felt more put together at my old corporate job than I do now.

And I completely agree about it being difficult to find good quality basics these days. I've made several outings with the intention to replace worn out items only to come home empty handed as I can't find items of a style and quality I'm happy with. I'm thinking maybe I need to either adjust my budget per item or where I'm shopping.

Meredith

Veteran

I like how you phrased your dress code, "business casual, emphasis on the casual." I'm right there with you. I highly recommend putting in the time to really take stock of what you have. Gather things from various closets, do laundry and then lay things out by category. Take pictures if you're really ambitious. What are your immediate impressions? Do you have too much or too little in a category, too much of one color, etc? It will be very obvious if you take the time to lay everything out at once. Then you could build some outfits and see what already works and think about what you might want to add to make them better.

Anonymous

I'm reading with great interest although I'm not sure I have much advice to part with. I am in a similar frame of mind, but do have a "few" years on you (cough) . My job is business casual, and not by anyone's definition other than what most people in my field (sales rep and agency owner) wear.......but I'm starting to rebel against that norm because I noticed my version of casual was getting more so by the day. I am also highly, highly interested in a minimal wardrobe, and have no interest in accumulation of stuff in any area of my life anymore. So - what does this all mean? Not sure yet, but I do read many blogs and websites devoted to a minimal lifestyle - and I'll get there when I get there. I really liked Meredith's observation that quality basics are running too frumpy and matronly lately, with so much of the clothing market being devoted to the 25-35 year old market. That is the big challenge - to find those real quality pieces that work for our/my age. I don't want to look like a 30 year old, but I do want to maintain a very current look. It seems that the quality basic wardrobe is there if you are able to spend at the designer level, but less so at the mid-range level.

Anyways - interesting , and I'm following along here eagerly. It takes some degree of self-control and determination to quit buying a ton of things. Confidence in what you have and the ability to say "no" when unsure of something seems to be the key to success for me. I still would like to really pare back - and hope to get there this year. I have a fantasy image of a vintage rolling rack set up in my bedroom with all the pieces I own and need to dress well from.

Liz

Veteran

You mentioned that you wanted to pare down your style, and that you wanted to pare down your wardrobe. Which of these gets closer to what you're wanting?

Do you have too many clothing items and want to get rid of some, or is your style all over the place and you want more cohesion? Or both?

Kathleen

My style is pretty cohesive already. My color palette is a lot of neutrals with some jewel tones and stripes mixed in. I usually don't like most prints. I don't really think that I have a lot of items, other than shoes. My issue is mostly with trying to define a strategy for shopping. I don't want to buy lots of things, just a few nice things but even that is proving to be difficult.

I do always have a hard time with spring and summer shopping. Since I live in Minnesota, I seem to be of the mindset that most of my clothing budget should go for winter clothing.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I like to shop spring/summer early when the colors run brighter as I tend to look washed out in the paler colors that come in later. Do you have wardrobe holes or are you looking to add something new? I personally don't pare down for paring down's sake, but I love culling what no longer works and won't ever work again.

My cousin is really into minimalism. He stayed with us and in the middle of the drought he had to run small laundry loads constantly because he brought so few clothes with him.

I also have a problem with the idea that every item is supposed to spark joy, or you're supposed to love every item. It's too extreme a test for me. Do I like how I feel/look in it is what I use. Even some of my favorites I was unsure of when I was in the store.

rachylou

Veteran

Are we talking honing your style down to its essential elements? A very interesting thought. What would you say your style is?

Kathleen

Barbara might be on to something. I like brighter colors on other people but not on me. I'm pale but warm toned with dark hair so some of those spring and summer shades are not my best.

Rachylou- I do like the idea of paring my style down to its essential elements. I know my style when I see it but I feel like I have a hard time putting it into words. I like simple minimal tailored clothes I guess.

chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

I am with you, pale with warm undertones, and these rose quartz and serenity colors make my skin look grey.
Anyway. Maybe you just need to pinpoint 4-5 items you can fit in your budget and you can use to refresh your wardrobe, since it sounds to me you just need this, not a complete style overhaul.
What you pick it's totally your choice, depending on what you use.
Examples that come to my mind are kick flares, or shoes in a modern silhouette, or a nice shirtdress, but the choice is endless.

rachylou

Veteran

Hehe...twenty questions: J Crew or La Garconne would you say?

Kathleen

Chiara- I think that is a good idea. I'm going to be going on a mini-vacation for a few days but I think when I get back a closet cleanout so help me nail down my list better. I know a couple of things already:

White jeans- I've been thinking about finally trying a pair of white jeans.
Ballet flats- used to have a red pair I loved, but thinking nude might more versatile.
Casual jacket with some shape. Not sure what color.
Suit jacket - I'm likely going to be interviewing for a higher level position so this one isn't so much for fun.

Rachylou- Some of both. I have a lot of J.Crew, I like their skinny pants and some of the knits, but I feel that the quality has been slipping a bit. I'm not a fan of the collection pieces. I love the more streamlined LaGarconne styles but some of the prices can be pretty steep. I seem to be naturally drawn to all things French so that might be part of the appeal for me.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I'm right there with you. My work dress code just went from business casual to casual. So this gives me the opportunity to really streamline my wardrobe since my clothes can go from work to weekend a lot easier. Also, I my kids are 3 and 1 and between them and working full time, I just don't want to spend a lot of time on my wardrobe these days. I'm playing around with the idea of having "capsule" wardrobe for spring and summer. (I use the word capsule loosely as I don't mean it quite in the strict sense as manner bloggers.) I've been playing around with some ideas and have created a couple collections; one for during the week wear and one for weekend/lounge wear. I can't seem to attach the collections to this post but I think you can see them if you go into my profile.

unfrumped

Veteran

Possibly you would find things like the occasional knit blazer, and some scarves (I love tissue-weight merino wool for multiseason use--warm, soft, light, but stay put and don't float around) fit into the casual vibe but still give a bit of oomph. Can still work with nice sneakers, for example.

Beth Ann

Veteran

You mention that you loved red ballet flats. Maybe honing your style means going for the red? If you have mostly neutrals in your clothing, you would find it pretty easy to mix in red in accessories.

I love white jeans, although, as I'm searching for a replacement to my bootcuts, it seems like they're less choice in the stores this season! I heartily recommend getting a pair!

As for jackets: I have a chambray blazer that I purchased a couple of years ago that is a true summer workhorse. I also love ponte jackets -- they give and move with me, and work well with casual outfits.

Good luck!