Suz, this is so funny--for the last couple of days I've been dreaming up a post on how I think I want minimalism but I don't really! I have been buying (for me) a lot of clothes. Nothing I can't afford. I have been enjoying my purchases tremendously! So I am definitely having fun with fashion

Welcome back!

Now I've looked at all of the photos, and you're looking so perfect. Your closet is definitely working for you! And are those elk?!

I always love seeing your outfits. I love these, especially the ones with stripes.

Regarding wearing the same things over and over, I think at home people expect a person would have a reasonable wardrobe and laundering facilities. And if they're wearing the same thing two days in a row it must mean either they don't have enough clothes, or they're not very clean - they're wearing the same thing as yesterday without washing it. But when someone is traveling or away from home and there's the same scenario, wearing the same thing two days in a row - well, a person can't be expected to bring one's entire wardrobe, and in fact the lighter one travels, the more admired one is. For me, I think I don't want people to think I would wear dirty clothes. I do, though! When we're doing a project around the house or in the garden, I might wear the same filthy jeans multiple days!

BTW, I looked up the Daily Connoisseur (Jennifer L. Scott) who promotes the ten item wardrobe. I watched a few videos, and one of her ten item capsules had fourteen items. Her fourteen items were really nice, though, but didn't include any tee shirts. She said she wouldn't wear any of the fourteen items to take her kids to the park. So I don't understand what her ten/fourteen item wardrobe means, if it doesn't include everything she wears. My wardrobe count would be a lot smaller if I didn't include everything, too.

Great analysis, Suz. You look smoking hot in that dress. It is nice to know that you had a great time and the clothes worked out for you.
I am surprised to know that your cons need replacement. You must have worn them a lot more than I did last summer. What colour are your new ones?
I wore my cons with white jeans to go out for drinks with friends and one of them commented that I was dressed up like her 13 years old daughter o_O. Not sure what she meant by that.
Anyways, back to the point here. Claire's post was very thought provoking for me and although I love the concept of minimal wardrobe, I find it so hard to implement. I love adding variety to my outfits and get bored easily by wearing the same things again and again. In her post, Claire said that sometimes she gets bored or gets excited about a new item and goes shopping (although most of the time she comes back empty handed). I think this is important. You have to give yourself permission to go shopping and buy something new every once in a while.
Also, I think taking baby steps towards something like this would be helpful. I have purged almost more than half of my closet since last year and have added only very few new items so I think I am slowly building a small wardrobe. Will I ever get to only 10 items? No, but I have learnt a lot from Claire's posts and analysis.

Thanks, Mona. I wore my Cons quite a lot last summer (and walked a lot in them) but they were still in pretty good shape until the trip. Then, I wore them literally every day on this trip, walked in them for upwards of 5 miles a day, and also washed them in an probably-not-terribly gentle washing machine. I didn't dry them in the dryer, but they are starting to fray at the edges of the tongues anyway and they look less than pristine from all the walking on dusty and/or muddy paths. They weren't my hiking shoes (I had proper gear shoes for that) but I did wear them when walking across town. So they took a genuine beating. CPW at this point is definitely less than 50 cents.

The new ones are white, too!

As for dressing like a 13 year old -- well, my daughter borrowed my shoes to wear to her eighth grade grad last year, so maybe there's truth in it. Oh well! We're just young at heart.

Welcome back, Suz! We missed you. It sounds like you had a great time and your capsule served you well, but boy do I know the feeling of hugging my closet when I get home!

Interesting musings, too. I am with you in many respects. I love that we have some true minimalists here who look so amazing in their very small wardrobes. Part of me would love to do that. But it's not a very large part. I also crave variety and "the new" and have way too much fun with that part of fashion to give it up. Like Angie, I would find a very small wardrobe a punishment.

Peri, this resonated with me: "You know what? I don't want to think that hard about it! I don't care to put a number assignment to the amount of things I'm allowed to own. It just seems so arbitrary. The same way the one in, one out seems to me. Why should I have to get rid of something I like to be allowed to buy something new?"

I'm right there with you in the first part of that paragraph. I sometimes think about counting the items in my closet when these number topics come up, and then I'm like, "why?" It doesn't matter if I have space for them, I wear them, and I love them. If one of those criteria does not apply, then the numbers start to matter.

I DO try to do one-in, one-out though. That's because I do tend to shop too much, and it helps keep me in check. Knowing that I'll need to make space for a new item makes me evaluate new purchases with a tougher eye. I have two items in a bag for returns as we speak because I don't like them more than the items in my closet they would be displacing.

But back to the main topic at hand -- I love that there are so many approaches to wardrobe management and mixing here on the forum, and that all are celebrated and respected. Rock on, ladies!

Welcome home, Suz. You look amazing in all of your trip photos.

I understand the tension between efficiency and conscious dressing, while simultaneously seeking variety and the opportunity to express our creativity through experimenting with new options. I like to shop for most wardrobe items, enjoy having some current looks and get bored when things are extra repetitive due to travel or circumstances. I also need some total peace of mind, flattering "go to" ensembles that are no brainers. What I don't want is a collection of clothing items that I am not able to deploy in service of my fashion goals. They take up space and interfere with, rather than enhance, the fashion experience.

It seems you may be farther along with your style evolution than you can imagine! You wear all of your clothes, look great whether working from home, doing public speaking or attending formal events, and are having fun. Plus, your closet functions. At this point, maybe it's about embracing all that works for you and continuing to understand what makes each item work. I have found your "needs assessments" season by season very insightful and incisive. Cheers to you!

Thanks for the thread- I grapple with similar issues. This season I have been purchasing up a storm, because so much is to my liking and I was due for some refreshing. It has felt both wonderful and a bit indulgent. Now I must sort through my closet to eliminate the items that are less appealing. I would have done that bit by bit, but for an injury. Now it's a bit overwhelming, but will be liberating when done.

Welcome back (although it's hard to wish someone to leave Banff)!

You followed the second rule of YLF by wearing the heck out of your clothes! All of these look polished, modern and chic. Fits and proportions make all the difference! I'm particularly struck by the fabness of that KK dress on you! Wowza! Also, I can see at a glance that you put your scarves and the semi-tuck to excellent use!

Perhaps you can make a "Hug my Closet" capsule?

LOVE that idea, Beth Ann!! But you know what? That would pretty much be my entire closet!

And thank you for your generous thoughts, Eliza. I am glad you've treated yourself to some great new items!

I don't have the temperament for a micro-wardrobe. Modestly sized, but not micro. It doesn't mesh with my anxious nature. Even choosing pieces for travel is an ordeal, which is why I really admire your systematic approach, Suz. Very reassuring to someone like me to know that it CAN be done well.

Simple is a nice concept, but for me variety is the spice of life. I would die of boredom with only 10 items to wear and I don't think that I could make them work for all the different areas of my life. I do think it would be great to be able to master this! So organized, neat, efficient, none of which would be descriptions of me!

I agree that the 10 Item Wardrobe Philosophy from Jennifer. L. Scott is a stretch at best. It's nowhere near 10 items - to JAileen's point.

Suz, I don't want to further hijack your thread so we can talk white sneaks on another thread if you like. I LOVE Cons. My best. My feet just became too fussy for them though. So..... for me...... it was "Next". I'm glad you found your Cons last night. Brilliant. xo

Oh Suz! I was wondering where you were :). Noticed a few sporadic responses and thought life must have gotten busy. Welcome back!

Of everything that you have written I only wondered why you would want a 10 item wardrobe when clearly you love everything you own. I am not even there yet where I could hug every piece in my closet and say *I love you*! Like Angie, I have the *no spilling over other closets* rule. I have too many clothes and I am actually kind of ashamed to admit *how much*! When it goes over the limit, I purge. I am in the process of curating my wardrobe.

You look killer gorgeous in your dress. All the other outfits are perfection too! A 10/10 for the entire trip is brilliant in itself. You should pat your back Suz

Suz, I have been thinking about this very topic lately, and wondering how much is enough in my own wardrobe. While I could never handle having only a ten item wardrobe, I have noticed, thanks to my project of taking an outfit photo every day this school year, that I am reaching for several items over and over and other items are getting very little wear. And you know what? Most of the little-worn items are of the not-as-well-made-cheaper-fabrication variety. Both my BCBG blazers? Try and pry them off me. My bazillion button "middle of the road" button down shirts? Haul 'em outta here. I'd trade the whole lot for one well made button down like Angie was wearing in Boston.

I love about half my closet, and you know what's coming next - the half that I love is largely made up of post-YLF items.

But now on to the important stuff - I'm glad you're back from your trip (hope if was fab) and back to posting regularly. Your outfits are all gorgeous, but my fav is that fantabulous dress in #20 and #21!