Wardrobe Numbers (long)

Jane

Dear Fabbers, I have spent the last 12 months or so trying to get to the stage where I have a happy wardrobe. I think it is along the lines of konmari, but I know very little about this, but the very large majority spark joy.

A happy wardrobe for me is broadly described as:

conservative workwear that I can select easily based on black and navy, and some berry colours
casual wardrobe that includes items that I wouldn't be able to wear to work

On ease, of note:

minimal dry cleaning (we have a gentle cycle on the wm, a super steamer and great iron)
jeans have a single wear before going to the washing machine

Excludes

scarfs / belts / bags
gear

I would welcome any suggestions on

Potential orphan: red dress, work wear - if I wear with a jacket, it sinks it, but I feel too red if I wear it without. I wondered about a grey cashmere cropped cardigan
Styling suggestions on Zara blue jacket - casual with olive jeans I would think?
Styling suggestions on Noa Noa jacket - casual with dark jeans

I am studying and work full time, so my opportunities for going out socially currently are minimal! Once the studies are finished, I will be going out a lot! So, the two jackets that are almost orphans I think will be helpful in February when I rekindle my social life!

We have just had new wardrobes fitted, and what I have below fits into my new wardrobe (DH has a similar one). The joiner who made them designed it for me :), so I can reach the rail, the dresses hang neatly etc.

Numbers:

Flat shoes, 9, 4 of which are work horses
Sneakers, 3, 2 of which are work horses
Knee length boots, 2
Ankle boots, 3
Heels, 3 (2 in the office)
Dresses, 6, 1 occasional (formal dinner)
Shorts, 2
Skirts, 7
Tops, 8, 1 occasional (formal dinner)
Shirts, 15
Culottes, 2
Jumpers, 6
Ponchos, 2
Jackets, 10, 1 occasional (formal dinner)
Coats, 8
Jeans, 7
Trousers, 1.
Total 94

Thank you for looking and getting to the end of the long post. All comments and suggestions welcome.

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8 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from

skylurker

Veteran

Now you have me dreaming of a custom fit wardrobe...

We have nearly the same numbers of shoes, bottoms, tops and toppers, although the categories are different (I have more trousers and no skirts for instance). And what jumps at me : 9 flat shoes, 4 are workhorses. Are you happy with your flat shoes? I ask because in my experience, when you have 20 pairs of shoes in a 4 seasons climate, they are all well worn workhorses.

I have no solution for topper over a dress, it's one of the biggest conundrum of fashion
Funny because I would have said the contrary for the jackets, I must be more matchy matchy than you are : dark jeans with the Zara (or white if you wear them) and olive with the Noa (or dark grey).

8 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. What sort of jackets have you tried with the dress? Solids? Could you wear a patterned jacket to work? (Although I'm thinking your workplace is maybe too conservative for this...)

8 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I think you have a tight wardrobe but not too tight, I have more trousers/pants and less jeans, less skirt and coats, and more dresses and heels.

I really like the red dress but suspect it is a dress less suited to a topper. Five years ago I would have worn it with a black cardigan. I think a grey cardigan could work. Are there days when it would be a fun mix up at work - ie days with no client visits, or during summer when things are more casual.

I think the first blue jacket would look great with blue or white jeans, and the second would also work with olive jeans.

The wardrobes themselves look terrific.

8 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

So, I am no good at these kinds of posts. My brain just doesn't work that way, but I would like to congratulate you on the hard work that has gone into this. I aspire to do something similar, but so far I am just looking at the idea out of the corner of my eye because as I said above, my brain just doesn't work this way. I don't know if I can be trained.

BUT I want to ask you what kind of steamer do you have that you love

AND would you consider dressing down the dress with a denim jacket (blue or white)? It's a beautiful dress.

Like Skylurker I would go the matchy matchy route with the jackets. Blue or black with the first and black, grey, or olive with the second.

8 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I love your closets. Your red dress is very pretty. I think it would look lovely with a black blazer. A denim jacket would be great but that might not be appropriate in your work place.
The third blazer would be great with olive pants. Both blazers would work with jeans.

8 years ago

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I'm enchanted with your beautiful wooden wardrobe!

Like Skylurker and Sal, I have similar wardrobe numbers to you, with different areas of emphasis. I really like how you defined your "happy wardrobe" at the beginning of your analysis. Does the red dress fit into that criteria? I had a red dress a few years that I loved the style of and got a lot of compliments on, but I had the same issue as you. It was just toooooooo red. I never quite felt comfortable in it.

Is the blue Zara jacket cropped at all? It looks like it might be a good shape to wear with a skirt. I LOVE the olive jacket, and I'd wear it with dark jeans, I think.

8 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I wouldn't orphan the red dress. It looks really nice. I think there are a lot of possible jackets. When you have time, I would wear it in to a store and try on toppers. And once your load lightens, it would be a great date night dress. Even if you have to plan something special to wear it to.

8 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I love all of this. The lovely wardrobe, the red dress, both jackets. I would try a cropped jacket that still leaves plenty of red on show. The blue jacket I would be picking out one of the blues for the bottom, and wear olive with the Noa Noa jacket which BTW is a brand we can get here! Scandinavian? Expensive here. I think I'm matchy-matchy like Skylurker. I also have a lot more clothes and shoes than you, LOL.

8 years ago

Jane

Veteran

Thank you Skylurker. The new wardrobes for both DH and I have been a lovely. It has taken me about 15 months or so to sort out my clothes (and my thinking!) to this stage. I feel they have been a reward for my hard work! Interesting to know that your numbers are similar. That gives me confidence. Funny that we are vice versa on trousers and skirts! I really like side zipped trousers for work, and that is why I have so few, as there don't seem to be many around.

Ahh, thank you ... I actually have 3 pairs of weekend boots, that are workhorses. I have changed the numbers. When I change jobs a couple of years ago, I found my whole wardrobe didn't work and shoes were a real problem. So I have tried out various brands styles etc, and the PG brogues are now the answer for wearing on my commute.

I hadn't realised that the topper issue was such a problem for everyone! Of course, you are right too about the jackets. That is what I meant. That said the Noa Noa I think will look good with blue jeans and of course as you say both can be worn with white.

Rachylou, I actually wore with my navy jacket which is shorter in length and fitted and I thought looked good. But I was unnerved by a comment at work from a colleague as she said that the dress looked better without. I could do a patterned jacket but it would need to be polished in style. That is helpful to think about, thank you.

8 years ago

Jane

Veteran

Sal, thank you for the reassurance that the numbers are about right. There are very few days when it is more casual at work. May be one day between Christmas and New Year, but generally no, formal all the way!

I did wonder about a colour combination of tomato red & soft aqua blue (I was thinking of Angie's pictures on a forum blog with the red dress and soft green / blue colour bag a year or so ago) - so may try either that or grey, with may be pearls to dress it up.

Yes, you are right about the jeans and jackets. I think I might have thought this, but got muddled in my length of post! Thank you, I am super pleased with the wardrobes.

Scarlet, when I first read about it on YLF, it did sound a completely strange thing to do!

It is a Tefal steamer.

I haven't ever had a denim jacket, but I think it would be useful really, and certainly would make that dress and others casual, so it would help merge the barriers between my workwear and homewear. Thank you for thinking of this.

I think I meant matchy matchy on the jackets but just got muddled. That would certainly be my usual choice.

Thank you Style Fan, I will have another go with a black blazer with the red dress, and post photos and see what YLF thinks.

8 years ago

Jane

Veteran

Thank you Jenn, the joiner and I worked hard to design the wardrobes for DH and I, so that our clothes can be properly fitted in, comfortably.

The red dress does kind of fit into the happy wardrobe analysis. I chose it because I often need to go to formal events after work and it works for then, but really I need to have more wears out of it. It may just be a confidence thing, as you say, just too much red! We also have had profiling undertaken at work, and I am 'red' in colour. The profiling colours are often referred to, 'oh, he is so red!' which is fine but if I wear the red dress, may be I am underlining my redness a bit too much! May be I am overthinking it!

The blue Zara jacket is cropped, and boxy. When I bought it I was with Dianne and we both thought that it needed a little shaping on the back. I haven't quite had the confidence to do that, but it certainly could be worn with a skirt. I really like the olive jacket too, it was thrifted, but just haven't worn it. I am sure it is because I am studying and just don't go out very much at the moment, so I am looking forward to styling it in a few months.

8 years ago

Jane

Veteran

Thank you Barbara Dianne, I won't give up yet. DH does like the red dress and he is a harsh critic, so that it passes with him, is great. As you say it would be a lovely date night dress.

Thank you Jenni, Noa Noa is I think Scandinavian, it was a thrifted, so less costly. I was drawn to it (even though I haven't worn it yet) because of the colours and that it is casual. Every few years I have to have a complete review, because I find with some clothes I simply get too bored to wear them ever again! That said, it does run its risks, as I still yearn for a red knitted jumper I had 20 years ago! And, I think my numbers will go up, when I start going out socially a lot more! It will need to be constrained to what will fit in the wardrobe though!

8 years ago

Anonymous

Oh! I hadn't seen this post yesterday. I'll be back later today to read, enjoy, and comment.

8 years ago

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