Wardrobe planning vs. serendipity, and points in between

unfrumped

I'm trying to have a more intentional, curated wardrobe but at the same time finding unexpected new style directions occasionally.

Also, I find that sometimes my list just isn't happening, and a wardrobe hole, or something I intend always to have on hand as a good "essential, " isn't turning up.

The concept I have in mind isn't quite the same "settling" for something that isn't good, but more on the order of, if you find something that seems off the path but looks really good on you (again, that would be hoping we've judged it accurately) , should I get it and build some outfits around it and allow wardrobe direction to shift--as a happy serendipity.

I guess part of the answer to my own question would be, can I wear it with several other things or does it require majoroso new purchases; is it for the imaginary lifestyle or does it help you expand your lifestyle or "live with more fashion gusto"--that sort of thing. Sticking within the wardrobe color pallette helps reduce the chance of something being a big mistake, I think, but not always (as in, skip the tendency to buy something just because it's MY color.)

Part of this idea comes from the fact that certain items seem absent some years or seasons. My made-up scenario is this: perhaps one is a black blazer person but your black blazer died and you just haven't found a good enough replacement. So instead you embrace the black cardigan, or you happen to find a red blazer that's fab and you become a red blazer person for the next year or so even if it requires a few extra purchases, or maybe you find a funky edgy jacket and just say, heck with black blazers.

Or, maybe this type of thinking is just settling, and that's the drugs talkin'.

I do think chucking out stuff that's not fab and letting wardrobe gaps develop is healthy for progress (for me, that is) through either planned PPP or serendipity, because I never realized before how the "emptiness" would make it more likely that something better would happen, whereas, if I keep stuff I'm not wearing, I neither wear nor move on.

How about you--do you have a kind of yardstick for when an item or outfit shift is where you're meant to go, vs. getting you off track, or related experiences to share ?

13 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Prudence

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I'm still learning what's right (for me) but I'm really enjoying the journey. I couldn't agree more about how important "emptiness" is to allow for change - I think of it as having the courage to let go of the ordinary.

I've always been a bit of a magpie (& can justify just about any purchase) so for me leaving a percentage of my budget for the serendipitous works. The "once I've spent it, it has gone" really makes me understand whether I love it/it works/it's for my real life.

13 years ago

Charmian

Veteran

This is a great question, unfrumped! I would love to hear what other YLFers have to say on this.

At the moment, I feel like my wardrobe has more holes than not; however, I also put myself on SYB to keep myself focused (on filling holes and identifying the style experiments that I'm dying to try). The result is I have a shopping list that's 3-6 months out at times. Surprisingly, that seems to be right time horizon for me. For example, this summer I resolved to reorient my neutrals around tan -- and then I fell in love with a taupe leather jacket, so I've had to readjust my plans slightly (eg, the planned cream blouse now would look better as winter white. But note that it's still a classic blouse, and hasn't morphed into a pair of colored skinnies!)

Interestingly enough, if you'd asked me this spring, I would have never predicted that I'd be in love with a leather jacket. This is why 3-6 months of planning seems to be right for me: within that time frame, I can make minor course corrections to accommodate new "loves" ... but beyond that I can't predict what will tickle my fancy.

I think your observation that the color palette has to work is key -- if you're bringing in something new, it needs to be ready to become a workhorse immediately. It doesn't have to work with everything in your wardrobe, but 3-5 distinct outfits will help you evaluate whether it's true love or just a fling.

Unrelatedly, I follow Les Anti-Modernes and she also plans her wardrobe on a 3-month interval. However, she gives herself a "wildcard" every season: an item that she's allowed to fall in love with and play with, outside of her plan. I haven't felt the need for that yet, but maybe you should ask me again in 6 months!

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

It took me over a year and a half to find my wine skinnies. I never took them off the list, but shuffled it into the recesses of my mind. And there they appeared, in the heat of summer in FL at the NAS. So, I did without, but patience won out in the end. That said, I did not chuck a dark brown long sleeve knit top that had developed a hole near the waist. When I finally came across a proper substitute it took its place and now it can go.
So I believe in planning out what you want/need and keeping your eyes open at all times to the possibilities that may land in your lap! I don't necessarily think I need to make holes in order for me to properly fill them with the perfect replacement. I can 'make do' in the meanwhile with what I've got if it fits fine and is in serviceable condition. But I am always mentally on the hunt for those perfect replacements

13 years ago

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Losing weight and changing several sizes down is forcing me to face how to create an entirely new wardrobe. I will create it with purpose and intention. I will replace some absolute love's and will definitely feel the emptiness until I feel confident that I have established a wardrobe that is versatile, vibrant, sassy and eclectic. I fully expect the rebuilding to my satisfaction to be a three year process. I have to do it economically, a little at a time. Right now I am thrifting a lot. That is going to slow down, especially when I get to goal and start replacing pants that I will need to get brand new to be in current styles. This seems like such a chore and I am dreading some of this process while loving my newly emerging body...

13 years ago

Elly

Veteran

I generally spend a lot of time thinking about my lifestyle and what looks good on me and then after those two considerations are met I look at style direction. Practical, flattering, comfortable, and "my style" are the criteria for "planning". I generally have an idea of the sort of pieces/looks I need and want to create. However, I also try on other pieces to experiment or that strike me . . . when I have something outside of my vague "planned categories" on and I "feel like me/excited/comfortable in my own skin" then I know that I probably need to take the plunge and take the new item or direction home with me so long as it doesn't require a huge investment in other new pieces to go with if/when I can't afford them. I try a new look out on occasion, usually as a side exploration to pieces I already know are going to work for my lifestyle.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Yes, yes YES! IKWYM Unfrumped. Sometimes even the best planned purchases don't turn out to work horses and the serendipitous (is that a word?) items end up being huge wardrobe loves, for me anyway. For this reason --assuming the fit and everything else is right--I do leave room for the unplanned, especially if it's in a good neutral for me. Once I get it home, I'm often surprised with all of the ways I can think of to wear it.

13 years ago

moira

Veteran

I have found that working out a wardrobe is not dissimilar from how I decorated my house.
Let me explain the analogy. I have things that are basic. A beige couch. A green loveseat. I have things that I've collected in my travels, African and Asian art and textiles. I have things that I inherited from my mother's home.So I put the ceramic Snoopy that my best friend gave me in 3rd grade next to the fine piece of Japanese pottery. They are sometimes seemingly disparate things that I love, but they "go" together because they have one thing in common. Me.
What someone else may not put together either color-wise or style-wise may work for me because I love them. Put together they represent me, my taste, my style, my outlook on life.
Does this make sense?

13 years ago

Anonymous

Your post made me think of the seasonless tomato red blazer I've looked for for at least 2 years. Like TraceyLiz, I've had to replace everything but never found the red jacket. This last spring I ended up buying several and returning several. Most were not the right red. The blazer I wanted in red turned out to be bright orange. It's moved my wardrobe direction a bit. I did buy a blouse to wear with it that got good reviews here with the jacket but not on its own. The blouse was returned since I only felt confident wearing it with that blazer. I've bought scarves with it in mind. It will be intersting to see where it takes me. I do know that it's leading me away from black bottoms as neutrals. I'm now on the hunt for chocolate brown straight leg trousers ...to wear with this blazer.

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I think it's important to be flexible in wardrobe building, as in a great many other things in life. For example, if you travel to new location with a itinerary in hand of what you wanted to do while there, it would seem rather ridiculous to force yourself to stick to that pre-planned itinerary if other, more interesting, alternatives presented themselves while you were there.

And, as MaryK has mentioned on several occasions, it is sometimes helpful to think of a clothing as a consumable, instead of an investment. Items come and go in our wardrobes as our needs and lifestyles change. That black blazer, useful as it was, may not work the same today and tomorrow as it did in the past. Instinctively you may be realizing that the red blazer, or the funky leather jacket, charts your future style direction. You change, so why shouldn't your wardrobe?

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think it's especially important to leave room for the unplanned and unexpected if you are the kind of person who otherwise almost always tends to buy "essentials" or neutrals. This describes me...and my unexpected purchases have turned out to be workhorses.

I bought a very inexpensive fuchsia knit shrunken jacket at H&M about six weeks ago, and I have hardly had it off since! Part of that is because I am travelling and have only a small travel capsule wardrobe with me. But mostly it is because I absolutely love it and it works so well into all my outfits! Happy surprises like that are not possible if you restrict yourself only to items you've planned to buy. It is harder to stretch ourselves if we don't make room for fun or the unexpected find.

13 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Sorry for long time to respond.

Yes yes! I hear ya! Sounds like many have had the occasional happy experiment that opened up new possibilities.

Gaylene, I have just this past year started to figure out that clothing is more ephemeral.
clearlyclaire, I found this to be true for some slacks that weren't "on the list". The key was that they fit really well, so I felt good wearing them and from that it was easier to work around how to outfit them.
suz, I bought a fitted gray knit ruched sleeve slightly short blazer that I love. Now, it mostly goes with jeans, which is not my dominant capsule, since I can't wear them to work. But, it kind of opened my eyes to a more hip fit and to the fact that structured knit items ( if that's not a total oxymoron) seem to work well because they don't overwhelm my frame. So I'm enjoying it even though it's in my smart casual capsule, but I think of it as a gateway item.

13 years ago

Lyn D.

Veteran

I love including unexpected purchases in my closet!
I recently came across some cropped leggings whilst grocery shopping reduced to $5.
I wore them yesterday with a shortish dress. Soon I will try them with another unplanned purchase- a sale item I 'had' to buy due to a voucher that was about to expire.
It is often a way for me to try new style directions.
I also enjoy unplanned purchases whilst travelling- these items have special memories too.

13 years ago

Prudence

Active Member

This post is serendipitous for me; I've been thinking a lot about the direction I want to go with my wardrobe lately.

Reading your comments makes me feel like I'm learning at the feet of masters.

13 years ago

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