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WIW: The Power of One

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Feeling a little 90s throwback today. I’ve had this flannel in my wardrobe for 7 or 8 years now and I often find myself thinking I should get another. Every time I do now, I think back to Sal’s comment about “the power of one.” I’m super happy to have this perfect flannel in my wardrobe. It’s held up beautifully through the years. And no, I don’t need another.

What’s something you love and have just one of?

Wearing:
Eileen Fisher tank dress (2018, 19 wears)
Duluth Trading Co flannel (c.2012, 75 wears since 2015)
Bed Stu boots (2019, 19 wears)

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Bed Stu 'Bonnie' Boot

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37 replies

Latest reply was from The Cat

Anonymous

That is perfect!
Does husband count? Or dog?
Actually most things I have just one of, though it gets me in trouble when they inevitably wear out. Shoes are my main downfall...

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

That is such a brilliant question. I wish I had two exact copies of the one great thing so I would not be hesitant to wear them. But I have so many categories I would need a warehouse.
And you look wonderful in your perfect one!

smittie

Veteran

Your flannel shirt looks PERFECT!
(I’ve decided I want one for the fall.)
I have 1 pair of white sneakers, and I keep thinking I should get another pair, but the pair I have are still good so I have resisted buying another. Also, there is no shortage of white sneakers so if I need another pair, they’ll be easy to find.

Joy

Veteran

That is a great statement to remember. My black EF shift dress is my perfect LBD. I wish it came in more colors. It is sleeveless so I have added a couple of styles of black jackets to extend the season, I also bought second hand an EF black wool midi dress for deep winter, My NAS black knee-high boots are the one perfect boot, fitting my calves, warm, comfortable and waterproof. My ECCO silver sneakers are wonderful. I have several other pieces that are perfect enough to stop looking at anything similar.
I think I have had such bad luck with flannel shirts that I decided that my “flannel” shirt was not flannel at all but a woven plaid in another fabric. My favorite is a plaid in blues and white that is a transparent polyester blend. I wear a navy tank under it. The polyester makes the shirt warm enough for cool to cold weather yet the fabric looks good in spring.

Eileen Fisher Jewel Neck Sleeveless Jersey Dress (Regular & Petite)

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Aquatalia By Marvin K. Aquatalia by Marvin K .'Obsession' Tall Boot (Nordstrom Exclusive) (Women)

$550.00 $274.98

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rachylou

Veteran

What an interesting thought.... My one is, I only need my one red sweater with bell sleeves. Which is funny because I have a ton of white sweaters. Don’t know why this should be.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, and I only need one silk scarf... I have a black, borderless Hermes with falcons. That totally does for me.

StyleDetective

Ok firstly, I love your outfit so hard! 90s grungy realness.

Secondly, what an interesting question. I don't have a lot of 'ones', if I find something that works, I tend to buy it eleventy million times over.

But recently I did find a faux leather jacket that my mum gifted me hanging in the back of my wardrobe, and turns out it's the perfect pleather jacket I've been wanting to experiment with. I'll keep it as my one and only until I decide to upgrade (or that the look isn't for me), and even then I'll only have just the one in my wardrobe.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

KILLER

And I’ll think about your question...

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Ohhhhhh I tend to duuuuuuuplicate..... but let’s see- I have had the same watch for 20 years and feel no need to replace it or add others for variety. It works for me.

Sal

Veteran

I am touched this stuck with you Jenn. I do try my best to stick to this philosophy and here are some examples
- one knee high boots
- one white sneakers
- one slides
- one white jeans

I do have multiples of others - eg two wool coats, two kimonos, two long sleeve dresses, several black tops from tank to long sleeve.

I do regret the second kimono as I have gone off both at the moment and preferring more structured toppers.

I love this look on you Jenn - you wear the plaid so well and it really works over the black sleekness.

anchie

Veteran

I can see why you love that shirt so much - it loves you right back.
For me I think it is denim jacket - I have the same one for almost 10 years and it is still going strong and is perfect for my needs. Don’t need or look for another one.

lyn67

Veteran

Love how you said it, so frankly! And LOVE when that happens!!!:-))

Runcarla

Veteran

Like you, I have one flannel shirt - and love it! I did go a year without one, when it's predecessor wore out. (Serial monogamy?) I have only one:

- perfect cream button down shirt
- jean jacket
- black peacoat
- tall black boots
- statement bomber jacket
- flannel shirt
- denim shirt
- ball skirt

Duplicates are either identical - but in different colourways (lace tank tops, striped mariner T's, CK cropped bottoms), or similar style family (black pants, jeans, puffers, trench coat, canvas sneakers). The 'one's' do stand out.

Mainelady

Veteran

The Power of One. I like the idea of that. I need to give it some thought. I really like your flannel shirt and how you have styled it. I have never worn one of my flannels over a dress and now you have me wondering why I haven’t. I will be doing that next fall. Thank you for the inspiration!

kkards

Veteran

the power of one....what a fabulous way to think...

my watch....here i'm a serial oner..i had a great watch that i loved for a decade or so, but than apparently i got water in it, bought a cheap swatch to wear while i search to for the next "one", which i found about 6 years ago

my glassess...i know that some here have a selection, but i can't get my head around that, so i look for the "perfect" pair and then wear them until i look in the mirror one day and just know its time for a new pair

black leggings...a couple of years ago i found a pair i really liked, and realized that this wasn't something that i needed more of, the one perfect pair was enough

Sisi

Veteran

Jenn, your plaid shirt is alwasy perfect on you!

Who was it who invented the "just one" concept? I remember reading about this time ago but I do not remember where. At the moment I have 1 white short-sleeve shirt, 1 pair of jeans and 1 blue lbd.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Good thinking. I bought a second plaid shirt and it just split my wears. Still, they’re a bit different and scratch a different sartorial itch :).
I’m afraid I hardly have any Ones. I used to have one wool winter coat, two since last year. I used to have one perfect denim jacket but now own a darker,sleeker one too and am on the hunt for a cream version. I used to have the One pair of jeans but they no longer fit and now I have several mediocre pairs :p.
Once I like a style or silhouette, I buy more in different colors and styles (trousers, sleeveless tops, shirt dresses, blazers...). I do find it a good strategy for wardrobe building but needs to be contained to frequently worn items.

The Cat

Veteran

Nice shirt and good colours for you!

The One that first comes to mind is my only winter daydress. Deep blue velour. I have had it since around 2000. And though I have had some other winter daydresses, they have actually been few, and by now they are all gone. Last winter my old blue faithful was my only daydress. A real workhorse. It looks relaxed elegant and feels comfortable (the perfect mix for me), so I can use it on both dressy and casual occasions, and laundry as well as packing is super easy.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Super cool outfit, Jenn. I was just thinking the other day about duplicating something in another color, and I thought better of it. Now I can't remember what it was!

JenniferAnne

I love this outfit! And the BOOTS!!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

suntiger, hah! Perhaps I should have been more specific...

shevia, your whole eclectic wardrobe is one-of-a-kind!

smittie, yes! That's the same way I feel about flannel shirts. It's not like they're going to disappear, especially not from the workwear-brand that made mine!

Joy, I just read that those translucent shirts are trending, so yours will be trendy! I admire your commitment to one LBD. I confess, black dresses are my weak spot--I have FIVE, though one has been demoted to a swim coverup.

rachylou, little specific there with the bell-sleeved red sweater! I wish I could find the perfect, do-everything scarf, though!

Thanks StyleDetective. I was in college in the early 90s and my heart is definitely in that decade. I, too, have a perfect faux leather jacket, and I tried to upgrade with a real leather one, but it was never the same. I've worn the faux one about 20x more than the real one.

Thanks, Angie. I know you have one jumpsuit. Maybe not so much love, though.

Jessikams, I'm a duplicator too, but I'm trying to be better about it. Sometimes, it's absolutely the right move, but I realized I was doing it more than necessary.

Sal, I seriously think about this all the time! Interesting that you're off kimonos. I've been considering a second one...something that could double as a robe and still be worn with jeans on occasion.

anchie, that's exactly the kind of piece I'm talking about!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

lyn67, I just need to take my own advice into account with other bits of my wardrobe!

runcarla, you've made me think about my other "perfect ones:"
-one pair of snowboots
-one trench
-one Breton tee
-one puffer

I tend to duplicate tops, sometimes exact, but at least in style. Also have a bunch of black dresses and ankle boots.

Mainelady, I'm not usually a big shirt over dress person, but this gives just the right casual edge to the column of black.

kkards, I'm a one-glasses-person too. I do have a cheap backup pair, but they're just that...cheap backups.

Sisi, I got it from Sal.

Liesbeth, I definitely duplicate a lot, but I'm trying to be more deliberate about it!

The Cat, elegant and comfortable sounds like a winning combination!

Firecracker, isn't that funny? I haven't had great luck with duplicating in different colors...although I do have linen tanks in a couple of different colors. They have to be really basic pieces!

Thanks, JenniferAnne! the boots are by BedStu and I LOVE them.

Bijou

Veteran

My Doc Marten boots - I really love them in this pattern and know that it will be hard to:
1. wear them out; and
2. find another pair that I like as much.

So given those two factors, I am happy to keep the one pair I have. I do love that flannel shirt on you.

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smittie

Veteran

Just wanted to add: I suspect that if you’re a uniform dresser, you won’t have a lot of “ones”.

LaPed

Veteran

Hah, flannel shirts are one of the only categories where I do keep true duplicates! I generally have 2 or 3 in rotation and find that they last almost a decade before the elbows wear through and the cuffs start to fray. If I only had one, I'd probably replace it every 4-5 years. My style preference for some things has remained extremely consistent. I've had an LLBean black watch flannel in my closet at all times since I was ten years old. Currently on my third one.

Joy

Veteran

I am thrilled that translucent louses are trending and hope to pick up a black one. I find I can wear translucent black as it is softer, not as heavy as a solid saturated black
I definitely need more than one of white anything as one is in the laundry, especially white jeans as they are not put in the dryer and can take a couple of days to air dry.

Lesley

Veteran

I don't like to duplicate; I usually feel like duplication makes each item less special. Also, when I get sick of an item, that would mean I'd get sick of several things at once.

That said, I do have the same cut of jeans in several colors/washes and duplicate tees. But my nicer tops, sweaters, shoes, jackets, and dresses, are all one-offs. I also wear a single watch and I like to carry just one bag per season, mostly because I hate switching out contents.

Becky

Veteran

I found myself thinking about "the power of one" as I was out and about shopping this weekend. Could you direct me to the original thread in which this idea was discussed?

ChristelJ

Veteran

I would also love to see the original thread. I believe I get the general concept, but where do you draw the line with categories? For example, I have many straight leg jeans, but only one is grey, one white, one dark blue denim.
In the category of print summer tops, I have an embarrassing number, but to me, each one is special and different. I guess you would call it a collection, carefully curated. Variety is super-important to me in most categories, in fact.
However, I only have one raincoat, a perfect navy hooded Michael Kors with an off-set zipper and soft lining. It blocks wind, never wrinkles, is warm but not hot, fits well, complements my coloring, is un-fussy, and is smart but casual to suit my lifestyle. I hope it never wears out.

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