they came home with me, july edition

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January
- Margaret Howell shirt

March
- Orla Kiely for Uniqlo scarf
- Seafolly bikini

May/June
- Uniqlo linen shirt
- Massimo Dutti linen knit henley
- MHL by Margaret Howell cotton-linen sailor  top

July
- Filippa K navy cotton twill shirtdress
- COS cream chunky cotton knit tank
- Pointer cream canvas sneakers
- Massimo Dutti low-heeled t-strap pumps

10 items for the year already! I felt like I was doing so well on my one item a month plan until I got to Berlin and then I went a little out of control.

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I bought this MHL top in the NAP sale before I left for my holiday. I loved it the minute I saw it but had a feeling it would keep to the sales, and it did!

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These Massimo Dutti heels are meant to go with my bridesmaids' dress, which looks horrible with flats, no matter which flats I try it with. Happy to have found these at a markdown as I hadn't wanted to spend too much. My first-ever pair of heels... everything else I've ever worn were borrowed or hand-me-downs from my sisters.

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Around the time I started putting together this post, I came across this excellent post by Maja where she gives a candid take on the quest for a perfect wardrobe - a timely read as I sat down to evaluate my buys and my buying habits.

It made me realise one crucial thing - while she doesn't see clothing as a hobby, I do. (I feel like I should point out I have other hobbies too.) This blog is part of that hobby.

I get too much pleasure out of this to think I can realistically eliminate wants. Instead, I hope to master the art of appreciating things from a distance, instead of feeling the need to own it. I'm only sometimes successful.

I also try to appreciate my things more, and this is where my blog comes in handy. I can ramble on about a particular item of clothing, and lately I think outfit posts are part of that as well - a visual record of what I enjoy to inspire myself. (As narcissistic that sounds!)

In any case, I don't think the perfect wardrobe is a static thing. Lifestyle changes, new ideas, these things all affect how we dress. We derive over time certain constants but we also adopt new things. I guess the goal is to reconcile that with my desire to be less wasteful.

Comments

Joy said…
I think this is a great wrap up to keep track of purchases! Love the things you've bought so far. Love the tasteful neutral palette of the things you've bought so far. I can't wait to go check out Maja's post and if I can find it, MHL products in NYC.

I agree in being less wasteful as the ultimate goal behind curating the wardrobe. Waste not, want not!
Eileen said…
I like the things you have bought so far! The sailor top is so cute. Didn't Steven Alan have something in that collar too?

I agree with you that the perfect wardrobe is not a static thing. I am still tweaking what I have and learning what works and what doesn't. Thankfully there is ebay to give these items a new lease of life. I am less impulsive these days and I am happy to see personal growth. Thanks for inspiring, Lin!
Sue said…
Hi - I'm another lurker who has followed for a little while but just wanted to wish you a belated birthday greeting and to admire the spoils from your trip. I love the Filippa K shirt dress - that is my kind of easy going dress which seems to have timeless appeal. And I'm so pleased that you said the perfect wardrobe is not a static thing - I went through a phase when I first started reading blogs like your own and the Cat's Meow where I felt like I needed to cull everything in my wardrobe but ultimately I couldn't let everything go as I don't have such a self assured idea of my own style - I'm a bit of Heinz 57 - a bit of everything! I like the "utilitarian" feel of the pieces you have chosen and that they are not strictly following the latest dictates of fashion but are something you like and "classic" in a not mainstream way.
helin said…
I love that you can restrain yourself so well. I wish I could do half of what you're currently doing. This weekend I cleaned out my shoe closet and I decided that for every pair I'll buy from now on, I'll throw out, give away an existing pair. Otherwise, they will take over my life.. :)
Please keep inspiring me...
Ammu said…
Love that MHL top, and can totally see you in it!
I completely see what you mean about the evolving wardrobe. It's a hobby for me too. In earlier months I put a lot of energy into culling, today I am a little more relaxed about it. It happens easily enough, organically. And I really enjoy wearing the same things over and over. Lists are also terribly useful because I have realised what a "uniform" person I am, buying multiples, or buying (and wearing) different versions of the same thing, i.e. statement necklaces.
Maja H said…
Thank you so much for the link love, Lin! What a nice surprise!

I just did some quick math in my head, and came to the conclusion that I have bought at least three items of clothing/accessories every month this year. That is a lot, way more than I'm comfortable with. Most of them were very good items, but it is still too much. We'll have to practice that whole "not wanting" thing together I suppose :)

Oh and I love your shirt dress. I'd wear it to death.
miss sophie said…
i love that MHL sailor top! blogged about it on my wardrobe planning and then missed it during the sales. ah well. i'll live vicariously through you on this one :)

the Dutti heels are nice - they remind me of a kitten heel that Chanel would do.

learning to admire rather than own is such an apt way to put it. i've done okay this past year, given a few allowances i made for living abroad, but upon returning home, my impulse is to do some more editing...
The Waves said…
The sailor top is beautiful, and those sneakers, too.

My one-item-a-month plan went out of the window in May, sort of. I might be okay if I don't buy anything for the rest of the year, but I don't know if that's going to happen. So far, so good.

I feel the same way about clothing as a hobby. I like clothes too much to be a total minimalist. I like to have some variation. I guess the challenge is to keep things under control and not go completely crazy like I have done in the past. :)
lin said…
Joy: I found Maja's post so honest about the pitfalls of fantasising about a perfect wardrobe - and I think sometimes it's dangerous to have that kind of expectations..

MHL products should definitely be seen in person, their proportions can be a bit difficult to predict so I kind of went out on a limb on this one by ordering it online. Thank goodness it worked out!

Eileen: I loved that Steven Alan top and felt like I shouldn't have hesitated...it became unavailable before I made up my mind. Was really quite happy when I saw this top because it felt like a "second chance"!

Pret a Porter P: Your soul-stirrers always remind me not to settle for novelties. Ptactical things are my soul-stirrers, so that's very convenient for me haha.

Sue: Thanks! I actually haven't culled things in a while, at least a year, I love what I have for one reason or other, and I'm not bothered by the idea that I don't wear some of them any more. They're important to me and somehow I'm confident I haven't seen the end of them yet.

helin: I'm that way about shoes too! I've learnt that I don't like having too many shoes lying around that serve the same aesthetic and function.

Ammu: The top is so good for hot weather - just sits away from your body and is somehow sturdy and airy at the same time.

I don't really stress out about clothes (except for my compulsion to spend haha) and I enjoy that little routine of picking out my outfit and deciding what the day needs, and putting on something I love, and I love checking out what people are wearing. It's definitely a hobby!

Maja H: No problem! I really liked your post and how you just tackled the topic in a straightforward way without romanticising the whole idea of a perfect wardrobe.

It's surprising isn't it, how things add up. I totalled my spending for six months a few years ago and realised I could have gone on a fantastic vacation. That kind of sobered me up and put into perspective exactly how much of my income should go into clothes.

miss sophie: I was really thrilled it made it to the NAP sale.

I was a bit hesitant about the kitten heel because I never really liked them, but once they were on it seemed to work.

Do share about that editing process, if it happens!

The Waves: I had a figure I was aspiring to as well, would be interesting to see what happens by the end of the year.
I like your picks, Lin. They're all so tasteful. I guess it's human nature to constantly want more. Old toys are discarded to make way for new ones. That said, I still have Karen Walker dresses which I still wear despite having bought them 6 years ago.

I think more about longevity of each piece as well as my lifestyle before I succumb to a purchase. I haven't bought anything for the summer as it's so cold here all the time.
lin said…
chocolate, cookies & candies: Thanks!

Most of my clothes, except for my jeans, average about 3 years old, which isn't very long at all. I do have a few things that are 7, 8 years old, but not much. So much change happened when I started work, and figuring what works for my lifestyle and what image I wanted to project took time I guess. Makes me realise it's quite difficult to predict what will work 10 years down the road!

I expect to slow down in the shopping in the coming months when all the fall stocks start moving in...too heavy for Singapore!
Unknown said…
I have also found blogging to work in my favour with regards to shopping a little more carefully, whereas initially it seemed to accelerate my passion to consume. Not sure where/when that flipover actually occurred, possibly after quite a bit of consideration, self awareness and several atrocious shopping 'failures'.

Interesting concept: clothing as a hobby, also.

Myself...I am still learning, evolving, so to speak, especially with regards to what actually suits me, what feels much more like an extension of my personality, as opposed to what I merely love or admire. Which brings me to MHL! Oh dear, I definitely must see her garments in person, for I fear they're just not cut for 'me' at all. However, for the meantime I am content to own one or two accessories. On pins to see her AW12/13 knitwear offerings though!
lin said…
Lapin de Lune: I agree her clothes have to tried on in person; I remember visiting the shop in Paris and thinking her things looked quite different in real life. But I have been lucky so far with my online purchases.
caroline said…
That's a good way to shop. I might need to instill that practice into my life. 12 classic pieces a year sounds good. & adore your sailor top, that was on my wishlist. :)

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