the numbers game
Photographer: Jake Rosenberg for The Coveteur
My friend recently moved back to Singapore after an extended stay overseas. In the process of moving back, she threw away a good number of things, only to find herself wishing she hadn't sold/given away as much clothing as she did.
Her mistake, she said, was that she mistook "purging" for "getting organised". I thoroughly agree; I recently found myself missing a black skirt from my university days, which I threw about about two years ago, thinking that I was "over" skirts and no longer needed so many. I was also driven by the allure of owning as little as possible - it seemed to clean, simple, serene.
I now know better and understand why I have almost 20 pairs of shoes for some who claims not to be a "shoe girl". The definition of a well-planned wardrobe is someone who never says "I have nothing to wear". It isn't about having the least amount of clothing possible. Kali of The Nife en L'air says it much better than I do here and I encourage everyone to have a look at her well thought-out, very sensible check-list.
Basically, you make room for those odd occasions where you need to wear something you don't normally wear so that you don't need to shop at the last minute and settle for something less than perfect. You rotate between 3 pairs of ballerinas instead of just wearing one so that you don't wear out the perfect pair so quickly, and so that you don't get bored and run out to buy something regrettable just for fun. You make room to "collect" the things you are passionate about and consider your "signatures", like scarves, a certain print, a certain style of clothing. That to me, is a well-planned, well-stocked wardrobe.
That said, I'd say this guy on the Coveteur may have a blue/denim shirt problem...
Her mistake, she said, was that she mistook "purging" for "getting organised". I thoroughly agree; I recently found myself missing a black skirt from my university days, which I threw about about two years ago, thinking that I was "over" skirts and no longer needed so many. I was also driven by the allure of owning as little as possible - it seemed to clean, simple, serene.
I now know better and understand why I have almost 20 pairs of shoes for some who claims not to be a "shoe girl". The definition of a well-planned wardrobe is someone who never says "I have nothing to wear". It isn't about having the least amount of clothing possible. Kali of The Nife en L'air says it much better than I do here and I encourage everyone to have a look at her well thought-out, very sensible check-list.
Basically, you make room for those odd occasions where you need to wear something you don't normally wear so that you don't need to shop at the last minute and settle for something less than perfect. You rotate between 3 pairs of ballerinas instead of just wearing one so that you don't wear out the perfect pair so quickly, and so that you don't get bored and run out to buy something regrettable just for fun. You make room to "collect" the things you are passionate about and consider your "signatures", like scarves, a certain print, a certain style of clothing. That to me, is a well-planned, well-stocked wardrobe.
That said, I'd say this guy on the Coveteur may have a blue/denim shirt problem...
Comments
Regarding the certain "signatures", I totally agree! I like to call them personal elements. Besides relying on my staples (plain cotton and linen tees) I do love collecting items that bear my fav favourite elements (fleur laces, broderie anglaise, cuffed sleeves, certain ornate prints).
Thanks for the link! Will check out Kali's blog.
I saw this quote just yesterday and loved it, seems kind of relevant to this discussion:
http://www.hiphipgingin.com/2012/11/01/words-to-live-by-24/
http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com
I love your personal elements, they really bring a look to life.
Petya K Grady: Such a tricky spot to be in. I truly believe that only time will tell - some things look unexpectedly wonderful 2, 3 years from now. My theory is that if I am still in love with that version of myself now even though I no longer dress that way, I keep one or two pieces from that "phase" in case of a comeback.
Ammu: Exactly, we should allow a little more leeway for the things that make our looks more "me".
jamie-lee: Agreed, and I think we all come to acquire enough experience to know when we're just hoarding versus saving wisely.
Fleurette: For the most part I'm not missing much either, except that damned black skirt! I forgot how difficult it is to find bottoms that fit...
I agree with you on the signature part, I guess that only works once you've found a style you're comfortable with. The "just in case" is tricky, I tend to cull things that I feel I "might need one day" because my closet is too small for this.
One technique I have used to avoid regreting to have purged something is to pack it away for a year (so all seasons). If you don't miss it after that time, chances are you can now donate/sell it.
I love the fact that you acknowledge the fact that we sometimes need items that we don't often wear. I own a floor-sweeping green goddess-style maxi dress, not because I needed one but because it made my heart skip, it fit me perfectly, and because I know that when my friends start getting summer weddings I won't have to go dress shopping. Same with the flowery 50s style dress with the big skirt - I've worn it maybe twice, but it is perfect for those occasions when I need to look grandma/toddler-friendly in churches and other large family gatherings. They serve a purpose even though I don't exactly wear them to the office :)
I'm considering throwing out my dresses, but this post has changed my mind. I don't own many - I'll put them in a box under the bed.
Well, I will take inspiration from just the one corner then. :)
I think it takes time to figure out the "just in case" part; it comes with knowing what's difficult to shop for. For instance I find "corporate" looking things difficult to shop for so I have two pairs of trousers and a dress I refuse to let go off even though I haven't worn them or even looked at them in a year.
The storage idea is a good one; the trick is not to forget about the after a year...
Pret a Porter P: The duality part is so true; I remember I would yearn for weekends so that I could put away the work stuff.
I'm not sentimental either, I just go with my gut when I'm clearing my wardrobe. Of course, one does make mistakes..
miss sophie: Agree...i just never want to look at my wardrobe and feel bad.
editor: Haha! Like you, I do admire the simplicity and certainty of his uniform. I don't think we'd never know the motivation behind his collection without questioning him ourselves...
Maja H: Almost all my dresses fall into this category! But I'm always grateful that I have something to wear for all those weddings. I don't care if I repeat myself.
Kate: I'm sure in time it will be clear whether those dresses are worth keeping.
Sue: Thanks!
I'm personally not a big fan of purges, I prefer to just throw out the odd piece every now and then - it helps that I'm not snowed under clothes and short of space. Sometimes I wear something I haven't worn in years and spend the whole day feeling awkward, and getting rid of it at the end of the day is easy.
I've done the extreme purging thing, being very seduced by the idea of, as you put it, the clean serene closet, but now I'm ending up looking more for a sort of moderate minimalism.
Also, I have to concur with editor: having a uniform of sorts (Ã la Tonne Goodman) seems such a peaceful place to be.
Jeanne-Aurore
In Singapore, I usually wear lower "invisible" socks but sometimes I wear ones where the rim of my socks peek over, for a flash of colour. Shall post pictures some time..
Over time it feels like a uniform works for me. Even though I have options, I seem to be ignoring them and going with the same formula quite happily.
When you think of very stylish people, they do have a formula for dressing. Take Andy Warhol: wig (!!!), blazer, jeans, lace ups. I don't think anyone ever thought of calling that boring. Yet we often worry about repeating outfits... Jeanne-Aurore
Agree so much concerning the shoes: I have recently discovered damage to my most cherished pair and wish that I had rotated more, perhaps purchased two pairs when they were still available...and now it shall be so difficult to replace them. I find the right footwear as difficult to locate as the perfect jeans, sadly.
I haven't yet missed any previously purged items, although I did allow them to sit for 6 months in the spare room prior to letting them go.
lapindelune: I agree! I love certain patterns and am always tempted to buy more with slight variations...but at a certain I realise that having one more did not make me happier....I think that's when I know I've hit a magic number.
Ha ha!