The 4-5 piece French wardrobe

[laurette]

Your blog is interesting, I left a comment too Where did you get the idea from?

[HiHeels]

thanks laurette - i added a comment below your comment (on my blog). we're playing e-tag.
the idea for the blog or the idea to whittle down my wardrobe?
i guess i got caught up in spring cleaning and forced myself to really look at what i wore, and why i had great items that i didn't wear. the conclusion i came to was that i love clothes. so when i see something that i think is wonderful (and a good price) i am inclined to give it a home and think i will wear it. this has not always proven to be the case *sigh*. so i took all the things i loved but didn't wear to the thrift store, and kept what will actually see the light of day. the # was 34.
the blog... why blog it? i already had one blog but it isn't fashion/style-related, and i was talking about style with a friend and she said she has 60 t-shirts and nothing to wear. i think those 60 t-shirts are getting in her way of seeing what she actually has. so i was wondering how much mileage a person could get out of 34 pieces, because honestly, looking at what i was left with, i didn't see any holes (which was a shock, since just a few weeks ago i was surfing the web like a desperate woman, always looking for new things to want. tsk tsk). i don't see any need whatsoever to set a goal like never repeating, as i have done on the blog, but i did it for the sake of keeping the site interesting AND getting an accurate sense of how far a 34 piece wardrobe can go. if i can come up with 2 or 2.5 months of unique outfits, then that's really a year right there i think, in real life.
in the course of this, i like that i'm not just grabbing whatever but really thinking (hard, lol) before i get dressed.

[fashionista-ta]

^ I agree, midnight ... sometimes people forget that life is messy & things have to be laundered or go to the cleaners Definitely something to think about when planning a wardrobe

[midnight]

Acck....I kept getting a *site cannot be found* message but I could read you guys thru my email acct Subscribing to a thread is GREAT!

Hiheels, if you come up with 2 or 2.5 months out of 35 pieces I'm going to nominate you the QUEEN of this thread! Seriously. I was wondering about the weather factor, this seems to be a stumbling block for me. I live in Los Angeles so the weather is usually fairly consistant for long periods of time. (not the last two weeks tho) I guess I'm wracking my brain as to how lifestyle, location ect play into the wardrobe "game".

Adding the RIGHT 4 to 5 pieces a season is more crucial for the thoughtful wardrobe but I find myself falling into little traps like when my feet hurt,or it's cold outside I am suddenly drawn to comfort items. Today for example, I thought I was being really virtuous and turned down a handbag I've had my eye on for 2 months. It was a good price and what I want but it also becomes one more thing...a potential burden considering where I want to be with my wardrobe. So what do I end up doing instead?????

I bought a pair of muted gold Born toe ring strappy flat sandals. Now mind you I am definitely not the comfort sandal type, I like dressier looks or just plain old Havianas. I do need a pair of neutral flat sandals but now I'm thinking are these it??? I am second guessing like crazy which I guess is better than buying willy-nilly but geez will it ever end. I am waaaay over my goal of 4 to 5 pieces already and it's only April. Help!

Laurette, I forgot to tell you that the outfit you put together is really nice looking. The perfect little black skirt is an INDISPENSIBLE item don't you think? I actually once wore the same one 1x a week for 8 or 9 months (church) on purpose and no one even noticed b/c it can be changed up so much. Oh, one more thought and then I'll stop, promise.

HiHeels, you asked about my style. Similar to Laurettes outfit...streamlined, clean silhouette, long lines. Which brings me to something I like that you do...you are willing to change your silhouette. I try to maintain the monocromatic, lean look no matter what I'm wearing but it does lend itself to looking the same from a distance. It is generally only close up that the details reveal themselves and then again I doubt that most people even notice. I hope to wear my clothes rather than them wear me so maybe that's a good thing?

didn't mean to run on and on but I have so many thoughts and Q's. LOVE this thread!

[HiHeels]

midnight i totally understand - i love to question and ponder this stuff too.
re. a consistent silhouette - a. thanks for noticing that i do like to play with that and b. having one, and not deviating, can be a part of your look, part of your own style, not a detraction from it. so it's okay if you're more comfortable with one, it doesn't mean you have any less style.

i'm originally from l.a., so i'm familiar with that weather. hope you didn't blow away these past couple of days.

also, i really understand the destracted buying - as you described, no to the purse, yes to the shoes. the blog, the limit, the 34 cap has really helped restrict those impulses. i love the brown dress i have and immediately thought, i should buy this in another color, i love it so much. wait wait stop, why should i buy 2 exactly? if i love one, that's great, i should wear it. aiy, the impulse to have and to hold runs deep.

2 months of no repeats is definitely my goal. anything extra is pure bonus, and 2 months won't even be easy, but if that sounds like a great achievement to you (and me, lol) to do with 34 pieces, then i feel assured that my experiment isn't for nothing.

[laurette]

Acck....I kept getting a *site cannot be found* message but I could read you guys thru my email acct Subscribing to a thread is GREAT!

this happens to me a lot, too

I have to agree with you about the black skirt, I used to be a jeans person and now I'm wearing this skirt very often (maybe too often ), I just found that skirts look better on me and they are so much more comfortable than trousers. I'm going to get some dresses as well when I earned some more money and I can't wait to wear them

Do you have any suggestions which type of dress could be worn on day time? Pics would be great

[laurette]

Acck....I kept getting a *site cannot be found* message but I could read you guys thru my email acct Subscribing to a thread is GREAT!

this happens to me a lot, too

I have to agree with you about the black skirt, I used to be a jeans person and now I'm wearing this skirt very often (maybe too often ), I just found that skirts look better on me and they are so much more comfortable than trousers. I'm going to get some dresses as well when I earned some more money and I can't wait to wear them

Do you have any suggestions which type of dress could be worn on day time? Pics would be great

[stilettogirl84]

Originally Posted by laurette

Do you have any suggestions which type of dress could be worn on day time? Pics would be great

a wrap dress like DVF? I love those

[Guessgirl96]

This talk or 34 pieces reminds me of a similar situation -- I currently live with my bf and two roomates and there isnt much closet space at all, so every week or two I'd switch out what clothes I kept there from my closet at my moms house. I did this for a good 3 months or so and it forced me to get more creative and think more about my outfits which I liked. I got sick of always switching stuff out though so now I've hijacked every bit of space I could and I keep most of my stuff here except for shoes and bags.

[laurette]

Originally Posted by stilettogirl84

a wrap dress like DVF? I love those

funny you mention it, I actually have one (it's dark green) and I have trouble combining it because of the colour. I have a picture of it in my stylediary.

[stilettogirl84]

if you have a link I could look at the dress and try to think of something to pair it with.

I like dark green with chocolate brown- it looks very rich I think

[laurette]

sure- voilà (ain't I french ) http://www.mystylediary.net/newoutfi...&user=laurette

[stilettogirl84]

laurette- I love your stylediary, you have such chic looks. (espescially the stripy top, skinny cropped pants ballet flats adn red bag look) to wear that wrap dress, I'd do a cami underneath for coverage, and low heeled slide sandals. I don't think ballet flats would work with this.

the picture is kind of dark- is it a solid or pattern?

[laurette]

thanks stilettogirl
it is solid.

[stilettogirl84]

I think the wrap dress would look really good with the trench you posted in another pic