'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH' - clothes acquisition, hysteria and the perfect wardrobe

[Trista]

I know what you mean. There are a few pieces in my wardrobe that I got and either rarely wore, or a couple that I have never worn. However most of the pieces that I own are things that I pick up due to the price tag, and I find some way to make them work for me.

I mean, there was this one shirt with tiger faces and print and I thought that it would be cute, but after wearing it once it was WAY too 90's and the only place where it would fit in would be one of our cat shows.

However I always complain about nothing to wear because a lot of times I don't have pieces that will suit the event. A skirt that I bought for Easter got a bleach stain on it a month later. The next skirt I bought has to be altered, so when it was the memorial for my grandad, I had to rush out and get some cropped pants and a hot pink shirt. Also for my graduation I required a new dress, but all the others I had were either too long, or too flashy. I was able to get a good one for $20.

Since I am that kind of shopper (nothing to wear for formal events), JcPenney's has become my best friend because I can always go there and pick up something for cheap.

I guess you could say though that the unifying style in my closet is that of a summery style-so tons of bright colours, tons of cropped pants, tons of shorts, but other than that nothing really defining (mod, punk, prep, etc.).

[mini me]

I feel the same! When the season changing, there are always so many items coming to my mind.

[susie_bubble]

Excellent topic fash....

I have to admit, I'm guilty of constantly on the lookout, constantly shopping. For me though, shopping as an activity is not just procuring new stuff but on the lookout for emergence of trends, and generally breathing in new things. A couple of years ago, I went into a bit of a panic over just how much stuff I buy every month and just thought 'What the hell am I doing?'

Now, I am resigned to the fact that, that's just the way I like accumulating clothes, going through a gazillion phases, inspirations and looks. It's trend-whoring and people will find it incredibly annoying but I can't change and I kind of like it this way.

But if I have accepted that I like trying new things and going through lots of phases at the same time. Then I'll be thrifty about it - charity shopping, eBay, DIY, car boot sales and sample sales.

I think the best thing about accumulating all these things is I KNOW in a few years time, they'll come back out again and old things will remerge, upping their value in my wardrobe.

[melt977]

^ Susie, there's always the chance that you'll dig them out 5 years later and feel like you "'ve been there, done that" and you are bored with them... especially thrifty or cheap high-street items... it's hapenned to me before...

my fascination with fashion comes from discovering new items to add to my personal way of dressing and adapting them into new outfits... re-using old items feels boring unless the item is exceptionally beautiful and I love it...

but the truth is that when I was mainly thrifting (much more than I do now) I would buy things that would just add up into a look, without necessarily being great items on their own... so when they would come back in fashion, I didn't really want to wear them again...

What you say about resurrection, unfortunately goes for beautiful items that are more than often, very expensive... this brings me back to the initial conclusion of fash'ho... It's best to save for beautiful items that can last you for years to come, rather than throw away money on cheaper versions that when put into an outfit look alright but on their own say nothing much...

Am I making any sense?

[susie_bubble]

I guess I am fortunate to be able to work on several levels of shopping now that I'm older and wiser. Right now, I can afford to save up for beautiful basics like a beautiful trench, sweater etc. But I don't think I will ever let go of my fleeting fashion moments either so then I also shop for cheaper things that are more "current" - it's not admirable but it's how I will always work.


Melt I do agree to some extent that wearing clothes from yesteryear is a little unappealling but lately, I've discovered things which I haven't worn for yrs and for some reason looks fresh to me simply because it's a pleasant surprise to see them - kind of like shopping in your own closet. Things like an old YSL thrifted dress that I thought I'd sold. I think I must have gone through so many moves, eBay sales, wardrobe giveaways that it's hard to keep track of everything.

[melt977]

I know what you mean and I feel the same.. you said it in your latest post... save for beautiful items and when you get the urge for something new and trendy you can get into high-street and thrifting... (by thrifting I don't mean vintage YSL or other similar brands because then it's simply a great bargain...)

....thrifting also includes several silly t-shirts, fashionable belts, 80's accessories which only last for the fun of a night out...maybe even a season... and then, they are just mediocre (to ugly) looking things that take room in your wradrobe and when the fashion revisits their era you need different ones because you are done with them... this is probably my biggest waste of money...

I was looking into my closet yesterday and I found a heap of Mango & Zara tops from 6-7 years ago... some were a bit glam, some a bit moddish, some just simple basics... Their style can easily blend with this season's trends (especially for daily wear)... however they just don't cut it anymore... maybe because during the last years my wardrobe has improved in terms of quality so I really can't wear my Ann d trousers with THAT MNG top which was a pleasure to own 5 years ago... the quality doesn't match my expectations and as a result it just looks cheap and shabby (in the bad sense)... it just doesn't feel right anymore...

was it a waste of money when I bought it the specific top for 16 GBP 6 years ago? I wouldn't say so because it gave me great pleasure and I wore it a lot during that season. The thing is that during the years that followed I must have replaced it with other cheap items which costed about the same amount... if you do the maths you'll realise that I could just bought a better quality top from the beginning which I would still wear with pride and I would resurrect with pleasure when needed...

[The_Ida]

I'm not there yet. I'm not sick of it. Mostly because I don't buy into trends. Secondly because I try to be honest with myself and only buy things that suit me. That has a downside to it, though. I never know what to wear on a night out because I never allow myself to spend money on a silly going-out-top, I know that I'll only wear it 3 times, max. I have absolutely nothing to put on for going out, and I'm afraid that I look boring and underdressed in a bad way.

[tifa]

^ That sounds like me. I'm trying to get over that by buying things that could be worn out or every day transition pieces. But it never works. I just go put on jeans and a t-shirt because I cannot be bothered.

[fash ho']

well you certainly don't look boring or underdressed to me - quite classy actually.

a girl at work commented on the fact that I have a different look everyday. i had been thinking about that myself recently. sometimes i enjoy having all my stuff and doing different things, but the people whose style i admire the most have a distinctive look.

which is something i have been discussing with my friend, after she read an article about finding your signature look and how really really chic people have one (I think Anna Wintour was an example). There is a girl here in Copenhagen whose style i really like - its kind of "Vintage-Vivienne-Westwood-Meets-the-Rocky-Horror-Show" but good if you can imagine that . . .

Its not so much her style i guess, but the fact that she has one and rocks it.

Anyway, I digress. Its just that having looked through pages and pages of people's gorgeous buys in the secret shopaholic thread, where some people really do take shopping to an art form, it was so fresh to read Softgrey's comment.

I immediately stopped coveting other people's regular purchasing power and instead coveted what i imagine is her fabulous, almost modular wardrobe where things actually go together . . . .

is there a point where you just have too much nice stuff?
like you have more nice things than you have occasions to wear it to?

[melt977]

^ ha-ha... NEVER!

[b1ahness]

Originally Posted by fash ho'

is there a point where you just have too much nice stuff?
like you have more nice things than you have occasions to wear it to?

For me I would have to say yes. I love beautiful silhouttes, fabrics and designs and I am a very impulsive shopper. But Im a student right now and I usually find that I dont have many occasions to wear the nice stuff I have.Ive become smarter about this though because I find that my closet is full of stuff I rarely wear. Since the end of summer i promised myself to stop spending money on impratical purchases at least for now and invest in classic, wearable pieces like sweaters for the fall.

[pucci_mama]

I never buy bad quality items though... fabric and quality is everything for me.

[CHEAPandCHIC]

I get problems when I get a new 'fashion inspiration'. Like I'll go to a certain place or see a certain person and be like "oh my god, i need to start dressing like this". And I end up with thousands of different styles in my wardrobe and no money left
But the good thing is that often when I pair up the styles I get a great outfit at the end, so It's not all bad.

[fash ho']

its easy to have too much cheap stuff from highstreet shops.

i get amazed (jealous!) of how some people can just buy loads of designer stuff on the regular.

i buy lots of vintage (my two best friends have a store here), ebay, highstreet and flea markets.

when i buy designer items, its from ebay, london fashion weekend, sample sales, outlets or regular sales . . .

i guess i am a bargain hunter and less of a "how will this work in my existing wardrobe" or even "what do I need for my lifestyle right now" . . .
its more the thrill of the bargain.

but when i have a mad spending session (or 'mad' by my own standards and income), I can feel a bit crap about it . . . .like how will i fit this into my small closet and rail . . . .

i try and have a "one in, one out" door policy on recent acquisitions and give to charity shops and occasionally do flea markets, but that doesn't always keep balance in my closet.

if i bought sensibly and occasionally, with a stronger sense of what i need and what suits me, then i probably wouldn't have that overspend and self-disgust.
on the other hand, it sounds so very dull . . . . .

[MissWednesday]

I guess the thing for me is that my items are just cheap and nasty so I don't really WANT to wear them and end up wearing the same thing every day...jeans, top and jacket. I guess I have no justification to spend so much money on expensive items when nothing feels right on my body anyways.

I really am stuck in a rut.