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

[maiden voyage]

i've been keeping a shopping list the last couple of years. such a simple thing, but it's made a big difference.

i also moved and now have a much smaller closet and no extra storage (attic or basement). i really like having everything where i can see it, and i wear what i have now. i think i also have gotten a clearer idea of what my style actually is, once i cleared out all the stuff i didn't really wear much!

 

[MUXU]

i have the 'i dont have anything to wear problem. but it's mainly because im so disorganized with my clothes they pile up on the chair and i cant find anything decent in a grab. and i also made foolish buys in the past. it's normal since my style from a year/two years ago are different than now

but i can control myself from shopping or shopping at expensive places for a long time.

what i do need now is a way to get rid of my old clothes and still make a little profit back because they are in good shape =T any suggestions other than ebay? prefer something i can do in person

 

[britishkiller]

I can definitely relate to this topic

I, too, suffer from "clothes acquisition hysteria". But it's not really a problem for me.

First of all, I'm very organized. I can say I have a mild OCD when it comes to having everything in its right place .

So, the fact that I have a ton of clothes it's not a problem. I also recently bought an organized wardrobe from IKEA, and it's wonderful. Everything has its place.

Secondly, i don't buy too many "trendy" pieces. I sure follow some trends I love, but always with caution, buying something that not "screams" the trend "per se", but has to be combined. I don't know if that makes sense .
But the thing is... I have A LOT of cute t-shirts from high school era (I'm now 23), and I have no intention of throwing them out. Sure, I'm no longer a t-shirt girl, but I can use them for sports, for lounging, for a quick run to the grocery store . The same about jeans. I have a million jeans with different cut, but if they are good quality, I'm not throwing them. 5 years ago I bought flared jeans with a slightly high waist. I didn't wear them in the past.. 2 years, but now I'm in love with them again!

Also, having a lot of clothes, and rotate them, means that nothing really gets ruined (if it's good quality). I never have a problem with ruined clothes, and I mean NEVER.

So, I think that if you have a large storage space, and if you buy quality pieces, not overly trendy, a large wardrobe can work wonders.

All trend returns, and it's fun to combine old pieces with new ones!

 

[lucy92]

i drool over the mega closets with the sliding doors in the ikea catalog.

does anyone else think that their problems would be solved if only they had the right closet?

 

[midnight]

Actually Lucy, quite a few of my wardrobe excess problems were solved when I finally got the right closets. I found that I was actually jealous of the space. What I mean is that any new acquisitions need to be Really Important b/c I don't want to mess up how fantastic it all looks

 

[jag137]

i drool over the mega closets with the sliding doors in the ikea catalog.

Sometimes I wish I could live the IKEA catalogs...I don't have an excessive amount of clothes (yet), I don't think, I just have too many of the same kind. That's my real problem. I need to branch out, get some different fabrics & textures into my wardrobe. *Must NOT buy more plain tees*

 

[softgrey]

i found myself waking out of a sound sleep the other morning shouting to myself...
'no more stuff!'...

...

that is really telling imo...
and this was after a day of power shopping...

clearly i need to review what i have and what i need once more..

maybe i dont' need so much after all...?......

 

[emma peel]

totally! i started out this year saying i will buy three things-- a rick owens jacket, oliver peoples aviators, and red flats-- oy, my closet is full already! that lasted not so long...

of course i had to buy things for summer, just bought v.westwood pirate boots (which could easily have been on the list, hey), random capes and fur boleros from ebay, victorian-style blouses, expensive t-shirts, and on and on.

i don't think i need that much after all, BUT I DO blame the dog days of summer, in which planning fantasy outfits makes me generate all sorts of cool probabilities to my fall look (all the while wearing denim shorts, birks, and t-shirts everyday cause of the heat)

 

[lucy92]

^i feel the same way. i just realised there is a bunch of new fall items i am lusting over (all cheap-chic they are nowhere NEAR as expensive as a rick owens coat) but i still dont really need them.

 

[marlasinger]

This thread has completely changed the way I shop. Now when I go into dressing rooms I try to think of reasons to not buy whatever I try on. It used to be just the opposite.

 

[Julz]

I have a huge closet full of clothes but everytime I go to get dressed I ofcourse say..I have nothing to wear!... The problem I feel like nothing goes together or maybe im just lacking creativity to put things together. Everytime I put together a great outfit its missing a piece and I end up first not wearing it and then going out to buy a piece plus about 5 more random pieces.

 

[jag137]

This thread has completely changed the way I shop. Now when I go into dressing rooms I try to think of reasons to not buy whatever I try on. It used to be just the opposite.

The way I do it now is I think "Okay, assuming this item cost $500 (and also assuming I *had* $500 ), would I buy it? Would it be worth it?"

Most of the time, the answer is no. But it makes it that much more of a success when the answer is yes.

 

[luckyme]

and this was after a day of power shopping...

sounds like we have a shop til you drop post coming.

 

[softgrey]

sounds like we have a shop til you drop post coming.

i'm going to return at least 1/2 of it...
it's cheap junk most of it anyway...

and then i may edit even further...
i still need a good black skirt...

 

[As You Like It]

I have found that, for myself, being very strict with myself at the shop results in a much more functional wardrobe at home.

Recently I have changed jobs and must dress much more professionally. To that end, I gave away a bunch of items that were too frivolous or revealing, and put my whackiest vintage pieces in storage, so I wouldn't be tempted to wear something completely inappropriate to work. I kept out my most subtle vintage dresses, suits and jackets, and my more classic contemporary pieces, handmade and otherwise, then went thrifting with the intention to add some tailored blouses and suits to my selection.

My last thrifting run was a great success, with two flattering, classic suits and a versatile selection of button-down blouses entering my working wardrobe. Combined with skirts, jackets, and trousers I already owned, I can look correct, professional, and reliable on a daily basis.

The feeling of confidence I experience when I wear clothing that is appropriate and flattering is well worth the restraint in not buying excessively trendy or silly clothing.

I think also, now that I am 30, I feel more confident in more serious clothing. I personally lacked the gravitas at 25 to walk out in a double-breasted herringbone tweed suit, and now it feels comfortable and even powerful to dress this way.

 

[monkey siesta]

I admit I tend to be mildly obsessive when it comes to clothes.objectovely speaking, I have enough of them and I also own a wider range that would technically enable me to dress appropriately for various kinds of occasions.now there are days when I completely lose it in front of my wardrobe and I find myself totally freaking out because all of a sudden I KNOW I don't even remotely have enough/I hate what I have/I am sick to death of all of it/I simply despise my old stuff.and there are other days when I freak out because I have too much to wear and can't decide on which piece I'd prefer for the day (damn it, 7 days are not enough anyways..)so it seems I freak out a lot...and I do.also while purchasing stuff. I have phases during which I find myself being addicted to certain kinds of patterns/colours/materials and automatically go into deep hysteria when I come across a piece that fits one of those criterions - but I'll count that as a positive thing. when I have a negative phase I can run around shopping all day without finding a single item I even find slightly bearable...frustration sets in, day is ruined.my shopping behaviour is a bit sick and I am quite aware of that fact...

 

[emma peel]

softgrey, i need a good black skirt too!

above the knee, a not so short mini but also able to to be dressed up for work... i have been looking forever...

the basics are the hardest things :*(

 

[pucci_mama]

bump..

 

[Guessgirl96]

I think I'm the only person that doesnt feel this way but I buy 1-2 pieces a season. how much do you guys consider too much? Counting bags and shoes I have about 170-180 pieces (I was curious when I was redoing my closet ) and I feel like I dont have too much but I have just enough.

 

[ChrissyM]

are the 170-180 JUST the bags and shoes

i would say that is an extensive collection..

especially since you're relatively young aren't you!?

*i don't mean for those comments to sound critical.. i'm sure if i counted up the things in my own closet i'd be surprised by the number

i personally feel like i acquire too much but i get attached to the clothing/shoes/bags that I have..

i should probably switch my bags out more often so i can get more use out of them all..