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

[MissWednesday]

This is how I feel every day! When I look at the piles of clothes/shoes I have, I can never find anything to wear. It's either too tight or sits funny or wrong colour or whatever it is that day. It's a disease really - a shopping addiction. Buying something to make up for something lacking elsewhere

 

[SpookyGirl]

This is how I feel every day! When I look at the piles of clothes/shoes I have, I can never find anything to wear. It's either too tight or sits funny or wrong colour or whatever it is that day.

Exactly what I feel!
And the worse is, I'm still taking advantage from summer sales (who can resist 5 ou 10 € bargains?) and denying that autumn and winter are coming and I won't be able to wear these little shorts or t-shrirts that I keep buying...

But I have to admit that there are days when a simple thing as new necklace or shoes seem to instantly revive my wardrobe!

 

[july21]

Exactly what I feel!
And the worse is, I'm still taking advantage from summer sales (who can resist 5 ou 10 € bargains?) and denying that autumn and winter are coming and I won't be able to wear these little shorts or t-shrirts that I keep buying...

!

the same with me! I'm still buying summer clothing because it's so much cheaper on sale! and I'm not sure if I will wear it next summer...maybe I won't like it then, but I keep buying it!

 

[laika]

..and then you try.. having the styled images from fashion editorials in the back of your head (atleast that's how it often happens with me).. and you notice that the new sweater, the new pants and the new tee..just doesn't cut it with your old shoes.. any scarf in your collection or any of your bags that worked perfectly well with what you were try to do last winter...or your belts, your stockings, your hair, your jewelry.. because of the texture, the fabric, the shade, the length the overall picture is not how you envisioned you'd look... it's done, boring and unsatisfying..
Hopefully at some point while you stare hopelessly at the pile of clothes that you have just discarded in your effort to make your new wardrobe acquisitions work... you realize that to closely an interpretation of that style fashion editorial you have in your head is a creative prison that will only render you frustrated...sometimes I move on.. somtimes I stay frustrated.. and regardless of whether its the one or the other.. I keep scanning the stores..

This is really well-decribed! Reminds me of something I read of Chanel's--the essence of fashion is to appear pretty and to become ugly.
True though.

What I find is that by the end of summer I am sick of my summer uniform and actually miss my fall clothes. This definitely doesn't stop me from shopping, and I am still prone to overspend (especially during the "pre-season" period).

Some of if it has to do with staying ahead of the fashion game, for sure.
But I also feel like I am perpetually, neverendingly working on myself and my own style. I try to think of it as a total picture that I have a long time to work on.

But it's still hard to determine when to say "that's enough" for one season, unless you are strictly driven by budget--or overwhelmed by your own guilt.

 

[tangerine]

What a great topic!

Most of this sounds very familiar to me, too.

Main difference is that I do not get my inspiration from editorials (no surprise to those of you who visit WAYWT ) and am instead working from a vague and only half-understood image that sometimes coalesces in my mind's eye, formed from half-remembered images of Marlon Brando, various rock stars, and my 10-year-old self, among others...

One thing I've noticed is that there does not seem to be any way to predict what will become an item I wear several times a week, and what will sink forgotten to the bottom of a pile of jeans or t-shirts. It definitely is not related to price or "what's hot", but some bond that I form with a piece of clothing because it makes me feel good. My favorite jeans are among my most inexpensive and nondescript-looking ones.

I have spent way too much lately on a mix of designer, "streetwear" and vintage-inspired items and there seem to be at least three people sharing my closet. Whenever I feel like I have found a unifying theme, I become bored with it and have to try to tweak it into something else. It is all about capturing some fleeting image that I don't fully understand... and that is constantly changing.

 

[BohoChick]

This is exactly how I feel! At the moment I am trying to sort out my wardrobe and decide what I really want. I have always been a impulse shopper, and I have always bought lots of things each month, instead of planning my wardrobe and saving up for better pieces.

However, I think I'm getting better at planning, and i'm better at seeing what will work with the rest of my clothes and what will not.
I still cant help the occasional impulse-shopping sprees at H&M though! And I have soooo much stuff that I've only worn once or twice.

 

[*Happiness*]

well at least you all have piles and piles of clothes to fuss over. i don't have that.....and I just cleaned out my closet (so half of it is gone and going into my stock). So my choices are even more slim. I buy things every now and then...but it's like I need so much, I don't really know where to start. it's just so frustrating at times.

 

[litchickuk]

i know how you feel too. i have a packed wardrobe as well as a chest of drawers and still enough clothes to fill another two wardrobes, and yet everyday when i get dressed i complain of having nothing to wear, so usually go out and buy something. Its not just clothes either. its shoes and bags too. If i keep on going this way ill have to move out so that i can accomodate all my swag!

 

[pucci_mama]

After last season, I finally was happy with my wardrobe, focusing more on quality ignoring the trends because I did not see anything new- not anything that spoke to me.

This season is different-- so the catwalks are full of black, I want to do soething differnt.. I urge for something different, it's about not boring myself, but I'm scared I'm going to go on a crazy spending spree, and come home with too "trendy" items, that will not get much wear.

 

[shimmer]

ahhh! i am so glad this thread exists! i can relate with so many of these! i too, am always searching and trying to interpret looks, only to be disappointed or unsatisfied.

haha.. its a paradox of sorts.
i'm beginning to think that i just should stop... and be more.. utilitarian. somethings fashion can be so draining! not that i would suddenly stop caring about clothes.. but obsession is bad!

 

[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-wh*ring 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!