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

[softgrey]

i think she means INCLUDING bags and shoes...


i just read part of a really interesting article about this topic in Nov 07 US Vogue..
it's about how some women are increasingly limiting their spending to just a few really good investment pieces...
rather than vast quantities of trendy items...
...

i guess this is especially true for women of a certain age who have already acquired quite a number of things by now..

...

it also mentioned the whole 'green' thing and consumer awareness growing and how dry clean only items are becoming less attractive...not just because of the cost of cleaning them...but because of what the chemicals do to the environment...
...

 

[Guessgirl96]

Your right, soft, I definitely dont have that many bags and shoes!

 

[ChrissyM]

thanks for calarifying!

i knew i must have read that wrong

 

[kimair]

i just read part of a really interesting article about this topic in Nov 07 US Vogue..
it's about how some women are increasingly limiting their spending to just a few really good investment pieces...
rather than vast quantities of trendy items...
...

i guess this is especially true for women of a certain age who have already acquired quite a number of things by now..

...

it also mentioned the whole 'green' thing and consumer awareness growing and how dry clean only items are becoming less attractive...not just because of the cost of cleaning them...but because of what the chemicals do to the environment...
...

i read that article soft...
it was very interesting...
there was a similar one in elle a few years back...
about the eccentric vs. the minimalist, and the more complicated/colorful/print the pieces in your wardrobe are, the harder it is to get dressed...

i try to organize things by color, which helps, but it also makes me realize i have alot of things that are black, grey and navy...
that only makes me want to buy new things...

 

[augustus]

I am trying to reorganize my closet. Since I have so much stuff, I only wear each pieces 2-3 times per season... I can't seem to cut down my spending though because my weight swings like hell.

 

[MUXU]

funny for me to say, i study fashion design but im not obessive with buying clothes or shoes or bags for that matter. not saying i dont like buying clothes, but i can easily not go shopping or just simply not buy clothes. however, i occasionally indulge myself with buying a piece of two or several if there is a sale once a month.
alot of the money went to buying DVDs

what i do find agonizing is when i see myself changing into a different style, i reject my old clothes though they are very nice pieces. i say to myself "meh, i dont feel like wearing a dress" and go on and wear something else.
im still trying to settle down and figure out my style. it's hard

 

[Guessgirl96]

augustus, I have the same problem. If I wear one piece twice a season thats pretty good. It's not that I have too too much stuff but I can only wear most of my clothes on the weekends and I few days when I go out on weekdays.

 

[softgrey]

i'm having anxiety about this again...

probably because i just bought a buttload of new stuff...most of which i have not worn yet...
and now there are spring collections starting to be delivered which are looking really tempting...
not to mention that fashion shows for FW 08/09 are right around the corner....

i feel like i have WAY TOO MUCH stuff in my closet..
and yet i am still missing something that will just snap it all together...
...

i think it has something to do with my boots......
or footwear in general...

but i am just really confused and dissatisfied...

which makes me just want to wear my pajamas all the time...
* which makes me feel even worse because i am not even WEARING all my freaking clothes...!!!......

argh!......

 

[lucy92]

cold weather increases my anxiety about my wardrobe.
literally 90% of my wardrobe i cannot wear because its so darn cold out...

 

[ChrissyM]

i can definitely sympathize with this anxiety as well..

i feel like i've spent so much money recently (on myself and others during the holidays) but i still feel like i'm lacking certain pieces in my overflowing wardrobe..

i don't have the perfect pair of blk boots..
i want more pants..
certain layering pieces in certain colors..

i start to think about what i "need" and i get overwhelmed

the cold weather definitely doesn't help lucy..
you're so right..
ugh

i've made a conscious effort to stop wearing my :gasp: uggs every day

maybe i should just bite the bullet and do some shopping..

 

[stealthmodesteph]

I used to have anxiety over my closet, but I don't so much anymore. I've weeded it out so much that I love just about everything that's in it. Plus, taking my discards to consignment stores provides me with some extra spending money to save up for those "perfect" pieces. I recently went to paris and (gasp!) saved up money! (this is huge for me) I also wrote a list of everything I wanted to get, and more or less stuck to it. I came back with a bunch of things that I not only adore but also merch well with my other pieces. I think the key is to look for versatile pieces- most of my dresses can be worn in the spring and fall with layering, boots can be worn with dresses or jeans, etc. I don't fuss over having a ton of handbags- before my paris trip I used one black leather bag I bought at topshop 2 odd years ago (and I still love because it's not trendy) and a white leather bag in the spring/summer. Now I have a new everyday bag- a black leather Isabel Marant that works with just about everything.

I also have a tip to curb spending- It works for me anyway. If i start obsessing about something I post it on my blog with a picture. If it's meant to be I will keep going back to the post. Sometimes I feel like I just need to post something to get it out of my brain and then I'm over it! There are certain things that I've lusted after for years that I still love up until this day (although haven't purchased yet) but I know that if I do that I really must love it.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[softgrey]

hmm...sounds like you have a good shopping ethic steph...
would love to see a pic of the isabel marant bag...
we have a whole thread dedicated to IM here...


chrissy..STOP WITH THE UGGS>>>!!!
come on...
...

 

[JetSetGo!]

I just bought my 14th & 15th pair of Christian Louboutins last night... I think I have a serious problem. I simply cannot leave the store empty-handed. I know I hate to feel deprived, and I also struggle with scarcity (of anything). "What if I won't be able to have this in the future?" All sense goes out the window. I am soooo overspent, it's ridiculous. Time to grow up, and be more responsible....

 

[stealthmodesteph]

^ softgrey- I'll have to start posting there- I bought a few isabel things when I was there. I am wearing the plaid blouse in my avatar

Also, I did have a bit of guilt when I went mad shopping in Paris. Although I bought quality items (repetto shoes, isabel marant, vanessa bruno, apc, etc.) I felt like I should have just bought three really amazing items (I was so sad after leaving the rick owens store) But oh well, no regrets! I don't regret a single purchase I made there.

 

[softgrey]

it's funny...but whenever i post in here, it somehow helps...
it gets me in gear and i start to wear all those things that i haven't been...

and then i start to feel less guilty about buying them...

though i would still have to change clothes several times a day in order to wear all of it..

...




*i was definitely happier when i had less...
i think i appreciated each thing more...
...

 

[mingminglei]

*i was definitely happier when i had less...
i think i appreciated each thing more...
...

Ohhh, I think I can definitely relate with that idea... It's like having a small but intimate group of friends as opposed to having tons of friends everywhere but not really being super close to any of them. Instead most of your time is spent hopping from friends to friends that you don't fully get to appreciate their company...

 

[softgrey]

wow..that is actually a really good comparison......

 

[shana.lima]

I love this thread, the tips and examples here really helps.
I'm 24 and for the last 4 years I've been cleaning my wardrobe and really understanding my "true" style.
I used to love to go to Zara and buy 5 new shirts and then I would get so tired of them and want more or it would get ugly (cause of using it so much).
It came to a point that I can stay weeks, months (not so much haha, only in the end of seasons) without buying anything cause I prefer to save some money and buy stuff that has the best quality, cut, cause there are the things that season after season will stay modern and good-looking.

Acessories help a lot, when it's a very trendy acessories, I never pay too much, like a fluor-blue-mini-cross-body-bag I bought at Acessorize. I don't know what this color will be in the end of the season, how sick wil I be.
But If it's a nice, big black bag, I really want good quality.
And that's true to jewelry, scarves, belts...and a good acessorie always change a plain t-shirt.

 

[shirleebee]

I've finally come to the end of my winter buying cycle. I think.
I've basically rebuilt my wardrobe in the past year and if I may say so, I think it's pretty impressive for a 22 year old college student. It's versatile but current, edgy but classy, and I now own clothing from most of my favorite labels. The last time I really shopped often was in high school & it was mostly (cute, but nonetheless) high street stuff. Between 18 - 21 most of my money and effort was spent on attending concerts, building a massive music collection, and my wardrobe settled into the typical "music fan" pattern: band tees, black punkish pants and boots, boots, boots. I still looked put together, but I didn't invest much in buying new clothes and kept recontextualizing what I already had. Then at some point in 2007, I grew very tired of this look and decided to recreate my image, I guess. And what started as "oh, I need a few new pairs of jeans, some new shoes, and some cool tops" ended up as a herculean effort with which I overhauled my entire closet & spent thousands in the process. Where my uniform was once a Jesus & Mary Chain tee shirt, black pinstriped pants and Doc Martens (sort of old school Shirley Manson or Gwen Stefani), I usually can be found now in head to toe Miu Miu or Marc Jacobs or Theory or Nanette Lepore, and I also own pieces from McQueen, CDG, Pucci, Balenciaga, etc.
My tastes have progressed immensely, and so, of course, have my price point options. It sounds terrible, I guess, but it's really hard for me to shop below (at the least) bridge level now. You just never turn back, I suppose. :/

My new spending habits put my previous sprees into a supremely modest perspective ($100 gets you like 8 or so CDs, but only maybe half of a clothing item I would buy now, and that's on the cheaper end). Anway, I'm actually happy with what I have now. BUT I ALWAYS WANT SOMETHING MORE. One of my goals this winter was to acquire several new cashmere sweaters, and I did that. But I still need the quintessential black cashmere button down cardigan & there's a cropped one from Vince with my name on it. I actually already own a sequined black cashmere cardi from La Rok (post Xmas gift), but it's a bit too dressy for everyday. Is a cropped cardigan a good piece to pick up or should I go with the classic waistlength variety?

Here's the cardigan in question:
http://www.intermixonline.com/jump....ype=PRODUCT&path=1,2,446,447&iProductID=20419


I'm also already planning ahead for Spring, of course & it will by no means by an inexpensive or easy endeavor There's way too many architectural wonders in the shoe department tempting me (yes, I'm looking at you, Alberta Ferretti, Chloe, and Marni). Oh, and I really want the MMM L'Incognito shades and the Lanvin bow tee.

 

[stealthmodesteph]

Speaking about "always wanting more", my boyfriend sent me this link the other week, and it's so true...

http://consumerist.com/346907/shopping-begets-shopping