The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #1

[haute femme]

Just ordered these from zappos, after lusting after the similar ones by Marc by Marc Jacobs a few seasons ago for a while..

I decided to order my size in a wide for ultimate comfort because I want to wear these for a long time as a basic. We'll see how they work out!

 

[elle s'ennuie]

Welcome, elle s'ennuie I think it's a good idea not to cut yourself off, and it is a good idea to have transitional items so that your wardrobe works well at all times of year.

When you decide what you want to get rid of, thought I'd mention a couple good places to donate clothes. Women's shelters need clothes, and also inpatient drug programs, some of which are specifically targeted to women. This is a good place to donate smaller sizes. Sometimes the women need clothes to wear to court.

Thanks. There aren't really that many such programs or shelters in my country. The ones that exist in my town are for the homeless, and my clothes are neither very practical nor warm... But yeah, most of the clothes will go to a charity, though I might try to sell a couple items also. I had half a clear-out about a year ago, and the clothes went to a not-so-well-to-do family with six kids in a small village where a relative of mine lives. They had the first pickings (my lot had plenty of teenager-appropriate clothing plus some more sensible and mature stuff from my mother), and then the rest were taken to a local church-based charity.

I'll probably go the same route this time, as I have a sort of a local connection through my relative, it's a small place where people know each other, know who's in need, and there's no middleman trying to profit from it (unlike some bigger organizations here, I suspect).

Btw, I think someone mentioned this earlier somewhere in the thread (after 158 pages I can't really be sure..!), but seriously, fashionista-ta, you need to compile your posts here into a book! Members here that have taken your advice can send before and after pictures of their wardrobes to include in the book, and you can cite us as examples!

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I have been told that I'm meant to be an author, but I don't know if it's fashion I'm meant to write about ... we shall see

Glad you have ideas about what to do with the castoffs ... I find that helps me. I'm much better at getting rid of things when I have a good place in mind for them to go to

 

[HiHeels]

It took me a week to go through this topic from the beginning, but every moment was well spent and now that I've reached the end, I'm even kind of wishing it were longer.

My own wardrobe is anything but "French" as I'm definitely guilty of shopping to relieve stress or whatever other emotional need that goes neglected otherwise... The states of my bank account (empty) and my closet (stuffed full) are forcing me to reconsider my habits though. So finding this thread happened at exactly the right time.

I have made a list of items in my wardrobe that are definite keepers, now I need to go through the rest and decide what to do with them. I bought a bunch of basic cardigans and tops last week, so now I don't think there's anything really missing that I need, only things that I want...

I might allow myself a pair of ankle boots for early spring when it's still too cold for shoes, and a long skirt I've had my eye on for ages. And lingerie. But that really should be it for the next few months.

i toooootally shop for psychological/emotional comfort, but i do it with more restraint now - not in terms of when i buy, but how or what i buy. if shopping is inevitable (and for me it seems that way), i would rather be in control of what i choose rather than randomly running into a store and buying some regrets. so i'm more focussed these days on what i need/want/wear, and when the need to shop strikes, i stick to these areas, and i also spend more but buy less.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I got a black Taikonhu peplum jacket yesterday at Anthropologie for, yes, interviewing, but I can't find a picture of it anywhere. It's rayon/wool, tweedy, and has kind of a 60s vibe ... bracelet-length sleeves, two 3D appliqued bows. It hooks down the front. I'm hoping they're going to update their site with a picture ...

 

[GasolineRainbow]

Adhering to the 4-5 pieces "rule" has led to an amusing side-effect for winter. I have amassed too many basics and not enough lively clothes to spruce things up with. I have the wardrobe equivalent of filler songs! As it's gotten colder, I've realized I can only change my look with scarves and tights, and it's getting stale. My next 4-5 haul will be special. Sparkly. Glittery, even.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ This time of year, resort is in the stores ... picking up a piece or two for spring that you can wear as layers now can help spice things up in the dead of winter. I often do this ... it's also nice to have some eye candy when you open your closet Resort and pre-fall often have some of the most versatile pieces too.

I usually buy no more than half "basics" a season ... one reason is because they're not as much fun to shop for, and you have hit on the other reason

 

[HiHeels]

Adhering to the 4-5 pieces "rule" has led to an amusing side-effect for winter. I have amassed too many basics and not enough lively clothes to spruce things up with. I have the wardrobe equivalent of filler songs! As it's gotten colder, I've realized I can only change my look with scarves and tights, and it's getting stale. My next 4-5 haul will be special. Sparkly. Glittery, even.

my basics are a white v-neck (men's undershirt from hanes, etc.), pants (usually cargo or super plain dickies), and then a blazer or cardigan, and i find that blazers can have enough quirks that this very simple combination can look or feel very different, depending on the shade of black (lol, j/k), material, shape, etc. of the blazer.

 

[HiHeels]

come to think of it, my 4-5 pieces this year were almost exclusively blazers.

 

[Ina]

i don't buy that much but everything i buy always turns out to be black. even though i am in no way gothic or whatever you would call that... haha. but yeah. how do i get away from always buying black?!

 

[Guessgirl96]

Adhering to the 4-5 pieces "rule" has led to an amusing side-effect for winter. I have amassed too many basics and not enough lively clothes to spruce things up with. I have the wardrobe equivalent of filler songs! As it's gotten colder, I've realized I can only change my look with scarves and tights, and it's getting stale. My next 4-5 haul will be special. Sparkly. Glittery, even.

Everyone on tfs seems to prefer winter dressing so it's a relief to find out I'm not the only one that feels this way. I mostly wear jeans in winter and whatever I wear on top is covered by my jacket, I only have 3-4 warm enough to wear in the winter so theres little variety there. Then there's just my scarf (I dont have many, esp warm ones) and shoes, but again if it's slippery or salted outside I only have a few pairs to choose from. So this winter I'm really concentrating on jackets - I got 2, bidding on one and planning to get a fourth if all goes as planned.

 

[HiHeels]

i don't buy that much but everything i buy always turns out to be black. even though i am in no way gothic or whatever you would call that... haha. but yeah. how do i get away from always buying black?!

depends on the reason you're drawn to it in the first place.
do you truly love and enjoy the color more than others? if so, then there is no reason to try to avoid it i think. if you are doing it just to be safe or easy, etc., then that is another matter.

 

[Ina]

depends on the reason you're drawn to it in the first place.
do you truly love and enjoy the color more than others? if so, then there is no reason to try to avoid it i think. if you are doing it just to be safe or easy, etc., then that is another matter.

i just always end up buying black because I think it looks the best on me compared to other colors...

 

[HiHeels]

i just always end up buying black because I think it looks the best on me compared to other colors...

are your bottoms black too?

 

[Ina]

are your bottoms black too?

no i usually wear frankie bs or true religions with black tops

 

[HiHeels]

i prefer black next to my face too, but charcoal grey, navy or white work too.
honestly, if that's the color you feel best in, then there is nothing wrong with sticking with it. it certainly simplifies things.

 

[Ina]

:] thanks

 

[misstarshine]

Everyone on tfs seems to prefer winter dressing so it's a relief to find out I'm not the only one that feels this way. I mostly wear jeans in winter and whatever I wear on top is covered by my jacket, I only have 3-4 warm enough to wear in the winter so theres little variety there. Then there's just my scarf (I dont have many, esp warm ones) and shoes, but again if it's slippery or salted outside I only have a few pairs to choose from. So this winter I'm really concentrating on jackets - I got 2, bidding on one and planning to get a fourth if all goes as planned.

I prefer summer dressing too. I do love winter for all the coats, boots, layering, hats etc. But, by the end I am completely sick of all my coats and feel like I wear the same thing all the time. Summers great because I get to show off all my dresses.

 

[HiHeels]

i always used to say that i loved winter. i realize now that this was because i lived in los angeles. on the east coast, winter is a bit boring because it's really just bundling up. i have these cute shoes that can't wear now - if you hear that it's 25 degrees outside in the morning, forget it. i just want wool socks and boots.
so i guess fall is my new favorite season. lol

 

[The_Ida]

I forgot my only black cardigan at my mom's months ago, and I got it back last week... It's almost embarrassing how much easier it is to get dressed in the morning, that little piece of clothing makes my whole wardrobe come together I'm addicted to black