The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #1

[GasolineRainbow]

I found two perfect black day-dresses on asos.com, the sort of dresses I'll live in year-round. But they are both upwards of 100 euros, so this is where the 4-5 philosophy really comes to test. If I buy them, that's it, I'll be able to buy 2-3 more (cheap) items, tops. I'm torn, because while I am a fairly minimal shopper, I'm also an emotional shopper.

All of you who try to abide by the 4-5 "rule", is it out of budgetary constraints, or is it something else? If I'm brutally honest with myself, if I had more money, I would be a more avid shopper.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ What about buying one of them?

For me, it's not about money--it's the way I want to live. I shopped this way when I was in high school and had almost no money, and it's the way I shopped when I've been flush. It's the way I shop when there's a recession, and the way I shop when the economy's great

 

[GasolineRainbow]

^ That's close to my reasoning as well; it's also the way I want to live. I read your post about the Simmons home in the "Minimalism" thread, and I'm also taken aback by that kind of excess.

But as you may know, there's often a distance between the person you are and the person you'd like to be. I'm kind of at the point where I want it all, even though rationally, I know that more clothes and things ultimately won't make me happier. Anyway, yeah, I'm trying to decide between the two dresses

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I find that when I make myself choose, I'm always happier with the results than when I don't

I also bear in mind that that voice that says "I'll die if I don't have it!" is just the ego ... and I'm better for not indulging it

 

[Nemova]

^ That's close to my reasoning as well; it's also the way I want to live. I read your post about the Simmons home in the "Minimalism" thread, and I'm also taken aback by that kind of excess.

But as you may know, there's often a distance between the person you are and the person you'd like to be. I'm kind of at the point where I want it all, even though rationally, I know that more clothes and things ultimately won't make me happier. Anyway, yeah, I'm trying to decide between the two dresses

I'm going through the exact same process. I'm pretty sure that if I had more money, I'd be spending loads in clothes, shoes and bags, but at the same time I realise that having more of those won't buy me happiness or satisfaction.

I guess that the 4-5 wardrobe motto ulitimately becomes a lifestyle, because it's more than just budget restrictions, it's about reevaluating the consuming process and our personal choices.

 

[elle s'ennuie]

I say buy the scarf, elle

I just might...

I recently got the most beautiful black blazer in Vero Moda, which is usually rather cheap and skanky looking But it fits me as if it was made for me and it looks so expensive

I have a winter coat from Vero Moda (Gosha by Vero Moda) from last year that is incredibly nicely cut and well made, definitely doesn't look like cheap throw-away fashion, unlike most other coats that I have seen in that store, and it didn't even cost more than their usual fare. So it's quite possible to find good stuff hidden among the rags indeed.


About clothes and happiness - I find that the "happiness" a new purchase brings (if any) is very short-lived, rarely more than momentary. But clothes do figure into my daily contentment level in a way. I feel like what I wear is one piece of the puzzle that is "myself" as a whole on any given day, taking into account how I'm feeling that day. It's not so much about what I want to express by what I wear but about making sure the external fits the internal. The two must be in agreement with each other, and if they're not, the resulting feeling is that of extreme uncomfortableness.

For example, if I'm feeling generally crappy, I will choose an outfit to go with that mood, probably something simple and low-key, something that draws neither positive nor negative attention when all I want is to be left alone; but also something I feel safe in. OTOH, the next day I might be feeling uplifted and romantic and daring, and the clothes will be chosen accordingly, to maximise the experience.

 

[Party_Vixen]

About clothes and happiness - I find that the "happiness" a new purchase brings (if any) is very short-lived, rarely more than momentary. But clothes do figure into my daily contentment level in a way. I feel like what I wear is one piece of the puzzle that is "myself" as a whole on any given day, taking into account how I'm feeling that day. It's not so much about what I want to express by what I wear but about making sure the external fits the internal. The two must be in agreement with each other, and if they're not, the resulting feeling is that of extreme uncomfortableness.

For example, if I'm feeling generally crappy, I will choose an outfit to go with that mood, probably something simple and low-key, something that draws neither positive nor negative attention when all I want is to be left alone; but also something I feel safe in. OTOH, the next day I might be feeling uplifted and romantic and daring, and the clothes will be chosen accordingly, to maximise the experience.

Well said, I agree with everything . Karma coming your way!

 

[thefrancofille]

So, do you guys read the fashion mags and plan what 4-5 pieces you want each season? I wanted to try that for Spring. I was planning to get Lucky (since they always have those spreads that cover all budgets) and pick some items that will update my wardrobe but still go with what I have. What about you guys?

 

[cold_sun]

^Um thats a really good idea apparently, I might go with that as well !

 

[fashionista-ta]

One caution about Lucky ... probably 2 of 3 things I see & want aren't actually produced. They get samples from the manufacturer ahead of time. Even if it lists a store, there's no guarantee that store actually has it--they may just carry the line. I've definitely seen things in magazines & bought them, but I've also seen great things in stores that were never featured in a magazine.

Sometimes it's best to view what you see in magazines as inspiration ... plus, it's a really good idea to try everything on. I find that I'm more likely to say no in the store than I am once it's arrived in my house and now to get rid of it I have to go thru this whole process of returning it ...

Here's a little Lucky example for you. The beauty column recently featured Laura Mercier Caviar Dreams nail polish & said what a gorgeous peacock blue color it is. Lovely! So I go to the store, bottle looks just like it did in the picture, tried it on Scotch tape on my hand, still looks like the magazine. I buy it, last bottle they had, & take it to the salon for my pedicure, and the tech says, oh, this is charcoal. I look, and sure enough ... when you paint it on your nail, it's very dark, not blue or green, not peacock like the column said, but ... more the color of caviar.

How much do you want to bet me that Jean Godfrey-June and everyone else at Lucky never actually painted their nails with this stuff before devoting 1/3 of a page to it?!?! It's perfectly fine nail polish, but it is *not* peacock blue. It is amazingly similar to another dark polish I already have ... thanks, Lucky.

 

[Hebden]

One caution about Lucky ... probably 2 of 3 things I see & want aren't actually produced. They get samples from the manufacturer ahead of time. Even if it lists a store, there's no guarantee that store actually has it--they may just carry the line.

I couldn't agree more...Lucky features items which are impossible to track down.

 

[mermaidsandcats]

About clothes and happiness - I find that the "happiness" a new purchase brings (if any) is very short-lived, rarely more than momentary. But clothes do figure into my daily contentment level in a way. I feel like what I wear is one piece of the puzzle that is "myself" as a whole on any given day, taking into account how I'm feeling that day. It's not so much about what I want to express by what I wear but about making sure the external fits the internal. The two must be in agreement with each other, and if they're not, the resulting feeling is that of extreme uncomfortableness.

That's similar to what's going on in my mind. I think I am not exactly addicted to this skirt or that coat, but a style, an image, a certain quality.
Most of the clothes that I currently wear are not me, but I have to wear them because I can't just go out and find my new wardrobe in one shopping trip. I can feel an instant mood change when I get a chance to put on clothes that I feel comfortable in & represent how I see myself.

(That my outer self means so much to me is bugging me somehow. I pretend to myself that I just like beautiful things because I'm a libra, though I'm not into astrology. )

 

[fashionista-ta]

I think creating and enjoying beauty are some of the best things that life has to offer, which is a big part of the reason for my interest in fashion. I also think that we should take every opportunity to do that, rather than just accept the ugly lemming path (McMansions, Walmart, and the like ) I try to do William Morris one better, and ensure that everything useful is also beautiful.

At the same time, the older I get & the more I learn about life, the less concerned I am about what is "me." In my way of thinking/believing, this is just one lifetime of many--just one "me" of many. So while it's important to make the most of this lifetime & enjoy it to the fullest, it has become less important to me to define who I am by what I like. In fact, I guess I'm over it. Instead of defining and blah blah blah, I just want to enjoy life, enjoy what I have, be content. Am I making any sense?

 

[Sylphide]

I just might...

For example, if I'm feeling generally crappy, I will choose an outfit to go with that mood, probably something simple and low-key, something that draws neither positive nor negative attention when all I want is to be left alone; but also something I feel safe in. OTOH, the next day I might be feeling uplifted and romantic and daring, and the clothes will be chosen accordingly, to maximise the experience.

I'm exactly the same...but sometimes dressing up can pull me out of the crappiness

 

[thefrancofille]

I couldn't agree more...Lucky features items which are impossible to track down.

Hmm, I didn't know that.

 

[Guessgirl96]

One caution about Lucky ... probably 2 of 3 things I see & want aren't actually produced. They get samples from the manufacturer ahead of time. Even if it lists a store, there's no guarantee that store actually has it--they may just carry the line. I've definitely seen things in magazines & bought them, but I've also seen great things in stores that were never featured in a magazine.

Sometimes it's best to view what you see in magazines as inspiration ... plus, it's a really good idea to try everything on. I find that I'm more likely to say no in the store than I am once it's arrived in my house and now to get rid of it I have to go thru this whole process of returning it ...

Here's a little Lucky example for you. The beauty column recently featured Laura Mercier Caviar Dreams nail polish & said what a gorgeous peacock blue color it is. Lovely! So I go to the store, bottle looks just like it did in the picture, tried it on Scotch tape on my hand, still looks like the magazine. I buy it, last bottle they had, & take it to the salon for my pedicure, and the tech says, oh, this is charcoal. I look, and sure enough ... when you paint it on your nail, it's very dark, not blue or green, not peacock like the column said, but ... more the color of caviar.

How much do you want to bet me that Jean Godfrey-June and everyone else at Lucky never actually painted their nails with this stuff before devoting 1/3 of a page to it?!?! It's perfectly fine nail polish, but it is *not* peacock blue. It is amazingly similar to another dark polish I already have ... thanks, Lucky.

this may explain the color difference...

http://stephscloset.com/blog/beauty/2008/10/372/my-new-love-laura-mercier-caviar-dreams/

The color sounds interesting, I just ordered it.

 

[The_Ida]

I accidentally bought more from H&M. Will it ever end?

 

[cold_sun]

^Same here with Topshop. Not a chance to resist

 

[elle s'ennuie]

Thanks for the karma!

I checked out the sales today but amazingly enough came out empty-handed! I found only a couple of items I lukewarmly liked, and none that really tempted me. Plus I just didn't feel like buying anything, both in the sense of not wanting to get anything and also not wanting to bother with the actual physical process of making the purchase. It felt quite strange.

I did go and fondle the Zara scarf I had been dreaming about but even this didn't seem as good as it used to and the price was only reduced by about 25%, making it still quite expensive. Maybe I'll go to another Zara sometime later this week, they used to have the scarf in more colours...

I've been adhering to the 4-5 piece wardrobe thing pretty well in my daily outfits too, wearing the same long skirt and rotating a handful of tops and cardigans these past few weeks. When I get an item I really love I can become kind of obsessed with it and want to wear nothing but! Right now my obsession is a long floor-length skirt with layered basics on top.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I guess the dream was better than the reality Usually if I still remember something for the next day or two, I go back & get it (if I can).