The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #1

[The_Ida]

I have realized that I need trousers, and so I have bought these from H&M. I think I'm into the whole boyish thing these days? Maybe I'm just sick of skinny jeans.
shop.hm.com

I've started to love chinos ever since BF started wearing them
Edit: I promise I won't wear them with silly hats or silly belts as H&M apparently wants me to

 

[floodette]

oh, i finally got the pencil skirt i've been dreaming on. it's dark blue, with origami-like pleats in front. super pretty, and i got it for 40% off it's quite slim, yet i can still walk in it

problem is, when I got home, I found out that they gave me wrong size, and my original size has sold out. well, nothing a tailor couldn't take care of...

 

[nijuyanah]

^ I actually never really look at the size if it fits - that's great! If it doesn't - I'll just give it to our tailor (especially when it comes to jeans because they rarely fit me)

 

[maiden voyage]

sounds pretty, floodette!

 

[floodette]

Thanks

i tried to find a pic of the skirt in the net, but to no avail (it's by sinequanone).

oh, and I don't know if it fits in this category, but i found that i long to apply this principle in my make up box as well after all, i dont NEED 40 blushes...

 

[salomelovesjohn]

^^
LOL, makeup is one area in my life that I'm good at paring back on. I have one blush that I use, maybe 3-4 lipsticks/glosses, a single foundation, two eyeliners, a single type of mascara, a couple of eyeshadows maybe less than 10? Perfume a few more because I always seem to find new favorites but still less than 7 tops.

Just wondering if anyone on this thread has to dress up for work, either business or business casual?

Reviewed my 2008 purchases. Mainly I went a little nuts during the Saks 70% off sale on shoes and bags, the shoes I'm using, but the bags I think it might have been better to just buy one classic instead of the couple I got.

Another question is I have these two winter coats that I bought from Express for very little, about $100 each, but I love them. The cut is fantastic for me and I've gotten many compliements on them. How would I go about finding a tailor who could copy the coats in a new, better material - if this is even possible. Also, how much should such a thing cost? I NEVER find coats that I like in any price range and these two are just .

 

[ms-nietzsche]

I've decided to start my "spring" shopping a bit early because the sales online and elsewhere are amazing right now. So far I've ordered this leather jacket and dress. I'm hoping the dress is much more grey and less purple irl

singer22, shopbop

I'm thinking for summer I'm probably just going to cut up some old jeans and turn them into shorts, so I might actually be able to stick to 4-5 pieces a season rule.

Also, if anyone sees a Dries van Noten nightingales sweater anywhere please let me know.

 

[Belowen]

^ Oh good, I was coming in to post about the fact that I was worried about already planning my winter wardrobe, lol. (it's still summer here, obviously)

So my items for winter will be...

> dark denim jeans
> black shift dress (for work)
> black cashmere cardigan
> black boots (probably flat)
> black ballet flats
> black round-toe heels
> jewel toned scarf
> ray ban wayfarer sunglasses

That's all I can think of right now...

 

[classicalbang]

^ great list. and they're all timeless items that will be in your closet forever.

 

[maiden voyage]

How would I go about finding a tailor who could copy the coats in a new, better material - if this is even possible. Also, how much should such a thing cost? I NEVER find coats that I like in any price range and these two are just .

my tailor is also a dress maker...
so far i haven't had her copy anything but i'm curious!
i do know that her prices start at $150 minimum, for a simple skirt, no embellishments, etc, and not including the cloth.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Thanks

i tried to find a pic of the skirt in the net, but to no avail (it's by sinequanone).

oh, and I don't know if it fits in this category, but i found that i long to apply this principle in my make up box as well after all, i dont NEED 40 blushes...

Wouldn't you know, I do this with makeup too

Almost all my makeup is MAC ... I branch out when they don't have anything that works for me. I don't like their foundation or mascara, for example. So that simplifies things ...

Once I know what my key piece(s) are going to be for the season, I find out when my favorite MAC SA is going to be working, and I go by & we work on the look. It's not that I actually *need* new makeup many times, but the idea is to have something fresh for the season. I don't necessarily get a new look "top to bottom," but frequently use things I already have too. The point is to make a distinct change. And then I fill in as I use things up. I have a current makeup rotation, which I keep in 3 baskets in the bath. One is for blushes, one for eye products, and one for face products. (I also have a pencil cup for glosses, pencils, brushes, mascara, etc.) "Back stock" goes in the linen closet. Recently my charcoal grey shadow developed a hole in the middle, which is really annoying, so I tossed it in the "back to MAC" bag & actually found a grey/black duo in my linen closet that's exactly what I need.

I have one foundation, one mascara, 4 blushes in current rotation (pink, red, tan, burgundyish), and three base eyeshadows--matte ivory, silver, and frosty beige. Everything else goes on top of those ... I wear lipgloss when I leave the house, and then lipstick after that. I have probably 5 lipglosses, more lipsticks. The lipsticks live in my purse ...

 

[princeza]

I don't think the theory works for those of us who are young and building our wardrobe.

When you have a solid wardrobe of basics (which takes YEARS and many experiements) only then can you inject it with a couple of current trends per season.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I know it works because I did it when I was young & building my wardrobe

 

[The_Ida]

Thanks

i tried to find a pic of the skirt in the net, but to no avail (it's by sinequanone).

oh, and I don't know if it fits in this category, but i found that i long to apply this principle in my make up box as well after all, i dont NEED 40 blushes...

I'm into multi-use products these days, I've just bought Lip & Cheek Creme from Becca and I have great expectations I try to wear as little as possible for school (concealer, powder/blush, mascara, brow pencil) but I have a lot of highlighters and eye liners for going out But I think that finding the perfect products and colours takes a lot of trial and error, and I don't believe that one brand only can fulfill your needs.

I think I'm obsessed with black leather. It's so bad a**. I lost my leather jacket last summer, and I REALLY need a new one, but no one makes outerwear in size 34 these days...wtf?! Luckily I got a pair of flat over-the-knee boots in black leather today.

 

[The_Ida]

^ I know it works because I did it when I was young & building my wardrobe

I feel like it takes forever. I have one pair of boots and one coat that I will never ever part with, but I feel like the rest can be replaced...

 

[floodette]

whoa, ta-ta!!!!! for a start, i never imagining you as the one with baskets of make up products!!! yay, i have a company

hum, i follow almost the same logic (although for me it's more shu uemura with a bit distraction towards nars and bobbi brown). at first i tried to 'streamline' my make up stashes by giving things away, but luckily i still keep most of it as now i found myself re-attracted to some of things that i planned to give away (note: it's never been good to give away Bobbi Brown's shimmering ricks!!!). now i think i have almost everything that i need.

i seriously love how make up (and accessories, especially jewellery) could totally change my look. i could totally transform the same tshirt and skinny jeans from vampire daylight look (pale, deep lips, heavy eyeliner, pearls) to boho (bronizng powder and hoop earrings)!!!

 

[floodette]

the ida, thanks for good words on becca! i also recommend bobbi brown pot rouge

on a different note, people seems to commenting positively on me whenever i wear something green, maybe it's a new color to try? hm......

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ They are small baskets

Just came here to mention that my Lanvin Happy Sac is RIP A couple days ago the clasp flipped off again ... and then less than 24 hours later the chain broke. Not the chain itself, but the hardware that attaches it came unscrewed & fell off. The Happy Sac was no longer making me happy ... so I gathered all the pieces I could find and carried it all back to Barneys. I exchanged for a half-price Marc Jacobs lavender quilted bag, and still have a hefty refund check coming. Ah well ...

Btw my SA said that I am the second person she's sold a Happy Sac to, that this has happened with both the original bag and the replacement bag Make of that what you will.

 

[Nemova]

How do you feel about underwear? Do you apply the rule of buying quality, long lasting items for lingerie as well? I'm finding it more important than ever to buy quality underwear (esp. bras) that will get me at least through a couple of years. I've been using microfibre undergarments for about five years and they will last for an eternity (plus they're very comfy and won't let elastic marks on my skin).

 

[laika]

I'm really sorry to hear that, ta-ta, that bag was so you!!! Shocking about the quality, though.

How do you feel about underwear? Do you apply the rule of buying quality, long lasting items for lingerie as well? I'm finding it more important than ever to buy quality underwear (esp. bras) that will get me at least through a couple of years. I've been using microfibre undergarments for about five years and they will last for an eternity (plus they're very comfy and won't let elastic marks on my skin).

I've found that lingerie never lasts me more than a year, at best. I refuse to skimp though, as it's so important. My strategy is to buy just a few high quality sets at a time (with extra undies, of course ), and replace them frequently.