The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #1

[Belowen]

I did a massive cleanout of my closet and was definitely inspired by the idea of having a minimalist feel to my wardobe this season... I've outlined about 5 looks (each) for casual, 'event' and work and will start from there...

 

[a summer wasting]

Tourist10, i love the things you bought!

 

[tourist10]

thanks a summer wasting! and also gius for the karma

belowen - sounds like an interesting idea. does your closet currently have only the items you need to make these outfits? or did you pick these outfits as "go to's" for when you can't decide what to wear? how will you avoid the "monday outfit, tuesday outfit" syndrome?

I recently put away in storage all the clothes that I don't see myself wearing for the next season but didn't bother to try to figure out specific outfits ... wonder how many outfits I'm left with ...

 

[Susann]

I just found this thread and it sounds very interesting, I bet you will see me around a lot!

I try to buy as few things as possible, but those things have to be as perfect as can be. I try to stick to this idea. It can be hard but I find much more satisfying than buying things that dont really suit my style although I like them on other people

 

[Belowen]

belowen - sounds like an interesting idea. does your closet currently have only the items you need to make these outfits? or did you pick these outfits as "go to's" for when you can't decide what to wear? how will you avoid the "monday outfit, tuesday outfit" syndrome?

Well at the moment I have about 50% of the items I want for spring/summer. My wardrobe has always been ruled by winter clothes as that is what I favour, but I'm trying a little harder this year

Ideally I will have the bare minimum (only what I need for the outfits) but I am guessing I will always have backup because I still have a lot of items in my wardrobe that I don't want to part with yet. So they are going to be stored in the spare room closet until next season, so I can see what I want to take from there to work with then... Gradually I will cull it down to just the basics that I love & I will replace as I go, and add the 4-5 "good" pieces per season.

 

[salomelovesjohn]

I did a massive cleanout of my closet and was definitely inspired by the idea of having a minimalist feel to my wardobe this season... I've outlined about 5 looks (each) for casual, 'event' and work and will start from there...

I've found that when I actually buy things in terms of "outfits" or fitting into my look I end up having a few favorite looks, rather than pieces. Like the perfect shirt or two for a particular cardigan. I think for fall I'm going to get out the digital camera and make myself a "look-book."

 

[Julide]

Ok!! My very first post!!!I just want to say I love this thread! I joined tFS on like Sept. 1 and just finished reading all 192 pages!!!!I love the idea of a small wardrobe but am uncertain how many pieces that would be. I enjoy your ideas and have loved many of your items! BTA Fashionista-ta I have never given thought to green cleaners. I will look into them! I have one question: I saw on page 139 a member said she took a style personality quiz. Where could you find that quiz? TIA!!!

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Welcome It's been awhile since anyone said they'd just read the whole thread

That was floodette who took the quiz ... maybe she will chime in. We have a couple quiz threads that I will bump for you, but not sure if it's one of those.

We have another thread about total number of items in the wardrobe that's had some activity lately ...

 

[Julide]

Thank you Fashionista-ta!!!!I can't wait to read more!!!

 

[Belowen]

I bought a new top today, on the sale rack for $29 and at the register it was $20 It's perfect with jeans or shorts when it's a little warmer, very floaty, soft cotton material in a flattering shape for my figure. It has peacock feather prints, and the colours are varied, but some of the main tones I am going for this season are in there (melon/coral and a nude mushroom sort of colour) so I am very happy!

 

[mrsjamesdean]

My closet is filled with clothes I never wear however my clothes rack which is a decent size is fill with stuff I always wear(White tees,blazers,lbds,one pair of nudie jeans,cardigans,lots of variation of black skirts haha+ just different vintage purses/handbags) .

Plus its going to be summer very soon meaning boiling temperature and a excuse for not wearing different looks everyday

 

[cheepmunk]

Nina Garcia of Marie Claire magazine has apparently written a book in which she encourages women to shop more responsibly by assembling a wardrobe of staples that is supplemented with a few newer pieces each season. I came across this interview with her and thought of you guys.

http://www.nationalpost.com/life/story.html?id=1980829

We all seem to be overtaken by the impulse to buy something because it's new or it's a trend. That's just it - it's an impulse. Maybe it should be more of a strategy. Have a strategy, build your wardrobe, have things that make sense and that you can build upon and that don't end up being disposable fashion that we've gotten used to.

I have favourites that I use all the time and then I will go and build for the new season. And I'm in fashion - I need to be somehow on trend. So I will invest in a few pieces that will put me on-trend but not break the bank.

So does this mean that not spending too much money on trends... is now trendy?

 

[gius]

there is also a lot of lines coming out that are focusing on basics^ like the Row...

 

[chanelnumber5]

My problem is I love beautiful things too much. I know the 4-5 piece wardrobe doesn't prevent this, but most clothes I find beautiful have limited ways of being styled. Also, shopping for what I want rather than needs to a rather unbalanced wardrobe. Am I the only one who finds this?

 

[jeya]

chanelnumber5, i completely agree! i feel like it's incredibly hard to restrain yourself from buying something that's so uniquely designed and visually appealing to you but you know you wouldn't wear very much because it'd just be.. well, not suitable for every-day wear (or at least i wouldn't have the guts to pull it off). while i think that the idea of simplifying your wardrobe down to a few basic pieces is efficient and utilitarian, realistically i can't see myself turning a blind eye to the lovely new pieces and styles that come out every season. or even admiring them without wanting them

 

[fashionista-ta]

My problem is I love beautiful things too much. I know the 4-5 piece wardrobe doesn't prevent this, but most clothes I find beautiful have limited ways of being styled. Also, shopping for what I want rather than needs to a rather unbalanced wardrobe. Am I the only one who finds this?

I'm not sure what you mean by having limited ways of being styled ... do you have an example? I'm not sure I believe in these limits ...

As I've mentioned, I try to balance shopping for 'needs' and 'wants' ... and right now I suppose my recession style has the pendulum swung very much to 'needs.' Of course, when you really need something, you also begin to want it ... hardly anyone wants to open a closet that doesn't have a good pair of black pants hanging in it.

 

[Julide]

Cheepmunk I have all three of Nina's books. I think the 100 hundred is my favorite of hers. I guess I find that her book the style strategy to be just common sense IMHO. I think you should buy what you'll wear and wear what you really love. *Note: I have a very hard time following this rule myself!* On that note I have bought my first fall piece and would love to post it!! So here it is!! I think it will look great with jeans, by itself, with boots, with another sweater that I already have...I'm hoping for the best!! Thanks for letting me share!! *Photo credit Saks.com*

 

[droogist]

I'm not sure what you mean by having limited ways of being styled ... do you have an example? I'm not sure I believe in these limits ...

I can't speak for chanelnumber5, but I own a lot of (and have an unreasonable attraction to) dresses - specifically, dresses with a lot of complicated or unusual tailoring. In a lot of cases, the only thing you can really do to change things up is to change the shoe, or throw on a jacket, if you're lucky. I think it's safe to say that this wardrobe concept is definitely geared towards seperates. (I also don't think it works for people who favor, for lack of a better term, "avant-garde" dressing...but that might be a diffferent discussion.)

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Yes, dresses can be limiting ... I have one I style in several distinct ways, but in general, I am not a dress person.

I don't see why it wouldn't work for avant garde style as well as any other ...

 

[floodette]

Julide: i took it from a book called... arf, i totally forgot!!!! will come back to you later