The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #2

[BonjourTristesse]

Uff... it's so hard for me not to buy too much... I try really hard to pick only essential pieces...but I still buy 2-3 per month! At least they are good quality.

In the next 3,4 months I try to stick to finding:

- 2 very good quality long Ts or Tunics to wear with my beautiful new Anthropologie belts
- Perfectly fitted pants
- statement skirt
- light grey blazer
- Marc Jacobs bag
- black high heels

I want to make this a little more precise...

Shoes

I already own black and beige ballet flats. Bought them last summer and they still look perfect... It was well worth the price ;-)
For shoes I really need:

• black high heels (not too high though as I'm already 174!)
• sandals ( Michael Kors and MJ make beautiful ones)
• wedges. (The high heels & sandals count as basics in my opinion...so it's ok I guess)

Top

• Black leather jacket (every leather jacket I find is far too big and thick...I'm looking for a shorter, well fitted, thin one like the Rick Owens one below - this one is too expensive for me though!If anyone has seen one... please let me know ;-) )
• White and black dresses for summer

Bottom

• black mini skirt
• pants in a bright colour (either orange or blue)

Other

• grey light weight scarf by American Apparel
• Marc Jacobs Bag
• Black bikini (I cannot wait to run around in a bikini nonstop soooon!)

pictures: netaporter

 

[fashionista-ta]

nordstrom

I've had the same experience with linen trousers--they fit great for a few hours, and then they get radically baggy in all the wrong places If you launder them and dry them, they shrink right back up, but again only for an hour or two. And don't get me started on the wrinkles! Which is a pity, because they feel soooooo nice!

Exactly!!! I don't even want to describe what a bad look it was after the linen 'stretched' I just loved them, but linen is not going to work.

Unfortunately the espadrilles did not work either. I got them and the 39 was fine, but they were just not a well-designed shoe. The ribbon ties weren't nearly long enough ... I found it ironic that they skimped on that, and then had ribbon galore all over the box and shoe bag There were more issues, but I won't go into that unless anyone cares to know more I returned all of these items today, and acquired these:

I also got Fresh Brown Sugar perfume, which I also count as 'wardrobe'

PS For people who love Rick Owens, I kinda think you should save up for it and get the real thing. If you love it, you'll wear it forever ...

 

[BonjourTristesse]

^ Wow. Amazing purchase... I hope you are satisfied with those!

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Thanks! I think I will be, since I tried these on, albeit with tights rather than bare feet because it's cold today. Whenever I've seen these or similar shoes in pix, I've always assumed they must be uncomfortable. I tried on some Jil Sander patent sandals (also poorly designed, at least then ) with a single narrow strap like that, and it was torture to walk a few steps. These were very comfortable. I added scheduling a pedicure to my list when I got home I need one for spring anyway, but that goes double for shoes like this ...

Btw, I don't often need to take advantage of Nordstrom's generous return policy, but since I had to wear the cargo pants to find out there was a problem with them, I was so happy I'd bought them there.

 

[ultramarine]

fashionista-ta: Please credit the image of those lovely espadrilles

 

[twistelette]

those ysl 'espadrilles' look amazing, fashionista-ta!

 

[BonjourTristesse]

^ Agreed... I'm afraid she got me addicted now... I NEED them!!!

 

[fashionista-ta]

fashionista-ta: Please credit the image of those lovely espadrilles

It's in the title area ... nordstrom.

Thanks for all the sweet comments ... I guess I have a thing for espadrilles and straw bags They just say summer to me ...

I got the 38 because that was what they had in stock, but have ordered the 38.5 so I'll have a little more toe room & more of the black suede will show

 

[ultramarine]

Oh, sorry and thanks!

Please do take pics of em once you got em!

 

[Betinapple]

I'm really in to the whole concept although I might have to edit it a bit to fit me.

Do you work with 10 items a year (2 season, ss and aw) or do you work with 20 items per year (4 seasons, spring, summer, autumn, winter?)

I think I'm going to go with 20 items tops, because I find 10 items too few. Although, I would like to put more energy into find the perfect pieces and just buy them instead of buying things that i like but do not LOVE.

I pretty much have the things I need for SS so I'm thinking a little ahead

My musthaves for the spring/summer is:

- The perfect white dress (already bought it)
- Lola Ramona Angie sandals

There is lots of other things that I want if I can afford it, but these are the top priorities.

For AW I would like:
- A really nice basic jersy dress in grey, navy or perhaps black with drapings or some other kind of detail. A classic dress which you can use for everyday and add a couple of nice heels and be ready for a night out.
- Big shopper in black croko from decadent. I have a seperate saving for this bag since it is a bit expensive for my current budget. I hope I'll be able to buy it when I start studying again this september.

In general:
- New underwear since my body has changed (triangle bras and matching hipsters or hot pants. Preferable to sets in lace, calvin klein and forest and bob, and one more practical set from monki).

Pics, my own (the one of the sandals are sent to me from Lola Ramona), decadentshop.dk

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ It's 4-5 key pieces each for 2 seasons a year, but lingerie, PJs, loungewear, plain white Ts, etc. don't count. Unless, that is, you are building a high-end lingerie wardrobe ...

 

[scara]

I haven't bought any clothing in almost 2 months. so maybe i might finally be getting into the buy-less-philosophy.
on my summer wishlist, there is only one item so far
-a slouchy soft jumper (in white, beige or cream) made of natural fabric; preferably a bit sheer

no other caravings so far :-)

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ That should definitely be possible to find Is The Row available where you are?

Today I got piece #5 (also a celebration of a nice raise at work) ... a pair of silver grey South Sea pearl/yellow gold drop earrings (Gabrielle Sanchez). I cannot find a picture of them online, but they're gorgeous. I also tried on some larger, really pretty baroque pearls that looked washed with pink, but I had to admit that the person helping me was right, silver pearls really work with my skin and eyes--and the pink not so much.

 

[scara]

thanks for the suggestion, but the row is a bit off my budget. ;-) i'm willing to spend up to 50€ to 70€ if it is perfect.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

I had to buy a few basics... Schocking I don't own a black cardigan.

-> White lose silk T
-> blue lose silk T
-> Black cardigan
-> Beige wool cardigan

Might post pictures later

 

[Betinapple]

^ It's 4-5 key pieces each for 2 seasons a year, but lingerie, PJs, loungewear, plain white Ts, etc. don't count. Unless, that is, you are building a high-end lingerie wardrobe ...

Thx for your answers I'll try to see how this works for me. Is all basic items excluded from the 4-5 items or is it only basic tees, whereas a black kinda basic dress or a pair of black flats will count?

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Different people have different rules, but I would include the items you mention. I mention white Ts because you 'have to' have them, but they don't last long. One way to get more out of them is to use them for layering later on ... goes for all tops, really.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

Thx for your answers I'll try to see how this works for me. Is all basic items excluded from the 4-5 items or is it only basic tees, whereas a black kinda basic dress or a pair of black flats will count?

I count all basics as "ok" - and not included in the 4-5 items rule.
This might sound a little complicated but...

plain, loose T-Shirts to layer
black pants
jeans
1,2 cardigans
...


are basics for me. You NEED those. I'm not a fan of having 5 white T-Shirts. So I think having 1,2 pair of jeans, 1 pair of black pants, 1,2 white T-s everyone should own. Therefore I do not include those in the list. If one white T gets a hole I will replace it and still have my 4-5 other things.

My 4-5 pieces are luxurious items that have the extra something, that are not basic at all and will make the outfit stand out. For example a fancy handbag, great jacket, leather skirt...

My 4-5 things are expensive items that I cannot buy every week but I have to save the money for... Those are long lasting pieces. Of course I try to buy long lasting basics as well...but they certainly don't cost as much as my 4-5 things ;-)

Hope this makes sense.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ IMO, though, black pants are well worth spending money on What really gripes me is when you spend the time to find the right pair and get them tailored, and then they don't hold up. If I could just find another wool gabardine pair like I had years ago ...

I once got black pants at Ann Taylor, and before I knew it, the lining had this huge rip and was hanging in shreds. They looked good, but black pants in my closet get a workout, I need them to have stamina.

I have never bought a truly expensive pair of black pants, but I also think spending several hundred dollars (or at least that should be the neighborhood of the original price--you don't have to pay that ) on them is a good idea if you can. That way they will last for awhile.

I think even basics should have some special detailing--that way you feel good about buying and wearing them. It doesn't have to be anything that anyone else will notice, necessarily ... my current pair has a grosgrain waistband that rarely shows, but I enjoy it.

Looking at what I've gotten this season in terms of basics and statement pieces ...

(I noticed when wearing my M Patmos shell for the second time that it had developed a hole, so it is going back.)

I needed a full-length pair of jeans, so I got those ... they are basic, but they're a fun shape and have top-stitching detail I like. Since they're trouser-style and very dark, they are almost a second pair of 'black pants.' (For less than $100, and I know the quality of the brand is very good.)

The red cardigan and espadrilles would have to be considered statement pieces

The earrings are beautiful but basic--they'll go with everything.

I'm not sure what the next piece will be ... I don't really have a pair of flat sandals That's what it 'should' be, but we'll see what comes along ...

 

[BonjourTristesse]

^^^ I very much agree about the black pants... Why is it so impossible though to find the perfect one!
I'm not good at explaning.. My rule kind of is... everything that I can't normally afford is one of the 4-5 pieces. Not that everything else is a "basic". But you get the idea.
I shop with alot more "awareness" now that I follow the rule. I love it.