The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #2

[RedandNavy]

Thank you guys, I feel reaffirmed now ;-)

I like the Vanessa Bruno cardigan, it'll be perfect over summerdresses and lose pants in the summer... I'd wear it alot if I were you :-)

Yes, the cardigan feels great! As I've said when you see it like that it doesn't look too exciting but it really helps me to make things (like summerdresses work). I'm very very happy with my purchase

APC just makes amazing clothes. I find them to be so effortlessly chic and stylish and cool. I only have to pieces by them but they are among my top favorites and I will closely watch them in the future. Seems like a brand with perfect basics that aren't boring.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

Red & Navy, yes I agree. I adore A.P.C. It's one of the few brands that exactly define my style and how I like to look and dress. I don't own many pieces yet... I don't own many pieces of clothes in general after I donated 2/3 of my clost..but oh well :-)

My beautiful, gorgeous, sailor sweatshirt arrived... And I love it. It's thicker than I expected, but perfect for summer nights or chillier spring days. The colour is very nice. It's not the dark blue I expected... it's kind of petrol blue, only kind of though... it's more navy than petrol. Anyways, I got a few stares today in the subway, esp. from women so I felt very good about the new sweater (Yes I know... it's very likely that I just imagine that :-D)

I won't purchase anything for a while now... I really want to wear the 2,3 pieces I bought in the last weeks. In June I hope to puchase the red skirt by A.P.C. But I'm not 100% suer yet.

 

[Betinapple]

I really feel like shopping atm. don't know why. But untill now I've behaved. I've bought ballerinas though, but those I actully needed. Will show you soon.

 

[HiHeels]

i find a small wardrobe to be my constant goal, an ideal. instead of trying to swear off shopping though, i'm going to start from scratch first, to figure out what stuff i really want. i feel as though i am constantly just adding new things, even if it is just a handful of things each year.

 

[BonjourTristesse]

I need to share with your guys how great I feel about having a small wardrobe... I already threw most of my clothes out (donated them or let my friends pick) in december, but 2 weeks ago I got rid of 1/3 and now I can actually see what I own. It takes me alot less time to figure out what to wear - which might seem oddconsidering that I now own much less clothes than before. But I can always immediately spot something I like. I used to look into my closet and immediately dismiss 3/4 of the clothes and didn't even consider them... Now I wear the same frequently, of course I have to wash my clothes more...but I also love and appreciate them alot more... I feel so much more content.

I am not sure if that works for everyone... but it saved me alot of time and energy... I feel alot more in love with the pieces I own. I feel like they are perfect for me and people identify me by those clothes... I love when someone says "oh you're wearing your beautiful black V neck again". I just wanted to share this story... Especially because I used to be more of a "collector" kind of shopper that bought something every 4-5 days :-)

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Yay! Good for you!!

After I wrote about my brown cardigan here, I wore it ... wasn't thrilled. And then I ended up on tape in it We're rolling out next-generation software at work, and I ended up in the video in this sweater. When I saw it, I thought, oh, no, not wearing that ... so out it goes. I have the same sweater in cream and charcoal, and I like them much better. I just really don't like brown ... somehow also the sweater looks less good in brown. To me, anyway ...

 

[Betinapple]

^ Yay! Good for you!!

After I wrote about my brown cardigan here, I wore it ... wasn't thrilled. And then I ended up on tape in it We're rolling out next-generation software at work, and I ended up in the video in this sweater. When I saw it, I thought, oh, no, not wearing that ... so out it goes. I have the same sweater in cream and charcoal, and I like them much better. I just really don't like brown ... somehow also the sweater looks less good in brown. To me, anyway ...

That's a bummer. But realizing what does not work for you is always good, so you can spend your money on something that you actually like

 

[Betinapple]

So this is really out of season, but I like to think ahead and with this I have to, since I never can seem to find good boots.

For some reason I don't think that boots fit me or my style. I'm petite and my style is feminine/50's-60's/rockabilly/classic-ish and I can't seem to get boots to work for me. And I can't find boots that I like.

3 years ago I bought the most perfect boots. Simple, classic, with a quilted effect and fur on the inside. They were pretty and practical for the danish winter where we sometimes have snow for 3 or 4 months. Unfortunately the boots broke after only a couples monhts of use so I had to return them and since then I've gone through winter in ballerinas or my practical but NOT pretty boots when I had to be practical.

Now I think I've found some boots that I like, but I'm really not sure if I would wear them because I can't see myself wearing boots. Do you have any inputs? Even though these boots are gorgeous I can't see them with my clothes, dresses and skirts.

pic from byflou.dk

 

[fashionista-ta]

I like them ... I think they'd go with anything. They are certainly the most ballet-style boot I've ever seen ... like a ballet slipper with a boot attached I think you should go for it ...

 

[Betinapple]

^you're probably right and they ARE the most perfect boots I've ever seen but I'm still having a hard time seeing me wearing boots.

 

[ShoestringTravel]

They're so cute!

I could see them worn with leggings and a darker-colored skirt/dress, worn over skinny jeans, or under boot-cut jeans. Do you own any pencil skirts (or skirts with a similar silhouette)? Also a-line skirts. Those boots would look very stylish with those!

 

[Betinapple]

They're so cute!

I could see them worn with leggings and a darker-colored skirt/dress, worn over skinny jeans, or under boot-cut jeans. Do you own any pencil skirts (or skirts with a similar silhouette)? Also a-line skirts. Those boots would look very stylish with those!

Thx I have one pair of skinny jeans (not really a pants kind of gal) in a blue wash. I do not have a pencil skirt but have a couple of short, tight skirts and a lot of A-line dresses/skirts. So that sounds really good

 

[Betinapple]

I think both of you are right, Im just not used to seeing myself in boots Also the boots are on sale and they're only left in my size and I would like to wait buying them but that is kind of risky too. Just hate buying boots in the summer even though it is cheaper

Speaking about boots Im also looking at these ones even though I need flat boots the most. I like the 2 in 1-thing but I can figure out if I find the ancle boot alone a little boring and not very youthfull.

Pics from byflou.dk

 

[Ives927]

I thought I'd join in with all of you

The idea of a 4-5 piece wardrobe is very intriguing and I think it'll be very helpful for me. I could never find anything to wear and I've found the source of the issue, I don't have basics. I tend to gravitate towards statement pieces, but that's gonna change from now on.

I don't think i even purchased 4-5 items last season. I tend to save money up and buy those statement pieces that I love so much. I'm gonna be much smarter and more conscious of my purchases from now.

So here is a list of 6 items I'd like to add to my closet:

*basics | *statement | X Purchased

• Plain Tee (white/heather/navy)*
• Lightweight Sweater (eying one from Club Monaco)*
• Jil Sander Flower Shirt* X
• Raf Simons Neoprene Shirt* X
• Double-Breasted Blazer*
• A Pair of Wingtip Brogues*/*

 

[Betinapple]

^welcome Ives

Sounds a lot like me. I used to buy a lot af statement items (patterns, wild dresses, very high heels) and since it wasn't that wearable for everyday use and I had no basics to combine it with I had a lot of "I have nothing to wear"-crisis. Now that I have good basics dressing is so much easier, but I still have some items that I miss in my wardrobe, like classic black pumps and nice black boots. I tend to buy more "exciting" footwear.

 

[aldn]

wingtips always hurt my feet. i hate it cause i love them! they're practical and make a statement. my favorite is the hybrid brogue leather trainer.

 

[aldn]

Hi HiHeels! Haven't seen you in a while!

 

[Ives927]

I sacrifice comfort for style that's for sure, hahaha. I love them, too. I just don't own a pair, yet. They make an outfit so much more sophisticated. I really like the Prada ones. They're a classic style with a modern touch, which is something I'm looking for. But I think they've been way over exposed, so I don't think I'll get them.

I used to think basics were boring, but I've really come to realized how important they are. They are a great way to supplement and compliment an outfit with statement pieces.

So here is another item off my lists. Just got it today from Club Monaco. It's a great transitional piece and has a nice texture to it. This is possibly the only simple top I have in my closet for now, but I am happy about it.

clubmonacolookbook.com

 

[aldn]

i will too. but wingtips literally kill me. i work retail and my feet hate me after an hour or so... i've tried an assortment of brands, sizes, and widths. =/
my mom brought me up on mash up of clothes. i lived in compton so i would take part in whatever was popular in the hip hop/ rap movement but she also aspired to greater things for us so i would wear things like ralph lauren as well. i still live with her and although i stay in a somewhat better area i still need to not get too crazy with my dressing. i would say central to my basics are plaid/work wear shirts such as chambray and knits similar to the one you purchased from club monaco. i get more creative with my pants. usually cutoffs. but i own several other styles. shoes. which run the gumut from boots to lace up oxfords with cut out details to sneakers in every color of the rainbow. i also have a large assortment of bags, scarfs, and necklaces.
i think my weight definitely also plays a major rule in closet editing. very rarely can i fit anything from the mall.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Betinapple, I would definitely get the first pair of boots ... what's the return policy? They seem perfect for you ... envision change

The second ones are a miss, I think ... I would never wear the ankle boots with the plastic zip around the top. Metal could possibly be cool ...

Ives, I like your list ... as I've mentioned before, I like to do about a a 50/50 mix of statement pieces and basics. Someone once told me (and I think she meant it as a compliment) that she loved the way I paired 'dull' things with something bright But that kinda is what I do.