The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #2

[aldn]

someone once told me it looks like my items look like they cost a 1,000 dollars or have been worn a 1,000 times. lol. i like to look put together but effortless at the same time.

 

[RedandNavy]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a great swimsuit to complement my summer wardrobe. Somehow I'm dreaming about something in "pin up glamour style" like in the attached image. I'm not sure though if it's right though? I'm short and have short legs so the swimsuit might make them even shorter. But then again I think the best feature about my body is that it is very curvy in a good way and I thought this would accentuate it?! What do you think?
I also don't really like high cut legs on swimsuit because they accentuate the flesh on my outer thighs - I think.

Or am I too old for this??? (32 yrs)

Image credit: Net-A-Porter, Norma Kamali swimsuit

 

[RedandNavy]

Betinapple: I love the first boots you posted, they seem very interesting and practical to me. The others don't look very special to me, but the first ones are great!

 

[lucy92]

RedandNavy, i think the norma kamali swimsuit will be worth every penny. get it!

 

[fashionista-ta]

I like the swimsuit too. If you don't like high-cut legs, then maybe you should just wear heels with it Maybe some cork wedges ...

 

[Betinapple]

@Fashionista-ta: in Denmark all webshops have a 14 days return policy (it is part of the danish law) so I can purchase them and return them if they're not right now I just have to figure out if I want to prioritize buying boots in may or if I'll take the chance and wait a little longer. Don't have a lot of money ATM so I think it is kind of a bummer to spend money on something that I can't wear immediately. You are right about the plastic zipper thx. for your inputs.

@RedandNavy: You are right. I'm not going to buy them. I have high heeled boots already, that I haven't worn much, but I think they will go well with my more classic look, so I should be good in that area. I think the swimsuit is great and very suitable for a 32 year old!

 

[fashionista-ta]

Just thought I'd mention that I stocked up on lingerie ... ivory, black, leopard print All on sale ... Would still like to find another pair of cropped cargo pants or similar.

 

[quimby]

I'm going to give list-making another go. I had been making them, but not really following them. But after yet another round of closet cleaning, I might just be ready to streamline.

So far, on my list, I have two things:
-- structured jacket, probably in black
-- silk button down, preferably in a brown or cream, but maybe in black

Other than that, I think I'm set and anything else I acquire will be excess. Which isn't to say I won't do it, especially when the sales come around. (Really, to do this properly, I'm thinking I need to break my habit of sales. )

 

[lucy92]

^really? i tend to only buy things on sale. its very rare for me to buy something for full price. if i do, i feel like a sucker.

 

[quimby]

^ I think I'm swayed too much by something being a bargain. To the point where I keep buying the same things that aren't quite right.

A lot of the really great, classic things seem not to go on sale, in my experience. The tricky part is trying to predict what will make it to sale and what won't.

 

[RedandNavy]

I tend to agree with quimby. I'm a bit sceptical about sales because in the past I've sometimes bought some "this is quite okay"-pieces because they were a bargain. I prefer buying the stunning piece that I truly love for the real price than several just-okay pieces.

I still buy on sales. But I try to be very focused and keep to my lists, especially on sales. If a wardrobe staple like a striped tee or a well cut black top is on sale, why not. Or a piece I've adored all season but couldn't afford it. But I buy full price, too. On the online shopping pages you can observe that very often the best pieces sell out within few days, so you'd rather be quick than wait for the sales.

So, after all, "bargain" is not the main criteria for me. "Love" is

 

[Betinapple]

I tend to agree with quimby. I'm a bit sceptical about sales because in the past I've sometimes bought some "this is quite okay"-pieces because they were a bargain. I prefer buying the stunning piece that I truly love for the real price than several just-okay pieces.

I still buy on sales. But I try to be very focused and keep to my lists, especially on sales. If a wardrobe staple like a striped tee or a well cut black top is on sale, why not. Or a piece I've adored all season but couldn't afford it. But I buy full price, too. On the online shopping pages you can observe that very often the best pieces sell out within few days, so you'd rather be quick than wait for the sales.

So, after all, "bargain" is not the main criteria for me. "Love" is

I aggree with everything you say. I used to buy the things that were cheap and "okay" and then be anoyed that I couldn't afford the things that I loved. Now I only buy things that I absolutely adore, I deserve better than "okay". For someone like me who has a habit of thinking about a purchase for a loooooooong time before buying it my "thinking-time" have only gotten longer but it also means that I love the things I put in my wardrobe.

--------------

So, that dress I was rambling about ... it was sold out and I didn't get an email before the day after I should've recieved it. That I think is really bad customer-service. I still want the dress so badly and I'm checking the site constantly but really I do not want to buy anything from them ATM.

Have any of you seen the dress similar to this one (preferably the same colour too) somewhere?

pic from lkbennett.com

 

[aldn]

i agree with lucy. but there was a time i would buy buy buy buy just because it was on sale. now it's more like i've eyed it all season; if i get it great if not there will be something i want some other time. i'm sure of it.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Argh ... just lost my post.

Was saying I agree with what you're saying about sales. Shopping anywhere/anytime prices are low requires even more discipline and resolve ... you have to make sure you don't lower your standards.

The perfect time to get something on sale was right after the recession hit--there were great things on sale then (for anyone who felt like buying). Pre-recession, I remember checking out a sale at Nordstrom's, and literally everything I looked at or tried or had a serious flaw--in most cases, a design flaw. Sales are stores' attempts to make their buyers' (and designers') errors yours. In some cases, they have good stuff that people shopping in that store don't want, and maybe you do. That's the ideal scenario.

I find though that while my taste may be unusual, it's not unique, and other people are very aware of what the good stuff is.

It helps to wear an unusual size ...

 

[aldn]

The stores I tend to shop at such as urban outfitters, gap, h&m are trying to appeal to a lot of customers. So good items fall in the cracks as they might not be on the radar yet for a lot of people.

 

[Betinapple]

So ... since that dress was sold out (still hoping the shop can get one in my size) I'm thinking about spending the money on those boots instead. It feels pretty stupid buying boots in may, but I know that I'll love them and it will sure spare me some trouble when winter arrives.

 

[Ives927]

I got these Prada brogues with a sneaker tongue in black from fall 2009. I like how the classic style is given a modern twist. I would say this is a mix of basic and statement. I think the tongue is removable, not sure yet, gonna have to wait till I get it. I've been wearing my Docs with everything, so it's nice to finally have a pair of brogues for a change!

gq.com

 

[fashionista-ta]

So ... since that dress was sold out (still hoping the shop can get one in my size) I'm thinking about spending the money on those boots instead. It feels pretty stupid buying boots in may, but I know that I'll love them and it will sure spare me some trouble when winter arrives.

Go for it

 

[fashionista-ta]

nordstrom

Went on a bit of a spree tonight ... the funny thing was that the SA said, "After all that, that's all?" I knew that's not what you guys would be thinking I have an occasion for which I really wanted something new ... and then I found some other good things while I was at it. There was more I could have gotten, I held back

The 3/4 sweater was on sale ... a bonus. The 2nd one has a really pretty neckline with a raw tulle edge.

Can't find a picture of the last one anywhere ... it's a BCBGMaxAzria black SS tunic sweater with a handkerchief hem, and transparent sleeve/shoulder insets. The fabric is really interesting--lyocell/wool/Lycra I believe.

 

[elle s'ennuie]

I haven't posted in this thread for ages, but I have been keeping up with you all. I had a big closet purge a few weeks ago, donated most of the lot, a handful will go on ebay (motivation to make that effort still lacking sorely, even though I could really do with the money!). I also tallied up all the clothing items I have bought this year so far - 14 in all - and now I'm kind of peeved at myself for not being discriminating enough in my purchases. About half of these were almost-necessities in that they replaced worn out stuff, but some of the others I could surely have done without.

Current summer items I am looking for:
* a white/cream/light blue loose cotton blouse top
* a cream/beige/grey All Saints cardigan to throw on at night when it gets chilly
* a breton top - replacement for my near-perfect one that is now too small

The last one is surprisingly hard to find, you'd think it'd be available in all kinds of variations since nautical is such a trend for (any) spring. Perhaps my demands are too specific? White/cream and light/medium blue stripes, not too thin stripes (at least 1cm); preferably boat neck (no crew necks, they look awful on me); preferably 3/4 sleeves, but can be long; no embellishments (no lace, sequins or bows, please); cotton or cotton blend... I've found two that were almost what I wanted, but one was too long (and hemming knits/jersey is way too cumbersome) and the other's blue stripes were a too garish, loud colour.