The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #2

[Betinapple]

I really aggree about getting used to your heels. When I wore heels every day my feet never hurt. Now that I am sitting down a lot of the time and are wearing flats a lot more, my feet get sore easier.

I read that a foottherapist said, that variating heel type and height is the most healthy thing to do if you want to wear heels

 

[fashionista-ta]

Shoes: I think the change of the angle/height I can deal with. But I've realized (while trying on all of my pairs the last two days again) that my right small toe just has a weird shape and it's okay with some shoes, but not with all. And when it gets a lot of pressure the pains get worse and worse, so I guess those shoes really aren't meant to be. There are shoes that become more comfy once they are worn in, others don't.

I bet that the right stretching could fix the problem ... it's important not to overdo it though. I would go to a really good cobbler ... I assume they do it as well as stores??

I have read that too, Betinapple, and find it to be true in practice ...

 

[fashionista-ta]

tods

Got this credit card holder, except fuchsia ...

 

[RedandNavy]

Got this credit card holder, except fuchsia ...

Nice card holder, fashionista-ta!!

 

[HiHeels]

So, I packed 11 pieces of clothing, including shoes and airplane attire, but not counting sleepshirt, underwear, hat, shawl(s), socks, etc.
If this can keep me happy for the whole trip, does this mean/prove that I should/could get rid of more than half my wardrobe?
Travel is really an exercise in living with a small wardrobe.

 

[HiHeels]

I've ordered just about every type of clothing online at some point. I have been avoiding any online buying for a bit though, and during the sales as well, only going in to check on things I coveted prior to the markdowns. I did not peruse until I found something to love, if you kwim. So, after reducing my media exposure, I'd say avoiding the actual clothing is an even bigger assist with trying to maintain a small wardrobe. Not being tempted by all the goodness out there, and also the recent trip, have combined to help/force me to ask what it is I really need in my wardrobe, and that answer definitely helps to produce the 4-5/smaller wardrobe that this thread is about. It's a slllooooowwww process though.

 

[elle s'ennuie]

My summer wardrobe hit a bit of a snag yesterday. I already complained about this on the Zara thread in Shop Till You Drop, but hopefully you're all avoiding that forum in order to not be tempted to shop so I'll just paste my post from there to explain:

I'm so fuming mad right now! I wore this cardigan for the first time today and it managed to leave green spots and streaks all over a white tank top I wore underneath, as well as my canvas shoulder bag! The tank top is a goner, but I think the bag might be more or less okay - I managed to get rid of most of the green. It's still soaking in the tub right now as it needed a wash anyway. And of course I neither have the receipt nor the tags for the cardigan.

I've worn those basic Zara cardigans and sweaters for years without any problems, it never even occurred to me that there was a chance of something like this happening. But then they have been either white or beige or, in one instance, charcoal grey.

So I managed to lose both a cardigan and a tank top in one go. But at least I saved the bag. It's my favourite summer bag, and it was a gift from someone who made it herself; I would've been so upset if the bag had been ruined too.

Oh well. The cardigan wasn't an essential item, I can easily manage without it (though it's a lovely vibrant bluish green colour, nicer in real life than in that pic I linked to above), but losing the tank top is a bit of a bummer. I went to replace it today but my size was sold out, and the difference in sizes was such that neither going one size up nor one size down worked. Also sold out online. So I bought the same top in pale/nude pink instead, which in principle can do the work the white one did in my wardrobe, except for one skirt for which it's not an ideal partner. Still, I might go and check out a different store by the same brand next week, maybe they'll have the white top in my size.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I've never shopped at Zara, and you're not making me regret it It sounds like you definitely experienced some below-par quality there ...

When I started approaching my wardrobe as a seasonal effort, I began keeping receipts, tags, etc. in a large manila envelope for each season. On the front, when I buy something, I record the date, store, what I bought, and how much I paid. When I mention here that I didn't shop in xyz months, or how long a pair of pants lasted, I'm referring to those envelopes. I keep them all in a document box from the Container Store.

I bought 3 white tees last year, and haven't replenished this year yet--may this weekend. Just demoted one that's no longer pristine to gardening wear. As mentioned previously, these are the most perishable item in my (and hopefully any!) wardrobe, and I definitely do not count them toward the 4-5 key acquisitions per season (i.e., spring and fall).

 

[RedandNavy]

I'm still so unsure what to spend my money on... I've seen a gorgeous coat and I love it. I need new autumn and winter coats but the old ones could maybe make it through another season. I think I might try to stay focused on the bag strategy. It is kind of difficult to really focus on one big item though when you know you could buy about six or seven clothing items for the same price. But I guess if I really need a tee or a sweater later, I'll manage to buy a decent one even with a limited budget. But buying a really good bag is something you do maybe ones a decade...

Well, let's see. Maybe it is sold out before I can afford it anyway. But you know what? I've discovered through the past few months that thinking about what you want to spend your money on is just as much (if not more) fun that actually buying something

 

[HiHeels]

Elle, that is awful. I know zara is generally lumped into the "disposable fashion" category, but your experience is kind of extreme.
The question is, did you need the cardigan and tank enough to now replace them, or will you leave their spots vacant to keep your wardrobe small?
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[aldn]

yeah and i've always thought of them to have a little higher quality on some items.

 

[Betinapple]

yeah and i've always thought of them to have a little higher quality on some items.

Me too. I thought their items very in higher quality in H&M and Gina Tricot's.

 

[elle s'ennuie]

Yes, I never thought of Zara as disposable fashion (then again, I don't think of any clothes as disposable, no matter what their origin), and their prices aren't at the very cheapest end of highstreet stores either.

ta-ta Yes, I recalled your envelope system as I rued my lack of receipt for the cardigan! Might have to become a little more organised and start keeping them now...

I was thinking about what Zara items I've had in my wardrobe over the years, and except for the knitwear it hasn't been much. It's a store I tend take a stroll through but rarely buy anything. What they have is nice to look at but usually doesn't agree with my body or my style (e.g a lot of their items in the past few seasons seem designed for the kind of a silhouette that is very fitted and tight on the bottom and loose or boxy on the top, and what I wear is the opposite of this).

HiHeels I see it says 'posted via mobile device' in your post, are you on your vacation already then? Hope you're having a grand time!

The top was definitely a pretty crucial item, so I replaced that already. The cardigan, on the other hand, can wait until I meet one I love. I have a J.Crew merino wool cardigan in blue that is on its last legs (it's so soft and comfortable and a great colour on me, I'm loathe to retire it), that this Zara cardi was meant to replace, but I can easily leave that spot vacant, my wardrobe works well without it, too.

 

[Betinapple]

@Elle: I don't think of any clothes as disposable either, and I think that is a good way to look at it for the sake of your bank account and the environment

I think Zara makes som pretty stuff, but I can never find anything in their stores that I want and I don't own anything from Zara. I find their stores so overwhelming and when I finally find something that I like it doesnt fit me at all.

 

[fashionista-ta]

nordstrom

Got a couple pairs of cargo pants today ... found out the Ts I wanted will be available next month, so will go back then. The black ones were on sale ... [I must say, Nordstrom has the most pitiful styling ] I will also get another $50 off from the store's 'Customer Relationship Manager' ... I guess they noticed that I usually shop at the locations further away (that have better stuff!), and they want me to shop at the location I'm 'supposed to' ...

These, except black:

 

[RedandNavy]

Betinapple, I've just seen in the shopaholics thread that you bought the pumps... they look very stylish in the picture, very pretty! Did they arrive yet?

I bought a scarf today (see shopaholics ). Scarves are the one item I only buy in sales. Looking forward to its arrival... (I doubt though that any lovely bag will be left until I have enough money to buy one. )

 

[aldn]

the nordstroms i'm supposed to shop at is dreadful. They initially angled the mall to be more high end but it turns out the demographic wanted some more I guess commercial/typical mall. so the nordstroms reflects that. nothing special.

 

[Betinapple]

Betinapple, I've just seen in the shopaholics thread that you bought the pumps... they look very stylish in the picture, very pretty! Did they arrive yet?

I bought a scarf today (see shopaholics ). Scarves are the one item I only buy in sales. Looking forward to its arrival... (I doubt though that any lovely bag will be left until I have enough money to buy one. )

No, I hope they'll arrive tomorrow hope they're good. Looking forward to see what scarf you bought.

You're not from Denmark, are you? The danish company decandent makes nice bags for okay money. (300 pounds for a big, leather bag)

 

[RedandNavy]

No, I hope they'll arrive tomorrow hope they're good. Looking forward to see what scarf you bought.

You're not from Denmark, are you? The danish company decandent makes nice bags for okay money. (300 pounds for a big, leather bag)

Betinapple: No, I'm from Switzerland. We have those Rosemunde tops here, too I have some other stuff from Danish brands such as SAND or Day Birger & Mikkelsen since I've travelled to Denmark quite a few times in the past. We were three weeks in your lovely country last summer. But since I have a habit to get pregnant when travelling in Denmark (not by the Danes, by my hubbie) I might have to stop going there

 

[Betinapple]

Betinapple: No, I'm from Switzerland. We have those Rosemunde tops here, too I have some other stuff from Danish brands such as SAND or Day Birger & Mikkelsen since I've travelled to Denmark quite a few times in the past. We were three weeks in your lovely country last summer. But since I have a habit to get pregnant when travelling in Denmark (not by the Danes, by my hubbie) I might have to stop going there

oh well, what's another child if you can get a cheap and nice bag? Oh but I understand. If you are going to Denmark any time in the future I would check Decadent out though, if they are your style.

http://decadentshop.dk/