The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #4

[twistelette]

that's what I would do, betina - if you want to wear the bag with a shoulderstrap, and it doesn't have a shoulderstrap, this is not The Bag to break your non-shopping-vow for

about laundry, I usually wash my nice stuff on the cold water wool programme of my washing machine, which is a really gentle cycle. I always think I'm going to/should handwash stuff, but it's just too much hassle and the machine cycle is gentle enough... I can't imagine the time my grandmother had to spend on laundry alone, before she had a machine...

 

[Betinapple]

that's what I would do, betina - if you want to wear the bag with a shoulderstrap, and it doesn't have a shoulderstrap, this is not The Bag to break your non-shopping-vow for

about laundry, I usually wash my nice stuff on the cold water wool programme of my washing machine, which is a really gentle cycle. I always think I'm going to/should handwash stuff, but it's just too much hassle and the machine cycle is gentle enough... I can't imagine the time my grandmother had to spend on laundry alone, before she had a machine...

You are perfectl right

I guess I should be able to trust the washing machine but I dont. Fortunately my clothes rarely get dirty and since I am always cold and therefore will never sweat (well, can't put it any other way ) I rarely need to wash any of my delicate garnments, only my jersey tops, jeans and tops that goes underneath my other clothes.

Else I probably would have to turn to the machine at some point.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Just stopped by to mention that lanvin.com is offering free next-day shipping right now ... I never pay for the fast shipping, but it's all they offer & I must say it is very nice It certainly does feel luxurious.

 

[barbaraaa]

I finally decided on a bag that won't break my bank account. I will still probably wait a little more until I buy it. It's the one I pinned most recently, from Bimba y Lola's Arizona collection. It's not too expensive (and slightly discounted atm) and it's one of my favourite shapes of bags

 

[blackcoffee]

barbaraaa - really nice bag and good size

everyone here seems to be really good at the french wardrobe, i try but i'm nowhere near buying just a few items... in the last months i've bought about 5 pieces a month...
but i guess my taste has changed a lot in the last years and i'm still a student.

since a year i keep cleaning my closet about every 2 months and there's always stuff i get rid of because i don't wear it anymore and just kept it because of memories or because the clothes were a gift... but it just takes up space.

i realized that i own about 25 dresses, most of them are summer dresses that i never/rarely wear, but still can't seem to part ways with.
there are maybe 4 i really love and wear all summer long.
then there's 7 black dresses ...
i maybe own 2 expensive dresses, the others are all h&m, zara, etc.
and i've collected them over 4-5 years i think.

and i keep getting sucked in by sales and end up not liking those items after 2 months... i try to stay away but sometimes ..

my spring/summer items i got so far are:

1 pair of black sandals
1 black embroidered dress
1 pair of espadrilles
1 white kimono style cardigan (cotton)

what i still want to get:
1 pair of nude sandals
1 white shirt dress (i still have a gift card for this one )
1 beige knitted cotton jumper

when i have those, my plan is to not buy anything for two months.

 

[Betinapple]

barbaraaa - really nice bag and good size

everyone here seems to be really good at the french wardrobe, i try but i'm nowhere near buying just a few items... in the last months i've bought about 5 pieces a month...
but i guess my taste has changed a lot in the last years and i'm still a student.

since a year i keep cleaning my closet about every 2 months and there's always stuff i get rid of because i don't wear it anymore and just kept it because of memories or because the clothes were a gift... but it just takes up space.

i realized that i own about 25 dresses, most of them are summer dresses that i never/rarely wear, but still can't seem to part ways with.
there are maybe 4 i really love and wear all summer long.
then there's 7 black dresses ...
i maybe own 2 expensive dresses, the others are all h&m, zara, etc.
and i've collected them over 4-5 years i think.

and i keep getting sucked in by sales and end up not liking those items after 2 months... i try to stay away but sometimes ..

my spring/summer items i got so far are:

1 pair of black sandals
1 black embroidered dress
1 pair of espadrilles
1 white kimono style cardigan (cotton)

what i still want to get:
1 pair of nude sandals
1 white shirt dress (i still have a gift card for this one )
1 beige knitted cotton jumper

when i have those, my plan is to not buy anything for two months.

You know what? When I started doing 5pfw I was not able to limit myself to only one item a month but with time it has become natural for me to shop less items in a better quality. You just have to get used to it, I guess

Sounds like some great purchases and a white shirt dress sounds like a perfect basic.

 

[eizhowa]

^Yes, to be able to do 5pfw you need a good foundation to build on. If you still have a lot of "holes" in your wardrobe buying so few items will be very challenging.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I really think patience rather than a good foundation is the key. Virtually everyone has clothes they're wearing ... very few people reading this truly have 'nothing to wear,' and for some and perhaps most of those it's self-inflicted (i.e., they've gotten rid of everything). A major life change often does mean having to buy more, but not a huge amount more ... usually the addition of an additional 'season' can take care of it, if planned strategically (and in my view that is the only way to plan ).

 

[barbaraaa]

I'm going to get these:

mangooutlet.com

They're almost sold out... Only available in my size. I wanted to have bought them when they were full price but I never found them in store. I guess it's a sign

 

[blackcoffee]

^ I really think patience rather than a good foundation is the key. Virtually everyone has clothes they're wearing ... very few people reading this truly have 'nothing to wear,' and for some and perhaps most of those it's self-inflicted (i.e., they've gotten rid of everything). A major life change often does mean having to buy more, but not a huge amount more ... usually the addition of an additional 'season' can take care of it, if planned strategically (and in my view that is the only way to plan ).

thanks for the advice/motivation!
yes, i wouldn't say i have nothing to wear, just that i wear little of what i own and i know what i'd like to replace with something else that's not in my wardrobe.
I just want to own pieces i love/fit very well/ and wear them to death but still have some variety.

I guess i'll have to start planning more carefully
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[fashionista-ta]

^ Maybe you can try what Barbara did, and post things you have that you need ideas for wearing on Pinterest?

 

[blackcoffee]

I'll try and do that, will take some time though
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[barbaraaa]

It did take me a while too, but it was worth it I got great advice!

 

[twistelette]

so... I took another look at the studio pollini sandals/espadrilles I got from yoox, and decided they're going back as well. I like them, but I don't love them. with all the shoes I love, they make outfits so much stronger, and I don't get that vibe from these sandals. vibes man, vibes... they are pretty though, I am sure they will give someone else that vibe, just not me I also cleared out my closet, putting away the wintery winter stuff and taking out all my summer pieces - trying them all on to see if they still work. I got rid of a few items, re-discovered a few items... I will make time one of these days to make a list of all the items in my 'summer wardrobe', to see if there is anything I need to add to make it work better. I have a feeling there's a bit of a 'many nice pieces, but not enough pieces that go together' theme going on... this, incidentally, is/was the biggest reason for me to start joining in with this thread and method of shopping. I needed to think more in terms of outfits, not just in terms of pieces. I feel that with my winter wardrobe, I'm pretty much there, but my summer wardrobe might benefit from some more work. could be as simple as adding a cardigan and a skirt, though. I'll report back

 

[EvaH]

I am just coming back from Italy and as usual I did quite some shopping while on holiday. I bought a burberry trench, the black fendi 2jours and one pair of plain gold earring studs. Super happy with my purchases!! I really needed that trench and as red said I might as well buy the one I always wanted. The earrings will compliment nicely and the bag is for work! My next purchase should be next September in Milan ! I will probably go for a long wool or cashmere cardigan and a pair of wool trousers
I am sorry I did not reply to all the comments as I was leaving for the week-end but I wil catch up
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[Jinadaze]

^ That's great! I know that you were longing for a trench (I find it a bit funny you didn't buy it in London, where you are based. Btw, is Burberry cheaper in UK than elsewhere?) and a bag, I'm sure you will get a lot of wears from these two items, such a classics.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Just stopped by to say that tonight I got home to find both my PJs and blouse waiting for me. The PJs fit as expected, but sadly the blouse does not and must go back. I really need the next size, which is not available. There is not enough room at the bust ... I can put it on, and it looks fine in front, but then it pulls across the back & is not a good look. I just saw a woman at the grocery store about a week ago with this fit issue and thought, Ummm ... ??? I couldn't wear it without something layered over it, which is not how I want to wear it. I also tried it with a cardigan just to see, and it doesn't lie well with something over it.

I'm surprised, because the Dolce leopard cardigan I tried on in the same size was extremely roomy in the bust, leading me to believe they were geared toward an 'enhanced' silhouette

So back it goes. I may need to look for Lanvin in leopard, since it is cut so much better for me. I may possibly get a pair of shoes for fall that I've had my eye on instead ...

betina, I did try it on with the skirt & shoes we discussed

 

[fashionista-ta]

Interesting what you say about outfits, twistelette. I don't feel like I think about that, but I guess actually it's second nature. I will say that I never buy something without thinking what I can wear it with, and if there's nothing ... well, I can't remember the last time I did that. It is really rare for me, even over say a 20 year period, to buy something and not wear it even once. The one time that happened, I bought the blouse (on sale ...) knowing I had nothing to wear it with. I don't think I've ever allowed that to happen again, so in that sense, I suppose it was money well spent

We never did get back to that discussion of perfection I think it exists but is elusive, and then it doesn't last Like you may find the perfect shoes, but then they will inevitably get scuffed. Clothes are to be used, to be worn, and in that process, whatever perfection may once have existed will no longer. So, you might as well find beauty in imperfection Which I totally do. Any time I see someone looking perfect, honestly I find it at least a bit unnerving, and I kind of tend to assume the person has self-esteem issues that are resulting in spending that much time on perfecting their appearance.

 

[twistelette]

ah, perfection it depends on how you define perfection, I guess - and the perfection of 'the perfect pair of pants' might also be different from the perfection of the perfect love. still, the thing with perfection, I think, is that it is so undefined. you have a vague inkling of the perfect x, how it could be even better than what you can imagine, somewhere just over the horizon where you can *almost* see but not quite. if you keep searching and searching for the perfect something - and if you believe only the perfect will 'count' - it will be hard to be happy with what is here right now. not that you always need to be happy or that you should be happy with something that is clearly not right, just because it is here now. but I do strive to be happy as much as possible, and to feel as much of a connection with the things around me that are good. to put it in a different way: if you keep searching for, say, the perfect trench, that timeless perfect thing, you will most likely find flaw with every trench that you meet. if you decide that good enough will do, and still set your standards high, you will most likely find a trench that is fantastic. what you say about shoes getting scuffed and clothing showing signs of being worn, is a really interesting point as well. though for me, that is more about being polished than about perfection. for me, it is an aesthetic preference, I don't like looking too polished, and I find the look of people who don't look polished infinitely more interesting than the look of those who do.

 

[eizhowa]

In my mind, much of the "french chic" charm is that things aren't perfect. Something should be a little off

EvaH: Wow! Those buys are great! Hope you will LOVE your trench and get a lot of wear out of it!

I actually e-mailed Burberry yesterday asking if they offered removable wool linings (which I consider a must for me). I accidentally emailed the US shop, not the UK one, but I guess if they have them in the UK too. I am considering getting one in January when I go to London I think it is similar to the one Eva pinned, length-wise, but in the color "honey".