The Perfect Wardrobe

[two months off]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?
This depends a lot on your lifestyle, whether you work or not, how old you are - and on your personality, too. I think it's important to have good underwear, because it gives you shape. A neutral-colored pair of tailored pants, flattering jeans, a casual dress that can be dressed up, a skirt in a good fabric, a pair of simple leather shoes, a fitted shirt, a tailored jacket. I've found out that if you have these items you can always rely on them on any type of emergency - say, a last minute interview or a funeral. But I think, most important of all, is choosing pieces that fit well and are according to your personality.

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?
I give away things that I haven't worn in a year, anything that wears, or extremely trendy items that I don't see the point of holding on to. I clean out my closet a couple of times a year.

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?
I organize it by type of garment, you know, skirts with skirts, tops with tops, etc.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, etc.
Hmm, I don't know. I wear lots of different things, and maybe if you looked at the clothes in my closet you wouldn't think they belonged to the same person.

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
Hmm...right now it's this chocolate brown/printed viscose dress. And my electric blue stilettos : )

6. What are you missing?
A black tank, a dark brown, structured leather bag.

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?
I think it'd be easier if one thought of building a wardrobe around color. Figure out which colors work better with your skin/hair tone and combine a couple with neutrals. That way maybe you'd need less clothes than you think. On revamping a wardrobe...well try what's 'not you' for a change. Like...a different color, heels instead of the usual flats or sneakers, adding accesories like a great bag, or jewelry or a couple of scarves...

 

[Hebden]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?
Really good/interesting handbags and jewellery.

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?
I almost never throw anything out, I just downgrade it to a secondary closet (unless I'm moving to another country and my husband limits the number of suitcases I can take...several items had to be trashed last time)

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?
By current wearability and by type, i.e currently worn clothing is in one closet and broken down by type. "Historical" items are in different places depending on whether they can be folded or hung.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.
I spend too much on clothes and need help!

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
A Lucien Pellat-Finet Mickey Mouse skull sweater

6. What are you missing?
Everything, that's why I'm still buying things.

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?
Buy the best pieces that you can afford. Cheap things are fun but throw-away and should be looked upon as such. Even if something expensive goes out of style the chances are it will soon be fashionable again, just give it time.

 

[Tinetush]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?
jeans, nice jackets and blazers, tees, white or black flats

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?
I often clean my closet. But I practially never throw something out. I just put it in the back of my closet, and for some reason I have the space

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?
closet 1: dresses, long sleeved tees, tees tops and tanks.

closet 2: a lot of shelwes.
1:some flats 2:tanks and sweaters 3:jeans and other pants 4:sports clothe. 5:a mess.

closet 3:skirts, vest's, jackets, coats.

all organized by colour then shades

my scarfs and necklaces is in a few small basket hanging on my wall.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.
I'm not sure but somewhat cute, with a feminem/classic twist

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
green zara army jacket, henrik vibskov pants, Mickey mouse t, white birks.

6. What are you missing?
pretty much Everything,

but esp. some nice pretty tops. a pair of black pums and red flats

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?
Don't buy anything just for the sake of buying something. only buy something which you love.

 

[Mona1]

A couple questions...

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?
Nice pair of jeans

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?
If I haven't worn it for the past year I get rid of it. Exception for evening wear/eveningdresses

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?
Products

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.
A girly Jeans- & t-shirt girl that sometimes add some spice

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
My Dieseljeans, I have anout 7-8 pairs of jeans in total. A pink cardigan.

6. What are you missing?
More Sex & the City type of clothes

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?
When you go shopping make sure you buy mathincg stuff, for example don't buy just a skirt, buy the skirt plus a matching top, otherwise you might never wear it beacuse you don't have anything that goes with it.

 

[damnalky]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?


basics tees in classic colors and styles : long sleeve, short sleeve, polos, v neck, tank tops / black, white, grey, chocolate brown, green, purple

cashmere sweaters in classic colors and styles : long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless / turtleneck, v neck, / black, white, charcoal, light grey, heaher grey, baige, pink, green, purple. etc etc

few flirty summer dresses

3 + simle black dress for special events

trousers

coats!! coats are important.


and for me personally. i can't live without pashminas in the fall/winter. i currently stock in 26 different shades.




2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?


i rarely throw out anything, because i know a lot of pieces will come back as a great vintage piece in the future, when i do throw out thing.. HOWEVER.. at my beer drinking rate.. i suspect i'll be retiring things more often.





3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?


i have what you call the classic " monica geller " sydrome. meaning i'm a clean freak. it seriously bothers myself sometimes but i just can not help it. when entering the closet, on the left hand side is a 4 tray stand, which contains all of my towels / pj's / lounge wear, to the right of that is a row of coats and jackets, organized by color, from light to dark, and by length, short to long;

followed by 5 sweater ogranizers, sweaters are organized by style, color and material.


center shelf top row from left to right:

long sleeve blouses, solids (light to dark); solid turtlenecks (from light to dark); prints (light to dark); dress shirts (same way as the blouses, minus the turtlenecks)

center shelf bottom row from left to right:

denims, cropped light to dark, full length light to dark, denim trousers from light to dark ;

cropped trousers: solide color from light to dark, prints from light to dark
regular trousers solid colors from light dark, prints from light to dark.

right side of the closet is mostly evening wear

evening wear tops: from least bit material to most covered ie. tube top, tank top, halter top, sleeveless, short sleeve, long sleeve, wrap, and evening dresses, which of course. its separated by color, sleeve length and dress length.

undereath the shelfs, around the entire closet is where i store my bags, they are all in their original dust bag (if came with one), with photos on the outside stating the maker, style, color and the date purchased. some designer luggage pieces on the top of the shelfs.


shoe has their own room , but they're all stored in clear plastic bins, with photographs on the box stating the color, style, maker and date purchased.




4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.


classic timeless with a hint of edge





5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?


my tahari baige cashmere coat, its so warm!






6. What are you missing?


shoes i always need more shoes





7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?

stock up on classic timeless pieces, its ok to follow a trend, but make sure it fits your body. and more importantly, who you are before you bring it home.

 

[adorefaith]

i want soft's opinions on all this...!!...

 

[fashionista-ta]

A couple questions...

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?

Everyone's life is different, so everyone's requirements are different. Ideally you should have the right pieces such that whatever occasion arises during the course of the year, you have something to wear you want to wear that feels right for the occasion--no need to run out and panic shop.

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?

As things wear out or become damaged beyond repair, I make the call. Also at the end of a season, or beginning of a season. I generally keep things till I wear them out, or I'm sure I'll never be able to get into them again (or don't care if I do). Sometimes things need time to "ripen," or I'll buy something I know I'll need in a future season when I come across it.

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?

My current season closet has tops and dresses on one rail, bottoms on the other.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.

I think it says I like to have fun with my clothes. Witty. It probably also looks pretty color-coordinated.

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

I think "clothing" lets shoes out ... I guess right now it's the fun polka-dotted Marc by Marc skirt I bought for spring.

6. What are you missing?

I am still mourning the perfect pair of black wool gabardine trousers that I had and quite literally wore out. The bottoms were frayed, the fabric was shiny (people actually complimented that! ), and I finally had to face facts. Also mourning the 3/4 sleeve black raw silk shirt I wore as a jacket that died prematurely at the hands of careless dry cleaners. Would love to have these reincarnated. Also don't have enough cream-colored tops right now. At least one wore out since the season started (also very sad--it had been with me for a bunch of years).

I need a new bag for fall and haven't yet found the perfect one ...

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?

As someone already said, buy things you really love--that way you'll want to keep them and wear them till they're in shreds, which is also the responsible thing to do. Don't be afraid to mix high/low ... IMO, everyone should. Shoes, belts, bags, jewelry, and skirts/pants are good things to spend money on. Think about what's going to last for years ...

Work around color and style themes seasonally. This makes everything simpler--e.g., your nail polish goes with everything, and you don't have so many blanks to fill in to make all different kinds of things work. Don't be afraid to have multiples that are close to duplicates of things you mix with different pieces all the time. When one or two are at the cleaners, you can still wear all your outfits. And when one wears out, you don't have to panic shop. (I'm actually a pretty good emergency shopper, but it's more graceful not to have to do it.)

Buy separates--that way there are many more possibilities for creative mixing and matching, and when one piece goes, the other can stay and have a new life with something else.

Be patient when shopping ... don't give up and just buy whatever, try on every damn thing in the store if you have to till you find the piece that really flatters you. Figure out what works best with your body and keep doing it (in my case, I've been wearing waistless--no waistband--skirts and pants whenever I can since high school--they're perfect for me). Same goes for color--make sure you know what works on you. And if something is too hard to do with your body (I have the same problem someone else mentioned with button-front shirts due to cup size), it's OK to forget about it--you don't *have* to go there.

 

[fashionista-ta]

PS One more shopping tip ... cultivate stores where you can "always" find good stuff, and sales associates who really help you--they are gold. (In other words, SAs who pull stuff you hadn't seen, perhaps from an undisclosed location , who know the whole store like the back of their hand, who are honest with you about how things look on, who understand your style, who will order from other stores and hold for you longer than store policy, etc.) I also pretty much ignore sales. I like to shop early when there's the best selection--it's hard enough finding what you want without everything being picked over I wear a common size and it's not unusual for it to be the first size sold out. I end up getting a fair amount on sale accidentally, and I just consider that a very nice bonus I shop basically twice a year in the spring and fall, and then do a little fill-in shop in the summer or winter, like this summer I bought two pairs of capris. Last winter I remember buying a pair of shoes and something else ...

Another tip is, find a really good cleaner who will ruin your stuff very rarely, and cough up replacement $$ when they do ...

Even though I work in a city that has great shopping, I also like to do some shopping online so I can access stuff that's not available in my region (some stuff is available only on the coasts). I also read every fashion publication I can get my hands on ...

I also have an envelope for each season's shopping. On the outside I write the date, store, item, and price for each thing I buy. Inside I keep all my receipts and tags. Then if I have to return something, or prove to the cleaners how much it cost, everything I need is very easy to find. I also know exactly how much I've spent and for what.

 

[shopsmuch]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?
hmm...good undergarments, and a pair of perfectly fitting versatile brown trousers.

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?
I don't clean out my closet. If I see something in there that I all of a sudden realize I hate, I put it into a bag to donate it to goodwill. This doesn't happen extremely often though

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?
yes.

I am absolutely neurotic when it comes to the order of my closet. It is too complicated to describe. You would have to see to understand.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.
Hmm....I think it must say, really feminine girl in touch with her sexuality without being over the top and who seems to have been reincarnated in every era of the past century and took her clothes with her to each life. Ha. I have no idea what it says, really. I never thought about it too much.

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
Gosh... I really don't know. I only buy things that I am in love with so I can't acutally pick a favorite. Generally the last thing I wore is my favorite (today would be a short sleeve DVF wrap dress from a few seasons ago. ).

6. What are you missing?
Wow. Where to begin? My wardrobe can never be complete. Right now I am strongly feeling like I am missing Chloé boots from the a/w 05 collection...hope to fill that void soon...

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?
Only buy what you really like, and never, ever buy an item because you saw it look good on someone else. Don't buy absurdly trendy high-end designer pieces at retail. It's a total waste of money because you'll want to throw it out at the end of the season anyways. And make sure you always have good staple items in your closet that fit you well. And those items are the ones worth spending money on.

 

[lovelee]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?

a denim jacket, a good pair of jeans, and a sexy black dress

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?

i ditch stuff if it starts to remind me of what my mom/grandma might wear; i almost never throw stuff out

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?

by type of clothing

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.

artistic + fun

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

a black dress i bought in nyc for like $250..super-flattering and can be worn in 3-4 different ways

6. What are you missing?

a really nice watch

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?

nope

 

[Melisande]

Little Black Dress?

Hi! Would someone help me out...I hear repeatedly that the Little Black Dress is essential...but why is this? Why black, and not navy...or beige...and why "little"...? What style/shape is usually meant by a LDB?...When does one wear them? Wouldn't everyone else be wearing them? Wouldn't a black suit serve the same functions too?

Sorry...it's just something that I've always wondered about...
My dresses are all quirky, long, embroidered, deconstructed, etc. and the ONE black dress was worn only once, 10 years ago... I'd love to know more about the benefits of the LDB!

 

[fashionista-ta]

Hi! Would someone help me out...I hear repeatedly that the Little Black Dress is essential...but why is this? Why black, and not navy...or beige...and why "little"...? What style/shape is usually meant by a LDB?...When does one wear them? Wouldn't everyone else be wearing them? Wouldn't a black suit serve the same functions too?

Sorry...it's just something that I've always wondered about...
My dresses are all quirky, long, embroidered, deconstructed, etc. and the ONE black dress was worn only once, 10 years ago... I'd love to know more about the benefits of the LDB!

Here's the deal ... it's not true Yes, everyone else *is* wearing them. If you haven't worn your black dress in 10 years, I don't think the "perfect" LBD would do you any good at all

I don't really have one either. I have a black evening dress, but it has a rose printed on it, so I think it probably doesn't count. I think an LBD is supposed to be solid. I probably don't have most other standard "wardrobe essentials" either, and life seems to go on just fine B)

 

[Melisande]

Aww, Fashionista-ta, thanks, you made me laugh out loud!

Thanks for the input...so I guess I'm not missing much, huh? B)

Oh yes, you totally reminded me...I used to have a favorite vintage little black dress...but like you, with MANY MANY roses printed on it!

 

[MissTrine85]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?

- LBD
- trenchcoat
- black cashmere sweater
- black skirt that suites your body
- black leather bag
- great scarf and gloves

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?

i clean out my closet once a month. i ditch what dont suit me, or what is simply over worn.

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?

my tops are organized by color and arm lenght, my cardis by color and how warm they are.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.

classic, luxury, feminine

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

i love everything in my closet, i cant possibly choose.

6. What are you missing?

a great leather bag, which can contain a A4, and a great black turtleneck

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?

on building: get the basics.

on revamping: buy accesorize: a great bag, scarfes, jewellery, shoes ect.

 

[Whitelinen]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?

I don't think there is an ideal wardrobe, as everyone is different. As for myself, I think having a good set of basic shirts in black and white, a little black dress, a good fitted skirt, fitted black trousers, heeled black boots, black flat boots, a pair of beautiful pumps, a good coat and a good black or brown leather handbag are essential.

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?

I am in the process of throwing stuff out and starting to buy only pieces which are well-planned. I throw away everything ill-fitting or broken.

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?

By products mostly. I tryto keep everything organized as I believe taking a good care of your clothes makes up 50% of a good wardrobe. I have my shoes on cardboard shoeboxes, I use wooden or plastic hangers and I make neat piles. I try not to stuff my closet and keep the closet fresh by regularly taking out all the clothes. Then I clean the closet and air the clothes.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.

Classic, most definetily.

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

Some of my shoes.

6. What are you missing?

A good black skirt, more black trousers ... A lot of items.

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?

Make sure you know what suits to you. Be objective and critical, do not go for poor quality. Less is more.

 

[jue]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?
a pair of quality jeans that fit like a second skin, little black dress

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?
i ditch out the clothes if i'm completely sure that i'll never wear them again.

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?
actually, right now it is not organized at all but if i get to organizing: the upper shelf is for tops, the second for bottoms, the third for all the other things etc.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.
i'd say classic. it is the closest, i think.

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
this question is too hard to answer. i am getting new things all the time so it changes regularly. i think the raspberry-coloured top with puffy sleeves is my favourite right now.

6. What are you missing?
i think i'm not missing anything at the moment, but i am searching for new a new pair of shoes and a different little black dress.

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?
i have no advice to give, for i need some advice myself.

 

[CHEAPandCHIC]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?
Lots of tshirts, long and short sleeved; simple low rise dark wash jeans; a black and white shirt; formal black skirt; formal black trousers; dark fitted jacket; some sort of black pumps; some sort of flats; LBD
2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?
If it was cheap I would hardly think twice about throwing it out. I dont throw things out often, but when I do, I get rid of a lot
3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?
Products. Jeans folded in one area, Tshirts folded in another, everything else hung up
4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.
Classic
5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
I dont know, I like everything
6. What are you missing?
A really warm dressing gown
7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?
Buy your quality classic pieces first

 

[ilaughead]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?

Basic, solid colored items that can be worn with anything.

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?

I throw out things about twice a year. Anything I don't wear often is thrown out first. The rest is all arbitrary decisions. However, I keep them in a bag in the back of my closet for a month or two before donating them just to make sure I don't throw something out that I'll want later.

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?

By colors. It looks really nice that way.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.

However much I would like it to say 'dynamic, cutting-edge, chic', it definately says 'classic'...

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

A pair of really basic Dior jeans.

6. What are you missing?

Trousers and shoes. I can't find anything I like.

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?

Have a lot of basics, that way your more interesting clothes stand out.

 

[fashionista-ta]

Nothing has changed, I still don't own an LBD ...

 

[sill]

1. What do you think should be included in every good wardrobe? The most important pieces?
A simple white t-shirt, black tailored pants, the little black dress and a great navy/black fitted blazer. Also a piece that you love to death.

2. When cleaning out your closet, how do you decide what to ditch? How often do you throw stuff out?
I don't throw away things unless they're trashed and not of sentimental value (still haven't thrown away my favorite white the row-ish tank although it has several holes in it).

3. How is your closet organized? By color, products, designers?
Right now they are in boxes (i'm moving), but once settled in I have a walk-in closet and I want a display wall with my favorite pieces. Other than that, they'll be organized by type of clothing, colour and designer.

4. What do you think your wardrobe says about you? Bombshell, Classic, Sex Kitten, Sporty, ect.
I have lots of different items of different styles (like some of my clothing might be classic, some sporty, some cute, some sexy..etc).

5. What's your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
My the row-ish tank, Vagabond shoes and even though I just bought it.. my new Acne dress

6. What are you missing?
Lots. Pumps, tailored pants, light blue jeans, beautiful underwear, wedges, sheer, loose tops, knit sweaters.. the list goes on. I'm just 15 though, so I'm just getting started

7. Any advice on building or revamping a wardrobe?
Choose items that you feel comfortable in and that you truly love. If you buy items you love they will work together.