STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Elle · Hermes

What's your current closet strategy?

atlgirl · Gucci

In recent years I have limited my color choices significantly. I mostly work within a palette of warm colors - coral, teal, brown, cream, red, olive, and some yellow. I also have a smaller palette of colors that are cooler and work nicely with black - deep reds, emerald greens, cobalt blues, deep rose and charcoal gray (both of which work wonderfully with either my brown or black palettes).

I've found that keeping to these colors means that I can buy almost anything - shoes, skirts, dresses, bags, jewelry, scarves, tops - and they will go together. If I am looking at something in a store, I know immediately if it will work with my existing palette. If I am questioning what I'll put with it, I don't buy it. I have a running list (both on the computer and in my head) of items I'd love to add to my wardrobe, so whenever I find those things, I buy them right away.

The other thing I've learned to do is immediately try making outfits with something new. If a certain type of top will only work with pants and not skirts, because of the shape / length, then I make sure I already have pants that will work with that top (both color- and style-wise). If I really like something but just won't look right with my existing clothing silhouettes, back to the store it goes.

I also don't buy for trends. I might buy something that is trendy - like wide-leg pants are right now, but I will wear them after the trend is over because I like them. So I'm not having to get rid of things in my closet constantly because they are "out of style". I just buy what I like and wear it when I like. :) Hope that helps! I used to feel just like you do. Now getting dressed is easier and much more fun!

littlebean · Kate Spade

I felt the same way as you a few years ago and decided that I would really try to just buy nice, long-lasting things -- with a few pieces from Target or the Gap on major sale here and there. I've found that shopping online helps restrain me from making impulse purchases. I don't have any major advice but I definitely think that less (quantity) is more (quality) when it comes to buying clothes!

Kelly · Hermes

The biggest thing I had to learn was not to buy things if I don't know how I'll wear them. And yes, a generic "with jeans" is a valid response, but no matter how much I like something I ask myself what I'll wear it with and whether I have that item. Maybe I think "this skirt would look awesome with a yellow cardi," but if I don't already have a yellow cardi then I have to factor in how much energy I want to spend hunting that down. Sometimes that's enough for me to put it back on the shelf.

I always think about where I'll wear it to. And this top might be absolutely adorable and work with a couple things in my closet, but if I only think "I can wear it to work" or "I can wear it to the bar," and I really don't need anything more in those categories, I think long and hard about if I should really get it. I mean, maybe this wrap dress looks amazing on me and it would be great for work - but I already have three wrap dresses that are good for work, so there's less of a reason for me to buy this new one.

It helps for me to think of a specific upcoming occasion to wear something. That helps me figure out how it will fit into my life more than a general "this is a good going-out shirt." I like to think more "this is a good shirt to wear this Friday when I'm going on a date to a semi-dressy restaurant" or "this is a good shirt to wear on Saturday when I'll be chilling at the sports bar down the road" because I've had too many occasions where I buy something pretty because I think "This is a good going-out shirt" but then it is always too dressy, too casual, too trendy, too whatever for me to actually put on for any place I go. I don't know if that made any sense! HTH!

-- Edited by ttara123 at 17:28, 2007-12-22

Kitty · Hermes

My current strategies are as follows:

- Not buying anything cheap/poor quality. I'm really trying to only invest in stuff I love.
- Buying more basics and less patterned things - basically, items that will go with more stuff and that I won't get tired of as easily.
- Throwing stuff away every two weeks (basically, I'm doing a closet clean-out right before my cleaners come each time).
- Really trying to avoid the super trendy stuff.

kenzie · Chanel

Here are mine:

Less is more- in the past month I've gotten rid of over half of my closet and I don't miss it; I didn't wear most of the stuff anyway
Building up a wardrobe filled with basics and layering pieces, such as turtlenecks, cardigans, camisoles, trousers and skirts for work (I've lacked this for years)
Working around a general color palette- any neutral is fair game, but for colors I try to keep it to jewel tones and earthier colors. Pastels and sorbet colors don't really work with my coloring and I've found that I sometimes feel like an ice cream cone when I wear them
Instead of 10 poor quality items, I'd rather have one quality item that will last longer and I won't get sick of as quickly
Avoiding overly trendy items- if I must have something, I won't spend a lot of money on it
Accessories, accessories, accessories (scarves, tights, jewelry, hats, etc)- a great way to punch up basics

Once I've built a solid wardrobe with these guidelines, I'll incorporate some more patterns that will mix into it without much trouble.

-- Edited by kenzie at 10:14, 2007-12-26

Elle · Hermes

ttara123 wrote:

It helps for me to think of a specific upcoming occasion to wear something. That helps me figure out how it will fit into my life more than a general "this is a good going-out shirt." I like to think more "this is a good shirt to wear this Friday when I'm going on a date to a semi-dressy restaurant" or "this is a good shirt to wear on Saturday when I'll be chilling at the sports bar down the road" because I've had too many occasions where I buy something pretty because I think "This is a good going-out shirt" but then it is always too dressy, too casual, too trendy, too whatever for me to actually put on for any place I go. I don't know if that made any sense! HTH!

This is actually one of my biggest issues, I think. I'll find, say, a dress and go "Oh! This is a nice dress and I need more dresses so I'll get it!". And then it's always too something - too dressy, too casual, too warm, not warm enough for whatever thing I'm actually going to.

I also fall into the trap of finding a top I like and then get it home and it can only be worn with a few things. Usually not because it doesn't 'match' something, but because it's a little too short to wear with these pants and a little too bulky to wear with that sweater and a little too low cut to look good with that cami underneath it

.

I think my entire closet could be entitled A Little Too ....... (fillintheblank).

I thought I'd been pretty ruthless cleaning out my closet, but I think I might go back through again and throw all the stuff that 'I still like but don't wear but it's so cute so I'll keep it anyway' stuff, without guilt! Might make me feel better about buying things to replace them if I actually get rid of them first!

jj · Kate Spade

I have spent waaaaaay too much time watching WNTW this week! I can't help but get sucked in then it's four hours later.

I think you should try to clean out your closet first to make room for new things, and make a list of what you really really like.

The hardest part for me is trying stuff on and assessing if it really looks good on me. Usually I enlist my husband. A few weeks go I tried on all my pants and had him tell me which ones to keep and which ones to pitch.

To avoid the little too.... problem (which happens to me a lot), I try not to wear things right after I buy them. I play around with them and other clothes, to determine if they work before I commit and cut the tags.

TheLovelyLady71 · Hermes

I also watched the WNTW marathon this past week/weekend! I absolutely LOVE that show! LOL

I am NOW trying to clean out my closets to make room for new things, TRYING to decide what I really and truly LOVE. I recently had my 11-yr. old niece Deja over on Dec. 23rd, and we went thru my closets, in a lil' over 2 hrs., and we STILL didn't get to finish! She's really not into dresses/skirts (she could've racked up! LOL), but she did take a few, and she got a LOT of shirts that I didn't like (A LOT still w/the tags on them), or no longer wear. I still need her back, so we can finish. LOL I know SOME of those things I hadn't worn in 2, 3, even 5+ yrs., I was just 'holding on' to them.... *sigh*

I really haven't been buying a lot of clothes or shoes lately, DUE to the fact of all of my closets being jam packed. I have a problem w/buying, or going straight to the 'clearance' rack, and that's 'got to stop'. I'm def. worth MORE than a sale item! BUT! If it's something I know I won't find anywhere else, then yep - it's mine! LOL

Suasoria · Chanel

Rules just for me:

1. Anything worn on the lower half should be primarily one of these few simple colors: black, gray, white, blue denim, and taupe/tan/khaki.

2. If it doesn't go well with black shoes, I probably don't need it.

3. No white shoes except for athletic sneakers, and I don't wear those if there's any chance of being seen by someone I know.

4. When it comes to colors that aren't on the neutral list, I allow myself to be drawn only to certain colors. I usually only buy reds/pinks/purples, in both warm and cool tones. With just a few exceptions, every time I force myself into something that is a weird color for me, I end up not wearing it much.

5. Speaking of color: no more blue except for denim. No navy, no teal, no royal, no French blue. No mas azul. Ne bleu pas.

6. No dresses other than LBDs for special occasions and fancy places ladies shouldn't wear slacks.

7. If there's any doubt about the dressiness of a place or occasion, other than weddings, I aim for underdressed. I usually get completely dressed up, then I scale back by removing one piece of jewelry. If I am overdressed, and someone comments, I lie and say I have another thing to go to afterward.

8. No leather, fur, etc. Secondhand/thrift store purses and belts are acceptable.

9. Rubber soles on all possible shoes.

10. Not counting accessories, each outfit should ideally have three key ingredients. This goes back to working for a women's wear retailer where we were eager to bump units per transaction (UPTs) to 3.0 - meaning each sale should be at least three items. So, pants, top, sweater. Skirt, blouse, jacket. Jeans, tank, tee. You get the point.

11. No pants or skirts without pockets. This gets difficult and I'm not always successful, but it's a good goal.

12. Never mix metals. Don't wear gold and silver tones together unless both metals are present in a single piece, like a watch or brooch. That goes for grommets, metal hardwware on shoes, and belt buckles too. As a result, 95% of what I wear is silvertoned.

13. Careful mixing black and brown accessories. That includes black plastic and tortoise shell, such as sunglasses and barettes.

14. No white slacks or skirts between Labor Day and the first day of Spring. There - I said it.

15. Either learn to stop spilling food and drink on myself, or remember to only buy cheapo knit tanks and tees and replace them frequently as they get stained. Quantity is better than quality in this case.

Rules for everyone:

16. If you have a career track type of job, 80% of the money spent on clothes should be things that are wearable at work, since that's where we need to look best. Shop sales and off-price stores for casual/weekend clothes.

17. Buy things that fit great and are priced well in more than one color. Men do it, and it's smart.

18. The longer the pant, the higher the heel. The shorter the pant, the flatter the heel. Capri pants and spike heels are almost always tarty.

19. Longish shirts are better than short. If it doesn't hit you at the hipbone, it's probably too short.

20. No knit pants, slippers, or other housewear should be worn beyond your own property line unless you are exercising, which really should be done only in the privacy of your own bedroom.

21. Mend and alter anything that needs it in order to be wearable - and toss what will never be mended or altered. That includes keeping your shoes polished and brushed and getting new heels/soles as needed.

22. Do laundry and iron often enough so the favorites aren't in the dirty clothes pile when we want them. (Still working on the ironing part...)

23. Some things really are best left to the very young and firm. May we all have the wisdom to realize when we are no longer among the very young and firm.

24. Good shoes make any outfit better.

25. When in doubt, jeans and a white shirt is usually good, but it's completely possible for a well-dressed woman to not really need jeans. And nothing, I mean nothing, is sexier on a woman than a crisp white shirt.