Elizabeth Suzann Clyde Culottes (size 8 short)
Elizabeth Suzann Rhodes sweater (medium) | no longer available
Play CdG X Converse sneakers | mine are a very old style
Marsell Dritta 4 bag | black sold out, white on sale
In the comments last week a few of you mentioned that you thought my outfits had been particularly good recently. First, thank you very much 🙂
Also, I wondered why that was. The common denominator, I think, is that I haven’t been wearing jeans much lately. And favoring wider styles, generally (elastic waist pants, FTW).
I’m at the point now that I don’t want to wear anything remotely uncomfortable. I’m purging pants that stick to my calves and other things I just don’t want to wear anymore, or things that are too big/don’t fit. And everytime I think about adding a new item to my wardrobe, I don’t. I don’t want any new clothes. I mean, I do, but I also don’t. It’s a very strange sensation for me LOL.
I have always enjoyed adding new things, and trying new pieces. And of course, I appreciate a package in the mail as much as the next person; having that to look forward to is a real thing. But I’m having a hard time actually placing any orders lately, even for things on my “list.” (I did order the Feit shoes though)
What gets me mostly, is that I don’t want to dilute my wardrobe any more than it already is; I’ve become acutely aware that whenever I add something new, I don’t wear my older things. And I LIKE my older things now, more and more I am starting to prefer the things that are already in my closet. But then comes the shiny and new, and I forget about the “old” for a time.
I know that’s a thing – the allure of new (I wrote about it many years ago). But I am trying hard now to wean myself away from it. I’m not using “new” like I was years ago, to self-medicate, and to forget, but I want to value my older pieces more.
So yesterday out to lunch and errands I pulled out my super-old Play CdG X Converse sneakers to wear with my relatively new ES wide clydes. An excellent balance I think.
Do you still get excited about “new”? Or have you overcome that mostly?
Happy Monday!!! So glad I can make a “normal” face in outfit pictures now !!!
Hi Grechen! It’s wonderful to see your smile again — you look so pretty. 🙂
I totally get what you’re saying about the allure of the new vs. old. You’ve been a real role model, and for the most part I’ve done a conscientious job of paring down my wardrobe to only sustainable, quality things that I love to wear. But I still have a pathological weakness when it comes to jeans. I know I have too many pairs, and yet when I come across any in a wash or a style that’s different, I have a terrible time saying no to myself. And it’s crazy, because every time I buy jeans, I think “This pair is the be all and end all that I will ever need”, LOL. But that feeling fades as soon as I spot some other cool ones. And the REALLY crazy thing is, that so many of the new jeans I buy are distressed so they’ll LOOK old. I mean, go figure. In my pitiful defense, I do wear jeans practically every day, and I definitely style them with way old pieces that I’ve loved and had for years, but still, I wish I could be stronger about not purchasing any more. I applaud your discipline when it comes to adding new things. Next time I’m tempted by yet another pair of jeans, I hope to say to myself, “don’t”.
I’M GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING RIGHT NOW!!!! WITH REGARD TO JEANS. UGH. sorry for yelling, but jeans are also a weakness of mine. and literally right this second, i added a pair to my cart at shopbop but CANNOT checkout.
i think i’ll address that tomorrow. but i am the SAME way as you. THE SAME. so i totally feel you 🙂
You’ve looked comfortable and happy with yourself lately, and that comes through in the photos!
Re the new: I’m going on a short vacation soon, and every time I travel I get the urge to buy something new for the trip. But, that rarely works out well because I prefer traveling with tried and true things. So, I’m also resisting the urge to buy anything new, because it would be stupid to have to break in new shoes on vacation, or discover something doesn’t feel right when I won’t have anything else available to take its place.
Also, I love the worn-in feeling that jackets, especially, get when they kind of mold to one’s body after being worn a long time. I have a jacket from circa 2004 that is now nearly in shreds, but I cannot get rid of because it just fits perfectly.
I am liking your non-jean outfits too! You pull off the wide leg pants very well.
I think I’ve overcome the desire for “new” a lot recently. I’m also in the same boat re: comfort – I’m sick of tight waistbands and shirts that are too short for me. Right now my my clothes spending is being curbed by the fact that I’m pregnant – I can’t justify buying non-maternity clothes since I don’t know if/when they’ll fit, and I hate all regular maternity clothes (with the exception of some pants) so I don’t buy them. I have bought a few tops here and there, but I pretty much exclusively wear loose tops anyway so they can pull double-duty. However one recent purchase I’ve been thrilled with was a used cashmere tunic from Niemann Marcus I found on Poshmark…it’s perfectly slouchy and cozy and I’ve worn it several times already, and I’ve only had it a week. 🙂
Wonderful to see a real smile again!
I’m not sure if it’s you not wearing jeans or if it’s how put-together monochromatic looks can be. The ones I’ve loved lately are your simple chic all black or black and white looks. And today’s outfit certainly qualifies!
I have to confess, as much as I’m working on it, I still get that little thrill from receiving a package. It’s definitely a form of self-medicating. Bingo!
I’m the opposite! I buy new things and immediately hide/forget about them for months. I hate wearing new things…I guess I just don’t like the attention/questions, “Oh, is that new?”….I don’t know. I just find it uncomfortable to wear new things right away especially if they’re a style/color I haven’t worn in a while…Or make me look TOO good. Yep, my superpower of choice would be invisibility…but I spend so much time windowshopping online and I also find it hard to pull the trigger. I hate shopping in person but online hasn’t been working out so well lately either. Can we get a move on on those virtual dressing rooms?
I’m really sick of pants now too but I’m not a huge fan of the elastic waist band look. But I have a hard shape to fit with a little elastic in it..and I think you have the similar problem of struggling to get things over your hips but once they’re there it’s good (or, for me, more often, too loose). I did have a pair of Anne Taylor 9?) dressy pants which were nice in the fact that the back was elastic and the front just looked regular. I like that the best I guess if I have to do elastic but on me a full elastic waist just looks to casual…I have the inherent capability of making any outfit look young/casual so I kind of have to overcompensate for that.
K, I struggle with feeling self-conscious in new clothes, too, for all the reasons you describe. I’m trying to get over it, but I’m also trying to get back to buying more secondhand, which I find easier to wear right off the bat — already broken in, doesn’t look new to others.
I’m hesitant about elastic waists too. I really prefer pants with a nice long fly. Pull on pants are such a pain to get over my hips. I don’t like shimmying into pants — has a negative impact on my body image. 😉
When I’m stressed out at work, not actively engaged in a creative outlet and not socializing, the lure of the new is strong. This goes way back for me as I can recall always wearing new outfits to my final exams in college. I don’t drink much so shopping is my escape. Not good!
I have to say when I was blogging regularly, I shopped much less as writing about objects allowed me to appreciate those items without actually purchasing. But my blog wasn’t so much about clothes but home decor and design concepts. For you, you have always focused on try on and reviews.
I am enjoying the recent outfits too! It is more than the jeans factor however. I think it is the tops for me. You are looking more tailored with your layering and also less frequent baggy Ts. I am happy to hear you are doing better too, jawwise.
Gretchen, I think you missed your calling as a psychiatrist. Your observations are spot on and you always voice exactly how I feel! I’ve purged and curated so much and now my (still over-stuffed) closet is full of thing old and new that I truly love – even though I don’t/can’t wear it all the time. I am much more choosy about buying new but having said that, I’ve literally just checked out on a camel Jesse Kam Ama cape which I’ve been eyeing for months and is now on final sale. I love it but feel super guilty as I certainly don’t need it. (I’m comforting myself with the thought that I don’t own much in camel!) Btw I love how you totally OWN wearing that ES Rhodes sweater! You wrote how you struggled wearing it before (and I feel the same with mine) and you totally rock in it with your outfit choices!
I love that sweater you are wearing.
It’s great to see you smiling again. 🙂
I try to move away from jeans, but the cold weather is making it very hard. I caved and have been wearing mine again a lot.
thank you 🙂
i really love jeans, but i love the comfort of my elastic waistbands too – i think it’s all about what i feel like that day! a little restriction with jeans, or total comfort with my ES pants…!!
thanks edie!! i am so glad i kept this sweater, it such a great piece, and i love to wear it….
that’s the thing i sometimes have a hard time with; keeping things i love that maybe i don’t wear very often. or at all. how do i reconcile that?? most of the time i don’t – i purge relentlessly, and while i never regret getting rid of things, i wonder how many things i’d wear now that i’ve gotten rid of.
oh my gosh…whenever i get something new i must wear it RIGHT AWAY or it’s like it never happened LOL
that’s why i have such a hard time buying off season.
oh, i love to get mail 🙂
it helps that i’m getting stuff in all the time for slowre though, even if it’s not “for me” specifically 🙂
hope you’re feeling better too!
Thanks, Grechen….narrowing down possibilities, anyway.
Aww, thanks so much, friend! I don’t mind the “yelling” at all! It really helps to know I’m not alone, lol. xox 🙂