James Perse crepe surplus pants | no longer available
Madewell chambray top
Rag & Bone quinn sandals | on sale now!!! (they run true to size)
Admonish custom leather tote
So, I didn’t accomplish anything too groundbreaking over the weekend with regard to “minimalizing” my closet, although I did come to a few conclusions that I can work with now:
If it’s not black, white or gray, I’m not keeping it.
I can now safely get rid of anything that is not black, white or gray in my closet. Unless it’s also James Perse or Inhabit (I just can’t get rid of any of those pieces). All the stripes are going – a couple of Splendid dresses and tops, an Ella Moss dress, Rachel Pally dress…
In being brutally honest with myself and taking the time to really reflect on what I wear and why, I know now that I never quite feel like “me” when I’m wearing anything other than my “home” colors – or my true north – as Susan recently spoke about. I’m making an exception for navy blue (my Black Crane pants) and my royal blue Acne dress, and I’ll always love olive green (military?) and other muted, neutral colors, but I DO NOT WEAR THEM very often. I like black, white & gray (and chambray sometimes – I really don’t wear the top I’m wearing today either, so I think it will go too). I don’t even like my jewelry or bags to be colorful. Shoes, I don’t mind; I love my orange patent Jil Sander sandals, but I don’t wear them very frequently.
If I have to wear Spanx with it, I don’t wear it
I did go through and make outfits, playing around in my closet over the weekend, and another conclusion I drew is that the items I have that I have to wear Spanx with, I don’t wear very often, or want to wear very often. I have to wear Spanx with almost EVERY skirt or dress I own. HAVE to is subjective, I guess, but I just can’t deal with my saddlebags/hips jutting out from a fitted skirt. I like smooth and sucked in. And they just look BETTER that way. I love my fitted James Perse skirts and dresses – I have so many – because they look SO GOOD on my body type, but for my daily life, I can’t just “throw” them on, so I don’t wear them.
This doesn’t mean that I’m getting rid of any of my beloved skirts and dresses, it just means I don’t need to add any more. I do wear them, but tend to save them for travel, or if I’m going to be around other people; not just running errands or hanging out on my own. Doesn’t seem worth it. <--see that? it's a problem, I know...must get over that idea that I can't "dress up" for myself.
I don’t wear sleeveless very often
Unless I’m going to be outside constantly, I need sleeves, preferably 3/4 length sleeves. Most of my daily life (sadly) consists of going from my house to the garage to the car and then walking a few feet into a store, restaurant, cafe, etc., so I’m not “exposed” to the elements that much. What I am exposed to is air conditioning. And because I am truly a lizard, and not a warm-blooded human being, I freeze if air is blowing on me. I also freeze if I’m out of the sun and the temperature is below 80 degrees. So, the fact is that more often than not, when I’m getting dressed for what I’m going to do that day I need to wear sleeves.
I like layering over tank tops or sleeveless dresses, but it’s not possible with every style. I own a couple of sleeveless dresses with tie-waists that really don’t work very well layered. I can do it, but I don’t like it. So why do I need three of them?
Ultimately, these “conclusions” are helping me decide what to get rid of, and also giving me ideas for what I need to ADD to my wardrobe. I don’t need much, obviously, but I do have a few holes I could fill. And I also know now what I need to avoid buying AT ALL COSTS: any color, anything sleeveless, and any more fitted skirts/dresses from James Perse.
Before I go on forever, I’ll end here and pick up with more thoughts later. I feel very confident that my “conclusions” will help me move forward with cleaning out my closet(s) faster, and with little regret.
This is what’s it’s all about; honing in on your style, narrowing it down to what you really wear, and letting go of everything else. Life too – make it about what’s really important, and what enriches it, instead of what weighs you down. I’m sooooo looking forward to my wardrobe NOT weighing me down anymore!!
This was very inspiring. I’ve also been closet cleaning, and come to similar conclusions. I rarely wear color, and my beloved neutrals work with everything. This is off topic, but I wanted to share my biggest thrift score ever. I recently bought an authentic Prada satchel for $20, and just sold it on eBay for $500!
I hear ya .. and are we twins? I love my black, white, grays and .. jeans! I’ll never be a blogger that has that print combining flair, but in all honesty .. it’s not me either.
And I 110% agree .. if I have to wear any special undergarment (spanx) then I’m not buying it or wearing it. I despise shape wear and a few curves and/or rolls never killed anyone 😛
Monica
MonicaP´s last blog post ..Minimal makeup for business travel
Had to comment today to say I’m proud of you : ) And rest assured, you look (are) beautitul in black, gray and white. These to me have been you very best looks, even though generally “casual”, on you they have a refined, dressy and put-together look that is still comfortable, not forced. Look forward to reading some more on your discoveries, gives me inspiration to stick to what I know also works best for me.
thanks luna! that means a lot to me, actually 🙂
could be twins!
i actually don’t mind wearing spanx, i just don’t want to HAVE to, but that probably doesn’t make sense. i like what they do to my hips/saddlebags and that they suck everything in; i just feel more put together that way, but for my mundane day to day activities, i just can’t bring myself to wear things that require special undergarments. but i also can’t just let my saddlebags “all hang out” either, and believe me…they do…
whoa. amazing find. i wish i had such luck. guess that would require me to do more thrifting wouldn’t it?? 😉
RJS, I bow down to your thriftiness. And here I was all excited about recently getting a Stella McCartney cardigan at a garage sale for $12 and a Hugo Boss jacket at a thrift store for $5. I am not worthy…. But may I ask why you didn’t keep the Prada satchel? Maybe not very useful in Maine? 🙂
Love the chambray shirt on you!!
I use scarves to add pops of color to my neutral clothing collection. I wear very light-weight scarves in the summer and heavier weight scarves in the winter. I usually also wear a chunky silver necklace. The scarves and the necklace zip things up and I don’t have to go nuts introducing all sorts of color to my actual wardrobe.
I so envy how clear you are on what you like and what works for your lifestyle and body. I’ve always been able to identify pieces that I love, but if you asked me to nail down my style, I’d have a hard time doing it. Of course, the fact that I’ve been pregnant or postpartum for the better part of three years really doesn’t help, because my size has yo-yoed for very good reason. I’m hoping that once I pop out this baby (which will be my second and last!) and lose the initial baby weight, I can spend time really figuring out my wardrobe and style.
Good for you on continuing to refine, even if I can’t imagine cutting color out of my own wardrobe!
Jessica @ Beautify My Life´s last blog post ..{Summer essential} The LWD
What a great revelation, Grechen, to figure out what you want to keep. I’m still trying to get there. I’m starting to weed out more formal clothes because I work from home (duh–what took me so long to figure that out?). Grey is my favourite colour so I think you’ll still have plenty of interesting options palette-wise. Looking forward to seeing your outfits in this pared-down scheme. Congrats!
Laurel´s last blog post ..Packing set: Toronto business trip
Laurel, please don’t demean your super scores! I’d kill for a McCartney piece. I almost kept it, but I already have a lot of nice bags. Frankly, it was kinda hard to part with it, but the big bucks helped. You’re right about Maine style. If I see one more adult wearing pajamas in public, I’m gonna spill my Starbucks on them. (Wait, why waste coffee? I’ll just squirt them with water.)
Grechen, you gotta get out and thrift sometime. I know that you’re trying to “lighten your load,” but I’ll bet the Goodwill stores are great in Texas. Just think of all those rich “oil ladies who lunch.” They probably donate amazing couture clothing.
I’m so glad you’re a good sport about my Maine comment. As soon as I posted, I was afraid you’d take it the wrong way! What I was thinking of is that if Maine is anything like Ottawa, where I live, you spend six months of the year with your mitt-clad hands stuffed into your parka pockets so you can’t hold on to a Prada bag!
Laurel, no worries. I knew what you meant by your comment and I laughed about it. We’re always mocking Maine “fashion,” such as it is. The Prada would’ve been wasted here. Sigh.
Yes, Grechen, come over the thrift side! I’m already here, with RJS, Kelly, and lots of others. I can’t tell you how many fabulous brands I’ve thrifted. In addition to Stella and Hugo, I’ve found Prada (wedge heels at a yard sale), Marsell, Acne, Diane von Furstenberg, Dries van Noten, Theory, James Perse, Maison Scotch, Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Lafayette 148, Joie, Splendid, Velvet, Mackage, Thierry Rabotin.. OK I’m just bragging now. I know it makes it hard to pare down one’s wardrobe but at least it makes it easier on the wallet when parting with things, and it’s the cheapest fun you can have that’s legal.
Laurel´s last blog post ..Packing set: Toronto business trip
Again, amen! We think that thrift stores are a way of life. Don’t worry about bragging, be proud that you’re saving money and recycling clothes, too.
Yeah. Your style sense is so good that you absolutely do not have to wear anything you don’t love.
Lisa´s last blog post ..Flowers In The House, Lace Cap Hydrangea Edition
Hi Gretchen!
Wow–you’ve done a great job of figuring out what you like and don’t like. As Lisa says, your fashion sense is highly trustworthy and it’s good for you to trust yourself. I’m especially glad to hear you say that you want to minimize the use of “shapewear” in your wardrobe–even when it comes to some of your beloved James Perse pieces–because you know too many of the clothes that require shapewear just don’t get worn. That’s the kind of insight about yourself that will help ground you as you winnow your goods.
While other commenters are hitting the ball outta the park in consignment stores, I humbly suggest that you avoid those stores just for the present. Not forever! But when you are trying to figure out the whys behind the clothes you already own, walking into a heady mix of styles (and deals) can be very confusing! The Recovering Shopaholic site has lots of info on this kind of thing.
Wishing you well on your journey!
Holy Crap, Laurel!!! I’d freak out if I found all of that good stuff…and RJS, Prada for $20?!? I would’ve been tempted to keep it, but that’s one heck of a profit. The problem with thrifting in “the Hamptons” is that everybody KNOWS the good stuff, so it’s not marked down much and it still goes fast.
Grechen, I think you’re really getting to that place where you’re in charge of your wardrobe, NOT the other way around. But I have to admit that hearing you talk about what you’re getting rid of gave me a panicky feeling! I guess I’m not as far along in the “purging process” as I thought I was. But I get my epidural on Thursday and I’m hoping for pain relief so I can gat some work done.
i hope you feel better after thursday – and can make some progress on your closet, although one step at a time!!
the only thing i’m panicky about is actually HOW to get rid of everything. and then doing it. i know what i need to get rid of, and that’s been half the battle.
thanks amy!!
you’re right about thrifting – i can’t do that now, unless there’s something specific i’m looking for that i think i can find secondhand. besides the fact that i really don’t need to be adding new things, my budget doesn’t really allow for it right now!
haha! i think i will save thrifting for when i’m looking for something specific that i think i can find that way – otherwise, i’ll be too tempted to spend money i don’t have, and that i don’t NEED to, you know? i used to know all the good spots in austin for thrifting, but i’ve yet to find them here. i’m sure there are some amazing ones, but i’ll need to go further into dallas for that, which i haven’t done lately.
for now, i’ll just live vicariously through you and RJS! you guys are pros!!
ha – i know, right? i can’t help but still want to have things that may not fit into my daily life, but are still “nice” so i can “dress up” when i want to. when i still lived in atlanta, i would actually dress up quite a bit more than i do now – i wore heels most of the time, even. we went out more then, too, and now we’re trying to avoid that too often!
it’s so weird to hear you say that, because even now, it doesn’t FEEL like i “know” what works for me. i know i do, and my work over the weekend proved it, but it’s still funny to say, and hear.
thank you so much for your thoughtful comments all the time; i’ll be looking forward to reading about your journey too!
I agree with Amy. It’s wiser to wait, until you have a specific item in mind. I think that you’d make formidable thrift store competition, however, so it’s good that you live in Texas not Maine.
Sage advice, Amy. I should have curbed my enthusiasm for thrifting, which makes me giddy. Please practise safe thrifting, everyone. Only buy what you love and need and have room for in your closet and wallet.
Laurel, it also makes me giddy. I can’t “curb my enthusiasm for thrifting,” but I can try not to encourage reckless spending;).
haha…you guys…
I would say that flipping a $20 Prada satchel for $500 on eBay does indeed constitute non-reckliess spending! 🙂
And I would only publicly curb my thrifting enthusiasm. (Partly from self-interest to reduce the competition.)
I know, we’re incorrigible. If Laurel and I ever hit a thrift store together, then buyers beware! I think that we wear different sizes, so the competition might be minimal.
Thanks! That’s quite a compliment from a friendly Canadian “competitor.”
Hi Grechen, loved reading this post. I think we might be kindred spirits! When I shop I only rarely look at garments that are colour:). I am interested in your decision to remove stripes from your wardrobe. I did that not so long ago but I have kept some long sleeved striped tees for some reason, but I think they are going soon. Even when wearing stripes I always knew they weren’t “me”. There is something so exciting about the journey to your authentic style self. Cheering you on xx
i am keeping a black and white striped long sleeve shirt that i LOVE – it’s by lululemon and it’s very long, so i wear it with leggings, and mostly to and from pure barre – also my striped james perse skirt. my problems is stripes that are NOT black and white – i have some that are navy and olive or navy and gray, or whatever, and they’re just too much for me…i know better now!