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Splendid maxi tank dress | ribbed, size medium, exclusive to Shopbop
VKOO sweater/top | n/a
Robert Clergerie Pepo sandals | on sale at 6pm.com (good resource for RC on sale)
Dannijo necklace | n/a
3.1 Phillip Lim large Ryder satchel | small version at Azalea for $671 with code GRECHEN25
I’m cold. It’s still cool here in the mornings and only warms up to about 70 during the day, which is NOT warm enough for me to be wearing sleeveless & sandals. But I am rebelling against the weather, as I always do in April, and wearing this anyway. If I’m lucky enough to find a patch of sun to stand/sit in, I’m okay, because ultimately, I’m a lizard – I need sun to be warm…
It’s been an odd week, this week. My step-son is in town for his Passover break, which always changes things a bit, but the Shopbop sale always throws me into a tizzy because I ALWAYS want to buy more and struggle with NOT buying more than I should, because OMG, it’s all 25% off!!!!!! I was good, and stuck to my budget this time and ONLY bought what I needed (the Rag & Bone Quinn sandals, which arrive today, yay!!!), but still I feel like I missed out somehow. I did not.
It’s going to be a long road to making “peace” with my minimal wardrobe and not buying what I don’t need, and/or learning how to buy the RIGHT things. I’m still purging, but also struggling with knowing what to get rid of and when. As I mentioned in a comment this morning, I had a beautiful floral printed silk Winter Kate maxi skirt a couple of years ago that I didn’t wear as often as I liked, so I sold it. I’d kind of like to have it now, although it probably wouldn’t fit me. It’s probably just nostalgia, and even if I did still have it, I probably would feel the same way about it, but I wonder if I’ve sold too many things I would still wear?
I am brutal in purging my own closet sometimes, in fact, I’ve decided not to keep the Acne Studios dress I showed you last week (email me if you’re interested, otherwise it’s going on eBay). I do like it, but it’s not what I want right now, and I know I can find something more flattering on me and that I will be happier with for longer. I wonder if I had an infinite amount of room if I’d want to keep everything? I don’t think so, because even having what I have spread out into 2 closets is too much for me. I don’t even like the IDEA of having too many things. More than anything, I want my ONE closet to be full of things I love (and that LOVE ME BACK) and want to wear all the time. So if that means I need to get rid of the not-so-great things then so be it.
One step at a time, right? And I passed the Shopbop coupon code test this time around. May I make it through Saks and The Dreslyn next week…
Love this look on you. Fantastic!
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I think the top looks great. The combo of v-neck, cap sleeves, and A-line is perfect on you. I think it would look good on me, too, so thanks for the inspiration!
I also struggle with paring down my wardrobe. It’s hard to resist bargains, especially when I mostly shop in consignment and thrift stores. I don’t have all the answers, but some strategies that have worked for me are to make a list of what I really need, and only shop for and buy those things. The “Noah’s Ark” principle of having a limit of two of anything (such as black cowl-neck t-shirts) is also a good one. When I can’t work up the nerve to get rid of something I know I’ll never wear again, I wear it one last time as an emotional send-off, and find out that I really don’t like it and can’t wait to take it off at the end of the day, so I know I’m making the right decision. I also take a photo of things I’m getting rid of and keep it on my hard drive, as a sort of memento. Silly, I know, but it helps deal with the emotions of getting rid of stuff. Let us know if you have any tips to pass along. Good luck!
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This is a great outfit–and totally you.
I think the main struggle I have with shopping less is reminding myself that there will be other great things I want to buy later, they’re not all going away if I don’t buy them now. Although depending on fashion cycles, there may be more things available in my preferred style and color palette in a particular season, so that sometimes isn’t true.
But sometimes you have to get or keep something just because it makes you happy, even if it’s not the most useful. I have a bronze leather miniskirt that I wear maybe once a year, but it’s such a great and unique piece that I can’t purge it.
You hit on something that I think is really common for those of us that tend to over-buy and over-stuff our wardrobes: The “But will I regret parting with it?” syndrome. I worry about the very same thing even though I realize that I have so damned much stuff in my closet that I can’t even remember what I actually have! In fact, while I looked at that chic outfit you’re wearing today, I thought, “Hmm..I think I actually own that same vkoo sweater..” How could I FORGET such a great piece?!? I rail against conspicuous consumption, in theory, but I’m guilty of perpetuating it. Oh boy, am I!
I may have shared this before, but this quote by the late, great female architect, Andree Putman, was eye-opening for me:
“I love America, and I love American women. But there is one thing that deeply shocks me – American closets. I cannot believe one can dress well when you have so much.”
As soon as my back heals, I’m taking on my closet overhaul project. I promise to all of you, in order to have accountability, that I’m going to change my habits so that they’re much more in line with not only my style, but with who I genuinely AM. And I’m posting Putman’s quote inside my closet door.
Thanks for being a constant source of inspiration, Grechen!????
I love the dress & shoes but wonder if you might try a fitted, smallish denim jacket? I have one by Levi’s that is distressed and on the small side that I reach for over and over again over long dresses/skirts/pants… Looking good!
Oh my… tell me about pairing down the wardrobe. I keep meaning to minimize the wardrobe, then “stopping in” at Nordstrom Rack because it’s right next to the supermarket…you know just to take a peek… I always end up getting something. This time it was a Joie nautical striped sweater and Current/Elliott captian’s trousers in olive. Yes, I used to have a pair of captian’s trousers, but they were too big, and these ones fit just right. Man…
Anyway, you look amazing! I love the layers… would you be able to wear a cardigan or something to keep warm?
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This is a fantastic look for you, Grechen. You look amazing, and I can tell you’re comfortable with this style. I think you made the right decision with the Acne Studios dress; I didn’t think it did your cute figure any justice, and given your desire to minimize, I could imagine that being a piece you’d regret. Trial and error. The F&F sales are hard to resist. The main reason I indulged in Shopbop’s was to find a few good pieces for traveling. I think I did pretty well…tried on everything for my husband last night and he helped me narrow things down. The rest will be going back, and the credit card will be happy! I may check out Saks sale, but I think I’m ready for a break now. Have spent the last few weeks cleaning out my closet and it felt so good to donate and take things to the consignment store. I also have a tendency to be a bit ruthless about my purging, so trying to hang on to things I am not really sure I can part with. I try to think of this as I go through all of the sale emails etc…I really don’t want to buy things just because they are on sale…I only want to buy what I need to fill gaps, etc. sounds like we’re all working on this!
i do have a denim jacket, but if i wore that, i’d have to wear spanx…so i chose to go au natural for this look 😉
it’s that time, i think…spring cleaning 🙂
now i’m going through my “second” closet since it’s mostly filled with warm weather things, and in the next week or so need to decide what i’ll wear and what i need to get rid of…some things i’ll post here to ask for advice. it’s hard! i know i need to have a few “fun” pieces that i don’t wear ALL the time, but not nearly as many as i have right now…
glad you feel well about your shopbop order!!
oh, yeah, last call is my weakness because they offer great coupons and always have good james perse. but really, how much do i need???
so funny, in austin nordstrom rack was right next to whole foods, so i’d go in there a lot too. thankfully for me, it kind of sucked most of the time LOL – they never really had a lot of good stuff.
haha, you’re welcome val. we’re all trying to do this now, it seems – come out from under too much stuff…i spent some time this weekend with my summer clothes and man…i have a LOT of “summer”/exclusively warm-weather clothes. now i’ll need to purge them, but there are a lot of pieces that i love – but just don’t reach for them, you know. those are the ones i think it’s time to get rid of…maybe i’ll keep one or two, for “fun”, but that’s probably enough.