BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

The French Wardrobe: Spring/Summer 2014

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Apparently a seasonal transition was carte blanche to purchase as many spring items as possible. There were so many tempting sales and new releases that I loved too much to risk having sell out, which led to an early dent in my spring/summer wardrobe. Going through a ruthless closet cleanout and then taking the time to work on a comprehensive spring and summer plan has been a huge asset. The pieces I bought so far are exactly what I want; they’re great quality (for the most part—the Gap flats could be better), and they’re very “me.” (Honestly, though, I spent a boatload of money. The next couple of months are going to be sparse.)

A few things to note this time around:

  • I started a Pinterest board for my spring/summer purchases, which has already proved to be helpful. Before pulling the trigger, I’ve added items to the board to see how it coordinates with the rest of the items. It helps me stay accountable to my plan and it’s reassuring to see that each item coordinates with each other. 
  • I’m pickier when accepting gifted items and you’ll now see each of those listed below. Quite frankly, I don’t want to waste space in our apartment on an item I’m not smitten with. 
  • I’m adding a quick note about the items I ordered and returned. 
  • If you’re eager to give The French Wardrobe Challenge a whirl this time, send over a link to your progress by the 15th of each month (either in the comments or via email at jessica@bedknobsandbaubles.com). I’ll add the link to this post and share your post on Twitter and Facebook. The challenge isn’t ideal for everyone, but you might want to give it a shot if you’re feeling overwhelmed and dissatisfied with your own wardrobe.

THE RULES

  1. Just five standout pieces per season. (There are two “seasons” for this purpose: spring/summer and fall/winter.)
  2. Quality over quantity.
  3. Basics don’t count.
  4. Accessories don’t count, unless you’re spending a lot more than usual.
  5. Socks and underwear don’t count.
  6. Shoes do count. (I’m not counting shoes, though.)

MY PROGRESS:

Part of my Five:

Basics:

Bags:

Accessories:

Shoes:

Ordered and Returned:

If you’re curious about The French Wardrobe Challenge, I encourage you to peruse the archived posts. 

The French Wardrobe: Update

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I can’t believe this is the last month of my foray into The French Wardrobe concept and I’m actually quite proud of how I’ve done. Sure, there are some impulse purchases peppered into the list below (ahem, Forever21), but it’s nowhere near the number of items I purchased before starting the challenge. I’m now less likely to settle for an item that’s just okay. It needs to be pretty amazing to earn a spot in my closet.

In retrospect, though, I wish I had focused on items of higher quality that are truly representative of my personal style. When I review my “fun” pieces, they’re a bit scatterbrained. We’ve got three special occasion dresses, a cat-print dress, a tartan sweater I purchased for a Christmas party and a work-appropriate floral blouse. I like them all, but I could have done better. Where are the pretty day dresses I love so much?

Well, there’s always The French Wardrobe: Spring/Summer 2014 Challenge starting on March 1. (I’m prepared with a list of capsule wardrobe items. Bring it on, spring!) I do hope you’ll give it a whirl. It’s not the easiest challenge, but it is incredibly rewarding. Let me know if you’re in, so we can link up!

On another note, would you like more commentary on items I decide to keep or return, like this and this? I don’t want it to become annoying to read, but I’d like to start a conversation about what makes an item worth keeping as I continue to refine my wardrobe.

And, without further ado, the recap:

THE RULES

  1. Quality over quantity.
  2. Basics don’t count.
  3. Accessories don’t count, unless you’re spending a lot more than usual.
  4. Socks and underwear don’t count.
  5. Shoes do count. (I’m not counting shoes, though.)

MY PROGRESS:

The bold items are the new additions since the previous post.

Read the previous French Wardrobe posts here. 

The French Wardrobe: Update

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image

THE RULES

  1. Quality over quantity.
  2. Basics don’t count.
  3. Accessories don’t count, unless you’re spending a lot more than usual.
  4. Socks and underwear don’t count.
  5. Shoes do count.*

*I’m not counting shoes. I don’t buy an excessive amount of them to begin with.

MY PROGRESS:

The bold items are the new additions since the previous post.

THOUGHTS:

  • There’s only a month and a half left and I have one more fun purchase to make for “my five.” I didn’t really succeed at buying quality items for those (aside from the Erin Fetherston dress), but I’m pretty fond of what I did purchase. I’ve got my eye on a printed DVF or Clover Canyon piece for my last item.
  • I’d like to be more thoughtful about my spring/summer purchases. Some of the items I know I’d like are silky shorts and blouses, a new pair of wear-with-anything sandals and a white sundress (obsessed with this one from BR’s spring 2014 collection). It looks like our Europe trip is most doable in July, so I’d also like a few easy, mixable essentials for traveling.
  • I’m going to start a Pinterest board for the spring challenge to visually record what I purchase. A written list is great, but I think I need the visual reminder to keep tabs on my purchases.
  • As you may have noticed, I have added a few additional pieces (gifts and sponsored items) that aren’t reported here. I’m going to start listing those with my spring French Wardrobe roundups. That’ll kick off on March 1. Anyone want to join in?

Are you curating the French Wardrobe? Post your progress and let me know. I’ll share a link to your post here.