BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

Fall Wardrobe Planning

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Fall Wardrobe Planning

I’m trying to get better at planning my seasonal wardrobes so that my purchases are less impulsive and more deliberate. This is largely due to the move and realizing just how many clothes I had while I was unpacking! But I also realized just how many items I no longer wear because they were impulsive purchases and weren’t quite right to begin with. I’ve been slowly purging pieces that I don’t wear and packing away the “maybes” in a box in the basement, which has helped me pinpoint the items I’d love to add to my wardrobe this year to fill gaps in my collection. Additionally, keeping myself on track with a list will help ensure that I spend money on high-quality pieces I’ll wear well beyond this season.

Here’s what I’m looking for this fall:

  • Seasonal colors: I look best in warm, rich autumnal hues and it’s time to finally start embracing that. I’ve already purchased this sweater and I just love this dress. Neither are pictured above, however.
  • Drop earrings bedecked with balls: I can’t get enough of ball earrings! I just purchased this black pair for my fall wardrobe and I’m crazy about the brass version from Jenny Bird.
  • Camel-colored coat: I just love how pretty a classic camel-colored coat looks on other people. It’s a versatile color that goes with everything, and won’t show lint as easily as black! I like this coat from J.Crew Factory. I actually own the emerald-green version of the coat that was available at J.Crew a few years ago and I still wear it throughout winter. I’m hoping that the Factory version has the double zipper because I need the extra room at my hips. Has anyone tried it? If money wasn’t an issue, I’d try this coat instead. This coat is also pretty fun with the unexpected pink fur trim.
  • Printed long-sleeve dress: If I could pick any dress to own and wear all season, this would be it. However, I’m not spending that much no matter how dreamy it is. I’d like to find a dress with similar elements: printed design, figure-flattering seam at the waist, flouncy skirt, long sleeves, and v-neck with a tie.
  • Denim mini skirt: I have so many dresses in my wardrobe, but not many separates which sometimes makes getting dressed difficult. I decided to purchase a denim mini because of how versatile it is during transitional weather.
  • Loafers: I’m the worst at practical footwear when it’s chilly outside. I’ve finally decided to try something more sensible than ballet flats and opted for these loafers. I absolutely love how they look with jeans and dresses, but beyond that, they’re so comfortable. There’s enough room to wear a loafer sock with them as the temperature dips. Plus, they seem like they’ll be perfect for traipsing around London in the spring!
  • Chic pumps: I’m not one to wear heels, but I keep finding myself opening a browser tab to peek at these. The black textured version looks perfectly versatile for work.
  • Classic bag: I’m a long way off from buying the Gucci bag I’m crushing on, but I’m keeping it on every seasonal wish list until I finally get my hands on it! I’ve been setting aside $25 per paycheck and some blog earnings in a separate savings account in order to slowly save up for it. It’ll take awhile, but I wanted to set aside an amount that I won’t notice is missing. Going in debt for a handbag isn’t worth it!
  • Flowy blouses: Whenever I have a “nothing-to-wear” day, I typically reach for jeans and a loose blouse. However, I only have two blouses that I sort of  like. I just purchased this one, which is adorable in person (runs large), but I’d like to add a few more. This one has such pretty details and would look cute with jeans or dress pants, and this black one would be cute under a sleeveless shift dress.

I’d love to know what’s on your wish list!

Closet Cleanout 2015

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Last year, I took to my closet with a critical eye and shed 30 pounds of clothing from my wardrobe. By and large, these were the low-quality fast fashion pieces that never really fit well and didn’t hold any sentimental value. Now that 12 months have passed (almost to the day), I’m back at it, albeit with a slightly different M.O.

I’m storing items.

I just don’t believe that an item is destined for Goodwill after just one year of neglect. People rekindle flames all the time. Why can’t that be the case with a closet that once sparked joy?  (I suspect you knew Marie Kondo’s decluttering mantra was going to come back for the 2015 Closet Cleanout, didn’t you?)

Over the last month, I’ve been asking myself if my possessions spark joy (or at least satisfy a need, like work or exercise). It has helped me cull the last few items from my closet that I’m just not that into. It has also made me realize that I’m quite content with what I do own. That said, some of these joy-sparkers feel a little outdated or are better suited for a smaller version of me. They also add too much clutter to an already over-stuffed closet, getting in the way of items I actually want to wear and take up space for new acquisitions. So, I’ve been packing ’em up. The process has actually given me some clarity about the joyful pieces I’d like to add to my wardrobe, starting with monkey hoop earrings, an ostrich-print dress (trust me), and this bright green fringe purse.

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend 😉 , here are my guidelines for what to keep, store, or purge:

KEEP IT

  • It sparks joy.
  • It’s in regular rotation.
  • You look forward to wearing it.
  • It works with your lifestyle.
  • It fills a wardrobe need.

STORE IT

  • You admire it.
  • There are sweet sentimental ties to it.
  • You’d be upset if it were gone.

PURGE IT

  • You don’t like wearing it.
  • It’s not flattering.
  • There are bad memories associated with it.
  • You’re only keeping it out of obligation (either because you spent a lot of money on it or it was a gift).

Wardrobe Planning | Fall and Winter

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[dropcap custom_class=”normal”]S[/dropcap]ix months have passed since I did my last wardrobe planning post. Even though I put a lot of thought into the basics my wardrobe needed, the pieces that caught my attention, and the color scheme I was gaga for, I strayed from my plan almost immediately. I’m not sure why, but I suspect it was because a rigid checklist took a lot of the fun out of shopping, especially when I was trying it in conjunction with The French Wardrobe Challenge.

I’m taking a different approach this season with a seasonal budget of $1,500 and plenty of flexibility to buy more statement pieces than basics, if that’s what my heart desires. However, I’m still incorporating two important principles of The French Wardrobe Challenge: purchase quality over quantity and make sure my wardrobe has a solid foundation of well-made basics. In an effort to keep my purchases somewhat reasonable, I did put together some thoughts on the colors, silhouettes and individual items I’d love to add this season.

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THE BUDGET

I’ve started with a seasonal budget of $1,500. I consider blog revenue and eBay sales to be “fun money” and may add a portion of that additional income to my overall seasonal budget. I’ll record any budget increases or expenditures each month. (There will also be my annual “Tax Refund Splurge,” but I’ll devote a post to that in January.)

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THE COLORS

 

I’m looking forward to a fall color palette of saturated colors like burgundy, navy, and emerald, with a jolt of fuchsia. I hadn’t really considered bright pink to be a fall favorite until I came across this pair of shoes. It’s such a classic pump that the shocking color doesn’t look garish on them. I’d also like a pink coat to combat the dreariest winter days.

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THE SILHOUETTES

I  spent some time looking through my Pinterest boards for fall style inspiration and these four picks sum up the silhouettes I’m looking for rather nicely. They’re all classic shapes and styles, but attention to detail and crisp, refined styling keep them interesting.

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THE WISH LIST 

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I keep a secret Pinterest board of all of my potential purchases. Once I add an item to this board, it sits for a few weeks while I consider whether or not it’s worth it–and many times I fall out of love with the item before I’ve actually taken the plunge. It’s basically a cooling off period. I’ve found that I’m much happier with my new items after I’ve given them plenty of thought. (If you’re curious about any of the items, click away: shoes, top, sunglasses, earrings, skirt, bag, clutch.)

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THE MUST HAVES

And now we’re on to the fun part: the items I’m anxious to check off my must-have list! You can view all of the items I add to my wardrobe over the next six months here.

  • black ankle boots (Perhaps this pair from Cole Haan? I like the slightly pointed toe and a heel that’s substantial enough for slippery sidewalks.)
  • black opaque tights
  • navy opaque tights
  • statement coat or cape
  • dark floral skirt (Check!)
  • chunky knit sweater
  • ladylike quilted purse
  • gold stud earrings
  • navy a-line skirt (Check!)
  • oversize cat eye sunglasses
  • wallet (mine is on its last legs)

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YOUR TURN

Have you started thinking about your fall wardrobe? What are your must-have items?

 

Wardrobe Planning

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I’m gearing up for another six months of the French Wardrobe Challenge and after cleaning out my closet, it’s evident that I need a game plan before the new season kicks off. Without having a plan in place, I’m prone to add too many impulsive purchases that don’t do much for my closet. So, I’m approaching the new season like a collector who is curating the perfect wardrobe. I spent a lot of time this weekend thinking about this and came up with four steps that helped me focus on exactly what I’d like to add this year.

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Narrowing down your color palette for spring and summer is going to help for two reason: it streamlines purchases and guarantees they’ll work well together. To do this, I evaluated my Pinterest page. The majority of my recent wish list pins were in five colors: mint, navy, blush, black, white and sky blue. These colors work together beautifully and while I may add in a wildcard color every so often (like my red DVF purse), this is a great starting point to begin planning my purchases.

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Next up: your list of essentials. This should include the neutral basics necessary to round out your seasonal wardrobe. At this point, don’t worry about finding the perfect item. Just make a quick list of the items that you’re missing or need to replace—and continue to add to this list when you discover holes in your closet. Keep in mind, though, these are your priority purchases for the upcoming season. Mine includes:

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Now we’re on to the fun part: putting together your seasonal wish list. Again, don’t worry too much about finding the perfect item right now—you have all season for that—just make a list or a collage of the standout items you’d love to incorporate into your wardrobe while keeping your color palette in mind. Look back at the SS2014 runway collections, scour the new arrivals at your favorite retailers and analyze your Pinterest style board. What shapes and styles are you drawn to? Are there any prints you’d love to own? Ready to try a particular trend? I’m keeping an eye out for:

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I think this is going to be the hardest part for me. It’s too easy to get wrapped up in the euphoria of a new purchase, but I need to be ruthless with my evaluation. For example, my wish list includes a full skirt in a pastel color. I picked out a pink one for my collage, but I actually already own a mint one (you can see it here). It already works with my color scheme, it still fits and I enjoy wearing it. So, do I honestly need another? Probably not. This isn’t meant to talk yourself out of new items, but it is a way to make sure those potential purchases are items that really could elevate your wardrobe.

So, what’s on your must-have list for spring and summer? Do you plan your purchases for the new season? I could use any tips you have! 

Closet Cleanout

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Confession time: I dread getting dressed in the morning. I didn’t always feel that way, though. In fact, for years my favorite part of the day was diving into my closet and choosing who I’d become that day. My clothing was as varied as my moods, which made dressing in my 20s so fun—and makes getting ready at age 30 so frustrating.

After months of bypassing piles of clothing every morning and whining that “I have nothing to wear,” I finally had enough. I spent the better part of Sunday pulling out stacks of sweaters, racks of skirts and boxes of shoes and getting rid of the pieces I hadn’t worn in years. It got the boot if it didn’t meet the following criteria:

  1. It fits and it’s flattering.
  2. I like wearing it.
  3. I’ve worn it in the past year. (This didn’t apply to special occasion items.)
  4. I’d honestly be upset if it wasn’t in my closet.
  5. It meets my current style aesthetic.
  6. It’s in good repair.

My resolve weakened four hours into the project. I started to talk myself into keeping various items for sentimentality’s sake or “maybe someday” I’ll wear it again. That was fine for my mom’s maxi dress from the ’70s, but not okay for a polyester top I received as gift or purchased in college.

I only made it through a third of my wardrobe on Sunday, but I got rid of 30 pounds of clothes. Isn’t that absurd? Here’s what 30 pounds of clothing gets you:

  • 14 sweaters
  • 7 pairs of shoes
  • 7 tops
  • 4 dresses
  • 4 pairs of shorts
  • 4 handbags
  • 2 pairs of pants
  • 2 pairs of jeans
  • 1 skirt

It’s humbling to think of how much money I spent on these items. And even though some were well-loved and threadbare, others simply weren’t worn often enough to have warranted the purchase in the first place. It was an eye-opening experiment that reinforced the principles of the French Wardrobe Challenge:

  • Quality is paramount. As years pass, the well-made items are those that still look beautiful. Plenty of sweaters from Gap and Old Navy faded substantially after just a few washes.
  • Those high quality items continue to be the most worn and most loved pieces in my wardrobe. I’d love to have a closet full of pieces I’m truly excited to wear—and that’s precisely what I’m working toward.
  • Impulse purchases are seldom a smart buy. Many of those “great deals” went off to Goodwill. They’ve only worked in two instances: it’s a basic item that I wear frequently (J.Crew Tippi sweaters, anyone?) or it’s an item I already coveted at full price.
  • Shopping on a budget doesn’t work for me. I get wrapped up in the idea of quantity over quality. That’s not to say I have the luxury of ignoring the price tag; I just need to be picky about what I’m spending money on.
  • The amount of waste generated from purchasing—and eventually getting rid of—these low quality items is embarrassing. I know style blogs don’t really talk about that side of consumerism, but it’s something to keep in mind.
  • I feel happier with less stuff in my closet. If it’s not being worn and enjoyed, it shouldn’t be taking up space.