5 Piece French Wardrobe??

I know we have had many conversations on the Forum about the
concept of the minimal wardrobe and how some of us have been working towards a smaller, carefully curated wardrobe.

 My wardrobe numbers are much smaller than when I first arrived at YLF, yet despite the smaller wardrobe I still find myself having a bit of internal conflict over just how much I have and the merry-go-round of continually seeking out new things. I love fashion and do spend a considerable amount of time pouring over magazines and online. It’s fun but it does eat into my time . 

On one hand I love having variety but on the other I want the simplicity of less. I have consciously made the move to buy less but buy better, but can see the opportunity to take this further. So in the light of this, I have been wondering about the Five Piece French Wardrobe concept.   I wonder if I could be happy adding only 10 new items per year?

As I understand it, the idea is to buy just 5 new items each season. The info I read suggested that since there are two seasons in fashion you would work to those i.e. Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter.

Basics, underwear and accessories (up to a certain $ amount) don’t count. But you can set your own ground rules.

I do think that this could work for me on a number of levels, given I am naturally a planner when it comes to my wardrobe, and I  have a limited budget for clothing.

So this leads me to my question. Do any of you do this, or a variation of
this. How does it work for you and has it been a positive step. For those who don’t work this way, what does
work for you??

xxx Deborah

 

This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

62 Comments

  • Maneera replied 8 years ago

    This is an excellent thread and I will follow it very closely. I'm sure I'll learn a lot from what others do to maintain their beautiful wardrobe and how often they add to their wardrobes.

    I get bored of things really soon. I have tried shopping for fewer quality pieces, but that didn't work either. Its mainly because my style preferences keep shifting. I have 'seasons' --- if I love dresses one summer, it'd be wide legged pants the next and skirts the next....and sometimes I have shifts within the season too. I wish it wasn't so. Also, I am looking to achieve variety without closet duplication. I hope some of the answers here will help me simplify my life too. Thanks for starting this thread!

  • Astrid replied 8 years ago

    If you have a good solid wardrobe to start with (one that works for you) I don't think 10 pieces a year are all that minimal, especially if you exclude things like underwear, hosiery and so on. In my estimation that number could mean replacing good quality items when they are truly worn out and basically doing one in one out.

  • Elizabeth P replied 8 years ago

    From a logical standpoint, this should be totally doable.  I personally would need to go with 4-5 seasons, because that's the reality of what we have... spring is very different than summer here.  And you sometimes need to be IN the season to realize your holes, style preferences etc. 

    I think something like this could work once you get your core wardrobe in a really really good place.  But it doesn't work if you are still exploring your style.  Sometimes trying a new silhouette can take 3-4 new pieces, then if you like it, you can't do much more for a year, which would NOT be "having fun with fashion".

    I'm sure this is going to turn in an excellent thread!  My favourite type of YLF discussions...

  • Jenn replied 8 years ago

    Once I've gotten a better handle on how to dress the body I have and have a solid wardrobe foundation, I will be all over this. The times in my life when I've been happiest with my style haven't been due to an overflowing closet. They've been because I had a few core pieces that fit great and went with everything I owned. 

    Right now, I'm at a point where my body is harder to fit than it has been in the past, and I'm going through a bit of a transition as my son starts high school and I start to leave the hard-core MOTG years. I know it's going to take some experimentation to work that out, and I don't want to make a  lot of big ticket mistakes because my eye isn't developed enough.

    I was thinking about this in relation to your striped dress, Deborah. I did the same thing when adding stripes to my closet. I went out and bought a $10 Target top and played with it before deciding two things:
    1. I liked the look.
    2. The Target top was a terrible interpretation. 

    I did the same thing when adding a brown belt to my wardrobe, and am just about ready to replace my inexpensive piece with a high-quality, all-leather version.

    Quality does make a difference in how well a piece integrates with your wardrobe, so in that sense, the cheap versions were mistakes. On the other hand, maybe they were okay purchases if I think of it like purchasing a sample. Fast fashion has us conditioned to believe clothing should be cheaper than it probably has any right to be.

    I'm a closet minimalist at heart--in the last week and a half, you guys have already seen probably 80% of my wardrobe--and I'm pretty tired of the cheap fashion rollercoaster. At the same time, I see where inexpensive purchases can help in terms of trend-following and experimentation.

    That was a long-winded way of saying yes, I'm in favor of thoughtful purchasing and I love this idea, but I think you have to be at the right place in your journey, confident in your style and judgement, to implement it.

  • ramya replied 8 years ago

    It would work IMO. Traditionally some cultures promote buying only 3 times a year. Ours is one such- birthday,new year and diwali. And I was happy doing just that until I started shopping for fun :).
    I have not got anything this summer other than jeans in my new size. The reason for that is I donot have time to shop for fun. And I am managing and pretty happy with my small wardrobe consisting of clothes that a. fit me
    b. are nursing friendly.

    Do I have wardrobe holes? Yes shoes are major ones. But for now I am not shopping for them just because I have imposed a SYC for myself :)

  • unfrumped replied 8 years ago

    I've been interested in this concept, but with personalization.
    The fashion "seasons" don't do much for me and don't help to define my needs as much.

    The part that is of interest to  is identifying additions by fewer numbers per year and not just "staying within budget". Gaylene has written on this, too, (pre-retirement!), in terms of thinking not just, do I want to spend my $$ on this, but "do I want to use up one of my (10, 12, whatever) items for the year on this. The numbers are also arbitrary but are aligned with    "40 hangers" or any of those constructs, strict or not, that focus on the idea that one (or some people, and certainly I !) can only use so many items effectively and at some point, more is confusing. Then it overlaps with 1 in/1 out or 1in/2 out and whether or not you want to have a high turnover ( you could, in theory, replace your entire wardrobe every season).
    I think where I lose track is in not keeping up a definite list of goal items in particular styles, colors, fit and sticking to it. I get impatient with not finding the item(s) that would really help--I don't search high and low online and don't like to pay shipping for experimental items, and so buy something else instead that's available--sometimes a place-holder, but sometimes something unrelated, that's good but not what I needed. Those items are the biggest pain because they're often fun and good and so very hard to toss out,  but still are "too much" and didn't fill the wardrobe hole

  • replied 8 years ago

    This would work for me once I reached the level of a working closet.   I am getting closer.  

  • Rambling Ann replied 8 years ago

    I think the 5 piece French wardrobe solution would work for you because, as I understand it, it's 5 seasonal items that augment the core of neutrals and basics every woman is presumed to have nailed down. You have such a great core to start with, if you wanted to devote 3 of 5 to this season's raspberry color or whatever, it would work with what you have. 

    It's getting to that starting core that is so not fun for spending money, compared to all the eye candy on the racks. 

    For my lifestyle, assembling The Vivienne Files' Common Core (except the khaki pants, ugh) would make a fine background for the French Five. So this fall, I'm focusing on the gaping holes in the core before buying ONE MORE THING in my favorite colors. 

  • Susie replied 8 years ago

    I too have a lot fewer pieces in my wardrobe than I once did but it's still pretty far from minimal. In theory, 5 great pieces per season sounds wonderful and doable because I do have a good foundation now. Yet I've never bought so little so I'm not sure I could stick to it!

    I am very much a planner and started out with a list of things to add for spring / summer. Well I added all of them plus a whole lot more! But I've never been happier with my choices for this season, at least in terms of my work wardrobe (super casual could still use some tweaking.)

    Would you consider just clothing items to be part of the 5 pieces? That would make it a bit more realistic for me. If I had to count shoes/bags/accessories then no way would it work!

  • viva replied 8 years ago

    I love this idea in theory, but like Maneera I get bored. I love clothing and really beautiful clothing can feed me emotionally almost the same way really beautiful art can, or a great book, or a film .... unfortunately, that can mean a lot of quick clicks, especially when I am in need of beauty -- and I later regret many of those clicks.

    Lately I have been spending more time thinking through things before clicking. Here are two examples (both of which I posted about on YLF -- steps in the thinking-through process).

    I pondered buying a red JCrew coat on ebay. It would have been an emotional buy but also a practical one as I am sure I would have worn that coat a lot. But I ended up just visiting it on ebay for a week, making one reasonable offer which was refused, and then letting it go. And today, I don't miss that coat at all.

    I did buy a plaid Madewell top, and it is now sitting in my bedroom, tags still on, where it has sat for several days. I intend to try it on tonight -- I may or may not keep it. But I am not chomping at the bit.

    I'm very excited about a dress in NAS and it is pricey for me. But NAS is making me wait, which again, is good practice. If I do buy it, perhaps I am moving more in this direction, just a few well-made purchases each season. That would be real progress.

    Not sure I could ever forcibly limit myself to only 5 items per season -- once I start counting, I feel too restrained and would probably panic and shop like crazy -- but I would welcome a change in my overall perspective on shopping if I could start to naturally think this way.

  • Summer replied 8 years ago

    This is my default strategy, Deborah, because I have a very small clothes budget. Luckily, I am also something of a minimalist anyway, so, as long as I can add a few new pieces to my wardrobe each season, I am happy to repeat and remix. 

  • replied 8 years ago

    I would absolutely operate with this method if I could just get myself to SLOW DOWN, think, plan and then research.  Those 4 things suck the life out of me though :)  I do not want a ton of clothes, because even when I have a ton of clothes, I don't wear them.  If I felt I understood my body and had a look I owned , I'd do this.  No question.  Perhaps this is a project I could work on  - you are giving me something to think about.  I admittedly love my really good, really expensive pieces of clothing and wear them all the time. The mid priced stuff tends to hang in my closet, worn just once in awhile.  I think it's a better investment to keep a smaller closet, one that is carefully thought out .  Less wasted $$.  OK, so how do I get there?

  • Maneera replied 8 years ago

    This topic gets more interesting.

    I agree 100% with Jenn. She is very right in saying "I think you have to be at the right place in your journey, confident in your style and judgement, to implement it." And since I see you as someone with an evolved sense of style, Dehorah, this could be a great strategy for you to shop.

    However, the more I think, the more I realize a few more things. Some people have a classic dressing style and choose pieces that are classic in styling. These pieces do not look dated for quite a few years. However, even a really well made pencil skirt or structured dress starts to look dated after a period of time.

    I can think of my husband as another example for strict shopping. He buys fewer than 5 pieces a season. Sometimes none at all (particularly winter). He knows what looks good on him and chooses his clothes very carefully. He's also very very fussy. But once he has a piece, he wears it well and he wears it often. He's one of the best dressed men I've ever met, so that's saying something. He wears formals well and wears casuals equally well. He only updates his wardrobe once a few pieces start to wear out. He makes do with fewer things until he decides it's time to go shopping and will replace everything old in one go. So one season this could be formal trousers, or jeans, or shirts or even shorts. This strategy works well for him somehow. He also never looks at cost when shopping. He buys so rarely that he doesn't mind spending more at all. Strangely, he never shops in sales. He thinks he's worth full price and also believes that when you pay more, you tend to value things more and choose more wisely. I don't always agree with this philosophy, but it works for him.

    On the other hand, those who like to follow trends may not always be able to make do with just 5 pieces every season. From what I've noticed, some seasons the new trends hardly differ from past years, some seasons you see a dramatic change. So restricting oneself to 5 pieces may not always work. I think in the end it all boils down to personal preference. Some people can mix a trendy item with old things (example Angie herself, and you too) and transform the whole outfit for it to read current. Some people can't do that at all and feel 'stuck'.

    Also, for those of us who deal with weight fluctuations, this may not always be possible. I know people who actually have three different sizes in their wardrobes coz their weight fluctuates that much. A quality piece that fits well is of no use if you tend to gain weight with seasonal changes....coz then the item will only fit well sometimes. My weight fluctuates quite a bit too with hormonal changes, so that's possibly another reason why I need a larger wardrobe.

    Like Viva, I just want to make wiser choices, and that will be enough to make me happy. I want to sit back and think before I buy, be able to justify the purchase and not just say 'Oh but it's so pretty!' and be able to practice some degree of restraint. If I can do that, and I have started to do this, I'm sure I'll be happier with the things that come into my wardrobe. I buy clothing and accessories very often, but I've started to notice that I'm more picky. That also means I'm getting more obsessive and aggressive with my search, because patience isn't one of my stronger virtues. Now that I know I want to buy muted silver sandals next, I am hunting down the perfect pair and don't want to settle. I have a mental image of what I want and I want just that! A year back I would've picked up any pretty pair...experimented...then bought another one until I finally found one that was pretty and comfortable at the same time. Today, I want to start by buying a pair that's perfect already and don't want to keep looking for the same thing over and over only because I want immediate gratification. I think that's progress. And for now, I'm happy with just that.

  • E replied 8 years ago

    I am not an aspiring closet minimalist, but I do want to break the link between my love for textiles & style & getting dressed and the constant consumption Western society currently promotes. So this year, I tried something a bit related to your idea; instead of limiting how many items I could buy, I limited how many times I could shop. So I took half of my yearly budget in March & spent a couple weeks having a lovely time on eBay, planning my spring & summer wardrobe additions. And I plan to do the same thing come September. In between, no window shopping or browsing or even thinking about what to add to the wardrobe; instead I just enjoy what I have.

    This has been revolutionary for me, even though I did slip in May when my friends invited me on a thrifting trip & I spent all of my time in the clothes instead of home goods. But that means I've still only shopped for clothes twice this entire year, and I find myself no longer looking for wardrobe holes/etc. but just revelling in everything in my closet. I've even been rethinking how maximal I want to be, and repeating my favourite outfit combinations more. So thrilling for me, to be able to pursue style as a hobby without having a constant case of the wantsies!

    Next year, I hope to be good enough at sewing to divide each budget between secondhand clothes & fabric/patterns, which will dramatically cut down on how many items I get, since buying ethical fabric at retail prices is much pricier than secondhand clothing. So I might end up in a 5 piece kind of place organically by the end of all this. :) 

  • Transcona Shannon replied 8 years ago

    Oh Deborah - there you go again...in my head! I have been doing a great deal of thinking around this topic and have done some reading the last few days (while catching up on a TON of laundry!) on the 5 Piece French Wardrobe.

    Not to keep crowing my love of EF, but I have come to realize over the past few months (and really since I started thinking and posting Shannon's Simplicity Search threads) that I would be more than happy to have a small but complete wardrobe of EF pieces. Because EF pieces are meant to work together, a few items can end up creating a wardrobe with sufficient variety in terms of ensembles.

    But I think that is the key to being happy with a minimal closet. Those few pieces need to be chosen with such care in order to ensure you can create a variety of outfits in order to ward off wardrobe boredom.

    And a person would need to pay such attention to fit, quality and modern-but-not-overly-trendy style. Fit - because if it doesn't fit perfectly, you aren't going to be happy in wearing the item and you don't have a lot of other pieces to choose from. Quality - because you're wearing those individual pieces more frequently and they need to be able to stand up to the wear and tear. Modern-but-not-overly-trendy - because otherwise you risk the possibility of being sick of a trendy item in six months and again, you can't really afford to lose a piece out of rotation with such a small wardrobe.

    I think you'd also need to consider how many of your pieces require dry cleaning since you may not want to be without an item for a week or so while at the cleaner's.

    I would love to really focus my purchasing habits and style and have actually been thinking of trying out Project 333 as an exercise. I've also tossed around the idea of buying an entire seasonal capsule in one fell swoop - you know, instead of buying items several times throughout the season (which I think for me, results in actually spending MORE money and resulting in the odd wardrobe orphan), purchasing my entire Spring wardrobe (for example) from EF's collection and be done with it. Everything would mix and match perfectly and I wouldn't need to think about shopping again until Fall. It would mean a large chunk of change at once but I suspect, would mean less $$ overall. Could that work for me? Who knows.

  • unfrumped replied 8 years ago

    Shannon, I'm glad you've found "your"  designer/brand (kind of like met your maker, but in the worldy sense!).
    I only wish I could find a brand that fit me in   pants, skirts and jackets all at once, or at least sometimes, for certain fabric runs.  As folks who could go to a trunk showing of Lafayette, for example and get pieces that were meant to mix and match. Then I could see buying the "fall and winter 5+ pieces". Yes, it's also fun to have an eclectic combination of brands, and not be matchy, but then there's the orphan or waiting for the color to show up in another item, or the right neutral to combine.

  • Alassë replied 8 years ago

    Taking notes....

  • replied 8 years ago

    Shopping in this manner is my ultimate goal.  I am just having a bear of a time getting there. :)

    I think I am almost to the point where I have my core group of "basics", but adding in navy/ink as a new neutral caused me to over-shop this year.

    My wardrobe is smaller than ever - in fact, I finally donated my 3 bags of purgatory items as I got tired of shuffling them from on side of the garage to the other!

    I really think I can buy less moving forward. I know I can def. buy less if I stop shopping for my fantasy life - its just so hard to do.

    Following with interest; these are my favorite threads.

  • shedev replied 8 years ago

    I decided not to change my color palette for summer this year, so I'm left with 3 seasons, hot, cold and transitional. I bought 3 pairs of shoes for fall and 2 jackets at NAS, so that would have to carry me to spring.

    The 2 jackets, long black hoody and utility jacket were planned. Two of the shoes, tall boots- not equestrian and Fly Yamas in leather, were also planned. I've been looking for the Flys for most of this year, seen a lot of suede. The last shoes were a fab find, the hooded converse from NAS.

    This may be a little too little for me. I'll very likely purge more than 5 things out of my summer wardrobe just due to wear. Right now, I'm doing a 1 for 1, but not replacing things I wear out. I will likely purge the 20 something items that will get me to 160 in December. After that I will come up with next years plan. I am working my way to a little less consumerism.

  • Sal replied 8 years ago

    Yes I think this strategy could work with your well honed wardrobe. Most of us do have more clothes than we strictly need to have clean, appropriate pieces to wear every day. I do too - although it is on the smaller side.

    I am trying to keep under 20 purchases this year and I am up to 14/15 already, excluding exercise gear and lingerie and accessories. I suspect I will add another 10 or so going forward although I am on a tight-ish clothes budget and trying to avoid wastage. My wardrobe is more disparate than yours though Deborah, my sense of style is a bit all over the place. After participating in the April and June wardrobe challenges I have realised that some pieces are hard to mix and match, and while I love them, I only want to wear them one way.

    Not sure if this is helpful sorry, has turned into a bit of a ramble!

  • anchie replied 8 years ago

    My goal is to have high quality versatile core wardrobe of mostly classic pieces and then every season refresh it with 5 or so key items. But unfortunately I am not yet there. My weight is fluctuating lately and I was not able to build this core wardrobe so far. I need to start building it almost from scratch in my current size, so I don't see reaching my goal any time soon. But you seem to be in great place with your wardrobe and this can work for you.       

  • Laura (rhubarbgirl) replied 8 years ago

    I like the idea of some items being categorized as basics/staples, and others as stars, and planning your shopping around that. We've all probably been in the situation where we've amassed too many staples and all our outfits seem boring, or conversely too many standouts, and we need more sober pieces to wear with them. But even then, it seems like the goal for balance would be in your wardrobe, not in your shopping - if in fall you found x standout pieces even though you only need x-1, does it make sense not to buy all of them (budget etc. allowing) knowing perfectly well that in winter you may not find any standout pieces at all?

    Side topic: I never understood why spring/summer and fall/winter were twinned together in this way. I get it, as far as retail cycles go (although it seems like they're much more granular these days), but as far as actual wardrobes.... San Francisco is probably one of the places in the world where the temperature variations over the year are so small, but even there it wouldn't be comfortable to wear the same clothes every day; the variations within seasons can be as big as the variations between seasons. Is there anywhere in the world that's actually like this, or am I just bizarrely picky about my clothes matching the weather?

  • Sal replied 8 years ago

    Laura, I think of my wardrobe as

    True Summer, quite small to be honest. Sleeveless dresses and shorts. Pieces that I tend not to layer. High summer sandals.

    True Winter, also smallish. Wool coats, puffers, hats etc, a wool skirt, and one or two sweaters. Tall boots.

    Transitional. Everything else including light tops that are layered.

    I don't have numbers but winter and summer would be 10-15 each and transitional might be 70-90.

    Footwear is included in here too although not quite as neatly.

    Sorry to high jack your thread Deborah.

  • replied 8 years ago

    I'm working towards this goal.
    The reason is so that I can spend more per item and get something really amazing. With leathers, woolens and outerwear, spending more really shows, and also gives back. Gives back in that the items stay nice longer.

  • Jenn replied 8 years ago

    Since all my laundry is clean at the same time for once, I just did a quick count of my wardrobe. I have about 75 pieces total (counting shoes and seasonal items, but not counting dedicated gear items or accessories). A lot of those pieces aren't working for me, so I've decided that yes, if I had a core of workhorse basics, I could easily do the 10 items/year regimen and be happy with it.

  • Nebraskim replied 8 years ago

    This would not work for me as we have four definite seasons and I love to buy smallish addendum over a season and continually add/purge. One would also need to be sure the pieces accommodate weight fluctuations. But I deeply admire folks with the discipline to adhere to and be contented with this kind of regimen. It would be easier and sleeker.

  • Thistle replied 8 years ago

    For me, it sucks some of the fun out of it. I have a budget, and I set aside the budgeted amount every paycheck. I never go over that budget, but it lets me splurge on a big ticket item and feel no regret just as I can buy a sale piece or two for fun or a mid season refresh.

    There are enough rules in life without me imposing more other than staying within the budget.

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 8 years ago

    I'm too much of a magpie, always looking for new pretties, to be very strict with myself. I think I will always have a large wardrobe. However, I really have got to a point where the basics are all filled in, so I reject so much stuff on the grounds of having just the right one in that category already. I think it's a good place to be.

  • Deborah replied 8 years ago

    Ladies, interesting responses.  I'm at the office today but will check in tonight and read up and respond.  

  • unfrumped replied 8 years ago

    I kind of ignore all the aspects that seem peripheral to the main issue--when you buy it or what you buy in one month or what type of item, what "season"  is not the same as what you "add" , and subtract, over a year. In that sense, I like Mo's counting--arithmetic doesn't really lie.
    For example, there is a difference between a large wardrobe that is stable with some toss/replace, and a growing wardrobe; a large wardrobe and a churning (high turnover) wardrobe; a churning or an "evolving" wardrobe.

    And, I can always play devel's advocate with myself and say, okay, if 10 "main" items per year is too few, how much is.... enough? 20? 30? 100? And, is doing it "that way" whatever way that is) getting me to a better wardrobe, or not? That's a really probing question for me,  since the whole idea derived from, less is more,  where even satisfaction and versatility and readiness can be part of the more, not the less.

    So, looking at it that way helps me see if I am  comfortable or uncomfortable with  numbers, with the process, or if maybe I should try another approach.

  • Peri replied 8 years ago

    For me, I don't think this would be a good thing. I'm actually moving in the opposite direction from many....from minimalist to moderate.. I don't like systems, so going by some arbitrary number would bother me. Who picked 5? Why not 4 or 6?!

    The other thing is it would make me so stressed, and I already find shopping challenging enough! For example, I need a dress. But on,y one...or two at most. I don't wear them often at all, I just want the special occasion/funeral dress that has been a recent topic. This has been a need for a couple of years, because if I'm only getting one, wow, the pressure! It has to be the perfect one, and I can't identify, decide on, or find "perfect". So I still don't have one.

    Now imagine this multiplied! I'm only allowed to buy 5 things so they all have to be perfect. Yikes! Not good for me at all.

  • frannieb replied 8 years ago

    Great conversation -
    I am going to try something similar but not quite - My current wardrobe is in a great place. What I am going to do is through the NAS and a Lafayette trunk show at my favorite boutique I'm going to buy a fall/early winter refresh a mini-capsule of sorts and then be done until December - heading into winter winter and really I don't even know if I will need anything besides a coat this winter because I am kinda really satisfied with my winter wardrobe.

    I am always intriqued by angie's post of capsule shopping with people for a refresh and I am to the point I could try it.

  • Cococat replied 8 years ago

    Viva's first paragraph describes me well.

    "I love this idea in theory, but like Maneera I get bored. I love
    clothing and really beautiful clothing can feed me emotionally almost
    the same way really beautiful art can, or a great book, or a film ....
    unfortunately, that can mean a lot of quick clicks, especially when I am
    in need of beauty -- and I later regret many of those clicks."
    (although I don't regret most of my choices).

    Fashion and shopping feed my emotions and I doubt that I could ever be practical and logical with my wardrobe, despite it overflowing with things I rarely wear. All I can think is that I need a bigger wardrobe space to organise it better, not to pare down. IRL I'm a scientist, but in my other (dream/unrealistic) life I'm a costume designer. My wardrobe feeds my other life. I have outfits for almost any occasion, including fancy dress parties, and vintage pieces when I'm channeling Agent 99 or Mrs Robinson etc.

    This thread will be fascinating reading for an emotional bowerbird like me.

  • anne replied 8 years ago

    I find these discussions so fascinating!!  Deborah, I think you would find this VERY hard!

    As to my experience, a few years ago I tried to buy only 12 pieces (with the exception, which I ended up using, of buying a wedding outfit for my brother's wedding) I included gear - can't remember if I included shoes.

    I also didn't included handed down items, which tend to be a bit hit and miss and come at times you can't plan for (but can extend the wear of other items).

    It wasn't that hard if, as everyone keeps saying, your wardrobe is in a good place and your body and lifestyle is stable (though my 12 month period did include preparation for re-entering full time work)

    How long I could keep doing it is another question.  I have tended to have years - maybe every 3 or 4, where I buy a lot and then inbetween have years with not that much. For me, "a lot" is over 20 items. I have bought 14  [ETA 15!] (minus footwear) so far this year, and could probably get by with only 3-4 more items.

    Getting the balance between keeping up the basics and buying the fashionable items is the key, I think.

  • tulle replied 8 years ago

    This sort of prescription--or proscription, maybe--just makes me feel irritable and rebellious even to think about.  It's not easy finding clothes that appeal to me visually and fit me well, so if I see a lot of things one season that will work (maybe it's a big year for blue, or a certain store is carrying chic petite clothing for a change, or my favorite thrift shop has a bonanza of interesting designer clothes) I will buy what I like. The idea of wearing the same few things--however good the quality--day after day seems dreary to me.  Workhorses are great, but those once-in-a-while oddball mood-changers are a luxury (though not always expensive) I'm unwilling to give up.

  • Jaime replied 8 years ago

    Spending so much time sorting clothes has given me a taste for minimalism, but imposing limits would be an unnecessary hardship, like dieting in a chocolate factory. What I do appreciate is the idea of being highly selective about what I keep so as better to appreciate what I have. A work in progress as always.

  • rachylou replied 8 years ago

    Well, I did that until high school, then got a job so I could buy clothes. Small wardrobe and limited new things, to me, means desperation buying in a mad panic at the start of the season. You look pretty shabby by then. A kid being raggedy is one thing, an adult another.

  • Maneera replied 8 years ago

    I'm enjoying this thread so much!!! CocoC, you make me feel better!!!! I've finally found a kindred spirit here!!!

    IRL I'm an architect and writer who works only from home. In my fantasy life I am a globe trotting Editor-in-Chief of a fashion magazine...think Miranda Priestly :D Another fantasy is that I live on the beach and own a small restaurant with swanky decor and whiz up gourmet delights wearing pretty clothes....think Nigella Lawson. This fantasy has more potential to turn into a reality someday :P

    So when I shop, I also keep thinking of things I would wear when traveling. I do travel quite a bit - 3 to 5 trips to different places are common, and there are more trips to see my parents or my sister. Something's I buy just because they travel well, or are easy to wear when you're living out of a suitcase. For example - knit dresses. No mixing and matching needed. I have gone on trips with nothing other than dresses and felt very happy. Each item was a complete outfit and so easy to pack. I had one topper for evenings for all the dresses and just 1 pair of nude shoes that went with them all.

    My wardrobe numbers are very very large. I feel especially conscious of them after hearing Jenn's numbers. For those with large wardrobes - how many pieces do you roughly have?

  • Lyn D. replied 8 years ago

    Gulp!
    By the time you add-up Metalicus times 12,  the magic 5 plus 5 
    is already exceeded :)
    These ideas always sound so sensible ON PAPER but I just can't make them work for me.
    I woudn't mind trying shopping less often though, as YLF has taught me to find the next must-have piece all too easily :)

  • Deborah replied 8 years ago

    Thanks for participating ladies.  Just want to say too, that I have no opinions about small, medium or large wardrobes.  It's whatever suits and works for each woman.   

    Really enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts.  I think our personalities clearly play a big role in this sort of thing.  While I am structured and orderly, I am also creative, so it's working out just how much I need to be able to express my creativity through how I dress.  I also not suggesting a prescriptive approach, but for me I view something like the Five Piece French Wardrobe as a goal.  I function well working towards a goal. However I might decide that 12 items a year (1 per month) would work better.  I do still love the thrill of something new :)

    I am with Shannon on the value of a cohesive wardrobe that all works together.  Like her experience with Eileen Fisher, mine with Metalicus has meant I found a design group that 'gets me'.  They produced items that are designed to work together, design and fabric wise.  I can mix and match so well that the combination possibilities are endless:)  I have a high tolerance for a consistent silhouette and colour palette so that is rarely a problem for me.  But I do have some "Statement" pieces that come out when I do feel that need for 'something different', but the truth is I don't need a lot of those :)

    Veering off topic, but I recently purchased a jacket that is possibly totally unexpected for me (see Find). Colour and pattern!!  The design however is totally me.  Haven't worn it yet but will soon.  But again, I don't need a lot of these types of items.

    I think the trick is tapping into what makes our heart sing.  Walking into my more minimal closet seeing things neatly and spaciously hanging in a see of black, grey and white makes me so happy:)  Whereas I can imagine CocoC walking into her overflowing closet (her words) and feeling like a little girl in a candy shop... she would be gleeful!

  • Astrid replied 8 years ago

    I want to throw in the link to my thread discussing minimalism here, started because of two very interesting blog posts and with a lot of great input and discussion:
    http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....perfection

    For the newbies on the forum. :-)

    Btw, I've shopped more this year so far, but I feel like I am still on the right track. Shopping and owning nice things is not a contradiction to living as a "minimalist".

  • dakotacheryl replied 8 years ago

    I'm with Shannon on how well Eileen Fisher has transformed my closet/dressing. The basics just don't change much from collection to collection, so my closet doesn't get dated. And, the pieces just mix so well together.
    It's almost like having a really nice "uniform" to wear. For me, mostly slim pants/pencil skirt, and a nice tank with a nice layer over, or a stylish top.
    I have more room in my small work closet than ever before.

  • Maneera replied 8 years ago

    I love that jacket, Deborah. Its really something 'special'! 

    I think the Five Piece French Wardrobe  as a goal will work very well for you, because you are in such a happy place both style-wise and wardrobe-wise. Your love for Metalicus and how beautifully their pieces express your sense of style works in your favour here. 

    I also agree that personalities clearly play a big role in how a wardrobe shapes up....its a very personalized thing.

    Thanks again for starting this thread. I really really enjoyed it and learned a lot.   

  • Cococat replied 8 years ago

    Deborah, you described exactly how I feel about my overflowing wardrobe, gleeful! Sometimes guilty too, but usually more gleeful than guilty..lol.

    I can't wait to see how you style your fab new jacket.

    Maneera, can I come and visit you at your posh beach restaurant? It sounds like my kind of place!

    Off to read Astrid's link.

  • Maneera replied 8 years ago

    Read Astrid's link. Really thought provoking....

    I think I can safely say that I can never ever be a minimalist. I am a maximalist....with everything actually. I can't say I regret it at all.

    CocoC.....you're more than welcome to come to my fantasy restaurant! The food and wine will be on the house for the talented fashion designer you are in the fantasy!!! :P

  • replied 8 years ago

    Tulle said, "

    The idea of wearing the same few things--however good the quality--day after day seems dreary to me."

    Ah, but if you already have a large wardrobe, adding 10 things a year shouldn't be a hardship. You still have lots to wear.

    I think it boils down to:
    1. how much you love shopping (the untargeted, wandering around kind)
    2. how much you love new things
    3. how much you dislike your old things

    I don't love shopping, I love new things (but dislike of shopping curbs the impulse to convert this love into ownership) and I generally love my old things (now). So basically, I score 1/3 on the 'maximal wardrobe' scoresheet, so the idea of only buying 10 things a year is doable, and therefore appealing.

    Anyway, there's a theory for ya ;-)

  • Jenn replied 8 years ago

    I spent some time last night looking over lists of the "basics" that this type of wardrobe seems to hinge on. Understanding that basics are a little different for everyone, I sat down and made my own list of what would constitute a basic for me. 

    It was a good exercise, but as I looked at the list, I thought, a basic is supposed to be something your wardrobe can't function without. My wardrobe functions. It's not perfect. It has a lot of false starts and things that don't work as well as I would like, but it functions. 

    So I made another list, consisting of my basics, as of right now. It looked both similar to the first list and a lot different. I could see the roles my pieces were filling, even if they weren't the same items as on the other list. It was enlightening. I'm a lot closer than I thought. 

    Then, this morning, I read Astrid's links on minimalism and perfection and they fell perfectly in line with what I was discovering with my lists last night, articulating some of the things I was thinking and feeling. Thank you for that!

  • Word Lily replied 8 years ago

    This is such a fun discussion!

    I can see how it wouldn't be that hard for me (I recall only buying 3.5 things so far this year, including shoes.) while at the same time know there are points in time when it won't be practical or fun at all. 

    I agree that personality plays a huge role in this.

  • Elly replied 8 years ago

    Deborah-- I think that you could do this because it is never feast or famine with you. I think you understand moderation enough to try something like this without being militant or letting it kill the fun or give you a sense of failure if it doesn't work out. 

    My experience with having a small wardrobe is always this: I have a hard time finding the balance between too many pieces that end up lasting for years because they don't get enough wear and too few pieces that end up lasting only one season because they get TOO much wear. The first leads to spending too much money on fast fashion or on clothes in general that don't get enough use and then regretting them hanging around when I'm ready to move on (and the money spent), and the second leads to more fast fashion because suddenly I have to replace 10 or 15 items in a season and can't afford to replace at a higher cost or simply can't see another $80 top give up the ghost after 6 months. Buying too little for me depletes my basics and decreases my style and ability to create outfits on the fly, buying too many things increases purchasing mistakes and leads to lots of repetition. 

    I think these experiments are good to help you know yourself but don't necessarily solve any problems beyond that-- but they can be great tools. 

  • Joy replied 8 years ago

    Last year I decided to add only 12 pieces during the year. I failed miserably but it did teach me some things.
    1. My buying is uneven for many of the reasons tulle suggests.
    2. I have learned to look for the one to rule them all to reduce my closet and limit buying. My EF Alott shoes are a good example. They feel stylish and comfortable with pants or frocks. Having them in my closet has saved me money because I have looked stand rejected many pairs of cute ankle straps.
    3. I ask myself now, "if I didn't have this, what would I wear?" Often something pops into mind and the I need to decide if that is a good option.
    4. I ask myself, "If I buy this to fill a wardrobe hole, will it satisfy or will I still be looking?" Example is my hunt for a red jacket a couple of years ago. I ended up with at least 4 jackets, none of which were quite right because I kept looking.
    5. I am willing to spend more if something ticks off all the boxes. I have never regretted it.
    6. I still can't be confined to 5 or 12 purchases a year. It makes me want to shop more.

  • Jenn replied 8 years ago

    One thing I want to point out is that, in this wardrobe system, replacing basics doesn't count towards your 5 items unless they're above a certain price point. That stipulation is what makes me think it might work for me. It accounts for the ebb and flow of having to replace important pieces and allows for a small refresh each season.

  • Maneera replied 8 years ago

    Jenn - I have a question for you.

    You say - "So I made another list, consisting of my basics, as of right now. It looked both similar to the first list and a lot different".

    How did you go about this? What makes an item a 'basic for you'? I ask because I don't understand the concept of basics at all. And unless I do, I can't make sure that I have the BEST quality ones so that my entire wardrobe becomes more cohesive and interlinked.

    It's also worth adding that I am often NOT creative with my outfits. I'm learning to pair items differently only now...with the SYC challenge. Even then, I have a lot of variety and often wear a piece only one way. For example - I would wear a top with just a skirt, or a top with just one particular pair of jeans, another with a particular pair of trousers, and so on. In all this, the idea of 'basics' is lost.

    Also, this is not true for winter wear. There, I would say my basics are my jeans that must cover my ankles as I run too cold, corduroy pants, full sleeve knit tees I layer at the bottom, and the coat/jacket I'll wear on top. Jackets for casual home wear, coats for when I'm going out. Also the boots, gloves, woolen beret and woolen socks I can't live without. The only variable would be the middle piece - the sweaters. So would ALL of these winter items be considered 'basics'?

    I hope you can help me.

    Sorry Deborah....we've taken over your thread and turned it into a personal shopping/wardrobe guide! Hope you don't mind.

  • shedev replied 8 years ago

    I'm interested in trying this but I need the three seasons. It's still a lot less purchasing than the 35 things I've bought so far in 2015. I'd start with fall and not count NAS. I think this sort of plan works better if you have a defined look that doesn't depend on trendiness and best if you have a go to brand or two that have some consistancy season after season.

    I loved Allsaints last year, but this year I'm just not feeling it this year. Allsaints has been a lot of things but consistant is not one of them. I'd describe my style as hard edge with soft drape. I think that the brand that fits that is Helmut Lang. The love has been lasting with all the HL and HLish items in my wardrobe.

  • gryffin replied 8 years ago

    Deborah - I had to look up the 5 piece french wardrobe.  The best site I found was http://www.whowhatwear.com/how.....h-wardrobe  As Jenn pointed out basics do not count toward your 5 purchases.  But basics are huge!!  My two theory suits become basics, that cashmere sweater, trench coat, leather pants, boyfriend jacket, even leather jacket (whatever your true basics are) are considered basics.  When I first saw this post, I was mentally saying no way, because I need to replace so many worn out blazers and work dresses, tunics, footwear (hello seural neuritis).  But since I have a limited palate, prefer simple dresses, tunics, pants and tops - my 5 per season purchases would represent true statement pieces or upgrade splurge items.  That concept to me, is not only totally doable, it's splushy.  But in the end, I think the salient point would be that I would be buying much more than 5 items, but only 5 luxury, splurge, milage items irrespecitve of how many basic items I needed to replace or upgrade.  I LOVE this!!  5 well thought out and curated pieces is a great goal.  Thanks so much for starting this thread!  Off to reevaluate purchase plan in light of this ;-)

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 8 years ago

    I was just about to post this same link, Gryffin. I saw it when it came out and was very taken by the basics with add ons.

    I have not, however, purchased a romper, nor do I intend to.

  • anne replied 8 years ago

    I echo gryffin "That concept to me, is not only totally doable, it's splushy".

    I doubt I would add 10 non basic items a year!! Though it depends a bit how you define  "basics".

  • Isabel replied 8 years ago

    I don't get bored easily with my clothes. When I first found YLF 5 years ago, there was a lot going on in my life with changes. I experimented a bit and expanded my sartorial horizons. In the end, it was just too much for my lifestyle. A SAHM in a small town.

    Last winter I finally decided to map out a small-ish wardrobe. It worked really well...except for one thig. The sweaters I bought in cashmere got so much use over a very prolonged winter that they looked horrible at the end. Otherwise, my plan worked exceptionally well.

    I started off with a take on the Vivienne Files' common core. My common core was the following :

    jeans, skinny and straight
    black pants
    black skirt
    color pant, red
    stripe oxford shirt
    chambray shirt
    a blouse
    2 neutral blazers
    1 fun color blazer
    striped long sleeve T
    Cashmere cardigans, black and grey
    merino wool T shirts, black and grey
    cashmere v neck pullover sweaters, black and grey

    Then I added what was called "expandable" colors in navy, aubergine and olive with my essential core colors being black, grey, denim.

    My "extra" colors were teal, green, cranberry, dusty rose. I got two additional cashmere v necks in the cranberry and dusty rose. I also had a couple of vests and waterfall sweaters.

    I had a ton of accessories ( mostly scarves ), gloves, wiinter hats and 4 pairs of boots. This worked really, really well. Everything went together and I was prepared for everyday life : school meetings, running errands, casual outings with friends.

    Our weather varies an awful lot here and it is difficult to prep for in between seasons. In the Summer, I pretty much stick to dresses. I have 10 of them and waaaaayyyyyy too many shoes . I do have two pairs of shorts, two skirts, 7 lightweight t shirts and linen button downs. When it is really hot, these pieces only get worn once. I find that I need more clothes in the summer, though it is only for a couple of months, than I do in the winter because I launder more in the summer. My main colors for summer are blues, greens and teals.

    I could easily go with not buying anything for the year as long as I am covered with my core wardrobe.

  • Deborah replied 8 years ago

    Ladies the blog post I read on the Five Piece French Wardrobe is this one. Its simple and basic but she has other posts too.  

    http://www.afterdrk.com/wishlist-perfect-lbd/

    I think when they refer to 'basics' they are actually referring to what Angie would call "essentials"??
       

  • Astrid replied 8 years ago

    Oh you mean what I thought of as basics (underwear ...) are actually essentials? Ah right, we had that in Jenn's post. Then I have to agree with others before, five pieces are A LOT. Assuming your essentials are your wardrobe workhorses that wear out quickest means you can replace most what of what is worn out without substracting from your number...

  • Von replied 8 years ago

    I LOVE that blazer! It has so many color, I could see not wearing it with the same thing twice.

    My problem is that I work in a place where the dress code is much more formal that say what I'd wear on the weekends.  Most capsule wardrobes I find online, I have no idea where these ladies are working! If I could get by on jeans, tees, blazers and pumps, my wardrobe would be cut by over 50%. Also, if I lived somewhere that didn't have drastic and distinct seasons.  "spring/summer" clothes don't work -- because summer here is miserable and calls for an entirely different clothing set than spring.  This year, I've retired every non-natural fabric for my shirts until spring (60-70 degree temps) or fall/winter (wearing under blazers). 

    Instead of a major purge, I incorporated about 7 linen shirts into my summer wardrobe for work, and for the most part, I've been mixing and matching them with skirts/pants every week.  Part of me is still in the "OMG, I just wore this shirt last week, will someone notice!!!" phase, and the other part of me doesn't even care because it's different every time.  I can see how 5 pieces picked strategically would make a huge difference to the wardrobe rotation.  Especially items like that blazer that have endless possibilities, funky shoes (do we count shoes?? I could buy 3 pairs of shoes and blow my plan!)  Last fall, I'd say I bought 10 or less items, but I did purge out some old ones (like pants), but pants are RARELY what I'd consider fun...

  • rachylou replied 8 years ago

    Are the 5 pieces like 'fun pieces' then?

  • Elizabeth P replied 8 years ago

    Just wanted to add another link to the mix... same idea but a slightly different approach.  Until I figured out that "basics" don't factor into the "item list" I was a bit confused... but I think we all get that now!

    The blog, "the Daily Connoisseur" does a "10 Item wardrobe". 
    http://dailyconnoisseur.blogsp.....20Wardrobe
    She's also written several books, based on the revelation she had when staying with a French family in her college years.  It's fun to search back through the pieces she chooses and why.  She also has a Ted Talk
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?.....e=youtu.be

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