A Girl And Her Wardrobe

49 Comments

• Firecracker (Sharan) replied 7 years ago

  Deborah, you are looking as fabulous as ever, if not even more so! I really admire your thoughtful approach and your effort to make ethical choices in your style. Each of these outfits is so inspiring on its own, and taken as a group they just look incredibly chic and very you. I will single out 5: love those pants! And you are sewing! The top is super cool with the pants and high-shaft ankle booties.

• Angie replied 7 years ago

  I have been wondering where you are? Great to see you, Debs. Thanks for the update. 

  You look fabulous, and I'm thrilled that you're in a brilliant place both in your head and in your heart about your style. I love your hair longer, and #3 is my KILLER fave. 

  GO TEAM MODERATE WARDROBE.   

• Sara L. replied 7 years ago

  These are great! I love the cropped pants and boot combo in #6 and the cardigan in #3.

• Deborah replied 7 years ago

  Firecracker thank you!  You are so encouraging... always.  My sewing skills are basic to say the least but it's a goal of mine to learn to sew well.

  Angie, sending huge hugs and thanks for making me so welcome.  I still pop in most days to read and this remains the most amazing online community and it is still very much 'home' for me.  I can be very influenced by what I see and what others do so it was just a matter of some space to work 'me' out if that makes sense.  I'm looking forward to rejoining the amazing conversations here again.  And a big thank you to you Angie, you set me on my way and through the forum you have been the catalyst for me really thinking about my wardrobe choices and seeing that I can be in control not the other way round.

  Thanks Sara, they can be a bit of an acquired taste.  My hubby doesn't love them so much lol.  

• Meredith replied 7 years ago

  So lovely to see your outfits again and glad to hear you've made progress on your fashion journey. I'm also reflecting on how much is "enough" without going the minimalist route. I've seen the documentary and read about the concept but it just strikes me as something that could very easily become a pursuit of unrealistic and arbitrary perfection. So for me "enough" looks like a core mix/max capsule of pieces that see regular wear supplemented by new items that pull at my heartstrings or feel trendy in a fresh way.

• replied 7 years ago

  The combined challenge of work, parenting, and implementing your new style program hasn't negatively affected your appearance in the least, if anything you look better than ever and you've expanded the range of items you can adapt to your style.

• Style Fan replied 7 years ago

  Wonderful to see you Deborah.  I love #1.  I found it hard to pick a favourite.  You always look amazing.  I have a sweet spot for ponchos and boots.
  I am working on building a small wardrobe with pieces I love that will last a long time.  I try to look for ethical fashion.  It is definitely becoming easier.

• Peri replied 7 years ago

  To me you are a supreme style icon, and although I understand the changes, what I see here is as fantastic as ever!

• rachylou replied 7 years ago

  You have been exercising some discipline(!). I am not totally satisfied yet with any strategy with respect to ethics in fashion. Actually wearing things out I feel is a good place to focus, but quality and shabbiness is an issue, for example. I'm RATE, but there's only so RATE you can go. And I don't know there's so much that's so well made.

  Anyways, I feel like your look is evolving a bit. Becoming more urban...

• Greyscale replied 7 years ago

  What beautiful clothing! All of those pieces are so special.

  (Do you have instructions for making the top in #5?)

• Staysfit replied 7 years ago

  Deb, it's so nice to see you post. Firstly, all of your outfits are wonderful and uniquely yours. Secondly, bravo for balancing your life with parenting, work, and hobbies. How did you find time to sew?! Thirdly, I have moved towards a more thoughtful approach to making purchases. Part of my caution is due to environmental concern, the rest is financial. I still enjoy a moderate wardrobe, and am likely to maintain a larger wardrobe than most, but I am using care to purchase items I will wear frequently and with joy for an extended period.

• Dianna replied 7 years ago

  You have a very defined and unique style, I loved all yout outfits.  My favorites are # 3 and #4.  That dress in #4 is a work of art.  Please keep posting. 

• Laura G replied 7 years ago

  You do indeed have a well developed and consistent style. I *love* #3!

  I've never done either fast fashion or hobby shopping, but The True Cost nevertheless affected me. Mostly it made me pay more attention to how long the things I buy can be expected to last. And honestly I can't tell, because I know about cotton, wool, silk and linen, but who knows about viscose and polyamide and the rest of that stuff? Not me! Maybe nobody, because it hasn't been around that long. 

• Marley replied 7 years ago

  Wow Deb!  Your outfits are beautiful - I can't really choose a favorite - but, if forced, I thnk it would be the first and the last!  Also, thank you for sharing what you've been up to with regards to shopping habits and clothing.  I have been having very similar thoughts - and just spent a week with some friends who love to shop and in the past I've always joined in with them - but I didn't this year! - and I felt really good - not deprived at all.  Yea!  Also - your hair is stunning!  (I'm a little jealous! ;-)

• anne replied 7 years ago

  Deborah, thanks for posting. I'm in admiration of your new direction. You may remember a few years ago my trying to do something like this - and failing utterly.

  What's your method for finding ethically made fashion?

  Also, if you don't mind my asking, how is it comparing so far with previous years in

  1) amount spent overall

  2)number of garments purchased.

  Great set of pictures too - I can't pick a favourite!

• anne replied 7 years ago

  Spoke too soon - I just went over to your blog and see that you've covered some of these questions!

• Ledonna N. replied 7 years ago

  I really haven't seen you on the boards. Your fashion and style are amazing let's rise ethically-sourced clothing. That is not within my budget but it is within my wish. I upcycle and I treat the thrifts s Edge because I don't want to contribute to the landfills. I believe clothes are turned over way too much that's fashion as well as fast and stands up against the test of time. Everything I wear except for a few handmade pieces or thrifted curated and loved except for underwear and socks. I don't want to contribute to killing the Earth you're so many things that we do to damage and destroy our world. I want to be one who helped save the Earth and not just be a cog in the wheel.

• lozz_oz replied 7 years ago

  I must admit I follow you on your instagram feed - you are the site I visit first daily - and I'm always inspired by your style + your commitment to ethical purchasing.
  Like Ledonna, I'm an avid op shopper + very much aspire to limit buying into the whole fast fashion movement (I love what Livia Firth is doing too!)

• Jenni NZ replied 7 years ago

  I haven't watched The True Cost yet. Believe I will get to it in time. Meanwhile I downloaded the Ethical Fashion Guide that NZ's Tear Fund did for us based on the Baptist World Aid Australia one that's apparently been going for 4 years and is making a difference. Also my lovely husband got "To Die For" by Lucy Siegle ( subtitle "Is Fashion Wearing Out the World?" ) from the library for me. She has worked with Livia Firth to do the Green Carpet Challenge. All of this plus my wardrobe having been overflowing is helping me buy less and I resisted the two tops on sale at Farmers ( store) that I posted recently, I also contacted them saying I was put off shopping there due to their not answering the ethical fashion questions. No proper reply yet! Only an acknowledgement.
  One thing- don't know how I would have fared trying do this 9 years ago when then needing to rebuild the whole wardrobe? Financial constraints could make this difficult for some? Of course there is thrifting/op-shopping but that can be hit-and-miss...

• Deborah replied 7 years ago

  Meredith, I couldn't agree more.  The challenge is remaining true to yourself during the process and figuring out what works for you.  If not it becomes exactly what you say and that very thing that should be freeing ends up consuming us.

  Thanks so much Isabel.  I have missed you :)  I am having so much fun with fashion but a different way.  It's slower, more considered and brings much pleasure.

  Style Fan I can see Ponchos working beautifully on you.  And yes it does seem that more designers/design groups are producing ethically and thankfully the price points vary too.

  Peri, how are you?  You way to kind, that is such a lovely compliment.

  LOL Rachy discipline has been an ongoing problem when it comes to my shopping so it's a major win to b developing some self control.  

  Greyscale, thank you.  I actually just cut this top off of another top that I have.  It was a bit of trial and error but I was thrilled that I could actually wear it.

  Staysfit, it good to see you.  It sounds like you are developing a a great wardrobe with longevity which I admire.

  Dianna thanks very much.  I will try :)

  Laura that is true.  Some of these polyamide fabrics are touted as being long lasting but I haven't found that with all of them.

  Marley so good to see you.  Sounds like you are in a good place.  There's a great freedom that comes with not feeling you 'have to' shop.  And thank you, my hair has been a work in progress.  Short, longer, short etc but I think I am really liking it as it is now.

  Anne yes I do remember and you were one of the people who started me thinking about this.  I remember at the time thinking it was all just too hard but I think I just wasn't ready.  Most labels will state they are producing ethically.  Some will say that there clothing is 'designed in Australia' which can lead to an assumption that the clothes are also made here.  So always check out the websites and if necessary I will email and ask questions.

  Ledonna I love the way you dress and I have long admired your thrifting and your upcycling.  It's a brilliant way to dress ethically and be responsible.

  Lozz_oz wow how lovely of you.  Now you have to tell me your Insta name please so I can follow you.  I have seen here that you are a master thrifter and I cannot believe that fabulous pieces you find.   

• Jenni NZ replied 7 years ago

  PS yes we get an issue here with "designed in NZ" also. Some are now saying "designed in NZ, made in China" on the labels which at least gives me that answer! ATM I have several of those in my wardrobe but unsure for the future...

• Jaime replied 7 years ago

  Great to see you and you look great! I admire how you have blended your ethical concerns with self-knowledge and love your outfits. I would steal 3, 4, and 5 if I could :) .

• Karie replied 7 years ago

  I love all of these outfits, especially the top you made yourself! I am also on a fashion journey of sorts. Mostly it involves slowing down/putting the brakes on the endless buying (of everything, not just clothing), wearing what I already have, using the sewing patterns and fabrics I already own to make clothing, and supporting companies whose business practices I admire. I haven't seen the documentaries you mentioned but I will look them up and watch them if they're available. 

• gryffin replied 7 years ago

  Deborah!!  So good to see you on. I miss you!!  You look amazing as usual, my sister in darkness!!  Big empathy on balancing work and teen, I've added sick parents into the mix - so I hear you.  Just hang in there!!  I really empathize with your journey.  I'm am doing much the same thing trying for quality over quantity and ethically made pieces.  Loving EF and Everlane as always.  It's just as important to feel good about as well as in our lovely pieces.  I try not to buy fast fashion.  I am drawn to a lot of the looks but I've really come to value quality and those pieces never make me happy. 

• Stagiaire Fash replied 7 years ago

  Nice post. For athletic and some casual, I prefer Patagonia because of their standards. I didn't think much ethically made clothing was available otherwise. Your examples suggest I should look again.

  I'm not familiar with those movies. The way cotton is grown and processed is a big issue to me. I was aware of the huge amount of water cotton uses before I visited my ex's family in Ethiopia, but then visiting his relatives' farm, having them show me so many things that had been set up by their grandparents and adjusted over the years, and then learning that many of their crops haven't grown well since the cotton mill was built half a mile away really drove it home. I'm not sure if the "organic" standard for cotton covers the water usage in its production; there are options. Thank you for reminding me to look. Factory safety and pay scale are another issue, of course.

  I'm not familiar with the 30 wears rule of thumb, but I probably do at least that much, usually. In this pic I'm wearing a skirt I'd bought three years earlier. It's from Forever 21, so certainly doesn't meet any ethical production standards, but I wore it frequently during that time, and for two or three more years after that. I've just culled it from my closet. It had a stain on it, so is going in the stack of old sheets and ripped clothing for the animal shelter.

  1
• amiable replied 7 years ago

  Wonderful to see you, as always!  Thanks for sharing your journey.  I, at this point, mostly buy used clothes, though I aspire to make my own.  And I'm trying to find my own "moderate" size of a wardrobe.  It's smaller than I expected it to be (though not super small - I'm just surprised at how few items I wear when I'm wearing what I want to wear, rather than just what happens to be clean, for example).

• texstyle replied 7 years ago

  Loved reading about your new direction and seeing your lovely Aussie items!  I find that any time I pack for a trip it reels in my shopping impulses a bit as I realize my true favorites for a season can all fit into one carry on. I can't say I'm buying Made in the USA always but I do try when I can.

• replied 7 years ago

  Hi Deb - hmm. I wrote here last night but see it either didn't submit properly, or I was already asleep and dreaming ;)  I see you everyday on other social media, so I'm right up to date with what you are doing, and am one of your biggest fans. I'm right there with you in terms of creating and living with a more minimal wardrobe (I don't need nor want a lot of clothes) and with not participating in the fast-fashion business   of gluttony. What I appreciate so much about you is that you've figured out and achieved a very identifiable look for yourself that is unique, organic (in the metaphorical sense of the word) and fashion-forward.  You anchor it all with  signature hair and makeup ......a concept I love.  Keep doing what you're doing !  (and I have empathy for your busy family and professional life - it's a challenging stage in life, but it can also be personally rewarding too).  xo, L.

• AviaMariah replied 7 years ago

  You look fab as always.  Interesting that I should read this this morning as I just saved yet another article listing ethical clothing companies.  I have been rolling this around in my mind for a while but haven't completely decided how to implement it.  The main reason I'm interested is of course to make sure my dollars are supporting ethical businesses.  But I also like the idea of forcing myself to be more mindful of what I purchase.  I also really like learning about new things so reading about how these different companies came about, what causes they are supporting etc is really interesting. Lastly, I mostly shop online and there are just so many choices, so many places to shop.  I like the idea of limiting myself to where I look at clothing to avoid decision fatigue.  I hope you post more WIW's as you continue on your journey.

• JuniperGreen replied 7 years ago

  Beautiful looks - I love them all (and loving your hair, too!)

• frannieb replied 7 years ago

  Deb, Great to see you posting. You are always an inspiration with how you stay true to your aesthetic. I like your honesty of realizing that a minimal wardrobe is not for you. It is the same process I have gone through myself, while I love the concept and thought of a minimal wardrobe that is not me.  
  I like the idea of 30 wears, as a base to think about. I don't do to much fast fashion but I do have some fast fashion pieces that have well over 30 wears, and at the same time I have some pieces ethically made that have well under 30 wears.
  It is all about finding the balance within our closets and making smart purchases.

• Elle replied 7 years ago

  What an interesting post! I really admire your commitment to ethically sourced clothing.  It's been on my mind for a while but  I haven't done as much as I want to about checking where my clothes are made.  I've been trying to buy less overall and to buy from Everlane and Patagonia rather than from mass marketers.  You've inspired to do more research before I buy. 

  I love your sense of style as well as your ethics.  All the outfits posted are wonderful, but the poncho in #1 and the dress in #4 are super fabulous. 

• Lyn D. replied 7 years ago

  Hi Deborah, I must watch those videos you mentioned ASAP.
  We need constant reminders whilst being bombarded by consumerism at every turn!
  You are looking as Fab as always, and now very individual with your sourced pieces x

• Sal replied 7 years ago

  I always love your style Deborah both here and on Instagram.  I am pleased that you have found a way to combine your love of beautiful elegant clothing and a more minimal approach.  It is certainly working - you look terrific!!

  I have also adopted the 30 wears as a bench mark when adding clothing.  It does put things into perspective and has stopped me adding in a new top just for variety.  A few of us did a 30x30 challenge which also made me realise that while not a total minimalist, I am happy with a smallish sized wardrobe.  For me this means adding in about 25 items a year across all footwear, bags, glasses and clothing.   

• shiny replied 7 years ago

  Great to see you! I hadn't known you were gone, because I've also been MIA ... enforced minimalism due to renovation / change of life / busy work stuff / etc..  over here. Back because... it's NAS!

  LOVE LOVE LOVE all your outfits, so true to you. I can see the evolution but still true to you. If I had just a pinky's worth of your style I'd be happy. 

• Suz replied 7 years ago

  Deborah, you look amazing, as always, and it is so interesting to hear about your fashion journey. I admire your thoughtfulness and ability to reflect and find a way to express your values at the same time as you remain your ever-stylish self. It's an inspiration. My favourites here are 3, 4, and 5. Wow, wow, and WOW again! I also love #6. 

  I have been thinking about ethical purchasing also, but I fear that am much slower at enacting it than you. Yet, I think the turn may be coming. I think it is because I am now past the wardrobe building stage. It is much harder to be selective and careful if you don't know what your core needs are. Like you, over time, I have discovered that I do crave some variety and change so a truly minimalist wardrobe is not for me. At the same time, I don't care for a very large wardrobe as I like to wear everything in my closet. I am also much clearer on my style.  Now, the question is, can I sustain that in an ethical way?  And what will count as ethical for me? 

  This year, I've purchased less overall, and more of what I've bought comes from companies that try to be transparent and from local Canadian designers. But...here it is NAS time, and as usual, I'm ordering up a storm, much of it "fast fashion"  or at least mass produced.  :) 

  Having said that, several of us have been discussion the 30 wears idea. I believe forum member Jenn initiated this conversation and we had a very interesting thread about it. As I looked over my clothing I noted that apart from rare mistakes or items that fall apart, almost all my purchases, including fast fashion purchases, do see 30+ wears. Not in one season, necessarily -- but certainly over the 3 to 5 years (on average) that I keep them. 

  So do my jeans (all of them, even though I have an awful lot of jeans!) and so do most of my shoes, bags, belts, coats, etc. It's not that hard for me to wear my items that often since my closet for each season is not huge. 

  The items that see fewer than 30 wears are typically special occasion items (of any kind) and dressier footwear. And yet...I do need those also! So, it's a dilemma. 

  I think my next step is doing some more wardrobe tracking, with joy per wear factored along with wears themselves. And to consider available sources of more ethically made clothing that fits my aesthetic. Thank you for the impetus! 

• TraceyLiz65 replied 7 years ago

  Deb, what a wonderful journey you have been on. As always each outfit is very artistic and perfection in my eyes.  You truly have so many what I would call statement pieces and such a wonderful sense of style.  

• Deborah replied 7 years ago

  Jenni I use the Baptist World Aid guide a lot but they don't seem to include some of the smaller more independent design groups.  But it has great information.  And I agree finance has to be a consideration, however I am discovering that some ethical producers are no more expensive than some of the less transparent labels.

  Juniper Green, thank you so much :)

  Shevia, it's so good to see you!  Like all things, its a journey, but a fun one with lots of self discovery :)

  Karie that all sounds so good.  I have also addressed the other areas in my life and it has made a big difference.

  Gryffin, I miss you too.  And yes we are in the same stage of life.  We just farewelled my amazing mother in law.    And you are very right in that how we feel about what we are wearing has a big impact.  I must admit it's my fast fashion purchases that never last or satisfy me for long, so really I just need to walk right past them.

  Fashiontern such good thoughts.  And you highlight that here are so many issues associated with ethical production.   Sounds like you are mastering responsible shopping.  The trouble with a lot of fast fashion is that's its only being worn a couple of times and thrown out.    I like how you have found such a good option in the animal shelter for unwearable clothing.

  Amiable good to see you too.  Buying preloved is becoming more and more popular and with the amount of things people throw away after only a few wears mean the quality available is definitely better than it used to be.

  Texstyle, I think if we all just do what we can then that is a step in the right direction.  I try not to put too much pressure on myself. It's a work in progress.

  Lisa, I love that we get to interact on Insta too.  Thanks for the encouragement. I do feel like I have kind of settled into my style.  And on the work / family balance I don't know how you do it, thankfully travel is not part of my work xx

  AviaMariah good point re the variety that's available on line.  I do tend to limit where I look now and I just don't look at fast fashion outlets.  It does help.

• skylurker replied 7 years ago

  You have beautiful items, I can see they were chosen carefully.
  You also have an avant garde style that bypasses trends, so you don't need fast fashion trendy fixes.
  I love #1 and #4 esp.

• dakotacheryl replied 7 years ago

  Deborah...so nice to read this thread.

  Impossible for me to pick a favorite photo as I LOVE them all !!

  We are on similar journeys for fewer purchases, more ethical choices etc. I have probably halved the number of items purchased this year over last with the majority coming from Elizabeth Suzann. Yes they are expensive, but I bought less items and support a wonderful company who uses great fabrics and pays her team in Nashville a living wage.

  I think I have saved close to $100 a month by not needing to use the dry cleaners all spring/summer.

  Off to follow you on Instagram LOL...

• Bijou replied 7 years ago

  I have enjoyed reading your post and also the thoughtful responses. Your style is beautiful. I never buy for just one season except for underwear, sleepwear and gear that gets worn out. If I buy a jacket from Zara, I want it to last as long as a more expensive alternative.

• Liz A. replied 7 years ago

  Just wanted to mention that I have recently started watching Australia's Next Top Model on Hulu.  I started at Season 1, which is really old, but it's fun to learn more about Australian designers and fashions.

• Elizabeth P replied 7 years ago

  Deborah, it is SO good to see you again!  I've been following you on instagram, but it's different to get the text behind the thoughts behind the outfits, kwim?

  I love the direction your style is going, even more now that I know sustainability is part of the equation.  I hope you'll have time to continue to share your journey. 

• Destri replied 7 years ago

  Deborah, thanks for this post. I'm intrigued and interested in watching the movies you noted.

  Also, had to chime in to say that I have the skirted legging that I'm pretty sure you are wearing in #3. In fact when I was getting ready to order it I think you advised me on the size. It has been such a good purchase as I wear it almost year 'round. Soooo comfortable, travels great, and I love the angled hem. I could go on about it but as Angie would say "waving at my skirted legging twin"!

  Your outfits look great!!!

• Deborah replied 7 years ago

  Skylurker, thank you xx

  DakotaCheryl, I have always loved your style and your wardrobe.  I am besotted with Elizabeth Suzann but have not yet purchased anything but I know there will come a time.   It feels so good to be wearing clothing that you know the story of and also where your money goes.  I no longer baulk at hefty price tags on clothing that is made locally.

  Bijou, I agree, if we buy fast fashion, let's buy with the intent of wearing it into the ground.

  Liz.A we have some truly amazing designers here, creating some very unique and wearable designs :)

  Elizabeth P so good to see you :) Sustainability has become more important to me and not just fashion.  I have been reviewing how I live in general.  Next step is we are planning on growing our own vegetables!!

  Destri, thank you!  How good are the skirted leggings!  I am actually wearing mine today as I type.  I'm going to have to beg the designer to revisit them when these wear out.  Im sorry I didn't buy two pairs.  But they are well made and I think this is my third year wearing them so they are doing well.

• Elizabeth P replied 7 years ago

  Waving at skirted legging triplets!  :)
  Actually quadruplets, LisaP has them as well.

• lyn67 replied 7 years ago

  OhohoOO! I cannot wrap my head around all these fab items and most cohesive artsy avant garde style all over! 6xWow!!! & I want a sleeveles top like your DIY in nr 5!!! What kind of fabric did you choose for, can you advise on a pattern for it, pls! K2K!!!!

  ETA: the dress in nr 4 is also a K2K-fab  cut, just wonder how it feels and looks when moving and what ca you layer it over with.

• Deborah replied 7 years ago

  Lyn you are too kind.  The top in 5 is just a square.  I didn't use a pattern, but I am sure there would something available as it is so simple. 

  Check out sustainablefashionchat.com as Karen often has patterns and shares about making your own clothing.

  The dress in 4 is made from japanese suiting material.  It is solid but has movement and is a dream to wear.  I can put a coat or jacket over it. But it's such a great item on it's own I only layer if its so cold I have to.

• Sheril replied 6 years ago

  You look great in these images. Things are chosen fantastically harmoniously. And most importantly, everything goes very well and sets you apart from the crowd.