Let's Talk - getting dressed



Awhile ago I received a topic suggestion from a reader. Here it is:

"I have SO MANY clothes and yet never feel like my outfits are so great. My suggestion for discussion is twofold...how do you REALLY weed out...and not the stock answer of if you haven’t worn it in a year or whatever. Really more what I’m interested in how do I look at what I have with a more creative eye. Do you know what I mean? Not that I ever want to stop shopping, but I feel like I could do so much more with what I already have...I would sure love to hear some opinions, experiences, etc. from you and your followers. Also would love to be more ruthless in my weeding out but unless something is pilly or stained or shrunk weird, I have a hard time parting with things!

I had actually bought a book (omitted)... it was horrible. Very elementary stuff...3 piles, keep, consign, give away. BUILD shelves in your closet. Really? ... Who doesn’t know to give stuff away and try to consign or Ebay if you’re not wearing it? ... I guess I was hoping for ideas of how to pair things I wouldn’t think of, how to really see what flatters you and weed out what doesn’t, how to recognize which colors work best, what to take to the tailor to make it work, where a belt or accessory would make an outfit work, which shoes to pair to make an outfit the best, putting a pop of color here or there to spruce something up, things like that. I don’t even know what I expected, just more. Something I didn’t already know. This author suggested taking inventory and typing it up/writing down every piece you own! Yikes! I can’t even imagine. But then she didn’t even tell you how this said list would help learn to make better use of what you had. There was a lot on organizing your closet, things I already do that to me are obvious like grouping like things and like colors together, not so much shopping your closet. I really really TRY to weed out stuff but I’ll try it on and be like...looks pretty good...and hang it back up...

Also related and of interest to me is how to have a better eye when buying new things so you don’t keep making the same mistakes, buying the same things, buying unflattering things maybe just because they’re really cheap, taking into account cost per wear, the dangers of buying on Ebay if you haven’t already seen and tried on the exact item or are familiar with the manufacturer, what sort of pieces are worth spending money on and which are not, etc...I bet your followers have some good ideas and input as well as their own experiences."

~ A Gigi's Gone Shopping reader


I had every intention of posting within a few days of exchanging emails w/this individual, but it didn't work out that way. More than a month has passed. I could have put the topic up, but prefer to think about things before doing so. I turned this one around in my mind many times as I think this topic can be split up into many conversations. There are a number of good discussion points, however, I think the key is in the first sentence --> I have SO MANY clothes and yet never feel like my outfits are so great.

In the year or so, I've subscribed to a formula of cardi+top+pants or cute jacket+top+pants. I can always swap out pants for a skirt on the bottom, but the main components of the formula are usually 2 layers on the top. One top can be enough, especially if it's the middle of summer, but layers provide interest, so I aim for that. I try to remember to accessorize, but it doesn't always happen. I find that when I plan the night before, my outfits always turn out much better than pulling things together within a couple hours or hour before leaving the house. And I find that I always accessorize when I plan in advance. I consider what the weather is supposed to be like and then build an outfit based on where I'm going. I don't rely heavily on black. I always try to wear kick ass shoes and I push myself to gravitate towards brighter colors, unless it's inappropriate for the situation. I usually always have on the kick ass shoes, though.

A lot of my inspiration for outfits occurs when I'm hanging up my clothing after pulling a ton of them to mix and match. I find the best looks when I'm putting everything back. Sometimes I'll hang a top next to a sweater and create a non-obvious combination. When I find those, I leave them hanging together to remember to wear them. Hopefully within the week. If they're not weather appropriate, I take a photo and add it to the file on my computer for future reference. I have a few computer file folders for our less mild weather like super cold, super hot and rain. Another way I find inspiration is to note outfits as I'm reading magazines. I don't necessarily just recreate exactly what's in the photo. I try to think about what it is that I like about the outfit. Is it the crispness of the jacket. Perhaps it's the model's makeup. Unique color combos are always eye catching, but sometimes it's textures that are of interest. I write notes on the page and then save it. I try to think of clothes I have that are similar and include that in the very brief notes. I put the magazine tears in plastic sheets and then into the binder. I go through it a few times/year to dump out the old and add new looks. However, I find that I don't reference the binder as much as I used to. These days I save looks in a file on my computer. The images are either photos I come across online or photos I take of myself. It's a good idea to get a snap of what you wear and archive it, especially if you like it.

One reason it took me so long to write this post is because I have an unresolved issue going on with my closet. I continue to buy clothes for how I want to look and not necessarily how I live my life. This can make getting dressed difficult because I own a good number of items that aren't feasible for everyday wear. I am confident that I've made progress in that I've mostly stopped buying party dresses. We haven't gone to many parties at all in the past couple of years with the economy changing and corporations (and people) throwing fewer shindigs. I had to give up the perfect party frock fantasy. But I know I still chase the feeling that clothing can provide. Clothing -- for me -- can provide feelings of success (I look good in this!), feelings of peace (I'm pulled together!) and illusions of control in my life (I am on time! I am organized!). I laugh inside when people say clothes aren't important. They're very important and I think women are judged more harshly than men in that department. But that's another topic. At any rate, while I was thinking about how I can discuss this topic from my end, I made some personal changes.

I'd been trying to decide what to do with my hair. Grow it chemical free, cut it short, do nothing. I collect hairstyles pics and have been filing those away as I find my wardrobe inspiration pics. One day I went to the hairstyle folder on my computer and saw a certain recurring hairdo. About 6-8 versions of the same look. I realized that might be the ticket and I set out to find a new stylist on Yelp. It took a couple weeks of trying to decide, but I settled on one guy in particular and booked an appointment. Not a consultation. A flat out appointment. I love Yelp! My new stylist was awe.some. Not only did he nail the look I was going for, but he tailored it to my face and he showed me the products & tools I needed to recreate it. I think I knew all along that I needed a new hairdo. My previous hairstyle wasn't dated, it was modern and got its share of compliments. I was just over it. Plus, dealing with the moody texture was no fun. I often felt that my outfits were ok to very good -- but my hair almost always could be improved. Especially by the end of the day. Oh the new hair! It has been an absolute blast. I feel hip/cool/modern, plus it's easy to care for. I feel more confident with this look because I'm not worried that it looks sad at the end of the day. Plus, if I feel like it, it's easy to change back to a slighter different version of my former hair-do. I am supremely sure that good looking hair makes my outfits look better. Even if other people don't see anything special about my hair or clothes, I feel good overall and it radiates thru my personality. Rather often we embark on a weight loss program, thinking that our clothes will look & feel better if we weigh less. There are many a beautiful & gorgeous women with tremendous, enviable style at a variety of points on the scale. Losing weight isn't always the answer to feeling better. Plus it can take so dern long. If you're feeling like you're in a clothing slump, my suggestion would be to look at your hair and/or makeup. That may be the area that needs a little lift. Plus, it's practically instantaneous. So that's the short version of me getting dressed. I'm sure I'll post on the topic again in the future. What say you...

  • Do you look in your closet(s) and still feel you have 'nothing to wear?
  • How do you work through this luxurious dilemma?
  • Do you feel you've defined your look in a way that makes shopping & getting dressed relatively easy?
  • Where do you draw inspiration from?
  • Do you need your hair did? *lol*

Let's talk!

♥



The Thoughtful Dresser -> recommended by personal shopper, Julie Styles

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