People may not remember exactly what you wore,
but they will remember how you made them feel.
but they will remember how you made them feel.
Since I am participating in Project 333 and read the ongoing thoughts of other participants on the related Facebook page, I have thought quite a bit these last few months about clothes. Not only what clothes I want to wear out of what I have but what clothes to buy, how much to spend and why we even care about how clothing looks.
There are many blog posts, web articles and books about what constitutes a reasonable wardrobe although they have to be considered with lots of caveats - what is the range of weather where you live, what is the life you actually live, etc. When I worked full time I liked the idea of capsule wardrobes with items that mixed and matched well. It saved a lot of money on my professional wardrobe and made it easy to pack for the travel required of a consultant or professional working for a nationwide company. We had a tight budget back then so this concept was very helpful in that arena as well and since suits or similar separates were the required "uniform" for women in my profession I went with that. Not a lot of angst there.
Since I have been an independent part time consultant and now that I have decided to retire from that profession, the whole wardrobe thing has gotten harder. I spend a lot of time doing family/home related things, volunteering in a role that gets me dirty at times, and going out to eat/theater or meetings. Then there are the occasional party, wedding or, sadly, funeral. Add to that the fact that I don't love to shop for clothes but do love color, want to save as much as possible for retirement while enjoying ourselves, and like to feel "put together", and you have time spent on trying to find the simple solution to this stage of life that matches the professional capsule wardrobe of the past.
So here are a few thoughts.
Project 333 is a good variation on the capsule wardrobe approach and participating in the related Facebook page discussions is helpful. Both encourage you to streamline your wardrobe to one that fits you and your life right now.
There are some very helpful blogs out there that will help you think about how to put together your wardrobe - check out The Vivienne Files or Over 50, Feeling 40
It can be helpful to identify your style and put a name on it - for example "Classic with a Twist" guides a friend of mine.
Likewise knowing what shapes and colors make you feel and look good will save a lot of time and money.
Speaking of money, you don't have to spend a lot to have a wardrobe that works for you - read the Save on Clothing post over at Tightwad
If you go to the store or browse clothing websites you may spend a lot more than you would like and still not like what you have - for help, check out Recovering Shopaholic
Clothing will not make you a happier, nicer, friendlier person nor make you life more meaningful. It can fit well, flatter you and work for the life you live right now!
Today's Decluttering Items
Zip case (with partially used eye drops inside) and sunglasses sent home after cataract surgery
Its a constant problem for me, and now that Im living in colorado its an even wider seasibak base. I could be better about shopping but like you, I like color, so a blak skirt and ten
ReplyDeleteneutral tops dont work. I seriously do need to sit down with a list and inventory everything and make a list of the few things I absolutely "need"
Sounds like an inventory is a good idea as you adjust your wardrobe to your new climate. You'll probably find some items you don't really love and/or wear and they can make space for the warmer clothing you may need.
DeleteGreat post, Juhli, and thanks so much for mentioning my blog! As you know, I am still struggling with the concept of what constitutes a "reasonable wardrobe," but as a fellow Project 333 participant, I have to highlight how much that challenge has helped my journey. Dressing with only 33 garments has shown me that I don't need nearly as many clothes as I used to think I did. It's actually freeing to have less items to choose from and it encourages creativity in creating outfits from more unlikely combinations.
ReplyDeleteI am in a similar situation as you in that I work from home much of the time and don't go into an office 5 days per week. Even when I do leave to meet clients or attend other appointments, I rarely see the same people, so I don't need a huge variety of clothing. My packed closet was actually limiting and drained me of energy. As I release the pieces that don't work for me, I feel so much better. I'm now aiming for quality over quantity and working to determine what I really love and need. It's a process and I'm not there yet, but I'm on my way.
I encourage others to check out Project 333. If it seems too scary or limiting, modify the challenge to meet your needs or create a similar type of challenge for yourself. Do try to stretch yourself some, though, as that's the best way to grow!
Thanks so much for your comment and for how open you are with your blog.
DeleteI think and plan a lot regarding my wardrobe and sometimes I do wonder why since I am not an appearance-oriented person. I suppose some reasons are - I don't want to stand out for negative reasons (such as making the wrong choices or being the workplace "clothes horse"), I like clothes that are comfortable and suitable to purpose, and I want to make the right purchasing decisions so I don't waste money!
ReplyDeleteMy reasons are very similar. I'm trying to push myself to make sure that I also really like how I look - that is part of being comfortable.
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