Express Checkout: Week One
Piece of cake! No felt pain at this early point, but the rest of my closet stretches out longer than the Rockettes chorus line.
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| Day 6: Black v-neck, scarf, black pants |
I'm not tired of my 12 items, but talk is cheap, and I have over 3 weeks to go.
Invited shopping with a GF this weekend, up for it but less curious about what's out there. (If I lived with 12 or even 24 items, I'd hardly ever have to shop.)
In the photo, I'm about to meet Donna and Vicky for dim sum. With my stack of scarves, I could try for the astounding efficiency of Six Items, but would need a same-day cleaner or 100% washable clothes.
Observations:
1. Had vivid dream that I was placed in a detention centre for vandalizing a car (innocent!) and the warden took me shopping, saying "You'll need clothes in here". I said, "I only shop at Prada". Is my subconscious is telling me something?
2. Most under-used, over-bought item in my closet: coats, probably a Canadian anxiety about being warm enough.
3. Fran Liebowitz has worn the same button down/suit combo for over 20 years. How does she do it?
1. Had vivid dream that I was placed in a detention centre for vandalizing a car (innocent!) and the warden took me shopping, saying "You'll need clothes in here". I said, "I only shop at Prada". Is my subconscious is telling me something?2. Most under-used, over-bought item in my closet: coats, probably a Canadian anxiety about being warm enough.
3. Fran Liebowitz has worn the same button down/suit combo for over 20 years. How does she do it?
How are those of you 'playing' doing with your choices?
Next "Express Checkout" Update: Thursday, October 28
Comments
the matching silk blend sweater tank that
goes with a thin cardigan meant to be worn
open and a close fitting sleeveless vee neck
shell that might be exercise wear and is much
warmer than my lightweight thermal wear I
usually wear day and night through the colder
months. These 2 allow me to wear the two
cardigans in the group on their own, modestly.
I didn't limit coats but am trying to see how
far I can get with an unlined beige trench.
I also have a two piece camel jogging/athletic
suit for yoga or sleeping in if I want. Nothing
separate for housework.
It took me 3 days to figure out the pieces.
My first try at assembling pieces resulted
in 3 items purged. Realized that, while they
worked, I'd rather wear something else by
choice and that was probably always going
to be true. I love Fran Lebowitz' style and
I tried to achieve that Ralph Lauren/Isaac
Mizrahi curtain call outfit of the jeans, white
shirt, blazer but I don't have much in the way
of jeans and no suitable white shirt at all. So I
scratched all that. I have way too many
jackets/blazers and was surprised I had only
2 black wook and no navy.
Getting dressed has been easy and I don't
think I'll have trouble with that part. I feel
the pressure of having so many clothes
that I can't "justify" having because now
that their season has arrived I've excluded
them and they might sit another year.
I worry most about weather/temperature
and have some anxiety about being too
hot or too cold. Like you, I have a lot of
coats, also trench or cloth coats. I also
have a lot of blazers and jackets. I
deliberately excluded this top layer as
a first step in considering whether to let
them go or most of them. I don't really
have a place to wear them. I also excluded
black. I happen to love black but have
purged several black items as not being
the perfect black.
I have continued to shop but I have not
bought everyday clothes that would have
to sit for a month unworn. I have bought
some necklaces, an unlined suede coat
and a down coat, a handbag.
My worst disappointment/frustration has
been that the khaki pants I chose for the
challenge are really too baggy and loose
for me. They're the only pair I own and
while I can sew, I don't feel like spending
time slimming them.
Remember, no rules- feel fee to swap the baggy khakis for another pair, and on we go!
Although I think if I did a tally at the end, I'd find that I wasn't wearing more than about 15 items anyway. I sort of dress like I'm on a long trip! (Then again, aren't we all?)
We'll see how long I last. I was lusting after grey corduroys today until I realized I would have to dump something and also that they didn't have a french fly, which is essential these days.
A wakeup call: in my selection, only one bottom is washable. What is point of reducing amount if it just makes me trot to cleaners every few days?
Works well with skirts and boots, too. A ridge would show under tights.
Keeping coats to a minimum has never been an issue for me, I'm afraid; I'm 5'2", and finding a well-proportioned coat is very difficult. I've had three black ones for years: a quilted car coat; soft leather pea jacket; and my beloved all-purpose dress coat, a vintage 1950s cashmere Originala swing coat with monkish hood and push-up sleeves that I wear with long skinny gloves--very Kim Novak. Beautiful quality, and so "out" it always looks "in". Found at a church rummage sale for $3.00.
Anonymous: Love that coat selection! My excuse for overflow is my favourite vintage store, Thrill of the Find: Ferre, Jean-Louis Scherrer, agnes b., Anna Maria Baretta. But 90% of time, wear my duffle coat.
materfamilias:
Now that I no longer go to an office daily, am far less concerned about wearing something different. But will definitely welcome getting some of my sweaters back on!
Totally off topic, but I wanted to make sure you saw this article which would be a great topic of discussion. Note how many comments were made on it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/fashion/24Mirror.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage
IMO there is but one criterion for a women who wants to wear shoulder length grey hair: how she looks. And she should consider how *she thinks she looks* and also listen to an experienced, expert hair pro.
Her line "I like being 55 going on 15" creeps me out. There is a tone to the piece of a resentful child- regardless of hair.
I'm a live and let live person who trusts each individual to know whether they are happier with short or long hair.
http://pearlinparis-pearl.blogspot.com/2010/10/express-checkout-challenge.html
My friend who thinks my hair ages me shares the same hairdresser I use. I asked him point blank. WOULD I look better with short hair? He said no. He said my face shape and my features look better with long hair. In fact, he thought my hair should be longer than I wear it.
Perhpaps those saying that to you hear "rules" and think they must be followed.
I would love more discussion of black vs. colors and how to introduce bits of color in a sea of neutrals.
And I agree that good fit is essential.
Can we discuss skirts? The different types, materials, colors, etc. For different body types and occasions. And what sort of shoes to wear with them?
re "neutrals with a bit of colour", I'm not the best advisor, as I don't enjy that effect. (I like colour with colour, for example a turquoise and yellow striped shirt with turquoise jeans- on others. I'm too tall and large for that.)
North American women seem to like to add colour, which can overwhelm a subtle ensemble. With a black outfit, I'll wear a tank watch with an orange croc band, something very minor, but not, say red boots and a red bag. (Again, I can admire it on someone on the street, but it's too bold for me.) 97% of all red clothing gives me the willies.
For a wonderful gallery of neutrals, unmitigated by colour, see Tish Jett's blog, A Femme d'un Certain Age.
You will see a lot of colour on the Advanced Age blog, mostly handled very loudly.
But, please do think about skirts. I was intrigued by the fact that you included TWO black skirts in your 12 pieces for the experiment. Was one of them a straight ponte skirt?
Like you, I am not a petite person. I laughingly call myself an Amazon--but I'm a classic pear--well endowed on the top, but still a pear anyway.
I don't mind the "going on 15" stuff. It doesn't meant doing odd things to try to look young, it is a type of person, L'éternel adolescent. Typical Geminis (I'm a Gemini). Have a friend who is almost 80 and he's like that. Tant mieux.
Hmm Red. I love red very much, but in real life it is more often bordeaux, except perhaps in the summer.