Wardrobe value, Part One: 2012 Report Card
In January, I assess the stars and clunkers of the past year's wardrobe purchases. 2012 was unusual: First, I lost several treasured pieces of jewelry that I replaced. Second, I dropped two sizes, so there were tailor's bills and a few replacement pairs of pants that I normally wouldn't have to buy.
Maybe I'll earn an A if only because most of my 2012 budget was spent on "A"s: Alterations and Accessories.
Here's an atypical purchase: a jersey Doris Streich dress in a bold pattern, bought for a summer party. Such a departure for me!
Supremely comfortable, it was worn several times and I hope will be useful for upcoming occasions and hot-weather travel, if its needed alteration is successful. Still, it is "that dress" and proves the shorter shelf-life of pattern or print.
The citron green "Emma" dress (by Muriel Dombret) was worn far more, quickly earning its price.
Above, two accessory purchases: a pair of sand Arche sandals (washable nubuck!) and a leaf-green Groom bag, a replacement for a worn-out one. The costliest single item was the reno of my fur coat.
After four years of diligent tracking, I could stop record-keeping, but will continue. Without that accounting, impulse-spending and excessive stockpiling creep in.
Do you record your purchases? What has returned exceptional value and what was merely "a good idea at the time"?
Next Tuesday, Part Two: The Three Questions I ask before buying.
Maybe I'll earn an A if only because most of my 2012 budget was spent on "A"s: Alterations and Accessories.
Here's an atypical purchase: a jersey Doris Streich dress in a bold pattern, bought for a summer party. Such a departure for me!
Supremely comfortable, it was worn several times and I hope will be useful for upcoming occasions and hot-weather travel, if its needed alteration is successful. Still, it is "that dress" and proves the shorter shelf-life of pattern or print.
The citron green "Emma" dress (by Muriel Dombret) was worn far more, quickly earning its price.
Above, two accessory purchases: a pair of sand Arche sandals (washable nubuck!) and a leaf-green Groom bag, a replacement for a worn-out one. The costliest single item was the reno of my fur coat.
Do you record your purchases? What has returned exceptional value and what was merely "a good idea at the time"?
Next Tuesday, Part Two: The Three Questions I ask before buying.
Comments
I did not purchase as much clothing in the last year as in the last few years. There is a sweater tunic (black and white) that I have yet to wear--so that one is shaping up to be a mistake. I bought it with the idea that I could wear it on winter days when it is not cold enough for a coat. The problem is that we have had days that are too warm to wear it at all and days that are too cool to wear it alone as planned. I am going to Make myself wear it today and see how it goes.
I did buy two new coats this fall. This is unusual because of our warm climate. I didn't want to get caught needing a coat for travel and having to settle for a quick last minute purchase. I'm pleased with the two coats (have worn them!) and bought them with an eye toward years of use.
I would love to drop two sizes. I'm trying to get motivated to make that happen.
Duchesse, I like the print dress and predict you will continue to have fun wearing it if the alterations work out.
LPC: I know what that's like.- and it's fun after a dry period to fulfill some longing. Mostly retired, I'm now on the other side of the field, with both far less need and less discretionary income.
Susan: If interested in evaluating retirement needs, clothing expenditures are important to track as are *all* personal expenses (hair, gym, drycleaning, gifts) and donations... in fact, all expenses. We were quite surprised when we did this. We spent way more in some areas than we thought and less in others.
I can see how a knit tunic would be less useful b/c if day turns warm you can't take it off like a long cardi.
I congratulate you.
I am quite smitten with that citron shade and I can imagine with your hair colouring and skin tone it would suit you to a T.
hostess: Thank you. Funny, that yelloed-green colour used to be hard to find but is now if not everywhere, on the radar.
sisty: I don't calculate cost per wear but have some idea if I wore it a little or often. I note rsp and sale price, if different.
Some things, even if I wore them a lot, would not seem worth it. $250 jeans come to mind. I can find ones I like just as much for far less. I do count all items, and mark which are replacements.
The dresses your bought at Muriel Dombret (there was another, wasn't there?) were really lovely. I still anticipate a trip to Ottawa, so I may still get there yet.
I eagerly await your next post on the topic of wardrobing. I want to know the questions that you ask before buying.
Yes, the other Muriel D. dress is such a dark navy it looks black and does not photograph well, but it's quietly beautiful. Do hope you can get there. If possible, meet Muriel, she's wonderful- though a bit shy about her talents.
Susan: Jersey (in my case, black) is the foolproof travel wardrobe- I also use it everyday. Glad you have found your magic pieces!
Envelope for clothes receipts each year. After year end, I add them up. If the number seems huge, I tell myself to "watch it!" If the number seems acceptable for my budget, I tell myself, "good work" ..
It's always an eye-opener!
BTW Eric Bompard have their cashmere round-neck on sale @ -30%. Navy, of course and many other colours.
materfamilias: The Paris store is but a skip from the area you've been staying in- 13 rue du Cherche-midi, the shoe-shopping heaven street. It's always on my list.
Very impressed by your critical eye--turned on aesthetics and value.
Sorry for this lengthy post, but it really has been revolutionary for me and I look so much better.
Kristien62: Thanks for the elaboration. The prevalent American way (I grew up there) was to add more and more to one's closet- and it does not serve as well as your approach! Oooh I would love to see your Irish clothes.
My purchases this year will be on the conservative side. I have a few voids as far as basics are concerned -- some casual tshirts and chinos. I work from home now, so my wardrobe is largely casual though not "schleppy" just because I'm seen by few!
Anon@1:13: It's so hard to gauge someone else's foot and offer useful advice! I wear B width, which is sometimes on the wideish side, don't have an especially narrow heel. They are very comfortable and offer a bit more cover than a strappy sandal, making them good for walking and especially travel.
No new bags this year, one new pair of Danskos. Good on my plantar fascia problem, but the dark red is not as versatile as I'd thought (I wear it with jeans and feel like a small child).
I like Cut Loose tees and have admired other pieces. You can find vendors on line, one is Birdielou.com.
What a great idea to track and analyze clothing purchases for a year. I know I spent more than I needed this year but hadn't thought of looking back to see which items were worthwhile (vintage black coat, J.Crew pencil skirts for work) and which were clunkers (unlined wool pants, ballet flats that never fit.)
And I'm off to download MyFitnessPal right now!
I threw out the old, soiled, misshapen, not fitting, items or the ones which were mistakes and could not be altered. Some I altered to make them wearable.
Then I made a complete list (audit) of my clothes, - the numbers of items (eg 9 pair black trousers, 30 T shirts etc). Then I put half the clothes away and wore the other half endlessly until some of them qualified to be thrown out or made into gardening clothes.
I promised myself I would buy NO new clothes for 12 months.
I survived until August, then I went overseas and fell off the wagon.
I bought a few items which did not duplicate an existing item (no more black pants or T shirts). And I bought a few pieces which were either something I always wanted (full length suede coat) or something which I just fell in love with (tote bag in Spain).
So, at the end of the year I had reduced the size of my wardrobe (about 25% in some clothing categories, 5% in others). This certainly makes getting dressed a much easier decision process. But I did not reduce the amount of money I spent - which was oK becuase it was not the point of the exercise.
I am greatly encouraged however and enjoy having few things. So I am going to do it all again this year. I have conducted another audit and set up another expense sheet. This year I want to reduce the number of items by 20%. I told a girlfriend about the project and she audited her wardrobe and found 57 pairs of trousers and 80 shoes. Now really people.. when is enough enough? and when is it just plain too much or obscene? Judith
Thank you for your downsizing testimonial, it inspires me to keep from closet creep I'm sure it will inspire others- as well as your girlfriends.
Often ballet flats look very ugly on my feet, which are wide in front and always have been, even when I was slender. I love them, but have been happier with pretty Chinese slippers, a bit more closed, as a flat for not-too-dressy nor too sloppy meet-ups. There are also more serious shoes along those lines. Very nice ballerina-like flats but a little more closed. Thought "Henderson" but that wasn't the line.
Now that I have the written audit (in black ink) I get a great deal of pleasure in crossing items off the list IN RED INK when they are discarded. So at year end I will have a very graphic depiction of the state of the wardrobe.
I suspect that I have a 5 year project ahead of me before I have a lean, mean, totally wearable and totally loved wardrobe.
But for this year at least, even if I no longer really love or even like an item I will wear it(eg to do the grocery shopping). I am not simply throwing things away as I believe that I need to get at least some wear out of the 'mistakes'.
Do you know the Blog called the Vivienne files? www.theviviennefiles.blogspot.com.au/ She argues that you really only need 30 items and she plays around with mixing and matching. She rails against people buying on impulse or without thought. That by doing so you allow yourself to be manipulated by the stores, the advertisers and the catalogues which pop up in your mailbox. The argument is all about taking control and being in charge. Not spending money just because someone else talks you into doing so. Control! Not victimhood!
Best wishes, Judith
Lane: I'm a Filofax woman, too... are we natural-born recorders? But I also have a friend who doesn't write down spending but can tell you within three dollars how much she has spent for a given period and can recall the price of anything she's bought over last 20 years!
Judith: I deeply enjoy Janice's blog, especially her forthright wake-up call to overbuying.
Another thing I enjoy is her regular use of Hermès scarves in her wardrobe capsules; they always look fresh and current. (Have many, and since rarely appear in full business drag anymore, am always thinking about how else to wear them.)
And you, with your black and red ink: you •are• on a mission! I applaud you for jumping off the reflexive consumption bandwagon while still enjoying the pleasure of a well-made item.
One of the comments in "Simple Isn't Easy' that's stuck with me is, "No matter what you paid for it (or what a bargain it was), if it's no longer in good condition or not right, let it go."
I didn't buy much last year. I did buy quite a few things the previous year but didn't end up liking/keeping most of them. My style was evolving so fast that the rate of mistakes was getting depressing. I took a break.
I noted a reference to "Simple Isn't Easy" by Amy Fine Collins and the late Olivia Goldsmith in one of your previous posts (which isn't there now) and just wanted to say how much I love that book. Great advice.