Soooo, the 'what do you splurge on for you' thread got me to thinking. In that thread I said I splurge on makeup for me (not expensive makeup-just too much makeup) and that we all splurge on good quality shoes in my family. I also noted how I had a closet FULL of clothes, though many items I didn't wear because I had no coordinating piece to go with them...I thought to myself how wasteful t hat was, to buy a $0.50 top if I had no pants ro skirt to wear with it, or to buy a $0.75 skirt that sat in my closet unused because I had no top to match. And my closet was a MESS from trying on clothes all the time to find they didn't fit good, had a rip or stain or didn't match like I thought they would... So I go to looking into a minimalist wardrobe. I found a site I really love (and I'm no fashionista, now) who posts variations and accessories for what she calls a common wardrobe. Basic, timeless pieces to layer that will all match each other and everything else you own. I've wanted to do a minimalist wardrobe for a while, but thought "I can't do that because my clothes budget is...wait, what's a clothes budget???" You can find all of her common wardrobe ideas here (don't click links, who buys a $900 cardigan?!?!?! Really?) But you can get ideas and search your thrift stores... I love her pinterest boards! So, it took me all week but I cleaned out my closet and ruthlessly tossed items I didn't have a match for, hated, hadn't worn (some still had tags!), or just weren't the style I was going for. And you know what, I was pleasantly surprised that I owned many more basics than I thought! I also pared my colors down, and, once I get tax money, I may rethink my 'colors' and pare them down even more. But for now I threw out everything that wasn't pink, wine&red and shades of purple. But I'd love to own more blue/turquoise/teal stuff, so Friday I went by the thrift store with my new goal in mind and scored a nice lightweight turquoise blazer for $3!! And I splurged on a comfy pair of nice shoes that match just about everything in my closet now! So my goals are: 1. to only add pieces I LOVE, even if it's less pieces overall in my closet and I buy less often. 2. to get my wardrobe to a true minimalist state. It means giving more away, but I'm proud that gave away over 1/2 my clothes last week! So what's in your wardrobe?
Neat idea! (well, except for the COSTS….oh goodness, how do people afford to dress???) I have a pretty minimal wardrobe. Well…let me rephrase that. I only wear certain things in my closet! LOL I did just go through it and gave away a ton of stuff I haven't worn in YEARS. I do need to lose a lot of weight, so I'm waiting to redo my wardrobe when I'm smaller. I'm not your typical woman. I have 4 pairs of shoes. 1 pair sneakers, one pair dress shoes, 1 pair flip flop/sandals, 1 pair slippers. My husband has more shoes than I do! HA HA HA!
I have one pair of tennies, one pair of "dress" shoes, and one pair of slippers. Most of the time I wear a plain (colored) t-shirt, with polyester pants. I have 4 pairs: two black, one khaki, one navy. I have I think only one nice polyester blouse. I had a couple cotton button up shirts, but they're worn out. That's it. If I dig hard, I might come up with one or two more polyester shirts. I do have some few things that I've "outgrown" that are waiting for me to lose some weight.
I love the minimalist timeless wardrobe idea. Most of my clothes come from the thrift store and too many times, I hate the way they fit. I'm pretty much a jeans and t-shirt girl --because that's what I can afford. I'd love to have a few really nice pieces. I usually wear flip flops in the summer and tennis shoes in the winter (passed down from dd15). Last spring I splurged on a pair of Bob's (knock-off Toms) and I LOVE them!
I like the minimalist idea. I have a ton of clothes but I probably wear 1% of what I have. I shop .50 Sundays at Goodwill and like Josie, I will buy a shirt, a skirt or pair of pants but get home and have nothing that matches. I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt. I will spend money on shoes. I have a pair of Orthaheel sandals that were $$ but I need them because I am flat footed and have fasciitis (sp?). I have a pair of sneakers, a pair of Lands End loafers and dress shoes. Honestly, I couldn't care less about fashion. I do not get excited over shoes or clothing. I think I'm missing the girl gene.
I spend money on shoes, I can't have my feet hurting. But, I also sew. For clothing. On the sewing message boards there is wardrobe challenges-sewing 3 or 6 articles of clothing to make x amount of outfits. Any way, going through pictures of peoples entries in these contest helped me go through my own wardrobe. Personally I wanted two color schemes. Most the contest is with one color scheme. You have to pick a main color, and then two accessory colors, and then like 3 or 4 accentuating colors for theme. When you know your palette and what you want to add to this wardrobe, when you shop you can find it much easier. I mainly buy thrift clothing when I buy clothing too...but that's not a excuse to not dress nicely. Or even not to have nice shoes. A few weeks ago, I bought naturalizer shoes (high end shoes), Jones of NY (Dillard's/Macy's brand) leather purse, and a nice brand new sweater from Talbots (tags still on it!) for 4.00 for all of it, at the thrift. I look for things that I know I like the cut of (you have to try on a lot of clothes to find the right cuts for your body), and that I know I want to go with my wardrobe color pallettes. (I have two, one if the base color of brown-it's accent colors are a fushia pink and a coral orange-I can work off those base colors for a lot and the other base color of black-red, purple and charcoal being it's main accent colors that I go off) I do not go into a thrift expecting to get a WHOLE wardrobe that day. I go in and look around, and put maybe 60-100 items in my cart (no kidding here). I usually only leave buying 1 to 3 items, last week I ended up with like 10....so unusual for me in one go through! I actually spent more then I have in forever 20 dollars, I bought a wool winter coat (very very nice one! Again a Dillard's brand), a nice cardi (also dillard's), a pair of dress slacks from Talbots, a pair of jeans, and 3 pairs of eddie bauer cords.... a nice shell (again like dillard's), a skirt, and a sweater. That is rediculously unusual for me to find that many things that are nice, and fit AND look good on me. I am extremely careful in the changing room and take my time looking to make sure it is a good fit, it's cut right for my figure, etc etc.... even if it's 50 cents if it makes you feel like crap when you wear it, it's not a bargain. Right now thrifts are FULL of clothing, so there's no reason to settle. Usually like I said I go in a changing room with no less then 20 pieces of clothing (usually much much more) and only come out with maybe 1 thing that I think is worth it-fits all my expectations of my wardrobe. So you don't have to have a ton of money to dress nicely. What you do have to do though is lower your expectations of how many things you actually may go home with. But, that would be true of expensive stores too, very very few things I would go home at a retail store either....because of my qualifications of what I buy. But, the best thing I have learned, is go to a NICE store, one that you think has the type of clothing you would like in your wardrobe. Take everything into the changing room that you even remotely think you would like....(I have to say somethings that didn't thrill me on the hanger are my favorite pieces on, because of their cut! They are cut perfectly for my body!) and find what cuts work best for your shape...when you know this, then when you thrift it will be easier to spot what you are looking for. It's harder to start from thrift cause of your much more limited clothing options, but if you go to a nice retail store it's free to try clothing on! lol And try on and try on and try on and then make notes of what you are looking for. I am a reformed jeans and tee shirt wearer. But, I got tired of it and wanted to have a more polished look, it's helped me feel much better when I am out. But, I learned along the way that going to the retail store and just trying every thing on weather I could afford it or not, helped me learn what I actually like on my body and then when I am thrifting it narrows down what I am looking for. And then you get real bargains, you don't waste money (even if it's only 50 cents) on clothing that makes you feel like crud when you wear it, and actually save money cause you are picky and only spend money on things you really really like, even if they are just thirft.
Well, I don't feel cruddy when I wear jeans and a t-shirt, I feel comfortable. My jeans are clean, free of holes and fit. Same as my t-shirts, clean, not faded and free of holes. I know some women wouldn't be caught dead out in public not looking their best, but that has never been a big concern for me. My days consist of cleaning the house, taking care of my elderly MIL, homeschooling and tending to the chickens. They don't really care what I'm wearing lol.. When I go out I might throw on a nicer shirt but I'm still in my jeans or capris. I just don't get the need to dress up to go to karate or zoo class. I think living in a very rural area makes a big difference, no one dresses up except for Church.
I totally get what you are saying. Basically the same here, except insert my mom and neice/nephew where your MIL is. lol haha I personally never felt cruddy in jeans and t (what I meant about cruddy is, you can still find nice clothes, don't have to be out of date or not fit right etc just cause it's thrift), I felt ok in jeans and t shirts, but I did feel cruddy sometimes in clothing I would wear cause it was cheap and I could get it on my body. lol But, I still wear jeans sometimes, but not many tee's any more. I found that after a while, I just wanted a more polished look, while I don't feel cruddy in jeans and t, I just feel better in more polished clothing. However, it's not about other people...not even my dh cares...I've asked him (this transformation only came with in the last few years). But, I personally like the way I look when I pass a mirror or window and see myself...in the more polished wardrobe, even when I am going to the zoo. And while DH says he doesnt really care and I wore tees and jeans when we married, and he married me like that...I must say the difference in me taking a little extra time I can tell he does in his actions...he wouldn't of left me not saying that, but there is a difference in his actions some days. And since I got it at thrift not that I dont' take care of it, but if it gets goats poo on it at the zoo, or vomit from my mom, and even if I have to throw it away I would of the tee too that would of cost the same at thrift...great thing about thrift, the tabolts pair of slacks was the same price as the sweats! lol haha
oh and I live rural too, most around here are in less then jeans and a tee....what eer flies around here...lol haha I love my friends no matter what they are wearing...heck my mom only wears a nightgown and won't wear anything else, I did finally get her to start wearing a night gown with sleeves since she won't wear a bra, I told her it was getting a little embarrassing since she insist on wearing her clothing extra big a sleeveless night gown with no bra, and her boobs (gigantic) hanging out the arm holes for all the world to see was kind of embarrassing. lol so now they at least have a little sleeve....lol hahaha And yes still love her and still go out in public with her! lol haha It's all about me, and nothing about others, when I pick what I wear....I feel better when I know my clothing accentuates my good parts and down plays the flaws (lots of flaws!). lol
The best thrift store here has no dressing rooms! I hate that, because although exchanges are allowed, returns are not. I may not find something else if I need to exchange.
It is very freeing to have a simple, basic, small wardrobe. I did something similar here 1-1/2 years ago or so... First of all, I got rid of or packed away anything that didn't fit, then I limited my items to specific colors, and got rid of anything that I didn't really like or feel comfortable wearing. My basic bottoms are jeans and black pants. Most of my tops are black or dark colored long sleeve, turtle neck, or basic t-shirts. I chose dark colors because I am a stain magnet, and I already wash dark colors every day because of my husband's uniforms and such. Now I always have clean clothes that fit, and are as stain free as possible. I don't have to waste time looking for an outfit. If I want to dress it up, I can throw on either my black or gray cardigan. I used to buy almost all of my stuff used, but found out that I'd end up with a bunch of stuff that didn't fit or didn't match anything else I owned. It seemed like such a waste of time. Now that I go simple, I watch the sales at Kohl's and buy my basic pieces at decent prices. Seeing as I really don't "need" very much, I think I actually spend less this way. As for shoes, I have to buy expensive tennis shoes, like Sketchers Shape-ups for my back. I'm sure I look ridiculous wearing them with everything, but I don't care because they help my back. I haven't been to the chiropractor since I started wearing them, so they have saved me TONS of money.
I too am a t-shirt and jeans with tennis shoes person. I do love wearing jeans and sweaters with brown shoes during the winter. I lean towards navy and grey shirts. My mother-in-law and hubby got me hooked on Life is Good shirts. I consider that my personal splurge. I hate buying stuff for me, so it usually takes dh placing an order or encouraging me to place an order before I will buy new shirts. But, I find that it really helps add color to my wardrobe (pink, teal, etc.) Plus, I feel that it makes us feel a little better putting on a shirt with a fun uplifting message. You may not think about it the rest of the day, but when you put it on, you are reminded that life truly is good. I am also the type that when I find what I like, I will buy multiples of the exact same, or with a slight variation and then wear them until they are worn out. Again, it usually takes dh encouraging me to buy new tennis shoes when mine are completely worn out.
I'm having a hard time letting go of shoes! ha but honestly, all spring/summer I'm in a pair of crocs flip flops if I'm not barefoot. I do have & wear tennis shoes and cowboy boots but I'd rather be barefoot if at all possible and I prefer slide on shoes so I can slide them off easily when I sit down. LOL Our best thrift store (30 minutes away but right beside our Aldi that I shop almost weekly) has a fitting room but they no longer allow people to use them! And most of our local thrift stores don't even have a fitting room. I do live right near an outlet mall, so I'm thinking for my basic basics I'll probably go for brand name there... then but my colors and accessories at the thrift store. I can try on button ups and jackets without a fitting room...but shirts, not so much. Though I have considered wear a thin, tight fitting tank and trying on clothes in the store without a fitting room...ha
Josie, we have a thrift store that doesn't have fitting rooms here. On senior citizen day you can find ladies in bathing suits trying on clothing in the aisles. They found a way around no fitting rooms lol.
yup I would be the old lady in the bathing suit! How insane that they don't have a dressing room....ARG! Like how much would some one steal from a thrift for that to be worth it any way? As for shoes, I only wear sneakers if I am working out or going some where muddy or what not. I have very bad feet, in fact my dr never thought I would be able to wear shoes again after I broke and dislocated some bones so bad, not to mention I've had two back surgeries and one messed up royally! For nicer good shoes, I like Dansko (it's a nursing shoe too-and there's some other that have lately came out that I heard are as good, but I love my danskos), and SAS about the best. But, there's a few other good high end shoes that don't hurt either.
I am not much for fashion. I do know that it is possible for me to look good in what I wear, but I have to be careful to buy what looks good and not what is in my comfort zone. I tend to get lazy and pick up 3 of the same shirt is different colors and two pairs of jeans and call that a wardrobe. LOL I do shop at a certain thrift store when I am visiting another state where I have friends and family. I usually find a few shirts there which I need because I am hard on shirts and blouses as I forget to change before starting to work on something and get stains. I have this past few years gotten better about this and have a stack of work clothes on the bottom of my closet that I wear around the house for projects and yard work etc. This has helped. I also need to get everything together and do a try on and inspection of each peace in the collection and pass along what I don't need anymore, what does not quite fit etc as Josie was describing. As to colors, I tend to have only solid pants in just a few colors. blue jeans, the original blue color, navy chino type pants, beige or kahki, black and white. This makes it easy for me. I can usually put any blouse with one or more pairs of pants. Every time I have bought a pair of pants outside of the above few, I end up with a color that does not match any shirt. I have reasonable luck with thrift store shirts and blouses, but never even try with the pants. I am harder on shirts and this works out. My problem is getting rid of them when they are too worn to wear in public any more. I end up with too many and need to cull them. Socks are an issue for me. I am having a harder and harder time finding socks I like. I like the thinner cotton type socks, but they have different tops these days and I cannot stand elastic.
I'm a minimalist. I wear "mom jeans" & tennis shoes year-round (never shorts or flip-flops). I have only 2 shirts with interesting designs. Everything else is a solid color (or 90% solid with perhaps tiny lines). I have tee's (freebies from dh's work conferences), long sleeve tee's (5-6 solid colors), polo shirts (for work... 5-6 solid colors), and dress shirts (3-4 solid colors for church). I have 4 plain skirts for church (ankle black/purple, and knee black/khaki), and one skirt with flowers. Same with shoes... I have 5 pairs... tennis shoes, black & brown church sandals, and black and brown boots. Our master closet is appx 200 sq ft. I'm not joking when I say about 30 sqft is mine... including storage (like my wedding dress or the kids' baby blankets). My husband has a TON of clothes!
