Organizing my clothes

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Originally Posted by catherine

IL, this "outfit" (business--not literally a clothing "outfit") is really great, but I have a feeling not something you would do. I subscribed to them for about 3 months when my wardrobe was pathetic, because I hate shopping. They specialize in clothing for short women, and I was really happy with about 60% of what they sent, and I sent back the rest. I now have nice jeans, one nice business outfit or outfit if we go to a nice restaurant, and a classic blazer. I stopped the subscription when all the gaps in my wardrobe were filled, but if I needed to refresh, I would definitely go back to them.

The clothes are not necessarily that cheap, but you give them your budget and they work with it. My other go-to for online shopping is ThredUp, which is all resale stuff.

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I won’t subscribe to a wardrobe building service because I do enjoy the process of selecting clothes myself. I watch videos and I look at tons of photographs in the colors I’m buying. Just today I signed up for a Thred Up account! I’ve been buying used clothes on eBay for years too. I don’t know which is better, but I’ll try Thred Up for a while.

Our high-end charity clothes shop closed several years ago and that’s the last place I shopped seriously, about 20 years ago, when I was in a mood to buy serious clothes. There is one other fairly high-end consignment store. I’ll check out in St. Louis one of these days.

I'm also in the #2 casual camp. It's pretty much always Vista Camp Pants in black or gray (but you knew that), but with a decent top and matching earrings. The matching earrings are a must!

Today for Clay School it will be an older, worn pair of pants, and a pretty colored t-shirt. Going out with sis tomorrow and it will be a nicer version with a prettier top.

I do have a few pairs of pants that are not Vista Camp Pants for more formal occasions like weddings and funerals. I often wear hoodies as a top layer (but not to weddings or funerals). I wear black sneakers most of the time, but I have a few pairs of nicer shoes and short booties for dressier occasions. I have a great black shoulder bag (Le Sak) that I got from Savers several years ago for less than $3.00. It still looks like new and was probably my best thrift store score ever.

I do my best to limit dressier occasions in my life.

It is relevant to note that my primary interactions with others are at Clay School and working on the Rose Garden restoration, and neither of these are fancy-attire venues. I did corporate attire for years and years, with the suits and the scarves and the jewelry, with nice shoes and handbags. So I've been there, done that, and I'm not interested in doing it anymore.

Pinkytoe: We are the same height and weight. :)

I'm a #2 as well. One thing I did years ago was try to eliminate duplicate clothes, or use things for more than one season... so I use tank tops and leggings year round. As "long johns" in winter and as appropriate in summer.

Also, mostly I dress in solids rather than patterns, because I found a book which said explicitly that pattern styles change much faster than colors go in/out of style.

I haven't tried your limited color palette, that sounds like a great idea!

Rosa, i’ve never had a corporate job, I’ve always worked in library services so dressing there is quite a bit more casual. Scarfs, jewelry, nice shoes—Never did that.

I carry my keys on a lanyard around my neck like a football coach or a first grader,take your pick. So that is part of my “jewelry” and I am upgrading it to beaded lanyards.

Decades ago someone came in to the job site and offered to do the color pallet analysis. It was free, so I figured "what the heck!". Turns out I am "autumn". My clothes are basically black, tan and some autumn-y greens. Trying to put a bit of color into my tops, though.

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Originally Posted by NewGig

I'm a #2 as well. One thing I did years ago was try to eliminate duplicate clothes, or use things for more than one season... so I use tank tops and leggings year round. As "long johns" in winter and as appropriate in summer.

Also, mostly I dress in solids rather than patterns, because I found a book which said explicitly that pattern styles change much faster than colors go in/out of style.

I haven't tried your limited color palette, that sounds like a great idea!

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I agree about patterns. Even though I’m a bag lady , I’ve always avoided them, and also I avoid any shirts that have lace or cutsy embroidery crap or weird cut outs or angles and stuff like that. The only patterns I wear are stripes because they are classic. I never know what other patterns are in style and clothes without really paying close attention. And I don’t want to pay that close of attention

As my body changes, I am wearing more patterns to camouflage. I read someplace that horizontal stripes make a person appear larger and wider. As noted above, I am not necessarily in style but try to minimize flaws where possible.

I'm in the comfort group. My teaching clothes, elementary school were always dresses or skirts and tops. But I retired in 2001 so now I wear pants, shorts, capris, and generally knit tops. Not at all fashionable but presentable. This morning my high school friends were emailing about clothing at least 14 years old still being worn. Pictures came up on memories and we are ALL still wearing some of the clothing in the pictures and who knows how old the clothes were then??? Lots of laughs! I have a hard time getting rid of something that still has good use...Then there are the "yard" clothes -tank tops and raggedy shorts or capris or jeans for the fall. Still too many. I'm round and shorter than I used to be.

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Originally Posted by frugal-one

As my body changes, I am wearing more patterns to camouflage. I read someplace that horizontal stripes make a person appear larger and wider. As noted above, I am not necessarily in style but try to minimize flaws where possible.

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Horizontal stripes are a no-no for anyone who’s not slender, but I don’t care. I like the crispness of that pattern.

Here I am howling like a wolf at Wolf Hollow in my more presentable wear. I've had the blouse since at least 2006, and I guess that's a triumph since it's still white. It is still in very good condition and I like it, so I don't see any need to get rid of it. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't really show my beloved shoulder bag very well. I do take care of my stuff and I'm careful with my laundry, so that's frugal for sure.
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