2011 - the year of quality classics...

[Meggles76]

DH has returned to work today and I am home alone with vomitting DS and non vomitting DD who I have just found trying to gel the cat's fur in to a mohican [hmmm]

Anyway, I have turned my attentions to a wardrobe clearout, having decided that I want a wardrobe of quality classics - so what should I have in my wardrobe - suggestions please!

[acumenin]

a pair of flattering jeans
a pair of casual linen trousers
a pair of black wool trousers
a silk shell top
a tailored white shirt
some casual henleys
a leather jacket
a good wool coat, princess or pea
a plain unlined linen suit
a knee-length full or panelled skirt
a little black dress
a cashmere jumper
some knee high boots
a pair of black mary janes
a straw hat
a woolly hat

[Meggles76]

I love that list. Currently sorting what I have and what I need to buy.

[acumenin]

Well, that's a new perspective to me, Hark. It's not my experience that white and black are especially difficult colours to wear for many.

[tulpe]

Agree re black and White. Black makes me look like death. White I can get away with if I have plenty of navy or warm colours on my top half too.

I also think in many cases navy and chocolate looks far more classic and more expensive than black.

[RipMacWinkle]

I also agree that after my Colours thingy I've been told that neither black nor white do me any favours. Not sure what the "Spring" equivalent would be?

Navy and cream?

Love that list though.

[CybilScissorhands]

'a plain unlined linen suit'

'casual henley'

when would you wear no 1 and what is number 2?

[wingandprayer]

I can't wear white. Completely drains the colour from me

How old are you OP and do you work? I think that list, while classic, does sound a bit, dare I say it, old

Would swap linen suit for printed day dress if you were under 30 for example. Also if you don't work most of that lot would sit unworn.

[CybilScissorhands]

Yes list sounds ancient

[mippy]

I dislike these 'classic' lists because half of the stuff will not fit or suit me. I haven't worn a button-through shirt since I was 16, because I have huge norks. I own about two items of black clothing and anything linen would get destroyed in about three minutes.

I mean, how often am I going to wear any of the things in this list?

[CybilScissorhands]

mippy I don't know what you are talking about

[RipMacWinkle]

Hmm I see what you are saying but the OP said she wanted a wardrobe of quality classics which I guess is what that list is?

I would imagine the idea is to have that as the basis and then build on that with fashionable and coloured "pieces" (ha, love that word!) and accessories. No?

[CybilScissorhands]

there are some worthy items on that list

Decent boots
decent jeans
nice coat
party dress

I think everything else is pretty much seasonal, and trend dictated

[mippy]

It depends so much on people's lives, though, that it's hard to get a one-size-fits-all list.

I work in a casual office, so for me it's jeans, a bright coloured coat, some cardigans, vests/tanks to layer up with things, brown riding boots, leggings in blue/navy/grey, converse and a mary-jane/similar pair of shoes I can wear with a dress if I want to look smart. Probably V-neck jumpers too. If I worked in a corporate office, my requirements would be pretty different. But then I tend to buy things because I like them rather than thinking about a unified wardrobe, and that might be the mistake.

[RipMacWinkle]

True mippy and cybil

I'm the same as you mippy in that I buy a top I like with no idea what to wear it with so have a wardrobe of mismatched items. A full wardrobe but no outfits.

[CybilScissorhands]

Last summer I decided that navy blue was going to be the mainstay of my wardrobe purchases and by jingo it made life easier. At my fingertips I had tops that went with skirts, cardi's etc and couple of gold/silver sandals that went with everything

Sooo much easier

maybe a colour choise is easier than deciding what actual items to buy

[Meggles76]

I have been pondering the black / navy and cream / white issue... I have all of those colours in my wardrobe

What I am wanting is a wardrobe of good quality things that suit / flatter me and that I wear regularly. Until yesterday (when I had the mother of all clearouts - one bin bag to charity and 20 things listed on ebay), there was stuff in my wardrobe that I had never worn or hadn't worn for months

I have kept the folowing:
3 pairs of jeans, 2 stripe breton tops, 3 plain long sleeve tops, 5 Ts, 3 vests, cream cashmere cardi, long grey wool cardi, black cardi, white cardi, pink cashmere jumper, grey polo neck, black and white jumper, white shirt, white tunic shirt, Black jersey dress, printed jersey dress, 2 pairs black leggings, black city shorts, charcoal wool military coat, black parka, navy gilet, black and white linen trousers, 3 fine wool scarves and a hat.

This clearout has helped me see what I have and what I need to buy - a skirt, a decent pair of trousers, a trench, a LBD and a summer dress

On another positive note, DS has recovered and we are able to leave the house at last

[acumenin]

/me nodding and laughing

Yeah, it's obviously dependent on your body shape. I can't wear ready made dresses, in general, as my waist is always at least five inches below the dress-waist, so I would only have one dress in my capsule wardrobe. I don't work in an office, so I don't need a business suit, and so on.

Answering questions: A plain unlined linen suit can be worn when it is hot-- it's vaguely smart and also can be worn as a light jacket with jeans, or a light pair of trousers with a vest or whatever prints or colours are in that year. I have owned a decent one since I was about 17 (so ten yearsish) and wear it every summer, in its pieces or together for parties etc, which is why I suggested it.

A casual henley is a normally long-sleeved top with a button placket. Like this or this one at uniqlo .I like them because anything with fitted chests/waists/drawstrings/underboob go wrong on me.

RipMac, indeed that was my thought.

[mippy]

I've changed size and want to change style - for years I bought things in the sales that didn't go. Now I'm 28 and don't wna tto live in printed tees and jeans any longer - particularly as I am an hourglass with a 10in difference between my waist and hips, so jeans never fit right.

[acumenin]

Meggles, great list.

I can't bear feeling cluttered (v small house), so I never look for something to buy, I only look to buy something. If I don't know where it will go, what it will go with, and how I will use it, I don't buy.

I suspect this is robotic and strange.

[GordianKnot]

Knee leNg
Hth skirt?

[dexter73]

Full or panelled, GordianKnot?!

[acumenin]

Have I said a wrong thing here? Please do tell me if so, dexter and Gordian. It seems like you are cruelly mocking me, but you may have to be blunter about it for it to really cut.

[traceybath]

Acumen - don't worry - I think its good you put some suggestions out there - its just that the list seemed quite conservative. And you know these S&B girls they're cutting-edge

Personally - I don't really believe in classics - everything dates - yes it does you non-believers. Dig out that coat you wore 10 years ago and I guarantee it'll look just a bit wrong now.

Far better to buy fewer nicer things that you love and just wear them to death.

[traceybath]

Oh and also I sort of hate the lists that magazines do of what every woman needs because its just not true - so much is dependent upon your shape/size/lifestyle.

I mean I don't work so would never require a suit for example.