does your wardrobe reflect your actual lifestyle?

[lolliwillowes]

Been thinking about this. I used to just buy stuff that I liked, fairly randomly, hence nothing paired up well with anything else and tended not to suit the weather or occasion.

These days, I'm almost loathe to spend money at all.
And aim to purchase only what is necessary for my actual lifestyle.

This means I have lots of hiking/walking stuff because this is my fave thing. I also enjoy yoga, mediation, so a few bits of nice loungewear, etc.

I WFH (always have) so tend to wear decent pj's indoors, with cotton tees and so on.

But I am at a loss for everything else. What if I have to attend a wedding, or go out for dinner, or have to have a meeting with clients (rare, but still..)?

I think the 'rule' of only buying what you really need, for each occasion is perfect for me (not for everyone!), so can you think of any other occasions that we might need something for?

I am pretty much clean out of dresses and skirts and have nothing for a formal event. Because I don't do formal often, if at all, I am clueless to what I might need (2 dresses for each season?), a pair of nice flats?

If you are mostly causal, or WFH and don't do formal events much, would you bother having a few bits around for formal 'emergencies' or just buy-at-the-time?

So far, I own:
For outdoors - a puffer, waterproof jacket, hiking leggings, thermals, good boots and trainers.

For WFH - Pj's, yoga pants, linen tees and light sweaters.

For casual - one pair of jeans, smart leggings, few tops and jumpers from white company. One Oxford shirt. Also one pair of Birk sandals, some superga's and some DM Chelsea boots.

For summer/hols - one strappy dress, a light cardigan and some tees.

For special occasions and formal events I have pretty much nothing apart from a lovely Margaret Howell silk scarf, a good bag and a gorgeous long wool coat (no shoes!)

This is like my entire shebang, and it works! But it is a bit lacking...

No! I have a wardrobe full of dresses: fancy, work, summer and heels. I went from being a rural sahm to working in an outdoor construction job for which I wear tough, warm and waterproof clothes. I never wear my lovely dresses or heels. I don't even socialise bar maybe twice a year.

I shopped for the life I wanted rather than the one I have

In my mind I’m married to an extrovert company director with a going out in heels lifestyle.

In reality dh and I are misanthropic in the extreme & we don’t spend all weekend socialising.

My wardrobes are stuffed and mostly reflect my lifestyle. I’m wfh but wear loads and loads of jumpers, jeans and trousers on rotation, same with long sleeve tops and tees and cardigans. I only wear sweats and loungewear/PJs in the evenings.
Then switch all that for dresses in the summer.
Plus about 10 going out tops or dresses, all of which get worn throughout the year at some point.
Doesn’t feel too much but I love choice!

I think your summer selection looks a bit light maybe? Although with the weather we've been having, maybe not! I'd probably have more dresses or shorts to go with the t-shirts. But otherwise fine.

I don't really have any formal stuff either, but so few events are really formal to these days. We have some christenings to go to soon, but no weddings for a while. If we had a wedding to go to, I'd be able to find something either in my wardrobe, or if necessary, I'd buy something.

Re your question, yes, I think my wardrobe suits my lifestyle. I also don't have a corporate workplace, so dress fairly casually most days. I have 2 pairs of jeans, some slightly dressier trousers, a silk blend maxi skirt, some t-shirts, knits, blazers and midi dresses for everyday. Birkenstocks, DM boots, flats and low heels. For going out I have flatform sandals, flatform brogue things.

For summer I have denim shorts and oversize cotton and linen shirts, plus the aforementioned midi dresses.

For nights out I have some shorter dresses.

We don't often go proper hiking, but I have cross trainers when we do and also runners and athleisure kit for sports.

I was having this conversation at work a couple of years ago and became aware that I was the only woman in the group who had everything and that this was because I’m roughly the same dress size I was at 22. So all the weddings etc I have bought dresses for well, I still have those in the wardrobe...so no, my wardrobe looks like I have a much more active social life than I have had in the last decade!

I think I'd keep everything if I had the storage space! But I don't, sadly.

Interesting!

I used to have a ton of stuff, years ago, and found that it made my life more complicated, so pretty much just stopped buying, overnight.
This was great for money, etc, but I really got out of the habit of replacing things, too....
Covid has sort of cemented it

I love midi dresses but don't like the thin, oversized floral stuff that's everywhere right now, it's just not my thing.

I have a few things left over from years ago which are barely used and quite decent, but I never wear them and don't find them comfy - a coach bag, some Cheaney brogues.
I do have a gorgeous old Isabel maranta jacket though, which I love, but the weather is either too warm, or too cold for it!

Also at a point where I can't stand jumpers unless they're cotton.
Im done with the bobbling, stretching and shit quality of cashmere and merino, and im not paying over £300 for the privilege.

Best knit quality ice had os from fat face , which for durability and keeping it's shape, far outlasted White Co, Brora, etc.

I had to empty out the built in wardrobe last week to get at some pipe work at the back. I have so many beautiful dresses for formal dinners and parties. I'd forgotten I even had a lot of them. For everyday wear I rotate the same half dozen pairs of straight jeans and the same half dozen jumpers in the summer and a similar number of floaty tops/shirts in the summer. And since lockdown its not even been jeans, just yoga pants and trackie bottoms. It's true that you wear 5% of your clothes 85 % of the time.

Mixed. It's not a bad match. Perhaps a little heavy on summer clothes because I enjoy choosing those.

I've been WFH for 14 months and in the last few I've started to wear my work wear again. I have it, it fits me and it's nice. Even though I pretty much only leave the house for school runs in the week, I'm enjoying wearing my range of clothes. I text my mum a selfie most days so someone can see my outfit. She indulges me with nice feedback.

I do have some unworn or barely worn dresses and smart tops. I'm intent on getting some wear out of them whenever possible now.

I had a huge clear out when I stopped work. All the jackets, nearly all the heels and posh frocks went. I’ve got loads of evening wear and that’s all going soon.

It’s quite sad to contemplate a life time with virtually no opportunity to dress up now. 😢

I think in your scenario I would have at least one dress which could be worn for formal stuff. Preferably plain so it could be dressed up to look different...I guess this is why the little black dress became popular. But it would take away the stress of finding something to wear if you knew you did already have something you could fall back on. I would buy as I go for stuff though, just because I like buying new dresses

My wardrobe fits my lifestyle. When I stopped working in an office I did get rid of all my office wear. I’d say I have too much of stuff though. Like another poster I haven’t really changed size and I still own a few bits from when I was 18 - I’m now 40.

@Squiz81

I think in your scenario I would have at least one dress which could be worn for formal stuff. Preferably plain so it could be dressed up to look different...I guess this is why the little black dress became popular. But it would take away the stress of finding something to wear if you knew you did already have something you could fall back on. I would buy as I go for stuff though, just because I like buying new dresses

My wardrobe fits my lifestyle. When I stopped working in an office I did get rid of all my office wear. I’d say I have too much of stuff though. Like another poster I haven’t really changed size and I still own a few bits from when I was 18 - I’m now 40.

This sounds about right, I remember reading a thread here years ago about looking 'groomed' (not my thing, but there were some great tips), which suggested those who have it all sewn up are dressed for any occasion. Makes so much sense to me - knowing intrinsically what to slip into if walking through muddy fields as well as rushing out to a formal event, without fuss!

I hate online shopping for clothes though. Many sites don't even present the clothes on a model, and it makes me despair . I wold love to have a mooch around my nearest city again..

99% of my wardrobe works for my daily life. I think it has to as otherwise you have all this stuff taking up space implying you have lots of clothes and choice but actually very few items you reach for regularly.

I have a couple of dresses for very formal occasions which suit any season depending how they are accessorised but find over the years styles change eg an above the knee dress looks a bit dated at the moment. I hear dress rental is becoming more popular, it would be great if this went more mainstream as I’m sure lots of formal wear is bought and worn just once or twice, especially with the stigma of turning up twice in the same thing even though logically there’s nothing wrong with that.

I believe

mine is the opposite to yours I think. I have so many lovely work dresses, a lot of going out dresses, and loads of strappy sundresses. Which given I work from home, hardly go out and the weather is god-awful for most of the year, doesn't really work very well.

I'm trying to buy more jeans and blouses/shirts for wfh in.

Ò

My wardrobe reflects the fact that I am a carer who does a physical job self employed in a very part time basis (but usually 2 hours each day including weekends)).

I own lots of jeans, t shirts, dungarees and tracksuit bottoms/sweats.

I have the same for summer, denim shorts and short dungarees.

Going out wise I have two fifths of sod all but if I ever get invited somewhere, I would buy an outfit as I adore shopping.

I buy most of my clothes second hand or from branded discount places. It makes it more fun for me because I really have to search around and it takes time.

I have lost weight recently so am in the exciting position of having to potentially buy some small sized jeans...I don't care about actually being a size smaller, it is the excuse to shop that excites me!

Mine is mostly suitable for daily life but I could probably open a small occasionwear boutique with all the one-wear dresses I've bought for weddings. I also have a rail of smart holiday clothes that never get an outing over here (or anywhere at the moment ). I was whingeing to my best friend that I need to be invited to a host of summer garden parties to improve the cost per wear factor.

Conversely I have evening wear that is decades old and still gets the odd outing.

Mine is mostly practical for day to day life. But I have an emergency black dress and matching heels for funerals and which can be dressed up for other formal events where I might not have time to shop for. Has come in very useful over the years.

No!

I have tons of occasion-wear, very high heels and corporate office wear, all remnants of my old life (Now a WFH mum to 2 young kids and pregnant with a third)

Once this baby is born, I am daydreaming of getting rid of 90% of it and getting the perfect 'capsule' wardrobe that consists of just a few beautiful high quality items, like white linen shorts and sundresses (I live in a very hot country!) In reality, this is equally incompatible with life with 3 small children!

@PrimeraVez

No!

I have tons of occasion-wear, very high heels and corporate office wear, all remnants of my old life (Now a WFH mum to 2 young kids and pregnant with a third)

Once this baby is born, I am daydreaming of getting rid of 90% of it and getting the perfect 'capsule' wardrobe that consists of just a few beautiful high quality items, like white linen shorts and sundresses (I live in a very hot country!) In reality, this is equally incompatible with life with 3 small children!

I think a lot of 'sun fantasy' clothes in rainy northern UK is a thing here! The shops teeming with strappy dresses and shorts but I'd say we get around two weeks per yer where we can actually wear them.

It's easy to get swept up in the marketing! They know we would love to float around in wispy fabrics without a care in the world, but where I am even the sunniest days often come with a forceful, blustery wind that undresses you like a pervert whenever you venture out.

I eventually caught myself doing this and stopped falling for it - now my money and attention lingers on the waterproof jackets, and whether the hood will stay up on a bad day in June .

I would love to dress for a reliably warm climate, it sounds like such ease...... I love it here, but it can make dressing a bit stressful.

a forceful, blustery wind that undresses you like a pervert

Meant to add, I have more smart items than my life really justifies (mostly bough for weddings, and should have been handed on), but an awful lot of clothes for work (school) and home (garden, dogs, bracing walks).

I used to commute to canary wharf so my wardrobe was full of out of date but really expensive dresses, tights, and nice leather shoes. Now I’m wfh and living in jeans and loungewear (with the occassional maxi dress in the summer). I had a clear out recently but may need to prune my wardrobe even further.