Regretting a tiny wardrobe full of neutrals

[dropitlikeitsloth]

Has anyone else minimised their wardrobe and regretted it? At start of lockdown I went through a phase of chucking stuff out and got rid of almost 2/3 of my wardrobe.

I also watched a lot of YouTubers who have very neutral/capsule wardrobes and got rid of bold colours (I’d convinced myself colour = not classy) and patterned items (except stripes) and treated myself to some good quality basics and classic pieces to fill any gaps.

At first it seemed great. Everything went with everything, finding things to wear was easier but then I realised the trendy neutrals of the moment (beige, browns etc.) just wash me out and having dark hair and very pale skin, I suited all the jewel colours (the emerald green, royal blue, red) that I’d chucked (donated) and … I’m also bored!

Obviously I can bring more colour back into my wardrobe it’s not a big deal but I’m so annoyed with myself. I just swept along with what seemed like a good idea and now massively regret it!!

Such a time consuming and costly mistake! Has anyone else minimised or changed their wardrobe and regretted it.

Oh no!

I have a pretty minimalist wardrobe, but I do not really suit browns and beige colours, so I don't have them in my wardrobe! I have a lot of green, navy, grey and black and a little bit of burgundy.

I don't think you need to have no colour in your wardrobe to be minimalist and classy. You probably just need to stick to a small number of colours. There are tonnes of videos and articles about choosing your colour palette.

Yes, I have been swept up by minimalism and regretted it. Try and see it as a shopping opportunity I use ebay a lot more now, having exhausted my enthusiasm for the expense of buying new clothes.

Not out of choice but I moved house quite a lot in the 80s and 90s and got rid of some clothes I would kill for now. To be fair, I also got rid of some shit but the good stuff.... Oh My. And in terms of quality I can never replace them unless I have the unlikely good fortune to find them in a vintage sale somewhere.

It's left me with a deep seated resistance to culls and capsule wardrobes and to all who advocate for them.

As regards neutrals, I think everyone has to find their own and in your case, it sounds like it should be the jewel colours. But sorry, I have no further practical advice other than yes, I hear you and I'm still annoyed with myself more than 20 years later.

I've seen it referred to as Kondo Regret on here!

I think most people have decluttered a few things they wish they hadn't.

There are tonnes of videos and articles about choosing your colour palette.

I (think) I’m a clear Winter. I think I assumed those sort of nude neutrals would just work for everyone. 😆

I use ebay a lot more now, having exhausted my enthusiasm for the expense of buying new clothes

I’m happy with my purchases, classic boots and coats etc which I don’t think will ever date but I think going forward 2nd hand is the answer, probably getting some funky/retro bits is the best way to jazz up my neutrals.

Not out of choice but I moved house quite a lot in the 80s and 90s and got rid of some clothes I would kill for now.

You’d think I’d have learnt. In the early 2000s I had a fantastic burgundy velvet blazer that was just so me. I charity shopped it a decade later in what could only have been a moment of madness!

Kondo Regret

Sigh - Yeah that sums it up 😂

Argh I have done this in the past. Twice I've got rid of bags and bags of clothes that I've later regretted. I also did it with house items when Marie kondo first came out. I like not having clutter and I like being organised but I've realised I can have organised clutter.

I like clothes and house things. Sometimes they just need to be put in the loft for a bit instead of being donated.

@PeaceInMyLife

Argh I have done this in the past. Twice I've got rid of bags and bags of clothes that I've later regretted. I also did it with house items when Marie kondo first came out. I like not having clutter and I like being organised but I've realised I can have organised clutter.

I like clothes and house things. Sometimes they just need to be put in the loft for a bit instead of being donated.

That’s a great idea, putting clothes into storage and seeing whether you miss them and fall back in love with them again.

I worked with a stylist and she told me to "chuck" a load of things but by chuck she told me to put them aside. Wear my new style for a few weeks and then see what I wanted to keep.

I kept 70% of the stuff I put aside. I love bold colours, bright clothes, pastels, bright pinks, reds, blues, purples. Colours are happy! I still have neutral basics like camel trousers and cream polo necks to balance.

@LadyCampanulaTottington

I worked with a stylist and she told me to "chuck" a load of things but by chuck she told me to put them aside. Wear my new style for a few weeks and then see what I wanted to keep.

I kept 70% of the stuff I put aside. I love bold colours, bright clothes, pastels, bright pinks, reds, blues, purples. Colours are happy! I still have neutral basics like camel trousers and cream polo necks to balance.

You’re right, do you know there may be a positive here, in that I do now own some good quality basics/classic pieces which were sorely missing from my wardrobe. Any colour I add back in will easily go with these new items.

Just a costly way to get to this stage 🤭 I’ll definitely take on board what your stylist said for future. ☺️

Sometimes they just need to be put in the loft for a bit instead of being donated

Agree. I don't do big culls. I have a permanent bag for charity/recycling on the go, and gradually fill it up By the time it gets donated, I have had a good few months to change my mind.

Can you work out what you need to add to the neutrals to suit you better? Concentrating on things that go near your face - a few jewel colour scarves now it's winter, bright/chunky necklaces, a couple of bright jumpers etc? Maybe a new handbag. That might be enough to inject a bit more life into the neutrals and bring some more colours that suit you near your face. I'm a bit jealous of the tiny neutral wardrobe - it just sounds like you need a few extra bits to bring it together.

I nearly fell into that trap but put the clothes into a vac pack and into a spare wardrobe. Slowly pieces have re=emerged!

Usually French style seems to favour neutrals but I noticed lots of jewel colours on Sezane this autumn. I ordered myself a raspberry jumper to cheer myself up when I caught Covid recently. I'd been eyeing it for weeks and couldn't really afford it, but just thought, sod it, it's November and I feel ill, I'm pushing the button. It's coming this evening. Can't wait. Had enough of navy, charcoal and grey.

Oo I love that @oneglassandpuzzled it's so pretty!

I also watched a lot of YouTubers who have very neutral/capsule wardrobes and got rid of bold colours (I’d convinced myself colour = not classy) and patterned items (except stripes) and treated myself to some good quality basics and classic pieces to fill any gaps

Were they French by any chance? There's an entire sub-genre of YT devoted to telling Brits and Americans to ditch their colours and be stylish like the French (which actually means about 4 arondisements of Paris), ignoring the fact that French style is eye-wateringly boring. And I say that as a half-Frog.

Oh god have you been following Emma Hill and her existential crisis?

First of all unfollow all these influencers who make you feel like you have to have a particular vibe. Take a step back and spend some time thinking about what clothes you ENJOY.
It makes sense to have a wardrobe that works well together so it’s easy to pull looks and you’re able to restyle your pieces easily - but that doesn’t mean it all has to be ONE aesthetic.

I like to buy pieces that fit well with my wardrobe like they will work with multiple staples I have but I don’t have any rules on pattern or cut.
If I likes and it’s not a throw away item - ie I can style it up / down / winter / summer then I buy it.

Perhaps think of it as achieving a hard working complimentary wardrobe rather than a rule based one.

oh, an honest thread!

I have done a big clear out too. Out went, amongst other things, two dresses I had for over 10 years. I ahd worn them to death. They were not fashionable anymore, at all (polka dot fit and flare)

Am going out next week and was thinking I'd wear my trusted dress... to remember I'd chucked it.

I scoured e-bay and re-purchased the exact same dress

Some clothes are like old friends, I should not have been so drastic

Also, neutrals are fucking boring.

Bring back my polka dots

I've not done this in terms of culling and having a capsule wardrobe, but I went through a phase of thinking I should buy more "classic" items and neutral colours. I quickly realised that I felt boring in them, and that for me classic items should be things that are worn on my bottom half - a really beautiful leather skirt, good jeans and so on.

Today I am wearing cropped Levi's 501s (classic) with a mustard mohair jumper (not at all classic, but has been in my wardobe for several years and I really do love it).

I scoured e-bay and re-purchased the exact same dress

I have done this several times!

@Judystilldreamsofhorses I've also done that! I felt like I lost my personality wearing classic clothes and had to be sensible.

@PeaceInMyLife

Oo I love that *@oneglassandpuzzled* it's so pretty!

Thank you!

I love my smaller wardrobe. But I hate neutrals so I kept my colour. I didn't declutter anything I wear regularly 'cos that would be madness . Capsule wardrobes are great, but it's got to be designed for you, not somebody else!

Oh god have you been following Emma Hill and her existential crisis?

Yes!!! ☺️ I think I may have had one too. WFH and not bring as exposed to what people are wearing made me lose my way a little style wise and I no longer knew how to dress and what I liked so just ‘adopted a style’ (that sounds so sad! 😊)

Were they French by any chance? There's an entire sub-genre of YT devoted to telling Brits and Americans to ditch their colours and be stylish like the French (which actually means about 4 arondisements of Paris), ignoring the fact that French style is eye-wateringly boring.

No but some other YTers that covet the French style and seem to shop mainly at
Sezanne.

Usually French style seems to favour neutrals but I noticed lots of jewel colours on Sezane this autumn. I ordered myself a raspberry jumper to cheer myself up when I caught Covid recently.

I love that! I think the reason I easily turned my back on colour was that although it suits me I never really knew how to wear it. Red for example, love it, but what do you wear it with, colour and black seems a no no but apart from blue jeans what else would it go with, grey/beige? I’m just so clueless! 🙄

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I didn’t realise Oxfam sold online that’s another place to look 👍🏻