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.

Red for example, love it, but what do you wear it with

It goes well with navy and with all those beigey neutrals that you now own.

Don't get me started on classics or I'll make you listen to the story of the dark blue suit I bought in Hobbs back in the day because I'd hit my 40s and investment dressing and I was worth it and yada yada yada. It was £££ (to me) and I wore it once and felt like Margaret Thatcher. Now I have softened a little towards Mrs Thatcher over the years, but not so much that I want to dress like her.

I did get rid of the skirt - and that's one I don't regret - but I've kept the jacket to remind me never again to fall for anything described as an investment buy.

We are all so gullible

It’s a plot, influencers make us get rid of everything we love

We then need to repurchase it

I’ve thought of doing a big cull several times but never done it. Instead I tend to rummage once a month and pull out the odd item that needs to go or is being replaced. I also have a permanent charity shop bag on the go so can change my mind

The one investment buy I did not regret was a smart short sleeved black dress. Non iron. Formal enough, but not Maggie T . Comfortable too.

It meant I did not have to panic about what to wear to a funeral. It’s good to have a funeral outfit once you get to middle age, sadly…

That was one investment buy I did not regret

@dropitlikeitsloth

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! 🙄

Yes jeans and also a pair of slate-grey trousers. I also have some soft black velvet trousers and I'll wear it with them. I never entirely bought the no colour with black thing.

I have reduced my wardrobe, but its because i have moved into a house half the size of my old house and have no room. Also WFH now so no need for a lot of what i had. I tried everything on and what didn't fit me anymore or what i don't wear anymore (like no need for 5 pairs of navy trousers) i have veered more to neutrals and more good quality clothing that will last more. But its what's suits me and what i know i will wear. I do follow bloggers like Emma Hill etc and love their style but will only do what suits me . Your wardrobe should be something you can easily find clothes for most occasions

Fear of this happening to me is the reason why I'm a clothes hoarder . A middle ground would be the answer!

Just add some colour to your wardrobe. Done a cull recently but I am only buying things I like and better quality clothes.

@WellTidy

Fear of this happening to me is the reason why I'm a clothes hoarder . A middle ground would be the answer!

My middle ground is to only buy things I absolutely love and cannot live without. I don’t worry if things ‘go’ because generally they just do. Occasionally I have an outlier but sooner or later I discover it works with something I’ve already got. As an example I fell in love with a chartreuse cardi, eventually I bought it with no idea what to pair it with. Realised after a couple of weeks that it looked lovely with a tshirt I’d had for years but only wore in the summer bc I didn’t have anything to put over the top in winter! I don’t have a minimalist wardrobe, I have a serendipitous one

Thanks so much for this thread. I'll be back in a bit, just placemarking

This may seem boring, but I only wear plain navy blue trousers. Either jeggings, linen trousers or jeans. Then patterned t shirts or tops. All my jumpers and cardigans are also plain.

Everything now goes with everything else!

Buy a couple of scarves and tops in bright colours to tide you over until you build up your wardrobe again.

On this topic, can anyone recommend any good colour palette/“which season are you” videos on YouTube?

I think my colouring has changed as I’ve got older, and my hair has changed too; I’d like to look again at my (quite small) wardrobe!

I think i’d get a few bright scarfs, cardigans maybe bold jewlery to liven up the outfits.
I think a neutral base is great as you can get dressed quickly and then brighted things up with accesories.
There’s lots of stuff on ebay, oxfam and other charity shops online.
I dont think you’ve made a mistake, you might just need time to get use to the new wardrobe. X

I have a tiny wardrobe-absolutely minimalist- because I live in a tiny flat and wfh. But I will never get rid of my colourful tops. Beige,brown, khaki pastels just wash me out because I have dark hair and olive skin.They also make me feel depressed and like I am in in the gulag. I need to wear fuchsia, purple, emerald, cobalt blue to feel human.

Diana Vreeland and " Pink is the enemy of chic" can do one!

I did that years ago, regretted after some time. Come to realise that better than donating, keep them away in storage and rotate.

@Tummelthecat

This may seem boring, but I only wear plain navy blue trousers. Either jeggings, linen trousers or jeans. Then patterned t shirts or tops. All my jumpers and cardigans are also plain. Everything now goes with everything else!

I think with blue trousers you have lots of options and because blue the colour of jeans, I feel blue does go with everything 👍🏻

I am so tempted to go the other way now and end up becoming Idris Apfel (who I love!)

@MarleneDietrichsSmile

We are all so gullible

It’s a plot, influencers make us get rid of everything we love

We then need to repurchase it

Actually I think you're onto something. Decluttering and Kondo-ing is encouraged so we can free up space that we then fill with new stuff, because we threw out too much stuff or suffer from horror vacui instead of enjoying the minimalist result. The binge and purge cycle is good for business.

I’ve lived in various shades of grey and navy for years. Sometimes went wild with a bit of black .
Well I’ve had enough. Today I’m wearing a coral boyfriend cardigan with a candy pink t shirt and khaki joggers I feel so daring.
I’m 53. Maybe that’s got something to do with it.

@MareofBeasttown Diana Vreeland loved a bit of pink!

I love Vreeland's 'pink is the navy blue of India' quote.

[quote Flyonawalk]@MareofBeasttown Diana Vreeland loved a bit of pink![/quote]
I may well have got it wrong :) Given she also said the above quote. Was it some other ferociously chic person then?

Anyway, wear pink!

@dropitlikeitsloth

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 😂

RE the blazer - I have a really nice burgundy velvet blazer from St Michael and I see them pop up on eBay from time to time (mine's a little snog so I keep a look out for the next size up).

I second the recommendation to shop for used if you have nice basics covered - hopefully you can add some colourful and/or frivolous bits reasonably cheaply!