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- Are you one of those people who cluelessly rummage the closet in order to find something adequate to wear every single morning?
- Or perhaps you're one of those who only wear the fresh and clean clothes directly from the dryer?
- Do you constantly purchase new clothes because you feel like you don't have anything to wear, even though your closet is jam-packed with superfluous items?
- Do you wear the same items over and over again despite the fact that your closet does not lack of clothes (but it lacks of space, apparently)?
- Do you find yourself surrounded by clothes and clothing stores all the time? (If yes, you must have a problem!! haha)
- Would you like to trade all your bad quality clothes and the numerous shopping trips with the designer bag of your dream?
If the answer is yes, then I suggest you to read further. Two years ago, I answered yes to all these questions. Today I could practically answer no to them, but that would be a lie.. I always feel the urge to get rid of even more clothes and only keep the essentials. It's a long way, but I'll get there eventually. It has become an addiction and I prefer the advantages of having less clothes.
Your further reading might contribute towards a better wardrobe, better mornings, better environment, more money, more items you'll love forever, less consumerism and a better and simpler life. The only solutions to solve this major problem (which is, sadly, pretty common amongst humans and fashion bloggers today) are to get rid of almost all the clothes and stop the consumerism aka. do not walk into clothing stores.
- You can either donate your clothes to charity shops, sell the clothes that you consider too pricey for donation, sell the clothes that still have the price tags or just.. get rid of the clothes somehow (but keet the environment in mind). I know, this is kind of hard but it's a process. First, you'll start off with the clothes you know you'll never wear again or have never worn. Then you have to eliminate a lot. Be strict and don't let your emotional attachments to a bunch of fugly clothes prevent you from editing down the amount of clothes. When you finally perceive the very great feeling of getting rid of closet clutter, you'll get rid of even more and more. Sooner or later, you'll go overboard and you'll end up with the essentials only.
- The best way to stop the impulse shopping (that leads to a myriad of items that you regret buying) is as easy as avoiding the shops. Spend your saturdays doing anything else but shopping, or if you're desperate or depressed: binge or bake a cake! Be strict and particular, allow yourself to indulge in only 4-5 pieces a season. Building the wardrobe is not a rush. It's not an random activity like grocery shopping. Think of building the wardrobe as collecting art. You should appreciate all the effort you put in the search for the perfect items.
- When you stop purchasing loads of cheap clothes on sale all the time, you'll see how fat your wallet grows. A dollar here and five dollars there spent on something you'll wear once will result in thousands of dollars. So.. would you rather spend thousands of dollars on cheap clothing that lasts only two trips in the washing machine, or invest in forever-pieces?
- And last but not least, it's definitely not eco-friendly to go shopping every week. Nuff said.
(to be continued...)


that lady is super chic! i really want her blouse hehe :)
ReplyDeletenatalieoffduty.blogspot.com
First off, lady has some fantastic style.
ReplyDeleteI have a problem with clothing but I've already started doing things on this list. I have a few bags of stuff ready to go to a resale shop. :)
I'd like to save some money for well-constructed pieces.
i love this post, it is just what i needed. the thing that really annoys me is when i get something that i think will be perfect and i have wanted for ages, but then when it arrives, it is just wrong or doesn't fit (this usually happens when i buy a sale item online)...
ReplyDeletei hate to see money wasted on stuff i hate
Natalie: Yeah, I wanna look like her when I get old.
ReplyDeleteTastes Eclectic Fashion: That's a good start. Don't you feel relieved?
Anonymous: Thank you. I know your feeling, been there done that several times. I've stopped shopping online because the clothes always end up at the very back of my closet. I rarely check out the sales because I'm so afraid I'll buy something I'll regret on later.. only because it was on sale (this concerns designer stuff too).
Wow, so insightful. Love the blog! And the lady above, so chic.
ReplyDeletei love how i have seen this lady on so many style blogs that i read. i think its a sign of a more sophisticated sort of taste when you can appreciate how people of all ages dress.
ReplyDeletegreat post also
I’ve definitely become a smarter shopper. Often it’s months (even years!!!) before I buy something. As you said, building a wardrobe isn’t a random thing. That’s how people end up with a closet full of nothing to wear. I was that person 4-5 years ago. Now that I have a closet full of Perfection, I’m reluctant to bring in an “Almost.” I go for items that are versatile, practical, or “soul stirrers.” Since I’m selective of what I buy, it’s harder for me to get rid of things. I have friends that tell me that they donate garbage bags full of barely or unworn clothes every year!!! Even on some blogs, I notice that they are continuously buying stuff and then a month later they are selling it. It’s bizarre to me.
ReplyDeleteFinding one’s personal style is a process that develops with time and experience. It’s not an overnight transformation. This golden gal is so chic. Everything suits her perfectly and she carries herself with such dignity.
This is great.
ReplyDeletethis is to confirm that great style is totally ageless.
ReplyDeleteANDWHATELSEISTHERE
SHOP
preach on, sista. i totally concur. only i haven't had the will power to put the plan to action yet. but i believe in the process! almost there.
ReplyDeletexxmerissa
merbri.blogspot.com
Wow, I think you've heard my call. Just a while ago, I would have been someone saying yes to each question. However, I just went ahead and recklessly gave or threw away 20 bags of clothes in the last two months, and more to come. I see a beneficial closet being one that's free of superfluousness and clutter, and I am determined to get there soon. I simply want to have less, and tone down.
ReplyDeleteso true - i love a good wardrobe clearout - uncluttered wardrobe makes mornings so much easier - ck :) x
ReplyDeletethat lady looks amazing!
ReplyDeletei guess i would say yes to 1+4+6.
love the way you write :)
I so agree, I've been cleaning out my closet and there's LOADS of stuff that I really regret buying because of bad quality or the piece not suiting my style or body. I'm thinking to myself, why did I buy that? So now I'm starting a new fashion life where I go by the 4-5 piece rule (with a few exceptions). And I'm really looking forward to building my wardrobe, season by season.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really comprehensive and useful list :-) And you know it is a philosophy I totally agree with. I just cannot see any satisfaction in owning something but not wearing it - it just makes no sense! I know I infuriate people when I go shopping because I try on things that look good to them, but for there is almost always some slight imperfection in my eyes which means it is not worth buying.
ReplyDeleteI long for the day when I have a totally perfect wardrobe, but Rome wasn't built in a day!
Det her tenker jeg på hele tiden!
ReplyDeleteJeg pleier egentlig ikke å dra ut for å shoppe lenger, men så skjer det at jeg ofte kikker i online butikker i stedet.. Uff! (Men da kan jeg hvertfall tenke på det lenge, og vurdere det litt mer..) Men jeg har blitt mye flinkere til å tenke litt mer før jeg kjøper noe nå (selvom jeg mister kontrollen når jeg drar på ferie :/ hehe + det er så vanskelig når jeg er omringet med fine acne klær på jobb).
Kaster klær hele tiden, litt vanskelig.. men utrolig deilig når jeg først gjør det! det er så fint å ha en garderobe foran deg, hvor det bare er plagg du virkelig liker. så mye mer inspirerende..
Og, det er så utrolig deilig å kjøpe et dyrt plagg som man har tenkt på lenge, og som man vet kommer til å bli en favoritt i mange mange år. Mmm :)
bare babler jeg nå.
I love the pic
ReplyDeletethat lady has true style.. i think we all want to be her when we're older. i've got to be honest, i am truly awful- i don't donate my clothes, and i buy alot, always new :/
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteSome other tips:
- make a list of things you need each season. If it's not on your list, don't buy it. This has helped my sister out a lot. When she goes shopping with me, we never start until I see her list. That way, if on our excursion she falls in love with a dress but really needs tops, I'll steer her away.
- to me, one of the most important rules in building a wardrobe is to only buy things that already work with several things in your closet. If you don't follow this rule you'll get stuck in a cycle of buying more things just to match one item. I've passed on a lot of great pieces because I would have to build another wardrobe around that piece, which would be missing the point.
- impulse purchases are the hardest to stop. If you see something online or in store, take a day and sleep on it. More often than not the next day you'll be glad you resisted.
- just as overspending on clothes can become a habit, not spending can become one as well. It's like anything, it's hard at first but eventually it will become natural.
Just my 2 cents, as I have been building a wardrobe for quite some time now!
So true, I love it! Must do a major wardrobe clean out, I've been putting it off for ages. Did you see my post on older models? I reckon I should have featured this lady too, what a queen bee of style!x
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback! You definitely gave me more inspiration to the next post! I love hearing your experiences and view on this subject!
ReplyDeleteDet eneste jeg stusser på her er fokuset på å kvitte seg med saker. Hva med å benytte seg av tipsene, og i tillegg ta ansvar for det man allerede har tatt til seg. Å gi bort til Fretex er ikke synonymt med at det er miljøvennlig. Å gi til loppemarkeder er heller ikke nødvendigvis miljøvennlig. Det beste hadde vært om alle hadde handlet mindre og i tillegg tatt ansvar for det de allerede har tatt til seg. Å dytte det over på noen andre (som i sin tur skal kvitte seg med sin egen overflod?) blir i mine øyne å motsi seg selv. Litt, i det minste. Jeg har både lest og tenkt en del på dette og regnestykket går ikke helt opp.
ReplyDeleteDet som ikke alle vet er at stoooore deler av det folk gir til loppemarkeder går rett i søppla. Det er fordi Fretex ikke har kapasitet til å ta i mot "leftovers". Da kan man stille spørsmålet, er ikke egentlig det å ha loppemarkeder en bjørnetjeneste for samfunnet? Mennesker blir oppfordret til å renske hjemmene sine, kvitte seg med saker, sesong etter sesong. Og hvis du ser på hvor mange loppemarkeder det er i bare Oslo i løpet av våren og sommeren, så sier det seg selv at store, svære, enorme mengder blir kastet.
Så tilbake til ansvar. Det er her nøkkelen ligger. Hvis den generelle holdningen er at det man kjøper er man personlig ansvarlig for å stelle godt med og ta vare på til man blir gammel, så ville det være det beste. Og den kjernen tror jeg du er godt inne på.
Dette er ikke ment som noe kritikk, men mer som en belysning av en negativ side ved fokuset på å kvitte seg med det gamle, for å gjøre rom for den "nye kles- og livsstilen". Jeg tviler ikke på at den type renselse kan være deilig for enkeltstående mennesker, men kollektivt så tror jeg ikke det er svaret. Men hvem vet, kanskje jeg selv blir overbevist? Jeg kjøper i det minste ekstremt mye mindre klær nå enn før, samtidig som at jeg nyter de plaggene jeg allerede har. Det funker det og :)
Takk for at du tok deg tid til å skrive. Jeg skjønner hva du mener, og jeg har tenkt på det selv. Fokuset fra min side har vært mer på dette å frigjøre seg fra objekter og forholde seg til det essensielle. Dessverre glemte jeg samfunnet helt. Nå gikk jo dette innlegget ut på hvordan å på en måte bygge en helt ny garderobe fra scratch, selv om det er dumt å måtte kvitte seg med masse klær. Men kanskje man lærer noe av alle feilkjøpene man har gjort over lengre tid, og slutter å gjøre flere feilkjøp som ender i en søppelsekk i fremtiden. Kanskje det vil veie opp for de negative sidene? Jeg vet ikke.
ReplyDeleteenig med deg
ReplyDeleteerfaringsmessig har jeg jo alltid sett at de klærne jeg fortsatt liker og som faktisk varer, er de med god kvalitet. Kanskje kjipt å bruke 500 kr på tank top, men den har jeg fortsatt etter 3 år, god som ny.
what a great post and I totally agree with you!
ReplyDeleteI always say to myself that I better can save my money so I can buy one expensive, but perfect piece, than to buy a lot of cheap clothes I only wear once.
thanks for the tips :)
kiss,
FINALLY someone talks about the important thing we are facing, overconsumption.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Brilliant post i must say
.M
så innmari fin blogg du har, og så fint at du belyser den tendensen. jeg trodde så lenge at jeg ikke var noen typisk konsumer, men etter å ha fyllt noen sekker med en enorm mengde overflødig tøy, har jeg skjønt bedre.
ReplyDeleteog jeg har blitt så uendelig mett på masseprodusert tøy av lusen kvalitet.
i stedet har jeg oppdaget at det finnes tøy som passer den lille kroppen min i secondhandverden også. heldig for lommeboka og den som ønsker seg originale plagg, pluss win kvalitet.
Lovely sentiment, but grocery shopping shouldn't be "random" either, for a lot of the same reasons--better quality food, easier on the earth, less waste ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are so completely right. I care a lot about the environment, but I also care a lot about how I dress (selfish, I know). Sometimes I'm tied between them, and I feel as if I'm being as eco-friendly as I could on all fronts in my life, except for my clothing.
ReplyDeleteThis is really inspiring to me, and I am definitely going to try and invest in my wardrobe - not just mindlessly spending and buying anything I see. I actually want to thank you for being such an eye-opener!
I ve just come across your blog (been reading your old blog though!), so I`m now commenting on an older post.
ReplyDeleteYour post is very inspiring and I cannot agree with you more! You mentioned exactly the points that I can get annoyed about when it comes to most people`s attitudes: this the-cheaper-the-better and the-more-the-better attitude (aka consumerism). I try to go for better quality yet less stuff, not only concerning clothing. It is not always easy, yet I`m happy to say that I havent bought clothes for a long time and for my new appartement I havent bought anything from ikea! =)
I just came across your blog about twenty minutes ago........gobsmacked. you're fantastic
ReplyDeleteHello Dead Fleurette. I found your blog through a link on the Fashion Spot and and thoroughly enjoying your writing and photos. I have been doing the 4-5 pieces wardrobe building for a few years (though I do it twice per year Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer). Thank you so much for featuring this elegant, strictly dressed mature woman. I am 50 years old so I appreciate seeing photos of women of a certain age. I hope that you don't mind having a middle-aged woman from California in the US. as a reader!
ReplyDeleteLady has got some serious Chanel-esque class. Points to her, and you!
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration! I've been reading your blog for hours and am now ready to do a major clean-out. You're very right. I have a closet overflowing with clothes, yet I only wear about 20% of it. It's time to downsize. I'll probably never get a wardrobe as pared down as yours (just because it's not really my style) but I do look forward very much to letting go of things. It'll be a big relief!
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES YES YES!!!! I am in the process of doing exactly that. No more feeling guilty for wasting money on crap :D.
ReplyDelete