Monday, January 17, 2011

Let's talk clothing.

I don't talk about clothes too much here but lately it's been on my mind. I've been reading Kendi's blog a lot, and especially her posts about a working closet. I've always been a super frugal shopper when it comes to my clothing... shopping at Marshalls and Target, etc. The pieces look great the first 5 times, but then I just feel frumpy. I'm turning 27 this year and I think it's time to start buying QUALITY versus QUANTITY. (but it doesn't mean I'll be breaking the bank). She describes it perfectly here: "I would spend $100 on 5 or 6 things that I never wore and then lust over 1 skirt at J.Crew that I would probably wear all of the time, saying I could never afford that $100 skirt. Well that was true, because I was literally throwing my money away on cheap items that I only bought because they were cheap."

So it's a new year, and I'm going to change the way I think about clothes. Marshalls and Target, I'll miss you, but I'm moving on to bigger and better things.. like J.Crew :) (Although this may mean I can only buy one piece of clothing in a three month span.)

Along with this new mindset, I'm going to focus on purchasing staples for my closet; only which I really really need.

First up is a new pair of boots. I current have a vintage pair I wear all the time but they have given up on me. I've blogged about these before.. I do think they are the perfect pair. Cognac goes with anything, and they are "dressy" enough to wear to client meetings:



There's only one problem - it seems to be sold out everywhere in a size 8.

I've also added these to my wish list:




A great jacket that would go with ANYTHING.


How about you? Do you have any closet staples that you could not LIVE without?

ps- I'm going to be selling some of the pieces here on the blog that don't work. aka - great stuff from college that doesn't fit me anymore haha

21 comments:

  1. I am totally in the same boat as you! Less Target, more J Crew (apparently I am also a poet :) I think Smythe makes the best blazers (Yes, the sister of Tommy:) Sarah Richardson wears them...I think they totally scream "I'm a designer!!" It's a career investment.
    http://www.smythejackets.com/collections
    Love your blog!
    A

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm going to check out her blog...cost per wearing has kind of always been at the back of my mind when it comes to clothing. JCrew always has the best sales, when I see something I like I just watch for it to go on sale!
    Works most of the time, Janell

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brooke @ Blueprint BlissMarch 27, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    I have the boots... but the Inka style (the buckle is on the back instead of the side) and love them. Wear them all of the time with skinny jeans. If I am not wearing skinny jeans... I'm in boot cut jeans with my cowboy boots. So boots and jeans every day for me!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Also, sorry to be so bossy. I would be really careful with J. Crew purchases, as I feel that their quality has slipped drastically. The style of the clothes cannot be beat. Seriously, those have to be best catalogs ever, but their jeans are only wearable a few times before they feel like a pair from Target. I would just choose very carefully. The sweaters, I think, cannot be beat for the price.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have those boots too. They are great BUT in my opinion it's really difficult to tuck jeans in with them. It could be that my skinny jeans aren't skinny enough (always skinny from Gap) but they bunch up every time I put on the boots. My other boots (actually from Target) that I love have a zip slit (not all the way to the top) so I can reach in and fix my jeans which is so much better. Good luck finding your size!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tiffany @ Savor HomeMarch 27, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    This post takes me back a few year ago when I had the exact same epiphany. Quality over quantity wins every time! Its so much better to have a somegreat staple pieces than lots of cheap items that may or may not make it through its first wash! I love the items on your wish list- especially the jacket.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have those boots and I LOVE them. They are super comfy, dressy enough, and really versatile. Hope you can hunt them down!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm going through the same thing. I'm also looking for a go with anything jacket!

    ReplyDelete
  9. One of my favorite blogs is http://thewelldressedlife.blogspot.com/ by Megan. She's a professional wardrobe consultant/stylist and she offers fantastic insight into the fashion world.

    ReplyDelete
  10. my sister has those boots, I have the Inka's. Over xmas we both wore eachother's for a day and both agreed that mine were more comfortable, they seem to have more cushioning in them or something, just a thought if you can't find those in your size. I wear mine almost everyday, I'm sure I will need another pair before too long!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I may follow you on this idea. I am in need of more staples! I do have those Steve Madden boots and although I LOVE them, they scuffed up so easily. There is hardly any of the original color on the foot/toe part of the boot. Which is sad, but I still wear them all the time!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Be careful with J.Crew! I have been an avid J.Crew shopper since I was 12 (I'm 28 now), I mean the only clothes in my closet were J.Crew but over the past 2-3 years their quality has really gone down hill :( and their prices have gotten outrageously expensive. I threw away 4 sweaters this year that I bought last year that had holes in them already and I take really good care of my stuff (dry clean only, etc). That doesn't mean I don't still shop there b/c I do but I'm very hesistant to buy certain things these days because I'm not sure theyll truly last anymore. Their staples are really nice but be careful with trendy pieces.

    ReplyDelete
  13. P.S. J.Crew is having a warehouse sale in Chapel Hill. Jeans are $10 and shoes are $20. I picked up some work essentials and leather boots and spent $150. Worth a drive to Chapel Hill in my opinion. It's at University Mall not too far off of 40. Open 10-8 every day until this weekend.

    http://jcrewaficionada.blogspot.com/2011/01/jcrew-regional-warehouse-sale-in-chapel.html

    ReplyDelete
  14. I, also, read Kendi's blog (love her), and have wanted those boots since the day I saw them. I did not, however, want to pay over a hundred dollars for them. So, I waited for them to go on sale. They didn't. I went to Kohls and found the exact boots under a different brand. They were on sale, and I had a discount, so I only paid around $50. I know this post is about quality, so you might be hesitant to consider Kohls, but honestly, the quality of these boots are great! I have been wearing them non-stop since autumn with no complaints! Try Kohls!

    ReplyDelete
  15. As other people have mentioned, be careful with the quality of J.Crew. It has gone down in the past few years. Also, they seem to be raising their pricing on all items. A pair of 5" chinos in last year's catalog were $39.50 (which is still too expensive since they go on sale for $19.99) - this year, they are listed at $42.50 - and nothing in the material or design changed. If you look for major quality brands at TJMaxx and Marshalls you will find the quality that you are looking for (Michael Kors, Franco Sarto, Elie Tahari, etc.)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've been going through the same transition as I enter my 30s and realize that I need to start dressing more like an adult so I get taken more seriously at work, where I'm the youngest and in a male-dominated industry. I'm kind of obsessed with Ann Taylor Loft right now- their cardigans are always on sale, good quality, and are just the right balance of fun, fresh colors and details and still work- appropriate. Best of luck- I know you've got great taste and a good eye for quality and value!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Bryn, I completely agree with you! I've been trying to focus on quality vs. quantity for the past few years but it takes some getting used to making the pricier purchases when I was used to finding great disposable clothing at Old Navy or Target. I'm still mourning the loss of Martin & Osa for their good clothes for the late 20-early 30s appropriate type clothing...I'm still searching for a new store that fits the bill on that one. By the way - I love that jacket! You are totally right, it would work with anything.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm so glad other are having similar wardrobe breakthroughs!
    I just spent about $200 on a pair of Born riding boots that I have obsessed over for months, and chose over a much friendlier on the wallet pair from Target that would probably last about 6 months.

    As far as staples go, I would suggest a couple really nice cardigans (yes J. Crew has them =). The difference between the fit, feel and look of a well made cardigan is truly incredible. They are really the one thing I could never live without.

    ReplyDelete
  19. HelloloverofbeautifulthingsMarch 27, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    I have those boots - and I love them - yes they were a splurge but I wear them all the time - and just like you said I dress them up and down! I will be 27 this year and last year I made the same change in my wardrobe - I did not buy a ton of new items this year or many trendy items - but I bought an amazing black blazer at J. Crew as well as some pricier jeans - and it is so worth it. The blazer I've worn numerous times and the quality and fit is great - and the jeans I bought - aren't sagging and hanging off my bottom at the end of the day!

    ReplyDelete
  20. saw this blazer and thought of your post... happy shopping!!

    http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi25983&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat630049&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008

    ReplyDelete
  21. Call Steve Madden on King street in Charleston , SC . If they have them , I'll pick them up and send them to you if they won't;)

    ReplyDelete

THANK YOU for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate each and every comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...