Fashonista?

This was a comment on another post, but I decided it deserved its own space.

I'm in the position of having to replace my entire wardrobe, more or less. I've kept up with my casual wear (jeans and knit tops) and my performance wear (swimsuits, ski pants) and my Minnesota-winter essentials (wool sweaters, hats, wool stockings, long underwear, fleece) but not really my "lookin'-good" clothes.

I'm thinking maybe I should be more forward-thinking about it, make a list of "essentials" and take the time to carefully choose well-made, coordinated pieces, a few at a time as our budget allows.

I think my personal "essentials" list (based on what I had in my closet before I lost the weight) is as follows:

BOTTOMS
- black trousers + slim skirt + fitted jacket = one suit
- charcoal trousers
- flat-front dressy khakis
- jeans (already have)
- long and short floral-print skirts (already have)

TOPS
- black turtleneck
- crewneck sweater + cardigan = one twinset
- white button down
- pinstripe button down (already have)

- black tee shirts (already have)

- new-looking (i.e., cheap and frequently replaced) white tee shirts 
- pretty silk blouse
- "very me" sweater
- sparkly top (already have)

DRESS
- versatile black dress 
- comfy knit dress

ACCESSORIES
- bright scarf (okay, I never had one, but I want one)
- The Leather Coat (same thing there)

I know the suit seems silly for an at-home mom to have, but I had a "good black suit" (bought for interviews and presentations in grad school) before, and I can tell you that the individual pieces of a good black suit are incredibly versatile.  It just makes sense to buy those three pieces as part of a set that works together.  Maybe that'll be the first thing I set out to buy after the after-Christmas sale.

I'd leave shoes out of it, but I could probably use a pair of classic black pumps and a pair of metallic flats.  My Dr. Martens go with practically everything, otherwise.  Oh, and everybody says you should have a "great bag," I guess; someday maybe I'll feel worthy of a real, well-made leather bag, but I'm pretty happy with my assortment of canvas totes plus my one little black purse for dressing up.

Comments

[Christy P]

Check this out from NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94782869

cheaper than Armani, but affordable is relative

[bearing]

Yeah, I have that "gaping" problem with button-down shirts. (Yes, even now.)

Hmm, is $165 too much to pay for a shirt that promises not to gape? Or could I fix that problem myself with needle, thread, and a hook and eye?

Mental note: If I ever do go shopping for expensive button-down shirts, take some safety pins with me (=pilot model) so I can evaluate the feasibility of such a modification before ruining an expensive shirt.