been doing a lot of reading on minimalism, especially around clothing and wardrobes. fashion. and style. while i understand the appeal of having fewer possessions, fewer things to care for, fewer things to clean, and move to new homes, and worry about... i find myself confused by some people who seem focused on getting rid of so many things they have, and replacing those things with other things, in an effort to simplify or minimize. i should really be siting examples, because now i just sound judgy, but i am genuinely confused.
one bit of confusion i guess is what value is driving their wish to simplify/minimize? here are some logical thought processes to me:
1. it is too complicated to get dressed in the morning because nothing in my wardrobe matches. i want the most basic wardrobe where everything matches everything else. logical step: pick the most basic pieces you already own and fill in the (probably very few) gaps.
2. i recently walked away from the corporate world and the clothing i own no longer matches my lifestyle. logical step: taking all that corporate wear to a consignment shop and trading it in for jeans and yoga wear.
so here's the one that doesn't make sense to me:
i care about the environment and living a simple life so i will get rid of everything extraneous that i own and then buy greener, simpler versions of things.
examples:
1. replacing working light bulbs with compact flourescents. logical: wait until the light bulb burns out and then replace with a more energy efficient one.
2. replace the current car with a prius. the research i've read on this one says the most eco-friendly choice (other than giving up your car entirely) is to take excellent care of your current car to extend its life as long as possible and only to replace it when it reaches the end of its lifespan.
in my mind, this applies to all kinds of things. including keeping what is currently in my closet, even those things i've set aside and never wear. someday down the road, when i'm bored with what i've been wearing over and over again, i can shop first from what i've kept stored away.
thoughts?
Showing posts with label Clothing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clothing. Show all posts
A Fashion Manifesto
I've been a bit "meh" about the fashion world lately. I have a deep desire to dress more like "me" which is to say with more whimsy, more femininity, more personality in general. I tend towards the black and grey, with a lot of Northwest slob thrown in for good measure. I've had it on my personal coaching list for 2+ years to really start taking more pleasure in my appearance, from working out to get the body I want, to figuring out how to care for my skin, to growing my hair long enough to fulfill my lifelong dream for a good long braid, to FINDING FASHION THAT REALLY REFLECTS WHO I AM.
The movie Penelope was inspiring to me, as Penelope's clothes had all these delicious little details and she wore color so brazenly. Here is the poster, which is a bit technocolor, but you get the idea:
The costume designer for the film, Jill Taylor, said this about Penolope's costumes: "So, we took lots of ribbons, braid, buttons, brooches and cross-stitching and decorated pieces for her, so as to give the impression that she'd customized some of her clothes herself. Things have turned up in her room and she plays with them -- she's very inventive and quite eccentric and adds bits and puts things together in her own unique way." Another example:
So, I guess I feel like a closet Penelope (which is actually a bit ironic given that she's been locked up essentially). But there is a crafty, creative, colorful, whimsical individual all tamped down into whatever it is that I present to the world. Something suitable, I think but not particularly BRAVE. My chicken is winning and I'm showing up beige.
Alright, so while in DC I've made that transition from college student/whitewater rafting guide to young professional, and I've done this through a very heavy reliance on Ann Taylor Loft. I have some desperately needed staples from them such as black pants and one rather nice little suit, and also actually my very favorite shirt EVER (although it happens to be black I have NEVER found a shirt that flattered my collar bones, my diminuitive bosom, and framed me so nicely, all in ONE). But I've noticed a drop off in my enthusiasm. Perhaps the styles really have gotten worse, but I think perhaps my own desire to "fit in", to prove my professionalism by wearing a suit, etc. is what has diminished. Instead, I feel a growing desire for more creativity, more color, more DELIGHT in my clothing.
Which has led me to Anthropologie. I went there with my sister this week. And was DELIGHTED! Such details! Such femininity! Such shape! Such whimsy!
YES! I would wear a skirt patterned like a watermelon. Or covered in giraffes. A corset-seamed blouse embroidered with strawberries with a big black satin bow on one shoulder. A ticking-stripe middy blouse. A dress named after champagne bubbles with three layers of petticoat including a fine lace trim hidden closest to the skin so that only the wearer knows! I am in love. Enamored of details.
My only impediment to gleeful clothing now is the prices!
(All Penelope photos and quote from here.)
The movie Penelope was inspiring to me, as Penelope's clothes had all these delicious little details and she wore color so brazenly. Here is the poster, which is a bit technocolor, but you get the idea:
The costume designer for the film, Jill Taylor, said this about Penolope's costumes: "So, we took lots of ribbons, braid, buttons, brooches and cross-stitching and decorated pieces for her, so as to give the impression that she'd customized some of her clothes herself. Things have turned up in her room and she plays with them -- she's very inventive and quite eccentric and adds bits and puts things together in her own unique way." Another example:
So, I guess I feel like a closet Penelope (which is actually a bit ironic given that she's been locked up essentially). But there is a crafty, creative, colorful, whimsical individual all tamped down into whatever it is that I present to the world. Something suitable, I think but not particularly BRAVE. My chicken is winning and I'm showing up beige.
Alright, so while in DC I've made that transition from college student/whitewater rafting guide to young professional, and I've done this through a very heavy reliance on Ann Taylor Loft. I have some desperately needed staples from them such as black pants and one rather nice little suit, and also actually my very favorite shirt EVER (although it happens to be black I have NEVER found a shirt that flattered my collar bones, my diminuitive bosom, and framed me so nicely, all in ONE). But I've noticed a drop off in my enthusiasm. Perhaps the styles really have gotten worse, but I think perhaps my own desire to "fit in", to prove my professionalism by wearing a suit, etc. is what has diminished. Instead, I feel a growing desire for more creativity, more color, more DELIGHT in my clothing.
Which has led me to Anthropologie. I went there with my sister this week. And was DELIGHTED! Such details! Such femininity! Such shape! Such whimsy!
YES! I would wear a skirt patterned like a watermelon. Or covered in giraffes. A corset-seamed blouse embroidered with strawberries with a big black satin bow on one shoulder. A ticking-stripe middy blouse. A dress named after champagne bubbles with three layers of petticoat including a fine lace trim hidden closest to the skin so that only the wearer knows! I am in love. Enamored of details.
My only impediment to gleeful clothing now is the prices!
(All Penelope photos and quote from here.)
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