Have you ever wondered? Or, since only a quarter of the clothes hanging in the average British wardrobe are worn regularly, is the question we should be asking which of my clothes do I wear and why?
This really resonated with me. I make most of my clothes and have just had 6 months of buying no fabric.
In the beginning I haunted Vinted and charity shops and bought a couple of new to me dresses because I felt bereft. In the final couple of months, I realised what I really wanted from my wardrobe -I want to be myself, as I am now, not as I was in my 30s, 40s, 50s. I'm not going to loose significant weight and I like a retro look (think Poldark rather than 1940s...).
Now I know, I have started to alter some of my clothes to fit me, fit my life. Where that's not possible (& they're too battered for anyone else to want) I'm taking them apart to use as fabric for quilts. I've discovered there's a real need in my locality for quilts for seriously ill people to use with wheelchairs - who knew??? In future I shall buy only the fabric / clothes that I will make immediate use of, that fit my life and that are natural fibres so I can quilt or compost as necessary. And I will wear to death what I have.
And yes please Gemma, I'd love to see the questions you ask yourself before buying.
Gemma, I love your piece - the humor, the facts, and the gesture of inviting us all into the discussion. I just moved for the 15th time in 10 years (a slight exaggeration but very close to the truth). Each time I go through my wardrobe I try to poshmark some faves, I give loads away, and I re-sentimentalize pieces I have tailored and modified to fit or fit a look. However, I have to face the fact that I have 16 unpacked moving wardrobe boxes that I am reluctant to attempt to open. Being tall, not much of my clothing will fit others; I do however, have three friends 5'9"+ to whom I will make all of the clothing available. I will open the boxes, go out for coffee and have them take anything they want! Maybe then I will actively count the pieces I keep. Thank you for your writing!
OMG Deborah the mere thought of unpacked boxes makes me hyperventilate. Like you I have moved many times with a quasi hoarder-so i practically throw things out before I even get them!
This is great. I had a winter of dying and sewing to alter stuff I may have become bored with.I decided on a 3 colour palette to make things interchangeable and match. It really produced spectacular results, meaning this year April to April I have bought 5 new items of clothing.
Lovely post and really interesting. Similarly when I did my LCF X Kering course a few years ago I counted my wardrobe and got to around the 200s (not including shoes, underwear, socks, accessories etc). I like to think I have a pretty concise wardrobe although maybe others would say differently. I’ve definitely cut down on buying clothes in the last few years and majority of what I buy is 2nd hand - partly due to my age/lifestyle, partly due to being a parent, partly due to cost. And I feel I’ve got a lot of things I love in my wardrobe so I try and wear them all when I can. I now always ask myself “am I really going to wear this” when buying something new. Because having a toddler most of the time your clothes end up stained and I live in jeans and T-shirts. I do think caring and loving your clothes like it sounds like you really do from reading your post makes the difference. It’s conscious - whereas I think some people buy without really thinking. And that isn’t just about clothes but all purchases. I have re-homed some of my party dresses and said “it’s time for you to go have fun with someone else” and sold them on. I’m not currently working and I think that makes a big difference because I’m not so bothered about what I wear every day and so I wear less. I know my brother - who now mostly works remotely- said he’s saved a lot on clothes not having to go into an office everyday. And for ref we both worked in fashion previously so felt the pressure to dress up for work. I do think it makes the difference investing in well made clothes in nice fabrics as they do last longer both physically and fashionably - that also doesn’t mean having to spend lots of money if you know where to look. Princess May car boot is my current go to!
Ah, the fantasy wardrobe! I really enjoyed reading this. I so resonated with the fantasy wardrobe, and the mention of the pants for when I grow longer legs! I am obsessed with thrift shopping, so I can change out my clothes over time, well at least that was the plan. Now I have collected “future clothes” you know, for my fantasy life and my longer legs! 🤣😂🤣😂
hiii, just published a new piece on the rise of quiet luxury. would love for you to check it out if you’re curious! still early days, but your read would mean a lot.
This is so interesting. I have reduced my wardrobe to what seems to me to be quite streamlined. I have never counted how many items I own though. You have inspired me to do that.
Really interesting Gemma, and now I know I have to properly look through all the clothes I own and honestly appraise them.
So far this year I’ve managed to reduce the unseasonal/spare clothing from 3 boxes under my bed to 2, which I guess us a good start but I know I can and should go further. And then there are all the new temptations, so yes I would be interested to read about the questions you use to sift and resist (or not resist….)
This really resonated with me. I make most of my clothes and have just had 6 months of buying no fabric.
In the beginning I haunted Vinted and charity shops and bought a couple of new to me dresses because I felt bereft. In the final couple of months, I realised what I really wanted from my wardrobe -I want to be myself, as I am now, not as I was in my 30s, 40s, 50s. I'm not going to loose significant weight and I like a retro look (think Poldark rather than 1940s...).
Now I know, I have started to alter some of my clothes to fit me, fit my life. Where that's not possible (& they're too battered for anyone else to want) I'm taking them apart to use as fabric for quilts. I've discovered there's a real need in my locality for quilts for seriously ill people to use with wheelchairs - who knew??? In future I shall buy only the fabric / clothes that I will make immediate use of, that fit my life and that are natural fibres so I can quilt or compost as necessary. And I will wear to death what I have.
And yes please Gemma, I'd love to see the questions you ask yourself before buying.
Gemma, I love your piece - the humor, the facts, and the gesture of inviting us all into the discussion. I just moved for the 15th time in 10 years (a slight exaggeration but very close to the truth). Each time I go through my wardrobe I try to poshmark some faves, I give loads away, and I re-sentimentalize pieces I have tailored and modified to fit or fit a look. However, I have to face the fact that I have 16 unpacked moving wardrobe boxes that I am reluctant to attempt to open. Being tall, not much of my clothing will fit others; I do however, have three friends 5'9"+ to whom I will make all of the clothing available. I will open the boxes, go out for coffee and have them take anything they want! Maybe then I will actively count the pieces I keep. Thank you for your writing!
OMG Deborah the mere thought of unpacked boxes makes me hyperventilate. Like you I have moved many times with a quasi hoarder-so i practically throw things out before I even get them!
This is great. I had a winter of dying and sewing to alter stuff I may have become bored with.I decided on a 3 colour palette to make things interchangeable and match. It really produced spectacular results, meaning this year April to April I have bought 5 new items of clothing.
Lovely post and really interesting. Similarly when I did my LCF X Kering course a few years ago I counted my wardrobe and got to around the 200s (not including shoes, underwear, socks, accessories etc). I like to think I have a pretty concise wardrobe although maybe others would say differently. I’ve definitely cut down on buying clothes in the last few years and majority of what I buy is 2nd hand - partly due to my age/lifestyle, partly due to being a parent, partly due to cost. And I feel I’ve got a lot of things I love in my wardrobe so I try and wear them all when I can. I now always ask myself “am I really going to wear this” when buying something new. Because having a toddler most of the time your clothes end up stained and I live in jeans and T-shirts. I do think caring and loving your clothes like it sounds like you really do from reading your post makes the difference. It’s conscious - whereas I think some people buy without really thinking. And that isn’t just about clothes but all purchases. I have re-homed some of my party dresses and said “it’s time for you to go have fun with someone else” and sold them on. I’m not currently working and I think that makes a big difference because I’m not so bothered about what I wear every day and so I wear less. I know my brother - who now mostly works remotely- said he’s saved a lot on clothes not having to go into an office everyday. And for ref we both worked in fashion previously so felt the pressure to dress up for work. I do think it makes the difference investing in well made clothes in nice fabrics as they do last longer both physically and fashionably - that also doesn’t mean having to spend lots of money if you know where to look. Princess May car boot is my current go to!
Ah, the fantasy wardrobe! I really enjoyed reading this. I so resonated with the fantasy wardrobe, and the mention of the pants for when I grow longer legs! I am obsessed with thrift shopping, so I can change out my clothes over time, well at least that was the plan. Now I have collected “future clothes” you know, for my fantasy life and my longer legs! 🤣😂🤣😂
Truth!
hiii, just published a new piece on the rise of quiet luxury. would love for you to check it out if you’re curious! still early days, but your read would mean a lot.
link: https://open.substack.com/pub/dndkira/p/the-rise-of-quiet-luxury?r=5i2mlf&utm_medium=ios
thank youu <3
This is so interesting. I have reduced my wardrobe to what seems to me to be quite streamlined. I have never counted how many items I own though. You have inspired me to do that.
In truth very few. Enough to have clothes clean in between full wash loads. The rest is pure fun and self expression.
Really interesting Gemma, and now I know I have to properly look through all the clothes I own and honestly appraise them.
So far this year I’ve managed to reduce the unseasonal/spare clothing from 3 boxes under my bed to 2, which I guess us a good start but I know I can and should go further. And then there are all the new temptations, so yes I would be interested to read about the questions you use to sift and resist (or not resist….)