Unsurprisingly, I have all these items.
01 Basic Black Dress: Bought for the only funeral I've ever attended.
02 Trench Coat: Aubergine, but more of a faux trench, since it is short. I wear this almost every day.
03 Classic Dress Pants: Numerous--none are all black.
04 Blazer: White, plum, cocoa. I watch WNTW, how could I not have a structured jacket?
05 Skirt: Numerous.
06 Classic White Shirt: Only because my sister gave me one from Anne Fontaine. I never wear it because I fear spillage is sure to ensue if I do.
07 Day Dress: Pinkish lavender print wrap. it took me forever to find a wrap dress that wasn't mostly brown or black.
08 Jeans: 3. I love the curvy Old Navy ones that I think Aimée recommended.
09 Sweatsuit Alternative: Yes.
10 Cashmere Sweater: 4. Three were gifts from my sister.
11 One bonus: Favorite items not on the list? Scarves.
ETA: One day I will remember line breaks.
I occasionally think I will pare down my closet and concentrate on creating "a look" for myself, but I have so much trouble deciding what that would be. Circle skirts and shirt dresses? A-line skirts, sweet tops and jeans? WHO AM I!?!
I've been thinking of creating a look for myself specifically for writerly events, especially if/when I ever become published. Most writers I've met, frankly, look like what we are--people who either work from home in our pajamas or have day jobs we're not that interested in to support our writing habits. So you see a lot of out-of-date, shabby, frumpy, ill-fitting clothes at your average writers conference. At best, you have people wearing appropriate but generic business and business casual looks.
The exceptions really stand out--I've been at two conferences where Diana Gabaldon was one of the keynotes, and she draws the eye, in a good way, wherever she goes. Lots of bright colors and flowing lines, which flatter her coloring and figure. I know that doesn't sound like much, but she was one of the few people in the room who looked like she'd thought about her clothes. And I want to be like that, but I feel like my identity as both a writer and a person are currently in sufficient flux that I can't point at anything and say, "That's what Susan W., the future best-selling author of historical adventure fiction, would wear to a booksigning."
Now that summer is over, I'm renewing my quest to find The Perfect Jacket. My requirements are:
- Light enough to wear in 50-60 degree weather.
- Be long enough that I can wear it with my shirttails out.
- Have enough pockets for gadgets.
- Look cool and not look preppy.
It's amazing how frustrating this is, especially the "not look preppy" part.
I can imagine the not preppy part could be very annoying to seek. Does Nordstoms or their local equivalent have personal shoppers in the men's departments? That might be a way to go.
I have a GP appointment at 1 and acupuncture at 2:45, so that's good. My blackberry is flashing a baleful red light at me though, and I don't want to look.
You can satisfy the "not look preppy" part by making it out of the skin of your enemies.
Do we have a local equivalent to Nord's in NYC?
I would like to be the sort of person who had a strong sense of personal and individual style. If I did, I would be able to work it, because I have no problem confidently wearing something unconventional. But I am too lazy, and it all ends up cargo pants, 'cause, pockets! Woe.
What I'm thinking about now is a sort of pseudo-military, monochromatic, highly structured wardrobe. Sharp clean lines, functional and hard-wearing, modular. But I dunno if I and my body type could pull it off. Definitely my budget can't.
I don't have a look. I just have clothes I like. Periodically I sweep through to make sure everything I have is either needed or loved, but that's about it.
If I could learn to resist the siren call of the long black skirt (the velvet one from J Jill looks marvellous--well, on the hanger. I haven't quite tried it on yet) I'd be in a much saner place, wardrobe wise.
This where I mention my project this month - I'm taking pictures of what I wear every day (to work and weekends.) Other people are doing it too. It's really interesting, to watch a whole wardrobe come out on a person you don't really know. And to see what looks good and what looks like crap on you. Anyone is welcome to join us... [link]
