I also try not to own a lot of stuff I don't often wear. For instance, it's usually not hot here, so I only own 2 sleeveless shirts for hot weather.
When it is hot, I think I might benefit from another sleeveless shirt.
I decided to try and find the following pieces which will help my wardrobe situation:
A pair of shorts. Buying another pair of shorts was a 2024 goal and I did not succeed. I have two relatively unflattering target pairs, 1 awesome denim pair which I bought seocnd hand 15 years ago, and 1 long cargo pair also secondhand 15 years ago.
A dress. I have about 5 dresses but all of them are work dresses and I wish I had a fun dress I could just throw on when it's hot.
A jumpsuit/playsuit. Some people look soooo put together in these and I would love to have a simple thing that makes me look put together!
A sleeveless shirt. I have this shirt and I love it and I wish they made it in another color
I ordered a pile of clothes from one of my favourite brands and when it all arrived I didn't like ANYTHING.
One of the comments the podcast guest made was that it's important to feel how things feel and see things in a shop. Half the stuff I ordered I wouldn't have even tried on in a shop because I could see immediately it was a weird cut or I didn't like the fabric.
I realized that while it seems "easier" to order online I basically spent 30 minutes putting the order together, 15 minutes trying stuff on, and probably 20 minutes returning it all later. Almost an hour to buy... nothing.
I think I'm going to have to go to a store and look for clothes. I don't love the idea, but overall it seems it will be quicker than piddling my time ordering on the internet. Alternatively, I may have to just frequent the local charity shops more and hope that one of the above items shows up in my size... but that seems improbable.
Also, there is a mexican restaurant in town, so at least if I figure out a time to go shopping I can also get mexican food.
Do you shop in real life or shop online? Are there any "wardrobe staples" you're after at the moment?
My body type is so hard to fit so I really need to try clothes on. I hate clothes shopping in retail environments, but I feel like it's less pressured in thrift stores, so that's where I buy most of my clothes. I buy almost nothing new and couldn't imagine buying clothing online because my sizing is so all over the place (smallish waist, but giant hips and it makes it soooo hard to know how things will fit IRL).
ReplyDeleteElisabeth you just gave me a life epiphany! I usually don't shop at charity shops because so often I'll buy something that is "almost right" and then I end up with lots of stuff I don't like 100%... but actually I totally do this in real shops too and I think I've been deluding myself that real shops will sell 100% right things for me! So perhaps this summer i am going to embrace the two charity shops by my hosue and see if I can find anything that works, and if not I'll go do a shopping session at a store later this summer.
DeleteI have the total opposite bodytype to you - I need fitted things on my smaller bottom area and less fitted on my top (midsection was not always the firmest, plus having had four kids) and I cannot find shorts that don't just look like bags on me or tops that... well... also look like bags. Maybe I'll do a July-Aug thrifting challenge for myself... If I don't like something I buy I'll just return it and it can be a donation :-)
I can relate! Part of my issue is that I've gained weight in the past few years, so the brands/sizes that worked before stopped working and I had to figure everything out all over again. I did exactly what you did: ordered stuff and sent most of it back, then repeated until I found what works now. Most of my clothes shopping is online.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I qualify as a minimalist. I don't have a ton of clothes but I have enough to everything so that I only have to do laundry once a week.
I don't think you'll ever regret having an extra pair of shorts, short sleeve/sleeveless tops, and a few simple summer dresses. The tops and dresses can be worn year round with an extra layer on top. Personally a jumpsuit would be my last choice - it's too hard when the top and the bottom are the same piece and it all has to come down to use the bathroom.
I agree with Birchie about the jumpsuit. I have one that is kind of "fancy" and so I wear it to nice dinners and then inevitably I drink at these dinners and then have to pee a lot which can get old fast!
ReplyDeleteI usually shop at thrift stores but that does take time and patience. I sometimes buy tops online, but I've spent the last few years getting rid of stuff so I rarely buy clothes. However, as you mentioned I'm at a point where o finally had to throw away one hoodie and I tried to buy a replacement a thrift store but it's not great so I think I'm going to take a specific trip to the brick and mortar store for the hoodie brand and probably pay way too much for it so I can have the same one. Sometimes it's worth buying a brand that you know works, eben if it costs more.
I agree, I don't like shopping online and it's soooo hard to tell from photos if you'll like something. I am also hard to shop for (sigh, aren't we all, lol)- I am 5'11 so I definitely need long pants (only online) and I can mostly get away with standard tops and dresses but I need to see it in person. Not to mention the extra errand of returning things that don't fit!
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