8 October 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.Sources:
- White button down – J.Jill, remixed
- Wrap skirt – Boden, thrifted, remixed
- Boots – Dillards (brand wore off), remixed a ton
Endnotes:
This is my one patterned skirt that I chose to pack for this year. (I now have a second patterned skirt that is the last of my inherited pieces from my grandmother, but that was not part of my original packing list). In addition to a patterned skirt, I packed my jean skirt, my green cord skirt, a brown jersey skirt, and a black professional skirt. These five skirts cover a variety of registers (level of formality) and come in a variety of materials and cuts so that they form a nice solid little (skirt) capsule wardrobe. So don’t get bored with these too quickly, because you’ll be seeing a lot of them in the following months.
If you had to pare down your wardrobe to just five skirts, could you do it? Following your really thoughtful comments on my recent post, it appears that most of you/us subscribe to the more is more school of thought when it comes to fashion and clothing. How difficult of a challenge would you perceive it to be, having only five skirts out of your wardrobe at your disposal for a year? Feel like joining me in my endeavor? S.
8 October 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.
While I own more than 5 skirts, I probably only wear three or four over the course of a year :) Not being a big skirt person helps, I don’t think I could get by on only 5 pairs of pants! My husband and I are getting ready to spend 5 months traveling and your posts have really helped me think about how I want to pack! Thank you :)
Personally, I think it would be really easy for me to pare down my collection of skirts to the 5 that I wear most often. When I think about it, I do really only wear 20% of my wardrobe (thanks CheapJap!) and the other 80% is for visual interest and to add some novelty to my outfits.
I love this outfit! The skirt is amazing and paired with the white shirt and boots, it looks wonderful.
Good combination!
Is it a wrap skirt? Do you wear a slip with wrap skirts? I like a slip for extra modesty but don’t always like to add extra layers that aren’t seen because they add bulk.
Oooh, that would be tough. I think the hardest part for me would be choosing skirts I really liked that were outside my standard “full, knee-length” paradigm. Variety of colors and fabrics, yes. Variety of cuts? No.
That skirt looks fabulous on you!
As for having only five skirts… I don’t think I would handle that well. I like having variety as opposed to wearing the same pieces over and over. That’s why I’m always buying up new things. Plus, I’m currently trying to wear skirts and dresses more often, so I don’t think five would cut it for me!
I have FOUR skirts. (I am a hardcore dress-wearing enthusiast.) Three are multicoloured (one print, one embroidered, one in multi-fabric tiers) and one is denim.
I love that print skirt of yours so much! The print reminds me of retro-era bach-curtains . . . a bach is a kind of holiday beach-shack.
You wear J. Jill pieces every once in a while and I’m wondering what you think of that store’s line of clothing?
And the quality?
Thanks so much!
I think this question is sort of related to your question earlier in the week about quality pieces versus a quantity of pieces in one’s wardrobe.
I think I could get by with 5 or fewer skirts if they were quality pieces in neutral colors and maybe on or two in a fun pattern like your Boden skirt you found at a thrift store (great thrift store find by the way! that skirt is gorgeous!).
I tend to have a smaller wardrobe myself and stretch the pieces, but sometimes I am a bit awed reading style blogs because of the selection of clothes featured.
New bike or just a neighbor? :)
I don’t think I own more than 5 skirt, but getting by with that few dresses would be a challenge. Lots of different colored tights and fun shoes would be essential.
I’m in the same boat as Sara. I have about 3 or 4 skirts (solids, in neutral colors) that are staples that I wear at least a couple times a month. To be honest, I could live without as many skirts as I have, but I really do like mixing in the patterned skirts every once in a while.
I admire how fresh you look with your compressed wardrobe, and can’t wait to see how you mix things up all year!
@Lisa #3- It is a wrap skirt and does only hook with two buttons. I don’t wear a slip underneath because it’s a heavier material and doesn’t flutter really. On a windy day, I could use a safety pin for good measure.
@Nadine – Love the print analogy!
@Lisa #7 – I have mixed feelings about their stuff. Their pants have too much of a “mom” cut that I never find any I like. But I LOVE their jewelry, often their tops that have a bohemian feel to them, and likewise their jackets. My mom would take me in there with her and that’s how I discovered it. It’s not entirely my aesthetic, but they have awesome sales and often a few great pieces of really good quality that I like.
@Dottie – ha! I even thought of adding a disclaimer! No, just a neighbor’s bike, I still haven’t found one in my price range.
Only 5 skirts for a year?! Are you going to wear the patterned skirt that you got from your grandmother? So that makes 6 you have to choose from right? I suppose if I was going away for a year, I would be able to scale it down, but limiting myself to 6 here at home for a year? Sorry, can’t join you in that challenge. :P Did you allow some room in your luggage to buy a few gotta have it pieces while you are there?
I *might* be able to limit myself to five skirts if they were the right five — but I have a feeling that I’d have to have a lot of tops to go with them. I wear skirts/dresses a lot, though, at the moment.
But I have a feeling that I’d find myself getting bored and making new ones more than buying them, if I had limited myself!
When I left to spend my research year in Spain, I probably only took 4 or 5 skirts with me. I only remember three of them clearly: a dark denim pencil skirt that I wore until the zipper literally fell off last year, a long black skirt, and a red cotton skirt from American Apparel. I also only took 2 pairs of jeans and two dresses. My plan was that taking two suitcases, but only one with many clothes in them would allow me to justify taking advantage of some sales at some of my favorite clothing stores (Zara, H&M, Mango) that don’t have a store anywhere near the place where I’m getting my PhD. However, I had more than enough clothing to make it through a couple of weeks without needing to do laundry. It worked out pretty well. :)
At 55, I have collected so many skirts, pants, dresses! I really have enough to last me forever. It is distracting to own so much. You never get around to wearing everything! I love what you are wearing. You look great.
WOW! WoW!wow!