Sunday, November 27, 2005

This is how my wardrobe grows...how does yours?

I recently purchased an adorable Viktor&Rolf skirt from Aloharag.com. It's a satin blue skirt with polka dots. I knew that it was not an easy piece to work with, but I couldn't say no to the cute details and the attractive price, so I purchased it with the confidence that I am going to make it work.

I posted on the Fashion Spot (tFS) and I received very helpful advice on what to wear with it. The only problem is that I don't own anything that compliments the skirt yet. One girl said that I shouldn't make such impulsive purchase before I have sufficient basics to work with. It made me think. Why don't I have enough basic pieces? How did my wardrobe grow through the recent years? Should I start buying more basics?

I didn't start building up my wardrobe until I started working two and half years ago. Having been a student living on a tight budget, I was, and I am still very cheap on basics. Why does a "basic" white shirt cost $200? Why does a "basic" wool sweater cost $600? I never get it. I only buy basics whenever necessary. For example, I used to own exactly four pairs of dress pants to cover the pant needs from Monday to Thursday and one pair of jeans for Friday. (I mostly wore skirts during weekends.) At the same time, I can never resist a piece of nicely designed clothes and I would like to pay big bucks for them. I then look for the right basics to compliment my statement pieces to make sure I wear them often. This is how my wardrobe grew over the past two and half years, and that's why I don’t have enough basics: I simply work backwards when it comes to building up my wardrobe.

Should I buy more basics then? Yes I should, especially in this sales season. But how should I prioritize, for instance, what sweater should I buy? Vneck or scoop neck? Grey or camel? Navy or royal blue? Fitted or loose fitting? I find the options overwhelming and I can't prioritize. When I went to Saks to go through racks of basics, I realized that I'd rather purchase basics for complimenting my statement pieces than buy basics and let them sit in my closet waiting for the right item to work with. I'm a collector. If I am a director in a gallery, I am not going to purchase all kinds of frames and store them in the basement. Instead, I am going to gather the art works, and then looking for the frames.

Back to the Viktor&Rolf skirt. I eventually found a picture from the runway, and it seems to me that the best way to make it work is to wear a white shirt under a grey scoop neck sweater. To be specific, the shirt has to be silk or silk blend and the sweater has to be light weight, cold grey with similar shade to the skirt's blue, the waist has to be fitted, and it has to fall right on the waist of the skirt. You see, there are too many specifics. I would not know which grey sweater to buy if I didn't make my impulsive purchase of the skirt. So I guess I will keep working backwards on my wardrobe.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jing
This is QuirkyCool from tFS.I just want to say that I read your blog from time to time and really enjoy it.I have particularly enjoyed thsi last entry....this is the way I build my wardrobe too.I love that you take the time to reflect about these things and to formulate what we may feel,but not be able to express.Well done!!

Anonymous said...

this is pretty much the same way I did to my wardrobe too, I buy basic stuff only when I have sth to go with. ----dinosaur

Anonymous said...

First of all: I've been watching that skirt for ages!! When suddenly my size disappeared, I continued watching it because it is surely a piece of art... then suddenly it disappeared completetly and now I know why! Congratulations, great purchase!
Second, I also have the same issue: to many strong pieces with much character and to few basics. Sometimes I avoid buying things if I don't see the combinations with my current warderobe. Thanks for the tip: I will NOT stop buying that kind of pieces because of lack of basics; I'll buy the basics when they are needed. :-D
BTW I like your blog... we seem to have something in common in the spirit...:-) Take care! /Anna

Caffeine said...

Thanks Quirky, Retail therapist, dinosaur, and Anna!
Anna, sorry I got the skirt you were so fond of. I hope that you get other great items in this holiday season:)
Sorry I didn't get a chance to update my blog in the past weekend. I was sick and work was so busy this week.
Hope all is well.

Jing