The minimalist wardrobe : Support/progress thread

[doloresmia]

One of the things I realize and maybe this will resonate is events are like Pavlov’s dog… they trigger the I must shop to get xxx for vacation, this dinner, this meeting….

I just got an invite to a semi-formal wedding in the fall. Immediately my brain said oh I have nothing, and what the heck is semi-formal? It is neither here nor there to me. Then my fingers went to google and all my usual favorite sites to shop for that elusive semi formal whatever.

In my imagination I wear an amazing tuxedo/smoking jacket that i don’t have

In real life and because this is SoCal and I know there will be a lot of shiny satin and pattern - I will probably wear wide legged pants of which I have 5-6 pair of different material and weight depending on temperature that day, and my coral 16arlington shirt with crazy long collar with my H Kelly Longue in box. Wore to my b school reunion in May, totally me, totally comfortable.

Also tried on other options in case

Writing it down here to my future self here lest I forget!

Maybe just need some sparkly converse platform shoes? Nooooo Doloresmia stop!

Hahahah

In any case, my ode to shopping my abundant beloved closet to retrain my brain from shopping for events

My aesthetic is Asian peasant chic… and don’t @ me please! My family worked the farm in China back in the day and this is a nod to them

The collar reads nutty pilgrim and makes me laugh

The shoes are Tibi @Antonia!

For events like a wedding need comfortable shoes, not that these aren’t but my foot padding is not as resilient as it once was. Hence the converse

 

[Love Of My Life]

Fortuny gowns. Someone please rediscover his lost patent

Fortuny,as @Kfka_btsea mentions & a few others come to mind
Madame Gres, Jeanne Lanvin, Christian Dior,Cristobal Balenciaga, Yves St Laurent & so many of the women that
wore these masterpieces
Gloria Vanderbilt was photographed wearing Fortuny & she looked spectacular..

 

[millivanilli]

Okay, so here’s something I occasionally think about when I’m somewhere waiting for something and am bored out of my mind: In my minimalist wardrobe fantasy, there is a single outfit that does it all and is ready for anything. The ultimate “traveling light” of outfits. It is comfortable on a plane, could go to formal dinner, a business meeting, to the opera, to a wedding or funeral, a walk in the park, lunch at a beach bar, be reasonably comfortable to hang out in, and works four seasons. When I’m really bored and feel like challenging myself I’ll include funny things like it also has to look good riding a horse or camping. Then I challenge myself to come up with the ultimate clothes-on-your-back outfit. I think I have decided on the outfit but have not managed to imagine it four seasons without at least one change of shoes.

What would your one outfit be, if the only “suite” of clothes you could own was what you had on?

oh that is a fun one!

I'd go for:

wide leged trousers in black
white crisp blouse (made from that material that looks like silk but needs no ironing... can't recall the name, sorry migraines, everybody knows the fabric, it's made from bamboo)
a V neck pullover, made from cashmere (deep V neck and loose fit bc of the beach )

Loafers in black.
Black coat.


Dress up / down:

Lipstick in nude, plume or red (RED RED)
Big chunky silver earrings and a huge silver Peretti cuff (which is way too expensive imo, which makes me sad as I didn't buy one years ago).

Done.

 

[millivanilli]

My aesthetic is Asian peasant chic… and don’t @ me please! My family worked the farm in China back in the day and this is a nod to them

The collar reads nutty pilgrim and makes me laugh

The shoes are Tibi @Antonia!

For events like a wedding need comfortable shoes, not that these aren’t but my foot padding is not as resilient as it once was. Hence the converse

View attachment 5851501

View attachment 5851502

View attachment 5851503

love it love it love it love it.

Did I say that I love it?

LOOOOOVe the blouse. Great outfit.

 

[Antonia]

My aesthetic is Asian peasant chic… and don’t @ me please! My family worked the farm in China back in the day and this is a nod to them

The collar reads nutty pilgrim and makes me laugh

The shoes are Tibi @Antonia!

For events like a wedding need comfortable shoes, not that these aren’t but my foot padding is not as resilient as it once was. Hence the converse

View attachment 5851501

View attachment 5851502

View attachment 5851503

OMG I love that blouse!!!! Who is it by??

 

[doloresmia]

oh that is a fun one!

I'd go for:

wide leged trousers in black
white crisp blouse (made from that material that looks like silk but needs no ironing... can't recall the name, sorry migraines, everybody knows the fabric, it's made from bamboo)
a V neck pullover, made from cashmere (deep V neck and loose fit bc of the beach )

Loafers in black.
Black coat.


Dress up / down:

Lipstick in nude, plume or red (RED RED)
Big chunky silver earrings and a huge silver Peretti cuff (which is way too expensive imo, which makes me sad as I didn't buy one years ago).

Done.

Love it and I feel like we need to see demo!!!

Here is what I wore on my summer flight to Paris. Also had a carryon for trip but if it were a short trip I had multiple outfit options I could have created due to layering

- tibi nylon balloon skirt
- luluemon leggings
- Stan smith
- tank top, linen button up white long sleeve
- light v neck cashmere sweater
- Uniqlo light puffer
- wolford wool poncho as blanket
- neck pillow

OMG I love that blouse!!!! Who is it by??

16arlington

 

[millivanilli]

UHHH yes! That's exactly the medicine I need right now.

Let me check if I can put together one of these fashion inspo pictures with the items I meant...

Moment please...






looking at it, I guess I need to go shopping.... At least the H lipstick would already be there. And the trousers. The loafers sadly with yg ( so angry at me taking these and not waiting for the silver ones to pop up...)

 

[doloresmia]

UHHH yes! That's exactly the medicine I need right now.

Let me check if I can put together one of these fashion inspo pictures with the items I meant...

Moment please...


View attachment 5852111

Yes!!! This is so good with the long coat and pants! Very crisp feeling and then the red lipstick for the power —- eye would go right there

 

[millivanilli]

Thank you dear, that means a LOT to me!

( stupid me forgot the sunglasses - an item I always wear... I'd choose either the ones from loro piana bc they look amazing when worn or the old Prada ones with these ornamental sides. Or Chanel. Or... awww so much to choose!

 

[mellecyn]

UHHH yes! That's exactly the medicine I need right now.

Let me check if I can put together one of these fashion inspo pictures with the items I meant...

Moment please...


View attachment 5852111



looking at it, I guess I need to go shopping.... At least the H lipstick would already be there. And the trousers. The loafers sadly with yg ( so angry at me taking these and not waiting for the silver ones to pop up...)

This is like the ultimate shopping list or capsule wardrobe
Anyone has any suggestions for a similar long coat without the YSL price tag?

 

[FizzyWater]

Okay, so here’s something I occasionally think about when I’m somewhere waiting for something and am bored out of my mind: In my minimalist wardrobe fantasy, there is a single outfit that does it all and is ready for anything. The ultimate “traveling light” of outfits. It is comfortable on a plane, could go to formal dinner, a business meeting, to the opera, to a wedding or funeral, a walk in the park, lunch at a beach bar, be reasonably comfortable to hang out in, and works four seasons. When I’m really bored and feel like challenging myself I’ll include funny things like it also has to look good riding a horse or camping. Then I challenge myself to come up with the ultimate clothes-on-your-back outfit. I think I have decided on the outfit but have not managed to imagine it four seasons without at least one change of shoes.

What would your one outfit be, if the only “suite” of clothes you could own was what you had on?

I always wanted the black dress that Kinsey Millhone had in Sue Grafton's detective novels - some no-name out of some synthetic fabric that she could pull on from a crumpled mess in her back seat and fit in anywhere.

I am not even a dress person right now - I've been living in jeans/slacks for the last several years. But I bought the ScottEVest Daphne dress ( https://www.scottevest.com/products/daphne-dress?variant=42345919578327 ) in black a couple of years ago, and it is so very close to perfect: Pockets! Hidden and zipped! Big enough for everything I carry! Flattering, even though I'm fat. V-neck that doesn't gap. And could be worn pretty much everywhere. (And stretchy knit - I could totally wear it riding! Uh, if I rode.)

But. The fabric is terrible. It's plastick-y and crazily uncomfortably warm even in cool weather.

It sits in my closet waiting for me to find a seamstress to copy it in any kind of decent knit. Meanwhile I found a black Land's End cotton-blend shirtdress that is also flattering, but not quite so versatile, and sadly doesn't have the awesome pockets. It will work for now.

 

[V0N1B2]

I always wanted the black dress that Kinsey Millhone had in Sue Grafton's detective novels - some no-name out of some synthetic fabric that she could pull on from a crumpled mess in her back seat and fit in anywhere.

I am not even a dress person right now - I've been living in jeans/slacks for the last several years. But I bought the ScottEVest Daphne dress ( https://www.scottevest.com/products/daphne-dress?variant=42345919578327 ) in black a couple of years ago, and it is so very close to perfect: Pockets! Hidden and zipped! Big enough for everything I carry! Flattering, even though I'm fat. V-neck that doesn't gap. And could be worn pretty much everywhere. (And stretchy knit - I could totally wear it riding! Uh, if I rode.)

But. The fabric is terrible. It's plastick-y and crazily uncomfortably warm even in cool weather.

It sits in my closet waiting for me to find a seamstress to copy it in any kind of decent knit. Meanwhile I found a black Land's End cotton-blend shirtdress that is also flattering, but not quite so versatile, and sadly doesn't have the awesome pockets. It will work for now.

Have you tried the Wearever Double-Face Jersey Sheath Dress at JJill? It has a v-neck and pockets (tho not zipped). I like their double-face jersey pants and dresses for travel.

 

[millivanilli]

This is like the ultimate shopping list or capsule wardrobe
Anyone has any suggestions for a similar long coat without the YSL price tag?

thanks dear!

Sadly no, otherwise I'd buy it.

Tried a few brands, but sadly all of them tend to be slouchy at the shoulders, and I personally feel that a main aspect of the "sharpness" of that coat are really extremely defined shoulders.

I found the Harris Wharf coats pretty close to what I wanted to have, but those won't look good on me, sadly. And: the coats aren't long enough ( I am tall, so that will always be a problem...) I feel, that those coats have to be long.

Inserted a link for you (in white, though), perhaps you like it?

Harris Wharf London Einreihiger Mantel Aus Schurwolle - Farfetch

Shoppen Harris Wharf London Einreihiger Mantel aus Schurwolle

www.farfetch.com

 

[millivanilli]

I always wanted the black dress that Kinsey Millhone had in Sue Grafton's detective novels - some no-name out of some synthetic fabric that she could pull on from a crumpled mess in her back seat and fit in anywhere.

I am not even a dress person right now - I've been living in jeans/slacks for the last several years. But I bought the ScottEVest Daphne dress ( https://www.scottevest.com/products/daphne-dress?variant=42345919578327 ) in black a couple of years ago, and it is so very close to perfect: Pockets! Hidden and zipped! Big enough for everything I carry! Flattering, even though I'm fat. V-neck that doesn't gap. And could be worn pretty much everywhere. (And stretchy knit - I could totally wear it riding! Uh, if I rode.)

But. The fabric is terrible. It's plastick-y and crazily uncomfortably warm even in cool weather.

It sits in my closet waiting for me to find a seamstress to copy it in any kind of decent knit. Meanwhile I found a black Land's End cotton-blend shirtdress that is also flattering, but not quite so versatile, and sadly doesn't have the awesome pockets. It will work for now.

I know exactly what you mean!

I have such a dress, too, luckily it has good fabric (not uncomfortably warm even in winter, i.e. sticky and platicy): it's from H and M.

Edit: couldn't find it online, but saw it in store a few weeks ago in a striped version.

Wickelkleid aus Jersey - Cremefarben/Schwarz gestreift - Ladies | H&M DE

Wadenlanges Jerseykleid im Wickellook mit tiefem V-Ausschnitt. Das Kleid hat lange Ärmel und eine Teilungsnaht in der Taille mit schmalen Bindebändern an der einen Seite.

www2.hm.com

(looks better when worn!)

But I'll take a picture and insert it tomorrow, when worn.

It really flatters the figure and it's sewed together, so you won't have to fear "outing moments". No pockets, sadly.

On another price point: everybody I know raves about DvF dresses (carefree, easy to handle, always do look good)- I do have a wide bust and therefor theses dresses sadly won't work for me, at least the ones I tried on, those were too revealing...

https://www.net-a-porter.com/de-de/...WrzttHlYrGVGTa4gz9gtShc-l5n4ii7kaAjYDEALw_wcB

 

[mellecyn]

thanks dear!

Sadly no, otherwise I'd buy it.

Tried a few brands, but sadly all of them tend to be slouchy at the shoulders, and I personally feel that a main aspect of the "sharpness" of that coat are really extremely defined shoulders.

I found the Harris Wharf coats pretty close to what I wanted to have, but those won't look good on me, sadly. And: the coats aren't long enough ( I am tall, so that will always be a problem...) I feel, that those coats have to be long.

Inserted a link for you (in white, though), perhaps you like it?

Harris Wharf London Einreihiger Mantel Aus Schurwolle - Farfetch

Shoppen Harris Wharf London Einreihiger Mantel aus Schurwolle

www.farfetch.com

Thank you, the link doesnt work. would it be this similar?
I always see either single breasted, straight line but too short, or the long ones are wrapped coats with belt (too slouchy). Also I need a lot of wool content.