Bored with my wardrobe

[hrj]

Bored bored bored. 90% of my wardrobe is several years old. That's the problem with making nice sturdy blouses. (The pants have a higher turnover, but they're also intentionally boring.) Not worn-out enough to move to the rag bag, but worn too often to still be exciting. I realized this problem when I went to pack my "nicest casual" items for Kalamazoo and realized that I'd packed essentially the same clothes the last three years in a row. I don't want a completely new paradigm, but I want something new. I just don't know what. I want something new and different that's exactly like what I already like. Except not. Yeah, right. (And I just don't do dresses for everyday. That's a non-starter.) Usually when I'm in a mood like this I make a new suit jacket, but I already have more suit jackets than days in the year when I wear suit jackets. Fabric, I've got; ideas, I don't.

Comments

[etfb.livejournal.com]

I've got one word for you: Accessorize

Of course, we've never met -- exchanged many emails on the topic of heraldry and bardery, sure, but I don't think I even know what you look like -- so the thought of me giving you fashion advice is so ridiculous that I shall slink away without further comment.

[wingedcorset.livejournal.com]

http://history.westkingdom.org/Year34/Photos/BOM10.htm

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Go to the Memorial Day sales this weekend at Nordstrom's, and whatever other department stores that are near you. Buy something different, or the same but new. Or get some ideas for what to make next.

[wulfsdottir.livejournal.com]

I have discovered a thigh-length sleeveless ghawazee in my "SCA clothes someone gave me that I don't wear to events any more" collection. I'm thinking with the right plain blouse and my sassy pants, it will be an interesting thing to wear to work when the weather turns cold again. I need to put new clasps on it, though.

Perhaps you have something similar for inspiration?

[hrj.livejournal.com]

The clothing in clothing stores makes me want to scream and run around naked. (Not universally, but as a general trend.) There's a reason why I sew 80% of my modern clothes -- not just the historic stuff.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

There's good stuff among the hip-hugger jeans and fake hippie prints. Granted, it can be well hidden.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

I do take historic inspirations for some stuff -- especially for coats and jackets. And of course, during colder weather there's a bit more variation possible. There are some pragmatic limits because, while the work environment is moderately casual around here, I prefer being slightly to the more formal end. My 20-something co-workers can get away with strappy sandals, midriff-baring hip-huggers, and "I'm a princess" rhinestone-studded t-shirts (well, ok, that was the intern, but still), but I'm more happy in the, "Why yes, I'd be happy to move into a management position some day" range. And since everyone knows I do historic costuming, I have to be careful to not wear anything that screams "I'm wearing a costume to the office." To the practical considerations, add in my bicycling to work and on lunches.

During the winter, I lean towards cotton knit turtlenecks and the like with vests and/or scarves to accessorize. But during summer I've gotten into a rut of two basic patterns: an extremely simple rectangular shell (it's all about the fabric), and a raglan-sleeve t-shirt pattern cut on the bias. For both models, the variety is all in what fabric inspires me, although I lean pretty strongly towards linen for the shells and silk for the t-shirts.

I have a hard time seeing beyond the things that I know work -- it's the same problem with haircuts. I'd love to walk into the salon and say, "Do something wildly exciting and different" but with no guarantees tha the result would be "me", it's always "trim half an inch all over evenly."

Accessorize?

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

You could to to Chico's over in P'town and get a silver plaque belt like the one I wear to events.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I would suggest going over to Nordstrom NOT during a sale - when it's less crowded and the salespeople have time to spend with you - and take advantage of their personal shopping department (ask at info). You tell them what you just said here and let them go pull things for you, the idea being that they know what's hidden amongst the baby tees and hip huggers better than you do, and can find it all in less time :)

Disclaimer: I used to work for Nordstrom, and though I'm glad I got out of retail, Nordstrom's customer service is the gold standard. Use it!

[hrj.livejournal.com]

It might be worth trying, I guess -- although since I have a Macy's account I'd be more likely to try it there than Nordstroms. (Macy's carries the china pattern that I collect and there are regular enough cardholder discounts that it was worth the annoyance.) What you have to understand is that my shopping for ready-made clothing is normally conducted at places like REI (off-season sales) or mail-order from Lands End (more in theory than practice). I buy my favorite Plain Black Jeans in the work clothes section of Orchard Supply. "Adventurous" is browsing through the racks at a thrift store -- not because I don't have money to spend on clothes, but because I hate finding that I've wasted a large chunk of money on something that I end up disliking.

This is a big part of my fashion problem. There are a small number of things that I know I like, through trial and error -- most of which I make myself. There are a large number of things I know I don't like -- for reasons that can include synthetic fabrics, hideous colors or patterns, shoddy workmanship, bad fit, styles that don't work for my body. What I don't know is what items among the large number of things I haven't tried might be things I'd like. And I tend to be skeptical of salespeople's ability to predict what is going to work for me (as opposed to what they think ought to work for me), given that so many of my needs and preferences are outside the realm of how it looks when you're standing there in a fitting room. (E.g., Will it work both in a business meeting and on a bicycle at lunch? Does it acknowledge that I have big boobs without shouting, "Hey! Lookit the boobs!" Is it wash-and-wear without being plastic?)