Grouchy
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 02:33pm
I am crabby. I am trying to organize my clothes into a summer/winter scenario and it’s doing nothing except driving me nuts. Obviously I have too many clothes, yet somehow I never have anything flattering to wear. Since I stopped working in an office, my wardrobe has gone completely crazy. I wear a yoga pants/tee-shirt outfit every day. I still need some professional clothes for interviews and whatnot, but, sadly, those interviews are few and far between. I have a huge problem finding pants that fit correctly and I still hang on to a stupid fantasy that I will one morning wake up two sizes smaller, so I also have some pants in there that don’t even zip up all the way.
Anyway, I moved my summer stuff to the office closet and my winter stuff to the bedroom closet and blarg, my winter clothes are fug. Am I too short to wear long skirts (down to the ankle)? I’m about 5′4″. Sometimes they look okay and other times I look like the side of a barn. My jeans are all too long and even though they’re all the same size, some are loose and some are not. My shoes and boots are in a jumble on the floor of the closet, mixed in with summer flip-flops and sandals. PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP ME.
Leah on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 2:55 pm
The best thing that ever happened to me was stumbling upon a Tim Gunn book signing. I’ve been following his 10 staples for every wardrobe and in less than 3 months my whole closet has changed into a collection that I love. It seems so simple, it’s almost stupid. I highly recommend the book.
Maggie on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 2:56 pm
I have to do mine too. Ung.
Michael on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Tim Gunn talks about his 10 staples for a woman’s wardrobe on his show, too. Does he do a list for men in the book, Leah?
Now I want to see you on Tim Gunn’s show or What Not To Wear, only you’re way too stylish and adorable to make it. You always look chic and cool, bitch. I’m not the most fashionable guy, but one thing I can do is EDIT. I wear everything in my closet, or it doesn’t stay.
I’d love to spend the day putting your stuff in KEEP, MEND, DONATE, and TOSS piles like Tim does…and if Tim would be there with us, so be it.
Michael on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 3:10 pm
It kinda helps to say BLARG, doesn’t it?
freakgirl on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Somebody please explain Tim Gunn’s 10 Essentials to me. Does this mean I can only have 10 things in my closet?
1. Basic Black Dress
2. Trench Coat
3. Classic Dress Pants
4. Skirt
5. Blazer
6. Classic White Shirt
7. Day Dress
8. Cashmere Sweater
9. Jeans
10. Sweatsuit Alternative
Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item Under $20
Now. I own pretty much all of that stuff. However, I work at home. I don’t need to dress up all that much. Don’t get me started on his “sweatsuit alternative.” On one of his shows, that “alternative” ended up being a $100 halter sundress. HE CALLED IT A “DOGWALKING OUTFIT.” The hell? I’m sorry, but no.
I just feel like following this list gives you a generic closet that doesn’t reflect anything about who you are. But I haven’t read his book; I’m hoping it gives more details and leeway than his show does?
freakgirl on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Michael, please come help. Bring Landis.
Tim Gunn would make me throw out all my shoes. I know he would. You would, too.
But thanks for calling me stylish. Heh. If you could see me now…
Michael on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 3:41 pm
OMG, if Landis will do house calls, the line forms behind me, ho.
The thought of me, Tim Gunn and Landis in your closet will carry me through the rest of the week.
Cathy on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever managed to buy a pair of pants off the rack that fit properly, even if they’re expensive. I try and follow the What Not to Wear Guidelines: buy pants that fit the biggest part of you (for me, that’s my hips) and have the rest tailored.
I pretty much always need the waist taken in, and also the hems shortened. I just use the tailor at my local dry cleaner.. I think I pay about $12 to have them hemmed and $15 for the waist. It does add extra money, for sure, but then my pants don’t fall down and I don’t have to roll them. It also means often going a size higher than I wish I had to, but in the end it’s a better fit.
WntW also advises having the pants fall straight from the hip, e.g. don’t come in again at the knee or taper.. they claim it makes you look skinnier..
I just wish I could have them take me shopping. I’d like to skip the humilating part where they show how everything in my closet makes me look like crap, but the part where they pick out the clothes for me sounds good!
freakgirl on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 4:45 pm
I love my pants that fall straight from the hip. They do look more flattering, at least on me.
I never get stuff tailored. It’s so dumb that I don’t. It just never occurs to me. I need to start, though. I have a few summer skirts that are too big around the waist. Do you think a tailor would also sew up button-down shirts? I like the look of a fitted button-down, but I always get that gap/button-strain over the boobular area.
I could try these, too, I suppose:
http://privacystrips.com/index.html
Soosan on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Those strips looks incredible… and are probably 10x better than my safety pin method.
Cathy I’m with you… I would love to spend a day shopping with Stacy and Clinton. I’d also settle for the credit card.
Greater Czarina on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 7:32 pm
I used to be a horrible clothing packrat, saving every article of clothing for a ridiculous number of years, whether they fit or not, whether I’d ever wear them again or not. I hate to tell you how long after I had my Boo I kept my maternity clothes.
I just got sick of the closet clutter and got ruthless. I threw every damned thing that I hadn’t worn in a full calendar year into giveaway bags (nothing damaged, of course). If it didn’t fit — too big or small — it went. Shoes from college — buh-bye. It felt really, really great, both from a decluttering perspective and from a help those in need perspective.
Which reminds me, about time to tackle ‘em again….
freakgirl on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I’m embarrassed to say that I do declutter about twice a year. Problem is, I just buy new stuff to replace discarded items, I guess. This past year I wouldn’t allow anything into my closet without getting rid of something already in it.
I think a big part of my problem is that I feel like I need choices. Yet I pretty much wear the same pieces over and over.
Sigh.
ken on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 1:43 am
I don’t know who Tim Gunn is but I need some male wardrobe help. I think it’s against the law for a man to have more clothes than his (stylish) wife but I do. I have way more shoes than her too. I just can’t part with anything. I’m getting better but still need work.
Sorry, I’m not helping, just adding my own problems to the mix.
freakgirl on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 7:58 am
Freakgirl.com needs a wardrobe intervention!!!
Rain on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Can I just add that the last time I tried to buy jeans from a major retailer I won’t mention…ok, it was Old Navy….the size I usually wear was way too big, and the size one below it was way too small. What. The. Hell? I guess I could get the too big size, but I’d feel like a dork getting jeans tailored…