Chapter 5: "It's So You"... Total Style

jnbythesea · **Chapter 5: "It's So You"... Total Style**

Wardrobe Planning Part 1.

Now you have to do some thinking about what you have left in your closet at this point. What do you have? What do you need?

The author describes in detail several different types of wardrobes (business, personal casual, maternity, post-partum, travel, etc), and you take a quiz to determine which types of wardrobes you really need.

In addition, you think about how you want your wardrobe to work:

A. Mix and Match: every top and bottom is different, but every top can go with every bottom (Geranimals for Grown-ups).

B. Spectrum: every bottom is in a shade of the same neutral color. Every top is different, but each top matches every bottom.

C. Monochromatic: Every top and bottom is in a shade of the same neutral color. (this type of dressing, BTW, is the most slimming).

Being a SAHM, all I need is a personal casual wardrobe and a small business casual wardrobe (for church, meetings, parties- that type of event). If I decide to jet off to Paris, I'll need a travel wardrobe, too, but that is not currently in the works. SIGH. What I have now is mix and match, but the spectrum approach does appeal to me. Then dressing would be even easier.

The description of each type of wardrobe is extremely detailed, so you are not left guessing about what is what. I like that.

But, OK- the author gives a list of ten rules for planning each wardrobe you might need. Rule Number One is "less is more". Rules number 3,5,7 and nine are also "less is more".

So what is a good number of items to have in each wardrobe? What does "less" really mean? Drumroll..... eight. Not eighteen, just plain eight

. Doesn't sound like much, does it? But that is eight items per wardrobe. So, if you work, you'd have eight items in your business wardrobe, and 8 in your personal casual, etc. The author tells us you should be able to see all parts of a wardrobe in a single glance. If you know what you have, you can plan. If you have a million items crammed in your closet, how can you find anything to wear?

And if you think eight items isn't enough, rest assured, it is. I peeked ahead to the next chapter, and the author shows how one wardrobe with 8 items turns into 15 outfits. And that is even before accessories. And she gives several similar examples with different wardrobes. It can be done.

Her approach to planning your wardrobe is very logical, and it showed me that I already have plenty in my personal casual wardrobe, even after the extreme purging. But say I am getting tired of my Old Navy Perfect Fit Striped long-sleeve T that I have been wearing for five years? Well, I can replace it, but if I bring something new home, then something I already have has to go.

And that is one more step to keeping clutter under control....

Aubrey's mom · 02-01-2008, 09:46 AM

Does she give a breakdown for the eight pieces? Like 5 tops, 3 bottoms? I know that I wouldn't want to wear the same top to work twice in the same week but pants you can get away with more easily. Eight pieces would definitely simplify things!

KathrynHannah · 02-01-2008, 09:53 AM

Eight?!?! I thought my wardrobe was simple but I have a lot more than eight! This is inspiring!

Does she cover seasons too. Like 8 pieces a season? Or 8 altogether? If yes does she count two seasons (hot and cold) or 4 (winter, spring, summer, fall).

jnbythesea · 02-01-2008, 09:53 AM

You can pick- five tops/three bottoms, 4/4, 2/6- whichever works for you.

SAHMto3boys · 02-01-2008, 11:28 AM

Wow, I'm thinking I'd want more than 2 bottoms (if I were working again) so I'd probably do 5/3, but then you're wearing the same 5 tops to work every week. I think after a while it'd get pretty boring... and people might start to wonder.

I don't see how 8 can do it. It's got to be 8 per season, right? But even then... wow! I don't even know if I want to try! I can't imagine getting by with 8 t-shirts, let alone 5 t-shirst & 3 pants.

jnbythesea · 02-01-2008, 11:36 AM

I think her concept is eight pieces per wardrobe. For your work wardrobe, 8 pieces. For your casual wardrobe, eight pieces. For your transitional seasons wardrobe, eight pieces.
And so on. So you wouldn't necessarily have a closet empty save for 8 items. And there would be overlap between wardrobes, I imagine... like a sweater set, which could be worn for winter or just the sweater part for transitional seasons.

By grouping your clothes into groups of eight for your needs, you can stay organized and know what you have.... at least that is how I am reading it.

jennycassada · 02-01-2008, 01:40 PM

I have to get this book. It sounds so interesting!

Thanks for posting on it. Although 8 pieces sounds like so few pieces, I just wonder how many pieces out of several I actually wear.

maggie · 02-01-2008, 05:01 PM

This is very interesting. I have more than that, but I have pared down over the years. I have been staying at home for 8 years now and each year my wardrobe gets more simple because I simply don't need to dress up like I used to. I couldn't swing 8, though. Even though I seem to grab the same 2 pairs of jeans and 2 fleece pullovers and a t shirt every day, I need the comfort of having some choices for the days that I need to look more pulled together.

The turning point for me was when I was pregnant with my last son a few years ago and our house was on the market. I packed up all of my clothes except for my maternity clothes and my closet was so wonderfully clean. By the time we had moved my son was born and I left those boxes taped up until I could fit into most of my clothes again. As I unpacked the boxes, 3/4 of the stuff went right to Goodwill because I realized I hadn't missed it and didn't want to look at it in my new, much tidier closet. Ever since then I have followed that bit of advice about getting rid of one thing if I buy a new thing, and it works out really well for me. If I buy a new pair of yoga pants, I get rid of the old ones that made me feel like I needed a new pair in the first place. I just bought new running shoes this week and I ditched the old ones before I took the new ones out of the box.

Sundowner2 · 02-03-2008, 10:11 PM

I've been following along, and this sounds great. All but the 8 pices per wardrobe... we'll have to see on that... lol.

Our library doesn't have this, but I'm thinking I might just have to get it on Amazon... it just sounds so interesting, and I feel I'm at that inbetween stage in life, 27, just had a baby and Jr clothes (except for jeans) aren't fitting, yet the "adult" stuff looks frumpy... maybe if I knew what it was that flattered me, I wouldn't think that and would be able to have outfits that looked good on me, but more importantly, MADE me feel good.