Hemming and Hawing

When I did my 2011 roundup of favorite buys, I included the See by Chloe Patchwork Print dress that is so comfy and that I enjoy wearing very much. It yields a lot of compliments and generally feels very me without going too far into twee-overload. And I have written before about my tendency to buy multiples when I really like something. So when I found the alternate version (called the Folklore print) on Yoox with a % off and free ship coupon, I decided to take a chance. Now I'm not sure if this print (which sort of evokes tiny garden gnomes or troll dolls... haha) is venturing toward twee in a bad way. What do you think? Sorry for the crappy mirror photo. I haven't had time to take proper ones and the return deadline is fast approaching.

Anthro-centric OOTD and avoiding closet obsolescence

Two Wheeler Shirtdress

Cartography Cardigan

Miu Miu flats

I wore this outfit to celebrate a belated Mother's Day with my family this weekend. I saw my mother on the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend but because my brother was working on May 8th, she decided to postpone things. It was important to her that all the kids could be together. It felt sad that I didn't get to hug her on the actual day but I did get celebrate and hug with Chris's mom and stepmom. Yesterday was pretty chilly but I still decided to go bare legged. Today the high is in the low 50s so bare legs aren't an option.

When I bought the Two Wheeler dress by Porridge I knew about its weird fit issues. If I wanted the dress to hug my waist the sleeves were going to be too tiny to button. It's bizarre but I guess I have meatier limbs than Porridge imagined. haha This means I often wear it layered if I don't choose to use my hair-tie button-extending solution (wherein I take a thin elastic hair tie, loop it around the button, thread through the hole, then hook).

I didn't buy anything this weekend which I consider to be a victory. I was in two malls and a Gabriel Brothers. When I browse the stores I often gravitate toward items that are facsimiles of what I already possess. I suppose this affirms consistency in my tastes. But it also can lead to a lot of superfluous shopping. On multiple occasions, I end up buying duplicates, backups, and/or stuff that foresees an eventual (conscious or subconscious) obsolescence. I already wrote about how I purchase in multiples (which I am trying to avoid because it can get a bit hoarder-y) and dress with monogamy (which is a good thing because it brings down cost per wear). But I will soon compile a list that evidences instances of planned and unplanned obsolescence in my wardrobe. I think it will be a good reminder about how silly it is to buy without purpose.

I have been coveting Kate Spade's Violetta dress for some time now, but its color similarities to the Two Wheeler have stopped me from purchasing. Even with this knowledge, a nagging consumer impulse has lingered. I considered selling the Two Wheeeler to replace it with the Kate Spade until I reasoned that my lifestyle is one where cotton makes more sense than silk. This weekend I pulled out the dress in part to remind myself that I have a perfectly cute blue shirtdress (so I need to stop hypothetically shopping by filling up my cart at katespade.com... that ritual can transition to literal shopping pretty quickly!). In light of my car repairs, the similarities should be plenty fuel to curb any impulses. Layering this with the map printed cardi isn't at all clever or new. I wore it almost the exact same way last September.

Do you have any tricks or tips that gently remind that nagging inner consumer when the things you covet replicate what you already own?

Conspicuously Printed OOTD

I had just worn this MBMJ paisley dress to school. But by that point I hadn't yet unearthed my thickest coats from storage. Due to plunging recent temperatures, I had to call in the warmest reserves. The only problem was, this particular Domino coat has always been a  tough match. Its unabashed, brightly-colored, semi-obnoxious "clown" print (as I've affectionately dubbed it) looks a little off with so many solid, non-neutral colors. And finding complimentary prints has proved even more difficult. Truth be told, I wear it most often plainer casual outfits comprised of black/gray tops and gray cords or denim. When I do pair it with a dress, there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. It goes so well with this other colorway of paisley that I opt not to separate the two. 

Underneath, I kept it simple. And since I had this dress taken in by my tailor, I can wear it unbelted. I did feel like a silly brand-groupie wearing a MBMJ coat, dress, and pumps all at once, but they work well enough together that it would be even sillier to fight it. I guess I could be guilty of matchy matchy, but the hues are just different enough to make it subtler, in person. I think.

So nice I bought it twice: Bold Boutonnière Dress

I felt like I hit the lottery when I found a poorly titled ebay auction for the black colorway of the popular summer/fall 2009 Bold Boutonnière dress from Anthropologie. The seller graciously accepted my request for a BIN and the dress came soon after. It is telling that I am more excited to find past season pieces (even when I already own versions of them) than the stuff that is just going on sale now for fall 2010. Anyway, I wore this dress yesterday to campus. It yielded many compliments as the Bold Boutonnière often does. I kept my cardigan on all day but hope to wear it as shown on the left to a holiday party or two. The skirt's stripes remind me of gift wrapping so it seems fitting. Over top of it, I wore a cashmere cardigan by Aqua and when outside, my Larrimor's Burberry find.

Seeing Double, Sometimes Triple: So Nice I've Bought It Twice!

My friend Dina from the fantastic fashion and beauty blog, Eye4Style made a recent entry about wardrobe duplicates and it got me thinking about the things I've loved so much that I had to return for seconds. Her post featured a visual of the iconic Louis Vuitton Speedy in its many incarnations over the years. Bag collectors often buy multiple pieces from a collection in different color and shape variations.

Motorcycle and Turnlock styles in multiple shapes/colors

There are a few reasons to engage in this type of consumer indulgence. Repeat purchases are smart buys if you find something that fits you perfectly, or if you fall in love with a piece that will transcend trends but perhaps not last forever. Shoes are a good example. Lots of people have bought and rebought their favorite pair of sneakers or their comfiest ballerina flats. While soles can be replaced with the help of a capable cobbler, certain shoe uppers just aren't able to last forever and continue to look great. You can only polish for so long.

Shoes by Theory, Tory Burch, and Marc by Marc Jacobs

It doesn't surprise me that the bulk of my multiples are footwear. My first items I recall buying in duplicate (or in this case, quadruplicate) were pairs of Converse Chuck Taylors. I bought them in different colors (black, navy, pink, white), different heights (high top, low top), and different rubber trims/captoes (black vs. white). Since then there have been a few new shoe favorites added to my multiples roster.

Items in multiple colors or colorways will add versatility to an otherwise safe wardrobe. When I develop an ensemble that I really like to wear, changing the color of a component piece enables me to repeat it more often without becoming bored. I have the same cashmere boyfriend cardigans by Cece  in six different colors. Over the last few seasons, I picked up my favorite Marc by Marc Jacobs dresses in multiple colorways when they've popped up on sale.

Liza and Alessandra Pussy Bow (what a tragic name)

If it is something that you just totally love, available for a competitive price, then multiples can be a safer bet than introducing something entirely new to your closet. I don't even like to think about the number of risk purchases I've made that have sat with tags still attached, gathering dust. But I love my multiples!

When I found good deals on merino wool Design History cardigans at TJ Maxx, I bought them in three colors. I also do this with tshirts and corduroy pants. The American Apparel deep V in 50/50 blend and the JCrew Matchstick cords come to mind. Staple pieces like these see a lot of wear. They are able to last longer and stay nicer if I have a few in the rotation.

What types of garments, shoes, and accessories have you bought in multiple?