Where to start...

[syed]

Bumping an oldy, but I think this thread is essential reading.

I also have something to contribute of my own, a little wardrobe building project I have undertaken. Basically, towards the end of last year and beginning of this year I sold and gave away almost all of my wardrobe - anything that did not fit quite right or that I was not 100% happy with had to go. In one way I wanted to experience a minimalism (and indeed reduced to bare functionality the catharsis and lack of anxiety in what to wear was interesting), but mainly I wanted to start afresh and build the wardrobe that I really want.

I think now is a pretty good time to start anew, mainly because for the next six months I will only be at home or in hospital (I was asked to take a year out of university once again because of my health), so only owning three pairs of trousers and one piece of outerwear doesn't really matter.

However onto building a better wardrobe. This will no doubt sound rather stupid, but stick with me! Before I get dressed each morning, I write down the outfit I would like to be wearing. Money is not an issue, however appropriateness is - the outfit has to be practical. I am currently in week two of the process, however I plan to go for at least a month. After that time I will assess my outfit list, and that should hopefully give me a better understanding of where to start and where to go.

I am thinking that doing this once every six months or once a year will give me a better understanding of where my tastes are heading, but also give me a more concise idea of where to place my money in terms of buying clothing. I think this way I will cut out more of those impulse/ill-advised purchases, and give way to a better wardrobe.

I may actually post the list after a month is up if anybody is interested (...or not). But I would be interested if anyone else decided to take part and write out their month of what they would like to wear day-by-day.

[mortalveneer]

Having done so myself, I can attest to the value of taking a hiatus from the board, either for financial reasons, or to allow one's style to develop independently for a time...

And Faust, I hear you on the dark blue jeans...I've still got more than one pair, but they keep getting less and less wear...

[Peasant]

I only know that I don't know. I want to refine and challenge my way of style. I don't know if this place is for me. No harm in asking I guess?

If you have some time, read the Carpe thread. Yes. All of it. Many respected designers within this site stemmed from the label. And many are compared to it. If there are any designers on here you feel particularly drawn to, read their threads as well. It won't take much time to determine what works for you. If you have any access to good boutiques, I'd visit them. There's nothing like seeing the pieces in the flesh, so-to-speak.

[Faust]

bump for new members.

Looking at my old posts and thinking about what I used to have in my closet (brrrrr :-)). I don't even wear dark blue jeans anymore (although I still have one pair).

[tomatous]

redacted

[FlintsDoorknob]

Is this the place for beginners?

I only know that I don't know. I want to refine and challenge my way of style. I don't know if this place is for me. No harm in asking I guess?

[Spencer]

Heh, Freudian typo?

Shit man. I actually fixed it (or so I thought) because I initially put tail and error as I was multitasking and watching the internet naughtiness. That stuff is tuff on concentration.

[nictan]

thanks for all the reply, Faust, FTB, mike, spencer, heirloom. :)

haha and the part about trial and error, yea, im hoping error is kept to a minimum. heh

[Fade to Black]

Trail and error kid, trail and error. The real trick is keeping the error to a minimum, because this shit ain't cheap.

Heh, Freudian typo?

[Spencer]

Trail and error kid, trail and error. The real trick is keeping the error to a minimum, because this shit ain't cheap.

[Fade to Black]

I don't think he's a troll, I remember nictan from sufu....just I don't think something as organic, ineffable and complex as 'style' is something that could/should be discovered and downloaded off the internet. You have to live until it comes out by itself.

[Faust]

i guess people (myself included) are kind of touchy because of last week's trolling. welcome. still, as others said, trying on "a look" smacks of fashionista-like behavior, which lacks integrity, which ruffles people. i don't know how you know what fits you - you just know, a lot of times it's just a visceral reaction that you should attempt to analyze.

[nictan]

sorry i dont mean to be a 'troll' or anything on this forum. but i guess, to most of the people here, you gotta start somewhere right? i mean like how do you know, from day 1, which designer's ideas or thinking behind each garment relates to your 'personality'. i definitely do not know whats behind MMM or ann.d or rick owens. but thats what im here for, to learn from other members.

at the end of the day, i might realise that what i find now aesthetically pleasing may not suit my personality, and will gladly move on, instead of trying to force it onto myself.

and i definitely do not package them as a combo, but you can hardly put supreme together with rick owens, which is what i mean by varying styles.

sorry if ive offended anyone here. if i did, it is purely unintentional.

[lowrey]

I don't think the troll accusation is fair at all, at least based on this short discussion.

still agree with what FTB said though.

god, you guys just won't cut people some slack. I think you read way too much into his formulation