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| Jackets, shoes, accessories |
Spurred on by the looming deadline of this blog post, I gathered together my Project 333 Spring wardrobe today. I counted 32 pieces in total, including shoes and accessories. There are two pieces missing, one in the wash, and one worn today - and they are duplicates of my stripey top in the third photo. The other two versions are red/white stripes and white/navy stripes.
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| Shirts, blouses, top |
I'm really happy with my Spring capsule and the great thing is - I had it all already. I don't need to buy anything! Some people might think that's really dull, boring and unimaginative and when I think about it from another's perspective, I can see that. But from my perspective it makes me really happy. It means I have bought well and am still enjoying my purchases.
You can click on each photo to view them larger.
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| Knit tops |
As Michael Kors would say on Project Runway 'I like separates'. The only time I wear dresses is in high summer.
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| Jeans, pants |
When I went to our bedroom to go through my Spring clothes, I had the thought that 33 items in clothes alone would be so restrictive and I wondered if I'd have to hide some pieces from you (I wouldn't do that) or tell the truth about having more than 33 pieces (I would do that). I was surprised at how far 33 items went, and I ended up including shoes and accessories simply because I couldn't see anything else I wanted to put in my collection.
Speaking of accessories, you will see I don't have any scarves shown. I am just not wearing scarves at the moment. It's been going on for a while too, I'm not sure what's up with that but I'm not going to push myself to wear a scarf just because 'it's chic'. I feel that I want to be more streamlined at the moment. I like to go with the flow of how I'm feeling.
The funny thing is, I will probably wear more of a variety of clothes this season than others because I have separated out my 32 items from everything else. Usually I rotate wearing a handful things at the left-hand side of my closet rail. Usually when I put something back I put it to the left, and I will still do that and then dress from the right to make sure I am wearing all my lovely things.
What I haven't included is special occasion clothes. It is so rare that I dress up or go anywhere fancy that I didn't see the point, and often if we go to the movies or out for dinner (also not often, because we love going home after a day of dealing with the public), it is straight after work so I'll wear what I wore to work that day.
If you are participating in Project 333 or sharing your new season Autumn/Fall or Spring wardrobe, please say so in the comments; I'd love to come and take a look. And if you aren't, do consider doing something like this. I had the thought that if I continue to do this every three months, it would make a great photograpic record of the evolvement of my wardrobe, and the same goes for you.
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Thirty Chic Days book giveaway
I've probably gone on enough about this already, but if you haven't joined the competition to win a signed copy of my book 'Thirty Chic Days: Practical inspiration for a beautiful life', it closes Friday 30th September at midnight New Zealand time! You can enter the competition here, and I'll post your prize to you anywhere in the world. Good luck!
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New book 'Financially Chic'
To celebrate my new book out this week: 'Financially Chic: Live a luxurious life on a budget, learn to love managing money, and grow your wealth' I am doing a 10-day video series of my favourite 'Financially Chic' tips. Days 1, 2 and 3 are below, and the rest will be on my YouTube channel as they are released.
If you want to, you can subscribe with the red subscribe button at the top right hand corner on YouTube and you will be emailed whenever I post a new video.
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Wishing you a lovely end of the week and weekend everyone!
Fiona
Hi Fiona, the new book looks wonderful! I like your top three tips. My husband and I are 35 years into what we call "a get rich slow scheme". One of my principles has been to never buy food or drink when I am out and about. I think it has been as good for my waistline as it has for my wallet, since most street food is horrible for you. I have also never developed a taste for coffee drinks, which I celebrate whenever I see the lineups at Timmies (a much beloved Canadian icon that specializes in coffee and doughnuts).
ReplyDeleteHi Kerry, I love the 'get rich slow' concept and I think that's what I've been doing as well. I virtually never buy food or drink when I'm out, unless it's a planned meal or outing.
DeleteIt has been lovely seeing your capsule wardrobe, with lots of mix and match things, so the combinations are almost endless. I should be going through my autumn winter wardrobe, but as I know exactly what I have (not a huge amount, and only the year before last did I begin to wear dresses again and now I have several to wear although those bought two years ago have pilled slightly so they have been relegated to the 2nd division, so to speak!) I also had to return the two pairs of boots I recently bought - I loved them, I wanted them to be right, but they just weren't comfortable enough. They fitted me, but the boot heel sort-of was uncomfortable under my heel. But today I've bought a lovely cardigan coat in navy, with some rust stripes (horizonal) on it - lovely for wearing with indigo jeans in autumn. I have just a few things in the wash and a few things to iron, and once that is done I shall review the autumn collection, so to speak!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love scarves. I almost bought one today when I bought the cardigan coat, but none of the ones I saw were as nice as ones I already had, so I left them where they were.
Margaret P
Margaret, your pilling dresses reminds me of a line from the wonderful Australian tv series 'Kath and Kim'. Kath had been shopping and was showing Kim her new top, saying 'it comes with its own pilling comb' which makes me laugh so much.
DeleteDe-pilling clothing makes it look like new, I love my little pilling shaver. Once a year I give mine and my husband's knits a going over. It's usually under the arms and down the sides that need doing the most.
I know just what you mean about boots with uncomfortable heels! It's like they aren't balanced properly or the heels are not in the right place.
That's exactly it with boots, Fiona! The heel felt to be right at the back and not under the heel at all, the balance was all wrong and very uncomfortable. My most comfy pair of boots was a Sale pair by Bally which are so old I've lost count of the years ... I know I used to wear them to work and I gave up working in 1992, so that makes them over 26 years old now, in the very least. they are black with knitted cuffs, the cuffs are a little ratty but in the deepest part of winter, with black jeans, they are so snug and comfy, I can't bear to part with them even now.
DeleteMargaret P
This is a great idea. I've heard about project 333 before and I wanted to try it but forgot about it til now :)
ReplyDeleteAutumn has just started on this part of the world so it would be the perfect time for trying this. Although I won't be counting
accesories like necklaces and earrings because I just love the variety and fun they bring to my everyday outfits. I'll let you know how it goes.
Good luck and have fun, Tatanky! Love your profile picture :)
DeleteI love what you say about your wardrobe: that you bought well and are still enjoying it. Bravo! Honestly, I can imagine that is what Coco Chanel would have said about hers. That is truly chic.
ReplyDeleteTrue, I can totally imagine Coco loving and wearing her favourite pieces for years. A very European way to look at things.
DeleteHi there Fiona, I really like your wardrobe here. I noticed you buy similar styles in multiple colors like me. If I find an item that works, I think it's a great idea and I do it all the time.
ReplyDeleteD.
I definitely do, D. I've learned NOT to buy multiples all at once for the most part, although I did for the striped tops. Buy your favourite colour first, then go back after a few weeks or a month if you end up loving it. Otherwise you could end up with multiples of something that doesn't work as well for you as you thought it might.
DeletePS I would like to add, mainly in response to D, that if you find an item that 'works', then to it 'all the time'. I've found a pair of shoes I love, suede, small Louis-style heel, with a bar across the vamp, not as a Mary Jane which is straight, but at a diagonal which looks less lumpen. So I've bought two pairs of blue suede (one to keep for when the first pair are past their best), a pale grey suede pair, and have a red pair on order (as they're out of stock.) I've done this before with a style of shoe that is both comfortable and smart.
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
Great advice, Margaret :) Thank you.
DeleteIt's great to see your project 333 wardrobe, as I'm doing it for the first time, although I have cheated and not included jewellery (probably I'll include that in the future, when I'm a bit more used yo it). It will be interesting to see how I get on with slightly less clothes, and without the opportunity to just go and buy something if I have an event coming up! I'm very excited to continue simplifying my life and stuff. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteCheat away, it's not meant to be an exercise in suffering. Be creative and do it your way! It's so fun to be excited by something as everyday as dressing when you try a new way of looking at it.
DeleteLove it, Fiona! And I ZIPPED through your finances book - wonderful. I bookmarked a bunch of pages. Such an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteAlso ... on the scarf thing - I know that apparently everyone in Paris wears them, but honestly after I tried wearing them a few years back I decided that they only served to make me look like an old lady. And not a chic woman of a certain age, either! ha! : )
That's how I feel too, Kristi! Glad I'm not the only one.
DeleteSo glad you enjoyed my new book :)
Wearing scarves doesn't come naturally to some people, but there are so many ways of wearing them. Perhaps, if you and Kristi have a simple outfit and feel it needs something extra, but not jewellery, then perhaps you could tie a scarf to your bag? I do this sometimes and provided it's not a wet day so that if you pop the bag down somewhere it's not dragging in a puddle, then it can look rather chic. Of course, there are also many ways of tying a scarf so that it doesn't look old-lady-ish (tied under the chin like the Queen is OK for the Queen, but it does make other people look like a washer-woman, I'm afraid so if you've not tried a variety of ways, then perhaps you might like to try again? Of course, much also depends on the style of scarf - there is the little neckerchief, died a la Bardo, or the long stole-shaped scarf, or the heavy silk Hermes-style head square. Don't write them all off just yet, have another go, I say.
DeleteMargaret P
I do like small scarves tied to the handle of my bag, or around my hairbun. I've never worn a scarf like the Queen :) I definitely haven't written all scarves off forever, just for now I'm not feeling it!
DeleteIn these days of bloggers who post all their shopping trips and wear the latest outfits/items, it is so refreshing to see your post. I don't more, but I want what I have to be 100%. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIf anyone wants to see shopping trips on this blog, they may be disappointed... :)
DeleteFor the most part for me, a shopping trip is for a purpose. Sure sometimes I'll browse, but I don't shop just for fun. I've got too many other ways to have fun!
Fascinating to see your spring capsule Fiona. With your blonde hair and perfect skin, I'm sure you look lovely in everything, but I can't resist observing that many of the items you've chosen look a bit tired, at least to me. I could never get away with wearing jeans to work--the one time I did, twenty years ago in another country, I forgot to go to class and the students had to come knocking on my office door to wake me from my weekend reverie!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I first read about Project 333 on Janice Riggs's wonderful The Vivienne Files site (you can even download a hugely useful worksheet!) and have done her version--just clothes, no jewelry, scarves, or shoes--for a couple of years. I've found it very helpful: at the end of each season, you can see how many times you wore each item, and realize that (for example) it's rarely cool enough to wear wool in the autumn, or that you just haven't worn something at all and it needs to go on to its next incarnation.
Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I feel lucky I can wear jeans to my workplace, not every can or wants to. I also know that the way I dress is not for everyone.
DeleteI love Janice's website and am always inspired by her work.
Actually, jeans are meant to look a little 'tired', they were originally the work horse of workaday clothes, we should not forget that. I remember reading a junior novel when I was 13, long before jeans were de rigeur in the UK (the novel being Look to the New Moon by Frances Fullerton Neilson) when a girl from Georgian goes to stay with her cousin in Maine. Much fun was poked at the country girl from Georgia until she wore her jeans. "How do you get them that wonderful colour?" she is asked (I paraphrase without going to my ancient copy of this lovely book) The sophisticated cousin in Maine says that she gets their servant to 'Clorax' hers but they don't come up like that! It transpires that the Georgian sun bleaches the country cousin's jeans, and they therefore have a worn look which is how they should be. Long live the lived-in look for jeans, I say.
DeleteMargaret P
I love hearing about your book memories Margaret and may look this one up even though it is junior. I used to love Mallory Towers and the Bobbsey Twins when I was that age.
DeleteI assure you it's a delightful story, Fiona, very much of it's time - think of the romantic films of that era (the 1950s) such as A Summer Place with Tuesday Weld (who remembers Tuesday Weld ... but why isn't anyone called Monday or Wednesday? And Autumn and Summer are names, but not Spring and Winter, unless anyone else knows differently? Sorry, I've gone off piste again ... but a good story is a good story, whether for young teenagers or adults, and I really enjoyed this when I was 13 or 14. I am that young teenager again when I read it.
DeleteMargaret P
PS My mistake - it wasn't Tuesday Weld in A Summer Place, but Sandra Dee! Silly me, another senior moment!
DeleteMargaret P
Margaret, I love this: ' I am that young teenager again when I read it.'
DeleteAnonymous, Some of Fiona's items might look a little tired to some, but I think it's fantastic. All it means is that she uses them well and I believe we could all learn from it. Many items of my wardrobe are well-worn also, they've taken on a certain "character" ;)
ReplyDeleteThere is a photo I recall that Fiona posted when she met Mireille Guilliano of the French Women Don't Get Fat book series. Ms. Guilliano is seated in the photo, and one thing that struck me when I saw the image of her was that her shoes are "well-worn." I immediately thought she was very chic for using probably her favorite shoes often. I was completely inspired by that mind-set, and glad to see it fully endorsed by someone as chic as she is. I, myself, have two pairs of boots that I've lost count on how many years I've owned them. I wear them practically every day, every winter. I've had them re-soled a couple times. They are perfect, the leather is quite worn now but I love them, they are sooo comfortable and I quite like the patina they have acquired. I used to donate or throw out items that I thought needed to be "retired" because they looked a bit used, but now I hang onto them as long as I can.
D.
D, I'm certainly with you on the joys of developing patina. Like you, I routinely have boots and shoes re-heeled and re-soled, and I also have skirts and trousers re-lined. I'm even guilty of wearing favourite items until they are in tatters: I must have worn the dark grey Aquascutum trench coat I bought with my first proper paycheck for at least twenty years, more likely twenty-five!
DeleteEvery workplace has its vibe too; clearly Fiona's retail business in New Zealand must have a pretty relaxed vibe, very different from the university in Japan where I work. I'd guess that many men at my workplace wear suits simply because it's easy, no thought required. Those who wear jeans seem to me to be saying "I may be a French professor, but I'm still a 1968 radical at heart." For women, dressing up, at least a bit, is a way of fitting in and being taken seriously, but it's also a way of conveying to one's students that becoming a professor doesn't mean unbecoming a woman, that there is life, and fun, on the other side of the classroom!
G.
D, I never noticed that about Mireille's shoes! I'll have to go back and take a look. Here's the link in case anyone else is interested to see :) http://www.howtobechic.com/2014/02/an-evening-with-mireille.html
Delete'Patina' is one of my favourite words and equally applies to leather, fabrics such as linen, timber furniture, stone floors etc. Love it!
I'm also very mindful of being respectful of resources by buying well and looking after my possessions. I've said it before that I probably do keep clothes longer than others, downgrading them to homewear if appropriate.
Some items get better with age too, for example, jeans, leather jackets and belts, soft cotton shirts.
G, yes, it depends where you live and work as to how dressy or casual your clothing is. New Zealand is very casual overall, not to say that I use that as an excuse to dress shabbily; I dress to please myself.
DeleteIt's such a European sensibility to enjoy your good-quality items for years and years.
I think of the old English upper class too - they would routinely leather-patch the elbows of tweed jackets and wear all their clothing until is in in threads. Having everything all new, bright and shiny is the opposite to their style.
Bravo for you getting all your clothes ready for the project!
ReplyDeleteI have only purchased a few new things for Fall and Winter...a walking jacket for inclement weather, a puffy vest, a V neck top, grey wool skirt and now I need to replace my ballet flats...sadly the toes get scuffed as they are such soft leather...
It feels so good to fill in the gaps, but first you have to identify them. That's the hard bit sometimes!
DeleteI bought a good quality walking jacket a number of years ago now and it is still great. It was more than I wanted to pay at the time, but I chose quality over cheap. Why am I even surprised that my 'gamble' paid off?
I agree with D - first I don't think Fiona's clothes look tired AT ALL - the jeans are supppsed to look like that ☺️ And also as D said / an item with patina is truly chic - and I can't imagine a life without jeans - utterly effortless style and insouciance - give me a well worn Louis Vuitton over a shiny sparkling one any day!
ReplyDeleteThe more distressed the jeans, the more expensive they are :) And it all comes down to each person's invididual style. I love having a pair of distressed jeans, plus my grey/green pants which were faded looking from the first day. It adds texture to my outfit.
DeleteI love Greg Lauren's Instagram feed and find it really inspiring to do different things with fabric or repurposing clothing. https://www.instagram.com/greglauren/
I agree about the LV too, Kristi! I love leather goods with character.
Thank you for inspiring me with the 333 project. I know Janice "invented" it, but until you mentioned your adventure, it did not "click" with me until you wrote about it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am not strictly adhering to the plan, I did pull out all my navy, gray, and olive pieces as base colors and added saffron & purpley-magenta accents. A local store had these color schemes in many of their displayed pieces. I had all of the colors in my wardrobe already but had not thought of putting them together in a planned way. I only had to add a few tops that pulled the colors together. I also added a few scarves-we are heading into fall, I live just south of the Quebec border, and the rooms where I work can be cold & drafty. Then I counted up all the outfits based on navy trousers or skirt & I had 212 possibilities. I haven't even begun pulling together outfits based on the gray & olive! The clothes that did not fit the color scheme, were pushed to the side and will feel like old friends when I return to them after I tire of the colors I am using now. Enjoy your warm weather!
Courtney Carver is the original 'inventor' of the official Project 333, I believe, but the capsule clothing concept has been around forever, of course.
DeleteI love that you are having fun with your wardrobe and the colours you are putting together sound divine.
You make a great point at the end of your comment too. It's not that you will declutter all the rest of your wardrobe (unless you decide to), it's that you will give them a rest and come back to them next time around. It's a great way to re-appreciate them, 'old friends' as you say. I love that.
Bonjour Fiona, I like how you are not pushing yourself to wear a scarf just because "it's chic".... That's speaking your truth... Love that. Also, since, I am having almost 365 "summer" days over here, it may be tricker to just have a capsule seasonal wardrobe. But I think I can possibly create my own curated closet for "all" seasons.... LOL.... It's lovely to see your selection. Thank you for sharing.~Karen.
ReplyDeleteBonjour Princess, exactly: you can have one year-round wardrobe :)
DeleteYour capsule wardrobe looks quite like mine: lots of separates (I'm nursing so dresses just don't work for me), classic pieces.
ReplyDeleteAre you planning on releasing the new book as a paperback? I dislike ebooks but want to read it! Thanks for the video series, looks interesting.
It's just out now in paperback, Carrie. Both versions are on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dGirGn
DeleteYay for classics and separates!
I am on the last day of vacation and am waiting to get home to get your book. After two weeks at the beach, I need some things to look forward to. I also plan to try the "opposite Project 333" approach to figure out what works in my wardrobe. Hopefully, by January, I will know which things I wear and which I don't. Trying to wear everything at least once and pair things in different ways. We will what happens. I'm really going to enjoy hearing about your experiment and how it impacted your way everyday way of dressing.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear how Opposite Project 333 goes, Kristien :)
DeleteI know what you mean about post-holiday goodies to look forward to.
I love seeing the wardrobe laid out like that. For some reason the photos look really helpful for creating outfits. I'm thinking of doing this for my own use and printing the photos and hanging them on my closet wall so I can visually see them like this instead of hanging. I just think you can see it better this way. I love it. I love your choices and colors that you've picked out! I'm reading Financially chic now and will definitely check out the you tube videos and subscribe to your channel. Now that I'm back home and in the swing of things I cannot wait to dig in!
ReplyDeleteI think so too, Stephanie, and especially the quad picture on my Instagram of all four photos together. I can instantly see good combos/new combos.
DeleteI agree about being yourself and hey, if you don't like scarves, don't wear them. How can one be comfortable in their own skin if they are wearing something because it's supposed to be chic. (ex. for me those huge sunglasses, no thank you.)
ReplyDeleteI meant to put my name, not anonymous.
DeleteI tried scarves, I felt old and dumpy in them (like Kristi said above), maybe I'll wear them in the future, maybe I won't. Simple!
DeleteNo huge fly-eyes for you then, Carla? :)
I think with the scarves, it's how you wear them. For instance a very light weight infinity scarf with a t-shirt is a young look. Or peeking out of a jean jacket. The small square tied at the neck...not so much.
DeleteSo true, Carla. Something just clicked for me with your comment, and it's that scarves can be cyclical in fashion just as clothing is. Thank you for that!
DeleteI read the post as soon as it came up, but haven't had a chance to comment. So much going on with this one post! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts on the capsule wardrobe concept is that I'd love to do something like this, and I guess in a way I have but in a very informal way. My basics (pants and skirts) are all neutrals, and my sweaters and tops are where I add colour. I don't wear jackets much, but I have a red, white and black one that go with all my basics. I think I'd have trouble doing 33 items though because my weekend/evening wardrobe is typically jeans based while my work a day wardrobe is business casual and rarely includes jeans but does have a mix of separates and dresses. I think I could manage 33 items for work and a smaller capsule for weekend/evenings. I'll have to investigate how much I actually have for both and actually take some pictures, but for now I'm happy having purged my closet of things that don't fit or I don't love.
I love your choices for your spring wardrobe, and how great that you didn't have to buy anything. I am in the process of slowly purchasing those missing pieces (navy skirt, light grey skirt, silk blouse, LBD) and updating my shoes due to my two pairs of basic pumps having a run in with a puppy.
Love your videos too. I always try to keep my living room B&B ready (not always easy as it's the dumping ground for the rest of the family when they walk in the door) and I do my best to keep the bedroom the same, although sometimes it gets a little cluttered. The rest of the house is a work in progress! I still have a lot of decluttering to do. Agreed that sometimes the cheaper options are as good or better than more expensive ones. I switched to Garnier's BB cream a couple years ago instead of foundation...I don't need cream plus foundation and my skin looks just as good as when I used both. Dept store brands of skin care for my evening routine have been replaced with some of the newer Olay products which have as much going for them as the more expensive brands.
Thanks Fiona for always offering kind and simple advice for living better everyday. Always inspiring.
Hi Cindy, yes, I imagine it could be harder to do Project 333 when you have a separate work and casual wardrobe like many do. I feel fortunate that one wardrobe does me for work and play.
DeleteThanks so much for your detailed comment. I am smiling at your naughty puppy. Still, I suppose it's a good excuse to go shopping :) You have no idea how much repeat business we get at our shoe store from puppies and dogs chewing shoes and flip-flops...
Fiona,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great blog post. I have been wanting to do Project 333 "properly" for several years now. I live in a very rural place and work from home and in a casual office environment. I like to look pulled together but have a hard time creating a wardrobe that works. Any thoughts about creating a capsule wardrobe for a casual rural environment that is tidy and pulled together?
I second the thank you for the kind and simple advice!
L.
Hi L, I know just what you mean about wanting to do something 'properly' and putting it off when you can't do it perfectly! I am just the same (and trying to be more 'done is better than perfect' about things now).
DeleteI would have a look on Pinterest with search terms such as you describe - 'casual rural wardrobe' or 'casual workplace wardrobe' etc. Then, see what you already have that fits in and see what you are missing that you could shop for.
Think about your favourite work outfits - can you replicate them in other colours, keeping the same silhouette and proportions? Ask yourself 'what would my perfect casual work outfit be?' and also look at what others are wearing, if there is anyone you work with that you admire how they dress.
Good luck and let me know how you go!
I'm so happy that it's becoming fashionable to have a capsule wardrobe of well-made clothing and shoes. Thank you for showing yours, Fiona. Like you, Ive been onto this for years. I don't enjoy shopping so much anymore, so I buy the best I feel I can afford, separates that I can mix and match, and sometimes the same item in different colors. And, if I find a good pair of khaki pants that fit well, I may even buy two of the very same. I adore the way that you dress. To me, it's classy and understated. I'm making a judgement here, but genuine class doesn't require that everything be perfect and new, whether it's a car, home furnishings or clothes. Thank you for another wonderful post. So pleased to have found your blog and books.
ReplyDeleteHi Pammie, thanks so much for your comment. We sound very similar in our wardrobe ethos!
Delete