I have been sort of right and sort of wrong the whole time.
I am Soft Dramatic, and Deep Autumn.
Now, there are adjustments to that, as all good color analysts have been saying all along.
My coloring takes the dark, deep, and intense colors from Autumn palette, adding from Winter ( and a little from my beloved Bright Spring).
My colors need to be alive, and neutral, and deep.
I can't wear muted colors, they drain me, and that made me think I can't be Autumn, but I kept going back to the Deep Autumn Winter palette. My "pastels" are white. 😁 All the other pastels are too light on me. (Well, not strictly true, but...)@
All this time I have been drawn to jewel tones and art nouveau, and then it turns out I should have listened to myself 😂
So, listen to yourself. Create your own color palette using the colors you love, and your own style essence by using the things you love.
Here's what I chose for Cherry Tomato when I started working with this -
And here's the new option - I couldn't decide between the shirt and the top, nor could I choose between the bags :-D I would have wanted a bit more "sensible" shoes, but when I saw those I couldn't resist... they will go so nicely with the hat... just add a pair of leather gloves, red, grey or black... So nice!
And here a couple of suggestions. As you see, it's not that old fashioned :-)
Next color is Starlight Blue. There's a lot more room for larimar and aquamarine jewelry here. I'd also like to give her a lot of bracelets, cuffs, and bangles, and rings.
I'm very happy about those shoes, that have grey, red, blue, and the almond milk greyish pale color.
And a couple of suggestions on how to wear these clothes. I have the blue top as a cardigan and as a top, worn front to back. She should really have a necklace :-D
The next color is the Wave Ride. It's pretty close to the Chinese blues.
I chose a more "rustic" fair isle cardigan, and was a bit worried it wouldn't work so well with the rather sophisticated base pieces, but it works very well. I also chose a scarf from the Russian company Lips&Brain
Then I noticed I had forgotten the bag. As the bag, I chose the Brahmin Caroline... I am in love with the texture and the colors! It might not fit that well to the rest of the wardrobe, but I don't care. :-D
And, frankly, I think it works. I would love to wear this outfit!
Next color is "Almond Milk" - or ecru or bone grey. One could call it "mother-of-pearl" or ivory, if one is being nice.
I chose the set of bangles to add a bit more color without adding color, and I chose the ecru version of Hermès' Premières Mains for the same reason... I think it works beautifully. It's surprisingly colorful being all neutrals. Pleases my Spring nature ;-)
Then there's the last color; Eggplant.
I really like the results of this exercise. So much so that I am thinking how I could make this happen in my life :-D
You might want to know what these items are, but I am not going to tell you, because in a couple of years, you will not find these things anywhere, the links will be dead, and you will have to replace them with something similar anyway. Also, you might not find them in your size, and perhaps the style/color doesn't really fit you and your lifestyle, or the items don't fit your budget.
To me, this is green and brown with golden accents. The main color (60%) is the forest greens, the 30% is the brown of the tree bark, and the accent is the golden yellow. Yes, there is a dash of blue, but it's more teal and purple. I am aware of the optical illusion that makes the painting appear more blue than it in reality is - it's framed by the orange/golden yellow colors that are the contrast color of blue. Nevertheless, in reality there isn't that much actual blue in the painting, and in my mind should be used as an additional color in prints and accessories
For example, I have here four scarves that would work beautifully with this color scheme.
It's two Hermes, Emily Carter's Tropical Toucans
and a generic green scarf sold on many sites under many names.
So, on with the wardrobe :-)
Now, Janice has created her wardrobe for a writer on a retreat, closed off the community, so no scarves, and just casual, comfortable clothes. I would skip the earrings, though :-D
Because of this, I don't think a silk scarf would work that well, let's give her a long winter scarf.
I basically kept only the dark grey pants and those olive green boots - I love them. I replaced the blue with olive green and the greys with that taupe/cocoa brown. I chose a yellow scarf, hat, and gloves, and I love those yellow shoes. My pieces are a bit more feminine. I also chose a longer coat, so that she can wear it over the long cardigan.
In my quest to have both a minimalistic and chic wardrobe, I came across the idea of the Classic 5 Piece French Wardrobe. I wonder where this originally started, but can’t find anything about its origins just yet. What I did find, however, is what this is all about. Basically, you start with the basics and build your wardrobe from there with just five classic, stylish, and high-quality pieces each season. The trick is to only buy five per season and no more. This alleviates the impulse buys and the sale rack purchases we all too soon regret. This avoids clutter in your closet and allows you to purchase high-quality garments that will last you for years. It also saves time and theoretically money, since you would not be buying things you do not absolutely love.
While I found quite a few posts on this 5 piece French Wardrobe, there was some conflicting advice and rules. The best one I found is from The Urban List and it is from this website from which I will base my information. The reason I am using this list as opposed to the others I found on various blogs is because this list is newer and it is based off of the wardrobe basics list that Calexico uses, which is a modern and fashionable boutique in Brisbane.
The rules:
Basics don’t count and are always allowed Accessories don’t count Shoes do count Socks and underwear don’t count All the rest counts
Pretty simple, right?
The Calexico Basics (my choices/substitutions are in parenthesis):
Tops
Black, grey, and white t-shirt Black, grey, and white tank Silk shirt/blouse (button down white shirt) Black dress Blazer Simple cashmere sweater (black simple cardigan)
Bottoms
Black trousers (Black skinny pants) Skinny jeans Boyfriend jeans Leather trousers (Black wide leg pants) Black pencil skirt
Black stilettos Mid-heeled ankle boots Flats Summer sandals Sneakers
Accessories
Gold or silver watch Neutral leather bag Clutch
Different blogs and websites had a little variation on the basics, so this is my version of what will work for me. From my perspective, when you look at your wardrobe this way in terms of style and basics, you will see the holes right away. For example, I had none of these t-shirt colors in my wardrobe.
Helpful tips:
Choose a neutral base color and stick with that for your shoe and coat choices. I recommend black, especially for achieving the quintessential French look.
From what I have read, French women wear scarves daily. Remember- these don’t count in your seasonal 5 pieces, so choose colorful scarves to accessorize.
Go through your wardrobe first and get rid of all of the clothes you don’t like or don’t wear. Don’t save clothes for a special occasion. If you haven’t worn it in the last year, or hate how it looks on you, get rid of it.
(Now, I don't have the original photos, so I'll use my own to illustrate this. After all, this capsule wardrobe is made after this list. -Ketutar Also, I replaced the leather pants with another pencil skirt.)
What to do when you have found your personal color palette, but the fashion industry won't cooperate with you, and you can't find clothing in the right colors?
Carole Jackson in her book Color Me Beautiful said you have to have a long-term plan, so you can slowly fill it, and can buy clothes when your colors are trendy. They will be, sooner or later.
That the high fashion trends aren't your style doesn't much matter, because there will always be classic cut clothes available. When it comes to your basic wardrobe, the items should be classic, so that you can wear the same blazer or pants for decades. Most capsule wardrobes are based on the idea that you can buy only a few special items every year that keep you fashionable. I mean, the fashion jeans in the 70s were flared, but straight-leg jeans were available. You could wear the same straight jeans from the 1950s to the 2020s, just changing accessories and tops, and be fashionable.
Also, the classic cut clothes are usually also better quality.
Carole also says that you need to shop, not for clothes, but purchasers :-D If you find a purchaser who has your coloring, you have struck gold. They will have access to much more than you do, and they will find the items in your colors, and take them into the store, even when the colors might not be trendy right then. Especially if you befriend them. You can also get tips on where to find clothes in the right coloring if you can't find them in her store.
That's another thing one can do, find social media groups of people who share your coloring. They can share where they find the clothes of right colors, and tip you about designers and stores you might not know otherwise.
Another great tip is to find a seamstress who can sew your clothes in the colors and materials you want. The price won't be that much higher, and in some cases, it will be lower. Nevertheless, it's very much worth it. The clothes will be perfect for you AND you will be supporting small, local entrepreneurs and craftspeople.
You can always learn to sew and knit and make your own clothes. It's very intimidating, but it's not difficult.
You can always dye the clothes. Choose white clothes to dye, or clothes with the "right" undertone. Light blue for cool colors, light yellow for warm colors, because the undertone will always come through. If you are a Spring, don't dye grey clothes and believe to get anything but muted Summer colors. If you are a Winter, don't dye clothes with warm colors, like yellow, orange, tan, or beige, because the results will be Autumn colors.
Now, until you find the right colors, you will have to do with the wrong ones. Also, it's expensive to change the whole wardrobe at once. Especially when you are to invest in good quality clothes. (Though you might not care about that. Not all do.) The good news is that clothes wear down, and eventually you have to buy a new one, and when you know which colors and styles fit you best, you can buy something that will serve you longer and better. (Yes, I know, there are people who take so good care of their clothes that they are still wearing the things they bought decades ago.)
You can save a lot with a scarf in the right colors closest to your face. Pants, skirts, and shoes don't matter that much, as they are away from your face, but tops can be difficult. Now, if you know how to knit, you can knit yourself tops in the right coloring (even if it's just a vest). You can get simple tops in white (like T-shirts and button-down shirts) and wear them with the right colored scarves and tops.
This is Kate Bosworth, and she's usually classified as Light Spring. The dark, soft green doesn't fit her that well, but let's say she is not Kate, but just an ordinary girl, who bought the top because it's cute and the color works so well on her Summer friend who has about the same coloring as she does. Something as little as jewelry in the right color saves the top. You can help the color a bit by choosing the jewelry or scarf in the same color family - Summer green top, Spring green accessories. (Also, I find it interesting that it's the same photo - the only thing that differs the two is the color of the jewelry... and I think Kate on the left has brighter hair color, brighter eyes, even thinner arms :-D)
I have been playing with my colors and styles, again :-D
I decided to scrap the Kibbe styles all together, and go by what my heart says :-D Which is a blend of... a lot of things.
What I want to address here is the contrast. I made this "value" thing.
Apparently my skin is very pale, my eyes are very dark, and my hair is darker than I thought it is. It used to be very blonde when I was a kid. :-D The contrast was even bigger then, with those dark, dark eyes :-D (They are actually hazel. Hard to see.)
Anyway, the contrast between my eyes and skin is pretty big. But the color contrast is not. The colors of my skin, hair, and eyes are pretty much all the same. :-D (Though hazel counts as green eyes, and they are grey and golden brown - amber, my husband says.)
I have been going through Imogen Lamport's blog and reading about the contrast. A lot of good information. And it has made me realize that it's not that I can't do patterns, it's that I can't do many colored patterns. Because I don't have many colors in me :-D (Except the eyes, of course.) That means I can do a lot of patterns, but only monochromatic ones :-D There can be a lot of contrast, but only in value. (And then I need to have strong chroma, can't do muted.). (Also, I need dark background color.)
I would look great in the red dress, but not in the one with red flowers and green leaves.
(Well, I'm 54, so maybe not that short :-D)
I have also made some progress about my body shape and how to dress it, and my style preferences :-D
I saw this video, which talks about expanding your body type beyond pears and apples. But the problem there is that they don't care one bit about the shape of hips.
I, for example, have high hips that are V shaped. I am widest at hip bone, and then I taper down. I'm literally shaped like a carrot :-D
Also, I have a short neck, short and wide chest area, and short waist. And big boobs. That are widely set. :-( And rather narrow shoulders. (Carrot, again :-D)
So I think I'll stay with apple :-D
I should need to elongate my neck, widen my shoulders, while narrowing my chest, elongating my waist while shortening my hips, taking in at stomach while adding to my bottom, narrow down my hips on top, but widen them at the bottom. And even though my legs are long, they are also muscular and thick...
I think I'll just ignore the proportions and wear what ever I feel like wearing. Be it tons of scarfs, necklaces, bracelets, rings and belts. (Oh, rings and bracelets? I have rather large hands and stout arms, which makes me look like a gladiator with sausages as fingers when I wear bracelets and rings. Not that pretty, huh :-D)
I know, it's rather contradictory to be saying that I'll ignore all this, while talking about things that I'm going to ignore... :-D
Anyway, I was looking into Suzanne Caygill's color theory, and realized it's based on one self and what colors work. That every person has their own color palette, and there really aren't any seasons or so. And it is basically "wear the colors on you and what ever you like, it will be great."
You know, most people, who decorate their homes as they like to, use instinctively the colors that work best as clothing as well :-D So, I'll just look at my home decoration ideas and inspiration, and make it into outfits :-D
(It's funny because that has been my philosophy the whole time - "your shade of purple is the shade of purple you like the best". "Wear the style that best pleases you". "Copy the celebrities who dress like you'd dress".
This is part IV, the last part, of me adjusting one of Janice's capsule wardrobes. Go to her blog to see more of it, she's really good at what she does.
I'm in no way saying I'm improving her work, that would be impossible, I think, I'm just adjusting it to fit my taste :-D
Now, this last part adds four more pieces to the wardrobe. Two more tops, a dress, and one more bottom.
Again, I'm changing most of her choices :-D
I "approved" just the pink T, I exchanged the "cute" top with a striped boatneck (pink stripes :-D), and the green lounge pants with green jeans, and then I chose a pink shirt dress instead of another cardigan.
I saw this amazing video about what you can do with a shirtdress, and decided I have to get one :-D (The one I chose isn't optimal, because it needs to be open and buttoned down all the way down.
So... that's the wardrobe.
So, the outfits:
1. white T, white skirt
2. white T, white cardi, white skirt
3. white T, white pants
4. white T, white cardi, white pants
5. white cardi backwards, white pants
6. white cardi backwards, white skirt
7. brown top, brown pants
8. brown top, brown pants, brown shirt
9. brown shirt, brown pants
10. brown top, brown skirt
11. brown top, brown skirt, brown shirt
12. brown shirt, brown skirt
13. white T, brown pants
14. white T, white cardi, brown pants
15. white cardi backwards, brown pants
16. white T, brown skirt
17. white T, white cardi, brown skirt
18. white cardi backwards, brown skirt
19. brown top, white pants
20. brown top, white pants, brown shirt
21. brown shirt, white pants
22. brown top, white skirt
23. brown top, white skirt, brown shirt
24. brown shirt, white skirt
25. white T, brown shirt, white skirt
26. white T, brown shirt, white pants
27. white T, brown shirt, brown skirt
28. white T, brown shirt, brown pants
29. brown top, white cardi, white skirt
30. brown top, white cardi, white pants
31. brown top, white cardi, brown skirt
32. brown top, white cardi, brown pants
33. brown shirt, white cardi, white skirt
34. brown shirt, white cardi, white pants
35. brown shirt, white cardi, brown skirt
36. brown shirt, white cardi, brown pants
37. brown top, green cardi, white skirt
38. brown top, green cardi, white pants
39. brown top, green cardi, brown skirt
40. brown top, green cardi, brown pants
41. white T, green cardi, white skirt
42. white T, green cardi, white pants
43. white T, green cardi, brown skirt
44. white T, green cardi, brown pants
45. brown shirt, green cardi, white skirt
46. brown shirt, green cardi, white pants
47. brown shirt, green cardi, brown skirt
48. brown shirt, green cardi, brown pants
49. green cardi, white skirt
50. green cardi, white pants
51. green cardi, brown skirt
52. green cardi, brown pants
53. brown top, pink cardi, white skirt
54. brown top, pink cardi, white pants
55. brown top, pink cardi, brown skirt
56. brown top, pink cardi, brown pants
57. white T, pink cardi, white skirt
58. white T, pink cardi, white pants
59. white T, pink cardi, brown skirt
60. white T, pink cardi, brown pants
61. brown shirt, pink cardi, white skirt
62. brown shirt, pink cardi, white pants
63. brown shirt, pink cardi, brown skirt
64. brown shirt, pink cardi, brown pants
65. pink cardi, white skirt
66. pink cardi, white pants
67. pink cardi, brown skirt
68. pink cardi, brown pants
Uh, I just can't write all of these!
You'll get 17 more with green pants
then you'll get 25 more with each top - the print top alone, with the white cardi, brown shirt, green cardi, and pink cardi, with all five bottoms; the pink shirt alone, with white... you get the idea.
That is 110 different outfits.
Then add the shirt dress. You can use it with all the layering pieces, as a layering piece itself, as a big shirt with pants (and with skirts, too, if you want to, even though it might not work too well.)
AND then consider the multiple uses of some garments. I have added some videos on how to make several different kinds of tops of the button-down shirt and even a skirt. You can use the skirts as dresses, or as miniskirts. You can style the shirtdress in different ways, for example, a skirt.
My problem with this wardrobe is... I don't think the green and the brown go together :-D
This is part II of me adjusting one of Janice's capsule wardrobes. Go to her blog to see more of it, she's really good at what she does.
The next part is "Mileage 4", which are tops. I have used the same tops Janice chose, with one exception. I like the colors of the Ralph Lauren T, and I love the fact it's a T-shirt, but... I hate it :-D I tried to find a printed top with green and pink on it, that would go with all the other pieces, and this is the closest I could get. It's not good, but it's OK.
With these 12 pieces of clothing, you can create 8x4 different single layer outfits, and 4x4x4 different layered outfits - or even more, considering that the button-down shirt can be used as the first and second layer, and the cardigans can all be used as cardigans and as sweaters (worn backward). Now, if one had some vests or waistcoats here, those could be used as layering pieces or tops. The thing with capsule wardrobes is that most pieces should have multiuse, and everything should go with everything else, so that you really can get the 32+ different outfits.
Here's some outfit suggestions with accessories. I've kept it down, only 4 pieces for every outfit :-D
There's a Hermès scarf with the first outfit, and another Vera scarf with the last one. I'm starting to wonder if the teal in the Vera horse scarf is too teal, and it should be more green.
This is part II of me adjusting one of Janice's capsule wardrobes. Go to her blog to see more of it, she's really good at what she does.
The next four items in her 4x4 capsule wardrobe are Expansion Four, which is basically a repetition of the first Core Four, except in another color. I chose golden brown as my second neutral. (I absolutely love this golden sandy beige, or camel, or caramel. Such a delicious color.)
I chose a pair of jeans, another simple A-line skirt, a button-down shirt and a sleeveless t-shirt.
The amount of outfits grows exponentially with this. I can have all the 5 top options with both jeans and skirt, that is 10 more outfits, and then I can use the t and shirt with the four bottoms, and get 8 more outfits, and then I can mix the tops - brown t with white cardi, white t with brown shirt, brown shirt with the cardigan, with all four bottoms. 12 more outfits. That makes 36 outfits from 8 pieces of clothing.
A button down is a very versatile piece of clothing. It, too, can be used as a light jacket, and worn in dozens of different ways, made into a skirt, etc.
Now, accessories. This is a spring-time wardrobe, and "they" say the shoes one needs for spring/summer are:
- slip-in sandals - strappy sandals - all ground sandals - canvas shoes or sneakers - walking shoes, oxfords, loafers, something like that - ballerinas - booties - colorful pumps
Now, for this wardrobe, let's reduce the number of shoes to four pairs. Sandals, ballerinas that will pass as finer shoes (so that you don't need strappy sandals or pumps), then two pairs of the sort of shoes you most often wear/need. Like sneakers and loafers, or rubber boots and espadrilles, etc.
Janice classifies shoes as "leather" in her "accessorize by 4s". There are 2x4 spots for leather accessories in her grid. She usually fills these spots with shoes and bags, but I'd like to put in at least one belt.
Another thing Janice loves is earrings :-D I find it amusing that her style is otherwise rather "manly" - she loves loafers and laced shoes, unisex flats, and rather unisex tops as well. There aren't many "girly" things in her wardrobes. But then comes the earrings. She loves earrings. In reality, earrings aren't that important. Suze Orman said in Oprah Show that a woman needs only one pair of earrings - diamond studs that can be used with everything. They are simple enough to be worn in an office and flashy enough to be worn at parties.
In the first part of this "amuse l'esprit" I accessorized one of the outfits with a pair of earrings, a necklace, a belt, and ankle booties, so I think I'll honor Vivienne Files and accessorize one outfit with sneakers, earrings, scarf and bag :-D
I chose canvas messenger bag, amber studs, and this absolute amazing Vera scarf with a white horse on green bottom and some pink roses.
I adore Vivienne Files. Except that her taste in clothes is very different from mine, and also, I'm not a businesswoman :-D Also, I suspect she's Summer because those awful dusty colors keep creeping in to her wardrobe suggestions :-D (I mean, I hate those colors, mauve and taupe are the ugliest colors I know. But that's just my opinion. It's totally fine if you like them. And I adore Janice's job even when I disagree with her on taste.)
So, I am adjusting one of her capsule wardrobes. Go to her blog to see more of it, she's really good at what she does.
I like the idea of a cream/pink/green spring wardrobe, and I like her first outfit with the pink crepe blouse, pink cardigan and cream skirt. I don't like the skirt much, though, so I replace it with a longer A-line skirt.
Now, her 4x4 capsule wardrobe idea starts with a "core four". That is, two tops and two bottoms, and preferably the two tops can be layered, that is, one is a jacket or cardigan. I love twinsets, because, as Vivienne Westwood says, they can be styled in many ways. You can use the cardigan as a sweater wearing it with buttons on the back, and it works as a light jacket.
With these four pieces, you'll have already 10 different outfits. You see how wearing the t-shirt outside the bottom or tucked in, creates a totally different impression. I've added some accessories to the last one to give you an idea of how to diversify these outfits even more.
Basically, you could choose a V-neck t-shirt and wear that back and front, and thus give yourself a couple more outfits.
And if you choose a jersey skirt with an elastic waistband, you could hitch it up over your breasts, and get a miniskirt, or wear it on your hips and get a longer skirt. Or, you could use it as a strapless dress. It would look very nice with a belt and the cardigan. But - I am all for multiuse garments and multi-using garments. There's a hack on how to wear a long, wide sweater with a big neckline as a lot of things :-D I think I have posted it here.
Some things need to be said about capsule wardrobes: - it is primarily meant for working women who need a classic, moderate, basic wardrobe. So it might look boring. It is boring. You should practically be able to wear the same clothes for decades. This wardrobe would have worked in the 80s just as well as now. You are to express yourself with the accessories. So, a capsule wardrobe idea doesn't work for everyone. - you need to choose colors that fit you, and cuts and styles that fit your body. Now, there's a lot that has been said about body types and shapes and personal colors, and most of it is... well... not BS, but you can take it with a pinch of salt. Or leave it. The most important thing is that YOU feel good in the clothes you are wearing. That YOU like the colors of your clothes. That is more important than any color analysis or style guide. You have the shape you have whatever you choose to wear, and no "disguise" and "diversion" hides it. If you have a tummy and want to wear belts, wear belts.
I love accessories. The thing is that you can accessorize every bit of your body. There are shoes, belts, bags, hats, scarves, jewelry for ears, neck, arms, legs, and other things.
Now, the classic style says you shouldn't over-accessorize. Take a look at yourself before you go out and remove one item. Or count the "points". I'll use this photo of elborn_doris to illustrate this point counting thing. (I learned it from a style guide from 1960s)
Now, the style guide says one shouldn't have more than 12 points, and 10 is better. In my mind, she looks very good, and I don't think she needs to cut down points, but - according to the book, she should. For example, removing earrings and rings. Choosing a belt with a buckle of the same material as the belt. Choose either white, ecru, tan, or gold shoes. Maybe a tan cardigan, just a lighter shade. (That cardigan is a lighter shade of coffee, and thus a whole different color from the tan of the bag and belt. Which aren't really the same color either, but closer so that at first sight they look the same.) Uncuffed pants.
Frankly, I don't fully agree with this, because I'm a maximalist :-D I wouldn't think worse of her if she added things, like a scarf, a hat, more bracelets, a corsage, a couple of brooches... :-D
Anyway, Janice continues accessorizing in fours.
1: earrings
2: bracelets and watches
3: necklaces and brooches
4: scarves
5: leather - shoes, and bags (2x4)
I chose to accessorize the cream outfit with a belt, suede ankle boots, a necklace, and earrings. I would add a bag (suede envelope) and a scarf (square silk with pink, green, and cream).
You know this... *sigh*
The above image (far left and far right - see the original in the linked wikipedia article) is from 1880s.
I have taken the image, measured about where the ladies are the same (red lines in the third body), and then squeezed with paintshop UNDER the line, leaving the ribcage untouched, to show that when one wears a corset, the ribcage isn't effected much. It doesn't get squeezed together like in the horror image.
You can also experiment with your own ribcage. How hard to you need to push, squeeze, press, to get it to move at all? One can stand on one's ribcage without it giving much in. Do you think a corset could put that much pressure on it?
Then I dressed the ladies, to show how off the proportions are. It's easy to miss, when they are presented like that, and you are told what to see, but just look at the first lady. I had to make the t-shirt image a lot smaller over her shoulders and upper arms to get it fit even that well, and it's still too big. Her lower body is too big compared to the upper body. Her waist is very long. Because of this, the actual 1850s corsets on the body sit very badly. I had to take it in on the hips of the second lady, and as you can see, I would have needed to make it a bit larger at the waist for the horror lady. There is no 1880s corset with that tight waist.
So... what does this mean? They have exaggerated the proportions to enhance the "difference" - the uncorseted body is bigger than normal uncorseted body, the corseted smaller than normal corseted body. A corset would not have much effect at all on the ribcage and therefore on anything covered with the ribcage, that is lungs, heart, etc. Also, the effect is only on less than 4 inches.
This is an 1880 corset, in Fashion Institute of Technology's museum. No, it's not for pregnant women. That's what all corsets look seen from side. A lot of people just look at the full frontal, and focus on the hourglass figure, forgetting that women were supposed to look like hourglasses all around. They didn't have any "flat belly" ideas.
ALSO, the 16-inch, 13-inch waist, that was extreme body modification that wasn't the norm. If you look at the antique dresses, there's in average just 10 inches between waist and chest size. Like Gal Gadot. I suppose that means she's dead because of her impossibly cinched waist. She must have removed some ribs to get those measurements. Or Kendall Jenner. Same proportions. Would fit in a antique Victorian dress without a corset. So horrible.
I mean, seriously!
People have claimed that wearing a corset damages your heart. There is no evidence of this.
People have claimed that wearing a corset damages your lungs or makes it harder to breathe. Your lungs are encased in the ribcage, and the corset doesn't do anything about the ribcage, so how could it? Not one woman wearing a well-fitted corset complains about difficulties breathing. It's mostly psychological.
People have claimed that a corset will misshape your ribcage. Funnily, there are no skeletons to prove this theory, even though women have been wearing corsets and stays for some 500 years.
People have claimed wearing a corset damages your liver. No evidence of this either.
I mean... people just claim things, and there is no evidence of any of this. On the contrary, people who actually wear corsets say this:
"I myself have never felt any ill effects from nearly 30 years of the most severe tight lacing, nor have I yet found any authentic case of real harm being done by stays, even when laced to the utmost degree of tightness, both day and night.
People who write against the practice of tight lacing are either those who have never been laced and have never take the trouble to inquire into the pros and cons of the subject, or those who have, perhaps been once lace up very tightly in badly made, ill-fitting stays with the settled determination of finding them most awful instruments of torture."
- a corset wearing lady, 1893
But, no, one rather believes one's own prejudices and preconceived notions than educate oneself and listen to people who actually know what they are talking about.
I mean... you remember that photo last time. I was 15 in that photo. It was my confirmation. I believed I was fat already then. I weighed almost 70 kilos. I was size 42. I was the only person I knew over 40, except for other fat people. The dress I'm wearing is a new one. I didn't fit in the old one, the dress all three of my elder sisters had used... I was superfit. I mean, my result for Cooper's test at that time was 3200 meters. That's about as good as it gets. There was another girl who run a couple of hundred meters more, but the rest were several laps behind us. The thing that still surprises me is that... it meant nothing. The teacher didn't say anything, she just recorded the results, and it didn't show in my physical education grade. I learned only a couple of years ago how extraordinary that is. Anyway, those 70 kilos were mostly muscles. I had wide shoulders and back, thighs like tree trunks - and I felt big and ugly and fat.
I also have short, thick neck. Enhances the fat impression.
I also got into puberty at 12, and have big boobs. As you can see from this photo of me as 18 years old.
I mean... I understand why I thought I was fat.
What I don't understand is why no-one told me I wasn't. I remember my big sister saying "even your toes are fat". I was about 15 or so. Another sister was freezing, and my cousin referred to me, wearing just shorts, and that I wasn't freezing, and my sister said "she has all that isolation". Meaning fat. I was 16-17. I once overheard my sister speaking to another sister in the phone about how quickly I eat and that she has tried to stop me. And that I had surpassed "the magical 70 kilos". I look at that photo, I look at that curve under the breast, and how the fabric goes smoothly down over my tummy... what tummy?
I get so bitter and sad about all this.
Another thing... that girl had never been kissed. No-one had even tried.
Ugly and fat. (What? Seriously? Yeah. That's what I thought then and still do.)
The thing is that... if I was fat and ugly when I was in the best condition of my life, and I looked like that and run 2 miles in 12 minutes... I will be fat and ugly rest of my life. There's nothing I can do to not be fat and ugly. It scares me.
I mean, if people are going to see me and treat me as I was fat and ugly, I could as well get the benefits, and enjoy all I can eat buffet of delicious, fatty, sugary carbs and bacon and all that. And just slouch on the couch all days and watch telly and surf and do nothing. It's bothersome to exercise. Muscles get sore. Running unfit hurts. It hurts your feet, it hurts your lungs, it feels like your heart is going to burst out of your chest and veins burst and you get the blood taste in your mouth, and then it's sweaty and uncomfortable, and all the blubber gets in the way, and makes it hard to bend. And breathe when you are bent.
But... I am not doing this (losing weight and improving my fitness) to get praise or so that people would like me and want to be with me. I'm just looking at all these happy social fit people doing all kinds of fun things together, and talking about their trainers and whatnots. How do you get a trainer?
And I get distracted by that.
I am not doing this to be seen as pretty and skinny and fit and all that.
I am not doing this to get friends and... I don't know, internet fame and to be able to make viral videos of me being so flexible and whatnot. There's plenty of young people doing that. And even though it might be a good idea to add some middle-aged people doing all that in the mix, NO! I AM NOT DOING THIS FOR THAT!
I am doing this to get lighter so that my body doesn't need to carry around so much and things will be easier for me.
I am doing this to be able to DO things. I want to do things like climbing and parkour and dancing and all that without needing to stop to breathe every 5 seconds.
I am doing this to me.
And, of course, it would be nice to have the other things too :-D
Though I think the most amazing thing that could happen is if I could watch myself in the mirror and admire what I see... I don't even dare to think about that. To see me and not see all the problems and wrongs and bad things, things I don't like...
But - I don't believe I will. I don't believe I will lose weight. I don't believe I will ever be able to do any of those things. I don't believe I'll ever look in the mirror and like what I see.
That girl over there... that's not me. I couldn't possibly ever have been that cute. And pretty. And that body looks very nice.
So - that's my biggest obstacle here. I know everything is possible, if I just believe, but I have to believe it 24/7 with my whole being.
I have been pinning things on Pinterest about fitness and sports and stuff. I love dancing, I love parkour, I love moving my body and using my muscles and such things.
So - I have been pinning some workout videos, and today I decided to stop pinning and start doing.
I chose a video, it looked easy enough, they said it was easy, and probably it is... but I couldn't do it.
And I panicked.
I tried to hang on, but while I was trying to figure out what her legs did, she did something with her arms, and moved on, so when I was ready to do what she did with her arms, she has moved on to the next movement, and after JUST FOUR MINUTES I was two moves behind, and completely lost, confused, and bewildered, at the brink of tears and panicking.
"I CAN'T DO THIS!"
I just wanted to quit and run and hide in shame - and go sit in my bed and do nothing, but eat. I want pizza. Junkfood. Candy. I want to go back to my childhood and not care about anything.
You see, I am good. I am very good. I can do most things at first try. Especially physical things. So when things don't happen, when things aren't easy, when I don't succeed at first try, I get shocked and don't know what to do about it. And I give up. I quit. I have done that for 50 years now. Taken the easy way out.
But no more. I will not quit. I am not 16 with physical fitness of an Olympic athlete. (Yes, I was that 34 years ago. I just didn't know it at the time. I wish someone had known. Someone who had known what to do with it. I would have been a great heptathlete.)
I am 50, I am about twice as heavy as I should be, I am sick and I
haven't done much anything about my fitness since my father died 2014.
So - I got so upset and panicky I had to stop and go away and walk it out.
But... I didn't want to quit. I wanted to finish it. So I got back and tried to take it slower. 50% of time was too fast, and I got back into panic.
I don't want to quit! Not this time! Never again!
I will do this! It is not difficult. Hundreds of people are doing it! I will, too. Might not be able to do it now, today, but I will take it on again tomorrow, and see how far I get, and this time I'll start in 25% without sound, and learn the choreography, how ever simple it is and how ever stupid I feel, because I WILL NOT QUIT. Quitting is not an option anymore.
After I decided that, I went to my rowing machine and rowed three sets of my maximum. Which is only 1 minute of rowing, but it will grow. I will not quit. Not this time, not ever again.
I just saw an episode of --- and there was this woman who was a ---... and the more I watched, the more I disliked her. So... she just blurted out something as something she wants to do, and she got to do it. But... she didn't seem to think much of it, not really want to do it, didn't seem to appreciate it much and hasn't mentioned it since. Or then, either. Anyway, I kind of forgot all about that during the show, and in the end, when they presented her, they presented her as a --- and I just about died.
Because it is true. She is a ---. I am not.
It is so unfair! She got it for free! I can't even imagine how I ever could. :'(
Like, don't weight yourself every week. I am going to do that, though, to see if I need to put in more work, and I definitely do.
Hmm... how did they come up with 1200 kcal and 4-8 hours exercise?
I weigh 118 kg, and I need about 2000 kcal to stay alive. (Which means that when physically very active men talk about the normal calorie intake being 2000, I say "anorexia".)
They say 3500 kcal is 1 pound weight loss. So to lose 1 pound of weight every day, I need to burn 3500 kcal more than I usually do.
Now... apparently everything I *can* do, burns about 150-300 kcal IN AN HOUR. I don't understand how I could burn 3500 kcal in a day. I would need to do what I can like for 15 hours.
If I eat less, I don't need to exercise as much, but if I eat 1000 kcal less a day, I still need to burn 2500 kcal, and that's 10 hours of my low impact exercise.
If I eat 1200 kcal a day and exercise (low impact, slow, as I can) 4 hours a day, I will lose 1/2 pound a day. 1200 kcal is very little.
I don't like this at all. Because at the moment I can't do any high-impact activities. I can't run or skip the rope or do burpees, because I have arthritis in my hip, and that would damage my body more than it's already damaged... even normal walking hurts so much the next day I won't be able to move at all. Rowing is nice, swimming is nice. But I am not strong enough to do that hard and long enough for that to use more calories than some 400 in an hour. Which means that I should do that for 6 1/2 hours every day.
Dancing probably uses about that amount of calories as well...
What I need to do here is to do something, and keep thinking that it might not be much, but "not much" is not nothing, it's something.
My husband just told me that when I began walking 3 miles with our dog, it took me over an hour to do that, and when I did my last rounds, it took 45-50 minutes. So it does work. I have thought that it didn't show anywhere. But it did... huh...
The adjusted plan; 3 kilos a week - from 120 to 80 in 3 months. Amazing.
Ok, so I have been adding up the exercise.
I am still looking... I know I should stop looking and start working, but... uh. Can't be bothered.
I fell for freshly baked challah with butter. A lot of butter. :-( I hadn't eaten much during the day, so I'm in for 1300 kcal, but... it was delicious. I regret only a little. I'm more afraid of that this isn't going to work. But I weighed myself today. I was 119 when I came home, and now I'm 118. It's going to the right direction. But there's no way I'll weigh 116 tomorrow :-D
I have eaten my 1200 kcal for today. I fell for temptation, and ate more pita bread pizza, but kept the calories at the low level. Better than yesterday.
Exercise didn't go too well, though... :-( Not 4-8 hours heavy exercise. No. But I did do something, so that's positive. I will get there. I know I will. :-) I will be 80 kilos this Christmas, and 60 next summer.
So, I made myself an eggwhite-yoghurt-berry-smoothie for breakfast. About 200 kcal.
I couldn't drink all of it at one go, so I put it in the fridge to wait for when I was hungry. I got hungry at 1 P.M. and added a handful of almonds in it. 300 kcal :-D I don't think I'll do that again :-D
This was about half an hour ago, and I am still hungry, so I am grilling myself a chicken filet, which I plan to eat with lots of green salad and a vinaigrette. It's a big filet, and a lot of lettuce and such green stuff, so I don't think I want to be eating anything more today, but if I'm still hungry, there's room for something more, to fill it up to 1200 kcal. I'm eating too much protein and too little carbs at the moment, though... I might eat a roasted piece of full corn bread for supper, though. To get a little minerals, fibers and carbs.
Food is not going to be a problem. Workout is. I am so unfit and stiff and untrained! AND I USED NOT TO BE! I used to be really fit, trained and flexible - but it was all active, I mean, I never went to a gym and trained. I used to freerun in the forests, climb rocks and trees, jump and hang and all kinds of things. So I don't have any routines and habits to support my weight loss journey. Nor a personal trainer. I have to do this all by myself. Now, a benefit here is that I am rather physically intelligent, I am able to use the internet and be certain of that I do the movements right. I know my body and know how to use it, even though it has been sadly neglected for years, and thoroughly rusty and gunky.
But - it is possible. Marci did it, and she had never been fit and eaten right. If she can, I can. I have full confidence in me. It might take longer than 3 months, but I will eventually get there. I know I will.
And it pleases me enormously. I will get my fitness back. :-)
But - how will I put in 4-8 hours of workout?
I have been rowing, but I can do it like two minutes or less and I'm all tired and huff, puff and wheeze :-D I almost have the blood taste in my mouth, and I'm seriously considering if I should go for that :-D
This 50 minutes to hell sounds like a good option - I think all of it is possible to me... perhaps not the "man maker"... that jump-thingy in the middle looks too much for my hip... perhaps one could do it, like, slow, avoiding any jerks and jumps. And, of course, the jumps in the end. No burpees and box jumps for me, at least not yet. Perhaps when I reach the 80 kilos. Or 60.
I would need some sort of HIIT thingy, on the floor, focusing on core...
Callanetics work, and so does Jane Fonda... though I can't do the warm up... I have to find some way to warm up that doesn't involve jumping and such...
BTW, now it's 10 P.M. and I need to go to bed. Tomorrow starts the new 6WC - 6 weeks of studying languages 24/7.
And I failed with the food. I ate a pizza. :-( So somewhat over 1200 kcal, but it's still under 1700. Not too bad. I'll take it back tomorrow :-) Less tea with milk, more green tea, and I'll wait with my breakfast smoothie for as long as I can. :-)
And I'll do some sort of crossfit tomorrow. :-) It will be great!
So... he weighed 120 kilos on July 1st. He weighed 80 kilos on January 1st half a year later. Now, it doesn't say what he did or what he ate, but probably a lot and pretty healthily :-D
MTV's I Used To Be Fat showed Marci in episode 2, season 1, and she lost a pound a day, by "During
the show Diet - oatmeal and eggwhites breakfast,grilled chicken Green vegetable lunch,low calorie soup or salad dinner (1200 kcal per day). Workouts were bootcamp drills,football drills and were 4-8 hours a day",
as she said on Facebook, answering questions people had about it.
I had a good experience of my "do nothing else to lose weight but eat less" diet :-D I ate less than 1600 kcal a day and lost steadily a kg every week, until I didn't, got depressed and stopped dieting. I don't have the slightest idea what I weighed during that time, but as I weigh 119 now, after heavy eating in Finland during my vacation, I think I probably weighed 117 when I stopped... :-( Which was not much over what I was supposed to weigh. So, I have a couple of weeks to take back, and losing 40 kilos in 6 months like PJ did, or in 3 months like Marci did, sounds like a good moral boost-up and a carrot. I managed to keep up with the diet for 7 weeks, so keeping up with the diet for 13 weeks doesn't sound too hard. Especially if I do manage to lose 40 kilos. That would be amazing.
How to reach it?
4-8 hours heavy exercise every day. I have arthritis, so no jumping and drills for me, but I can row, so that's what I'm going to do.
breakfast - oatmeal eggwhite smoothie
lunch - green salad with grilled chicken
dinner - low calorie soup
1200 kcal per day
And then I'm going to drybrush my skin every day to see if that helps it to not sag so much.
Two neutrals; golden brown and teal (yes, teal counts as neutral, just as navy and burgundy)
Two accent colors; red and burgundy
Golden brown leather, bronze metals
Things to note:
- the style and impression I wish to make: Baroque, Mother Earth, warm, playful, sensual, soft natural, folklore
- lifestyle and needs: I'm living on a disability pension. I am chronically ill, with fibromyalgia. I basically do nothing. I like writing, crafting and making art. I like cooking and baking. I need clothes that are comfortable and easy.
- climate: humid continental. The weather is SLIGHTLY colder (a couple of degrees, not more) in Stockholm than in Boston, but practically the same.
- body type: V/O - I do have a waist, but it's very, very short, and disappears between my large chest and a big tummy. I also have square hips and not much bum. I'm fat. Size 52-54EU. Figure problems? Nah. But I would like to look less fat and like I have a waist. Best features; face, cleavage, hands.
* Building up a capsule wardrobe as Janice from Vivienne Files
1) 1 bottom, 2 tops, of which one is layering top, shoes
"A pair of wrinkle free cotton pants". So boring I'm ready to cry! No!
I have used pants as my "uniform". I had a pair of black jeans, then I had a pair of brown jeans. I fixed the black jeans by sewing pretty fabric on the hem, so that I could wear them turned up and the colorful lining would show up. I also embroidered a dragon climbing up my leg.
Frankly, I don't know why I stopped wearing those pants. I wish someone had told me that all I have to do is to stay skinny, and I can wear those jeans for years. I only wore them like 5 years. Plenty of mileage in those. I just didn't stay skinny.
So, let's say, a pair of jeans. I have to fix them to be special, though. Let's say light golden brown pair, with painted leopard spots.
And add the printed lining in teal and pink... like Chinese silk... tassels? Embroidery? Maybe embroider some leopards on the jeans.
And I want a bronze sequin cardi, in the twin-set style, with v-neck, slightly fitted, so that it can be used as a cardigan, sweater and jacket.
Anyway, after the pants, you are suppose to get.... loafers.
Yuk! Those are among the ugliest things you can wear and no woman should have them! THEY ARE UGLY!!! It is possible to get comfortable shoes that are NOT UGLY!!!
But - let's say a pair of comfortable promenade shoes one can walk the whole day and barely notice one is wearing shoes. These should be golden brown, the color of all leatherwares.
And then a t-shirt. Long sleeves, because it's Autumn. This one is teal. I mean... my Autumn wardrobe is supposed to be teal, and so far I have no teal items.
2) bottom and top
Then Janice adds another pair of pants and a shirt. Now, she is the kind of a woman who wears pants and shirts and ugly shoes. I am not. So I am going to choose as my second bottom, a skirt. This will be teal corduroy. I will take the white buttondown shirt, though, but mine will not be crisp, it will be soft linen.
So... here I have some outfits...
1. white shirt and jeans
2. white shirt and skirt
3. teal shirt and jeans
4. teal shirt and skirt
5. cardi and jeans
6. cardi and skirt
7. white shirt and jeans with cardi
8. white shirt and skirt with cardi
9. teal shirt and jeans with cardi
10. teal shirt and skirt with cardi
Now, I could be wearing the cardigan both buttons front or back, and basically that's two different tops. I could be wearing the t-shirt backwards also, though that might not work too well :D Perhaps under the cardigan or under the white shirt.
I could be wearing the white shirt in several different ways, even as a skirt.
So... plenty of tights :-D And a bodysuit. But that's not the kind of accessory Janice is talking about.
She talks about jewelry, scarves and belts and such.
I would choose a simple, feminine watch. I would choose bracelets. I wish I was the kind of person who uses bracelets.
Scarf, of course.
Spats would be fun.
Gloves and a hat.
Umbrella.
Belts? I'm apple shaped. Right now I'm fat. Do you really think I should wear a belt? I don't. (Though it looks rather nice to put a belt on my true waist, which is basically straight under the breasts...
Brooches. I would like a rather big one I could use as a belt buckle, as I don't have a belt. Somewhere on the hip area.
Glasses. I need glasses... it would be nice with leopard spots or tortoise shell (of course fake), maybe with some sparkle and color, too?
Mobile phone as a fashion accessory. If the world was my oyster, I'd have a bronze colored peacock themed Art Nouveau style phone case I can carry around my neck.
I really need to make my Mucha ear phones. :-D For Autumn... Autumn leaves... a crown of Autumn leaves... or maybe panthers in a rainforest... though they don't live in rainforests... maybe a jaguar, then?
Now, I have big, chunky hands, but they are beautiful, graceful and I have long fingers, so I can wear big rings and get away with it :-D
And then big earrings. Like oriental earrings.
3) And then two more tops and a scarf more... I think I might want to choose a shawl. I like shawls.
These two tops should be somewhat simple tees in accent colors, so red and burgundy.
And just simple long sleeve t-shirts. Now, I might want to have tunics, but I have used ordinary long sleeved tees, too, and they are more useful, as they can be used with anything. I mean, it's hard to fit the white shirt and the cardi over tunics or elaborate tops. A peasant top might do as one of these, though.
4) Then she adds one more layering piece, one more pair of pants and boots.
Now... I am planning on sewing myself a skirt, a pinafore dress, a pair of pants and a kimono jacket of the teal corduroy. So I suppose the pants and the kimono jacket pass as pants and layering piece.
I have a pair of burgundy boots.
The pants are going to be a bit like this
Let's see what can be put together of all this:
jeans
- with a cardigan
- with top 1
- with white shirt
- with top 2
- with top 3
- with cardigan and layering top
- with top 1 and layering top
- with white shirt and layering top
- with top 2 and layering top
- with top 3 and layering top
- with top 1 and cardigan
- with white shirt and cardigan
- with top 2 and cardigan
- with top 3 and cardigan
skirt
- with a cardigan
- with top 1
- with white shirt
- with top 2
- with top 3
- with cardigan and layering top
- with top 1 and layering top
- with white shirt and layering top
- with top 2 and layering top
- with top 3 and layering top
- with top 1 and cardigan
- with white shirt and cardigan
- with top 2 and cardigan
- with top 3 and cardigan
corduroy pants -
- with a cardigan
- with top 1
- with white shirt
- with top 2
- with top 3
- with cardigan and layering top
- with top 1 and layering top
- with white shirt and layering top
- with top 2 and layering top
- with top 3 and layering top
- with top 1 and cardigan
- with white shirt and cardigan
- with top 2 and cardigan
- with top 3 and cardigan
That is 42 different outfits of 9 pieces of clothing...
now... I could add all the tops with the cardigan AND the layering top,
AND I could use the white shirt as a layering top
AND all the tops with white shirt AND the layering top.
I also could use the cardigan backwards and get another impression, and I could use my top 1 backwards and use it as a boatneck top, but then I would need to use it with a layering top, any one would do.
THEN I could try out all the different ways of wearing a white button-down shirt and get some more mileage of it.
THEN I could try out all the different ways of wearing a sweater or a cardigan...
Funny that she says: "Ah, this capsule wardrobe is starting to have some personality!" :-D
Personality of a dishrag... No. I'm being mean here. This is a dependable, no-nonsense person, who values quality over quantity, practicality over style, and comfort over flair. She would not dance on the tables, but she could still be funny. I think she's good at her job, what ever it is, but it's probably not creative, artistic job.
Anyway, not me. I am an artistic person, sensitive, passionate, emotional, drama queen, not so dependable, no... I do value quality over quantity, but style, beauty and flair over practicality, no question about that. Comfort is important to me, but it is defined highly subjective. I don't necessarily deem high heels uncomfortable... :-D I am not good at my job, which is the main reason to why I don't have any.
But, back to third step.
5) She adds two more tops and a "flash of color" in the shape of a necklace.
One of the tops is a layering piece.
Now... if I were smart, I'd choose a multiuse piece like Cozy, but... it really isn't my style. So, I choose a boatneck sweater and a long, big, comfy cardigan, like these two.
They were my favorites at Polyvore, used them all the time... but then
they closed Polyvore just like that, and it wasn't possible to save
anything. Or, yeah, they let you get some files, but it wasn't like you
could choose and save what you wanted, and then my computer crashed and
took the files with them, so - yeah... I hates them. Don't go to
ssense.com. They were in it. Anyway, this is what I could "salvage" from
a few sets that are still around. Hates them. May the a-holes stoke on
the money and may their clothes be itchy and chafe. I loved Polyvore.
:´(
Yes, I know there are others, but I don't want to get attached to something to then have it snatched away like Polyvore did.
Sorry about the rant.
So, back to wardrobe. Again.
6) Next addition to the wardrobe is a dressy outfit. It can be a dress, it can be some silk slacks and a blouse, it can be a skirt and a blouse. Now, if it's more than one item, it can be used together with the others. Now, for example, if I chose a pretty blouse, I could use it with my jeans and corduroy skirt and pants to make them dressier. In fact, they would be dressy enough for most occasions with a nice, dressy blouse. But I love dresses. So I will choose a dress and heels. My dress would be a "little red dress", which can be used both in parties and in everyday life, depending on how it is dressed up.
7) Next is a jacket and another top. The jacket is supposed to be something one can use inside and outside, an everyday jacket.
Now, I don't use jackets inside, but I have always wanted to have a blazer, a tweed jacket. I used to have one, when I was like 12 or so. It was dark grey wool with black satin collar, and I loved it to bits. 60s style, my mother's old one. So, I would like something similar, but in golden brown tweed, for my Autumn wardrobe. Now, there's more of this golden brown tweed coming on this list, because I would really like to have a suit in golden brown tweed, in 40s style.
For the top... I suppose another slouchy long-sleeve tee is an option. I'll have to think about that.
So far we have:
1. a bottom 1 - pair of jeans - golden brown, leopard spots
2. a layering top 1 - cardigan that can be used as a layering piece or a top - bronze metallic
3. a top 1 - simple, flattering long sleeve tee - teal
4. a bottom 2 - skirt - teal
5. a white shirt - white (perhaps colored? Maybe striped?)
6. a top 2 - peasant top - burgundy
7. a top 3 -long sleeve tee - red
8. a layering top 2 - kimono jacket - teal
9. a bottom 3 - a pair of pants - teal
10. a top 4 - V-neck sweater that can be worn in different ways (see the video above)
11. a layering top 3 - long, comfy cardigan - red, could be bright mustard, too
12. an LBD - red
13. a tweed jacket/blazer - golden brown tweed
14. a top 5 - long sleeve tee - teal
3 pairs of shoes; teal walking shoes, burgundy boots and red heels.
8) So... first a whole outfit for purposes that aren't covered yet with those clothes on the list. In my case that would have to be loungewear, but - let's use normal clothes, OK :-D
I really don't have anything I would need another outfit for, but I would like to have a tweet skirt and vest. Perhaps a blouse as well. 40s clothes suits me.
9) An Autumn coat is the trenchcoat. My perfect trenchcoat is red, rather deep red than bright red. It is double breasted, with coated metal buttons, and it has napoleon collar and wide lapel with throat latch, gun patch/storm flap and rain guard at the back, epaulettes, belt with D-rings, loops and buckle (metal), buttoned storm pockets, breast pocket sleeve straps and loops, wedge back vent with button tab and it would be long, half calf. It would also have a detachable wool lining and hood. The material would be wool gabardine. It would also be A-lined, and not straight, like men's coats are.
One day I will have it.
I would need a hat with it, a scarf and gloves. I would also want oxfords.
10) Then the "leisure wear" outfit. I think there her idea is very nice.
I used to have a pair of "jeans" made of white knit, the stuff college shirts and jogging pants are made of, but these were "real" pants. I also wouldn't mind a simple t-shirt, another boatneck and another cardigan.
Another dress? Yes, please :-D
This one will be the teal pinafore dress
Jennifer Lauren's Ivy pinafore pattern - this is basically exactly what I want :-) One can use it as a dress on itself, or as a pinafore dress which is basically a vest and a skirt.
15. a bottom 4 - skirt - golden brown tweed
16. a top 6 - blouse - ?
17. a layering top - vest - golden brown tweed
18. a trenchcoat - red
19. a bottom 5 - jersey "jeans" - white
20. a top 7 - t-shirt - white?
21. a layering top 4 - cardigan - white?
22. a bottom 6 - pinafore dress - teal
23. a top 8 - ?
Step 5: balancing out
BTW... If you don't feel comfortable wearing a color near your face, DON'T USE IT IN YOUR CAPSULE WARDROBE!
Hmm...
golden brown, 4 bottoms, 4 tops
teal, 2 bottom, 3 tops, 1 dress
white, 1 bottom, 2 tops
red-burgundy, 4 tops, 1 dress
bridge garment; 2 tops
Is the red-white striped top red or white? :-D
So... I would need one more teal bottom... maybe change the jeans to teal instead of brown?
I would need another pair of flats, golden brown ones.
I also think I need a couple of short sleeved t-shirts.
The golden brown (or mustard) tweed suit is a guilty pleasure... It really doesn't need to be there.
But... there's 7 bottoms (8 if the corduroy pinafore dress counts. Practically it does.)
There's 13 tops that can be used alone as tops
There's 6 layering tops (the vest and the sweater included)
There's 2 jackets, that could be worn as layering tops, if one could. I couldn't. They count as outerwear for me.
That gives us 104 outfits with just 1 bottom + 1 top.
there's 64 different layering combinations. Combined with the 7 bottoms, you get 448 different outfits. Add 55 for the pinafore dress. I could use it with everything but the sweater, and principally there isn't anything that stops you from pulling the sweater over the pinafore dress, too.
So... with these 25 items, you'll have over 600 different combinations... 8-o
And I forgot to count the using the sequin cardi as a top... oh, well.
And the more I look at this, the more I notice that this is too much clothes. Basically, I should be able to manage the whole Autumn with just 7 tops and 7 bottoms, and if I add a couple of layering pieces, even more so. The purpose is not to manage 90 days without wearing the same outfit twice.
7 tops and 7 bottoms gives one 49 different outfits.
I'm a writer, a craftswoman and a witch.
I am Finnish through and through, even though I currently live in Sweden - with my Danish husband. I am Pagan and he's Jewish, and our marriage is a match made in heaven :-)
