Planning your wardrobe for the new season. It will be September 1st in two days time.
Despite what the weather may whimsically decide to do, I always think that September is the beginning of a new season. A back to school, new term feeling.
I find that before the new season gets into full swing I like to edit my wardrobe in preparation for the new arrivals. I find that planning pays off in the long run.
With regard to new purchases here are a few guidelines that may help. You have probably heard many of them before. Personally I like to be reminded often so that I do not veer too far off course.
Guidelines
1. If there’s only one thing you remember it should be: “buy less, buy better”.
2. Don’t buy now: research has shown that we get a lot of pleasure from thinking about something. Think like you’ve bought it. Often, by the time you’ve come to actually buy it, you might well have changed your mind and decide that you do not really need/want it.
3. Never buy anything you like. Only buy things you love. Never buy anything that almost looks amazing. Only buy something that absolutely looks amazing. If you have an issue with even one little thing, don’t buy it.
4. The first place to shop should always be your wardrobe.
5. Be a strict custodian of your wardrobe. If possible have a one in, one out rule. Decide on a maximum number, and stick to it. (I am not so good on this one). If this is too difficult you might like to pack some items away for a while before discarding.
6. Keep your wardrobe neat and tidy. Make sure that the right garments are hanging next to each other. This helps turn randomness into order.. Work shoes next to work shoes, trousers next to trousers etc.
I stress that these are only guidelines everybody is individual and likes to do things differently. However I have found my life much easier and my wardrobe more manageable since I have implemented at least some of these rules.
Not only am I beginning to plan my new season wardrobe I am also thinking about scheduling my blog posts for the next few months.
I would love your help to do this.
I originally set up Chicatanyage in 2009 with the aim of inspiring mature women to continue to have fun and enjoy fashion. I see my role as doing the “leg work” or these days with the internet “finger work” and offering you options that will help you plan your wardrobes and maybe try some styles that you might not otherwise have thought of. To help you develop your own individual styles and continue to look the best that you possibly can at any age.
Please let me know what you would like more of less of or any topics you would like me to add that I may not have thought of.
I know we are all busy so to make it quicker and easier here is a list of current topics. Feel free to add to this list.
- How I put my looks together i.e..images of me.
- Polyvore outfits. Those are the ones where I show how items might work together to form a capsule wardrobe.
- News and views from France. How french women dress (only available when I am in France)
- Advice on beauty – beauty products.
- Role models – older women. Although I find that we all seem to be using the same women repeatedly.
- Other – I am sure there must be something under this category I just can’t think of anything right now.
Either leave a comment or email me at Chicatanyage(at)iCloud.com.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and comments. It really makes the sometimes solitary task of blogging all worthwhile.
Great advice…in the past I too often bought what I liked…and when I got home, I didn’t like them that much. Only buy what you love it great advice. (And I do love reading your blog!)
Josephine. I look forward to your posts immensely as I feel you capture the look that I like so much. I think you posts putting outfits together help enormously as it is
easy to loose confidence in what goes well together over a certain age. Often fashion magazines show features which while attractive to look at bear no resemblance to every day life. So more of these please. Thanks. Margo
I enjoy your blog and the way you put outfits together. I also enjoy that you link to clothing in England as well as North America. I recently moved to a small village in Eastern Ontario from the big city of Toronto. I will need to select my clothing etc. from on-line retailers and would appreciate any tips you may have in mid priced clothing and how to tell the quality.
Sharon
I enjoy your posts, pictures very much. They have been inspiring to me in rethinking how I want to look at this stage of my life.
fantastic advice! I’m saving this!! Thank you for your hard work and sharing–I really appreciate it!
I enjoy your blog very much. You give some tips that are very useful such as packing for a holiday which I find a nightmare! I do like to see photos of how you put an outfit together too. Speaking personally I find hair styles and colour a problem at this stage of life. Thinking of growing the colour out but unsure of the best way to go about it and rather nervous as I am fair skinned and don’t want to end up looking washed out. Any tips!?
May I make a comment to Barbara, who posted? I am very fair skinned and grew out my hair to silver gray. It is currently lower neck length and I love it. My one piece of advice is to keep your brows darker than your hair, and wear a pretty lipstick. You will not look washed out.
Good advice Marguerite
My brows are still quite dark, although definitely thiner and need some careful filling in which helps a lot. It is now much easier to get advice on brows and brow bars are popping up everywhere in London.
I love your blog, Josephine, and you do a fantastic job, thank you. Your styling and packing tips are the best!
To be honest, whatever interest you and grabs your attention will be of interest to us too, so please just keep on doing what you do so well.
Wow Thanks for all your lovely comments. I have just got back from a baby shower so will process them tomorrow when I have more time. Lots of food for thought.
I also receive an email suggesting that I ask my readers to send in photos of themselves as role models instead of using celebrities. Let me know if you would be up for this.
The transition to grey hair is always a tricky question. I think that I need to interview a good hairdresser. I did learn something new about this at the Dove hair event I attended recently. Will share later.
I love your blog, it’s very helpful as well as enjoyable. I appreciate your assistance on wearing the latest trends and how you put outfits together. I also love seeing how not just French women but European women in general are dressing. I’m in Canada and am feeling like North American women don’t understand the meaning of age appropriate. The fashion industry is really geared toward skinny 20 year olds, or that’s how I’m feeling! You are classy, creative and current!
Thanks Jane
It is a bit like that in London, certainly in the High Street but things are slowly improving.
Love your blog. You asked for suggestions. I have a little thought for a future post. I have a couple of garments that I just love, but never wear because I’m not sure how to style them. I rather suspect other people might have the sme issue. Might this be the basis of a post or two? What do you think?
Hi Ruth
Good idea. If you were to send me over a description of the garment or better still a small photo I will see what I can do.
to barbara
if you are worried about embracing your silvers, visit cafe gray, which is a discussion group of women who have done( or are doing) just that. in fact, that is where i first learned about josephines great blog. it reaaly helps to get gtreat advice from those who are going through the same process!
Thanks for that Barbara. very useful.
I find your blog very helpful and informative and would reiterate all the comments.
In your guidelines you say buy only what you love. That can be a challenge at times. I desperately need a new coat for the winter. I live in a rural area with little access to good shopping except when I visit Vancouver and then I am on a time limit. I don’t feel confident buying what I consider big ticket items over the internet. So what would you advise in this situation? Any help in making a plan to deal with this situation will be appreciated.
Hi Christine
I would recommend doing as much planning and research as possible before visiting Vancouver. If there is a good department store there with quite a few different ranges that would help. Another option might be to make an appointment with a personal shopper, there is no charge for this service in the UK stores. They can then get a selection together for you to try on.
I think internet shopping takes a bit of getting used to. A lot of companies here offer a free returns policy so you could always order a couple of sizes and send one back. I always think of it as just maybe loosing the postages costs which is often cheaper than a train or bus ticket to the shops.
Loved the posts about what they were wearing at weddings in France but appreciate that you have to be standing outside a church in France in order to get the shots!
I think it is coming to the end of the wedding season now in Grimaud. I will be back there end October so will see what I can do.
I love your blog and all the posts, especially the fashion pairings. I am 39 years old and American, living in New England. I find your information invaluable. I have no wish to look like a rock star and sadly, good information on being elegant is lacking over here! Please keep up the good work.
I enjoy your French posts too . We see plenty of Parisian style on the net ,but I don’t live in a major sophisticated city & I like to see people like me . Your wedding posts made me realise I didn’t need to look particularly ‘ Wedding Formal’ at a recent family country wedding . So slim trousers , floaty silk tunic , silver shoes & bag – & a wow pearl
necklace . I felt comfortable & appropriate . Thankyou
Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated .
I love your blog especially the capsule wardrobe ideas. I used your suggestions for a recent weekend in Wales, did not over pack and wore every item. I am hoping to spend a week in Spain in January and would appreciate some tips.
I always enjoy your blog. You mention packing away some clothes as you plan for the new season. I’ve done this for some time and now my loft is bulging. I’m moving soon and will be downsizing so any tips on what to store and how to store clothes would be useful. I’ve saved my most flattering clothes and the classics but a lot will have to go!
I like that you’re blog is not trendy but you manage to integrate trends into your classic style. It’s very inspiring and to me is within reach to the everyday person.
Enjoy your blog immensely. Like your recommendations today too. I do agree to only but what you really love but as I have got older I have found this more difficult to do! I used to be able to make a snap decision and run with it . More recently I have found it more difficult to actually find clothes that I love even when spending more!
However, love reading your posts . Thank you Aurora
I”ve been reading your blog for some time and find it really useful and inspiring for someone like me who has also chosen to go gray gracefully. Any help for curly haired grey ladies most welcome. My natural style is mature rock chick/bohemian and this is not always acceptable at work.
Hi Corinne
I have had so many questions regarding grey hair that I will be doing some research and interviewing a hair dresser. In the meantime my best advice would be to find a hairdresser that you trust and that understands your hair and what you want and get a very good cut. It will be well worth the investment.
Just got back from “a girls day out” with my granddaughter, I saw so many things that I liked/loved that I got totally confused so some tips on a basic core wardrobe would be helpful.
PS One of the items I liked/loved? was a blanket coat which prior to reading your blog I would have walked straight past , now I have the dilemma of going for this or a more traditional coat.
Something that interests me is how to find your own personal style, taking into account things like body shape and size, age, lifestyle, colouring, personality etc. I struggle to get it right a lot of the time and I remember reading a good article by a fashion journalist (whose name currently escapes me) who said you should come up with three words that sum up your style; once you have these, it makes shopping a lot easier, e.g. her own words were something like ‘Feminine, retro, glamorous’ or something like that. What do you think your three words would be?
Hi Wendy B
Good question. I have tried the choosing my personal words route, I think there was a booked based on it with lots of questions to answer, I may still have it in the garage. It did not work that well for me I respond more to visual representations. Words can mean different things to different people, take for example the word “classic” my interpretation of classic may be different to yours.
I have found browsing current magazines, fashion blogs and particularly pinterest gives me ideas. Another trick it to pick out the pieces currently in your wardrobe and ask yourself “why to I love wearing these” then analyse the shape colour etc and that may give you a clue. Role models for our age group can also work.