Thinking aloud: the perfect wardrobe
Since I’ve started this blog I’ve been thinking a lot about the perfect wardrobe. Obviously the word “perfect” tends to connote something universal in its idealism, which isn’t necessarily what I’m getting at, so I’ll be more specific. I’ve been thinking about how to build the kind of wardrobe that speaks perfectly to me on a variety of levels. In particular,
It’s small in size but endlessly versatile.
The pieces are good quality and help create a physical presence that is appealing to me (what some would call “flattering”).
And importantly, it makes a clear statement on my aesthetic tastes.
If you’re thinking that it sounds like a daunting task, you’d be right. This is the work that is the livelihood of stylists, designers, editors, and some bloggers—I concede, of course, that it’d be wrong to pretend like these roles are all synonymous—and it takes a great amount of time, thought, and creativity. It also takes, I’ve noticed, some discipline. After all, it might be all fine and good to buy anything that catches your fancy and think about fitting it into your wardrobe later, but if the goal is a clear point of view that is efficient, impactful, and high quality, suddenly you have a lot more questions for that pair of peep-toe booties than you thought. Don’t I already have a pair just like this? How many things can I wear this with? Does it really make sense in the context of my overall look?
And, let’s be real, it’s hard to stay focused when matters of price point, size availability, and the origins of the things we wear are salient. It’s easy for some of us to preach the Investment Piece ethos of buying fewer high-quality things, but it’s not always/ever an option to everyone. Sometimes disciplined wardrobe building is a reflection of luxury; other times it’s just kind of forced on you, especially if you’re poor, fat, or uncomfortable with what’s offered to you.
Nevertheless, I think there are a lot of ways to be creative in this process, and there are a lot of benefits to building a directional wardrobe, in addition to those above. Fashion is a reflection of our times and sensibilities, and having a honed awareness of your place within that moment—a sartorial opinion, if you will—is not just chic. It’s courageous. Call any revolutionary moment to mind and you won’t have to dig deep to find a look that told the world who was committed and not afraid to show it. Images are powerful, and the fashion industry continues to spark endless controversies over violent and racist images in advertisements and editorials. But there are also amazing examples all over the Web and in magazines and design houses of people making themselves visible through fashion, from queer hard femmes to gender-bending models. And how revolutionary is it, after all, for many of us to dress in the morning with the goal of looking as much like ourselves as possible? If not revolutionary, then at the very least it’s a lot of fun.
I’ll be writing more on this in the next few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for more!
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