Words about contentment inspired this series that celebrates ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness. Join me in the comments and share what you've done with what you have!
The built-in wardrobe beside my bed has only 16 inches of rod space, and I, just yesterday, took four more shirts out to donate. It has taken some experimenting, for sure, but I'm dialing in on what my wardrobe basics are at this stage in my life with all its current aspects - career, gardening, outdoor, casual, running. It's a good feeling.
For the giant portion of the past twenty-plus years, I've stocked my closet with thrifted goods. Thrifting has been like a treasure hunt, finding gems among the junk, while saving money and looking good in the process. I've developed rules for myself along the way to ensure that what I bring home is truly something that I'll wear:
+ Rule No.1: I have to LOVE it. Hands down. Without a single 'well, maybe...' involved.
+ Rule No.2: Don't buy it just because it's a steal (see Rule No.1).
+ Rule No.3: Don't buy a garment for a future circumstance that may or may not happen. Sound tricky? Simply put, it means that I can't purchase a garment in a size different than I currently am, in hopes that it will one day down the road be the right fit. I buy for right now.
+ Rule No.3: Buy classics, not trends. I've made this mistake, and don't want to repeat it. Longevity in style is just as important as longevity in fabric and construction.
+ Rule No.4: As much as possible, buy garments made from natural fibers. Silk, cotton, bamboo, alpaca, merino, cashmere, and other natural fibers all feel so much better on the skin than man-made fibers such as polyester and acrylic.
But despite the fact that I've sourced the larger portion of my wardrobe over the years at thrift stores, the fact is, with the manufacture outsourcing that has happened in that time, the over-all quality of the garment industry has declined drastically. I have to search much harder now to find quality goods. It's made me re-think things.
I've taken to looking at my current wardrobe with a sharper eye. The quality pieces that I currently have are more immune when I sweep through with a purging hand. I'm left with the things that meet every point on the Rules List, so I know I'm on firm footing with the wardrobe basics. From this footing, I realized I could take some of the pieces that I have and alter them for a fresh new look, instead of searching for new ones.
Such a spring sort of thing to do.
A pair of black linen pants and a pair of chinos were tossed on the bed for consideration. Maybe instead of the current full-leg length, a cropped version would be good?
While I've been known to hem my own pants, I decided this time to call on a lovely seamstress. Keiko is a beautiful Asian woman with a chic haircut and stunning smile. When you see her, you immediately want to know her. She meets her clients at an up-scale boutique in the next town over. You stand in front of a tall mirror in a beautifully draped fitting room and feel like a princess as she and the store proprietor fuss over you. When they compliment the fit of your garment, you know they really mean it. And when they agree that the idea of shortening the length on the black pair is a wonderful one, you have no doubt, either. When they think the look of the chinos couldn't be improved by shortening, well, you have to agree. Light and happiness all around.
By mid next week, I'll have a 'new' pair of black linen pants waiting for me at the boutique. I had no idea that hiring a seamstress to hem one pair of pants would make me feel like royalty, but it does.
Do what you can with what you have.
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