itsKelCeeEee

I'll be 22 in a few weeks, and I looove clothes so I want to redo my wardrobe as a "gift" to myself. I don't always know the difference between Prada and Chanel or whatever, but I love to look nice. Tights, long dresses, scarves, boots, accessories...I just love feeling glam when I leave the house. Unfortunately, being the broke college student I am who's always on the go, I basically have a closet full of T Shirts, jeans, and a few good pieces...but that's about it. How do you lovely women fill up your wardrobe? Do you strike lucky at thrift stores? What do you consider your style to be? And how do you go about choosing what to keep and what to get rid of?

Sooo many questions. Lol.


Apple now owns my soul...sent from my iPhone.

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spiderlashes5000

The summer before my senior in college, I made a decision to stop buying anymore "college kid" clothes and buy only professional attire.

I wound up going to grad school which gave me more time to build up a career wardrobe but also gave me a reason to start putting my fledging, but growing little collection to use when I taught (I was a TA).

I have bought blazers and skirts at upscale consignment shops but honestly, no matter how great they look in the store, they almost always look dingy and old when placed next to new clothing in my closet...so I've stopped doing that. And I am not wiling to deal w/ the ick factor of buying other women's pants, dresses or skirts...especially not pants.

No, I don't do thrift shops.

I think you should figure out your personal style, your best colors, and just start building the staples of your wardrobe. Keep abreast of the trends and spice up your classics w/ those.

Good dept stores have sales and sometimes the cheap dept stores have some pleasant surprises. You can downshift on certain items like basic white cotton buttondowns and black leather pumps (i.e., buy cheaper but similar versions to what you see in magazines or on other well-dressed women, etc.) and shop at off-price stores (Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, Daffy's, etc.)

eta - I know thrift/consignment shops can be a great way to save money but sometimes the stuff just doesn't look good. There are two women at my job who shop that way and they stick out like sore thumbs. And not in a good way. They never look fresh or crisp...but just dingy and old. And they have no idea; they feel so pleased w. themselves for aways scoring a "great deal."

Not saying all thrift shop stuff is like that; you just have to be careful. Look at the stuff in natural light if possible and hold it up to a similarly colored garment that is new to see if it is faded. Check the seems to make sure they're not about to go threadbare. And just bc something at a thrift shop is a good brand, that doesn't mean it is stil stylish...hem lengths, collar widths, waist heights, etc. change w/ time.

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3b (with 3c tendencies) on modified CG

Amneris

No thrift stores for me, either.

I am much like spidey. I shop the sales. I go for department stores and small boutiques over the mall, though I do of course still shop the mall still.

I was going to say exactly what spidey said also. Figure out your general style and colours and shapes and go from there. Get some really good quality basics that won't go out of style. Good jeans, wool pants, wool pencil skirts, button-down shirts, little black dresses, wrap dresses, cardigans etc. will last you for years if you stay the same size. Once you have those then you can buy a few trends every season and invest in some more dresses, suits etc. Don't forget that good coats, shoes or boots and bags pull everything together. Don't forget about jewelry and scarves. Good lingerie for nice support underneath is crucial.

My style is a mix of "boho"/romantic with a more polished, '50s chic style. So I wear a lot of tailored pieces (I am into peplums at the moment) with some ruffles or flowers, and I lean toward brighter colours. Jewel tones look great on me. Some colour combos I like for professional settings are red and camel, navy and camel, navy and lime green and teal and chocolate brown. I like full-skirted skirts and dresses and scoop necks.

I am bad about getting rid of stuff because I am never sure if I will use it again, but I get rid of anything that is worn out, stained, ripped, don't really like it upon second thoughts, have had it a couple of years and never wore it, was a trend that is obviously past, or if it is obviously a size that is unlikely to ever fit. Everything else, I "file" - I have racks of stuff I wear regularly to work and stuff I wear regularly to go out in, and then I keep separate the stuff I'm not really using but am hanging on to because I feel like I might use it again. The way I shop now, most of the items I get are keepers and go with stuff I already have, so I don't have much need to get rid of them.

For each season, I'll have the basis of my wardrobe and shop/dress around those few items so I can mix and match, or I'll have a basic look and variations on that. For example, this summer, I based my wardrobe around floaty wide-skirted dresses. I have a bunch of those and I got cardigans and jackets to go with them that can also go with skirts or pants, blouses that can go under them and also go with the skirts and pants, belts that can go with the dresses or with other outfits, etc.

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Get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me. -Muhammad Ali

itsKelCeeEee

Ah, thank you! Yeah, my best friends LOVE thrift stores and they find the best clothes but I never see anything I like when I go. That probably is my problem though; I work both my jobs at the mall so I avoid thrift stores like the plague (unless I go into MAC or Sephora). I need to stop doing that though because they do have good sales...at least the few times my best friend drags me with her.

I like black. Lol. Black tights, black dresses, black boots and matching bags. I like colorful accessories too though. I like the navy blues/browns/dark colors and occasionally white. I think that's because I enjoy doing colorful makeup as well...I'll figure it out. I am everywhere. Haha.

I am throwing a good 70% of my clothes out (to donate) as I type. How on earth can I own so much and never have anything to wear?!?!

Edit: I avoid Department Stores. Not Thrift Stores.

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thelio

I use to avaid the goodwill until a friend who is a fashionista gave me a tip. go to the goodwill close to the rich nieghborhoods. that's where alot of well to do woman take their clothes. I have found clothes still with tags on them. There is a goodwill superstore where I live and they have a section with used clothes and a section with never been worn brand new clothes. those are the clothes people bring in still with tags that they just didnt get a chance to wear. it amazes me that such a giant store can have an entire section devoted to brand new clothes.

Munchy

Yep. I have gotten really beautiful clothes at Goodwill in an upscale neighborhood, which was especially helpful when I was losing baby weight. I have a pair of lined Banana Republic pants that cost me $3 and looked brand new (they don't anymore), and I got several other items that worked for my small budget because I didn't want to spend a lot on interim clothing for work.

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Who Me?

The hardest things for me were to:

1. Stop buying the cheap clothes! No matter how tempting, don't shop at places like Old Navy, Target, Kohl's, etc. for clothes. They are poorly made, and cheap fabrics. They just don't look flattering and they wear out soon.

2. Stop buying something that doesn't really look great on me, just because "I love it". I still struggle with this.

Also, my friend who loves to shop had the "3 things" rule. Never buy something unless you can come up with 3 separate outfits/items you already have in your closet you can wear it with. It's great if you find a great piece, but if you don't have anything to wear it with, it's kind of a waste.

I've added the "5 places" rule to that. I won't buy something if I can't think of 5 different times/places I'll wear it. (I make exceptions for a fancy dress to wear to a wedding or something like that). If it's a good pair of work pants, that's easy. I'll wear those 5 times withing 2 weeks! I'm often drawn to dresses that are just a little too dressy to wear to a regular work day for me, but a little to business/conservative to wear out to dinner or a party. Trying to stick to this rule has definitely saved me a lot of money on this front.


I'd describe my style as urban/edgy (black, leather, heavy jewelry, dark skinny jeans; shoes with studs on them) mixed with a very classic "professional" style (pencil skirts, white button-downs, classic trousers) with a little bit of whatever-the-current-trends-are thrown in.


I've realized that some things, if they're good quality to begin with, last forever. And therefore you should buy them once, in a style that's timeless, and make sure they fit perfectly. For me, this includes jeans, boots, blazers, jackets, a black pencil skirt, and black pants (for work or play). I try to shop sales whenever possible, but for these items it's not always possible. Actually, if you can buy stuff off-season it's fantastic...I've bought some great fall boots in June before for like 75% off, online.

For most of my tops and dresses I try to find sales at places like Macy's (only certain Macy's carry the lines I like), Ann Taylor, Loft, and the Gap.

For things that I know are blatantly trendy and I'll be over wearing in 6 months I'll buy at someplace like H&M or Victoria's Secret Online. For fun jewelry I like Bauble Bar (online).


Also, I have felt SO much better about my closet since I started purging things I don't wear. I almost never wear t-shirts, yet I had like 20 of them in all shapes and sizes. I had all these cheap, "dressy" (aka kinda slutty) tops from years ago that I would never wear again in a million years. I had like 10 pairs of jeans and only wore 2. I had a bunch of summer dresses that were either a little too small or a little too revealing. I had shoes I couldn't walk a couple blocks in. I feel so much better without all that stuff!

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sleepymeko

Funny that this thread has come up...

I am turning twenty-three in two months and I'm at the point in my life where I'm not interested in being "trendy". Actually, I now find places like F21 repulsive. IDK when this change took place, but I find that a lot of styles I'm just not digging. If anything, I'm starting to really love the polish look. Heels, neat makeup, minimal jewelry (real jewelry, not costume jewelry), and nice professional clothes.

I'm going to start buying my clothes at J.Cew, Bloomingdales, etc. It's OK if I have to save my money to get these items because I know that I'll cherish it even more and I won't look like I'm still twelve! I follow some blogs for inspiration. Also, I am throwing away my F21 jewelry. I want to start wearing real stuff again and I only buy better quality shoes these days. Even if they're $200 each, at least they'll last and they're super comfortable. Same thing for makeup. I used to always wear MAC, but I started becoming lazy and started buying drugstore makeup. And honestly, there is a difference. A lot of makeup does not cater to WOC. As of now, I have started building a professional makeup collection and I'm so excited to start looking like an adult.

Like, I love this style. It's still young but very sophisticated.



Karla is kinda my "model" of how I want to appear like to others. I want to be a grown-woman instead of a college kid!

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itsKelCeeEee

See I love that look! Sophisticated, but young. I do need to cut it out with the Forever 21/Charlotte Russe bull. And Who Me? I swear I do the same thing. I'm not even done with my closet and I feel better. I'm planning outfits in my head. Ahahaha.


Apple now owns my soul...sent from my iPhone.

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scrills

If I didn't shop at Old Navy and Target my closet would be half empty, LOL. but I must say that you do have to be very selective about what you buy there. Old Navy is great for tops to layer under cardigans (because I like color and prints)...

to give you a sense of my style, my friends claim that my "uniform" is a pencil skirt and blazer/cardi during the week and maxi dresses on the weekends.

always buy for cut and fit. ALWAYS (unless you can afford a tailor)

I agree with finding ways to wear something.

I shop mannequins. Many many many times I have returned home from shopping with a couple of accessories, a different colored tank and new ideas on how to wear what I have at home.

The 40% sale items at the Limited is my friend. I can get nice work slacks for ~$15. At that price, I buy a ton.

Ann taylor and ann taylor loft outlets are good but I find their cuts to me a little too old for me. So I've started to spend more time/money at the Banana Republic outlet.

As much as that store annoys me, I can find good things at TJ Max

to give you a sense of my style, my friends claim that my "uniform" is a pencil skirt and blazer/cardi during the week and maxi dresses on the weekends.

Mix and match classic pieces. i check out blogs with "everyday" fashion ideas on how to wear what I already have

as for thrift, I have a hard time shopping there. It's overwhelming and you have to try everything on (which I don't like). I really only shop at one thrift store and their clothes are organized by color decade and type (60's long dresses, etc)

sew and sew

That is an awesome rule- definitely addresses my weakest point. Sometimes (well, a lot, relative to how often I go shopping) I come across something that I completely in of itself, and I realize it will be tricky fitting it in with what I already have, but I tell myself (ok, slightly promise) I will make it work.

But I usually don't. So I have a lot of disparate stuff I really enjoy. ...looking at.

It will be hard to self- enforce that rule, but even harder gradually adding more and more nice and 'me' yet ultimately lone ranger stuff.

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“It was only a sunny smile and little it cost in the giving but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

sew and sew

As far as sheer practicality goes- if there's clothes you're on the fence about whether you should hold onto, you can try putting them aside for a while. What you don't reach for in the next few months (or into the seasons pieces are meant for), you then know you should give away.

*credit to this bored on this one (it's served me well )

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“It was only a sunny smile and little it cost in the giving but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

kstan

I usually stock up for the year just after new years. All the major dept. stores have sales to clear out inventory. I got my little black dress for 40 dollars instead of 180 at Dillards. Their shoes are also a good one to look out for on clearance from time to time. Also, I'm a big fan of my local tailor. I don't fit really well into off the rack clothes, but if the style looks good on me, but is just a tad off. I'll buy it and get her to fix it just how I'd like. So on sale for 40 and 18 at the tailors. Dress just for me at a savings of over 100.

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• Poriosity is a mystery. I think its all over the place.

Amneris

The only thing I would buy at Old Navy and the like is simple tanktops, T-shirts etc. to go under stuff, or the odd very trendy item that I know I'll only wear once or twice, or that I'm trying out to see if I like it to buy a better version of it.

I never buy jewellry from mall stores - it's so obviously cheap. I'd rather spring for a few good, real gold pieces I'll wear again and again.

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Get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me. -Muhammad Ali

HipsterSoul

I saw this thread this morning and it has really inspired me to go through my closet and throw out anything that's unflattering, doesn't enhance my figure, too collegy, or isn't a color that I love. I feel so much better for it I also had like 3 big boxes of clothes that we didn't want that I was waiting to put into a garage sale but decided to take them to Buffalo Exchange and what they didn't take, I brought to Goodwill.

I've been meaning to do this for a while now. From now on I will not buy anything that I don't absolutely love.

spiderlashes5000

I think Target has the best long- and short-sleeve tshirts and tank tops. I also love them for underwear and hosiery.

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3b (with 3c tendencies) on modified CG

Po

Just wanted to point out that A LOT of Karla's clothing comes from thrift and vintage stores. She has an eye that most people do not have. And probably a good tailor, too.

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Amneris

I'm missing thrift and vintage shopping now. I used to do it all the time - not sure why I stopped. I think it was taking too much time to look around and then do the alterations. Maybe I will go back to it.

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Get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me. -Muhammad Ali

inheritedcurls

Even at 36 I need to do this. I looked at hubby's side of the closet...he only has now what he actually wears... My side is so packed.. I went on a buying spill almost 2 years ago when i decided to buy clothes my size to make me feel better. Since then I've lost 20 pounds and toned a lot... I need to go back through and eliminate those clothes that are too big and some of those impulse buys as well from 2 years ago.

I did go through my pre-baby jeans...I got back into them...showed hubby and then donated them. LOL. Amazing how much styles are tweaked in 5 years. LOL hubby was like...you have more flattering jeans. I need to rid myself of the other pre-baby clothes too..if they don't fit now...

I have gotten better about only buying what I love...I try to buy from BP, theLoft, Nordstroms, Gap... It's rare I go into a F21 or H&M but for anything super trendy it would probably be a good idea.

Jewelry/purses...I only buy nice pieces...things I can wear over and over. With exception of silver hoops...i wear these a lot and have a tendancy to lose one...so I try not to spend more than 10.00.

spiderlashes5000

Yes!

You can find real silver hoops for $20??? Or just the silver tone ones at Clair's or whatever?

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3b (with 3c tendencies) on modified CG