I rather like this enforced limitation. It’s like bonsai in a way. I’m regularly pruning away the clothes that don’t fit, haven’t washed well, don’t look the way I hoped, or that I’ve simply become bored with. (Did you know that most women wear only 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time?) So what’s left is really the stuff that I consider to be the best of the best.
Granted, it’s a little frustrating when I’m hunting for something that I “retired” six months previously, and I’m often replacing identical items, so it’s probably not the most cost-effective way to manage a wardrobe.
Now we come to the guilty part. Post-cull, as I was re-hanging all my clothes on matching non-slip hangers (because that’s the kind of anal-retentive I am), I discovered that I own twenty-three dresses.
That is twenty-three dresses post-cull.
Surely twenty-three dresses is an excessive number of frocks, even for me. Especially twenty-three dresses that I simply couldn’t bear to part with, regardless of whether I ever actually wear them or not.
Mindful of the 20:80 percent rule, I’ve decided to make a concerted effort to ensure that every dress in my wardrobe earns its keep in the coming months.
So, in the interest of that, today’s wardrobe was this safari-esque dress from Barkins (www.barkins.com.au).
Dress: Barkins www.barkins.com.au
Shoes: Zu www.zushoes.com.au
I feel very Katherine-Hepburn-In-African-Queen, though I’m sure the inestimable Kate would never have voluntarily donned a skirt this full.
It’s a two-season-old dress, so it’s unlikely to be still in-store, but if you like the look, check out the two Igigi (www.igigi.com) dresses below – they’re both radically on-sale (find them under the “final clearance” section of the website) and they’re very limited sizes, but you might be the lucky one.
Trench Dress in Stone – RRP $145, sale price $41.70
Tailored Portrait Dress in Grey – RRP $145, sale price $58
That’s an impressively tidy wardrobe lilli! I actually did a sort through mine yesterday (now sorted by colour – anally retentive much?) and had a similar revelation – I need to wear more of my clothes. It’s so easy to get stuck into a repetitive cycle. I read on deborah-lee’s great blog about her ’50 outfits in 50 days plan’ and am tempted to give it a go!
Just wanted to add that I saw the same dress here – at $15 what a bargain!! Biggest size is 16 though.
Love your Blogg too – have been a huge fan since you started!!
Ziz xxx
http://www.biscote.com.au/www/252/1002127/displayproduct/belted-double-breasted-safari-dress–1009856_dresses–1001687_.html
Oooh, good find, Ziz! Have you bought from Biscote before? How are they for sizing?
Colour coded, Abi? How scrumptious! Mine’s sorted by type: dresses, skirts, pants, short sleevd top, long sleeved tops, etc etc
Your wardrobe puts mine to shame! Mines a walk in robe and a huge jumbled mess of things 🙁
I should do a clean out but not sure if I should donate all my clothes or sell some and donate the rest.
Biscote sometimes have some great bargains – they are based in Melb so lilli you can go direct to the store in Hawthorn (kinda like a warehouse) to try stuff on. I’m a 12-14 and their sizes are pretty good – I have a girlfriend who bought the dress and is a 16 and it’s a perfect fit on her.
Good luck HTH!
Ziz
Wow – I just checked that Biscote site and the trench dress is now $5!!!
Grab yourselves a bargain girls!
Wow! What a steal!
Loooove the safari dress 🙂 Let me know if you get bored of it…..
Eeee 🙂 i am looking so forward to shopping with you soon 😀 Trying to shop for skirts/dresses alone here in Canberra has just been making me sad 🙁 stoopid canberra.