5.02.2013

wardrobe planning: spring/summer 2013 [update]


i'm about halfway through s/s wardrobe building this season.

still on the list:
A.P.C. wedge sandals // still need these as my go-to warm-weather 'heel', and for my friend's summer wedding.
Karen Walker sunnies // still obsessed.
kitten-heel slingbacks // so Audrey Hepburn.
sleeveless oxford blouse // i realized the key to summer for me = sleeveless.
some kind of summery festive dress // not too casual but still comfy and maxi-length for the aforementioned summer wedding.

purchased:
uniqlo denim miniskirt
grey cashmere sweatshirt
petit bateau x kitsuné breton pullover
saint james breton
dandy flats
sam edelman sandals

off the list:
high-waisted skinnies 

on the fence:
  • something camo // still in the mood for a 'pop' of camo print...
  • white jeans? for NYC?? is this something that one can only wear during a day when you'll be mostly walking around/not actually sitting down anywhere? NYC/urbanite/public-transit-taking readers, please chime in!
thoughts on this season:
  • rediscovering the ease of the denim mini via Uniqlo. inexpensive. not too short. 100% cotton denim. love!
  • not waiting till Memorial Day and wearing my white Tigers and canvas Chucks already.
  • in the mood for variations on denim-on-denim all season long.
  • categorized under 'styles i love in theory yet never work in reality': every spring i get in the mood for a wideleg jean, then try on a pair, then realize it's just. not. flattering. does this happen to you?
wardrobe editing: just added some new for-sale items (Virginia Johnson, Steven Alan, Lover, etc.) at the shop

how is your wardrobe building coming along?

38 comments:

  1. I'm living vicariously through you. I'm trying not to buy any clothes and shoes this year, since I anticipate a major job change next year and want to save my pennies for a new job wardrobe. Love your style, I get so much inspiration from you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that is very sweet of you! :) and your big job change sounds so exciting.

      Delete
  2. I have to say, I got the APC wedge sandals a few summers ago. They are beaten to hell now and have stretched out so much that my feet practically slide through the front. Maybe I could have treated them better, but overall, I am not terribly impressed with the quality. My Swedish Hasbeens have held up so much better.

    I tried on white jeans the other day at J.Crew. I love the way that they look, but I am also fearful of how well they'll hold up in an urban environment. I definitely would not feel comfortable wearing them out or taking public transportation in them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :P really? hmm. i think amanda posted about hers recently, i wonder if they've improved the construction and materials since. the wedges i've seen in the APC store all look quite sturdy.

      Delete
    2. Seconding APC sandal issues: mine turned out to be quite appalling, and were run right out of town by my trusty Kurt Geiger sandals (also leather strap wedges).

      As for white jeans, I wear mine quite a bit around town, on buses and trains, etc, and nothing untoward has happened to them! Give them a try!

      Delete
    3. @jennifer and @LapindeLune - dang, that's too bad :P i wonder if the forward motion of the foot when you're wearing/walking in wedges contributes to the stretching out. hmm.

      Delete
  3. First time posting here but I'm with monkey. Trying so hard to not buy any clothes (plus living in New Orleans its hard, because its HOT!) because I am planning on moving to Glasgow in 2014.
    Hoping I can keep it simple with t-shirts, a few thin button ups, shorts and breton shirts for the time being.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your essentials sound just fine - one can make do with so much less in a hotter climate :)

      Delete
  4. I own one pair of white jeans and wear them sparingly, mostly to go out at night in the summer, with a blouse and fancy heels. It took me a while to find a decent pair, they are not as flattering as darker washes! I do own a pair of white denim shorts though and those I wear to death in the summer, with button-up shirts and flats.

    Going to Woodbury Commons outlets this weekend with my mom and sister, I'm bringing a list and will try my best to stick to it but no guarantees :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. see, that makes me really want to consider getting a pair. just seems like a fresh option that would really change the look of everything else.

      how's the selection at the WC outlets? what's on your list? :)

      Delete
  5. I love white jeans, even in New York City. I rarely wear denim- it just doesn't work as well for my lifestyle. I find that blue jeans can be a bit too ubiquitous for my taste. But white jeans can be dressed up or worn casually and just feel fresh. I prefer to walk (especially when the weather is nice),so I'm not sure about subway grim. Mine have held up good and stay white. I launder them properly, but don't do anything "special." A cropped style that hits at the ankle will help them stay clean.

    I like your thoughts on the season. I ended up getting the Karen Walker Perfect Day sunglasses and putting in prescription lenses. They are ready for pickup:) I was surprised at how flattering they are.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lindsay - your posts last year on the subject were definitely inspiring! and ooh good to know that KW frames can take prescription lenses...it's splurgey, but super worth it.

      Delete
  6. I stumbled across a gorgeous pair of wide-legged A.P.C. jeans on the Barneys website the other day (the "High Waisted Wide Leg Jeans", not the "Wide-Leg Pants") but yeah, wide-legged jeans never look like how I imagine they'll look on me. However... wide-legged trousers are amazing. I've got a pair in a navy lightweight wool suiting fabric and they look amazing with sandals and a Breton top tucked in. Seriously one of the best purchases I've ever made (yet wide-legged jeans would surely be one of the worst purchases I could ever make).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. this is interesting - i'll have to see about a wideleg trouser sometime!

      Delete
  7. I'm a fellow NY'er and I wear white jeans a lot in the summer sometimes to work but mostly at night out with friends. Never had any issues with having stains, dirt. To keep them bright white they are definitely one wear then wash.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you're the third or fourth reader who's mentioned wearing them for nights out- i love the idea! it sounds so fresh and a nice change from darkwash jeans :)

      Delete
  8. I've never had too much trouble with white jeans while travelling around the city (not New York, but I'm still very much a city dweller with walking, taking the metro, etc.). But yes, like Lindsay said, the key is to make sure they hit at the ankle so as to not gather a ton of kicked up dust. I've been thinking about getting a new pair for spring/summer, but it's just so difficult because for some strange reason a lot brands make the denim so thin! Luckily I've found a white version of my trusty black Cheap Monday tight jeans I may go for because they tend to have thicker fabric.

    I also like the bullet point about "styles I like in theory." I feel like I often end up in the same situation too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that's good to know. i imagine they're a bit less high maintenance than they appear...

      Delete
  9. Love that photo, especially the hat!
    I don't have anything on my wishlist at the moment - shopped quite a lot earlier this year and now my wardrobe feels pretty done. At the moment, I am enjoying my bespoke tapered trousers and Brooks Brothers oxfords, picked up years ago. I have added some old and new delicate gold jewelry to the mix as well as my Trinas, hand-woven Indian cotton scarves and two new ikat cotton dresses by my favourite label White Champa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. now you've got me really curious about all your fave White Champa pieces. promise you'll bring one along if you visit NYC? :)

      Delete
    2. Oh I am sure I will :) Wear their clothing all the time.
      You can check them out on http://www.facebook.com/whitechampa?fref=ts

      Delete
  10. Ah I also have a dress for a friend's wedding on my list this year, and I don't really know what to do about it because I'm the "best man" (or whatever you call it for the bride) so the dress needs to be elegant and chic, but I don't want to buy something I can't ever wear again so I don't really know what to settle for.

    Also, under the "styles I love in theory but don't work in reality", I can put everything that suits tall girls. Wide leg jeans are definitely a part of it (it makes me look like a shrunk dwarf, personally), but also all skirts/dresses longer than knee. You know, these great ones with a slighty chic bourgeois-bohème feel, just make me look like a small sack of potatoes. I do admire the style from afar though.

    I think knowing what works best with both your taste and body shape are a big part of wardrobe editing...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. shopping for a wedding dress code is always difficult. definitely looking for a dress that will actually be a part of the rest of my wardrobe.

      agreed on dressing for your body shape/taste. haha i feel like wideleg jeans always make my legs look like tree trunks. NOT a good look, even with heels.

      Delete
  11. I have a pair of wide-leg jeans - it's not typically a cut that works on me but this pair is weirdly flattering. They're terribly comfortable and allow me channel Jane Birkin. I don't like them too high on the waist because that looks a little too retro. They also look better with a slight heel but since I don't really wear heels I stick to pairing them with flat sandals. I can't say they're a true staple for me but since these jeans are about six years old and I'm still wearing them from time to time, I think they're pretty timeless!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ah, you're so lucky that widleg jeans look good on you :)

      Delete
  12. hehehe, the dreaded fitting room mirror. i swear some mirrors in those stores are like the 'fun' mirrors at the carnival :P

    ReplyDelete
  13. No wardrobe edits for me just yet - still snowing around my parts I'm afraid :(
    Can't wait to dig out my sandals and shorts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oof - hope spring comes around your way soon, Maja!

      Delete
  14. For summer, I bought an APC tank and a pair of No.6 t-strap clogs, which are so lovely. I'd like to get a pair of the Steven Alan high waisted linen shorts, a long No. 6 dress (check them out for your dress desires!), and Karen Walker No.1 sunnies. That's a lot, so we'll see.

    White jeans in New York: eh. not great. I feel that if it's warm enough to be wearing white jeans, why not just wear shorts or a dress?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks for the No.6 tip - i've always loved checking out their artful shop and designs! def a downtown favorite.

      hehe your point re white jeans has been my logic for years. i do like the gamechanging look they give, though, so we'll see if they make it into my closet this summer!

      Delete
  15. As soon as I saw the APC wedges, I immediately thought of the Kork Ease Ava. Have you checked those out? For almost $250 less, you could get the same style of sandal and those Karen Walker sunnies....
    http://www.zappos.com/kork-ease-ava-dark-brown

    ReplyDelete
  16. After spending some time in Spain I have a new appreciation for white jeans. They wear them constantly over there with smart looking cropped blazers and chanel style jackets. I love the look.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh I am so pleased to discover your blog thanks to Jess' blog. So delightful here! And funny enough I was just working on this exact same post. You've got the mind of an editor darlin ;)
    Will be back! Oh and will tag you in my post because your picks are stellar. xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Even though I'm a mom *and* a klutz, I love white jeans. I haven't checked them out yet this year, but I have always preferred Jcrew's white denim; it is substantial, durable, and incredibly easy to clean. If I get a big dirt smudge on me, I just head to a restroom and wipe it off!

    ReplyDelete
  19. seconding Lucy's comment...also a mom here and I adore my white jeans from J. Crew. By the way I love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I say yes to the white jeans! I used to have a pair a couple of years ago when I studied in Rome and even though it's quite 'dusty' there in the summer, they stayed white. I think the key is to get a pair made from a sturdy denim material as opposed to a thinner chino-type fabric that will attract dust.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The list that you've ticked off is very similar to mine. I still love wedges and chunky heels more than anything. They're more comfortable for the European streets.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I've been searching high and low for cute summery dresses, but to no avail.

    And I also say yes to white jeans. A little risky living in NYC, but I just bought a wallet-friendly pair.

    ReplyDelete

feel free to join in on the conversation! :-) FYI, comment moderation is ON, so it may take a little while before yours appears. house rules: comments that are spam, rude, or otherwise unrelated to the post will be deleted.