Here in this video with Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and me we discuss why it’s important that you don’t keep your good clothes for ‘good’, but should wear them more frequently.
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Why Your Clothes are Not Like Fine China
How do you find that balance between wearing your nice clothes regularly…and being overdressed?
You can wear nice clothes – we’re not talking ball gowns, but rather than a crappy t-shirt with your jeans, a nice top with your jeans. It’s still appropriate, just a little bit nicer!
I really like these videos with you and Jill! You both are very lively, lovely and interesting! Now back to the closet to sort out clothes that I don’t wear enough time…
Thanks Julie! Get rid of all those clothes that don’t make you feel great.
Thought provoking post. I am definitely guilty of wearing less than best clothing especially around the house. Recently I was embarrassed when a neighbor rang my bell and I was in a spotted T shirt and old (also spotted!) lounging pants. I also tend to avoid wearing certain fabrics that might need dry cleaning i.e. silk blouses, when going out to eat. I really need to focus on purchasing neat, attractive but comfortable clothing to wear around the house.
Thanks again for another instructive video!
Rebecca – I look for good clothes that are still easily laundered! Can you silk blouses not be washed?
Wow! This is what I’ve recently realized I do. I’ve stockpiled so many nice clothes, but I always wear my most casual clothes, because I don’t want to mess up my nice ones. Thanks for this helpful video. It will help me to not worry about wearing my nice clothes if I remember they’re like milk, not china. 🙂
Jamie – wear them before they go out of fashion! Enjoy them – have fun – and let go of all those 2nd best clothes.
so true! I ”sort” my wardrobe about every six weeks but invariably the best china still ends up in the sometimes-worn selection. I do pretty much only have (now) things I love to wear but still have way too much ”for good”.
Maybe 2014 can be the year of the good dress every day?
Why not let go of some of those – not so good clothing – so you don’t have a choice not to wear your good! Yes dress up every day.
I have a long sleeve blue t-shirt. It is second best as it isn’t quite fitted enough for my body shape. I bought it when I put on some weight and have never really liked it. Late last year, I wore it – just to road test it one more time. A friend dropped over, snapped a photo of me and the kids and then sent to his family and friends in his Christmas newsletter as well as a framed version for my Mum! Very big lesson: always wear clothes that met our minimum threshold of fab.
What a great story and lesson – thanks for sharing Paulene
Great Blog- I am so guilty of thinking or being energised to wear nice things when meeting someone worth it ie a stranger – a miserable work place or unhappy situation I wear crap which of course makes one feel worse.
I am going to challenge myself for a week to wear my nice things! Then maybe a month 🙂
But like an earlier comment – the balance ?
E
I love the “clothes are like milk” simile!
Since digging into your blog and Already Pretty, I’ve been trying to incorporate more interesting third pieces into my wardrobe. A couple of times, such as when wearing a jacquard blazer and a brooch, this has provoked a “Who are you trying to impress?” query from my boyfriend (which I suppose shows that I typically dress much more casually at home…). At the time, I responded “Everyone!”. Hopefully I’m headed in the right direction, at least.
The funny thing is that I do really like most of the pieces I own and have here in CA… I’ve been on a mission lately to find appropriate clothes (mostly from thrift stores) for gardening/outdoor work, as well as for wearing while painting/dyeing crafts. My standards for things to wear where others will see me (e.g., the community garden) has improved, in terms of using fit and colors that suit me, even for these items, but I just can’t wear items that I love for activities where they’ll get destroyed too quickly.
I must admit to squirreling away items that have developed holes, with lofty plans to upcycle them into other garments (less likely) or accessories (more likely). I also have a stash of items that are “seconds” for me, but in good shape for someone else, that I’m hoping to trade at a clothing swap in the future, if I can find one…
I learned this lesson from one of your previous posts and it’s been working well! Some nicer scarves and jewellery get worn more often.
I still shy away from pieces that people tend to comment on: I don’t go to work for everyone to tell me my skirt looks pretty. It has to be nice but not so nice that people comment i.e. it distracted them. Does that make sense?
I like this discussion and the idea of dedicating one of your “months” to wearing nice clothes every day.
In my effort to dress nicer I have taken up a practice from my childhood when I had “play clothes” that I changed into after coming home from grade school and before going out into the yard to play. It’s a lot easier to put on a nice outfit for even the most mundane errands when I also have a pre-designated set of “play clothes” that I can easily change into if I decide to do something messy like garden, tune my skis or jump into some heavy-duty cooking. (Doesn’t solve the problem of unexpected visitors, but at least the day’s “real outfit” is still nearby for quick re-deployment.)
I remember all the beautiful clothes my seamstress grandmother made for me, real works of art. They were usually put away “for good” by my mother with the result that “good” never came and I grew out of them without ever having worn them. She used to do the same with “special” toys too. My heart still aches about this! So, in my adult life I NEVER save anything for “good”. I use everything and enjoy it.