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Monday, June 4, 2012

back to basics

It happens every year when the days get warmer and longer... I lose control of my purse strings and spend way too much on new Spring/Summer pretties... Of course I do not regret it at the time or when I am wearing my new clothes later, but as May transitioned into June, I have been reflecting about how I want my closet to be "well curated" with quality not necessarily quantity.
(I love how organized Extra Petite is with her spending: here & here, I am WAY not there... but working towards it... slowly)

I think I did pretty good with my May purchases:
Target wedges
J.Crew maxi skirt
J.Crew bubble necklace
J.Crew baseball tee

But now I want to make a conscious effort to get back to checking items off of my (well, actually Matchbook Magazine's) 50 classics list

And in fact this quote from Nicole over at Sketch42 is what reinvigorated my "classics" commitment:

"I officially vote 2012 the year of trends you are most likely to regret in ten years" - Nicole

Ultimately it is pieces like my basic black pencil skirt that will take me from job interviews and professional meetings to brunches and out with friends. So this week I am going to be sharing how I am wearing my "classics" these days, what pieces I am on the look out for next, and how you can incorporate wardrobe staples into your outfit rotation in a trendy way
{ What I wore: J.Crew pencil skirt (similar) & tee // ModCloth necklace (similar) // Gianni Binni sandals }
P.S. All this week I am also going to be posting at 2pm about some new food situations going on in my life... stay tuned :)

33 comments:

  1. Interesting spreadsheet and quote. I have been wondering about regretting several trends as well. But you're right, it's so fun to buy and wear pretty things... You look cute, love that pencil skirt- definitely a classic you won't regret!
    --TS

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  2. totally agree about the classics! you can never go wrong with the classics!! and what a hilarious and TOTALLY true quote!

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  3. I love the necklace! J Crew always has such fun pieces. I always look back on in my mother's scrapbooks and think "what were they thinking!?" Now that I think about it, some of the trends that I love (sock bun, oversize jewelry, high-low dresses and skirts, neon) will definitely be seen as that when the time comes. Happy Monday!

    Cheers, Elizabeth @ The Corner Apartment

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  4. I love that quote from Nicole and seem to agree with her...but the trends are so fun right now.  I just can't help myself.  But, I am trying to buy more classic pieces as well.  And how cute do you look in this outfit?!?
    xo,
    Shanna

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  5. I do stay away from certain trends that I can't see lasting, like the neon trend. I love how you dressed down your pencil skirt with the tee and I can't wait to see how you style the other classics!

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart

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  6. Love the classic pieces, your black pencil skirt is a great one to have!  There are so many items in my closet that I've been wearing for years and I love it.  I like having a mix of both classics and trends! :)

    xo, Yi-chia

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  7. LOVE the J Crew skirt- aren't their's the best? They fit like a glove and make that $79.50 worth every penny! I am totally with you though that it's hard to wait and save up to buy those better purchases that will be staples in your wardrobe forever! And OMG I love the quote! Too funny- I'm totally down for regretting it later, fine by me! Keep in touch! 

    Amanda
    It's an Easy Life

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  8. I feel the same way about trying to make my closet more about quality items, but those impulse buys always get me!  Love the outfit!

    My Life in LA LA

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  9. I can't wait to see how you rock your classic pieces this week. Super good idea. And I think I agree with that quote. I might already regret some of the outfits I have worn :)

    Hannah 

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  10. Your necklace is just so pretty! Love the chunky jewelry items.
    -kw, ladiesinnavy

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  11. love the graphic tee with the pencil skirt!! and of course i love that necklace!!  i always wonder what things I'll regret wearing in 10 years. : )

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  12. Jen@redsolesandredwineJune 4, 2012 at 12:36 PM

    I read extra petite and sketch 42 and have a confession - I've become neon/color obsessed and yes may be out of trend next year :) But love this post and your mint baubles are excellent.  Trying to pull back my shopping habits for all the points you mentioned!!

    Red Soles and Red Wine

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  13. Some excellent May purchases!  Love the quality/quantity attitude.  I need to go back to that rule.

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  14. I think over all I want to invest more in classic staples so that I can get more wear out of the trendy, more inexpensive items in my closet... if that makes sense...
    Because I don't think I will ever have enough will power to stop impulse buying pretty things :)xx

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  15. Glad you like it too :) It is hard to not pick up pieces from Forever21 when they are so cheap... stay strong stay strong stay strong!
    xx

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  16. haha - so true! I have so much fun trying out new trends and riding the fashion wave... and I think that a strong foundation of closet staples will just make transitioning from one trend to another more smooth :)
    xx

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  17. Agreed - the trends are so fun right now... and hopefully paired with some great classic pieces my mullet skirt, peplum top, and jeggings will still be going strong 5 years from now!
    xx

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  18. Yea - I am glad I didn't get too crazy with neon... just a belt and some nail polish... but it definitely is fun to experiment with new trends... just gotta know when to invest and when to scrimp
    xx

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  19. That is the kind of closet I want... quality staples that really give an extra oomph to the newer trendy items I will surely pick up each season!
    xx

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  20. Amanda, I love your attitude... what is fashion for if not to later regret and remember the good times I had in my leggings-as-pants and neon tee! hehe
    xx

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  21. I agree... hard to not buy the $15 adorable skirts at Forever21.... but I am working on it!
    xx

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  22. hehe ... probably me too... and within the last 6 months!
    xx

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  23. Thanks... and I'm thinking wearing leggings-as-pants... oh my what was I thinking!
    xx

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  24. Sometimes it is so much fun to be "trendy"... I just hope that as the years pass, and my wardrobe matures, the style and aesthetic of my clothes will be "me" and not just a trend... having the will power to resist cute neon accessories is really hard for me though!
    xx

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  25. It is a good balance to strike... something I will work on for forever probably!
    xx

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  26. I've been meaning to take inventory & look at the 50 classics list.  I'm like you & definitely want to make my shopping trips more meaningful.  Need to get out of buying things just cuz they're cute!  I'm going to check out Extra Petite's tips!  Thanks for the inspiration girl!

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  27. I am in exactly the same boat right now - I've been spending FAR too much unplanned $ on spring and summer goodies because they're so hard to pass up this time of year!  I'm actually entertaining the idea of doing a June no-buy on clothes and makeup so I can spend that time re-evaluating what I need.  And I'm so impressed by Extra Petite's budgeting - I had a spreadsheet for awhile, but it was nowhere near as organized (probably due to too many purchases!!!) but I'm inspired to start again!  Classics are definitely great investments, but I love that the "what were they thinking" trends are what make fashion fun and current!  I would hate to look back and only ever see pictures of myself wearing the same thing and never trying anything new, you know?  Definitely a mix of both, like you said :)

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  28. 7TwentySomethingsJune 4, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    Oh I love this outfit! you are kind of making me want to buy some threadless Ts from gap. HAHA I love that quote I was just thinking about that about all the color pants I own.. and how I really really want Mint pants!

    Sara
    http://seventwentysomethings.blogspot.com/ 

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  29. You are absolutely adorable and I love the red lips on you! Classics are always a better investment, and I love that we have access to stores like F21 for the trendy stuff. Nicole's comment made me giggle - she's probably right.  Colored denim? Leopard print? NEON???? It's so fun though. :)

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  30. Love the graphic tee with the pencil skirt - such a cute look!

    Annie
    The Other Side of Gray 

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  31. I've been really trying to buy classic quality pieces and refine my closet. It's crazy to me that I'm only now realizing how versatile these pieces are. 

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  32. Fun necklace!

    www.daisyraeboutique.com
    www.kacieskloset.blogspot.com

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Thank you for your comments, they make my day!!
xx