No new clothes in 2015

stridentlyopposed

stridentlyopposed

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Trying to accomplish a few things (clothing wise) in 2015:

1. Make no new clothing/shoe purchases in 2015
2. Catalog what I already post a daily waywrn in this thread.
2. Learn to enjoy, take better care of and make better use of what I already own.
3. Take the year to identify what it is I truly still want to acquire as opposed to what I think I need to acquire.

I have spent a shameless amount of money on clothes, particularly in the last few years. I could continue, but would rather do it after I gain some discipline and insight I feel I currently lack. It's become too easy to just buy something rather than learn to work with what I have and that is what this thread will be about. That and a kid I need to start sending to private school next September.

This will include all clothing items except for replacing socks/underwear as needed. Same for replacing running shoes. It will exclude gifts (who am I to tell someone not to buy me something?).

I have no dress code at work, but it is expected that Sr. Management show up to work in a jacket/trousers or suit. I probably wear a suit 2 days per week (perhaps only once per week in summer) and jacket/tie/trousers the other 3 or 4. Denim is ok so long as it isn't more than once per week, perhaps twice if we're dealing with shit weather and always accompanied by a jacket.

I have a fairly extensive (to my mind anyway) seasonal wardrobe. Some pieces are year round as you'd expect, some only worn in the hottest or coldest times of the year. According to the "rules" and the typical SF mantra, I have some gaping holes that I would have liked to address, but won't be able to prior to January 1 (I will make one last thrift run on 12/31 though). This will only add to the challenge and anyway, short of an invitation to a true black tie event (no tux!) I can't think of a situation where I couldn't put together a stylish rig and look appropriate.

I will begin photographing my clothes and posting here this evening.

Any feedback, questions, insight from someone who has tried something similar? Comments/participation welcome.
 
Most everybody has more clothing than they need, even when we consider clothing for style as much as functional body coverings. We just get bored with what we have and lured by the new. I don't think I have an extravagant wardrobe, but there are items that I just plain forget that I have. Necessity is the mother of (re)invention and being forced to think of how to use what you have will prove more interesting than just acquiring more. Shop your closet, as they say.

The other reality is that decent clothing lasts a long time unless you mutilate it or toss it prematurely. This is why considerable thought should go into our purchases, but most stuff is cheaper than it should be and we are a consumer society so we get a whole lot of poorly considered items instead of a few mainstays that are wonderfully practical.

I think we all fall into some 80/20 rule where we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. A little study should reveal why and what can be done to fix this.
 
stridentlyopposed said:
I will begin photographing my clothes and posting here this evening.
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Reminder!
I try to be a minimalist, but have a fondness for oddball stuff that doesn't work in regular rotation. Luckily I'm cheap and somewhat obsessive.
The common advice is to lose anything that you don't wear in a year, but I think some leniency is needed on that. Some items are perfect for special occasions that may not happen every year.
I always try to store clothing in some order which reflects when last worn, so that things that are always in the back and rarely worn are evident, as are those always getting chosen despite recent wear.
 
Yep, I rotate my shirts and capes so that when they reach the ends of their respective segments, it's their turn again. Sometimes the combinations don't work so well and I end up looking a bit like Luca Tackynacci but it's not like I haven't heard the snickers before.
 
^^I might've given the impression that I don't have a lot of clothes. This is not the case. I am only saying that I don't plan to buy any additional clothes in 2015. I just took pics of my suits (5) sport coats (12) and odd trousers 12 (not including 2 pair of jeans). Haven't counted yet, but my guess is about 2 dozen shirts and about the same number of squares and ties. Probably 12 pair of shoes. Not even considering sweaters, shorts, polos, tees etc.
My intent is to take pics of all (tonight I did suits, trousers, jackets) as a means of "cataloging", posting here, and then posting what I wear everyday.... for a year. Rambo is graciously helping me through some initial technical difficulties at the moment. Until then.
 
Look forward to the detailed archiving of your wardrobe here, fitipics welcome too.
 
That sounds about right for the threshold of throwing your arms up and saying 'Basta!' Well as least to me it does. To Zhirinovsky or Conchita they're still looking through fabric books for their eleventieth odd jacket.
 
The 11th one is the charm. Once over that hump you can go crazy knowing you have your fit nailed down. Well, only if you are a muppet.
 
Next are non-blue odd jackets. again, from left to right
1. three roll two in wool/silk blend. Great warmer weather jacket. 2. all linen triple patch herringbone. 3. selling on ebay most likely but a cucinelli patch pocket in wool/silk. It's a long and was a mistake. 3. Light green wool/silk/linen blend with patch pockets. 4. Brown plaid flannel.
Not seen: black and white gingham that gets worn with jeans and an ocbd exclusively on casual days. will post a pic later
The only one I wear in winter is the flannel. I do wish I had another brown tweedy type odd jacket. Or green. Or a gun check. I guess I will wait till 2016!
 
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This is good. There is no frivolous popinjay impracticality, but it's not dour and lacking in variety.
That sharkskin is much like a light herringbone suit that I have that is decently warm. It's a great piece put it just has too much trickiness to it to get much wear.
 
I am very tempted to do the same as the original poster. Today and tomorrow may very well be my last thrifting days.
i have quite a bit of clothing as is and I am doing my best to shed the clothes that do not get worn, pass it to friends starting to dress up, etc, or eventually donate it.

I am just looking at my summer jackets, I can't help but like wearing FU jackets... But I have to be honest with myself and rid my closet of that which I do not wear and start to live with what I have currently, which is a lot.
 
Russell Street said:
This is good. There is no frivolous popinjay impracticality, but it's not dour and lacking in variety.
That sharkskin is much like a light herringbone suit that I have that is decently warm. It's a great piece put it just has too much trickiness to it to get much wear.
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I don't wear it more for the cut. It is a bit too built-up in the shoulder. And the trousers are too narrow. I love the soft-shoulders of my Polo suits.
 
Arnathor said:
I am very tempted to do the same as the original poster. Today and tomorrow may very well be my last thrifting days.
i have quite a bit of clothing as is and I am doing my best to shed the clothes that do not get worn, pass it to friends starting to dress up, etc, or eventually donate it.

I am just looking at my summer jackets, I can't help but like wearing FU jackets... But I have to be honest with myself and rid my closet of that which I do not wear and start to live with what I have currently, which is a lot.
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I have gone through giving things away and or selling off on ebay. What I have, I wear. I just want to learn to enjoy what I have, that is why I am not buying anymore.
 
stridentlyopposed said:
Thank you. I guess I will get through the year with no new additions!
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Well, I still acquire. I just have stuff going out as well. I'm very minimalist by nature.

I feel your pain on the closet space issue though, mine is about the same!
 
I have a taste for dressing well and I live in the city where Coppley is produced, so I usually will thrift solely to feed my Coppley addiction.
Though, while I don't spend a tremendous amount of money on clothing, I also do not earn a lot for a 26 year old. So, if I can stay with this particular challenge I bet it will help me in other areas of life!
 
Posted are some jackets I have that I am a little wishy-washy over, I wouldn't mind an honest opinion, I know of at least 3 of these that need to find new homes.



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The top two, unless in some tropical clime, I would have no clue what to do with. The narrow lapel on the second is dicey as well. The striped one, is interesting but limited in practicality. I'm not seeing an issue with the others.
 
stridentlyopposed said:
I like the bottom three, and of those the bottom two the most. What are the materials?
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Those bottom two are both Hickey Freeman samples. The navy is cotton. The brown is a linen, silk blend. (If you are a 40R, I will part ways with that brown)
 
Lighting is simply a flash on my 5D mk III. I boosted the ISO a little and then kicked up the exposure in Capture One.

In regards Russell Street, yes, the top one was a funky white cotton Pal Zil, and the other was a super cheap H&M linen suits, I never quite liked the slim lapels, but I am pretty certain I am going to part ways with it. The Pal Zil is going somewhere.
 
Arnathor said:
Lighting is simply a flash on my 5D mk III. I boosted the ISO a little and then kicked up the exposure in Capture One.
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Gotcha, must be the exposure combined with the white garment bags. Looks cool.
 
^^ Yes sir, I have all sorts of strobes, but this is pretty easy. the 5D mk III is a really solid camera. It, the lens and flash are brand new and I love how tack sharp everything is.
 
These are what is currently hanging on my rolling rack in my room and most of these sports coats get pretty good use.
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I am shocked at how much I like both of all y'all's stuff as I'm a judgmental bastard.
 
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Thanks Russell, please don't hold back with me if you see something that looks shitty to you. But, you say that now. you mightn't like my FU summer jackets. I'll post those next.
 
Arnathor said:
Those bottom two are both Hickey Freeman samples. The navy is cotton. The brown is a linen, silk blend. (If you are a 40R, I will part ways with that brown)
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I am a 42R, but thank you. Also I am done buying till 2015 (unless I find a miracle tweedy jacket thrifting tomorrow).
 
Arnathor said:
Thanks Russell, please don't hold back with me if you see something that looks shitty to you. But, you say that now. you mightn't like my FU summer jackets. I'll post those next.
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You have a lot of nice jackets. I don't really wear patterned stuff that much. I can easily (and do often) get through a week just wearing a couple of blue jackets with no pattern at all.
 
I could probably part ways with a bunch of those patterned ones, though I really do like them. I definitely feel like I have a lot of jackets, I'm nearly at 20 sports coats.
 
Bottom two are jackets I am a little wishy washy on. The brown is a beautiful Hickey Freeman and the blue is a Boss. I could go either way with these two.
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