Over the weekend, I borrowed Tim Gunn's style guide from the library. It's a short little book, easily finished in a day (even sandwiched between nursing, cooking, folding laundry, etc.).
I checked it out mostly to see the list of top ten clothing items that Gunn recommends for every woman (although I could have found them via Google, had I bothered to look). Gunn's top ten are:
1. Basic Black Dress
2. Trench Coat
3. Classic Dress Pants
4. White Shirt
5. Jeans
6. Cashmere Sweater
7. Skirt
8. Day Dress
9. Blazer
10. Sweat Suit Alternative
Of these, I have approximately one and a half. I have a pair of jeans that I love, but they do not currently fit. And they are missing. I also have a beautiful cashmere sweater. With a hole at the neck. Oh! I do have a little black dress. Two, in fact. One that even fits!
Gunn's Closet Diagnosis section really got to me. He recommends ruthlessly dividing your clothes into four groups: dump, donate, repair, and keep. The only items allowed in the repair and keep piles must fit, flatter, and inspire. He calls the keep pile the "soul-stirring" pile. If I'm honest (and ruthless), I would not keep a single thing in my closet. My clothes don't even poke my soul, much less stir it.
Tim provides exceptions for what he calls "radical shape-shifting" i.e. pregnancy and dieting. In these cases, he generously allows you to keep clothes that should soon fit again.
Having just been pregnant somewhat recently (five months ago is recent, right?) and being on a diet right now, I qualify for this minor exemption. Yes! But even the stuff I want to get back into (mostly just my old jeans and that other black dress) are not all that fantabulous.
I'm tempted to pull a Clinton and Stacy and just dump everything I own into a bin. Now, who is going to show up with my 5 grand for a new wardrobe?
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3 comments:
I love Stacy and Clinton and was even tempted to nominate myself. I just need to know what clothes fit my body type. I wonder if Tim has any suggestions, will have to take a look. Thanks for the list, I think I might have most, but who has time to wear any of it.
Sandy
sandy,
the book does have a very brief section on dressing for your body type. i think the original "what not to wear" book is better though.
i agree about no time, and also? i'm afraid to wear nice stuff because it will get barfed, peed, pooped on and touched by grimy fingers. argh!
I totally agree about getting the clothes dirty. When we do go out, I'm a total diva and don't even want to get near the kids so they don't ruin anything. My poor Mom, I have her running around with the kids so I don't get dirty. I don't think I'll be in any "Mom of the Year" contests anytime soon LOL
Sandy
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