Simplifying Clothing

[jennay]

I have been reading old threads and think I'm going to like it in this forum! I'm branching out from the diapering board and the TP!

Anyway, after two boys 13.5 months apart almost none of my old clothes fit and the rest are either impractical for being a SAHM or are now really old and out of style. SO I need to buy some clothes but I want to keep it simple!

What have you done in regards to keeping your wardrobe simple? I do live in an area with four distinct seasons so I need all types of clothes and I do need some dressy outfits for church, etc.

And what do you do for your kids' clothes? My DS's seem to have so much yet they don't wear most of it! Yet I can't seem to get rid of kid's clothes because maybe the next babe will wear it or something like that. How many outfits/shoes do you have for each child for each season? And how do you decide what to keep?

Anyone have any advice or been in the same situation?

[chocomoto]

I know what you mean. I've got clothes for pregnancy, post-pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Add in the four seasons and i have a big mess and closets are nonexistant over here!

This fall I bought 5 longsleeved white pima cotton shirts and 4 pairs of jeans with lycra. I can add a sweater, belt, whatever, and that gets me through most days without too much effort. It's my mom uniform. The lycra helps with the weight loss/gain.

I bought some plastic underbed boxes at IKEA for the kids clothes. One box each for clothes for the upcoming season, plus one box for things they have outgrown.
Once something is outgrown, I check for stains, rips, wear and only keep what I think I would really use again. The rest I donate immediately to avoid clutter.

Shoes are always complicated. Fall: rain boots, all around shoes. Winter: snow boots, all around shoes, slippers. Spring: rain boots, all around shoes. Summer: sandals.

If you thing about all the time required to manage all this it is crazy, with shopping, washing, organizing. SIMPLICITY sounds great, but I'm not there yet.

[thoesly]

I just went through this a year ago! I had a *ton* of clothes because my mother likes to shop and I got all of her hand-me-downs. My main motivator was that I wanted to get in shape. After 3 babies in 3 years, I wanted to get rid of the baby weight once and for all. Since I never met a form of exercise I didn't hate, I knew it would be too easy for me to slack off if I had clothes that were even a little too big. So anything that wasn't well-fitting or a little tight had to go.

My wardrobe now consists of 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of shorts, a pair of black pants, a pair of khakis, and a few tops/sweaters in various weights/sleeve lengths. Shoes include boots, sandals, tennis shoes, and a couple pairs of nice loafers/flats. I want to get a couple of skirts/dresses, but really, here in Colorado, people go to church in jeans all the time, so I'm well dressed in by black pants and white blouse.

For the kids, I'm lucky enough to have a nephew living close by. He gets all of my older boy's clothes, then my youngest gets them back when nephew outgrows them. Then, they get donated to the ARC. My daughter destroys her clothes within minutes of wearing them for the first time, so they become rags or trash after a season. Shoes consist of boots, sandals, and tennis shoes. Whenever Grandma sends a package, I take that as a sign that the kids' clothes need to be thinned out. I'm not expecting another baby anytime soon, so I don't worry about someone else needing them. But really, with my 3rd, I put him in the same 5 or 6 outfits over and over because they were easiest and seemed the most comfortable (really, what idiot thought snaps digging into a newborn's spine were a good idea?)

My guide is that if I don't love it and don't feel good wearing it, I don't keep it. For the kids, they pretty much want to wear the same things over and over, and I'm hoping this trend continues into the teenage years -- think of all the money!

Good luck to you -- I remember what a daunting job it was!

Tara

[cottonwood]

Simplification is good. My basic "uniform" is leggings (short and long), skirt and top or dress, all made out of knit fabric (think Decent Exposures, though I don't buy from them my style is similar) in either black or various shades of blue. Easy to mix and match according to season. Oh, and I have two pairs of shoes, black closed-toe birks for winter, and birk sandles for summer. I'm comfy and I always look "put together" (albeit casual.) I do have a few dress-up things too, but those stay in the back of the close except for maybe one or two times a year.

My kids wear scaled-down versions of what I do. My boys have sweatpants and t-shirts, mostly in blue, and my daughter has leggings and plain cotton knit dresses. They each have a pair of tennis shoes and a pair of sandles.

[DebraBaker]

I'm getting out of my black(supersimple) phase and have settled into colors that are darkish but at least they are colors.

Generally I have two pair of jeans, one pair of black jeans, two comfey pants, about four long sleeved shirts, three sweaters a pair of sneakers I rarely wear and birkie clogs.

This is my cold weather wardrobe.

Very simple, getting the kids to simplify is another matter, I try, they resist, we compromise and on it goes.

db

Oh, yes, a winter dress and a denim skirt I wear four seasons.

[siddie]

I love having casual dresses to just jump into - no thought required for dressing. I also have a lot of khaki and denim pants and skirts that are easy to pair with casual tops in white, green, blue and black. I will also put on a coordinated work out set and it works to drop my ds off at preschool, work out in, and then take him to the park later in.

I find it easier to shop at places like Gap and Banana Republic where the clothes are all coordinated for you. Ann Taylor used to be my favorite but they don't have a lot of casual mom style clothes, it's mostly career and dressy. I used to like Eddie Bauer when I lived on the east coast but it doesn't work for Hawaii. I recently bought a great denim skirt and a few t-shirts by DKNY at Macys but they are more $$ than Gap.

Forutnately for me, we don't really have seasons here so slip on sandals are just about all I wear.

[corrie43]

I'm doing the same thing. I have a bunch of mix matched stuff. I am going up to LL bean next week to get about 5 of their unshrinkable t-shirts and a few pairs of classic looking jeans and shorts. I may pick up a few long sleeve shirts as well. all plain. That's it. I have a khaki skirt and pants I will keep as well. I have one pair of black shoes, pair of sneaks, a pair of dress sandal and tevas. I am going to keep just these things and maybe a few other things allready in my closet for when I need something special. I am sick of looking in my closet not knowing what to wear.

[DreamsInDigital]

If I had the time I would sew my own clothes in nothing but 100% cotton, but alas the world is not ideal, and so I go to thrift stores and Value Village. I own lots of skirts in colours that make me feel like a goddess, and I bought mostly white shirts in various lengths and styles so I never have to worry about matching. My kids have clothes that all match and the older one can just reach into each drawer and everything he picks out matches.
I got him jeans and black cargoes, and t-shirts in basic colours. Everything matches so he never looks like he got dressed in the dark.

[1jooj]

I am one of those people who, when I find something that works, I buy more than one. I have three dresses--but I have them in more than one color, so I have a wardrobe. Cotton knits, nothing too bright. I am in the bfing stage of my life, so this obviously dictates the type of dress I can buy.
I also bought an A-line, ankle-length denim skirt at ShopKo about 3 years ago, and I still depend on it, especially for summer.
If I cannot wear it with black shoes or boots in winter, I cannot wear it. I have 2 pairs of summer sandals (black and brown) and clogs for in-between (badly in need of replacements).
For me, simplifying was also about getting rid of makeup and hair goop. I used to spend a lot of time on those things. Now, that time is just not there!

[tracymom]

I wear a line of knit clothing that's built on mix/match. I wore some of it for years, particularly black and navy knit pants,but bought a "wardrobe" (three colors, think 10 pieces, 3 tops, 3 jackets, 4 bottoms) because I had an "executive" position and needed dressy looking clothes. Thing is, they're knits and I can wear them to the ballbark after de-accessorizing if I need to. It washes well. I love the cotton shirt/jean/penny loafer look but I'm just too heavy for it anymore and knits work better. Plus I like it that it's all made in US and Canada and I'm not supporting wallyworld and sweatshops and stuff. (At least I hope not, I know there are some US sweatshops, too...)

I was able to start selling the line to get a discount so sell a few pieces each season to friends and family that like it as well but I don't do the whole home party thing as I'm too busy with other stuff right now.

[Piglet68]

I am not sure if this is exactly what you are talking about, but I simplify by "decluttering". I used to keep clothes around for years that I never wore, always thinking I might. Now I regularly go through my clothes and if there is anything I just don't wear much it goes off to the charity box. I don't have that many clothes, and in fact I haven't gone clothes shopping much since DD was born (no time and not so much money, either). I also try to avoid clothes shopping just for the "fun of it". Instead, I wait until there is something I specifically need, and then I go get that. Not only do I find it more satisfying to find something I needed, but I don't end up coming away with a bunch of stuff I didn't need just b/c they were on sale, lol.

[MamaMonica]

I wear stretchy knits- hate the feel of unstretchy fabrics like jeans. Also am active so I like things I can move in- so I only wear what's comfortable and get colors that are neutral. Also, all white socks that dh can wear, too so they are easy to match.

Part of it is "know thyself"- what will you ACTUALLy wear? What will ti go with? And how many do you REALLY need?

I keep it down to what fits in my half of the closet with lots of space in between.

[LisainCalifornia]

Originally posted by Piglet68
I am not sure if this is exactly what you are talking about, but I simplify by "decluttering". I used to keep clothes around for years that I never wore, always thinking I might. Now I regularly go through my clothes and if there is anything I just don't wear much it goes off to the charity box.

Me too! I use to keep so many old clothes and even newish items that I never wore--and then a few years ago I decided I liked not having to "search" for things I normally wear through all the clutter. Once every couple of months I take a bag over to Salvation Army.

I have also finally found "me" as far as clothes go, and it is such a relief. It suddenly dawned on me that Hanna Andersson pants in medium fit me PERFECTLY. Other pants I would buy from Garnet Hill or TJ Maxx or wherever--not so much. So I bought two pairs of Hanna Andersson cropped Yoga pants--they look worlds better on me than Danskin or any other kind of yoga pants, so that is all I wear. They are hardy and stand up to washing after washing. I also got a new pair of white French Terry pants from them that are so soft and flattering--I love them.

I have found that the new Eddie Bauer stretch boot cut jeans fit me so much better than GAP boot cut stretch. They don't bind me and don't slip down too far on my tummy. They hug my waist and don't leave that unattractive gap that shows the underwear.

I like comfy, slip on shoes like Danskos and flip flops.

I like to have t-shirts that make me happy. Soft and comfortable, but with a pretty or neat design on them. I have ordered many (long sleeved, short sleeved and my favorite 3/4 sleeve) from one company in particular:

www.barefootyoga.com

So that is me now. Black yoga pants or jeans with a funky t-shirt

Find a company that makes clothes that fit your body and keep it simple and don't over buy.

Hugs
Lisa

[ZenMamaGrace]

After my daughter was born, none of my old clothing fit, so I packed it all away. For almost 2 years all I wore were yoga pants and tshirts. All my old clothing sat in storage tubs in the closet and shed. I finally went through it all, tried everything on :, and gave most of it away. Over this summer, my husband decided I needed new, nicer clothing. He gave me a budget and i eded up with:
2 pairs jeans
3 fitted tshirts in cream, blue, and black
3 longsleeve tshirts in cream, black, and green
1 pair navy pinstripe pants
1 knee lenth denim skirt
2 fitted sweatshirts ( from www.sweetskins.com) in wine and black
2 hemp/cotton tunic dresses in brown and green
4 button up shirts from the north face, in various colours

This gives me a wardrobe that can go anywhere from home with my daughter, to a nice night out (so rare!). All the tops match all the bottoms, so if my daughter decides to paint momma with tomato soup, I don't need to put together a whole new outfit. Everything can be worn with my 3 pairs of shoes: black chacos, merrel trainers, and grey wool simple boots.

My daughter, on the other hand, has more clothes than she will ever wear.....sigh.