This is not a good time for someone (especially a woman) to begin creating a classic wardrobe. I was even considering writing a post called "2010, you are no 2004." Given the general capriciousness of almost all vendors, we may wonder, how do we maintain a stable look over the years?
The answer is, to some degree, gentle stockpiling. When I see something I love, I try to get a few (or sometimes more) exact duplicates of it. I store them in a clothes pantry.
This technique is not without risks, however. Here are guidelines for stockpiling well:
- Wait until your own taste stabilizes.
- Don't hoard. Keep everything visible and accessible. Know everything that you have.
- Maintain your weight. (Stockpiles keeps me on top of my own weight, as I do not wish to waste clothes that I like.)
- It is best to stick to the core items, so that subtle trends, of which one may not be overly aware at the time, do not make something unwearable five years later. ( I have such an item - a J. McLaughlin Navy Blazer that looked great at the time, and now seems absurd with its longer cut and somewhat padded shoulders).
- If you think something may go on sale, wait until it does before buying additional copies.
Approaching the Fall of 2010, we are at a discordant time when many vendors' PR and advertising are screaming "classic" and "traditional" even "vintage," where their actual products are still ugly, flimsy, and trendy. Hopefully their design and manufacturing will catch up. Until they do, I will be visiting my closet quite a bit.
Because a reader asked, the colors are:
L.L. Bean Items: Navy (Norwegian sweaters); Sky Blue (Boat and Tote); Glen Green (Boat and Tote); Oatmeal (Ragg Sweaters, Men's); Warm Pink (Boat and Tote)
Polo Shirts from Ralph Lauren: Maui Pink; Kelly Green (on left); and Oasis Green (right pile)
Other Ralph Lauren Items: Cable Sweaters on Top Shelf: Nantucket Pink; Kayak Green; French Navy. Cable Sweaters on lower shelf: Pale Kiwi; Chopin Blue
Pants and shorts: Khaki; Stone; Light Khaki.
23 comments:
I understand your reasoning for buying 3-5 of everything you like...but at the same time it's totally unreasonable for 99.9% of consumers.
I would jettison the blazer just yet. Perhaps not for another twenty years. The same fashion trends that brought a shorter, closer cut into style precisely so we would all go out and buy new blazers and jackets will someday reverse; the longer blazer will be fashionable again, and you will be saved the trouble of buying a new one of similar quality, which can be difficult.
Muffy, we must have been separated at birth!
Oh the things I have duplicates of. It is a necessary evil. At least that is how I reconcile it with my husband. *wink, wink*
I love the VB Nantucket Navy and continue to scour ebay for "new with tags" totes.
Second City Golfer - Your number is probably right, for quite a few reasons!
Andrea - You make excellent points, which is probably why I still have it.
JDB - Husbands have it easier.
Mom on the Run - I love it also, and it is just so frustrating as their patterns have been so unattractive these past few years.
Outdoor writer Gene Hill once recommended that when you find something you really like buy two more. You know they'll stop making it if you don't.
M: That's aggressive- in a good way! It's like your very own retail stock room.
Now tell, us what you got up in there?
I hear you on maintaining your weight! Nothing worse than leaving your stock pile of classics in the closet, and you find out later that they all shrank:(
James - You're always so eloquent!
DAM - Enough to hold me for about ten years!
j.mosby - Very funny!
Good move, especially now that the last holdouts, L.L. Bean and Lands' End, are starting to sell out. Really, is the world that desperate for more empire waist nightgowns masquerading as shirts?
I was always a proponent of buying the ______ you like (& that fits) in 5 colors, but I dream of one day having enough closet space to stockpile multiple copies of each color!
After your post a few weeks ago on the virtues of the navy crewneck sweater, I finally decided to order a replacement for my L L Bean cableknit version that finally gave out last spring. However, when I checked online I found that it was backordered until November (customer service confirmed this, and suggested I try a different color!)! I ended up going with a different brand, but had I thought of stockpiling a few years ago, I wouldn't be stuck worrying that the fit won't be right or the knit won't hold up!
As a man, I don't stockpile, but then men's clothes don't change the way women's do. Also, I can afford better quality now than I could when I first started wearing decent clothes. I also think men's shoes are often better made, so those just need to be resoled now and again to last for years and years.
As for socks, I've been against them for years, and only wear them to work because I must...
Love it (and love your 'clothes pantry'!
My friends always mock me because I buy two of everything, but when I have worn the first item threadbare, I then move on to the other.
Gentle stockpiling! It is actually quite economical!
You're not kidding that this isn't a good time to be creating a classic wardrobe. That's what I'm trying to do and it's even harder up here in Canada because almost the only preppy merchants who will ship up here are LL Bean and Land's End and, as you say, they've become pretty hopeless.
Anyway, I have only one complaint about this blog and it's actually a compliment. I wish it really was the daily prep, ie. daily posts. I'm hooked and can't get enough.
chessie8200 - Best description I've heard!
makingstuffanddoingthings - Honestly, the only place I could find a plain crewneck was Lands' End School Uniforms. I am curious to see how the raglan sleeves will look.
Curt -You make a good point about quality, and I tend to only buy duplicates of items that fit into the "nuts and bolts" category. I stay away from this practice with outerwear, footwear and dressier items. I hear you with the socks!
contendedofdulwich - I am with you. If I was worried about being mocked, I would never have started this blog!
Kari - Yes they are. Fall 2010 is a mess. And I was wondering when someone would mention the "Daily" thing! Thanks!
An apropos topic with the pending changing of the seasons.
I am confident that a large number of your readers and others wished they had exercised prudent stockpiling of US and EU made goods prior to the elimination of tariffs on Asian made garments a decade ago.
Now we are awash in a sea of shoddily made junk and the Chinese governmen owns a disoncertingly large number of US Treasury instruments.
Too soon old and too late smart.
Muffy,
There seem to be a distinct lack of love for LL Bean and Lands End of late!
While I will admit that the mighty have fallen somewhat in quality over the years. We all must admit they still do some things right.
The Irish fishermen's sweater comes to mind. Still made in Ireland. Still nice looking. I ordered one the first day in August. That is to say I had to reserve one. The demand was apparently so high they back ordered me. To think that one can order a sweater in the middle of summer and be back ordered because of demand says something.
Namely that LL Bean still has our hearts. And by the way I looked at a vintage LL Bean catalog. Some of the older stuff is not so great.
Though we all agree that Muffy is tops. Thanks so much. I too would love posts on a daily basis.
If you will take a look at the "Ivy Style" web site today, it really makes your point. Many of us wore Bass for years, and assumed that they would always be with us.
They are, but the leather looks like plastic, and the heels have a layer of paper. Alden 984 and 996 are the logical way to go, but still not Weejuns.
To have a stock of the real Weejuns, as well as some bluchers that were discontinued 30 years ago, would be like going to a reunion of old friends.
As it is, when you look at the Bass offerings now, it is like seeing a classmate from days gone by, and realizing that the person has sadly fallen on really hard times.
Your article reminded me that an OCBD with a proper collar roll today, exists only at Mercer, and BB. Maybe it is time to stock up on these.
I too would love "daily" updates of The Daily Prep your blog is fabulous! Thank you!
Muffy: Yes! The Lands End Uniform sweater is the only one I could find as well. I have had some difficulty with LE sizing in recent years, but I went ahead and ordered one anyway. It arrived today, but I am out of town, so I will have to wait until Tuesday to give the full report.
ACH
Colleen - As Wharf Rat wrote, it is interesting to identify what we now take for granted. All things change all of the time.
michigan - I have liked Lands' End in the past and have always loved L.L. Bean. It is interesting to me that the item you highlight, (which I own as well) is an item for men. There are still plenty of men's items, as well as gear, which I would never dream of purchasing anywhere else. It is a different story for women. I think another growing issue for a lot of people is how little is US made. And they should only take what is best from the past, not everything.
Wharf Rat - I love how you not only always say what I was thinking better than how I wrote it, but then take it to the next level!
BennettAnne - Thanks! I was initially thinking of shorter, more frequent posts but have settled into being a bit longer, and a bit less frequent. Same number of words!
Jealous of your bird's eye sweaters!
I have a Lands End uniform drifter crew sweater. It's nice, and I would say it runs a size large.
This is GREAT advice!! I have learned many a lesson over the years, and have been doing the stockpiling for quite a while now. --Holly in PA
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