This is mainly a tale of failures but the intention for good things was there. Anyway to cut to the point. I’m getting old. True not old enough to get out the ‘granny panties’ or to own any piece of clothing made from flannel (please let that day never come!) but too old to be wearing anything that has ‘mini’ as a precursor. And therefore it was time for a wardrobe overhaul!
I actually find sorting very easy however i do need to be in the right mood, so one day last week whilst i was feeling particularly ruthless, i emptied my wardrobe and started weeding the gems out from the coal (im not sure thats a saying but lets just roll with it, ‘k?). And some of my pieces are so old they could probably start to fossilise, we’re talking i cant remember not owning this kinda old. There were quite a few dresses that had obviously managed to make the grade on at least the last 5 years of sort outs, they were first to go. An ‘oldie but a goodie’ is reserved for that Burberry bag you saved up for 2 years to own not a dress you bought from Primark when you were 19. Dress numbers were actually worst affected, finding themselves no longer welcome based pretty much on one criteria… length. I’m no prude, but the apparent inhibitions of my younger self to having no problem with showing off her pants are no longer with me. I feel uncomfortable, exposed and not particularly fashionable in something sort enough to require me to grab the bottom of the dress on stairs, no need to even consider bending over!
The rest was a fairly easy sort; does it fit? is it still flattering? am i bored of it? The usual questions really. The only new one was ‘is it stylish?’ I shy away from saying fashionable as there’s many a fad fashion trend i don’t want to sign up for, but i feel like now’s the time to put together a wardrobe that is (what i class as) beautiful, elegant (not in an old persons kinda way i should add) and full of things i love. Oh and maybe a little bit influenced by my recent binge on New York based teen dramas…..!
So armed with a newly empty-ish wardrobe (i own a lot of clothes- three wardrobes, a couple of boxes and a lot of shoes and bags to give an idea…. its a problem) i set off to our local gigantic shopping center. Its huge, Its hell. Its hot. Not deterred by any of these things i was ready, debit card in hand, to spend some serious cash. I was thinking Zara, urban outfitters, H&M; high street but not too budget fashion. I went, i tried on probably close to a hundred things…. and i left empty handed. I’m normally a pro at shopping, i’d like to think i’ve inherited my eye from my mother who is still a fashion force at 70, but there was nothing worth the money or worthy of precious space in my wardrobe. Now the aim of this was to get some good quality pieces to last, a move away from my bulk buying of Primarks stock, i was happy to splash some cash but the pieces just weren’t there.
By the time i got to Zara i was having a break down, probably aided by the aforementioned three H’s, and started to blame myself. I’m easy to buy for; size 10 if its a top or dress, 12 if its jeans. But i’ve gained a bit of weight, is that why things were looking so unappealing on? The longer i looked into the garishly lit changing room mirror the worse the reflection became, I found some beautiful pieces throughout the day that then looked dismal on. Upon trying on a gorgeous (on the hanger) floor length emerald green dress only to find i looked three sizes bigger in it and all ideas of looking relaxed and summery transformed to ‘oh dear god are my hips really that big?!’ i decided it was time to call it a day.
I’m now torn between going back on another day and hoping that maybe the A/W season stuff will start trickling in or waiting until some of the spare tyre has tottered off. At least this will give me more time to figure out what i need for this new ‘look’. Maybe i was just shopping in the wrong places? So if you made it to the end heres my question: Other fashion conscious 20 somethings- where do you shop?!
chubbygirltophd 