Midsommar Musings - “Breaking the Cycle Winter Edit “
Top Left : Gardenheir “ Italian Garden Clog , Birkenstock “ Super Birki” , Bottom left : Chunks clips, Middle Right: Scarf Shop “Wool Cloud”, Bottom Right: Beklina “Merino Balaclava”
It’s certainly way too early in the winter season but the feeling has struck. The unsettled, “What am i even doing with myself?” wardrobe crisis. I convince myself I am absolutely boring. Really, did I just buy another white piece of clothing? Nothing feels right on. I feel flat and not myself. And then there’s guilt of the winter habit of wearing only maybe one to three items over and over again. Badgering myself with the internal dialog that “I invested in these pieces so I darn well better wear them all” .
I know better than listen to the voice that says “you hate everything in you wardrobe, just bag it all up, drop it off at Savers and start over”. As a tried and true New Englander I know its just a feeling that comes with the seasons. But as it starts to get colder and the layers are on repeat how does one not stagnate? Find the will to dress themselves in something other than loungewear ( which no shade no shame but its a slippery slope)? Especially when you are exhausted. Especially when youre freelance. Or especially when you predominately work at home.
Now I am in no way condoning going out and just buying things to fill the void or professing that clothing will fix everything. But clothing - what shelters your body, how you face the world, how others interpret you, all plays into the sense of self. And sometimes that needs a hard restart.
Pinterest, the best place to start for inspiration and for moldboard making
1.First place to start - What is it that I am dissatisfied with?
So I start where I always do and get inside my head (which though it may be about clothes) isnt a bad place to go to. Maybe there is something more there than what’s on the surface ? And the mental , the physical , in my opinion is always good to address as well.
In this case I think :
What is giving me this feeling? Is it that i really have become boring and only wear one color and is it that I need more color? Is it that i need more more motivation? Excuses to go out in the world and therefore have a range of outfits? Why am I not wearing certain pieces? Is it that i am missing a key layering piece like silk tights for wearing under dresses that would give my wardrobe more longevity?
But again sometimes a feeling despite trying to analyze it doesn’t always produce a cause so the next step also helps to work things out.
2.Assess what you have ( aka make a complete mess of your bedroom)
The majority of the time when I face the stagnation of my wardrobe it’s because I haven’t spent enough time trying things on. Inevitably if you are a clothing enthusiast , maybe you’re pulling from a range of sources ( Poshmark ,thrift stores, vintage stores, new brands) and things that you may have had for years have been forgotten about. Or perhaps quite literally have been buried ( perhaps in that clean laundry basket you you haven’t fully unpacked that you’ve been pulling things from for a month).
What do you wear all the time that you love?
What are your favorite pieces that are comfortable or give you confidence?
What are the pieces that maybe you can steal back from your give away pile that can give you new life.
Try those pieces on. Mix and match. Pull out those shoes you had forgotten about. Inevitably something sparks.
3.You’ve done the work , maybe its time for small fixes
After tearing apart your wardrobe the hope is that you have come up with a new series of combos but also may have just noticed where things fall flat. I often find myself working from home and while I force myself to get dressed ( which truly does give a boost of confidence and theme to the day) its usually still a combo of put together meets comfortable. Again buying things to fill the void isn’t what I’m promoting but often in these times of stagnation, dips in confidence, it really helps to have a little color. A quality every day item that is useful and makes you feel great. So many items of quality can be found second hand (Depop, Poshmark,Mercari,Vinted) but if you do find yourself in the market:
Is it…
An elevated house slipper (LL Bean “Go Anywhere Clogs”, Birkenstock “Boston Wool Felt clog”, Glerup “Boot with natural Rubber sole”)
An elevated set that makes you feel dressed and put together (Deiji studios “Side Tie Set” , Wol Hide “Layering Tee” with “ Long John” , Black Crane “Painter Top” with “Pleated Pants” )
A pop of color in the form of an accessory ( Scarf Shop “Wool Cloud”, Lindquist “Pal” , Hansel from Basel “Caddie Sheer Crew Socks” , Beklina “Merino Balaclava” , Chunks “Nimbus Claw in Jelly” , Birkenstock “Super Birki “, Hinge Design earrings)
A pop of color in the form of an eyeshadow or cheek stain - literal color on my person always seems to perk me up ( Glossier “Cloud Paint” ,Merit beauty “Flush Balm” , Noto botanics “Multi Bene Stick” , Fat & The Moon “Mortar + Pestle lip paint” )
Top Left : Lindquist Object “Pal in chartreuse”, Hansel from Basel “Caddie Sheer Crew Socks”, Bottom Left : Hinge Designs, Deiji Studios “ Side Tie Set”, Glossier “ Cloud Paint”
4.Inspiration to give it a name followed by large fixes
But maybe you’re still sitting in a tornado of a room thinking no I really don’t fit into my favorite clothes anymore. They really aren’t me. I need to move on.
Get on IG, Get on Pinterest, Get on Tumblr (yes its back) and just go down a rabbit hole. Look at images, save what you like.
What do you like about them?
What are you missing?
Is there some piece that you dont own that would solve a real hole in your wardrobe?
Do you work in an environment that requires workwear and you just want to elevate your in the field game? ( Gamine Workwear , Gardenheir , Noble, RudyJude )
Maybe a wrap shirt would add a crop and texture that you could wear with other pieces or over items ( Ozma of California “Dance Wrap Top” ) ?
Maybe a simple sweater vest would spice up a wardrobe you already love - give it a punch, make it feel like a whole new option (Lenvers “Olympe Wool Sweater” , Jaggery London “ Lunes V neck vest”) .
Perhaps some texture in the form of a floofy vest ( Hollowbone, Ida + Moon) ?
Perhaps you always buy the same color shoe ( and maybe its “camel”) so the next shoe is a low risk wildcard color wise - perhaps an Olive? A Kiwi? A Mustard ? (I am Intentionally Blank is a great brand to explore color texture ) ?
A really fun coat with a nice cut, texture or bright color ( 7115 by Szeki “Sumo Puffer” ) ?
Perhaps a wildcard print you purchase from an an amazing small label (Fahari Bazaar “Lazy Pants'“) mix into your all neutral wardrobe ?
Top Left : Jaggery London “ Lunes V neck vest”, 7115 by Szeki “Sumo Puffer Coat Rust”, Bottom Left: Fahari Bazaar “ Lazy Pants”, Hollowbone Sheepskin Vest, Gardenheir “3L Waterproof set”
This all to say, I don’t have all the answers. I’m not a guru, I’m not sponsored. I am a simply a clothing enthusiast, a small brand lover. A kid that went from a style I have self described as if “a rainbow that threw up on me” to someone perhaps slightly more polished. And if you scanned all this to get to the end thinking “where are the links?” - I did not give direct links to things, only brand and item names, because I believe in the thrill of the hunt . And the hunt , the simple google search, can often lead you to independent stores that you may not have known about. All of which , along with your clothing journey , can ignite a spark that hopefully leads to new passions.