Lately I’ve been coming to terms with how out-of-touch I am with fashion and style. Now that’s not to say that I wear “mom jeans,” or even because I admittedly still wear 1 piece of maternity clothing. It’s more so that I have good “basics” that are versatile and practical for my life.
I’ve never been an uber-trendy dresser, not even when I was young and went out to bars. There are a lot of things I’d rather do with my money than buy the absolute hottest looks that often look completely ridiculous and are considered out of style in 3 month’s time.
Last week I did some internet clothes shopping. I tweeted about my online shopping excursions, and was caught off-guard when both KLZ and Cameron had – shall we say – less than stellar opinions about my choice of stores.
But I went ahead and ordered my clothes anyway, have since received them, tried them on, and am quite happy with my selections. Thankyouverymuch.
On Saturday we had a wedding to attend, and along with the wedding preparations came another realization about the state of the clothes and shoes in my closet.
The dress I was planning on wearing I’ve only worn once before. It is cute, flattering and summery, and the skirt part of the dress is designed in a way that you really can’t notice any wrinkles.
The problem with my perfect dress arose when I pulled it out of my closet.
I had to wipe dust off the shoulders.
Probably because it had been 3 years since I last wore it.
Yes, I haven’t bought any new dresses since before I got pregnant with Madelyn.
I deal with this fact, and so should you.
Anyway, I resumed my primping tasks, and while I straightened my hair and Craig tweezed his eyebrows in the bathroom mirror, I realized that I really needed to find the shoes I was planning on wearing.
The quest for the shoes was also a dust-covered one, but it became a bit of a search for buried treasure because I discovered three pairs of shoes that I had completely forgotten I owned!
So, yes, the state of affairs of my closet is not the greatest. Maybe a C+ ??? But I am determined to improve my grade.
Ideally I want to end up somewhere between Sporting “Mom Jeans” and Driving a Swagger Wagon and Mommy Tries Too Hard and Dresses Inappropriately for her Age.
How would you describe the contents of your closet?
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LOL. This made me laugh my head off!! Loved it. I am so there with you- though my closet gets like a C-
As you know I DO drive a swagger wagon and I DON’T own one piece of animal print as you and Lori accused me of via Twitter. If you are dusting your clothes, I give you a C-.
Its so funny I’m looking at my closet now. My hubby has been installing the organizer & I’m thinking what I’m going to keep. I like the idea of foundation pieces. I’m glad your new items went well. Shopping on line is a little hard for me.
don’t we all shop in our own closets at least once a decade?
I was just thinking about this. I just threw away bags of “pre-mom” clothes. I don’t know how I ever wore them! Now I need a shopping spree….and some more money.
Ha! I dust off my shoes as well. The only reason I remember them is because my girls will go in my closet and come out wearing a pair I had forgotten. The clothes are pretty pathetic as well. I decided when I got pregnant the first time wasn’t really worth buying anything new until I was done having babies and losing the weight. Flash forward almost 5 years later.
Liz, I also have dust on many shoulders of cute dresses and jackets that haven’t seen the light of day for years! And, I’m NOT a big fan of hanging onto clothes I don’t wear, so that’s pretty sad! If we were going to a wedding or anything fancier than jean skirt/khaki capris I would have no clue.
Would love to find some cute shoes in my closet that I forgot about, though!
well, as long as you’re not one of those moms who wears Abercrombie & Fitch…I say you’re fine!
I love this post!
My clothes are neatly organized, but let’s not talk about the floor of my closet. Or the stuff on the shelves.
I try to buy classic, versatile pieces, that are timeless. I used to dress trendy, but that ship sailed a few years ago, when I realized how quickly things went out of style.
Enjoy your new clothes!
I love this. I went through my closet about a year ago and got rid of so much stuff. I had eleven pairs of jeans, and could only fit into about half of them. (Damn pregnancies rearranging my weight…) Everything that was left in my closet I had either worn since high school or hated. It was really sad. So when Andrew and I went on our anniversary trip this spring, I bought a very sensible, small, interchangeable wardrobe. I love it. I only have about seven things to wear, but it makes my life easier. And I FEEL GOOD in the things I bought.
Oh, and I hate dresses, (and skirts aren’t much better), so I avoid spending money on those like the plague. I am a jeans kind of girl.
Never been fashionable. I wear scrubs to work, and I only have a few things I wear regularly. I need to go shopping! I think a C- would describe my closet.
The state of my closet? I’d give it a C- on a good day. Even though my closet is near to bursting from its contents, I can honestly say that I only wear about 1/4 of it regularly. But I’m not quite ready to part with the other stuff – summer dresses, skinny pants I dream of zipping up without getting a muffin top, and shirts I can’t give up even though they were probably too tight when I bought them and now they barely get over my head.
I clean out my closet regularly. If I haven’t worn it in a year (the time I was pregnant not withstanding) it goes. No clutter, and no matter what I reach for, I know it fits, is flattering and is in my own personal style. =) I give myself an A.
Oh, ga! Beth: can I be you in my next life?.
And, I think I’m in trouble, b/c my close is animal prints galore: but I’m a good latin girl like that.
I gotta get to the mess that is the closet…sigh. Add it to the list of things to do this decade. or, at least before the kids grow up.
Many items needing dusting before wearing in my closet too.
Now that my growing and shrinking is done my aim is to buy clothes that fit me well. And donate everything that is too tight or too big.
This is one of those times when being sarcastic 99% of the time comes back to bite me…I wasn’t making fun of the store! I like it, I shop there occasionally!
Although I still say no clear heels.
So, now I’m not sure where that puts me.
clear heels remind me of strip clubs for some reason…
Oh, mine is pretty boring–lots of work kinds of clothes I will have to get back in soon.
In a few years, I am sure your daughters will help you whip that wardrobe into shape through their astute comments.
OMgosh, this post makes me want to shop! I should be following you on twitter to see where to shop (making mental note).
My closet also has the dusty-shoulder dresses and blazers, most of which are undoubtedly too small. The majority of what I wear is shorts and blousy tops. Not setting any fashion trends here.
My closet definitely needs a little work. But I’m like you… I hate spending money on clothes that I can wear for a few months before the trend is over. I admit to dusting off a dress or pair of pants every now and then.
I want to see pictures of the new clothes! You can’t leave us hanging like this Liz!!
Funny thing is, I was thinking the same thing about my closet the other day. I’m not too happy with my clothes. I would say I’ve gotten more daring and do tend to wear trendier things more than I used to. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing!
LOL I love this! My current brag is that I actually went shopping…at a MALL! That’s a new one for me. I think everything in my closet is from Target or Walmart. So sad. But recently, I purchased a couple of things from Maurices and they are admittedly my favorite things to wear right now.
Unless they are flip flops, all my shoes have dust covering them. I also have clothes that I might be able to fit back into one day, so I can’t throw those away. And I never wear 90% of the stuff in my closet. Sigh.
At this very moment I don’t FIT into half the things in my closet, so I cannot force them onto my body to render an opinion.
I want cool, hip mom with gorgeous things that everyone else wants.
That’s a category, right?
Love this post Liz! I think my closet is in the same state of affair as yours. I have bought a few new pieces but I do find things with the dust layer on them.
But NO MOM JEANS, Praise Jesus!!
you had me LOL – only because I just had the same dust off the shoulders of my clothes moment a month ago! I had to go to calling hours and I had to get out of my flip flops and summer short/yoga pants for 30 min. Yikes, I need to get back to my hip days of buying me clothes! I’m just glad to know that I’m not the only one who had one of these moments!
LOL…ha. My clothes consist of things that dont fit my tooshie anymore. Sigh. LIke I have time to get a new wardrobe.
I never knew clothes got dusty! That’s the funniest thing ever!
I shop in bulk. I’ll go to Loft or Ann Taylor(They specialize in clothes for short, chunky girls with big boobs) at the beginning of each season and get a load of stuff and it’ll do me til seasons(and my sizes) change. But, in warm weather, I wear a bathing suit most days.
Shoes on the other hand. Sad. I really need to go shoe shopping! I’ve got 9 million pairs of flip flops and that’s about it.
But I thought ‘mom jeans’ were a kid secret!? The Swagger Wagon made me laugh so hard I cried. Love the idea to grade your closet…. mine is an F, but I’m moving if that gives me an extension or a retake of the final? Why do we overcomplicate things! Doesn’t ‘What Not to Wear’ teach us anything: buy the basics, accessorize well and ditch the rest!
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Did everyone miss this part of your post: “…while I straightened my hair and Craig tweezed his eyebrows in the bathroom mirror”? I’m sorry, I had to laugh because a) I had to sucker my husband into letting me tweeze the few stray hairs between his eyebrows the other day, and b) my hubby doesn’t use my tweezers for anything other than plucking pesky nose hairs. Too funny!
Getting back to the topic at hand…the state of my closet is not looking so good. I’ve got some baby pounds to shed before I can wear everything in my closet again and it’s a dang shame. Dust is collecting on a few of my favorite jeans. And my heels? They miss me terribly. So in all honesty, I’ll give my closet a C- due to neglect, not mommy jeans.
I hope all’s going well in your neck of the woods Liz. Thanks so much for stopping by. It’s always nice to receive comments from you.
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
I spent my childhood idolizing the fashion of Dolly Parton.
I clearly can’t help you.
You may want to add more camouflage to your wardrobe.
I suggest you start hiding in bushes.
LOL! My closet was just like that about a year ago, but I got so tired of never liking my clothes that I finally saved up and bought some new stuff. I’ve made sure to since buy new outfits every few months… I have to say that if you walk into a store and you are obviously the oldest one there.. and you’re only 27… you don’t need to shop there. (that’s my rule for me lol) So long to Abercrombie and Aeropostle! I’ve aged out of the system…
I do like Express, Limited, and Gap… ‘young’ but not “woah you’re trying to look young” clothes. Perfect for where I am in life right now.
I cannot even tell you how happy it makes me to hear that someone else has to dust off their clothes.
My sister has a theory that whatever the fashion is during a person’s college age, that is the fashion they will be stuck in forever. I don’t know if that is why I started wearing clothes that were in her college age…but now I’m stuck in that fashion! Even though it is also outdated now, it’s still much better than the fashion from my own college years!
First of all, don’t feel bad that the clothes you buy doesn’t appeal to someone else. That is what makes the world go round. We are all different. We don’t all have to think and be alike and that is what I like about you Liz. Also, I had not worn a dress for like 4 years until my mom died. Then I had to go buy a dress and believe me, that was no fun…trying to find a dress so you can bury your own mom. UGH. I felt like wearing a moo moo. I digress. My closet is filled with sweaters and the one dress I bought for my mom’s funeral. It’s sad, but this is my life. I never dress up and I love jeans (not mom jeans though). I don’t give a rip if I’m not hip. I’ll leave that to the skinny girls who have one stretch mark and cry about it. Psh. I think we should just all be comfortable in our own skin
. After all, we will all end up the same way — gray hair, wrinkled, with roids. True story.
Ha! I think my closet is somewhat like yours. I’m not a fashionable dresser – I love clothes and looking nice, I just have no energy for shopping! And so my closet is fairly ratty. You’re inspiring me to make amends.
This is hilarious–I love your honesty!
I secretly wish I would be nominated for the show “What not to wear”. I know, they are harsh, but I could use a $5000 makeover, believe me. I try to find stuff that is flattering, but I am never trendy. Just not me. It feels fake. I do like leather boots though. I don’t care if those ever go out of style, I will always wear them!
I am wearing maternity shorts right now! They are just so comfortable and the expandable waist allows me the opportunity to overeat – one of my favorite pastimes.
My closet probably contains at least 10-20% of clothes that still have the tags on them
I too went to a wedding this weekend and mentioned to my hubby that if I didn’t go out and buy a shirt…I would be wearing one of two maternity shirts I still have…{p.s. my youngest is 19mths old}!
The shoes…hand-me-downs from my glamazon single sister
I love looking good but…I struggle. The end!
{ Thanks for showing me I’m not the only one }
I just moved here eight months ago so my closet is doing okay. I lost one pair of jeans for a while, but they’re back now.
I loved your description of how you wanted to look in the last paragraph! You summed it up perfectly!
I was so like you a few months ago, wearing the same old stained clothes day in day out so I decided enough was enough and updated my “mom work” wardrobe and whilst not exactly glam and still wearing zero makeup and not washing my hair more than twice a week I do feel I have turned a corner. As for wedding finery, I would definitely have to go on another shopping trip for that. So you are not alone
OH how I hear you! I have a zillion collared polo shirts and a bunch of khaki shorts. The problem is, is that they all are 5-8 years old, but they still fit and look good, so I rarely shop.
I have a lot of classic stuff that never goes out of style. A good thing, but I really truly need to buy stuff.
I do buy jeans though. I like the flared leg so I try to stock up on them and cords. But I rarely have ever bought anything trendy except for my t-shirts, but I wear those because they make cleaning more fun!
I actually need a stylist or a personal shopper!!! That would be awesome. Then I would never have to shop at all. Shopping is frustrating.
I feel like people are going to think I’m a jerk after reading that I gave you a hard time…
I still wear several pieces of maternity clothes. There are 4 maternity shirts that I got, just regular t-shirts, 2 from Old Navy & 2 from Target, but they’re all just way more comfortable than regular shirts. They don’t look maternity so I still wear them all the time. There’s also a cute pair of Gap jeans that I got at the outlet store for $2.00 & they are now my fat jeans. I LOVE them.
I really do want to see pics of your new clothes!
Hello! Saw your name at Mrs. Chalupa’s, and thought I would come by for a visit — really enjoying your posts. And, my closet? It is a frightening place mixed with high school, college and mom-dom clothes. Ick!
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