All Those Clothes
Do we really need ALL the clothes in our wardrobes?
I’ve just returned from four weeks in Spain, house-sitting for my parents, and existing on the contents of my suitcase – for clothes, that is! And what has amazed me is that I managed really well on the following:
2 pairs of trousers – lilac, aubergine
2 pairs of shorts – black, denim blue
1 skirt – black/pink/purple patterned (which I never wore!)
3 short-sleeved tops – white, black, deep pink
3 sleeveless tops – white, black, denim blue/multi
2 shoe-string strap suntops – white, black
1 short-sleeved cardigan – lilac
1 long-sleeved cardigan – black
1 pair soft leather shoes – pewter/white
1 pair flat strappy sandals – black
1 pair evening mules – denim blue/multi (which I never wore!)
Plus what I wore to travel:
1 pair casual trousers – black
1 short-sleeved top – cerise pink
1 zip-up light jacket – black
1 windproof fleece jacket – black
1 pair soft leather shoes – black
As a Winter, I took only colours that suit my cool colouring and that all mix and match together. I stuck to my darkest neutral (black) and my lightest neutral (white) and added my favourite accent colour (deep pink). You will also note that I took no red. Red does not really mix well with pink so Winters need to make that choice, especially when it comes to lipstick. I took only two lipsticks – my favourite which is a deep, cherry red and a lighter mid-range pink for during the day – both of which went well with everything in my wardrobe above.
You might want to use these as a starter for ten for your own holdiay packing if you are not a Winter:
- Spring – ivory, tan, and coral pink
- Autumn – cream, chocolate brown, and orange
- Summer – soft white, navy blue, and rose pink (or lavender)
Lilac (or lavender) is a marvellous colour that suits just about everyone so no matter which season you are, you could easily add it to your holiday packing. As an example, if a bride discovers that her four bridesmaids are one of each season, then I would suggest she dress them all in lilac or some shade of soft lavender as they will all then stand some chance of looking good.
I regret not taking a jumper but managed to borrow a nice, fluffy white one from my Mum’s wardrobe when she wasn’t looking. As for the rest, the only other thing I should have taken was a long-sleeved blouse or shirt. The weather was quite cool in the evenings, much more so than it had been in November last year so I would have chosen one in black, or pink, or lilac, or white to go with the rest of my clothes.
Apart from the necessary underwear, one nightshirt and comfy slippers to protect my little tooties from the cold, tiled floors, I only needed to add a selection of earrings and necklaces to help ring the changes. As a Dramatic, I still need to make a statement – even if I am wearing shorts and a strappy top.
But what struck me most was when I got home and looked at my existing wardrobe and I asked myself, “Do I really need all these clothes?” I had managed quite happily for 4 weeks, working and enjoying the sun, coping with both lovely hot days of around 25 degrees and also with torrential rain and high winds!
I must have mentioned before that we only wear 20% of our wardrobe for 80% of the time? Well, I have just proved that I can exist on much less than even that and the reality is, of course, always more striking than the theory. Over the next few weeks, I shall be taking a good, close look at my clothes and doing my very own wardrobe weedout!
As your own spring / summer holiday begins to loom, just take a look at your own wardrobe and ask yourself, “Do I really need those 93 pairs of trousers that are all the same shape / colour / fit? What could I manage on for 4 weeks and cope with swings of temperatures?” You might surprise yourself.
