Quality Over Quantity - Changing Your Mindset

As you may have already read, I have taken inspiration from Jennifer L. Scott and have embarked upon my own '10 Item Wardrobe' experiment (I don't like the word 'journey', it makes me feel like a reality show contestant!). As you can read here I didn't quite make the number 10, but as explained in Jennifer's book, there is no hard and fast rule for the number of items. It is all about changing your mindset and not having excessive amounts of clothes. 

Something which I quickly took notice of while going through my clothes and deciding what to keep and what to donate was the labels on everything. If you know me, then you know that I am not a label snob by any stretch of the matter so this even surprised me. I wasn't looking at the labels and then deciding whether to keep the item, I was assessing the quality, the fit, the colour and the condition. After I decided if it was staying or going I was then looking at the label. 

What did I notice? More items from so-called 'throw-away' fashion brands were being added to my donation pile. Why? Because they were of lesser quality than my other items. Taking the time to assess each piece showed me that although I may like the look of the item, upon closer inspection the colour may have faded, it had lost its shape slightly in the wash or I wasn't sure how much longer it would hold up. 

These are not the kinds of items that you want in your wardrobe because they won't last as long as more quality pieces. I am not suggesting that you go out and exclusively shop with Armani or Ralph Lauren (I certainly couldn't afford to do this) however it is worth investing in the best quality that you can. A lot of the items which remained in my wardrobe are still from high street brands such as Next and M&Co. Which are generally a higher quality and are a bit more expensive than say, New Look or Primark but are still friendly on your purse strings.

As for my future purchases? I have stopped buying sale rack items and items that I see as I am passing the shop window. I have a note on my phone where I am recording all of the 'I wish I had...' thoughts that I have come across in the mornings when I am getting dressed so that I can review and see if it was a fleeting desire or a serious gap in my wardrobe. If it is a genuine gap, I am not going out and buying the first item which fits the bill, I am taking my time to find the perfect one which will last.

I am not going to lie, this has not been an overnight or easy change. I work in a massive department store so I walk by temptation several times a day. I follow copious amounts of blogs which make me want to go out and shop. The temptation is still there, I am just asking myself three key questions when the urge to spend rises, they have really helped me so why don't you try them too?

Do I need this?
When I say need, I mean really need. As in, you have one pair of jeans and they are ripped to shreds. Not as in 'I need these skinny jeans in my life now!' for you to probably wear them once and then for them to join the denim pile.

Will this compliment my wardrobe?
Does this piece go with what you already have, will you be able to mix and match it, dress it up or dress it down. Do you have shoes and handbags that go with this or would you need to shop for those too? If you can wear it straight away without further spending then it most likely will compliment your wardrobe.

Is this me?
It needs to reflect who you are. I don't hide behind a persona presented by my clothes, I like to present myself through what I wear. When I get dressed in the morning I want to feel like me. I feel more confident in going about my day, there is nothing worse than feeling self-conscious in what you are wearing.

Asking myself these questions has definitely stopped me from making any unnecessary purchases and has made me change the way I view items of clothing.  Looking for quality and longevity over a short period of satisfaction. 

Are you guilty of looking for a bargain even if you don't need it? Or do you have any other questions that you ask yourself while shopping?

The 10 Item Wardrobe Part 2

You may remember that last week I posted about the 10 Item Wardrobe mindset here. I did say in that post that I was about to sift through my clothing to dramatically decrease the level of stuff that was, well, stuffed in my drawers! After finishing the post I headed to my bedroom and emptied the contents of my drawers out and went through everything meticulously. 

After lifting everything out, I put it into piles on my bed to then see exactly how many of different items I had. 

Starting from the top left and working across the way we have; cardigans and jackets, jumpers, jeans, shirts and t-shirts, blouses and dressy tops, skirts, trousers, work out gear, and two piles of dresses. 

While taking each item out, I was looking at the colour, shape and checking everything over for any signs of wear as well as thinking about how often I actually wear it and if I did genuinely like it or not (as you probably know, I love a charity shop bargain so there were a few questionable pieces in there!). So once everything was out, it was time to be very critical as to what was going back in again. Now what has gone back in does amount to more than 10 items, however since I am just starting out, I am going to work my wardrobe as it is for a month and see what I would need as 'extra' items to go along with my capsule pieces and to see how my items work together and what I wear as well as don't wear. So here is the list of everything which has gone back into my drawers.

So, in total for day to day wear (including the 'extra's' even though I'm not entirely sure as to what those are yet!) I have 33 items. I haven't included workout clothes or going out dresses in this list, however I have only left 3 dresses in my drawer for now and put the rest in a storage chest as they aren't the best for this time of year. It is a dramatic decrease from what I did have and there is a black bag waiting to be donated to charity as well as a few items which have been put away into a storage chest as I know that I won't wear it anytime soon but will do in the future. 

I have tried my best to keep the colour palette neutral (to be honest I only had a few items which are bright anyway) I always gravitate towards black, navy and camel! I have been quite happy this first week, I do have a uniform for work so I tend to change into jeans and a jumper when I get home each day anyway. the real test is going to be neck week while I am off work and I'll be out and about all week! 

So far, I am enjoying a reduced wardrobe. It has been a long time since my drawers have closed properly (I'm sure you all know that struggle!) and I can see everything that I have available easily and quickly. I did actually really enjoy going through everything too and felt great getting rid of so much! Keep tuned for another update next week!

The 10 Item Wardrobe

I can almost hear the shrieks of horror as you all read this title. I certainly winced when I first came across the concept. However upon reading further into it, I have become very intrigued. I was first introduced to the 10 Item Wardrobe in Jennifer L Scott's Lessons From Madame Chic. This is a fantastic book which I will go into in a little more detail about in another post coming soon (you can also check out her blog The Daily Connoisseur here too!). However if you don't want to read the book just yet then you can listen to Jennifer's experience and ideas in this TEDx Talks to get the gist of the concept.   

As explained in this video the 10 items does not refer to everything that you can wear, it refers to the capsule wardrobe. The key pieces. You can have a few tee shirts, a couple of cardigans and your coats as well as your capsule items. Occasion wear is also exempt from the rule. It is also important to note that there is no strict rule of 10, just as long as you do not have excessive items (as I do at this present moment) then you will be on to a winner. The idea is for the items which you do have to be able to mix and match together to give a variety of outfit options without having too many items. If you have read my blog for sometime then you may recall that we live in a little flat with next to no storage space so the idea of severely cutting my clothes but leaving plenty of outfit options sounds perfect.  

As you might have guessed, I am planning to embark upon my own 10 Item Wardrobe journey, This journey will be starting TODAY with me having a serious clear out. Ruthlessness is required. I am feeling slightly nervous at the prospect but I want to worry less about what to wear. Less options means less stress, I won't be overloaded with options and I want to be able to mix and match a little more and I want to have space.  I feel a mass de-clutter coming on, not only of my clothes but the rest of my, well, stuff. 

With regards to my 10 Item Wardrobe, don't worry. I will take photographs of the process and will be providing frequent updates as to how it is working. Wish me luck!

Would you ever take the plunge with the 10 Item Wardrobe?

Five Days of Fashion - Stella Jean

This is the last in the 'Five Days of Fashion' series, be sure to have a look at the other four posts too! There are some brilliant designers there too! 

Last but not least is Stella Jean. If you don't feel summery enough, you will by the end of this one.

What Farfetch Say -
Stella Jean

There’s been a lot of buzz about Stella Jean lately. Her ladylike silhouettes, borrowed from the 1950s, have been dipped in hothouse colour and reimagined with wild, exuberant prints. The designer draws inspiration from both her Italian background (craftsmanship, meticulous attention to detail and dramatic shapes) and her Caribbean heritage (those exotic prints and daring colour palettes), resulting in a collection that demands second glances.

My thoughts -
Anything that has a 1950s style silhouette is always a winner with me, if you read often, you'll know that I am partial to a circle skirt now and then. Stella Jean has combined these classic shapes and certainly made them her own with bold colour and prints which remind me of the novelty prints available in the 1950s.

Clashing the colour and print of different pieces adds a modern edge to the look and certainly brings it bang up to date. Another modernisation is the jewellery, the block colours and bib style necklaces are very modern and again also work to modernise the look of the classic shapes. I can certainly see myself sporting some of Stella Jean's collection, I love the bold pieces that make a statement both on their own or when paired with another piece from the collection.

Do you like the boldness of this collection?

Image and information in this post was provided by Farfetch, all opinions given are my own.

Five Days of Fashion - Mother of Pearl

What Farfetch Say -
Mother of Pearl

Vibrant colour ways and tongue-in-cheek insect prints have made Mother of Pearl’s slip-on sneakers one of the most coveted footwear choices of 2013. But the label’s ready-to-wear is just as bold as its accessories, with a collection of citrus prints and shopping bag stripes. Those signature patterns are inspired by the label’s collaborations with artists, distilling their work onto luxury fabrics and lending them a sport luxe feel.  

My Thoughts - 

Mother of Pearl's pieces are some of the most wearable from my 'Five Days of Fashion' series.
Each piece is fashionable enough that you can imagine seeing as part of a collection for H&M and nothing looking remotely out of place. I love how summery each piece looks, the bright  citrus prints are perfect for this time of year.

Colour is everywhere with Mother of Pearl's collection - just the way I like it! Bright patterns are right up my street and I can imagine each piece from this collection in my wardrobe and fitting in perfectly. The peplum top I can imagine with some cropped jeans and a pair of ballet flats with some Audrey Hepburn style sunglasses - how chic?

Do you love the summery collection but Mother of Pearl?

Image and information in this post was provided by Farfetch, all opinions given are my own.

Five Days of Fashion - Simone Rocha

What Farfetch Say -

Simone Rocha

The closer you look, the more there is to Simone Rocha’s clothes. Sci-fi fabrics were an early signature, but her recent shows have focused more on complicated construction techniques instead. It’s a shift that saw her take home Designer of The Year at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards earlier this month, and resulted in a collection of low-slung skirts this season. For Autumn/Winter 2014 Rocha was inspired by the opulence of Queen Elizabeth I’s court, translating it into a line of embellished cocktail dresses and ruffled coats.

My Thoughts -
I love the simplicity of Simone Rocha's collection. The black, white and neutral colour palette make each piece easy to wear and easy to piece together with things in your existing wardrobe. When you look closer at each piece you can see that there is more detail than at first sight.  Just look at the beading around the shoes! How gorgeous would they look with a pair of skinny jeans?

There is a lot of work in the design and construction of the pieces in this collection which make them so flattering. I can just imagine the black circle skirt with nude shoes and a lightweight blouse for an evening out during the summer - so classy.  I also adore the lace work on the nude dress, paired with simple accessories this would look very elegant for a dressy affair.

What is your favourite Simone Rocha piece?

Image and information in this post was provided by Farfetch, all opinions given are my own.

Five Days of Fashion - Ashish

Day 2 of my 'Five Days of Fashion' series with Farfetch is here. Today's designer is very different from yesterday's which you can see here.

Today we are looking at Ashish

What Farfetch Say -
Ashish

Indian-born Ashish Gupta has reclaimed the sequin and made it his signature. No shape is too casual: this year he encrusted torn denim and the humble plastic bag with thousands of them. Elsewhere there were old school Coco Cola logos, striped shirt dresses and louche zebra print. It was a collection that went viral immediately, thanks to the Instagram appeal of those luminescent. 

My Thoughts -
This is so different. I absolutely adore the use on sequins on everything - you can't go wrong with some sparkly sequins in my mind. What I really love is the contradiction of casual shapes and styles with the sparkle giving it a but of a dressier feeling. On paper this shouldn't work, however the way that Ashish has executed the idea really does just work.

Looking at the catwalk images of this collection, I personally cannot see myself  head to toe in this kind of outfit, it is pretty full on. However, I can definitely see myself wearing a piece like a striped shirt dress and mixing it in with pieces from my wardrobe. These pieces would definitely fit in with just about any wardrobe and would easily be able to make several outfits by having a few key pieces (I'm thinking black skinny jeans, a killer pair of wedges or dress down with some Converse).

What do you think of Ashish's collection?

Image and information in this post was provided by Farfetch, all opinions given are my own.

Five Days of Fashion - Stine Goya

Over the next five days I'll be doing something a little different on Bonjour Emily. As you can probably see from the title, it is fashion-based rather than the usual beauty. I was contacted by a company called Farfetch who asked me to look at these story boards for five different designer's collections for consideration of sharing them on my blog. 

After having a look through the designer's work I was in total awe - there is some amazing design work here and I really wanted to share it with my lovely readers. 

First up is Stine Goya.

What Farfetch Say -

Stine Goya

Based in Copenhagen, Stine Goya’s shattered prints bring texture to her minimalist, sculptured, and carefully constructed silhouettes. Her eponymous label is quickly becoming a favourite with fashion insiders, thanks to her wearable aesthetic and a Scandinavian appeal that is difficult to define. This season the Central St Martins graduate showed perforated tops and mosaic print jackets, worn with a single ear cuff and just the right amount of edge.

My Thoughts - 

Although I would not describe myself as a 'minimalist', this collection definitely appeals to me. I love that although the shapes of the garments are quite, well, minimalist, and this somewhat contradicted by adding texture and pattern to break it up. I really like that the shape and the textures are not what you would automatically see paired together, there is a slight edge of cool without being too in your face about it. Understatedly cool and oh so chic, anything from this collection would not look out of place for a day at the office or a day out shopping, it all just works and can be worn and accessorised to fit where and when you would wear it.

I can definitely see why Stine Goya is grabbing the attention of fashion insiders at the moment, from just looking at this story board, I can imagine the editors from Elle and Vogue sporting her jackets to work. Like I said, understatedly cool and most definitely chic. I don't think that you could go wrong wearing anything from this collection, you would automatically look polished and professional, no matter where you were going.

What do you think of Stine Goya's collection?

Image and information in this post was provided by Farfetch, all opinions given are my own.

What's In My Suitcase? - Clothes

Part one of 'What's in My Suitcase' was posted here yesterday, have a look to see what I packed beauty-wise!

I'm nosey and love to read this kind of post so I thought I would document and share with you what I have packed into my suitcase or two weeks in Florida. Hopefully, by the time this post reaches the internet I should be somewhere over the Atlantic, probably more excited than any of the children on board the plane. Hey, do you blame me? Sephora will be Disneyland for me!

I have a tendency to over pack for everything - I hate feeling unorganised and under prepared, but I kept my sensible cap on when packing my case this time - I have stuck to a colour scheme so that I can mix and match pretty much everything I have taken with me. I have 25 items to create outfits with including what I am wearing travelling, my swimwear, shoes and bags.

I'm not going to lie, I feel pretty chuffed with myself that I have managed to keep to a colour theme and kept the number of items down so much. I just had to keep reminding myself that we have a washing machine in the villa, so I can wash my clothes while I am away. 

    

As you can see my colour scheme is navy, black and leopard print. What else? Don't worry, it'll be brightened up by red or fuchsia lipstick. Pretty much any top can go with any bottoms I have packed, likewise with my shoes. I will be able to dress an outfit up (say the navy polka dot dress) with the leopard print wedges for dinner out but could dress it down too with the black sandals and the woven bag for an afternoon shopping. Easy peasy.

I've also picked some versatile items, like my kimonos (the top two in the right hand corner) they will be used to cover up when we hit the parks, they're light-weight, cover my shoulders and can easily be wrapped up in a ball and thrown into a bag and won't get creased. They can also be worn with my skirts or dress when we're out and about in the evenings to cover up then as well. The long black tube is excellent, this can be worn as a maxi (or midi) skirt or a midi strapless dress. definitely a great multi purpose garment to take away!

When it comes to accessories I really struggled to narrow it down. For jewellery, I opted for a simple necklace, 2 bigger ones, a bundle of beaded bracelets, a dressy gold cuff, my watch and an array of earrings. I also packed a navy headscarf for the days I can't be bothered doing my hair, a navy hair flower to jazz my outfits up, my two floppy sun hats and my two pairs of sunglasses (I always lose sunglasses, hence I'm taking two pairs with me!). Other than that I have my jammies and of course black, white and neutral undies. Not very exciting, but essential!

Are you like me and are guilty of over packing or are you one of these amazing people that can pack a months worth of stuff into a carry on bag?

Orla Keily at Clarks

Oh my. I would happily take a pair of each from Orla Keily's new shoe collection for Clarks - not that I can justify paying that amount of money for a pair of shoes myself. But aren't they pretty? You can browse the collection and salivate over them here.