BlogHer - wardrobe essentials - Comments

Perfect Black Pants

anatomyofstyle — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:23:19 -0500

I've worked with women and their wardrobes for years. It is amazing what you can pull together if you have the perfect black pants. And, what I mean by having the perfect black pants is that you have the ones that work for the occasion. I found Krazy Larry pants (I know the name is interesting but the pants are great) and haven't looked back. There is a style for any body shape, they are washable, look expensive, come in 3 lengths and 3 fabrics. www.krazylarrypants.com

It depends on your definition of "essential."

Susan Wagner — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:59:14 -0600

Wardrobe essentials are pieces that you wear and wear and wear -- they are versatile and flattering and useful all at once. We tend to think of "essentials" as classic, Preppy pieces, but I don't think they have to be -- if YOU are wearing all seven pairs of black pants on a regular basis, then yes they are essential components of YOUR closet.

But if those drop-crotch MC Hammer pants just hang there, waiting for the perfect top or the perfect occasion or the perfect alignment of the stars, then they are NOT essentials at all.

As I said in the post, I would recommend a flat-front, wide-leg trouser as a good basic black pant, but mine are neither -- they are slim and cropped and velvet, and I wear them all the time. So for me, that is an essential piece.

It's your call. (And I own seve pairs of those slim, cropped pants, in five different colors, so I do hear you about the multiples. But again, I wear them ALL THE TIME.)

Friday Playdate

Agree!

Down Comforters — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:14:28 -0600

I agree totally. Every girl needs a good pair of basic black pants - they're so versatile & are one item you can wear year-round for all kinds of occasions. I really like J. Crew & Express for pants-shopping.

http://www.shopdownlite.com

What if you already have seven pairs?

TheStyleSample — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:15:11 -0600

Is it okay to buy more?

The thing about black pants is that because they are a closet essential (no argument from me on that--you're preaching to the choir over here), I can always justify buying "just one more pair." Recently, I bought a pair of silky drop-crotch black pants--yes, like MC Hammer--and justified it by telling myself that since they're black, they'll go with anything.

They are now hanging in my closet along with the cotton crops from the Gap, high-waisted wide-legs from Anthropologie, trousers from Express, pinstriped trousers from Forever21, culottes from lord knows where, leggings from American Apparel, and tapered skinnies from H&M. All black. All essential?

Tamia

Nothing to wear? Visit http://thestylesample.com

A personal style blogazine for young professionals

I'm a skirt girl, too!

Susan Wagner — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:23:51 -0600

I would always prefer a skirt to pants, for a whole long list of reasons, and that's why I loved your post so much -- plus it was funny and well written.

And we're always happy to share the BlogHer link love with smart, funny women. ;)

Friday Playdate

OK, You're Right.

Already Pretty — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:03:26 -0600

Thanks for the mention, Susan! For the record, I totally respect the pant ... I know many women vastly prefer trousers and feel far more comfortable in them. For my bod, though, it's skirts all the way.

BUT you're absolutely right: A chic, flattering pair of dressy-ish pants is a wardrobe staple that no gal should live without. Word.

http://www.alreadypretty.com/

Pants

shoalswriter — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:41:23 -0600

Great links on the pants issue. Pants are tough to get right, but when you do, it's glorious! You're right, I think, that a pair of basic black pants are essential, but please not the baggy shapeless polyester department-store kind that come with a matching and equally shapeless blazer. It takes time and effort to find a really great pair of tailored black pants, but it's well worth it.

Cathy

cathylwood.wordpress.com

Postpartum is tough

Susan Wagner — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:08:39 -0500

We'll talk about getting through the post-baby window soon, I promise. And while you shouldn't give everything away right now, keep in mind that once the baby weight DOES come off, you may be ready for a whole new wardrobe anyway.

And I always went with the theory that everyone was looking at the baby anyway. Right? Right.

Friday Style | The Working Closet | Friday Playdate

I don't wear 95% of what is

Kian Yamaguchi — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:02:51 -0500

I don't wear 95% of what is in my closet because it is all pre-baby clothes and I haven't gotten back to my pre-baby size. So I have a couple shirts and 2 pair of jeans that fit me now and that is what I wear.

All.the.time.

*sigh*

I'm with Elana

paper napkin — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:14:06 -0500

I don't like to shop, so I have about 15 shirts for summer, 15 for winter. Same with pants, and about 5 summer dresses and 5 winter dresses. I don't wear a dress very often, but at some point or other I wear nearly all of it.

Inspired by Susan, I cleaned out my closet yesterday getting rid of everything I knew I'd never wear, it was only a handful of stuff. Can't vouch for how fashionable I am, but at least I'm practical. That counts for something, right?

Sheryl

Clothes Horse...

Robin Ogden — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:50:37 -0500

Ok - I'll admit it, I am a clothes horse. Of course, my friends would tell you that admitting it is no problem for me. They say when the word shopping is mentioned the color of my eyes changes :)

Yet, you are right... I do often wear a small amount of my wardrobe. I have my favorites - the things that I'm truly comfortable in. The difficulty is that I love outfits and when I go shopping I just love to pull an outfit together - it's just fun! The problem is that it is more about pulling it together than "will I wear it?" So, alas I have soooooo many things in my closet that I truly have never worn (shhhh, they still hve the tags on them...ouch).

So, I will take the challenge. It would be nice to have a bit of space in my closet and would also be satisfying to know that I actually wear what is in there (is that normal?)

Ok - two weeks and counting....it's only fair to start from today, right? :)

Robin Ogden
http://www.firedupcareers.com

weight gain and my closet

Daisy — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:00:21 -0500

DaisyI've gained a great deal of weight in the last few years, and I'm just now giving up my "slim" clothes. If and when I lose this excess, those pieces won't be in fashion anyway. sigh.

EVERYONE needs a black turtleneck

Susan Wagner — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:29:56 -0500

Unless, of course, you live in San Diego, or Hawaii. In which case, can I come visit you, say in February?

A black sweater, either a turtleneck or a crew neck, is a Wardrobe Must Have. More on that soon, I promise.

Friday Style | The Working Closet | Friday Playdate

I am doing it too

chris — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:19:19 -0500

Going through my closet and drawers and getting rid of 80% of it.

Part of it is being honest about what I really do wear. It is ridiculously cold here in the winter and I have so may items that never see the outside of my drawer once october hits.

Also, I need that black sweater. I'd wear that in subzero temperatures.

I'm going to be honest with you

HeatherB — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:45:16 -0500

Today, I bought a shirt just because the shirt I was wearing had makeup on it. Not completely visible but it was there and I didn't want to go where I was headed with makeup on the collar so I bought a shirt at the gap. I'll probably wear it a million times because that's what I do, but really, there was no good reason for it.

When I move in a few weeks, I'm doing a final weeding out of things, because I'm sick of staring at my closet every morning saying "I have nothing to wear" only to spend two hours ironing the next day.

Heather B.
Personal Blog: No Pasa Nada
BlogHer CE: Business, Career & Personal Finance