If It's Not Broken

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
It's my favorite dress of the summer.  See it here, here, here, and here.

Composition:
white short sleeve button down (Express via sister's closet)
blue printed shift (H&M)
white canvas peep toe wedges (MIA)

Usage:
When I posted this dress a third time before Wardrobe Workhorse Week, I basically apologized for my insistence on continuing to show you the same old thing.  When I realized how much I liked it with a button down underneath, I didn't photograph it, because I figured you were all bored of this dress.  I had to post it one more time, though, because it has definitely been the Boxer of my wardrobe this summer, and I feel like Boxer more often than I care to admit.  (In fits of frustration, I've been known to lament, "All hard work gets you is more work," even though I actually believe I have profited considerably from my hard work.)  There's been a lot of excitement about the onset of fall and thus fall fashions, but I am a sunshine child through and through, so I'm clinging to my bare legs and open toed shoes as long as possible.  (Though I am developing a minor case of bootache.  They look lonely in my closet.)

One thing I really appreciated about WWW was reading your posts about how much you loved your individual items and how great you feel every time you put them on.  I share that sentiment, and for me, this dress has become a go-to when I want to look and feel great.  Last week was my second full week of taking three classes and instructing a class, and while I am excited about these various responsibilities, I haven't found my groove yet, so I've felt pretty exhausted.  I had no energy at all to invest in what I was going to wear.  As such, I adopted the if it's not broken, don't fix it mentality and relied on this trusty combination to get me through a teaching day. 

My shopping hiatus continues, and maybe it's because I've been so busy, but I haven't missed it at all.   Last week, reading along as you all talked about about the items of clothing you each love so much made me wonder, "Why do I ever wear anything I don't love?" I used to buy a lot of "expendable," inexpensive clothing because I got a thrill out of wearing something new, but blogging has helped me to think of new ways to wear the things I already loved.  Now more than ever, I've started getting that same feeling of satisfaction out of wearing my favorite clothes that I used to only experience when wearing new clothes.  In other words, putting together a great outfit now makes me feel better than putting together a new outfit, and I'm thankful that WWW helped reinforce that attitude for me.

Prompts:

• What are your personal "if it's not broken, don't fix it" items of apparel or types of outfits?
• How can I clean these canvas wedges?  They are looking dingy, but the canvas is pretty stiff, and I haven't figured out how to brighten them up yet.
• How are your semesters going so far?  I know we mostly talk about clothes here, but I'd love to hear what people are up to academically or otherwise.

Wardrobe Workhorse Week Wrap-Up

We had such a great time with Wardrobe Workhorse Week!  Thanks to all of you for reading along and commenting, and thanks especially to Sara of Orchids in Buttonholes, Iris of 260 Days, No Repeats, E-Jo of In Professorial Fashion, Miss Studious of O Miss Studious, Plummy of Plummy: Developing Style, Katie of Interrobangs Anonymous, Anna of The Belle and the Bear, Rad of The Cohabitating Closet, Ana of Toil and Trouble, E., A., and L. of Academichic, and Caitlin of Frosting and Bows for contributing their own wardrobe workhorse posts!

We started the week with one main question in mind: What items of apparel and accessories do people who are concerned with style most frequently wear?  The answers were so fantastic that we wanted to consolidate some of them for you in one place.  We certainly haven't covered all the posts, though, so please visit these great blogs to see what else these women can't live without!

Composition: Jeans

Drafts:

Usage: 
Not surprisingly, quite a few bloggers shared Liz's love for jeans! Sara sings their praises even though she doesn't often wear pants, Miss Studious shows us that hers are, indeed, perfect, Iris demonstrates the benefits of trouser jeans, and Anna proves "mom" jeans can be super chic!

Composition: Classic Dresses
Drafts:

Usage:
Sara wrote a great post in defense of the dress as "comfortable," and several other bloggers proved that a staple black dress doesn't have to be boring.  Anna's looks classic and comfortable, Katie spices hers up with a trademark scarf, L. adds dramatic flair with a wide belt and a flower pin, and Miss Studious wears one with great details that make it stand out.

Composition: Versatile Footwear
Drafts:

Usage: 
Though most of us could never own too many shoes, WWW showed that if you love a single pair enough, you can wear them with anything.  Anne-Marie makes a case for the versatility of nude shoes, Plummy demonstrates a range of styles with her black boots, and (from her enviable shoe collection) Sara identifies her black flats as a workhorse.  Our Katie maintains her affinity for colored shoes, IA Katie shows she's on the same wavelength with her red flats, and E-Jo chooses style and comfort with colored flats, too.

Composition: Statement Neckwear
Drafts:

Usage:

These entries show how big of an impact one piece can make, especially when it's near your face. Anne-Marie relies on this bib necklace to transform her summer wardrobe, Miss Studious plans her entire outfit around her statement necklace, Caitlin lists hers as key pieces for fall, and Iris wears hers while celebrating her great accessories.  Plummy favors scarves them for their warmth, and Katie also celebrates scarves for their fashion and their function.

Composition: Un-Boring Basics
Drafts:

These items frequently show up on "wardrobe basics" lists, but with good reason! Katie's pencil skirt gets major mileage, and A. loves hers so much she has it in three colors!  Sara offers her own definition of a wardrobe workhorse, citing this white skirt, and this neutral skirt has been very good to Anna.

Drafts:

Usage:
Liz loves her cardigans, Rad demonstrates how stylish a chambray button-down can be, E-Jo shows that great neutral skirt can come in a shade of green, and Miss Studious looks effortlessly chic in her white button-down.

Composition: Unexpected Workhorses

Drafts:

Usage: 
WWW also showed that plenty of items that do not make their way onto wardrobe basics lists can work hard in your wardrobe.  Anne-Marie makes the case for going bold on the bottom, E. recommends replacing that LBD with an LND (little navy dress) and she also wears this mustard blouson top every which way, Miss Studious's geometric print is anything but basic, Ana loves this polka dot top so much that she bought a back-up, and Caitlin turns her unique thrift store find into a signature item.

Thanks again, ladies!  We're thrilled to know you, even if it's just online!

Prompts:

• We're planning to share our individual thoughts on WWW in upcoming posts, but we're curious-- what is your "take-away" from this theme week?
• Were you surprised by any of the trends that emerged in our various workhorse posts?  Did you notice any commonalities that we didn't document here?
• If you decide post more of your own wardrobe workhorse looks, please feel free to paste your links in the comments so we can pay you a visit!

Submission Sunday: Caitlin

During Wardrobe Workhorse Week we pared down our closets to our best-loved items, so we're thrilled to continue the scaling-back party with a post from Anne-Marie's lifelong friend (and new blogger!), Caitlin of Frosting and Bows.  Caitlin, who studied Studio Art in college, has a knack for styling only-the-best accessories into creative combinations.  Here she shares her Four Must-Have (and Budget-Conscious!)(and Versatile!) Items for Fall.

 

Caitlin Says: It's difficult to nail down my four must-have items for this season because I am absolutely in love with so many trends.  The only thing I can say for sure is that the pieces here are things that I cannot live without, period.  I like to experiment with my wardrobe and accessories.  And it gives me a sense of adventure to put something on that I think no one else in the world will have.  This is why I like to shop at thrift stores, vintage clothing lots, you name it.  Not only are these vintage trinkets a steal in cost, but they are also easily placed alongside my upcoming wardrobe for fall, and I will show you how.  Take a look!
 
Composition #1: A Chic Jacket
yellow and black houndstooth jacket (thrifted, $25)
tank (F21, $15)

pocketwatch (gifted)

chain (thrifted, $17) 

Draft:

Usage:

I have blogged about this jacket because it is so newsworthy!  I bought it two years ago at a vintage clothing store which is no longer here.  I paid $25.00 for it, and I wear it with everything.  I think it is, hands down, the best investment I have ever made in an article of clothing.  It goes with everything from jeans to black pants, and it also serves as a suit jacket if you are in the corporate career world.  It is stunning!  Like many of the things in my closet, it didn’t cost a fortune and no one would ever know it.  I am sure at one point in time it did, but not for me! My advice for anyone going "thrifting:" find pieces that echo your personality, but don’t spend over $25.00 on anything, unless it is in mint condition.  Word to the wise.

Composition #2: A Red Bag

red messenger bag (Liz Clairborne via TJ Maxx, $14)

shoes (Steve Madden on sale, $40)

scarf (Marshalls, $20)

Draft:

Usage:

This bag is my must for this season because of the intense red and the easy carrying.  It is all about comfort for me these days, and this bag fits me to a "T."  I wear it around with jeans, and, in this case, with a jersey dress and scarf.  Find one in a similar style or different color -- they are hot this fall!

Composition #3: Boyfriend Jeans
jeans (Gap, on sale)  

Draft:

Usage: 
A slight exaggeration but, these jeans are the most comfortable things I’ve ever put on.  Really!  I wear them with t-shirts, with tank tops out on the town, to the grocery store, with heels, with sandals, with ankle booties.  It is actually difficult to mess up this pair.  I purchased these at Gap on sale.  They are almost too good to be true.  When I get dressed nowadays, I try not to think so hard.  It should be about ease.  Throw on what makes you feel happy, comfortable, and powerful.  It’s all about attitude.

Composition #4: Big, Statement Jewelry
faux pearl multi-strand necklace (F21, $18)
heart necklace (gifted, Frantz Diamonds in Roanoke, Va.)

all other necklaces (F21) 

Drafts:

Usage:
Jewelry makes a statement in a big way.  It can transform your most drab frock into an exciting new discovery in your wardrobe.  I happen to love this new trend of huge pieces.  It makes choosing what to put on so much easier.  All you have to do it layer and keep layering chunky pieces.  If you are at a loss of creativity, check out any J.Crew magazine.  All the spreads include large rhinestone necklaces or pearls, or both with a wide range of outfits.  You will never have to decide between your pearls or your rhinestones ever again. One more thought, if you don't want to go out and buy several mismatching pieces, just take apart old necklaces and mix and match those.

Prompts:

• Caitlin says getting dressed "should be about ease," and should make you feel "happy, comfortable, and powerful."  How do you keep your daily styling habits effortless?
• Do you own these or similar items?  How do you style them?
• Thrifting divas, what are your strategies for finding gems like Caitlin's houndstooth jacket?  Where do you shop, and when?  How much do you spend, on average, on vintage finds?
• What are your must-have items for fall?

WWW: Wedges, Necklaces, and Belts

Thanks for joining us for Wardrobe Workhorse Week!  In my previous WWW post, I featured genres of items, but today, for our final write-up of the series, I'm celebrating three (okay, four) specific pieces that make my wardrobe work.

Composition: Chunky Wedges
brown leather wedge sandals (RJ Girl)

Drafts:

Usage:
A teacher once cautioned me against overusing the word "love," but I can't resist: I love these wedges, I love these wedges, I love these wedges.  The buckles on these clunkers add just enough edge to the prettiest outfit, and they create interest in everyday ensembles.  They're also surprisingly comfortable.  Believe it.  Although not as "classy" as Liz's black wedges, and therefore likely not classroom appropriate, these neutrals are my go-to kickers for after-school and weekend outings.

Composition: Statement Necklace
turquoise bib necklace (via ShopMamie)

Drafts:

Usage:
Many of my outfits are deficient in the jewelry department, and that's because I'm awkward with accessories.  I haven't (yet!) mastered the adornment game.  Fortunately, my childhood friend Caitlin of Frosting and Bows is adept at creating and composing such trimmings, and she's preparing a Scholar Style Guide guest post for this Sunday!  Stay tuned!  In the meantime, I rely on this turquoise bib necklace to embellish my summer clothes.  Its color, length, and shape make it virtually fool-proof -- perfect for an accessorizing newbie like me!

Composition: Go-With-Everything Belts
black belt (via ShopMamie), brown belt (Anthropologie)

Drafts:

Usage:
Speaking of accessorizing, I only began belting my clothes after stumbling upon these pair-with-anything items of waist-wear.  At the time I wasn't intentionally shopping for belts, but there they were: on sale, calling out to me.  I decided to give 'em a shot.  Since purchasing these black and brown numbers, a world of dressing possibilities has opened up.  And like Liz, who has long advocated belting, I often feel sartorially "finished" with a cinched waist.  (Perhaps, as Katie's post on "ladylikeness" suggests, I feel more feminine with accented curves?)  Recently, I've experimented with narrower, braided belts, but these two remain my favorites.

Prompts:

• To you accessorizing pros out there: what are your secrets?  I need tips!
• Are there any clothing combos you wish I would try?
• Wardrobe Workhorse Week has reminded me of the many versatile items in my closet and convinced me that I don't need to shop as much as I think (or want!).  What have you learned about your closet during WWW?

WWW: Black Tee, Black Pencil Skirt, Black Slingbacks

This installment of Wardrobe Workhorse Week centers on my favorite neutral: black.  I feel like there's a divide between those whose go-to neutral is brown and those whose go-to neutral is black.  And of course, those who like gray or white (or nude - Anne-Marie might want to fight me on this one), but I think darker neutrals get more play.  I've always been drawn to black over brown.  One of my friends once posited that it was related to my preference of cities to more natural surroundings (if I go "camping" it better be somewhere with running water).  But I digress.

My last post dealt with the bursts of color that accent outfits.  In this one, I wanted to think about neutral foundations.  So I chose my most cherished and frequently worn items: a black long-sleeved t-shirt, a black pencil skirt, and low heeled black slingbacks.

Composition:
black long-sleeved t-shirt (Old Navy)
black pencil skirt (Calvin Klein)
black slingbacks (Nine West)

Usage:
I'll start with the long-sleeved t-shirt.  I own a bunch of long-sleeved tees, and they are definitely my wardrobe staple during fall and winter.  However, the black one pulls the most weight.  Simple and easy to throw on, sure, but the dark neutral makes it still look more pulled together than, say, the same shirt in purple or pink, which, to my eye, looks more casual.  This is still casual, of course, but the neutral makes it classic.  Also, I love that it is the perfect backdrop for colorful (or status symbol) scarves or animal print/statement shoes and accessories.

The pencil skirt is a perennial favorite for most "essential items" lists and for a good reason.  It is a generally flattering, non-frilly, get-the-job-done item that still looks effortlessly chic.  Great for work, teaching, class, a date, etc.  And in black?  The combination possibilities are almost endless.  I just gave you two examples of the kind of looks I like to put together with my black pencil skirt.
1) pair it with another neutral (or understated) top and play up colorful shoes (here we go again...) or other accessories
2) pair it with understated accessories/shoes and with a fun, but not crazy, top.  I love the burnt orange and purple in this blouse

Lastly, the shoes I wear in the outfit mentioned above are my last workhorse.  Now, I've spoken often about my love for high heels.  But a gal occasionally - ok, more often than not - has to book it places and run around campus, clack-clack-clacking down the hall.  In that case, you may not want crazy shoes.  That's why I love these understated shoes.  I usually like rounded toe shoes, but I like the pointed toe of these ones.  To me, it says "I may not be tall, but I'll still kick your butt."  In other words, they mean business.  They're comfortable, classic, and pair with almost anything.  Which is why I need to get a new pair soon - I've (literally) run these workhorses into the ground.

Prompts:

• Do you have a favorite neutral or do you play the field?
• Do you have a hard time letting go of your workhorses even when they desperately need to be let out to pasture?
• Also, I want to "prompt" you to go look at some of the other blogs participating in WWW, found here.

WWW: Colorful Shoes

I'm thrilled to contribute my first entry for Wardrobe Workhorse Week, a week that we here at SSG (and other blogs!) are dedicating to those items in our regular rotations.

Composition:
green ruffled t-strap wedges (Steve Madden)
"ruby slippers" (DSW)

Drafts:

Usage:

When pulling together ideas for these posts, I thought about traditional lists of "must-have" items, which tend to focus on basics to build outfits upon.  And it is true that I am big on the basics.  In my bio on this blog, I describe my style as centered on fashion fundamentals: "I generally like simple pieces" ... and I'm very into  "focusing on the basics."  However, part of this philosophy is that I can easily dress these items up and style them in different ways.  One of my favorite ways to easily spice up and outfit is through a colorful pair of shoes.  Even jeans that a t-shirt can instantly get a kick (ha!) from your kicks.  So I picked my favorite spring/summer pair and my favorite fall/winter pair.  This summer, I bought these green ruffled t-straps at a deep discount.  I wear them with everything.  They're super comfortable, and they always add a bit of feminine charm (hello ruffles) to a look.

Ditto the red flats.  They're my go-to shoe with a long-sleeved t-shirt (tune in tomorrow for my WWW post on that!) and jeans, and I like to throw them on with skirts or dresses too.  Like the wedges, they're very comfortable, perfect for long days on campus and/or running errands. 

Prompts:

• I'm sure I've used this prompt before, but it's a good one and relevent: do you go for neutral shoes or more colorful ones?
• What's your favorite way to pump up a simple outfit?

WWW: Cardigans, Trendy Tank, and Wedges

For my next list of wardrobe workhorses, I'm giving you a single type of item I've purchased repeatedly, a single item I've worn repeatedly, and a type of shoe I couldn't live without.

Composition: Cardigans
These cardigans are from Gap, NY&Co, Old Navy, Ann Taylor, and H&M.

Drafts:

Usage:
I think we led you to believe we'd be talking about single items of apparel that we find ourselves wearing frequently.  Once upon a time, I only owned one cardigan, so that counts, right?  It was the cream one in the upper right hand corner.  Next came a black one and the bright purple one.  Then came turquoise, another black, gray, blue, and coral ones.  I've even got a few that haven't been photographed yet.  So while this is a lot of items, rather than a single item, I'm still counting "cardigan" as a wardrobe workhorse because I could feasibly wear a cardigan with every single other thing in my closet.  If I had to get rid of all but two, I'd keep a black one and one of the colored ones.  I'm always cold, so cardigans are very functional, but I also like how they can completely transform an outfit.  I almost never button them all the way up, and I usually push up the sleeves without realizing it, but any given cardigan can look different depending on how you style it, as well.  Sadly, I don't own any short sleeved cardigans, but thanks to my experimentation with cuffing this summer, I don't need to buy any.  I should do a statistical analysis to see how many days I wear a cardigan during any given month.

Composition: Trendy Tank
This one's from Gap, and I even got it on clearance!

Drafts:

Usage:
Chances are, you already know how much I love this tank.  I've been singing its praises all summer!  But I wanted to include it as an official wardrobe workhorse to make the point that it's not only "classic" items which can be multi-functional.  Sure, stripes aren't especially radical as far as prints go, but I'll fully admit that I hunted this tank down precisely because breton stripes were on-trend this summer and I loved them on everyone else.  Plus, the tank demonstrates another habit of mine.  About once per season, I buy a new piece that I love, and I wear it to death.  Anne-Marie recently wrote about how her lengthy search for the right romper paid off, and I certainly feel that way about this tank. 

And now that I've said again how much I love it, can we all hold a moment of silence for this tank?  I ruined it this weekend.  After wearing it to a Labor Day weekend cookout, I got bleach on it while trying to bleach my favorite white shorts (also seen above).  The shorts were recovered, and the tank was not.  It feels like a somewhat fitting symbolic end to my summer, no?

Composition: Wedges
The white ones are MIA and the black ones are Lauren by Ralph Lauren.

Drafts:

Usage:
I'm prepared to make the following admission, with full knowledge that it might make me sound completely stupid: a pair of black wedges was the first thing that made me feel like I might "belong" in graduate school.  My first class was a survey of critical and literary theory (with this anthology: talk about intimidating), and I was pretty sure they were all speaking in a foreign language.  But on the second week, my professor wore the most fabulous pair of black leather wedges I had ever seen.  At that point, I thought, "Okay, maybe I can find a place for myself here."  Anne-Marie was in that class, too, and we drooled over those heels for months.  When the plastic heel split on the pair I'd been wearing from Target, I invested in this pair of wedges (the most expensive shoes I own), and I've worn them consistently for the past two years.  When summer came around, I purchased this pair of white wedges and wrote about how I hoped they would serve as a simple, inexpensive way to rejuvenate my summer wardrobe.  I think the collage of all the looks I've paired them with demonstrates that this mission was accomplished! And two years later, I can clack-clack-clack down the hall with confidence in these black wedges because I can hold my own in almost any conversation about critical theory.

Prompts:

• What trendy pieces have been in constant rotation in your wardrobe this summer?  Do you have an on-trend piece that you intend to remix frequently for fall?
• Where's your favorite place to buy cardigans?  (Maybe don't answer that question-- I certainly don't need any more.)
• How much are you willing to spend on a pair of shoes?  I like to keep it under $40, but I paid almost $100 for these wedges, and they've turned out to be a much better bargain than some less expensive shoes if you consider price-per-wear.
• What's the most intimidating class you've ever enrolled in?  How did it turn out?

WWW: Nude Shoes, Bold Skirts, and Neutral Blazers

Thanks for stopping by for Wardrobe Workhorse Week!  We're celebrating our favorite and most dependable clothing items, the garments and accessories without which we'd consider our closets incomplete.  Today I'm showcasing my personal wardrobe heroes: nude shoes, skirts with personality, and neutral blazers.

Composition: Nude Shoes
suede peep-toe heels (Seychelles), round-toe wedges (Nine West), patent peep-toe heels (Guess)

Drafts:

Usage:

Months ago I touted these suede peep-toe heels as one of my favorite spring purchases, and I followed up with a post about the nude fashion trend.  Since then, I've amassed a collection of flesh-toned shoes, from simple flats to dressy heels.  In fact, most of the shoes I now own are nude hues.  They elongate my legs, they pair easily with any outfit, and they seem to create more of a "look" than the brown leather or black patent "neutrals" to which I previously gravitated.  Of course, depending on one's skin tone, "nude" can mean anything from buttery yellow to rosy pink to rich mocha.  Pale versions complement my peachy complexion best, so I was pleased to score these light patent peep-toe heels on eBay last month.  After they sustained me through a night of dancing at a friend's wedding, I high-fived myself for a smart $17.50 purchase.  Versatility and durability?  A perfect combo.

Composition: Skirts with Personality

pink tiered skirt (Target), multi-colored patterned skirt (Lulu's)

Drafts:

Usage:

Since I generally keep my shoes toned-down, I like to beef up my outfits with skirts of interesting textures and colors.  This is surely a fashion violation, since maximizing the prints and colors around my hips in effect maximizes the look of my hips themselves.  I'm okay with this because a) I appreciate hips and the women who show them off, and b) I don't exactly have a curvy figure.  Patterns and textures help me create the illusion of width.  So bring it on, Stacy and Clinton.  This is one rule I'm content to break.  Above I've featured two all-star summer skirts.  I'm struggling to select merely one, so they'll share the "workhorse" title.

Composition: Neutral Jackets

linen blazer (Gap), grey wool-blend blazer (Gap)

Drafts:

Usage:

Blazers are wardrobe essentials for many women, and I understand why.  In my own closet they're incredibly versatile; they add an extra something to so-so ensembles, enable creative layering, and help me transition between seasons.  What's more, in professional environments they elevate my look to one of authority instantly.  I wore the above grey blazer during my master's defense in May, and it gave me the confidence boost I needed.  It also summoned a bona fide degree out of the experience, so job well done, wool-blend wonder!  My brother has likely forgotten that I wore the same blazer to his college commencement, but if he remembered, I'm sure he would credit it with his successful graduation as well.

Prompts:

• Are you a fan of any of these wardrobe workhorses?  How do you style them?  Why do they work for you?
• Could you offer me any suggestions for styling these workhorses in the future? 
• If you own similar items, where did you buy them?  And where do you normally shop for them?
• How often do you wear your wardrobe workhorses each week?  Each month?  Here's my estimation breakdown for the items I've featured today:  Nude Shoes: 4 days per week / Bold Skirts: 2 days per week / Neutral Blazers: 1-3 days per week, depending on work schedule.

WWW: Jeans, Belts, and Shifts

Hi, all!  I hope those of you here in the States are enjoying your Labor day weekend.  I'm off for some football and fun today, but I've cued up my first installment of wardrobe workhorses to get our theme week started!

Composition: Dark Wash Jeans
Mine are skinnies from American Eagle.

Drafts:

Usage:
All the makeover shows tout the greatness of dark wash jeans, and this is certainly one place where I agree with them.  My dark jeans serve as a great wardrobe workhorse because I feel like they're more versatile than lighter jeans.  I wear both washes in casual ensembles, but I have an easier time "dressing up" dark jeans.  After buying these skinnies to wear with the boots on the left, I've been surprised at how frequently I've worn them.  Skinny jeans seem particularly versatile because they feel like different pants depending on how you cuff them.  Dark wash jeans have been a staple of my wardrobe for at least 7 or 8 years, but I'm glad I took the plunge to try out skinny jeans this past Spring.  If you're wondering how I've kept them so nice and dark, I don't wash them.  I take them to the dry cleaner with my work trousers, which keeps them from fading out.  (This also means they still turn my hands a little blue after a long day, but this is a price I'm willing to pay for fashion.) : )

Composition: Wide Belts
My brown stretch belt (top row) is from Kohl's, and my black faux-patent belt (bottom row) is from H&M.

Drafts:

Usage:
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of belting.  I haven't counted, but I'd guess that I have about ten decorative belts in my closet, so to some it might seem strange that I reach for these two so frequently.  I haven't done a lot of critical thinking about why a look feels so much more "finished" to me when it's belted, but for whatever reason, the belt usually functions as the final piece that pulls the whole look together in my mind.  Belting has now become a sort of signature of mine, too, and so it gives a sense of consistency to my personal style.  Belts also find their way into my ensembles frequently because they have so many functions-- I've used them to hold a wrap dress firmly closed, create the appearance of a dress out of two separate pieces, and give definition to dresses and tops that otherwise don't fit perfectly.  (Incidentally, it makes me laugh a little at myself that I do not consistently wear my belt going the same direction.  Is one way or the other "right"?)

Composition: Shift Dresses
The three dresses seen below are all the same H&M shift dress, just constructed out of different fabrics.

Drafts:

The versatile black shift dress I shared with you all a few posts back served as one of the inspirations for Wardrobe Workhorse Week, but these three dresses served as my inspiration to buy that shift.  The blue print shift has absolutely been my favorite thing to wear this summer, and in addition to wearing it as shown above, I've also worn it jumper style, with a button-down underneath.  I also found several innovative ways to style my sister's pink and purple versions of the same dress, so when I saw that my German instructor had this very dress in black, I had an epiphany: I needed a black shift.  The way the shift lays close to the body and its simple, lay-flat neckline make it the perfect foundational item to use for layering.  You know you've maximized the utilitarian nature of your dress when someone tells you, "great skirt!" : )

Prompts:

• Can you think of any other ways to wear dark wash jeans, wide belts, or shifts that I haven't documented yet?  Please share!  
• If belting a look is one of my signature moves, what's one of yours?

Wardrobe Workhorse Week Kickoff

We're excited to launch Wardrobe Workhorse Week today!  We'll be posting on our own wardrobe workhorses daily, and these fine bloggers will also be contributing to the discussion over on their own blogs.  Check back with their blogs throughout the week to see which items in their closets classify as wardrobe workhorses.  A few of them have already started posting on the topic!

Sara of Orchids in Buttonholes
Iris of 260 Days, No Repeats
E-Jo of In Professorial Fashion
Miss. Studios of O Miss Studious
Plummy of Plummy: Developing Style
Katie of Interrobangs Anonymous
Anna of The Belle and the Bear
Rad from The Cohabitating Closet 

To read about what we mean by "Wardrobe Workhorse Week," please visit this post.  And if you'd still like to participate, please comment below and we'll add you to the list!  We hope you'll also share your thoughts on where the term "wardrobe workhorse" originated.  As academics, we're determined to give credit where credit is due.  Where'd you first see the term in use?

Too Many Clothes?

Draft:

Earlier Drafts:
One day this sheer, short-sleeved number screamed, "Wear me with olive green cargo pants!"  So I did.
I wore this multi-chain necklace with a fedora.  And also with clothes.

Composition:
white button-down with sleeves (Gap)
sheer button-down with ruffles (thrifted)
multi-chain necklace (Talbots)
pink pearl ring (gifted)
mother of pearl bracelet (gifted)
grey pencil skirt (Talbots, gifted)
nude heels (Guess, a recent eBay score)

Usage:
Last month my mom gave me this fabulously-fitting grey pencil skirt, and I immediately began scheming up outfits for it.  Thing is, I sort of forgot about it after that.  It's been hanging among the other skirts in my closet, sandwiched between I-wore-this-once-four-years-ago and This-threadbare-thing-has-a-memory-attached.  It got lost among never-wears, I guess.

A shame, right?  Because this stretch-cotton number is a great length, and it fits me well, and it sits at an ideal spot on my hips, and it has a sheen that allows me to dress it up, but it can also be dressed down.  Also, it's basically my favorite color in the world, can you tell?  I'm almost camouflaged against the paint shade on my wall.  (Whaddiyaknow, the walls in my living room are one hue darker.  Practically color-matched to this skirt at Home Depot's Paint Center, I'd say.)  So, yes, it's a crying shame this winner of a garment has been, until yesterday, forgotten among clothing toward which I feel half-heartedly.

Which is why I started thinking, Maybe I own too many clothes.  Actually, this thought did not occur to me independently.  Reader/friend Mackenzie - you might remember her insight from this post - steered my thoughts in this direction when she sent me an email that went like so:

I'm finding such an interesting energy between your blog and some of the more DIY or eco-consciousness-focused clothing blogs I follow. ... One thing I'm always struggling with, and which seems to be in the background of the Scholar Style Guide discussion lately, is -- how many clothes are too many clothes?

Great question!  It's one Liz, Katie, and I ask ourselves regularly, especially because we have limited funding and tight closet spaces.  Before now, we've responded to this issue indirectly.  We feel strongly that the "Earlier Drafts" feature in our posts upholds principles of thrift and creativity by allowing readers to track the ways we recycle our already-have garments.  And recent posts, like Liz's report on her shopping hiatus and Katie's analysis of pieces she already owns, also demonstrate our work-with-what-we've-got mentality.

But we don't want to stop there.  No, we're inspired by posts like this one from Young House Love that take closet editing seriously.  Like Sherry at YHL, we believe it's possible and worthwhile to pare down one's wardrobe to a few well-loved essentials.  That's why we've declared next week Wardrobe Workhorse Week!  We're devoting five days to items without which we'd consider our closets incomplete, and we're hoping to answer Mackenzie's question along the way.  The idea is to trim our sartorial fat: celebrate the items we love and donate/consign/discard the items we don't.

Join us, won't you?  We'd love to hear about the clothes you can't live without.  If you'd like to hop aboard the WWW train, comment on this post by September 5.  See you next week!

Prompts:

• What do you think: how many clothes are too many?  How do you know you've reached the limit?
• How do you decide which items to keep and which ones to lose?  Tell us about your methods!  Better yet, join us for WWW!  During September 6-10 (next week!) we're inviting you to celebrate your all-time favorite wardrobe reliables with us.  RSVP here!