The New Uniform: letting go and owning your style

Do you have a uniform?

Is there a look 

or a certain combination of items that you seem to gravitate to

 when  you get dressed?

For me, the awnser is Yes....yes and double yes

Try as I might to be as chic as a Parisian

 I am pretty much a California "basics" sort of a gal.

Sadly, in the past I often purchased things that had no business in my closet...

by that I mean they will probably never get worn, at least by me.

 It's not because many of my fashion choices are not cute or stylish...it's because I wear the same really simple, comfortable things over and over again and pass on the new and trendy thinking that today is not the "right day" to wear it.  

Weird....I know  

So if today is not the right day to wear something 

that pretty much sums up the theory 

that I'm buying things that just are not working with my lifestyle

The photo above is Matilda Kahl an art director at a big New York Ad house.  

She grew incredibly frustrated with the daily chore of finding the right out fit for work......so she decided on just one and now wears it to the office every day.....always accessorized with the little black bow

 read the whole story here.... 

she wrote in her article for Harpers Bazaar:

 "The simple choice of wearing a work uniform has saved me countless wasted hours thinking, "what the hell am I going to wear today?" And in fact, these black trousers and white blouses have become an important daily reminder that frankly, I'm in control.

Today, I not only feel great about what I wear, I don't think about what I wear."

Hoo Ray!!!!!

Matilda found her uniform

This is not a new concept by any stretch 

The French are famous for it

Chic women know how to do it...and they do it really well 

one of my favorites is Ines de la Fresange,

model and Chanel fashion muse

Ines is often seen in the same flats, comfortable jeans and wonderful Chanel jackets 

Style legend Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, always simple and chic

in her classic black and white

Even my favorite bloggers know how to pull it off....Janet for instance,

has written so many great posts about small wardrobes,  fashion on a tight budget

 and owning your own style

so cute and so very Janet!

Janet knows her style and she owns it

another chic blogger  

Cindy just wrote a great post 

about the classic tailored white shirt 

personally, the way I dress now 

is just one part 

of the ongoing process of letting go, 

moving on and finding freedom in living more simply

When we sold our home in Ojai and it came time to pack it all up 

(...there actually was not much to pack)

I made the decision to try to simplify my life even more. 

 I purged....I tossed, I donated and I purged some more.

I gave away the impractical super high pumps I wore just once, I tossed coats, blazers, pleated trousers and handbags. 

 I chucked pantyhose, itchy lacey boy briefs, push up bras and knee socks. 

Interesting combo right?

Gone are stupid bathing suits (never worn) silly hats and too tight tops and bottoms

Adios to the puffer coat, the mens leather back pack and 

the hawaiian print vacation clutch that got packed but never made it to the Luau.  

Siyanara girlie golf shoes(except the lucky pair I wore when I hit that long drive)

see ya stupid running cap

so long uber chic pointy toes....you will never make me blister and bleed again

all gone....

I donated at least 30 container store clear shoe boxes...full of shoes!

Was it hard?...well kind of, but when I started making trips to the Goodwill, sometimes daily,

 it got easier and easier.

And what was more amazing?  When I looked at what remained in my closet 

(which is now 1/3 as full as it was)

I finally had a glimpse of what my style really was.

I felt good too, donating things that I knew would be purchased and used by someone else. 

 There was some really good stuff in those donation bags!

After the closet

I tackled the bathroom with the same gusto

My make up drawer was just down right silly

lipstick....yucky colors...check...see ya

sticky foundation....the wrong shade....done...out a here

under eye cream samples....all 25 of them...what is up with all those eye creams?....in the trash 

I kept the basics...

One foundation, one mascara, one shadow box  etc

I chucked all of my old makeup brushes and purchased new useful ones

I chose a makeup brand or two that I really like

(Bobbi Brown and Clinique)

I have really enjoyed heading off to Sephora to purchase new items, 

in the right shades and in small quantities.

  Makeup that is super good for my skin and easy to use

My collection of nail polish was edited to just 4 or 5 favorite shades 

(down from about 30 half empty uninteresting nail colors and an inordinate amount of clear, base, top coat, healthy nail hardener etc....you know the stuff...)

And what started as cleaning and packing project

 has morphed into a lifestyle change

One area that I have always probably shopped and used correctly is jewelry.  

I look totally ridiculous in lots of jewelry...sort of like an overdecorated christmas tree, so all of my jewelry is simple and I don't have a lot.

 I like really good or great pieces, just not too many 

and I love big mens watches instead of a bracelet.

I have started to purchase clothes that I know I will and can wear...every day...for business, running errands, shopping or walking the dog.  

*An important side note on this uniform thing is my need for comfortable shoes.  I refuse to wear shoes that give me blisters or that I can't make a mad dash down the street in.  

Here are a few of my favorite items

from my "style me" pin board

 big chunky

sweaters

denim and chambray

 anything Ines wears

white jeans, simple tops and an awesome jacket

(great handbags are a must)

 camel hair and loafers

slouchy boots, simple skirts and comfy sweaters

I put together a style board of a few things I wear all the time 

slouchy cuffed trouser: Anthropology

basic cotton long sleeved T:  Gap

denim jacket: J crew

fun scarf:  Madewell

comfy shoes: Zappos

bad hair day cap: Ralph Lauren

shopper tote: Madewell

readers: Warby Parker

sunnies:  Ray Ban

what is your uniform?

does it look like mine?

these are really fun posts to write and they really get you thinking...

especially the idea of owing your style 

I should probably try this technique in my kitchen but that's a whole other can of beans

Have a great week and don't forget to be awesome!

K