No, I'm not AWOL. Merely missing-in-action, since there's been a ton of action on another front. As I mentioned in a previous post, Mr. Darcy and I are launching a product that we think is seriously cool. We hope you will as well and since we're now only 4 weeks from the launch date, it's been Crunch Time for a while.
The project is something my husband has been marinating for about 20 years. When he first told me about it while we were dating, I got excited as well. The right time to pursue it finally came last year and we both committed to making it happen, which meant that several other things (including much loved hobby blogs) had to take a back seat. That won't always be the case, but bear with me if posts in the coming weeks are still a bit sporadic.
Today, I thought I'd start showcasing my skinny wardrobe. Since I had to replace almost my entire wardrobe, many folks have asked about what I bought and how I went about it. So here are the nuts and bolts of it all.
The project is something my husband has been marinating for about 20 years. When he first told me about it while we were dating, I got excited as well. The right time to pursue it finally came last year and we both committed to making it happen, which meant that several other things (including much loved hobby blogs) had to take a back seat. That won't always be the case, but bear with me if posts in the coming weeks are still a bit sporadic.
Today, I thought I'd start showcasing my skinny wardrobe. Since I had to replace almost my entire wardrobe, many folks have asked about what I bought and how I went about it. So here are the nuts and bolts of it all.
L: a.n.a Popover top (I got the coral/pink striped one, but there wasn't a picture) R: Anthropologie Jump Seat shirt
- Purge vs Tailor: As I dropped sizes (many sizes!) I pulled from my closet those clothes that didn't fit anymore. I was NOT keeping them in the back "in case I got fat again." I sorted the vast majority of them into the Purge pile. Since I'm a health coach for the program I used to lose weight, I sent all those clothes to various clients who needed those sizes. A little gift to help them on their own weight loss journeys. I kept only irreplaceable favorites in the Tailor pile. I also kept a few skirts that I knew would be possible to take in 4 to 6 sizes.
- Shopping Lists: I keep two lists: a) missing wardrobe staples that need finding, such as "dark jeans, black pants, fitted navy blazer, cocktail dress, etc." and b) wardrobe items I already have, such as "coral dress, black cardigan, black dress, etc." The second list helps me not to repeat buy and also has notes of things I'm looking for to accessorize. Thanks to my smartphone technology, when I find an item on the first list, I can easily move it to the second and make quick notes as necessary.
- Hunt, don't Hurry: I love the thrill of the chase AND I don't like paying full price if I don't have too. I find great satisfaction in finding a fantastic pair of jeans on sale, or stalking sample sale sites for those awesome won't-find-it-anywhere-else deals & steals. I hate buying something in a rush and regretting it later.
L: Boden Jersey Top (so flattering!) R: Ann Taylor Loft Cowl Neck top
As I showcase my items I'm grouping them by style, not in the order of how I purchased them.
L & R: LL Bean Double L elbow sleeve rib knit tees
One of my greatest shopping challenges is deprogramming my brain from the dressing-a-large-body rules I had to follow for so many years. One of the first steps I took was to purchase a couple of things with horizontal stripes. It was scary! But I love them. Hadn't worn horizontal stripes in a good 20 years. I pair the above navy stripe tee with a great white wrap skirt I got at a market in Park City. Love it.
