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Choose the right things. Now, sort out the decorations. Wardrobe essentials: pencil skirt

The closet is full - nothing to wear? :-)

In 90% of cases, this phenomenon is associated with the inability of girls to buy the right basic things.

Almost everyone knows how to dress nicely and uncomfortably ...

It is also convenient and ugly.

And almost no one understands how to dress beautifully in everyday and comfortable things.

You may not believe it, but this problem can be solved in one minute! You just need to rethink your approach to shopping, throw out of your head everything that you read about gray and black basic things and find out what a modern “basic wardrobe” is.

How to put together a basic wardrobe?

Most girls take a chaotic approach to wardrobe formation. Someone daily flips through fashionable glossy magazines in search of ideals, someone looks with inspiration at mannequins in store windows, someone buys only those things that they saw on fashion bloggers and celebrities and copies their bows.

However, it is not enough to "peep" exactly how this blouse or trousers "sit" on a model, blogger or on a mannequin; it is then important to combine these emotional purchases with something else from the variety of clothes that have accumulated in the closets.

And this is where the fun begins ... It turns out that this blouse is ideal only for these trousers ... Together they are a true masterpiece! And individually - they do not look at all and are not combined with any things. But this skirt cannot find a pair at all ... And 10 more blouses fit only one pair of trousers, and the other 10 pairs of trousers hang like a dead weight.

In an incomprehensible way, the wardrobes of young mothers are filled with office sheath dresses, and the wardrobes of office workers are filled with cocktail dresses. And the rest of the girls live in gray-black "captivity", because they read a lot of stupid articles about the fact that the basic wardrobe consists of black and gray things ...

We start from scratch!

The variety of your wardrobe depends to a large extent on the number of basic items. A sense of comfort is associated with them.

By basic things, almost all girls mean “gray or black things”, “things of neutral tones”, one of the Clients said: “the base is something I cannot live without - floor-length dresses and heels!” :-)

Of course, each of us has our own preferences, our own already formed views and beliefs.

Let's define the concept of "basic things"!

Basic things are things of a simple cut.

Basic things Additional things

The key feature of basic items is their versatility. They go well with each other. After all, you would also like ALL your things and accessories to be combined with each other? And it is possible :-)

Things that don't fit into the basic format are often very difficult to mix together. These are "raisins" - additional things. They can "shout out" each other with a variegated color, sparkles, ruffles, complex decor, incompatible styles ...

And more and more time is taken by our everyday thinking over the image: "Is it possible ...?", "Didn't I overdo it?"

Additional things are difficult to combine with each other due to their originality and decorativeness (complex cut, print, etc.)


Basic things go well with each other due to their simplicity and neutrality.

The base goes well with additional things ("raisins").

Making the usual emotional shopping, we can pass by a simple but well-fitting jumper ("well, pay for something here ..?!") And bring home an elegant blouse with three rows of ruffles then give the beauty of money. :-)

Believe me, we do not assert this without foundation. Proven over 14 years of practice and thousands of wardrobes, in which we put things in order and created harmony. When, out of the abundance of unusual, boldly decorated things, I draw the Client's attention to an ordinary, at first glance, basic dress, the right sweater or stylish simple trousers, many at first get lost ... and do not understand why I am complimenting them.

Now think about how many times you can "walk" a memorable skirt / blouse / blouse / dress ..? Well, one, two, three, maybe ... And that's all ... All the friends remember the thing and you are tired and you do not want to wear it over and over again. Let's go to the store for a new portion of "raisins"! There is NOTHING to put on again !!!

And most of the "highlights" are not used at all, and they hang in the closet for years, because the hostess has no idea what to combine these things with! But the "treasure" was bought and added to the home collection # you don’t know.

And this is where the time comes to appreciate the indispensability of basic things. They are neutral, they are comfortable, they are everyday. They are 100% compatible with each other, and they must also be combined with "raisins" so as not to overdo it and not look too smart in broad daylight. It is the basic wardrobe that will become the basis for many everyday and festive looks! And it will never become outdated and out of fashion and will not become irrelevant and hackneyed in two months. And it is these things that can be worn with closed eyes, in a hurry, on the run, etc. They always harmoniously complement each other and it is impossible to be mistaken with them.

The right basic stuff MUST BE COLORFUL!

In this case, you will have a beautiful and comfortable wardrobe! The only problem is one thing - most girls do not know how to combine colors and do not allow themselves to buy colored things, because they do not know how to combine them with each other. Let's add more problems with understanding the fit, the choice of cut and styles of things. And also let's not discount the deeply rooted belief in the heads of many that everyday things cannot be beautiful and comfortable at the same time.

A whole bunch of problems turns out! And the result is the same - there is nothing to wear, I don’t like anything, nothing is sitting, nothing goes, there is no mood and the money is again wasted :(

And all from what? From ignorance!

Is this a problem? Of course not! After all, to combine colors and shades, choose things according to your figure, create a basic wardrobe that suits you and wear everyday things in style, you can INDIVIDUALLY learn in my online school on the Basic course from anywhere in the world at a time convenient to you :)

All of us, both women and men, periodically ask ourselves the question of how to dress beautifully and correctly. At the same time, you need to create a wardrobe from scratch in such a way that it can be fashionable, business-like, and at the same time practical. Thoughts such as: "Do I look attractive", or similar, often lead to the fact that we buy things that are not so necessary for us, which then hang unnecessarily in the closet for years. Some of our inner doubts and uncertainties are often a hindrance in choosing the right clothes.

Difference between basic and capsule wardrobe

How can you make your own wardrobe correctly, what should be guided by, what should be taken into account in order to avoid unnecessary purchases and inappropriate costs? That's about this, the most painful for many women, we will talk today.

Initially, it is necessary to draw a line between two similar, but differing concepts: basic and capsule types of wardrobe. What are the main differences:

A basic wardrobe is a certain minimum set, as a rule, of a classic cut of things, with which you can create several (up to ten) different looks for every day.

A capsule wardrobe is also a set of things for composing images, only in this case the images are already finished and composed so that things from the “capsule” cannot be used for another image. Therefore, we can conclude that the basic wardrobe is more profitable than the capsule one.

But in the basic wardrobe, one or two capsules can also be present, for example, evening looks.

Action plan

First of all, it is worth working out a clear plan of your actions. As a result, you will have the opportunity to save your time and money. You need to decide on the purpose of shopping, which makes it possible to understand why you actually need this or that new thing. The need to buy a new thing may be due to several reasons: a change in weight in one direction or another, a change in job, seasonal purchases, changes in lifestyle and much more. All this has a huge impact on us, forcing us to make changes in our appearance. If a person gets from one communication environment to another, accordingly, under the influence of a new environment, his tastes and outlook on fashion may change. It would be nice to decide on the style that is most preferable for you. But, if it is difficult to do this, give preference to the classics or the English style.

Second life of old things

Before going for new clothes, it will not be superfluous to carefully review the filling of your closet, which can help in buying new clothes. While performing this process, you may stumble upon a thing that has never been worn by you. Realizing that it is of excellent quality, has not yet gone out of fashion, it suits you that you can combine it with other things and enjoy wearing it for a long time, perhaps you will give up unnecessary costs.

Having turned on the imagination, you can experiment with accessories for it, pick up a handbag, a scarf, perhaps something from jewelry. Throw away insecurity and fantasize, dilute bright colors with more calm ones, combine them with each other, and then your old things will again take on new life and sparkle with new colors. Changing parts of different sets of clothes with each other, you can create a unique image, catching the admiring glances of passers-by. Undoubtedly, any person in the closet has a couple of things that are absolutely unnecessary to him, which only uselessly take up space, and the term for wearing them has long since expired. Feel free to get rid of them without any regret.

We buy new things

Before purchasing a new thing, you need to carefully examine yourself in the mirror, objectively assessing the merits and demerits of your figure. It is a huge rarity when the proportions are perfect. An honest look at yourself will allow you to figure out what is worth emphasizing and what, on the contrary, to hide, masking the flaws of your own body. Self-esteem plays a big role here. For some, it is too underestimated, which makes it difficult to emphasize their attractive sides. People with high self-esteem often tend to overestimate the merits of their figure, which is a disadvantage in choosing the right clothes.

Another of the important steps in the competent compilation of a wardrobe for a girl is the correct selection of the size. A thing that is not picked up in size can completely ruin a person's appearance, disfiguring his figure. If the purchased item is not cut according to the figure and is smaller than yours, then your proportions will not look in the best light.

Clothes that are too loose can add a couple of extra pounds, making you look baggy. It is easy to imagine that buying clothes that are not your size is fraught with a lot of disadvantages for you. The question immediately arises about its alteration: stitching, shortening, etc. Why create such problems for yourself? Choosing the right size clothes for yourself, you will be happy to wear them and do not spend extra money on altering them.

Arriving at the store, it is difficult to resist the temptation to buy the thing you like, but take your time, you can ask the seller to postpone it so that at home you can review the contents of the cabinet again in order to understand whether it is worth purchasing. If the item is very expensive, consider if you can wear it next year. Having doubts during the fitting? Chances are it's not your model. If at first sight you did not fall in love with this thing, then it is better not to buy it at all. What is important to us? Feel stylish, confident and comfortable in the clothes that we choose for ourselves.

An important nuance in choosing things for a wardrobe is the color scheme and pattern. For example, clothes in dark shades will look better on women with a full figure, since dark always slims, and light colors, on the contrary, give fullness. Fat people should not wear clothes in a horizontal strip, as well as in a cage, but a vertical strip will add harmony.

You can give some more tips for choosing blouses, jackets and blouses and some other types of clothing. In order to hide a rather voluminous chest, it is necessary to choose blouses with flounces running vertically, as well as ruffles, with their help, the silhouette becomes more elongated. A flowy material with a simple cut will create the same effect. And in order to visually enlarge small breasts, it is preferable to choose blouses with small folds, draperies, lush collars, pockets on the chest. The fullness of the arms can be hidden by clothes with sleeves that are extended towards the bottom. If you have a full tummy, then give preference to long blouses with a masculine cut. Full thighs can be hidden under a shirt or blouse that reaches mid-thigh, for this purpose loose-fitting clothing is suitable. For those with narrow shoulders, it is recommended to buy clothes with shoulder pads.

This is just a small list of rules that will help you build your wardrobe, but it is not enough to properly design your wardrobe.

A clear understanding of what things you better refuse, what and what to combine with, will do a good job in choosing the right clothes for your wardrobe.

It is also important to know what and where to wear. For example, it is unreasonable for women of age to wear short, tight tops in the office, from which one can see sagging breasts, clingy jeans (especially ripped ones), from which a flabby tummy hangs down. It is worth giving up teenage clothes, because it will not only not give you youth, but only put you in an unfavorable light in front of employees.

There are many office clothing options for going to work. Without a doubt, in your closet there are skirts, blouses and jackets, albeit not new, but taking into account our advice, you can skillfully combine them with each other using accessories for them.

Must-have items for any woman's wardrobe

These things should be present in any woman's wardrobe:

Small black dress

Black dresses in the basic wardrobe of many women are not accidentally present. A universal black dress of a simple cut, without unnecessary decorations, interspersed with other colors, makes it possible to always go out. If you can only buy one dress, then make it black. This will provide the opportunity to create dozens of different looks by changing accessories, different combinations with a jacket, cardigans, bolero, stole, fur collars. Even a change of shoes with pantyhose in combination with a black dress will bring newness and freshness to the whole look.

Classic Pants & Jeans looks


Trousers of a classic cut will help out for any occasion, when a skirt, a dress cannot be put on. Basic trousers can be gray, beige, but black will be preferable, as they decorate and slim any girl.

Every woman has jeans, but you need to buy jeans in your basic wardrobe in which you will look just fine.

Nowadays, skinny jeans with a low waist are in vogue, but this style does not adorn everyone, therefore, as the main element of a wardrobe, a pair with straight legs, medium waist is needed. These jeans are easier to match to the top.

Dress shirt and top looks


If you think a white shirt is boring, then imagine the sheer amount of wardrobe items you can pair with! A classic shirt is a must-have in the basic wardrobe of every girl who wants to look stylish and elegant. The main thing is to choose the shirt that will emphasize your strengths, and also will not stick out your flaws.

Every woman in her basic wardrobe should have a universal top that will look good on its own, take on a respectable look with a jacket and be combined with jeans and a skirt. In this top, you can hold a business meeting, then come to a family celebration, then take a walk in a nightclub with friends. At the same time, you will look stylish and unbeatable everywhere.

Daily dress

A dress in a neutral color, such as gray or beige, is perfect for a work or casual setting. Having such a dress in your basic wardrobe, you will avoid repetition of the "pants-skirt" cycle at work in the office, as well as endless jeans in everyday life. If you wear it only a couple of times a week, you will experience a pleasant variety.

Skirt and jacket

A feminine skirt is suitable for many situations, it can be flirty or businesslike, so it is also desirable to have it in a basic wardrobe. For example, if you are not an office worker or there is no strict dress code at work, then you can purchase a basic classic denim skirt.

A jacket should be chosen carefully, it should not be masculine or emphasize figure flaws. An improperly fitted jacket can visually enlarge the shoulders. Choose the model that perfectly accentuates your shape and follows the line of your waist. The length of the jacket needs to be selected individually, it can correct flaws: with a short torso, choose a jacket that will reach the buttocks (this is also suitable for those who have a lower part less than the upper one), if your waist is not very pronounced, then choose a short fitted jacket ... Jackets should be present in any basic wardrobe for the simple reason that they are combined with trousers, skirts, jeans, dresses, shirts, tops.

Trench coat and cardigan looks

A trench coat (trench coat) is a double-breasted raincoat with an average length. Trench coats can be short or maxi length. This item is a must-have in a basic wardrobe, because classic trench coats will never go out of fashion. It is ideal in the off-season, when the weather is not set, it can be combined with any clothing. Moreover, a trench coat is a very comfortable and versatile piece that you can wear anywhere.

Instead of a trench coat, you can buy a sweater, everything will depend on your personal preferences, however, every girl should have a similar basic classic, warm, elegant piece of clothing.

It is better to get a classic cardigan with buttons, which has a medium length, which can be worn over a shirt, top, or on your own.

He will be able to help you out in cold weather or on a fresh spring evening.

Classic pumps

These shoes are a must in your wardrobe. It is desirable that there are two types of it: pumps for the evening (black, with high heels made of leather, lacquered or nubuck, to which an evening clutch bag made of the same material is matched) and for every day (preferably beige with low heels with matched under them accessories, say, a handbag, a scarf, gloves or a belt).

The importance of such shoes can hardly be underestimated. They make the leg visually narrower and slimmer, never look massive and fit almost any style of clothing.

Mandatory accessories

Accessories are not the least important thing in creating style. This includes shoes, and a variety of jewelry, as well as hairstyle and your mood, which reflects the state of mind. All this together creates a unique image. If you walk in the same strict suit for ten days in a row, but every day you add to it, then a new handbag, then a scarf, supplement it with different shoes, etc., then those around you will have the impression that today you are dressed completely different, not like yesterday, every day there is a new outfit.

Do not forget that shoes are a very important part of our wardrobe. It needs to be given special attention, it is not worth saving here. Consider wearing an inexpensive blouse or trousers, but your shoes should be perfect. It is not recommended to wear it for more than four days in a row. frequent wear can worsen her condition and adversely affect the health of her feet.

When choosing any clothing for your wardrobe, pay attention to its quality. The fabric should not be stretched or faded, the seams should be neat and even, impeccably finished. In order to check the product for defects, you should fold it in half, this will help to make sure that it is symmetrical.

The basic wardrobe of a woman is some kind of sacred grail of modern fashion, about which so much has been written that the head is spinning. On various sites and blogs, the coveted list of things that make up is reprinted over and over again women's basic wardrobe, and from the viewing of which a yawn attacks - an eternal pencil skirt, a T-shirt-shirt-trousers and all this here, set on edge ...

But tireless readers are looking again and again for a magic list that will once and for all solve all their wardrobe problems, forgetting that clothes and personal style are a reflection of their personality, and there simply cannot be any universal solutions (and even Evelina Khromchenko, whose list basic things walks on the Internet as the ultimate truth, will not be able to decide for you what your and what not).

THE BASIC WARDROBE IS ...

... not a list of things, but a system based on your personal style. This system will be different for each woman, and the list of items in the basic wardrobe of different women will be different. For some, the aforementioned pencil skirt will be the basic subject, and for others - loose military-style trousers.

A basic wardrobe is a set of items that form the backbone of your style, reflect your taste, your lifestyle, your preferences and correlate with the characteristics of your figure and your phenotype (color palette).

Bad news: You will have to come up with your basic wardrobe and make your list of items yourself. The good news is, it's much easier than it sounds. And if you deal with the principle once, then this skill will greatly facilitate your life in the future.

EVOLUTION OF THE BASIC WARDROBE

You are changing. Your lifestyle, work, figure is changing. Eras are changing. And your style is also changing (after all, today you are unlikely to dress the same way as in the first year of college, right? ..) Your basic wardrobe is also changing - some items are leaving, and others are taking their place, corresponding to the updated reality. Today my basic wardrobe is very different from what I bought and wore 5 years ago - having a baby, leaving the office and flexible working hours have made their own adjustments to the content of my closets.

In addition to the tectonic changes that we all go through, seasonal changes affect the basic wardrobe: it's all lies that trendy things cannot be included in the basic set, and that it should only consist of undying classics (your wardrobe does not owe anything to anyone at all). You can plan a base for the season, and include items that are worn right now, fit your silhouette and fall into your personal style.

  • a basic wardrobe is not a list of things compiled by someone, but the backbone of your personal style (a basic wardrobe from Evelina Khromchenko is just a guide to creating a base in a certain style, which does not necessarily suit you);
  • your needs evolve, and so does your basic wardrobe, so regularly review your preferences and bring them in line with the realities of your life.

OK, sorted it out. If other people's lists are not suitable, then how to make your own? .. Very simple. Let's play!

STEP 1. Mine is not mine

The first thing to start with (if you've never done this before) is with an attempt to articulate what the style you like is, goes and suits your lifestyle. It may well be that you like one thing and go another. Or that you dress not in what you like, but in what you think is appropriate for your status / age, and so on. To be honest, these are all topics for a separate long conversation, and not the subject of this post - so let's pretend that you already have a style, and you more or less know what you like, you just need to bring it all into some system.

And to do that, we'll start with ... an inspiration session!

Why is this needed? To get some fresh ideas and try to finally make a list of your Ideal Base Items.

The easiest way to do this is with Pinterest, a visual search engine. If you have never used this site before, now is the time to start. Register, create a board and start collecting on it those images that you like, everything.

Where to begin? Type in the name of your favorite item of clothing ("pencil skirt"), or the name of your favorite actress, or the name of your favorite brand into the search bar - Pinterest will fit you a few hundred pictures on the topic (important: there is much less Russian-language content on the site than English-language content - it's better to drive in English names such as pencil skirt). Browse them, and pin those images that you like to your board (the "save" button in the upper right corner of the selected picture).

As soon as you pin a single image, Pinterest will suggest similar ones for you, so you will quickly find yourself in the style that you like. If you like the Parisian style I write about here, you can start by learning my boards - perhaps there are images that correspond to your perception of the world.

First, collect everything that you like, without any criteria (winter, summer looks, skirts, dresses, trousers, jewelry, etc.). When you have 150-200 pictures on your board, you will see that some images and combinations are repeated - these images will be a reflection of your I.

STEP 2: SILHOUETTES AND COLORS

After you have collected many different looks, you need to filter out what will work for you personally. For example, I like midi skirts and fall colors, but they absolutely do not suit me, so they are not in my wardrobe.

Dealing with your silhouettes and colors is very important, this is the basis of the basics. Unfortunately, a lot of women wear things that emphasize flaws instead of emphasizing advantages, and it would be my will - I would introduce a compulsory course at school on this topic. I talk in great detail about silhouettes that are suitable for different types of figures, and about how to deal with your color palette (with examples and photos) in the book “ ", Or you can search for this information in different sources on your own - the main thing is to deal with this topic once and for all.

Look again all those images that you have selected, and remove what does not suit your body type and does not fall into your color scheme. Only what you like and what suits you should remain on your board.

STEP 3: WARDROBE NEEDS MAP

Now you need to figure out what kind of clothes you need based on your lifestyle. And in order to do this, you need to sit down and draw a map of your wardrobe needs - that is, assess which clothes of what functionality and style should be in your wardrobe and in what proportion.

Well, here's my map for you as an example:

I am a young mother who works from home, sometimes goes to business meetings and conducts seminars, sometimes goes to friendly parties in cafe-bars, regularly spends time with her family in parks / trips / shopping centers, and shows up once every 1-2 months at formal or evening social events.

Most of the time I spend in casual clothes, while I occasionally need business casual clothes (for work meetings in offices), sports in my life have replaced stroller walks, for which I need sportswear, for parties with friends I need cocktail tops and dresses, and for social events a couple of statement dresses and matching shoes / bags. A separate line - quite rare in my life now (alas) status night events that require evening dresses / sets.

Actually, my basic wardrobe is built on the basis of these proportions, and consists of items that reflect my individual needs and what I like and comfortable to wear. The larger the segment of the wardrobe card, the more basic items should fall on the style of this segment (this is what you will wear most often).

In your database, items should be distributed in the same way: most of them should be in the style and with the functionality that corresponds to the main area of ​​your life. The spheres will change (for example, you will leave the office after the decree), and the basic wardrobe will also change.

STEP 4: CREATE BASES

After you have been properly inspired, figured out what suits you and what your needs consist of, it's time to move on to planning.

Take another look at your map and at the photos you selected on Pinterest - which of the selected images correspond to which segment of your map? Ideally, you need to choose 2-3 key images for each segment, and write on a piece of paper the items that make up these images.

Well, for example, let's go through my map:

CASUAL

T-shirt, jeans and a leather jacket with sneakers - this is one of my basic sets on days when I don't have business meetings When there is a desire to make this look more interesting, I change the converse for more interesting shoes, and add accent jewelry with an interesting bag instead of my favorite backpack. Works great. another set - a long skirt with a cardigan or a loose sweater, I like this silhouette and I am very comfortable in it
a large cardigan, skinny jeans, a T-shirt or top, converse or ballet flats - this is my third basic casual silhouette
An alternative to a cardigan can be a light trench coat - it makes the image a little more collected and classy than a relaxed knit.

BUSINESS

since I work in the creative industry, I don’t have a hard dress code - an expensive white shirt with cigarette pants or skinny jeans, boots and a statement bag are my “business” base in my basic set there is also a more classic combination for business meetings and exhibitions, which sometimes take place in a very formal atmosphere - classic trousers with heels and silk shirt-cut blouses

PARTY

for going out to bars, for birthdays and other democratic evening events, I keep in my set a couple of evening tops, which I usually wear with cigarette trousers or jeans
yes, an interesting little black dress just for such occasions is also included in my basic set

STATEMENT EVENTS


"Day dress" - daytime status dresses that I wear to high society brunches and other work / social non-evening events Some day dresses are quite appropriate in the evening, when complemented with appropriate accessories. In general, the more versatile a thing is, the more I like it, so I always keep in mind different interpretations based on it when buying. second set for the same occasions - jacket, top, trousers - cigarettes plus statement shoes & bag Some daytime events (like press lunches) can also be worn in jeans if you pair them with a statement jacket and jewelry.

We will leave sports and evening wardrobes outside the brackets as highly specialized, but in general, my base consists of the above items, which I actively wear and update regularly.

What items will your wardrobe consist of? Your task is to select 3-4 different image for each of its segments, and then make a list of the items of which these images are composed. And if you need ideas, or want to know more about different basic subjects, then read the posts about, and.

STEP 5: YOUR FORMULA

When you know what items your basic silhouettes are made of, you just have to decide on the formula - that is, the minimum required number of different things. Everything here is also individual, although there are general rules:

  • one “bottom” should have at least 2 “tops” (that is, if your base has one trousers and one skirt, then 4 basic “tops” should be attached to them);
  • each "top" must have its own set of jewelry;
  • for each "bottom" there should be at least 2 pairs of shoes (in the same style - so that the shoes rest between the socks - or in different ones to change images) - you can wear the same shoes with different "bottoms" (for example, shoes that suitable for basic trousers and jeans), but the main thing is that each of your basic "bottom" was provided with at least two different options for shoes;
  • for each season there should be 2 outer garments (jackets, cardigans, jackets, raincoats, sheepskin coats, etc.) that correspond to shoes.

This is the overall proportion that will form the basis of your formula. What it will be - that is, how many and what kind of "bottoms", "tops", shoes and bags will be in your basic wardrobe - it's up to you.

STEP 6: DESIGN THE BASIC WARDROBE

Now let's summarize everything we did before and design our basic wardrobe, which correlates with each of the areas of your life. For these purposes, the easiest way is to use the Polyvore.com site - this is a designer, which contains several thousand items of clothing from different collections, and in which you can design capsule wardrobes for the season, or plan your basic wardrobe.

UPD: 04/05/2018 polyvore.com unexpectedly stopped working. I have not yet found a worthy replacement, but I can recommend two alternative sites - shoplook.io and trendme.net. Both of these services are still far from what polyvore offered (and there is no Russian-language version), but there are no other options yet. I will definitely unsubscribe as soon as I find a worthy alternative.

Register, click on Create (upper right corner) - you will find yourself in the working field. On the right you will have a catalog of things (dresses, trousers, shoes, bags, etc.), on the left - an interactive board on which you will collect your image or a set of items for a basic wardrobe.

Dig in the catalog, choose what you need and use the mouse to drag the item you like onto the board. The constructor is made very intuitively, you will quickly figure it out - in the catalog of things, you can choose a color, or type in the name of the item in the search, so you will quickly find what you need.

You can collect image whole, from linen to costume jewelry, or to collect basic set things, which will become your guide when choosing and buying things in real life.

The result of this exercise should be a set of 5-6 universal images that you like, go with and correspond to different areas of your life. And a common board on which you will collect all these items - this board can be printed, downloaded to your phone, or simply kept in your head while shopping (the visual embodiment of all your disparate ideas and thoughts makes life much easier and reduces the shopping budget, as you are looking for and buy only what you need).

STEP 7: DISASSEMBLING THE WARDROBE AND SETTING THE SHOPPING PROBLEM

Well, when you are done with the theory, proceed to the analysis of your wardrobe - you need to understand what you already have and what is missing from what you need for your developed basic wardrobe.

I already wrote about the analysis of the wardrobe in the post "", read it if you are interested.

The result of this stage should be the setting of a shopping task - that is, you will need to make something like a list of those things that need to be purchased. Such a list is very useful to do before going to sales, it really helps to buy only what you need at a bargain price.

And you can also use the sites of large resellers for the same purposes, which offer the option "add to wish list" - when you more or less understand what you need, then go to the site, see the options and mark them. Usually the wish list does not oblige you to anything, well, except that the store will send you information if a discount appears on the selected item. This exercise helps you set your own shopping boundaries (well, if you find something that suits you perfectly, then the faster you will solve your problems). Asos and farfetch have a good selection (and you need as many different options as possible, both classic and trendy) and a convenient “favorites” function (the latter is great for navigating luxury collections and finding new brands).

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Did you like this post and would like to know more about what items to use to create your basic wardrobe? Perhaps you will be interested in my book - "The Anatomy of the Parisian Wardrobe: Things, Brands, Combinations".

A joke about women's wardrobe has been wandering around the Internet for a long time: "Sometimes it seems to me that half of the things I need if I go crazy." As you know, there is some truth in every joke, and a true woman understands this very well. We are constantly running through the malls and shopping centers in search of "interesting things". And the saddest thing is that we find it, bring it home and don’t know what to do with it next. This disorganized approach to shopping results not only in loss of money, but also in dissatisfaction with their appearance. How to find a way out of this sad situation? The answer has long been known to stylists - it is necessary to create a basic wardrobe (you will find a photo of options for things in our article). The purchase of a small amount of necessary things will help to avoid confusion in the closet, save money and will always allow you to stay at your best.

Basic wardrobe - what is it

A woman at any age strives to look attractive. Quite often, she believes that the brighter and more original her things, the better. Therefore, the phrase "basic wardrobe" evokes melancholy on many. Usually, the imagination draws black and gray dull things that are more suitable for old women than for bright and active ladies. In fact, this is a delusion, and your position on this issue should be urgently changed.

A properly selected fashionable wardrobe, despite its modesty, allows you to appear in front of others in a new look every day. Its main feature is the “three things” rule. This means that every piece must match at least three others. For example, a white blouse can be easily combined with a skirt, trousers and jeans, while a dress looks great with a jacket, shawl and raincoat. Thus, with only 15 or 20 items at your disposal, you can surprise colleagues and friends with new images.

What to do with old clothes

Every zealous housewife tries to preserve high-quality and expensive clothes, even if they are hopelessly outdated and out of fashion long ago. Mezzanines, storage rooms and country houses are filled with bales of luggage for years, and their mistresses continue to hope that someday someone will find the inheritance useful. Agree, this picture is familiar to many firsthand. How to avoid the development of a similar situation?

The “three things” rule comes to the rescue again: after buying a new wardrobe item, you should get rid of three old things. The rule must be strictly observed, and unnecessary trash must be ruthlessly thrown away.

An audit of the wardrobe must be carried out every season, and it is better to do it in a bad mood - then there will be more chances to vacate your apartment without turning it into a warehouse of old junk. There is a simple way to understand that a thing will never be worn again: if it has not been used for a year, it is unlikely to be needed in the future.

So, when unnecessary rarities begin to leave our lives, it means that it is time to create the basic wardrobe of a modern woman. Let's consider what is included in it.

The dress

Each new weekend dress pours out a pretty penny for its owner. When going to a holiday, a woman usually chooses an outfit that cannot be worn in everyday life. And an original or designer thing is not cheap at all. Add to this the services of a hairdresser, make-up artist, beautician, a trip to a shoe store - and we get an impressive amount spent for one evening. The realization that at the corporate party, colleagues watched the beauty's triumph for no more than ten minutes, as they quickly switched to strong drinks and snacks, does not stop her from making a second mistake. Why repeated? Because on the following holidays no woman will agree to appear in the same dress. And then again you have to run to the store, leaving the old outfit out of date in the closet.

So isn't it better to get a basic dress and use it both in everyday life and at a gala event? Good jewelry, a clutch, a jacket or a stole will change the image of a lady beyond recognition, and with the money saved, you can please yourself with more rational things that will decorate everyday life.

Pants & Jeans

Should be comfortable and fit perfectly on the female figure. Of course, a classic cut is welcome, but the length can be up to 7/8 - that's a matter of taste. There can be many models in the wardrobe, but one pair should correspond to the classic style and be black or navy blue.

Blouse

A white blouse is an irreplaceable thing that can favorably present its owner in any life situation. Keep in mind, however, that boiling whites should be avoided. This is due to the color of the teeth, which only in the advertisement of the paste are snow-white. In life, everything is much more prosaic, and the bright color of the blouse will only emphasize the imperfections of tooth enamel.

Jacket

A fitted and well-fitting jacket can be paired with a lot of basic wardrobe items. It looks great with a dress, skirt and trousers, and also does not contradict the strict office dress code. If you can successfully combine a jacket with jeans, you can create a democratic version for Sunday outings in society.

Outerwear

Every modern woman is obliged to think over a basic wardrobe for autumn and winter in order to stay on top in all situations. Therefore, you need to pay attention to a raincoat or trench coat with a classic cut. Classic lines of outerwear will always favorably emphasize any figure. Plus, they never go out of style.

Many representatives of the beautiful half of humanity are afraid to show their main trait - femininity. They enjoy watching fashion shows, but are afraid to try on beautiful stylish things. You can often hear from them: "It is too expensive and it is not for me." But such ladies easily buy themselves a bunch of multi-colored T-shirts that do not paint the figure. So maybe it's better to refrain from wasting money and afford one good coat?

All these very different things of the basic wardrobe have one thing in common - the absence of conspicuous details. They should not be decorated with rhinestones, fringes or embroidery. Accessories should also not amaze others with their size or brilliance; for this purpose, bijouterie is used. Original and designer things, which should be in service with every woman, will help to express your individuality. However, you do not need to buy them on an industrial scale, it is enough if they make up 20-30% of the entire wardrobe.

Woman's age

When buying basic clothes, you must also take into account the age of the lady. Needless to say, the basic wardrobe of a 40-year-old woman will be very different from that of a schoolgirl. Let's note the main differences.

Young girl

She is always in motion - she can be found in a club, in a park, in a library, but you never know where else! This means that her clothes should be easily transformed for any occasion. Consider the basic wardrobe of a female student.

Adult lady

The woman has already achieved a lot in life, has earned respect from colleagues and is in good standing with her superiors. This means she can afford a fairly expensive basic wardrobe. We will voice only the most necessary things.

Men's basic wardrobe

Every true woman should think not only about her appearance, but also about her life partner. How often men are mistaken, considering the basic wardrobe as a purely female prerogative. And if the husband turned out to be from this category of men, you should take his fashionable transformation into your own hands. Then, perhaps, his career will go up sharply, and along with it, income will increase.

What you need to know about the basic wardrobe of a man? It can be conditionally divided into two parts: clothes for work and clothes for free time.

Part one - office dress code

  • Shirts - If your job is to communicate with people, you should always look neat and fresh. Therefore, there should be no less than seven shirts and each of them should be correctly sized. Remember: if you want to keep a thing for a long time, do not wear it all the time.
  • Suits - at least two (light and dark), you can also add one more for special occasions. It is important to know that the bottom of the suit wears out faster than the top, so it is useful to stock up on a pair of matching pants.
  • Ties - one for each working day. Unfortunately, for men, a tie is one of the few means of self-expression in a strict office life. So, you should take this issue seriously.
  • Bag - maybe one, but look chic. You cannot skimp on accessories, as they demonstrate the status and taste of a man.
  • Outerwear - a raincoat for the fall and a coat for the cold season. These things should be gray or black and have a classic cut.

Part two - clothing for leisure time

At first glance, it may seem that the basic men's wardrobe is too extensive. However, it fits perfectly, with the exception of outerwear, in a 20-kg suitcase. This means that you can go on a trip fully prepared for any surprises. A woman's basic wardrobe seems even larger. But this is not at all scary, since the lady does not need to take it with her in full size. No self-respecting female will refuse such entertainment as shopping abroad. Now that she's armed with the knowledge of a basic wardrobe, her shopping will be meaningful and a lot of joy.

I'm still wandering around the back of my brain trying to come up with a handy and easy-to-follow blog post for the immense topic of basic wardrobe. I wanted to continue the tactics of the subject enumeration, and after the bags, gut the shoe shelf. But I realized that first it wouldn't hurt to devote one or two posts to the excellent tedium of more global issues. If only because they will appear constantly. So let's better deal with them right away and live in peace.

One of the main phobias regarding the basic wardrobe is associated with the colors of things in it. I've even gotten used to starting almost every conversation about a base with a promise that it won't be all gray. I will not draw feathers in rhinestones there either, but I can guarantee one thing: you can make the basic wardrobe of even the most "gray" color temperament as cheerful as possible. In short, today is about universal shades.

It was not in vain that I mentioned the color type. Bayan, but still again: the basic wardrobe from person to person differs not only in the list of his personal "universal" things and styles, but also in the color scheme. Therefore, alas, there is no single list of shades that each of us can rely on when compiling its base. And these googling illustrations of the basic wardrobe are an absolute evil for most:

The other extreme is the literal understanding of "one's" color at the base of the base. Because this, for example, is also not a basic wardrobe:

It's just a wardrobe capsule crafted around one particular color. And such a concentrated approach will inevitably lead to an unchanging daily total look. Every day like this - sort of overkill:

Therefore, to create a simultaneously diverse and not boring base, you can and need use almost most of the personal color palette. And she, for a minute, covers all the colors of the rainbow in general, with correction for the color type of a particular person. For example, here is a more or less expanded palette of a girl of a dark, neutral, warm color type:

Everyone will have their own palette, of course. But this fifty-odd shade, in principle, is quite enough to understand the picture of your wardrobe future. At the same time, there is enough for everything: for accents, and for the background, and for the base - even the feathers with rhinestones will remain. The matter is small: to select in a pile those universal shades that can serve for a basic wardrobe.

I must say right away that the base above is not very typical, because it was compiled for a deep flavor in a very creative style. But in any case, from the palette to the basic wardrobe, I usually drag and drop from 50 to 70 percent of the shades, depending on the specific person. And these are not conventionally gray, black or white. I take a little bit of everyone - but only the ones that pass the test with my favorite three rules of #serious dropout.

So. Rule number of times: do not admit white and black to the competition

Well, okay, I bent it a little. Bright and cold color typesmay consider h true textbook white and black as base colors. Actually, because these are two very bright and very cold colors that are able to interrupt the appearance of the vast majority of the Slavic population. After all, many of us, as you know, are distinguished by natural softness of varying degrees of severity.

But this is just closer to the second rule, so let's move on.

Rule number two: basic shades are the most difficult and incomprehensible

This, it seems to me, is a very logical and direct golden rule. The meaning of a basic wardrobe is the ability to easily combine into outfits with absolutely any, even the most extravagant of your acquisitions. In our case today, it is slightly twisted in color.

It is only in the beautiful street style pictures that there is another perfect incredible thing under the most incredible thing - and together they look like an awesome kit. In our harsh reality, at best, you have to spend unplanned money on a "companion", which most often turns out to be completely unsuitable for any other use in the wardrobe. At worst - hysteria in front of the closet on the topic of "nothing to wear" or wear it as it is. All options are not passable.

It is the complex shades that cope best with the task of basic things. That is, those in which several colors are already initially mixed. Because such "incomprehensible" shades in one way or another will overlap with any bright or accent colors of your outfit. And therefore - to create a harmonious inflorescence pleasant to the eye without any mental effort on your part.

Here I will make it clearer with the example of specific shades. In the top row, I placed a simple shade of red that was unsuccessful as a base one, and on the bottom - its more versatile, convenient counterparts.

For myself in the store, I usually recognize the basic shades as follows: if you can't tell the color right off the bat or something with two or three dashes (gray-brown-crimson) starts spinning on the tongue, then the shade is what you need. We take!

For the sake of experiment, you can now imagine your most incongruous item from your wardrobe and "put on" it with something from complex shades, suitable for your color type. Well, can you go out to people?

Rule number three: don't know what to choose - buy the golden dozen

This lifeline in the form of twelve shades, which go to the vast majority of people, has long been replicated on the Internet. Actually, I myself once came across it on the net, but whoever doubted would not believe it. Therefore, I have repeatedly tested on myself and voluntary experimental subjects. Working. Here's the magic layout:

I specially brought the shades with the names, because the color rendition of the screens of our gadgets is better to shoot right away. We will definitely not understand each other and we will all get confused. And the names of the shades will explain a lot. Because the secret secret of universal shades is in their complexity and at the same time mutedness. That is, in fact, these shades are formed mixing different shades plus adding gray... Here's what shit I was toiling last night, for example, I dismembered the aqua color from the diagram above in Photoshop:

Take a look at its composition in the spectrum and the level of gray content. Look, gray not only knows how to muffle any bright color, but at the same time brings it half a step closer to the opposite shade on the color wheel (and such pairs, as you know, create the most curious combinations). In general, all this makes universal colors truly basic and suitable for all color types.

By the way, for complete happiness there is not enough of my favorite bronze shade. And he, too, is such a bridge between different metals, combining all their qualities to a state of universality. Remember I talked about that last time?

Well, here, in fact, are all my color conclusions for today. If you want, you can now make up your own color base at your leisure. If something doesn't work, whistle. Let's figure it out.

In the meantime, I will remind you about beauty quest, which is on your head. I happily catch beautiful painted faces in a box and will do it until Tuesday 17 November... Come on, who have not yet decided on a make-up, go for it. Just Friday-klubatnytsya, there is a reason to create a trend on the face :) Well, where to create, there and take a picture. And if you take a picture, then send it in.