A Minimalist Wardrobe…but not by choice!

Hey everyone! So, perhaps you’ve heard of a new trend in fashion called a “minimalist” wardrobe. It’s an idea to build your wardrobe with a few quality basics rather than lots and lots of “fast” fashion that are inexpensive but usually low quality and trendy so they end up being obsolete by the next year. I laughed when I heard of it because if you are built like me, or really if you’re a size 12 or above, you’ve had this minimalist wardrobe forced on you!

Going very Bright!

Yes, you’ve seen this outfit before. I last styled it here with a necklace instead of the scarf but wanted to show how it can change the look just by changing one accessory. One skill I’ve learned is to change up accessories to change an outfit, since it is so hard to find clothing that works for my body type. If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, and if you continue to read it, you will see items repeated over and over. It’s not that I don’t want to have lots of clothes to choose from, they just don’t make them for my shape.

Going very Bright!

My body goes against everything the fashion industry idolizes and designs for. I am short (5’2″), short-waisted, big-busted, apple-shaped (which means I carry my weight in my torso, mainly stomach), no feminine indented waist (in fact, the opposite), short legs, big thighs, big calves, oh, and I’m old!

Going very Bright!

Yet even working within those constraints, I have still been able to put together outfits that give me a confidence boost and a spring in my step. If I can do it, anyone can do it! If you haven’t read why I’m doing the blog (here) now would be a good time. If you have read it, remember that I have only been figuring out this fashion thing since the fall of 2014, so only two years. A huge part of this journey has been to not blame my body, but to blame the clothes and the designers. I reminded everyone here to think “It’s not me. It’s the clothes.” when they’re in the changing room. If you read the article about Tim Gunn (here), brought to my attention by a reader, complaining that the fashion industry ignores anyone over size 12, then you know it really is the clothes, not your body, that are the problem.

Going very Bright!

Another thing about the fashion industry, that I personally think is outdated, is that it likes to have an air of fantasy or eliteness about it, something us mere mortals should try to aspire to. Believe it or not, in this little corner of the internet, I’ve had to think about that. There are times when I could steer this blog to make it seem like I’m glamorous or leading a fabulous life and everything I wear is fabulous and fits me perfectly. I could touch up my photos (which I never do!) and be one of those places on the internet where you go to dream about “one day I could dress like that”. Well, that is definitely not me and that is not the purpose of this blog. I’m keeping it real. Until the fashion industry recognizes that women come in all shapes, all sizes, and all ages and starts making clothes for this beautiful diversity you will be seeing repeated outfits from my “minimalist” wardrobe. But, rest assured, I will always be presenting reality here in my corner of the internet!

 

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12 Comments

  1. Thank you, Julia, for keeping it real!

    I really love the Tim Gunn interview and article. One point he made has really stuck with me — and that is the way clothing for plus-sized women is segregated away from the “real” clothing. Case in point: my local N Rack. All the beautiful, stylish designer clothing and everyday wear for “regular” women is clustered together in an appealing and attractive way. The plus-sized clothing is in another corner of the store, next to menswear. As Tim said, I’m sure if N Rack sold pots and pans, the clothing would probably be there, LOL! I try to reframe my irritation by saying, hey, I can sometimes wear XL and sometimes 1X, so I have double the opportunities to find something great, but the reality is, both sizes are so picked over and the 1Xs so cheap and ugly, I buy nothing.

    Anyway… nice outfit! Love the colors.

  2. That’s a very nice outfit on you.

    I never would have thought you were 5’2″. You carry yourself as if you were tall.

    Excellent topic!

  3. I hear ya, sister! I’ve been working on building a capsule wardrobe for two seasons now…and my struggle is not keeping it DOWN to a certain number of items, but in building it UP enough to give me a decent amount of outfits.

    A blogger I really like posted videos of her closets. All four of them. I don’t say this in a critical way at all, I’m just like, whoa. All my seasonal clothes fit onto less than 3′ feet of closet rack and in 2 drawers. I’ve never been able to build up a large wardrobe with a lot of pieces. I’m not saying one way is better than the other, just pointing out that she’s a straight size…and I am plus. And the selection is Just Not There for the larger sizes.

    Okay, getting off my soapbox 🙂

    Bettye

  4. Oh gosh, I feel terribly fortunate, having read all this. And I should stop complaining as there is enough for me to buy, which I do. Our house is paid, my husband’s daughter is all grown up and living on her own, I still work full time, my husband is retired and has a good income. I suppose we are rich really, if you look at this. And with size 40, being 5ft74, I should say thanks daily. Please tell me off if I ever complain again Julia.
    I think you do a marvellous job. Both on styling yourself (love this vivid blue and lime, love the bag and scarf) and on trying to change the fashion world. You are very right. They are snobbish and not listening to their clients. You would think companies take this opportunity and fill the gap. Perhaps they will. Hope Fashion is a good start. Have you visited their website? Such nice women too.
    Greetje

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