Tuesday, March 5, 2013

On perfection

I have come to realize I'm not a minimalist, not by a long shot. I like the coziness of woolen layers, and I'm an inveterate thrifter. But the past few months have made me a minimalist of sorts, by necessity. (I know I restate this idea in some form every few posts, but I feel weirdly apologetic about it.)

With a partner in graduate school and a constantly growing toddler, there's not much in the budget for clothing. But the thought of turning to mass-produced cheap clothing to fill in any gaps isn't appealing either. And as much as I subscribe to the idea that a well-made item is worth it, and as appealing the idea is of having an entire closet of clothes that may have cost a lot initially but have withstood the vagaries of time and trend, I find it hard to justify when my budget must account for so many other things and my style is in so much flux, post-baby. Both of these factors have prompted me to make use of an unlikely resource, the "community closet" that's open to all residents of the county I live in. It's a way of recirculating goods in the community. I've donated bags of stuff that I felt good about getting rid of, and I've found the bulk of Maizie's winter clothes from there.

It's altered my perspective on consumption. For one, it seriously curtailed my pursuit of the "perfect" version of something. Other than perhaps classic items (like a peacoat), I'm starting to think that perfection doesn't exist. Even classic items have details that may end up dating them, like the rise of the pants or the length of the collar. I've tried to find the be-all-end-all versions of things, but all that that's done for me is fuel the pursuit of More Things. It's quite possible that I just lack discipline or a clear sense of style, but the idea of perfection was for me a fantasy that didn't bring me much closer to a conscientiously edited closet.

My recent foray into buying a suit for my partner has highlighted how difficult it is for anything to be really perfect. Here is an article of clothing purported to be durable and classic, but it seems to take only 10 or so years before it becomes dated. In the thrift stores where I initially searched,  I saw racks and racks of suits with cuts too baggy and long to pass as modern. Or perhaps it was the placement of the buttons or the width of the lapel that gave the suit's age away. Whatever it was, it's clear that even supposedly enduring clothes can end up in the dustbin.

Rather than seeking perfection, I've come to really like the idea of choosing from the "best available." Good enough, just what I need, and I don't need anything more. It's like relying on the largesse of the world to bring around the right thing at the right time.

Anyway, I suppose a shift in my sartorial perspective and personal interests accounts for why this blog will see a change in future posts. I started the blog because the idea of the French Method really appealed to me, and it still does. I think it's an intelligent solution to the problem of overconsumption and under-satisfaction, and it's just fun to meditate on one's purchases this way. But lately I've found myself wanting to post about vintage clothes, thrifting trips, motherhood, photography, wild foods, and and random things from my life. I expect I still will write about style now and again, but I want to make the blog a little more relevant to my life. I know these new topics won't appeal to everyone, but I think it will make the blog feel more true to me. Thank you, sincerely, for reading thus far.

18 comments:

  1. those 'new' subjects sound great to me, bring it on :)

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    1. I'm still mulling over what to share, and what to keep private. It's probably going to be a somewhat random assortment of posts, just like it was with fashion!

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  2. Every point you make rings true, and I must admit that even garments that I once considered to be perfect, over time I have noticed that there are things I would improve upon or would ultimately search for in any future update.

    I'm looking forward to seeing the new direction that your blog moves into, I've always loved your posts and I can't see this changing! x

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    1. The same has been true for me. I feel like I've only successfully found something that was "just so" when I've had to spend a long time with its less perfect cousin. Then I had plenty of time to realize just what I really wanted.

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  3. I can relate to everything that you have written about, except the thrifting. I've also realised that the perfect timeless wardrobe is a mythical anomaly (as much as I wished it wasn't).

    Further, I can't wait to read more about YOU and your life. And please don't apologise about that - it's your blog and you can blog about whatever it is that you like :)

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    1. I've liked the posts about your home, so I take some of my inspiration from that!

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  4. I love what you've written here and completely agree that the search for perfection and the perfect wardrobe can make you want more rather than less ... I also find the whole thing just so frustrating, filling in the gaps that are supposedly missing in your wardrobe ... that endless search for that perfect thing that doesn't at this moment exist (in your budget). I wish that this realization has caused me to consume less, as it's done for you. Instead for me, from what I see available, I get the things I love without much thought about wardrobe planning. You look, you shop, and then you get a moment to breathe because there is no searching and no planning in between all the shopping. Isn't that supposedly the recipe for a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear? I don't know, maybe if you know yourself well enough, you can just trust in your instincts. Excited about the new direction of your blog, btw!

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    1. Oh, I don't know that I'm that much less consumerist than you! I still consume quite a bit, but it's for the shop for the most part. I find that vintage shopping for the etsy shop allows me to still acquire something exquisite and wonderful, and have that flush of pleasure that comes with that, and then I get the thrill of passing it on to someone else and feeling austere and minimalist. lol.

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  5. Don't worry about writing about topics other than style posts - the blog is your personal space and it's for you to develop as you like and see fit - the way your life develops and sees fit. I used to be a lot more idealistic when I was younger but I find life throws you a curve ball when children come along and so I can't dedicate as much time to my previous pursuits and just go with the flow instead. Your style changes as you go through different stages in your life - I personally think it is really difficult to stay static with one look - I go for a mood, a feel for something, or just what I think personally works for me rather than what I think everyone else thinks I should be wearing. On seeking perfection - it is difficult and I think you have taken a sensible and practical stance on this - something should be perfect for you at this moment and importantly ... within your budget. That is what I am always working against. I would like Church's loafers but I can't afford them so I will opt for something on a more affordable level but will fit with my purse strings. I look forward to your future posts - whichever way they go.

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    1. Thanks for your reassurance. I dress for a mood as well, and as much as I love the idea of a uniform, it just doesn't last for me. Though I do have mainstays in my wardrobe that I return to again and again.

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  6. I try not to get in a place where I "search" for something, it's just better to let things happen. At the moment I've gotten into my head I need a small casual leather purse, because I've been borrowing my sister's and would rather have my own...but it's actually kind of tedious to have this "want" hanging all over me and making my crave things.

    I suppose the "perfect" thing might not exist but I've been happy with a certain number of things I've owned for a few years now and I'm wondering if this will change, especially since I consider my style "settled". It brings me back again to my preference for plain clothing because I feel that things with as few details as possible and nothing exaggerated tend to feel more timeless.

    I look forward to whatever you might feel like posting!

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    1. I can see where you might be able to find long-lasting items in your wardrobe. Or, judging by your past posts, variations on a theme! I think it certainly does help to know what details to follow, and what details to leave off, when going for classic looks.

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  7. This exact concept is something I've been thinking on quite a lot recently. Many, many times lately I am settling for "good enough" or "best available" and am finding it actually works pretty well. While I admire those who are able to find their "perfect" pieces, it's not something to which I have a ton of time to devote. If an item happens to come along that I feel is perfect for me--and it's within my budget--then, great, I'll nab it. But searching and searching for the absolutely perfect cut or color shade or some other detail instead of simply making a choice from what's on offer makes style feel more like a chore than a joy. On the other hand, I certainly don't want to spend money on "ok" stuff that I'm never actually going to wear because I don't really like it very much. Learning to walk that line has been interesting.

    I can't wait to see the new direction your blog takes!

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    1. Your description of it becoming a chore instead of a joy is spot on. I find that to be the problem with too much choice. It just becomes less fun!

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  8. I'm inspired by what you've written here. The mass consumerism scares me but that's what all the brands want. A high and quick turnover of goods. I guess we're going against the norm by curbing and thinking hard about our purchases. You're right about motherhood and having a spouse that studies (I'm in the same boat). Frivolity and impulse purchases grind to a halt.

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    1. Thanks for your comment. I was uncertain about sharing so much detail about my life, especially on such a sober note, and I'm glad that there's someone else who can commiserate. The combination of having a family and being in school really does put a lot of frivolity to the side.

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  9. Your words really ring true to me, especially when it comes to the part vintage and thrifting have to play in my own wardrobe as well. Thrift shopping is what threw me off the notion of the French method: I toyed with the idea for long, and realised it simply is not practical as a not so minimalist student. The idea of 'good enough' is almost the only thing you have to fall back on when thrift shopping as most quantifiers (price point, brand, even era) are stripped off the product. When I'm not distracted by those elements, I feel I more often end up purchasing items of a quality I can study, of a fit I'm satisfied with, and that end up being perfect for me even if it's not exactly point for point what I had set up to buy. Plus, I feel that if it's already outdated (although there are trends in vintage, but that's another story), that's one thing less to worry about.

    Also, I may be a new-ish reader, but I'm looking forward to reading you on new topics - good luck!

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  10. "I know these new topics won't appeal to everyone, but I think it will make the blog feel more true to me. Thank you, sincerely, for reading thus far."

    If that means more blogging, then I'm very excited for the "new" direction and I can't wait to see more posts. I feel like most of the bloggers who have been part of this 5 items a season/perfectly edited wardrobe - thing have moved on with whatever that works for them also in terms of the blog topics, and I think that's cool and interesting! For me, the whole search for perfection and 5 items a season thing was just a good starting point.

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