Industrial meets country - dining

Industrial meets country - dining by biscuitmummy featuring an extension table

Glass chandelier, $250 / Laura Ashley horse lighting, $145 / Wall light, $53 / Xhilaration cord light / Patterned rug / LSA International cake serving plate, $120 / Zara Home tea mug / Williams Sonoma extension table / Black furniture / Home wood furniture

Project 333 wardrobe March

Project 333 wardrobe March

First of all, apologies for this being a bit late, but here is my 33 item wardrobe for March (from Polyvore).  Its had a few last minute additions as the weather here in London has suddenly turned freezing and snowy again (please- its March!  Some warmth would be most welcome).  Luckily I'd actually originally planned to 29 items only, so it was easy to add on a couple of things.  You'll notice its not too dissimilar to February in composition - I was hoping it would have a bit more of a springlike look to it by now- but with this weather we are still firmly in winter mode.  Just one significant new addition - my new Whistles dress (the blue and pink patterned one front and centre stage).  Its hubby's birthday tomorrow, so this will be getting an outing.  Can't wait!

I'm finding this 33 item wardrobe idea strangely liberating at the moment, although I suspect as the weather starts changing it may become trickier to cover all the bases.  It has definitely helped me to get rid of a number of things out of the wardrobe - focusses the mind on what really works rather than keeping things just in case.  Last month and this month together I've cleared 40 items out (10 % of my total wardrobe) - with another 12 that need Ebaying when I get round to it.  Slowly and surely.

Would love to know what you think.  Any suggestions of pieces to add?

Project 333 February

Project 333 February by biscuitmummy featuring skinny fit jeans

As promised, here is the core of my February Project 333 wardrobe.  There are a couple of extra items that I haven't included, such as my huge puffa coat which has been worn almost constantly as it has been so cold!  The wrap dress in the top corner is the closest approximation of the actual dress I've been wearing - mine is blue, black and red.  I have worn each of the items pictured here, at least once, and most more than once.  I think it actually looks pretty good set out here like this! 

Here is the full list of things I've included (most of them are from previous seasons so unfortunately I can't add links to where to buy them.  The best approximations I could find are in the Polyvore set).

1. Blue LK Bennett fitted blue jersey dress
2. Monsoon blue and red tunic dress
3. Valentine Gaulthier Navy blue midi dress
4. LK Bennett Black pencil skirt
5. Whistles pink pencil skirt (mine is longer than the one pictured)
6. French connection grey sweater dress - mine has a full skirt than pictured
7. Jigsaw navy silk round neck blouse
8. Zara polka dot blouse
9. French connection black chiffon shirt
10. Black long sleeved t-shirt - relatively fitted and stretchy, more of a base layer
11. Black high heeled shoe boots
12. Black biker/riding boots
13. Leopard print belt
14. Blue patent belt
15. All Saints black skinny jeans
16. Current Elliott boyfriend jeans (the ones I have are the ones in the picture in this case)
17. Orange and navy whistles scarf
18. Uniqlo navy pea coat
19. J Crew orange cashmere sweater
20. French connection parka
21. Zara 60's style black wool coat
22. White company dark grey merino wool tunic top (not pictured)
23. J Crew grey cashmere sweater
24. Ash ankle boots
25. Marks and Spencer heeled knee high boots
26. Jigsaw black and tan striped long sleeve t-shirt
27. Clarks navy blue shoe boots
28. Monsoon puffa coat
29. Next leopard print fake fur jacket
30. J Brand combats (as pictured)

As mentioned before, although the list above is only 30 items (amazing how much it looks!), I have 'cheated' a little by not including jewellery - it would annoy me too much not being able to wear the right necklace for the outfit.

Would love to hear what you think. 

10 Item Wardrobe Challenge

As you know, I’m big on de-cluttering and only keeping clothes that you absolutely love.  But I have recently had a big wake up call that made me think about how ruthless I actually am with my wardrobe, and with keeping only those things that are ‘perfect’.

I was reading Lessons from Madame Chic  by Jennifer L Scott , which is a lovely, frothy little read about an American’s experiences staying with an aristocratic family in Paris, and in there, the chapter that most captured my attention was titled ‘the 10 item wardrobe’.  I was intrigued enough from reading this to check out Jennifer’s blog – which can be found here, in which she has a couple of additional entries about this concept, and  in which shows the viewer her version.

And I started thinking – could I ever make this work for me?  Jennifer admits that Madame Chic, from whom she got the original inspiration, had a very specific and formal style, wearing effectively the same classic pieces all the time.

Jennifer works from home (she is a full time blogger and mummy – lucky girl!) and therefore doesn’t necessarily have the sartorial challenges that come from a sort of high-powered-ish job in the City – combined with mummy days at home.  She also admits she isn’t a fashionista.  I may not be a fully-fledged fashion bunny these days – but I do still love my trends, and playing around with clothes.

So – I had almost decided that it was impossible before I even started.  With my lifestyle challenges effectively necessitating 2 separate wardrobes in any case, a wardrobe which currently runs to about 200 pieces, plus shoes, t-shirts and accessories, and my love of fashion and experimenting, how could I possibly reduce what I have to something so fundamental.

But I decided I would try to pick out those key items which I cannot do without.  Not necessarily a 10 item wardrobe, but at least a list of vital pieces.  A sort of desert island discs of sartorial staples if you like.

And it was illuminating.  The ultimate list was not necessarily the most stylish or interesting list of pieces.  But it did show me what I use most frequently and what I would find it most difficult to live without.

The final list was:

1.     Indigo skinny jeans

2.     J Brand Combats

3.     Grey cashmere v-neck

4.     Navy round neck blouse

5.     Striped gathered sleeve t-shirt top

6.     Black fitted dress

7.     J Crew geometric skirt

8.     lace t-shirt top

9.     black 7/8ths trousers

10.  Zara black puff sleeve jacket

11.  Cream silk shell

12.  Cream beaded cardigan 13.  Navy blue long sleeved jersey midi dress

Not quite 10 items, but nearly.  You’ll notice that coats, accessories and shoes are not included in here – but neither were they in the original challenge.  So not cheating. 

13 item wardrobe by biscuitmummy

I haven’t gone anywhere near reducing my wardrobe down from the 200 items in there, to just these 13 – and I guess that different combinations would be needed for Spring, Summer and Autumn, given the weather challenges in the UK.  But it has inspired me to clear out some more things that just don’t inspire, fit, or suit as I continue to streamline. 

What do you think?  Could you be inspired to shrink your wardrobe by such an extent? 

 

Ladylike chic

Ladylike chic by biscuitmummy featuring kate spade shoes

Here is my first venture into the playground that is Polyvore!  What do you think of my first attempt?