major wardrobe purging

pam's lina rennell top

ratita's tsumori chisato top


carissa's repetto flats

genevieve's corso como riding boots

pam's T by alexander wang dress


laws of general economy has a ton of awesome items available nowadays from a lot of our favorite designers including a.p.c., dace, repetto, lina rennell, mociun, and T by alexander wang.

i am also in the process of ruthlessly cutting my wardrobe down to size. as much as it hurts me, if it doesn't fit or isn't being worn, it's time to say goodbye. pieces include the dace molly rain jacket, mociun ikat tie-front dress, two a.p.c. dresses, and a skirt by uniform studio.

laws of general economy--spring cleaning

i'm slowly going through my closet, looking for ways to streamline it (and justify new purchases). there are a few new things posted including three of my steven alan tops, a pair of radcliffe jeans, and an adorable marni bag.

new items in laws of general economy blog

lots of lovely new things posted in the clothing blog. since most of them were quite expensive, i am asking for more than the shipping costs alone (but no more than 10-20% of what i originally paid). i am feeling super guilty about how much money i've spent over the years on clothing. the economy stinks and we're all feeling the bank account pinch. i'm sure we all have clothing in our closets that we don't wear but hate the idea of 'losing' money on in ebay. my solution is to meditate for a long time on why i bought the item, why it hasn't worked out for me, and then try to let go of the annoyance about how much money i spent on it. if someone else can love and wear it, then that makes me feel a little better. these new pieces of clothing are things that i could probably sell on ebay, but for insultingly low prices. therefore, i'm posting them on the blog first. if there are no takers, maybe i'll meditate a while longer before deciding whether or not ebay should take a cut of the 'profits.' if anyone else wants to join in on the fun (i.e. clearing out the closet), email me...


two blogs inspiring me to do better:
stephanie and her amazing imaginary outfits. why buy when you can make believe?
editor and her disciplined and thoughtful approach to structuring a wardrobe.

clothes swap party idea

all photos by stephanie


stephanie of even*cleveland has been hosting clothes swap parties, which of course makes me wish i lived in cleveland so i could participate. from handmade invites to tasty snacks and a boutique display sensibility, even if you came away empty handed, it would still make for a lovely party. on this blah holiday monday (i'm stuck in my basement library carrel...), thoughts turn to neglected and unloved clothing in my own closet and a need to throw a party.

ella moss top

i bought this at barneys coop a few years ago and wore it enough to throw it in the wash a couple of times. for some reason, this neckline does nothing for me, and i've grown to dislike banded hems. anyway, what drew me to the top initially was the green melange fabric. i seem to remember reinforcing a seam once, but now i can't find it. anyway, this top has mini fuzzies (you know how these poly-rayon blends can be), but overall, they blend into the fabric coloring.

size S
measurements (lying flat)
shoulders: 12"
chest: 14.5"
hem (unstretched, but very stretchy): 13.5"
length from shoulders: 21.5"


Monica W!

grey ant top

i bought this grey ant top last summer at raye in houston. i've learned that shopping while traveling often leads to buyer's remorse. i love the top, but it's one of those wardrobe pushers that never worked. it's made of a really interesting seersucker-like fabric, with an extremely wide neckline, triangular cut out in front, partially slit sleeves, side vents, and the most comfortable loose fit ever. that said, i never felt like 'me' in this top, so i only wore it twice.

i just gave it a hand wash and will do a gentle ironing before i ship it.

size small (very loose fit, will work for a variety of body types)
measurements (lying flat):
shoulders: 16"
bust: 21"
length from shoulders: 24"


Stephanie!

marimekko top

this was the first top i bought with my hard earned paycheck in seattle. unfortunately, i haven't worn it since 2004. marimekko has the best prints and fabrics, and this top is perfect for the summer. not too-plunging v-neck, loose fit, flounced hem, and side zipper.

size 6 (runs small, better suited to a 4)
measurements (lying flat):
shoulders: 13"
bust: 16"
waist: 15"
hem: 17.5"
length from shoulder: 21"


Aftermath, of course!

miu miu pencil skirt, fall 2005 RTW

miu miu black wool pencil skirt with cosy paisley appliques and pockets, worn once. i tried selling this on ebay for $85, but there were no takers (sigh). i love this skirt, but i guess i'm not really into narrow pencil skirts. plus, it's still a bit snug in the hips (learning to accept my body is part of this project).

made of the softest virgin wool, fully lined, small slit in the back, and oh so chic!


italian size 40
measurements (lying flat):
high waist: 13.5"
hips: 18"
hem: 16.5"
length: 27"


Leanne!

blissen wallet

you probably know by now that i buy a lot of clothing. during the next two days i will be giving away some of my nice, gently worn/used things. they make me wish i had a sister to share my clothing with.

my blog is about sharing lovely ideas. so, if you have been lurking, please introduce yourself so i don't feel like i'm giving my things to strangers who are simply passing by.

if anything tickles your fancy, do leave a comment. i will pick a name at random for each item on monday. all i ask is that you reimburse me for shipping costs ($4-8).







a barely used Jill Blissen sheet wallet. i bought it in seattle a while ago, but ended up using a different wallet. it is made of recycled sheets and can be thrown into the wash whenever it gets dirty. it has a small hole at the fold, but this doesn't detract from its functionality.


Joanna!

demylee sweater and lotta jansdotter bags

demylee cashmere boatneck sweater, barneys coop. another present from mom.


i have these linen lotta jansdotter bags that i bought on ebay. i ended up buying a lot of ten for the price of one. they're perfect for a paperback, wallet and keys. i have three in the brick red and one in the slate blue left. if anyone wants me to send them one (free of charge), let me know.
UPDATE: all gone!

spring cleaning = wardrobe purge

every season the wardrobe purge happens.

i have a few criteria for deciding which items are donated.
1) have i worn it in the past 2 years?
2) does it have sentimental value?
3) was it a gift from my mom / will she notice if it's no longer there / will i feel guilt either way?
4) will i lose enough weight to wear it in the next year?

i forgot to document each item that i'm throwing out, but here is a sampling:

camper mary jane heels in tan and periwinkle
anthropologie turtleneck sweater with intarsia of wolves and pine trees
tomato red ella moss cargo capri pants
tocca psychedelic print boatneck sleeveless top
jcrew strappy wedge sandals that always make me twist my ankle
anthropologie hooded sweater coat with giant patchwork flowers
ella moss periwinkle corduroy skirt
la made puff sleeve black t shirt

my goal is to slowly weed out all the things i don't like, buy fewer items each season (especially shoes), and hopefully these wardrobe purges won't be so depressing. everyone makes poor decisions about clothing purchases or changes enough over the years to no longer want to be that person who used to love those skirts and sweaters. but i really hate the idea of cheap disposable fashion because it implicates us in this crazy capitalistic game of exploitation, pollution, and short attention spans. the thought of throwing away clothing after a season or two is really repugnant to me. yet somehow over the past two years i've accumulated four pairs of ballet flats. granted they're all different, but why do i need four pairs? i feel like a well-edited wardrobe is an indicator of how well you know yourself. right now i feel like i'm a pretty messy, redundant, and indecisive person.

estimated amount spent on clothing and shoes--$900