Like Crazy Fashion Vibes

(Outfit 1)

(Outfit 2: Same skirt and tights as Outfit 1)

I'm in the process of moving, which means I'm in the process of feeling pretty letdown with myself for my dirt person consumerist scum habits. So much STUFF! And clothes specifically. I go through periods of experimentation where I try to find my own personal style with a lot of error. I try different trends, am happy for a couple months and then disaffected soon after. Then I say to myself, "I don't need to limit myself to any one style, my style is eclectic! I can look like a young 1960s mother-of-two one day and a punk-goth librarian the next!" So I'd accumulate more clothes because anything goes. And as a frequent and avid thrifter, I fall into the trap of buying anything and everything because it's cheap and feeling over-confident about wearing wacky statement pieces in the store, but never being comfortable and brave enough to actually wear them. 

 (Outfit 3)

(Outfit 4) 

(Outfit 5: Same as Outfit 3)

The idea of minimalist living has appealed to me for a while now. And I've succeeded in certain areas of my life, like reducing my book collection down to about 50 and a very simple hair and makeup routine. What I still struggle with most is home decor knick knacks and clothing. My wardrobe is something I really want to tackle because I will be graduating from college in 3 days (!!!) and moving on to a new stage of my life (perhaps one of young professionalism). And I really just want to get in tune with and really discover what the essence of my personal style is and to simplify my life. I want to stop being paralyzed by choice when I'm getting dressed, and I want to stop spending money I don't have on short-term and emotion-based affairs with clothes. I learned of movements like Project 333 where you choose 33 items from your wardrobe and you can only wear those items for 3 months. There are a number of good videos on YouTube about minimalist wardrobes, but not enough! I really want a lot less items but I want each item to be ones I absolutely love. 

(Outfit 6: Same skirt as Outfit 3 & 5)

Shopping for a minimalist capsule wardrobe is all about the planning. I want to put a lot of thought into identifying what I want my style to be and the key pieces that I'll need so I don't overspend and overbuy things that I won't end up wearing. I want my wardrobe to consist of all of my favorite outfits. After a lot of thinking and search for inspiration, it came to me out of the ether like in a dream: Anna from Like Crazy. 

(Outfit 7)

Like Crazy is one of my favorite films and I remembered how much I had drooled over Anna and her wardrobe. It was so simple, pretty, and effortlessly chic the way that a lot of European women are. It's a wardrobe that really resonates and feels right for me, and not like I'd be playing dress up in someone else's clothes (which can be fun, too!) So I rewatched the film, this time chronicling (almost) everyone of her outfits. What's perfect about Anna's wardrobe is that it seems to resonate with the minimalist ideal and accurate to real life in that she wears many of the same items over and over, mixing and matching in different ways. You don't always see that in films. And I love that the actress, Felicity Jones, who plays Anna worked with the film's costume designer to shop for Anna's wardrobe and even wore some of her own clothing. 

(Outfit 8)

(Outfit 9)

(Outfit 10)

It was really great and helpful to see Anna's wardrobe evolve so gracefully throughout the film, from college student to young professional while staying true to her personal style. It felt very natural. She mostly keeps it simple with a-line skirts and tops that are easily mixed and matched with flats, and her work wardrobe consists of a lot of basic tops and midi-length skirts and simple dresses. I have so much sweater envy over the grey one she wears. And her very last outfit with the stripes slays me. 

 (Outfit 11: Same pants as Outfit 10 and similar shirt to Outfit 2)

 (Outfit 12)

 (Outfit 13)

(Outfit 14) 

(Outfit 15)

My plan is to be patient and take as long as I need and to check at as many different stores as necessary until I find the perfect piece for each item that I want to have in my wardrobe. And as queen of online shopping, I will try to only shop in stores to make sure that I'm buying clothes that feel good and that fit me well. I'm also going to try to see what I can find at various thrift, vintage and consignment shops first to save money and retain a sense of uniqueness to the items I find before looking at places like Marshalls, Ross, Target and then as a last resort, places like H&M. In one of the videos I watched on minimalist wardrobes, someone said that it's about putting more work into shopping so that you can simplify the process of getting ready in the morning. 

I'm not sure how to end this post. Okay bye.