The cull diary

I've decided to keep track of what I cull and why, to better remind myself when shopping why I shouldn't buy that less than perfect piece. Who knows, maybe this list will help you too in re-assessing the stuff in your wardrobe?

I'm also going to prepare a back dated post summarising all the previous pieces I have culled (since starting this blog).  There is a lot.  It's a wonder I even have any clothes left to wear... but I do. Still too many.

Item culled	Approx. wears	Reason for eradication
Black suede ankle boots (mid-range brand)	1 SHOPPING FAIL	Love the design but too high and improperly balanced for me. They were bought on sale, so I should re-coup most of their cost on eBay... IF they even sell.  A waste of time purchase.
Beige platform pumps (designer)	2 SHOPPING FAIL	I enjoyed buying them, but my feet have not enjoyed wearing them!  Each time I have worn them I have half crippled myself.  They are much too high... 13 cm or 5 inches to be exact.
Brown platform pumps (designer)	5	Not worn enough to justify a place in my ideal wardrobe.  I have other brown heels which I prefer to wear over these.
Black velvet blazer (mid-range brand)	4	Really gorgeous, very Gucci, but too small now... it has been for years, yet it still hangs in my wardrobe. Why? It actually came with matching velvet skinny pants (already culled years ago). I wore the suit to a wedding once and literally every second person commented how amazing the outfit looked on me (*sigh* ... those were the days).
Cream silk linen suit - jacket and skirt (designer)	4	The skirt is the wrong cut in that it’s really too short for corporate/office wear.  I think I've only felt it to be appropriate during extreme heat conditions... that’s really saying something. This is not a shopping fail, because it's actually quite lovely, just not suitable for my lifestyle.
Black suit - jacket and skirt (designer)	Well worn	Too small now, but thoroughly enjoyed wearing it whilst it fit.
Black blazer/jacket (chain store label)	2 SHOPPING FAIL	The cut is not right and not what I was looking for, yet I still bought it.  For two years it has hung there mocking me and my inability to say "no, it's not perfect" when shopping.
Multi-colour silk top (designer)	5	It’s really beautiful but it’s the wrong cut and the heavy beading detail on it annoys me each time I wear it.
Black pencil skirt (chain store label)	Well worn	It’s a little too fitted now and now I find that the split at the back is cut too high.  Each time I wear it I am convinced that the people behind me can see my bottom, causing me to constantly check whether the airy feeling is due to the skirt tearing. Truth is - people can't see my butt and the skirt is not torn... it's just not the right cut for my bootylicious body shape!
Cream silk shirt (designer)	Well worn	Too small now but besides, it's seen better days.

TOTAL ITEMS CULLED OVER THE WEEKEND: 12

I can actually hang hangers comfortably on the top rail in my wardrobe now.... but I can't keep up with the eBay listing!  Add to this - I've inspired my mum to cull and each time she visits she brings a bag of clothes for me to sell :)

Items I enjoy wearing vs those that drive me mad

I'm trying to sort out in my head the types of clothes I should be buying and those that simply won't get worn - no matter what label, how cheap or how expensive...

Items I enjoy wearing

1. SKINNY JEANS.  I wear these only on weekends and on causal days as I work in a corporate office. I'm especially partial to Nudie High Kais as there is nothing worse than sitting down in the vicinity of another human being and exposing one's plumber's crack.  Unfortunately, my pair is a tad too small now, so a little diet and exercise is required.  On a side note I've noticed that Nudie Jeans Co have recently reduced their RRP for this style in Australia - $199, down from $240... Not quite inline with US RRP but getting there.

2. BOOTS. In all shapes and forms.  I have many that I don't wear anymore because they are too high and make my feet very unhappy.  I have recently sold a few pairs and there are more which need to go and others which will be donated to charity once I bring myself to part with them (yes, I'm suffering from wardrobe culling denial again).  Something tells me that time is now, given this week's outrageous boot splurge (post in the works).

3. BIG HANDBAGS. Especially for work. It's not like I carry around everything but the kitchen sink - but I like having the option.  Importantly though, the bag needs to fit A4 in case I need to take work home with me.

4. DRESSES. What's not to like about putting on a single item of clothing and being most of the way dressed?  70% of the time I am wearing a dress.

5. LEATHER JACKET. I can tell I enjoy wearing mine because it's literally falling apart before my eyes *sad face* (I've owned it for many years).  A new jacket will me on my US shopping list when I visit in the new year. 

Items I dislike wearing 

1. LOW RISE PANTS. I'm going to drive home the point. There is nothing worse than 'muffin top' and plumber's crack!  I get both when I wear low rise pants.

2. TIGHT TOPS/DRESSES.  Although I'm not over weight, I'm not skinny. I have a "cute" little pudgy stomach. It's always been there. I feel self-conscious when I wear tight fitting garments. So much so, I own a pair of Nancy Gantz for those occasions when I wear tight dresses ;)

3. VERY HIGH HEELS ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS. I used to be one of those girls who wore high heels to work EVERYDAY.  I felt like the biggest dag in flats. Neighbours would comment that they knew my comings and goings because my heels would click clack on the footpaths. Sadly, sometime in the last two years my feet decided not to like high heels anymore (as much as I like them and think they look great), I only wear them when I go "out" now.

4. COTTON SHIRTS. Although they look wonderful on - I hate ironing, especially the sleeves!  Surely there is an invention out there to make this job easier!  Having worked in fashion retail during my studies, I found steamers to be quite good. A domesic steamer may be the next appliance on my home shopping list, as I'd love to wear crisp cotton shirts some more.

5. SHORT SLEEVED T-SHIRTS. Although I know this is classed as one of those "classic" items that makes up a basic wardrobe, I've never really found one that fits the bill.  Rather than elude effortless style, I elude the look of I've-made-no-effort. The closest I have come to finding something that suits is the Dion Lee for Cue white tee that I bought a few months back. Not your classic white tee, but a white tee nonetheless - will crack it out come warmer weather.

Items I can't stop buying nonetheless 

The one item on my dislike list that in the past I could not stop buying are high heeled shoes. I may or may not be a bit of a shoe addict... As a result I have quite the collection now! This year in making my ideal wardrobe resolution, I have vowed to myself not to buy anymore.  If the shoe can't be walked in between home and the tram stop - it does not get bought! (There I said it).

Wardrobe Culling Denial

Some of the thoughts I have found myself thinking when attempting wardrobe culling in the past:

1. I'm going to keep it in case it fits again. In fact I'm sure I could do it up if I buy a minimizing bra!

2. I'm going to keep it because I might finally buy something that will actually go with it. It's a daggy prairie skirt that I bought in 2003 - but fashion is cyclical, right?

3. I'm going to keep it because it will be good for wearing around the house... when bleaching the bathroom for example...

4. Although I have never worn this, there is no way I can get rid of this because I paid way too much for it... (even though I am filled with great regret each time I open my wardrobe and see it hanging there).

5. I haven't worn this in years, but I might wear it again... maybe?

Pieces I've worn to death this Winter

Although I clearly do not have a minimalist wardrobe (!), I certainly have been very minimal in my dressing over the past 6 months... and it hasn't really been by choice, more by reason of circumstance.

These are some of the pieces that I have worn a lot over the past 6 months:

By Malene Birger black knit, Country Road beige knit, Country Road black dress, Adam dress, Saba studded bag, Tony Bianco wedge booties, Chloe Heloise (my work bag), Witchery over the knee boots (worn almost daily since I bought them), Country Road jeggings (worn when my black skinny jeans are in the wash) and Country Road biker boots (on their last legs).

Add to this a few pieces that are not pictured including, a black Country Road Scarf, a red Country Road paisley dress, a black Cue knit dress, a pair of Cue black pants, a black Witchery leather biker jacket (needs replacing), black Witchery skinny jeans (need replacing), a black Cue top (that I adore - it will be a sad day when this piece dies) and a black Country Road blazer (needs replacing).

Yes, I wear a lot of black most of the time...

My go-to accessories have been a Cue studded cuff and some nude pink Witchery beads (until the cats destroyed them).

A special mention goes to the Saba studded bag - although a real impulse buy (I bought it to wear to a wedding thinking it would never be worn after that), surprisingly I wear it almost every weekend.

Own collage, images source: Country Road, Witchery, Saba, Net-a-Porter, Tony Bianco

What I wore to dinner last night

In the past (read: pre saving deposit and buying a home) I almost never immediately wore the things I bought unless I bought the item because I NEEDED it (yes, I bought many things I did not need). Needless to say, what resulted was a wardrobe full of clothes with tags still on. I do not want to fall in to this habit again! I really want to make sure that each item I buy will be well worn (apart from the odd special occasion piece).

Casual (but stylish) knits and a pair of blue skinnies have been missing in my wardrobe... hence after buying both items this week I could not wait to wear them.

Images source: Country Road, Witchery and La Gagarconne

I've admired taupey suede ankle boots a la Isabel Marant's "Dicker" from afar for a while now, but I've never been sure whether I could make them work for me (hence I have not invested in the real thing). So when I came across the Witchery knock-offs for a steal, I could not go past them. So far I am loving them. They are very comfortable and provide a nonchalant look...not sure if I'll buy the real thing.