Inductive wardrobing

What do we want our clothes to do for us?

I'm traveling this weekend, and it was with greater-then-usual mindfulness that I packed my suitcase on Thursday night. What was going in the suitcase (actually a tote bag) and why?  Here were some competing priorities that had to be optimized:

1. Fit everything for 3 nights + 3 days into a tote bag.
2. Have suitable outfits for a range of events: two nice-ish dinners out, one meeting with colleagues, running around with kids, airplane travel, etc.
3. Accommodate an uncertain weather forecast  -- maybe rain, maybe cold, maybe hot.
4. Oh, and look nice. Feel fashionable. Feel comfortable. (Are these three mutally exclusive?)

Here's what I ended up with:
Long swirly blue skirt + Blue 3/4 sleeve t-shirt that almost matches it
Brown J.Jill tank + brown button down shirt + cropped brown tencel pants + brown 3/4 sleeve J.Jill t-shirt. ( I wore the pants almost every single day on a 3-week trip to Hawaii - they are awesome).
Two scarves
One red SS v-neck t-shirt

So -

1. It all fit in the tote bag, with room for jammies and toothbrush but not for knitting
2. I was underdressed for my meeting at Duke, but ok for everything else.
3. I've been either cold or hot for most of the weekend.
4. Only comfortable. Not the other two. Also - a lotta brown.

This is when I start to consider the "only one designer" fashion system approach. My sister has promised to write a guest blog post about her transition to "Eileen Fisher only". She argues that it makes both shopping and getting dressed very easy - everything matches/coordinates with everything else, etc. It's so tempting! It also seems to go along with the Real Simple must-haves approach: Follow this set of rules or acquire this list of items and you will have all the ingredients you need. It's both deductive and potentially reductive, right?

I initially thought that Wardrobe Project II (2010) would take that form: Choose one designer (I favor J.Jill or Boden at this point), acquire 3-4 pieces per season, and dump 10-12 other non-compliant items at the same time. It wouldn't take long to do a complete changeover. In reality, I have neither the budget nor the conviction to go this route. Is there another way?

Reading through everyone's comments on earlier posts, I notice:
1. Many of us have decided our wardrobes are blah, boring, tired, lack color.
2. At the same time, we know what we like, what works for us, etc. We have several treasures in our closets that work really well.
3. When we are contemplating the deaccession decision, we're pretty clear about what should stay and what should go.
4. We crave wardrobes that work harder for us, that accomplish some of those intangible transformative functions, but lack time, money, and maybe confidence to acquire those wardrobes overnight.

I also loved Lea's comments about "shopping her own closet" after pulling some pages from the Boden catalog that reflected her concept of what looked good, what would suit her. I totally do "basement shopping" with the kids when the seasons turn, but haven't thought of this cool extension for myself.

So...all of the above has hatched an idea I call "inductive wardrobing".  Can we reflect on what we've got in the closet, what we're drawn to in catalogs or store windows, photographs of ourselves or mirror checks that make us think, "Hey, that  looks good!", and compliments we've received--- and from *those* data draw up a set of principles or guidelines for future purchases, outfit assemblage, or suitcase packing?

I just spent 2.5 minutes sitting with my eyes closed contemplating this, and came up with a few rules:

1. I strongly prefer 3/4 sleeves.
2. I like v-neck tops, preferably in darkish colors
3. Cropped pants rule - better than shorts or long pants
4.  I love Jackie/MadMen era jackets - cropped, big buttons, 3/4 sleeve, interesting collars. Ditto for cocktail dresses.
5. Skirts need to be just at knee or longer, either A-line, bias cut, or narrower if they go with a jacket. Big swirly skirts are ok with a simple, slim top.
6. Sleeveless dresses/tops are *not* so good (Michelle O I'm not). Some exceptions apply, usually if the neckline is interesting, drapy, boat-necky, etc.
7. I favor "ethnic" tops and outfits (Indian mostly)

Could this replace the RS list? What proportion of unsuccessful clothing purchases in the past 10 years could have been avoided if these guidelines were stuck to? (And, related, how much of current wardrobe could be chucked to comply with above?). Also - I realize that I am still basically a color idiot and have no certainty/confidence about what colors work. (Despite my mother & sister's best efforts. Apparently I'm a "spring".)

So -- will you give it a go? Try a 10-minute inductive wardrobing session and tell us what principles/insights emerge!