the very fact that your purchase was so considered is touching. I am trying to break my habit of buying "because of how it makes me feel" over what i need anything. (I don't 'need" anything).
Having given up lots of 'not so good' habits over the last 20 years.. knee jerk shopping was a bad habit learned at the end of the 80's for me (and my mother would always buy loads of tat and then take it back). This is a habit i really need to kick. And also any tips on best places to unload it..
I think they key for me is trying to replace the 'buying' instinct with something else. I've had a couple of pieces in my wardrobe altered which feels like new and I rented a couple of coats too. Deffo start with a good wardrobe clear out - Traid will come round and pick up all your unwanted stuff, you can book a free collection on their website. It feels very cleansing. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Sometimes cutting back the trees helps you see the wood.
I love this! I have the perfect white shirt (for me it’s Frank and Eileen, but it would fail some of your tests). I’ve been enjoying just not purchasing too, but I really really appreciate your thinking so hard about why we want the new things and I think you are right--and also right that we need to replace that feeling with something else. My daughter cleaned out her closet and I took an old sweater of hers, which filled in some of it. And I’m trying to go deeper into my wardrobe and wear ALL my things instead of wearing out a few--especially not “saving” my favorites. Thank you for inspiring me to join this campaign!
Thanks KJ - I'm so glad it's working for you too. I also knicked one of my daughters sweaters and as it's a bright green swirly thing I would never have bought myself I've been getting a real kick out of it. When we lived with friends we used to share wardrobes all the time. We need to do more of this!!
It’s perfection. I went on a similar hunt for the perfect summer pajamas in December. I got so nerdy about the rise of the shorts and the weight of the fabric and the length of the shirt. Ruling out so many (often cheap) candidates made the final selection so much more meaningful. I have very much enjoyed wearing my Tekla organic poplin pajama set this summer (in Australia), and will be excited when they come back into rotation next summer.
Tekla is a fantastic brand! I haven't tried their pyjamas but I love all their sourcing and sustainability comms. We tried to get them to come into the shop in Ibiza as their whole structure is so spot on. Good choice - hope you enjoy them for years to come. (Also PJs such an important thing to get right)
Margaret Howell is my go to brand for classics, I love With Nothing Underneath shirts too and funnily enough was just checking out ELV Denim.. I organise a high end shopping event where I like to support independent brands but also sustainability at the same time.@cotswoldfair
Amazing, tell us more Lucy and maybe we can do an activation there. ELV very cool - obviously also Mother of Pearl. Also check out the jewellery brand Ottolenghi, the girls that run it are amazing
Mar 16, 2023·edited Mar 16, 2023Liked by Tiffanie Darke
Love this shirt! My first item was the blue brushed cotton classic version (bought in Feb 👀) and I am loving it. I am enjoying the Rule of Five discipline so much. It is making me so much more considered about what I consume - both in fashion terms and generally and i also much more in control of my fashion spending too, so multiple benefits. Thank you so much 😀
That's so great to hear! How funny we both went for WNU shirts - I'm sure it's something to do with the fact they are so versatile and well considered.
Ah, but the point is it's not basic. If you are going to buy a white shirt that will last you for the rest of your life - or a good 10-15 years, it needs to be of exceptional quality and the perfect fit. By investing up front, the hope is you don't need to buy cheaply again and again. For not only is that a false economy, it is killing our planet.
How long until any white shirt is pitted out? Truly, that's my point-white shirts should not be the $250 piece in your closet. What you should spend money on is well-fitting shoes, the ones that will last you all your life Exceptional quality and perfect fit clothing is rare, and reminds me more of the yesteryear "dry clean only" clothing. And no, I am not advocating in anyway for fast fashion, I'm sure my shirts are well over 10+ years old, as are most of my jeans, dresses, and sweaters. (I'm 55 and haven't changed size since age 20) But when it comes to heavy use articles of clothing (seriously, 5?), don't break the bank. If you actually do harken back to previous centuries, underclothing layers (and there were many) were made of linen and actually washed quite often. The outermost layers (which did not actually touch the body) were rarely if ever washed and worn frequently (think how you care for your coats and jackets). Of course spend money on things that last. Don't waste money on things you will replace often. Lands End LL Bean and Eddie Bauer (showing my age) all make perfectly fine white shirts that last quite a while and are less than $100
yes you're so right - also Pangaia have come up with this Peppermint oil treatment that means cotton needs washing less. Stella McCartney is a big advocate of not washing your clothes! Agree with you on white shirts - mine cost $100 from With Nothing Underneath. Ive put it in the machine a few times (mostly annoying make up stains) but am dreading the moment I spill something down it. The trousers I just bought were expensive, for reasons of material fabrication and good labour practises. I love to support small independent brands and they dont have the scale to drive down costs. A good white shirt, cut well with thick heavy fabric is a thing worth investing in, I really do believe, but I totallly agree that those pieces we wear all the time need to be durable and practical beyond anything else. Shopping for only 5 things is so much more strategic than I realised!
I got one of those steamery hand held steamers recently and it has been a revelation! Quicker and easier for shirts and makes all your clothes feel nicer too - something to do with it putting moisture into the fabric.
the very fact that your purchase was so considered is touching. I am trying to break my habit of buying "because of how it makes me feel" over what i need anything. (I don't 'need" anything).
Having given up lots of 'not so good' habits over the last 20 years.. knee jerk shopping was a bad habit learned at the end of the 80's for me (and my mother would always buy loads of tat and then take it back). This is a habit i really need to kick. And also any tips on best places to unload it..
I think they key for me is trying to replace the 'buying' instinct with something else. I've had a couple of pieces in my wardrobe altered which feels like new and I rented a couple of coats too. Deffo start with a good wardrobe clear out - Traid will come round and pick up all your unwanted stuff, you can book a free collection on their website. It feels very cleansing. Good luck and let us know how you get on. Sometimes cutting back the trees helps you see the wood.
I love this! I have the perfect white shirt (for me it’s Frank and Eileen, but it would fail some of your tests). I’ve been enjoying just not purchasing too, but I really really appreciate your thinking so hard about why we want the new things and I think you are right--and also right that we need to replace that feeling with something else. My daughter cleaned out her closet and I took an old sweater of hers, which filled in some of it. And I’m trying to go deeper into my wardrobe and wear ALL my things instead of wearing out a few--especially not “saving” my favorites. Thank you for inspiring me to join this campaign!
Thanks KJ - I'm so glad it's working for you too. I also knicked one of my daughters sweaters and as it's a bright green swirly thing I would never have bought myself I've been getting a real kick out of it. When we lived with friends we used to share wardrobes all the time. We need to do more of this!!
It’s perfection. I went on a similar hunt for the perfect summer pajamas in December. I got so nerdy about the rise of the shorts and the weight of the fabric and the length of the shirt. Ruling out so many (often cheap) candidates made the final selection so much more meaningful. I have very much enjoyed wearing my Tekla organic poplin pajama set this summer (in Australia), and will be excited when they come back into rotation next summer.
Tekla is a fantastic brand! I haven't tried their pyjamas but I love all their sourcing and sustainability comms. We tried to get them to come into the shop in Ibiza as their whole structure is so spot on. Good choice - hope you enjoy them for years to come. (Also PJs such an important thing to get right)
Looks like a perfect shirt. Good choice👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you!
Margaret Howell is my go to brand for classics, I love With Nothing Underneath shirts too and funnily enough was just checking out ELV Denim.. I organise a high end shopping event where I like to support independent brands but also sustainability at the same time.@cotswoldfair
Amazing, tell us more Lucy and maybe we can do an activation there. ELV very cool - obviously also Mother of Pearl. Also check out the jewellery brand Ottolenghi, the girls that run it are amazing
Love this shirt! My first item was the blue brushed cotton classic version (bought in Feb 👀) and I am loving it. I am enjoying the Rule of Five discipline so much. It is making me so much more considered about what I consume - both in fashion terms and generally and i also much more in control of my fashion spending too, so multiple benefits. Thank you so much 😀
That's so great to hear! How funny we both went for WNU shirts - I'm sure it's something to do with the fact they are so versatile and well considered.
Yes, I think so.. a proper good wardrobe staple 😀
You're joking at the prices of these basic items...
Ah, but the point is it's not basic. If you are going to buy a white shirt that will last you for the rest of your life - or a good 10-15 years, it needs to be of exceptional quality and the perfect fit. By investing up front, the hope is you don't need to buy cheaply again and again. For not only is that a false economy, it is killing our planet.
How long until any white shirt is pitted out? Truly, that's my point-white shirts should not be the $250 piece in your closet. What you should spend money on is well-fitting shoes, the ones that will last you all your life Exceptional quality and perfect fit clothing is rare, and reminds me more of the yesteryear "dry clean only" clothing. And no, I am not advocating in anyway for fast fashion, I'm sure my shirts are well over 10+ years old, as are most of my jeans, dresses, and sweaters. (I'm 55 and haven't changed size since age 20) But when it comes to heavy use articles of clothing (seriously, 5?), don't break the bank. If you actually do harken back to previous centuries, underclothing layers (and there were many) were made of linen and actually washed quite often. The outermost layers (which did not actually touch the body) were rarely if ever washed and worn frequently (think how you care for your coats and jackets). Of course spend money on things that last. Don't waste money on things you will replace often. Lands End LL Bean and Eddie Bauer (showing my age) all make perfectly fine white shirts that last quite a while and are less than $100
yes you're so right - also Pangaia have come up with this Peppermint oil treatment that means cotton needs washing less. Stella McCartney is a big advocate of not washing your clothes! Agree with you on white shirts - mine cost $100 from With Nothing Underneath. Ive put it in the machine a few times (mostly annoying make up stains) but am dreading the moment I spill something down it. The trousers I just bought were expensive, for reasons of material fabrication and good labour practises. I love to support small independent brands and they dont have the scale to drive down costs. A good white shirt, cut well with thick heavy fabric is a thing worth investing in, I really do believe, but I totallly agree that those pieces we wear all the time need to be durable and practical beyond anything else. Shopping for only 5 things is so much more strategic than I realised!
Just make sure you don’t wash it with a red T shirt. It is washable? Right?
Worse - it needs ironing 😩
I got one of those steamery hand held steamers recently and it has been a revelation! Quicker and easier for shirts and makes all your clothes feel nicer too - something to do with it putting moisture into the fabric.
Love the shirt, great choice!
Oh god I love that idea! Anything but grappling with the ironing board 🤯
Dry cleaners never can beat the laundered ironed shirt joy.
Brilliant! Lmk how you wear it. Going out onight so thinking another button undone, good bra and great necklace