Bookworm Cottage Style

My husband was placing an Old Navy order recently and asked if I wanted to add anything to the cart. Ever since Zac Posen took over as the creative director at Gap Inc. in 2024, their items have been SO good. I have been absolutely LOVING my brown polka dot linen blend pants (pictured above), my comfy white tee shirt (also pictured above), and my new denim shorts, so I went to see what other colors were available for those items. 

But then I remembered a tip that’s been on my mind lately and I stopped myself.

“Just because you love something and wear it a lot doesn’t mean you need more of it. Wear the one thing and only buy something new if you have a hole, an actual thing you need,” Grace Atwood shared after working with stylist Kelly Klein. In other words, if two items serve the same purpose, you don’t really need both.

Historically, this has not been a strength of mine. My entire striped tee shirt drawer is awash in multiples (from three different colorways of Alice Walk, to doubles of Kule, Everlane and Old Navy). Of course it’s wise to invest in pieces that you’ll actually get a ton of wear out of. I wear striped tee shirts at least three days a week, so it makes sense to have several of those rather than a silk blouse I’ll wear once in a blue moon. In some ways, it is a nod to the style uniform approach of people like Ina Garten. They know what works (in her case, dozens of similar custom-made denim button downs) and don’t see the need to make things complicated. 

Nonetheless, if you are looking to refresh your look and have a little fun with styling, buying a duplicate of something you already have is not going to move the needle. While having different colors of the same silhouette gives you options, it really doesn’t add a lot of variety to your wardrobe since the pieces play the same role. When new trends cycle in, this can leave you in a tough spot. I know from experience!

My prime shopping years were in the late 2000s and early 2010s, when slim styles dominated. I had a slim fit J.Crew button up shirt in at least a dozen different patterns and colors, which I dutifully paired with big statement necklaces and skinny jeans. When the 2020s ushered in higher rises, wider cuts, and boxier, cropped silhouettes, most of my closet felt dated seemingly overnight. I was glad that I had a few different clothing items to mix in, but it was a learning experience of not putting all of my eggs in one fashion basket, so to speak.

As I’ve been getting dressed the past couple of months, I’ve tried to identify wardrobe holes. In other words, pieces that I don’t have that could transform the look. For example, all of my flats and sandals are neutral. I love the idea of incorporating a contrasting pop of color via footwear so I’ve had my eye out for candy-colored flats (like these) and am trying to prioritize those over any neutral shoes that also catch my eye.

I’ve also started to try to be more mindful about not buying the same item in different colors. Instead, if I want a similar item in a different color, it might be a good opportunity to explore a new-to-me brand or cut. That way if I fall out of love with the original piece, I have something else to work with.

My closet is very edited. Having an overwhelming wardrobe is not a problem I struggle with, at least not right now. But it never hurts to be a more conscious consumer!