When most people hear about the ten-item wardrobe for the first time, they think it sounds restrictive. How and why would I want to only have ten core items per season? But what they don’t realize is the ten-item wardrobe is incredibly freeing. How is that possible? Watch today’s video to learn more.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the ten-item wardrobe, here are the Cliff’s Notes:
📍 You curate ten core items per season (if your seasons are similar, you can combine fall/ winter and spring/summer).
📍 Core Items can include dresses, skirts, blouses and pants (jeans or shorts count too).
📍 To round out your ten-item wardrobe and make it wearable, include extras: tee shirts, cardigans and sweaters, outerwear, special occasionwear, shoes, accessories.
📍 Your extras will be customizable and tailored to your lifestyle. For example, if you live in a sunny location near the beach your extras might include lightweight tees, lightweight cardigans, sunglasses, sun hats and strappy sandals.
📍 Store out-of-season clothes to take confusion out of your morning dressing session.
📍 Switch out your items each season to feel as though you’ve gone shopping. Only purchase new items when you have a need in your wardrobe.
For more in-depth study of the Ten-Item Wardrobe, check out my book, Lessons from Madame Chic, watch my TEDx talk, and take my eCourse on the Ten-Item Wardrobe.
How can wearing only ten core items be freeing? Here are just a few ways:
✔️ You no longer have long, indecisive sessions of trying to figure out what to wear.
✔️ You express your true style everyday by wearing clothes that you feel beautiful in.
✔️ You look presentable always and thus, feel more prepared for any circumstance that comes your way.
✔️ You save money because you are no longer aimlessly shopping, buying clothes that you never actually wear.
✔️ Your intentionality with clothes shopping seeps into other aspects of your life as you become more discerning about what you buy.
✔️ Your closet has room to breathe and isn’t a crammed-with-too-many-clothes mess.
✔️ You are not a slave to the trends, but wear your own unique style.
✔️ You get creative about wearing and pairing your ten items with the extras. There is freedom in creative expression.
I hope you enjoy the motivational ten-item wardrobe chat in today's video.
News
📍 Thank you to everyone who has taken my new eCourse, How to be Efficient at Home. I have been overwhelmed with your support! There are currently over 1,000 comments on this new course. I apologize I am unable to respond to each of them but I love reading what you have to say and seeing you connect with fellow Daily Connoisseurs there. The price for the course is still only $5 (the price will be raised to cover costs mid-April). You can access the course whenever you like and re-watch the videos at your leisure.
Toni writes, "Hi Jennifer, I'm a big fan of all of your work; it has been a true blessing to me in so many ways! I have enjoyed all 3 courses thoroughly and I want to say thank you for making them so affordable .I am so glad to be able to support your efforts by purchasing these courses."
Toni, I appreciate your support of my work. I am thrilled you enjoyed all of the eCourses!
On Instagram
Baby Connoisseur and I shared an outfit of the day photo on Instagram. If you don't already follow me there, you can find me @dailyconnoisseur Swipe to the right to see how I wear this pretty look at home :)
Comment of the Week
I received this email from Lou, who writes,
"Dear Jennifer
I am writing to say Thank you.
I had taken my two children (aged 4 & 5) to the library one afternoon, and while they were deciding what to borrow, I sat in a chair in the corner. As I waited, I ran my eyes up and down the rows of books beside me, and my gaze settled on “Lessons from Madame Chic”. The blurb on the back interested me, so I borrowed the book and over the course of the next three weeks, I devoured it from cover to cover four times. This is quite a feat for me, as I have only managed to read a handful of books in their entirety since having the kids.
Through reading your book, you have - in a way - given me permission to live my life in a way I had previously admired but had deemed unrealistic for me.
After reading “Lessons from Madame Chic” I have visited our local art gallery twice - something I had not done since having the children 5 years ago, the radio is now constantly on the national classical station, and I am - every time I can - improving my wardrobe with the goal of eventually loving everything I own.
These little pockets of joy in my every day help energise me for my daily routine, and the joy and energy spill over into other aspects of my day.
So, Thank you, for unlocking whatever mind-block was keeping me from living an elevated life.
Kind Regards
Lou"
Lou, your testimonial brought me so much joy. I really appreciate you reaching out to me and telling me how Lessons from Madame Chic has influenced your life. Thank you! You are inspiring to all of us!
I would love to hear other ways in which you find the ten-item wardrobe to be freeing. Let us know and your comment could be chosen as comment of the week on The Daily Connoisseur.
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I really like your message of always looking presentable. You just know that the one day you run out of the house for a quick errand in old sweats or whatever, that will be the time you run into someone from school, a neighbor, or someone from your husband's work!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, before I started using your 10 item wardrobe system 4 years ago now I had more than 50 dresses in my wardrobe. Now I have three or four depending on the season. But I still look great I just spend a lot less time and money doing it! This spring summer is so exciting to me because, I decided that my children will have 10 item wardrobes as well! I have always been passionate about clothing, but never thought that I could afford anything high quality until I realized I didn't need a whole lot of quantity. ♡
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ReplyDeleteI started using your 10-item wardrobe system in 2015, and immediately noticed a boost to my self-esteem. It was so easy to put together my outfit for the day. The system is also easier on the budget because one carefully reviews last season's clothes and the needs going forward. This year I've successfully lost a few extra pounds which means a change in clothing size... that's a good thing. I've had more success this year using Pinterest to organize my capsule wardrobe by season and category (section). I think the core pieces will be pretty close to 10. You are always an inspiration. I have received more complements since following your system. Now that my husband and I are retired, I tell my husband let's both look presentable always as we go about our day having fun together.
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ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer, my comment is long overdue, but I just want to say that you are such an inspiration! Within the last month, I have rebounded with you, cleaned my junk drawer, and read a novel! My wardrobe is definitely not 10 items, however I have donated a huge chunk of clothes and am definitely more discerning when I shop. I have recently determined that I am a "winter" according to seasonal color theory (based on my eye, hair, skin color) and so I just purchase clothes that are of my color palette. That helps to narrow down my choices.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I must mention that at your recommendation I purchased the Kamedis eczema cream for my 4-year-old son and it has helped him tremendously. Thank you, thank you!
Anon- I totally agree! Who hasn't been in that situation. It helps to look presentable.
ReplyDeleteMadeofmydreams- Yes! That's wonderful!
Denise- Thank you! I love that it boosted your self- esteem! Another benefit!
Erica- thank you so much. And I am so happy that eczema cream helped your son! That makes me so happy!
Jennifer, you have a huge legion of fans and I've been one of them for a number of years now, probably since 2013. So, I’ve been dancing around the actual ten-item wardrobe even though I’ve been embracing the concept for years. I have my main core items, but I keep everything else in the walk-in closet.
ReplyDeleteSo, this is where it gets confusing and tempting. How do you incorporate the extras? Are they nearby in storage bins or hung?
I think that I’ve "partially embraced" the ten-item wardrobe and use a set of core items, but I leave the other unused pieces of clothing in my walk-in closet (one example would be having a black Real Simple multiple pants hanger that holds four pairs of slacks). I want to have that completely "freeing" feeling and it's probably true that having the other clothes I'm not using is a distraction. Being in Southern California, so many items can work between various seasons. Any tips on storage and visually seeing the "extras" so that it truly does feel like a ten-item wardrobe? I love the idea of being able to "express true style every day and look presentable always." Knowing that I feel prepared for anything that comes my way, is such a wonderful way to live. I want to improve on the way I've been doing your ten-item wardrobe and fine-tune this. I often wonder what happened to some of those pretty pieces of yours from several years ago and if they're hung elsewhere, stored or donated. Thank you, Jennifer. I'm a huge fan.
The 10 item wardrobe IS restrictive but that's exactly what makes it freeing. It's like getting the parameters for a creative project or job. Once you know the brochure, for example, you're being hired to write/design must be four pages long, must fit into a specific style of literature rack, and can't cost more than $X to produce and print, all the other possibilities have been eliminated and you can get to work doing the best you can within the requirements.
ReplyDeleteRules, guidelines, parameters can make moving forward easier. They reduce decision fatigue by eliminating the whole world of possible options. Some people love having unlimited options and are good at making quick decisions and moving on. Some people are not.