Clothes tracking

c l o t h e s t r a c k i n g

OUTFITS Images by Mitchell Feinberg

i n t r o Over the course of a week I will be tracking what I wear daily in the hope to notice patterns, trends or systems within my clothing. The specific method to track these choices uses both photographic and written formats which will be recorded in the evening allowing me to make changes throughout the day if need be. Additionally information such as how many items I wear each day and whether acitivites I planned to persue that day had an impact of my outfit choice, will also be noted.

On the following page is a write up of my clothing habits. It considers my attitude towards disposing of garments, what my wardrobe consists of and what I spend my money on.

When it comes to my wardrobe, generally it runs through one spectrum, a spectrum that showers you with different shades of monochrome. Despite the lack of colour, there certainly isn’t lack of items… However I can proudly say I have fewer items in my closet than at least one of the boys in my house.

When is comes to buying, I do add to my wardrobe quite frequently, this is probably the case with most fashion students. When you’re passionate about an industry, that industry often consumes a lot of your money, purely because you receive a slight sense of happiness when buying into it. The frequent purchases I make are generally made at cheaper stores like H&M or Primark because I am on a student budget after all, however there is the rare occasion that I purchase from higher end high street shops like Topshop and Zara, and if this is the case it is usually for longer lasting items like coats, jumpers or possibly shoes. A pattern I’ve noticed is when shopping at the cheaper stores it’s mostly for tops and trousers, which, is good considering that is, mainly what my wardrobe consists of. The reason for this habit is due to the fact that I feel the cold easily so often have to layer up, or down if I’m in my flat! This is something I would recommend doing. These garments that we layer under our coats don’t last half as long, possibly due to discolouration because of perspiration or just because they are worn more, so saving the extra £10 is definitely worth it!

A saying I will always stick by is a clean environment, a clean mind. This includes my wardrobe. Living at uni half the year and then at home the other, means only some of my clothes are needed in one place at a time. For example in the first term, starting in September, I haul all my autumn/winter items in my case and leave any spring/summer items behind. Then when it reaches Easter, I exchange my winter pieces for some lighter and cooler items as we reach the hotter temperatures. This, along with my limited colours means that I can mix garments through seasons, some of which will be worn throughout all, and they should hopefully have a longer lifespan.

No matter whether you buy one item a month or twenty, caring for your products is essential as it has a dramatic affect on the lifespan of them. This along with how you get rid of old garments is important when it comes to the environment. Most of the time I do two washes a week, a light and a dark. Washing clothes too much can lead to discolouration that is what usually happens with TOPSHOP JEANS and now I don’t wear them! I was surprised when I got to uni at how many people didn’t know how to wash clothes. To me, separating into different washes is important as mixing items, particularly brand new ones, can often lead to unwanted stains and unwanted stains are worthy of leaving the house. Besides this, I am always sure I hang or fold all my clothes. Like I said, a clean environment is a clean mind so I always try and keep my room tidy and clothes away from the floor. Being hung and folded how clothes should be should also lengthen their lifetime.

Finally when my clothes really come to the end of their lifetime and I’m sure they have nothing left for me then I dispose of them effectively. This usually involves passing them down to my sister or selling them on sites like Depop or eBay. However after my sister has rummaged through the bag and I’ve given up with eBay, I leave the bag for my parents to pass onto their friend who sets up the jumble sale or they are left in a charity bag to be picked up.

Day 1 - Monday

d a y Today didn’t involve doing much but I was still determined to get out the house and get to the gym. I dressed myself in gym gear for just a casual day wondering around town followed by the gym.

Over the past year, athleisure wear has now progressed into people casually wearing work out wear, especially when they have few plans for the day. In my opinion the concept behind the trend is ironic. I feel people wear these items because they’re easy and comfy but also saves them changing when going to the gym, implying a hint of laziness. However the clothes were originally produced for working out, meaning the consumer wouldn’t be perceived as lazy.

Day 1 - Monday

1 Items: Nike Pro Leggings Nike Juvenate Trainers Hollister Pink Sports Vest H&M Black Sports Bra

Day 2 - Tuesday

d a y

Items: Topshop Inside Out Jumper Asos Ribbed Trousers Primark Ribbed Socks

Day 2 - Tuesday

2

I spent the start of the week relaxing and preparing for the work I had to do before starting module 2 of this year. Most of the day was consumed by organising and sorting through my things for the up coming semester and most of which didn’t involve leaving bed. However I still showered and got changed into some comfy gear for the day.

A lot of the comfy clothes are often unflattering on the female body, some, like the jumper featured in one of the pictures, can be worn unisex but is sold in the women’s section of Topshop. This has been a rollercoaster in the fashion industry where androgyny comes and goes. At the moment the direction fashion is going in is one where we’re adapting clothes to quite often suit both genders.

Tuesday

wednesday

Day 3 - Wednesday

d a y After going to town in the morning, I later worked for a few hours today. I tend to get quite hot while working but because I swap from being inside to outside often, I had to dress practically for both temperatures. I wore my culoettes with a high neck vest and my topshop biker jacket over the top. I then paired this with my Nike trainers.

Biker jackets will probably always be a staple in autumn/winter for womenswear. Multiple zips with assystemical patterning was popular in 2015. The fur also, however most were seen with fur or wool on the outer layer.

Day 3 - Wednesday

3

Items: Primark Black Ribbed High Neck Vest H&M Culottes Nike White Tennis Classic Trainers Topshop Black Denim Biker Jacket

Day 4 - Thursday

d a y

Items: ASOS Two Layer White Shirt Topshop Black Ripped Jeans

Day 4 - Thursday

4

Minimalism has been incoporated into different sectors of fashion. Garments with a minimalist look tend to have little colour and shape or silhouettes. Along this trend, the geometric print pattern has been adapted to adjust silhouettes of garments, e.g my assystemetrical two layer white shirt.

I mixed this white shirt with my ripped jeans to produce a more casual and effortless look and feel.

Day 5 - Friday

d a y

Items: Zara Basic Striped Tee H&M Trousers Nike Trainers

On a trip to the coast Coco Chanel was inspired by the sailors clothing, from this she designed a striped top for the ladies which later became known as the Breton top. This look was worn a lot by the French and has become known as part of the Parisian style.

Adapting from the original stripes became new waves of different colours and different widths. The grey and navy stripes are tone the outfit down but still portray a sense of chic.

5

Day 5 - Friday

Friday

Day 6 -Saturday

d a y Items: H&M Culottes Topshop Ribbed Black Metalic Vest H&M Heeled Boots H&M Oversized Coat

Saturday

6

Day 6 - Saturday

Minimalism is often reflected through its limited colour palette. There is suggestions that when minimalism popularised in the UK it was reflecting the current economic state, a dark time for thr country. Despite the economic state improving, the trend has stuck and is still extremely worn by many. Brands like Victoria Beckham has encouraged this trend but also applied twists to keep the look interesting, this involved adapting silhouettes and playing with proportion.

I was meeting friends for coffee and then heading out for dinner later that night, I felt this was appropiate for the occasion and the season.

sunday

Day 7 - Sunday

d a y

Day 7 - Sunday

7

I paired my classic chequed pyjama bottoms with a grey cocoon neck jumper, something of which is a dominant trend this autumn/winter. The cocoon neck, inspired by nature is suppose to represent the rest and recovery stage after exercise. This reflects my day perfectly as my Sundays are for relaxing and resting before the week ahead of me.

“

the way we dress is fundamental to our self expression

”

To Die For. Is Fashion Wearing Out The World?

Lucy Siegle