As I wrote about evaluating enough in my wardrobe recently, one sentence seemed to beg for a post of its own :

This idea holds so much meaning for me. My fairdare experiment has involved so much happy discovery + this one feels particularly rich + beautiful.

Changing styles often come down to pretty minimal shifts like skirt lengths​, pant widths + trendy colors. I don't come across much written about this, but I'm wondering if personal style might ultimately be made of similarly small preferences. One can read an article about the ten items needed to have french style or collect photos to inspire goth or normcore style. But that is more about a group aesthetic rather than personal style. Personal style might just be smaller than that.

Deciding that I want to experiment with "less" means that I've spent a bit of time evaluating what I want to wear. I've tried choosing one, closer-to-perfect version of an item rather than having five, imperfect-in-different-ways versions. Living through decades of shifting styles has allowed me to recognize what works on my body + what my eye prefers. Attentive reflection has allowed my time-tested, favorite aspects of clothing to come into focus.

Here are a few examples of my own small preferences:

• I wear high waisted jeans.
• There is a certain length at which I prefer my pants to fall.
• Certain colors do + don't look good around my face.
• I will never not like deep dark indigo blue.
• I like bracelet length sleeves.

• The presence of one lived-in + worn item makes most of my outfits look better.
• There are a few, specific pieces that will always be in my wardrobe.
• A long, loose braid is the hairstyle I've worn most days for the past couple years.

Autumn clothing collections are coming out, and the weather has shifted a bit this week too. I just realized that this is the fourth (!) autumn in a row that has found me with a different job description in a different environment. And so...I'm again thinking through what is enough when it comes to my wardrobe. 

If I don't tune into intention with my wardrobe, my excitement can carry me to acquire pieces I like without paying attention to what I need or what works most effectively with the pieces I already own. This can lead to "needing" to purchase additional pieces to match or being left with holes that make pieces "unwearable". (I'm adding quotation marks, because these statements are merely style + privilege driven.)

My motivation for recognizing "enough" is to consider my impact on farmers, garment workers, a warming planet + all my fellow humans. New clothing requires resources like fibers, land, water, waste, labor, transportation. Holding on to more than I need withholds from others + contributes to those around me feeling that more is necessary. (This is not an endorsement for repeated closet clean outs. It is hope for a movement toward recognizing the beauty of less.) 

A few things I've learned over the years I've been tuned into "enough" (most of it still really surprises me!):

• I care about style, and I can create style without needing a huge collection of clothing.
• Every single season, I realize that I need less than I thought I did at the beginning of the season.
• Rarely do I need more than three of something (work pants, sweatshirts, button ups).
• Mixing + matching offers a lot of variety.
• I know which pieces I like to wear over + over...what feels like me.
• No matter what work environment I find myself in, I usually already have enough to form a sort of work uniform.

I'm asking myself if I can find contentment + confidence in knowing + committing to my personal style...a set of styles, colors, pieces I feel best in.

And so, rather than starting by scrolling fall collections or assembling pinterest boards (both of which I love doing), I start in my own closet. I pull out pieces that I can wear in the next few months, put them together + see "enough". It really is that simple. I may add a top or two to create a bit more happiness + ease. My intention is not to be rigid, but there is no urgency or feeling of lack here either now.

Recognizing enough is like a muscle that I find the need to keep in shape...a practice I need to do repeatedly...thought processes I need to keep limber. And that's pretty exciting to experience!

Love,
​Jane

Dosa designers, Alex + Steph, are siblings whose parents have almost 40 years of sewing + production experience in the Los Angeles garment industry. Doso is short for "library" in Korean, which is how these designers see their parents (who run the production side of the brand). I love this beautiful story of a family owned + run business. These elevated basics get style points for their wearability, local production + natural fabrics, many of which are also made locally in LA. I can't wait to see what they do next!

Find this + lots more fair fashion brands on our ethical clothing brands page when you need them. All lovely photos via Dosa. 

Two reasons I'm loving my library right now:
​
Enchantment : Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age by Katherine May :: A collection of beautifully communicated thoughts + observations which ripple deeper + deeper into my mind + create a path of breadcrumbs toward my own connection. 

Still Life by Rebecca Pacheco :: We're digging into this meditation thing...practicing...learning...opening to its possibilities...and feeling into its offerings. This book is part of that gentle quest.  

More reasons to pay attention to what goes into our clothing.

A quiet phase out that lowers emissions.

A government clothing repair scheme.

When you know what is enough, you are happy.