In the Follow Up to the "Minimal Wardrobe"

[andreyb]

Gentlemen,

Some time ago Mr Alden wrote his suggestions for the minimal wardrobe.

Today I read an interesting excerpt in a book written by the Duke, devoted to the very same topic. Hope that this excerpt will be of interest to you:

"My wardrobe like most people's is planned for a variety of occasions. I own some twenty suits, a dozen sports coats, slacks, and fifty ties. I weed out my ties once a year, as most men do. The Duchess occasionally gives me ties as gifts, but since my taste in neckwear is limited to fairly few patterns -- a light check, or a club tie -- I find it easier to purchase my own. I own perhaps two dozen pairs of shoes, and although I try to weed these out, too, I find that some comfortable old favourites, although I may now rarely wear them, manage to survive each time. Often, even when I am in New York, I wear loafers, those slip-on moccasin-type shoes, and go to lunch at my club in them. But I would not wear them on more formal occasions or when I go downtown. Then I would wear laced shoes.

My day shirts are in pastel or small checks. In the evening when I do not dress I wear one of these types of shirts but with an attached white collar. My shirts are monogrammed with an "E" surmounted by a crown.

The Duchess helps me choose my clothes, insofar as I will show her samples I have chosen and ask, "Do you like this pattern and material?" But I trust my own taste, as every man must, and most of the choices are my own. I do not have duplicate wardrobes in the various places in which we live through the year. I do leave some suits in storage in New York and my work clothes are, of course, kept at the Mill. I don't buy special work clothes; when shirts and trousers become old, they are used for gardening. Any other old clothes are given away to anybody on my stuff whom they'll fit.

The Duchess and I travel with as little baggage as we can. My baggage, of French manufacture, consists of fabric bags in which can be hung four suits on each side and yet are solid enough to stand. I have not yet become converted to the wash-and-wear apparel Americans love so much. They are something I must learn more about. We send our laundry out both in France and New York.

By now, it should become apparent that my wardrobe is a relatively simple one. When I am in the city, I put on a suit of clothes in the morning and that's that. In the country, I wear gardening or golf clothes but every evening I change for dinner, after a tub and soap-shave, having used an electric razor in the morning. The only jewellery I wear are cufflinks and shirt studs for the evening and my ring, two narrow gold-entwined strands given me by the Duchess."

(from the "Windsor Revisited", by HRH The Duke of Windsor, pp. 167-169)

Andrey

[Guest]

Very much interesting Andrey! Thank you.

It is amazing as such a wardorbe is not the result of a lot of money, but just taste taste taste. Everyone, in theory, could have a such a wardrobe, apparently it is not so difficult and hard, apart from having taste ...

[alden]

"apart from having taste"...there's the rub

The Minimum wardrobe has been posted in the Articles section.

M Alden