The theoretical school bell is chiming and the spice of pencil shavings is in the air. Before you empty your wallet to fill your juvenile’s closet, consider the cluster. A cluster is a collection of clothing where everything goes with everything else. A cluster ensures each item gets maximum wear, while it still fits. And you can trust your buttercup to put their own outfits together, without fear of fashion debacle.
Below a shopping list and a hypothetical sampling:
A – Cotton Long-Sleeve Wide Stripe Tee (Brooks Brothers $25), B – Sparkling Suspenders Tee (Forever 21 $11), C – Trompe L’oeil Tee (J.Crew $25), D – Big Bloom Appliqué T-Shirt (Boden $28), E – Scalloped Placket Cardigan Sweater (Land’s End $30), F – Café Capri in Apple Bobbing (J.Crew $40), G – Wash Effect Jeans (Zara $40), H – Tulle Flounce Skirt (Gap $25), I – Cherokee Short Sleeve Ruffle Dress (Target $15), J – Van’s Palisades Sneakers (Nordstrom $38), K – Classic Cameron Captoe Ballet Shoes (Land’s End $30), L – Mini Boden Tights 2-Pack (Nordstrom $24), M – Herschel Supply Co. ‘Parker’ Backpack (Nordstrom $58)
> Greater than two weeks of outfits with nary a repeat.
A feat of mathematical combination.
To create your own clothing cluster,
First, select a color palette
Draw inspiration from a print or a select solids that flock together. Either way, the same principles apply. Simply select colors with a similar heritage and blend harmoniously (ie jewel tones, pastels, etc).
Second, select your items of clothing.
You want roughly double the number of tops as bottoms, and each item needs to be worn at least two different ways. Putting your wardrobe on such a strict diet may tempt you to avoid layers, don’t. Layering is the key to flexible fashion.
Third, when selecting footwear.
Choose shoes with unique purposes: one set of dress, one couplet of sneakers, one pair of boots, etc.
Fourth, add accessories
Accessories are the grammar in ensembles. They separate pieces while adding emphasis and meaning to phrases. While this cluster is bare bones (including only socks and backpack), belts, glasses, and pencil cases among other options could have been included.
Fashion your own dick or jane for their studies without having to do all the research yourself. Book a cluster-based virtual shopping session.
