Comments on: Twistie’s List of Ten Wardrobe Essentials

By: Steven Navarro

Steven Navarro — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:34:26 +0000

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By: Twistie

Twistie — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:51:46 +0000

That is interesting, rabrab. Clearly, I need to read the book.

But as much as I adore Tim Gunn, I’m still not getting a trench coat.

By: rabrab

rabrab — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:31:53 +0000

Something interesting I came across in the archives of another forum. Way back, last year, when TGGtS had been on the air for all of a week, I found his list of ten fashion essentials , as he specifies them in his book. And it’s a very different list from the one that’s used on the show. For one thing it’s the *top ten* essential items, not the *only ten” as the show implies. For another, there is only one item that is specific; everything else is a *type* of garment or a garment for a type of activity.

Here’s the book list:

Top Ten Essential Wardrobe Items (According to Tim Gunn)

1. The Trench Coat
2. The Sweat Suit Alternative
3. The Boot, The Pump, The Ballet Flat
4. The Shapely Jacket & Go-Anywhere Top
5. Signature Jewelry
6. The Under Arsenal
7. The Day Dress
8. The After-Five Look
9. The New, Cheap, Terribly Trendy Item
10. Denim

The show has dropped #3,5,and 10, split and narrowed #4 into two items, narrowed the “go anywhere top” into the “classic white shirt”. #8, “the after-five look” has been narrowed down to “the Little Black Dress” And #9, the “new, cheap, terribly trendy item” has been removed from the list and turned into a prize for playing along.

I like the book version much better.

By: La BellaDonna

La BellaDonna — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:09:35 +0000

Oh, how I’d love to have a cup of tea and a dish of snark with Tim Gunn! I can accept his list as a wardrobe MapQuest for the completely lost-at-sea; so much of what he lists as a must-have (so does Lloyd Boston, for that matter) are items that don’t suit me, my build, or my life.

I desperately need a good raincoat, for instance – but unless I make it (and I don’t want to!) a trench coat is not going to be a good choice for me; ditto the black trousers, etc.

By: Fabulously Broke

Fabulously Broke — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:56:51 +0000

I like how your 10 outfits are for occasions and events rather than for one basic, boring black wardrobe with a white shirt.

Tim Gunn is ALSO my hero. I’d love to be friends with him in real life.

By: madame suggia

madame suggia — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:33:04 +0000

You’ve inspired me, Madame Twistie! Love your list, so I’ve made my own…http://madamesuggia.blogspot.com/2008/10/part-one-of-madame-suggias-list-of.html

Madame S XXX

By: Fenny

Fenny — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:51:56 +0000

I couldn’t agree more. Any list that has the word “dress” in it ain’t my list. I *do* own a couple of dresses, but it’s an awful long time since I wore either of them. I also have a piece of purple crushed velvet hanging in my wardrobe and a length of purple & gold brocade to go with it. They were for the dress & jacket I was going to wear to the Christmas do in 2001, before my marbles went on temporary walkabout. What I need now is a decent pattern and the motivation to use it.

By: ChloeMireille

ChloeMireille — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:16:43 +0000

Carol has a point. There are people who need to be spoon-fed the basics, and then there’s people who can build an outfit in 10 minutes.

I think for the average person, though, that there’s a rather happy middle ground between the two lists. The fantasy outfit is, in my eyes, the purpose of the trip to the fancy designer. (How does he know what designer to take them to? Clearly, Tim is magic.)

And yes, Tim can read the phone book to me anytime.

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:58:45 +0000

Twistie’s list is wonderful, but I must put in a word for Mr. Gunn’s. I think for the people that need his list the most; he must simplify and specify. For those with some fashion intelligence, it can be a guide; but I’m afraid some people need a map with turn-by-turn directions.

By: Scarlettb

Scarlettb — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 20:56:42 +0000

I’d like to mention that a lot of these can be separates, too – especially things like the funeral outfit. I had a short-notice funeral this spring, and made it work by putting together a high-necked yoked shirt and a knee-length pencil skirt. Normally the shirt goes with a miniskirt and the skirt goes with a low V-neck, and they’re both pretty daring-sexy-secretary, but I can put them together for Young and Conservative if I need to. And I don’t have a dress hanging in my closet that only has one purpose.