OMG I can only come up with four outfit formulas. And they are so similar, I'm not sure these are even four formulas, as the 3rd and 4th just involve a looser fit of jeans (I almost never wear the really voluminous boyfriend jeans, mine are all orphans waiting for consignment).

- Skinnies + tunic + booties
- Skinnies + shorter pullover + longer shirt or tee
- Skinnies + cardigan + tee
- Boyfriend jeans + tee + cardigan

No wonder I'm feeling like I have nothing to wear, I'm stuck in this rut, and have been for years. Before it used to be bootcut jeans and like a zipper body con cardigan, but still it's a similar concept. I need some new silhouette ideas!

Wow, impressed. I have two main silhouettes for work:
1. Tunic or mini dress, leggings, boots/booties/long jacket
2. Dress, tights, booties, long jacket
Minor:
3. pants, top, long jacket

I really related to your idea of adding in the 3rd piece. For me jackets more than anything make my outit. They are my key players. That's why their loss was really devastating - this formula does not work without them. But it's more - jackets are an aegis - they give protection and power. I really don't feel dressed without them. How do you feel when you add a third piece into the mix? It not only would give your variety it would could add texture, polish, color depending on what you pick - esp since you mentioned you wanted to focus more on them.

Your multiple silhouettes require a lot of different pieces from the look of it. I guess I try and streamline for ease of mix and match. The less silhouettes you select the greater the variety of pieces within each you can have. Perhaps that's why I dont get bored. I like the proportions, but concentrate on finding more jackets, more tunics etc. It's whatever you feel gives you the diversity that you need!! But think you are off to an awesome start!!

Una- you will solve the world 's problems walking the dog !

My first thought was "way to turn winter into summer" from the standpoint of wardrobe variety. Then I read Suz's list of options for both seasons and realize how we all get into cold weather ruts so easily, just due to climate pragmatism. I think you are on to something and may have found a way out of the box. I don't wear skirts and dresses in the winter except for events, so I have a lot of thinking to do! Thanks for the nudge .

As a winter weather dweller who gets quickly bored with my clothes, I have enjoyed this post! I am also becoming anxious because this may be the source of my previously huge sweater collection, which is now much reduced due to my massive closet purge after I found out my colors were not working well for me.

I think my winter silhouettes are:
1. Straight leg jeans, long sleeve sweater or blouse, boots/booties or shoes
2. Skinny jeans, tunic length sweater or blouse, boots/booties or shoes
3. Pencil skirt, fluid blouse, tights, boots/booties or shoes
4. Sheath dress, tights, boots/booties or shoes
5. ? (Maybe statement outfit)

Four silhouettes unless I separate sweaters from blouses, and go even further and separate my blouses into fluid silk vs. cotton button down. I am not sure that really changes the silhouette, it only provides variety within the silhouette, and it may dress it up or make it more casual. I can do the same by substituting a pair of straight leg slacks for the jeans, etc.

In the past I had quantity for variety. I am trying to get away from that. I really need to think on this. Perhaps dressing up a few days of the week? Perhaps experimenting and finding a new silhouette? Maybe I missed one, so I need to go back and look at my outfit pis to see.

This is very interesting! Unlike Suz, I crave variety in form of colors, material, pattern, texture. That also explains why I am a chronic duplicator! If I love a shape or silhouette I would buy it in all the colors of the rainbow (OK my flattering colors!)! I also seem to find solace in repeating silhouettes that I love.

I would be very interested in seeing your weekly outfits Una! And to learn from your learnings.

Suz - I would think of BFs and slouchy track pants as two very different outfits even if they are similar in silhouette. The vibes are diferent ... One is casual ... The other is sporty. Do you think you could come up with 5 different vibes of outfits instead of silhouettes? For eg. Everyday Casual, Sporty Casual, Biker Chic, Ladylike Tomboy, Preppy Casual, Trendy Chic etc?

I think it's logical that an at- home winter rotation is more limited at the basic level because you've got to cover up and also you're just not going to forego the comfort or washability in order to wear things you might wear " out".
So you have to get into tweaking silhouettes- them you might also have to consider JFE.
So, tweaks might be poncho ( over something) or true oversized sweater; various vest options; wool culottes instead of skirt; I'd certainly utilize sporty luxe and mix in selected " gear" mainly because some of it offers performance fabrics great for warmth/ comfort. And embellishment.
Maybe the analyses do reveal a need for more color or color surprises after all.

This is so interesting. Una, as usual, I so appreciate the push to think differently.

What I love about your silhouette-based plan is that it is or can be designed to make more use of specific items that have been left behind (like your blazers). That is so smart. Your particular silhouettes make sense to me and reflect such a nice variety that you won't get bored and you will be likely to use more of your fabulous clothing.

I have a really hard time analyzing my wardrobe while at my computer -- I don't know how you do it; my brain is already on five different things -- but anyway, you have inspired me to try the following.

1 - next week post a WIW each day (of the five working days)
2 - consciously try for a different silhouette each day
3 - make note of the silhouettes, the ease / difficulty of putting them together
4 - see what it all means

I must be an experiential learner.

I think it's logical that an at- home winter rotation is more limited at the basic level because you've got to cover up and also you're just not going to forego the comfort or washability in order to wear things you might wear " out".
So you have to get into tweaking silhouettes- them you might also have to consider JFE.
So, tweaks might be poncho ( over something) or true oversized sweater; various vest options; wool culottes instead of skirt; I'd certainly utilize sporty luxe and mix in selected " gear" mainly because some of it offers performance fabrics great for warmth/ comfort. And embellishment.
Maybe the analyses do reveal a need
for more color or color surprises after all.

Now I feel over-abundant in silhouettes. I have 8 summer, 12 spring/fall, and 8 winter:

1. A-line skirt (summer, spring/fall, winter)
2. Full skirt (summer, spring/fall, winter)
3. Full ruffled skirt (summer, spring/fall)
4. Pencil skirt (summer, spring/fall, winter)
5. Split skirt (spring/fall, winter)
6. Maxi skirt (summer, spring/fall, winter)
7. Dress (summer, spring/fall)
8. Knee-length shorts (summer, spring/fall)
9. Shorter shorts (summer, spring/fall)
10. Trouser-style denim + corduroys (spring/fall, winter)
11. Bootcut corduroys (spring/fall, winter)
12. Wildcard silhouettes (spring/fall, winter)

One thing I find really interesting about this is that so many
of you (fabbers, not necessarily the ones commenting on this thread) complained about summer dressing, and found it difficult, and couldn’t wait to get back to fall/winter when you could more easily play with layering, and toppers. Yet here we are, with limited silhouettes… bored… Funny bunch aren’t we?

Now Suz… go ahead and add that pajama pants and a fleece top silhouette… I KNOW YOU WANT TO! Admit you’re human under all that fabness

I think this is a great idea, and was actually thinking of doing something similar. Finding the time to actually THINK about it is my problem. I decide I need to expand upon a certain silhouette and go about expanding, without taking the time to see if I really do! Both from a “need” and “does it work” perspective. I find that I default, especially when I’m tired, to the same pair of black pants and a comfy sweater. Gee, guess what I’m wearing today….

I do have a number of silhouettes for work:

Sheath dress with shirt/tee and boots/booties (not worn often)

Pencil skirt with sweater and boots/booties (also not worn often)

Skinnies or slim pants with tunic/long cardigan or oversized topper. Boots or pumps

Skinnies or slim pants with a sweater, boots or pumps

Straight leg trousers with sweater/cardigan (sometimes with layered shirt, sometimes with tee)

Straight leg trousers with semi-tucked blouse.

Wildcards: culottes. Wrap dress?

And I’m pretty sure this isn’t it… no time right now to go through pics to evaluate further, but I will!

Yeesh, no wonder I have a hard time deciding what to wear.

I also tend to dress based on the weather and temperature. I’m terrible at deciding the night before… it seems whenever I try, my mood or the weather has changed. Or both. But a challenge like this might stop me defaulting to my BFFBO too often.

Viva posted while I was typing this out… I like her approach, and I think something similar will work for me.

Thanks Una! Once again, great thread.

This is a very wise approach I think. I know exactly what you mean about getting bored with silhouettes. I only have six, and they are all quite similar, really, since I don't like wearing skirts or dresses in winter (too cold):

trousers + pullover + booties + scarf or belt
trousers + jacket + button-down/layering sweater + belt or scarf
skinnies + oversized sweater + scarf + booties or boots
skinnies + shirt layered under pullover
BF jeans + pullover sweater + belt + booties
BF jeans + jacket + layering sweater + belt

Hahah, Elizabeth, you forced me to get out of my bathrobe, LOL!!

I just typed a whole new SPIN OFF thread on this one and wasn't signed in so lost the whole post. I will try to get back to this later.

We'll, this sounds like a great idea, Una! I get super bored, too, especially when I could wear skinnies, boots and some sort of top and outer layer everyday and no one would even notice it was the same silhouette. At least working outside the home allowed for some variety. I'm going to follow closely and see where this goes!

The weather influences my silhouette rotation even within season, of course.
For example, I might brave the skirt & tights look at certain temp range and then huddle into wool pants and boots. Plus there are some work type variations that make some items more appropriate. So to "make hay", I might want to wear a pencil skirt 2 or even more days in one week and then none for a couple, or wooly trousers 5 days in a row. That does make me think about whether the outfits look so alike that they're a blur, or whether color, pattern and footwear really can make a difference even if the silhouette is the same.
It makes me think about duplicating vs not, and whether each item earns its keep or just is more monotony.

Some seriously amazing insights here! Getting ideas for other silhouettes and approaches to varying it up.

Staysfit, I had to purge a bunch of sweaters that were bleh but felt necessary for some unknown reason. If Mo were here she could break down the numbers for me, but with 20 weeks of winter, in theory I only need 20 variations on each silhouette - NOT 20 different items for each! So I need MUCH LESS than I think, unless I end up favoring one silhouette a lot more...

Need to come back and reread when I have more time - so much to digest here.

I'm late to this party, but here are mine and I've broken them up into work and non-work (play) outfits.

Skinnies/slim fit pants, sweater/tunic, boots/shoes (work/play)

Pencil skirt, blouse/sweater, tights/stockings, boots/shoes (work)

Tube skirt, sweater/fluid top, stockings, shoes (until temps dip below 32F (work)

Loose fitting pants, flowy top/sweater, shoes/booties (play)

Blazer with anything (work/play)

Jeans, sweater/top, boots/shoes (play)

This was not as easy as I thought it would be! I had a hard time coming up with different silhouettes for work. I will wear my tube skirts in winter until temps dip below freezing as I work in an extremely warm 100+ year old school building. Once they turn the heat on, it's like a sauna in my room. I also have no winter dresses. Dresses are very hard for me as the waist is always off, and when wearing tunic style dresses I look like 5 lbs. of potatoes in a 10 lb. sack.

A great challenge!

A great plan to ensure variety during a long season. I switch from bootcuts and short boots to skinnies and tall boots to maintain variety with my winter looks.