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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

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Ledonna N.

Veteran

I spent this past weekend and this week putting together a month worth of fits. I mean from underwear to leggings to tops dresses and jackets even hats. Everything hangs on 1 hanger in the closet. I have a total of 28 fits ready to go for work and play my wardrobe is mostly interchangeable. My brain is so frazzled right now. Growing my little one and working takes most of my energy. It's like that time to make the donuts commercial from the 80s.

I wake up reach and go. It's mindless I have to leave the house between 5:15 and 5:30 a.m. So this suits my life right now. I remember being in the army and having my uniforms neatly lined up. I did not have to think that just grabbed and went. Only this wardrobe is much more creative and fun.

Do you have a system or are you moving towards an organizational system? It makes me feel less stressed to be organized whereas before I would just throw things together.

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38 replies

Latest reply was from Ledonna N.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I had a system like that when I worked at the bedside. A stack of scrub bottoms, another of tops, and one of socks. Wake up, shower, grab the top piece from each stack, dress, and go. Fun days. Not!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Alexandra it does not sound very fun. I'm glad my wardrobe is creative, fun and just right for me.

Thanks for chiming in.

El Cee

Veteran

I think it is a very smart plan to have "uniforms" ready to go... especially as yours are sure to be of the fun and fabulous type. I have an early start to my day too, so those FFBO's and preplanned ensembles are golden. Chuckling as I remember "Time to make the donuts". Hubby and I quote that line all the time.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I try to pre-plan outfits when I have an early morning. It's a very small thing to do!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

You must be exhausted Ledonna. But your strategy is a good one!

crazyone

Veteran

I'm in awe of your energy--early mornings are hard, and must be even harder with your long work hours and the pregnancy! Good for you for organizing ahead of time.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

ElCee my sister and I quote it all the time lol. Yep, I can just reach for accessories and go.

Chewy spaghetti It truly is. I'm going back to what I call creative regimental organization.

Shevia at times I am little nugget lets me sleep in shifts and somehow I still get 8 hrs lol

Crazy one thank you it is my fall back. I've been. Umm nesting getting ready for baby nugget and I'm thankful for my organizational skills. Just one less worry.

Joy

Veteran

Making outfits ahead for early mornings is a wonderful idea. I used to do it more than I do now, like a week at a time to be sure things were not in the laundry or were wrinklefree and pet hair free when they needed to be. Now I'm most likely to get an outfit ready the night before, including having my handbag ready to grab with keys, etc.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Joy yep handbag and keys at the ready. I was reading that you get a bit forgetful while pregnant. I must agree. I did not know why I was forgetting simple things. For me routines and order are a safe space for me.

Sisi

Veteran

Wow, compliments, Ledonna! You are not only creative, but you have excellent organizational skills!

I am a disorganized person by nature, and every time that I invent some organizational system of sort (not only for clothing) it ends up being a flop. For example, I have learnt that planning outfits the night before is useless, because next mornig either I change my mind or the weather does not cooperate. But I consider a great success that now I have in my wardrobe 2-3 FFBOs, thanks to, guess what? YLF. Maybe if I had to leave the house at 5 a.m. as you do, I would become more organized! Leaving that early is just ... not human. I am in awe that you can do that.

rachylou

Veteran

My closet is organized like Garanimals... lol.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Oh I remember that line lol.

cindysmith

Veteran

I think that's pretty smart. If I have to be uo & out & about early in the morning, I preplan my outfit the night before. I once heard it called "front-loading your time". I've also heard a lot of discussion about "decision fatigue" and I think Steve Jobs and Zuckerburg and President Obama are on to something with their concept of a "uniform". Anything that can take some stress out of our days is a good thing on a "normal" day; when "out of the ordinary" factors (like pregnancy, illness, extra heavy workload, etc) are thrown into the mix, I say good for you for figuring out a way to "front load your time"!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Sisi- I learned from the military dress right dress everything in its place. Now by nature I'm very disorganized. lol I had to learn that I am a visual person I need to see what I have so I do not forget about it. That is why this works for me and I can follow it so easily. I have open shelving in my bedroom. I have clothing racks and not a closet in my living space It is a perfect layout for me. Now 5 is hard truly it is I am praying the situation will change because it is difficult leaving at 5 and getting home at 5 hmmm so I streamline. Not many others have a choice so I am grateful for the benefits that my company offers. + & - like all things.

cynthiawalkersmith I love that terminology "Front Loading Time" I believe sometimes we have to work with what we are given. Like how I walk at work park my car further. I am thankful like most us having learned or are in the processing of learning what works for us. Identifying it and applying a useful solution.

RobinF

Veteran

That's a great idea, especially for your situation right now. I also get up pretty early so I pick out my clothes the night before. If I left it for morning I think I would be standing in front of my closet staring blankly. And then I would be late for work.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

RobinF that is exactly what I was doing. For the 1st time I thought I have to many options and was overwhelmed. So I paired down and simplified.

Anonymous

Hey, how are you doing? I've been a bit absent from YLF for a while so I'm catching up. I think you've done a great job organising things in your wardrobe like this...keeps the stress levels down, well done. I remember how exhausting being pregnant is and I didn't have to do a tiring job like yours.

Momo

Veteran

Sounds like a great strategy. Wow Ledonna I don't know how you do it., did you say your commute is 2+ hours each way?!

celia

Veteran

I have at times get outfits ready for a week but a whole month is truly a major work,wow.
I try to have some kind of system, by color scheme or by outfits but mainly I find that things have to be visible also, otherwise I forget about them.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Diane G welcome back I'm taking it one day at a time.

Momo yep 2 1/2 hrs long story my bosses decided to move me from downtown chicago to the main site an additional hr away from my home. Until little nugget is born. I'm the 1st ever woman in our department to be pregnant. Long long story

Celia I often forget if I don't see my items.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Ugh. I'm fortunate to be a musician. Turns out people don't want voice lessons or music therapy sessions at 7am. Of course, they do want them at 7pm, which means dinner is late and kinda lonely. Still, early mornings are tough to pull off, and your plan shows great wisdom!

I'm trying to remember to take a pic every morning, so I remember what I wore. I usually have a holiday capsule by now --- I'm hoping to work on that this weekend! I spent last weekend decorating the house (not finished yet), and cleaning my closet.

Eliza

Veteran

Wow- first, good for you to be streamlining your routine to take care of you and nugget. Second- 5 hours a day of commuting? That makes me feel like a slug... Hang in there and keep pacing what you can.

I like to lay out clothes for early days and preview special event outfits. It helps in the crunch.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I was thinking about this yesterday. You must have a huge wardrobe! I don't think I could lay out a week without using items more than once.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Eliza, it's good not to have to think so early. If I have a special event I love play dress up to figure out what I'm going to wear. Yes, I have to drive 1 1/2hrs then another 1 by shuttle bus provide by our university. I try to take naps on the shuttle.

Beth Ann wow late nights but you must be a wonderful musician and teacher. It dose compromise having get together with others. I also want to take pictures of my work everyday fits but I get tired in the evening. Lol

Chewyspaghetti I have a pretty comprehensive wadrobe. I used to change over for the winter fall, & spring summer but I combined everything some years ago thanks to YLF and I purge regularly. I often shop my closet. Even with little nugget my clothing was very loose and with flow so it is helping me now. A week is good lol

lady

Great job!
I do this for my boys but I've only done it for myself when I'm traveling.

I do write up an outfit list and when I can't think of what to wear I refer to that list.
Ideally I'd pull together a week's worth of outfits at a time.
I'm currently constructing my master outfit list for my upcoming holiday trip. It's a lot of work on the front end but knowing what I'm wearing on the road is soo stress free. I make up a calendar w what I'm doing that day and the corresponding outfit. I love it!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Lady that is so good and intresting a spreadsheet for what to wear when traveling. I like th as t concept. AND for your sons th as t it great. Thank n you for sharing.

bj1111

Veteran

First-love love love this organizational concept
Two-you must have an enormous number of pieces to make this work
Three- you have enough good underwear for a month!?!??!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Bj111
1)it was such a mental relief to get organized they call it nesting
(Gettin ready for baby)

2)I have a very extensive wardrobe that includes regular donations to charity. I just purged 10 pairs of shoes and boots. 6 bags of preloaded clothing. While getting organized.

3). Underwear I can still fit into lol with a changing body with my little nugget I've had to go shopping for new things. I plan for now and later.

I love sets of underwear. Lately it's been very practical and serviceable like Hanes her way and maternity bras. Who knows where I'll end up after birth.

For me it stems from only having necessary items growing up. As an adult I was limited with my wardrobe in the army. There was only room for so much which was not a lot. Then my wardrobe became my dress up place. Each unique piece or pretty wearable undergarments. Befor YLF everything was serviceable. During YLF I game myself permission to have well made and beautiful underwear. Many events to attend and always a revolving wardrobe helps.

unfrumped

Veteran

That is both smart and disciplined!
I have a problem because I KNOW I do better getting out the door if I've picked my outfit the night before. When I do I put everything on a kind of valet hanger- even belt. Monday sometimes are the best because I might repeat an outfit from Sunday. But for some reason I resist doing this. For me the practical approach would be to have 3-4 outfits hung together- pant and skirt options and slight temperature range- so there's a" mood" option but each option has been vetted.

In the past few months I've had to recognize some fit issues so I did make a good start in the past couple of weeks, triggered by the weather finally settling into cooler temps, to move out things that were too tight and felt bad and keep just the " happy proportions items" at hand.

I still am very proportion- sensitive though, with certain top + bottoms being fab and other seemingly reasonable mix & match alternatives being no good, so I need to keep writing these down and also setting them up in advance as you have done.

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