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Have you given up/taken a break on a "capsule"?

unfrumped

Veteran

I don't mean for this to sound depressing--almost the opposite.

I am having such trouble trying to update/fabulize my workday outfits that I am about to think I should "take a breather". Meaning, I think I am still conflicted about my style there and how to accomodate various requirements for serious comfort and movement, not being able to make use of outfit toppers like blazers, or handbags or really dramatic jewelry and such and so on, and yet I want achieve some kind of personal style idea that is floating in my head. Even some recent purchases of sweaters or tops or footwear have maybe started looking frumpy or twee or wrong or something. I have kind of liked some of my choices, but am not having a real zowie experience.

On the other hand, items I have added to smart casual or dressy casual or dressy outfits or outerwear have (whether justified or not) really made me feel great and have been the biggest changes in expressing personal style for me. Again, I think it's because there's more silhouette options and maybe more leeway in the comfort zone allowance.

It overlaps with the imaginary lifestyle problem if I invest too much in the above--but adding SOME has been really good for me.

I have had some luck with accessories, such as adding necklaces that I might not have worn in the past and trying some different belts. And one or 2 pairs of new footwear give me that fab sense even when worn with a "formula" outfit, though I still wish the overall outfit were better. ( And It does kind of drive me crazy when we say, "that would look fantastic with jeans!" because the right kind of jeans seem to be the universal moderizer/youthfulizer, but cannot go to work with me.)

I believe my lament still falls under category of needing to be PPP, but just to a greater extent. As in, just relax. I have an idea of the perfect vest that can add structure where I can't wear a blazer; the perfect pants that look more modern; the perfect shoes that are modern but super-comfortable; and so on.

So maybe I shouldn't try too hard until I get a better handle on it. The mistakes do bother me because they make me feel so unfocused. .As I have noted before, there is no external pressure for me to make any changes in my work wear.

It might be like having a minimalist wardrobe for work and expanded options other times, when this is just the opposite of what I thought I should do, based on % time spent in each area. But it might be % return/value rather than actual % time. The CPW of any given garment might be skewed but the total spent might be the same!

The folks who really do wear a uniform to work and probably do not expect to be expressing much personal style then. That is a bit of a stretch as an analogy, because I obviously can wear lots of different things to work, but there you go.

Can anybody relate to this situation? I hope it can be "the calm before the epiphanies" and not just giving up or giving in.

Dressing

16 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Taking a breather is just the right thing to do. There is harm in "analysis paralysis", and your style journey must stay predominantly fun. No sense in stressing! And the capsule approach is merely a guide - they aren't hand cuffs :). Rest assured we all make purchasing mistakes - myself included.

And in the New Year, re-evaluating your style will feel uplifting and fresh. Plus we can hold your hand along the way if you think it might help

unfrumped

Veteran

Thank you, Angie, for hand-holding already!

I ues the capsule language because it has been useful to me in seeing how much less stressful it is to get dressed when I've got different "events" covered.

I'm particularly interested to pause and think if I've got my zones reversed as mentioned--maybe it will always be harder to have "fun" with work outfits, or harder to have a large repertoire of different outfits, and I should be more of a minimalist with a small but hard-working group of wardrobe essentials there.

(BTW, the nude pumps in a recent photo are Mootsies Tootsies "Angie" !)

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I love Angie's take on this - fun first!
PPP is hard when you are building a wardrobe - I really sympathise.
Maybe in the new year you could concentrate your search on one thing - say a great pair of trousers that you could wear to work & with your casual capsule?

Gaylene

Veteran

Angie's "analysis paralysis" is a good way to sum up what I was going through a few months back.

While it's fun to experiment and try to come up with a unique personal style (preferably one that can be summed up in a couple of key words) that makes wardrobe building a breeze as one goes about being patient, picky, and practical (thereby eliminating any purchasing errors) ending up with a series of well-coordinated capsules so one can throw together fabulous outfits for multiple occasions on a moment's notice... well, it just wasn't happening like that.

My "epiphany" was when Astrid talked about using the "happiness factor" to rank her clothes. That clicked for me. Clothing is a necessity but can also be a source of happiness. Wearing certain colors, styles, and fabrics just felt right for me and made me happy, while wearing other things ended up making me feel awkward and unsure of myself. For me, the whole thing was way more instinctive than analytical, despite the fact that I'm a super analytical person in most aspects of my life.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Capsule breaks aside, you should get points for invention of the word "fabulize". That should be a real word.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Oh yes, UF, I've have to take a breather several times. I'm just coming out of one now, as a matter fact, and am ready to tackle another leg on my journey. This time, I'm trying to be more generous with myself than I've been in the past.

And yes, the first rule of YLF is to have fun with fashion!

unfrumped

Veteran

Galena, your analyses are always so right on! Fun is key-- not just playing around sense though that has been great. It's that I can tell once I found some" fun " or fashion- joyful or whatever "looks", that I want more of those and am trying to see how to translate that same feeling appropriately into workwear. I hope in the coming year to have more " fun with that ".

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wrote a long reply here (or thought I did) that somehow disappeared. I don't think I added anything particularly valuable, but I did offer sympathy and say that I think this happens to us all at times. Especially the work capsule can be difficult. Even for those of us who work at home.

Do you not wear a lab coat often at work? That made me wonder if for workwear you might just concentrate for a while on footwear and perhaps a few great coats (for coming and going) and possibly a few jackets to go over whatever the underlayer is (after you take off the lab coat). And meanwhile, put more of your energy into those capsules that are currently easier and more fun for you to fill. That way you can build confidence and "regroup" as it were.

unfrumped

Veteran

Suz, i so enjoy your perspective on things ; yes, that's it-- thinking about maybe I was spending too much energy on these outfits that don't show much because I assumed that was what I should do as a mature professional. So that led to collecting a lot of tops and pants.
I still am a blazer- holic,but I'm shifting to more of what I call " parking lot jackets". These would be, or have more in common with, outerwear , so go over a greater number of outfits. Finding my fun in my raspberry trench instead of the perfect black blazer.

unfrumped

Veteran

Suz, i so enjoy your perspective on things ; yes, that's it-- thinking about maybe I was spending too much energy on these outfits that don't show much because I assumed that was what I should do as a mature professional. So that led to collecting a lot of tops and pants.
I still am a blazer- holic,but I'm shifting to more of what I call " parking lot jackets". These would be, or have more in common with, outerwear , so go over a greater number of outfits. Finding my fun in my raspberry trench instead of the perfect black blazer.

Also, sorry Gaylene, I can't type straight on my phone!

Anonymous

I can't believe I missed this thread! I was just going to post something about creating capsules and thought I should read this first.

First let me say that I feel you girl! My one-day-a-week business professional dress code just about gives me fits. This is for a volunteer shift that I work, so I didn't want to spend a lot of money on these clothes, so I thrifted a bunch of pencil skirts and button down shirts and a blazer or two. No matter what I put together with these pieces I look stodgy, frumpy, conservative. I get those comments from well-meaning forum members too, like, "Maybe that blazer would look more modern if you paired it with skinny jeans." I have been there. I'm STILL there, actually. I have to wear comfortable footwear too, which doesn't help matters.

I *think* I may have found a solution for myself, or have hit on a formula or two that I can employ to relax my work look a bit. One of my main problems is that I appear TOO dressed up/stuffy/starched. Perhaps getting the "business" part but neglecting the "casual". I was being too cut and dried. Anyhoo, I'll go and write that thread so as not to further derail yours!

Angie has it right when she says to take a break. When I get that "Oh no, what will I do?" feeling, shopping is usually not the solution. If you relax and wear the things you have, shop your closet, allow your leisure clothes to play with your work clothes and just concentrate on looking presentable at work, I'll bet a solution to your woes will emerge. Hang in there!

Elly

Veteran

I have definitely taken a breather on certain capsules before. I have a tendency to go after something like a hound and then after tons of work be very dissapointed with what I thought would be perfect or just not find what I am looking for and return things. Then it will turn around and I will have a rare chance to go brick and mortar shopping or I will order a thing or two I like online and I will luck out for awhile! These things go in cycles, especially if you don't have a ton of time and energy and opportunity to shop B&M and try try try things all the time. Right now I have many pieces I left hanging in several capsules, but I'm not sweating the small stuff right now!

Now, for your needs it seems like maybe everyone is right. There is nothing wrong with boring work slacks and plain tops (or better yet, find some that meet your requirements with fun patterns), especially if you put a blazer on top before you leave work and a lab coat on during work. If you'd like to try a new silhouette many companies now make skinny slacks, which if they are OK in your work place and your comfortable in are great because they show off shoes---- for your situation I highly recommend booties and oxfords, which are a great great comfy way to show tons of personality, protect your feet, and can be lower heeled and more padded than other shoes. IDK if you are allowed to wear a watch at work, but funky fashion watches would be another way to inject style. Same with earrings (bonus if your hair is clipped back or short for work). Some stylish statement bags and purses are another way to look chic outside of work requirements, and scarves are another thing you can slip on after work.

I don't work in a lab persay, but in my line of work I often have to wear light layers, but without metal zippers or detailing, things that can machine wash, things I can climb a ladder and go squats in. No jewelery except earrings, high necklaces that don't dangle, and a watch and wedding ring that are sometimes removed (I wear gloves at work frequently, and can't wear anything that might abrade what I'm working with). Same with scarves-- they go on after work. I sometimes stand on concrete 8-10 hours straight, and need very stable shoes with chunky or no heels for those ladders. I feel you!

Anonymous

Yes, my red, white and blue capsule. It got boring. A few ideas for preventing looking to staid in business casual clothing: Add one unexpected element or perhaps mix structured with unstructured, add lots of texture, fun patterns. I also rely on my footwear to make it more interesting.

unfrumped

Veteran

Clearlyclaire, that does sound like me! I'm actually so much more able to enjoy a breather because I did have some good successes this year with YLF advice and seeing all the examples.

Elly and Zapotee , those suggestions sound like they would work. I have been kind of heading down that path when I was asking about oxford styling. Watches are a great idea. I added a couple of not- expensive fun watches this year but still have been wearing my trusty Seiko at work. In the doctor business I still actually rely on a sweep second hand (i think the young ones use their phones as timepeces) and now with oversized watches, it can be easier to see! So changing up watches might be easier than other items.

Caro - succinct and helpful. Changing trouser style would give the most noticeable change so might be a focus to practice PPP, rather than rote buying of more of my same items.

jenanded

Veteran

And UF, if you are worried about very plain clothes 'under' your come and go work capsules, I looked at Maitai's picture book someone linked to on YLF... In the section on basic pieces, she takes basics and then "Hs them up" as she says. I start trying to have believe that my black t and pants from Target have potential afterall! It might give you a few ideas for how a jacket and scarf could fabulize the clothes you can do under your jacket...

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Yes I can relate to your situation. I don't exactly wear a uniform to work but it is a much tighter dress code than my usual attire. I work on my feet so my work clogs really set the tone of the whole outfit. Second, I get dirty (restaurant manager and server), so washable is key. Third, I live in a very casual mountain community and we are not fine dining. So, while I might wear a white shirt, I don't wear a tie. Yes I get sick of this. I have a really basic formula. Dark or black jeans, white shirt. Sometimes I will wear my bf jeans and a tee shirt if it's super slow and everyone dining there is someone I know from our small local community. It's when the tourists come from around the world that I try and present a more professional appearance.

I can get dressed in my work capsule blind-folded and there's nothing wrong with that. And yes, I definitely spend more on my smart casual capsule which I spend the least amount of time in. However I do try to look for things that can go casual up to smart casual.

I have fun with fashion, a lot of it. I spend a lot on my hobby. I spend the most on what I wear the least. Is this wrong? As long as I'm still having fun, and not in debt, it's ok.