Repeating outfits - does this bother you? - YouLookFab Forum

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Repeating outfits - does this bother you?

Sal

Veteran

Last week I went out to dinner with three girlfriends. I decided I would wear my black bell sleeve winter dress, then I remembered last time I went to dinner with those three friends I wore the same dress. I changed to a different outfit.

Repeating day outfits does not bother me a lot. I see a couple of friends every week at rugby practice and I am often wearing the same jeans, boots and coat - in fact I often cannot remember what I wore the previous time. For work I repeat regularly. When I worked five days a week in an office I would repeat weekly but not often within the same week. I might wear the jacket again, but with different bottoms for example....At the gym I rotate the same four pairs of leggings and four tanks around regularly.

Next time I go to dinner with these friends I would happily wear the black dress again, I probably will.

What is your repeating threshold for outfits?

Dressing

61 replies

Latest reply was from Ledonna N.

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I think I'm the same as you. I would have changed for dinner also, but it doesn't mean I won't ever wear the same outfit again.

Honestly my biggest thing is I tend to repeat outfits because I know the items look good together. So then it can be hard to see the pieces in a different light/style. They get typecast I guess lol.

If I take some hours to play closet dress up I realize I have way more outfit combinations with the same pieces different ways.

This is super nerdy, but I started taking some time to do that and then I write the different combos down into my phone. It curbs my need to shop....sometimes.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think my threshold sounds similar to yours, Sally. I actually don't mind frequent repetitions at all, especially if the outfit feels ideal for a particular situation/ set of weather conditions. But if I were seeing the same group of friends a few times in quick succession, I'd probably change (if possible) rather than wear the exact same thing. When I worked in an office, like you, I would often repeat items within the same week-- especially essentials like a blue jacket -- but rarely entire outfits.

Hmm. Now I think of it, it really depends on which capsule we're talking about.

For work at home, I have no problem repeating outfits. The outfits I wear tend to be variations on one another anyway -- I have a work-at-home uniform that varies with the seasons but consists essentially of woven tops or linen tee in summer and shorts; pullover and jeans or track pants in winter, sometimes with a scarf as well.

It's the "going out in the world' outfits that I feel a greater need to change up. Ironically, since I wear the items less often.

Jazzy Dance

Oh, I am all about repeating. I think it is a particularly American notion that one should not repeat outfits. I figure, if I look and feel fab in an outfit today, I won't look or feel any less fab in it the next time.

Thistle

Veteran

I am about at you level for repetition. Don't mind re-wearing pieces in the same week or two, and the same outfit every two weeks or so.

I feel like I want to wear my favorites while they're my favorite.

When I started to worry about too much repeating, I asked myself if I could remember what my three closest colleagues wore and if they repeated outfits. When I realized I couldn't, and I'm more fashion conscious than they are (hard to believe, but true), I stopped worrying about it.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I am like you Sally. I would have got changed. I have a low tolerance for repeating in the "going out world", at least with the same group of friends. At work I would rarely repeat the exact same outfit within a space of 2 weeks but happily repeat elements of it. For strictly casual wear, I repeat a lot. Like nicoleb, I am always trying to look for fresh combinations of existing items so I can get more variety out of my wardrobe and shop less!

Anonymous

I think I have a similar repeat threshold as you, Sally, except for dressy clothes. I vastly prefer no repeats at all. However, because budget is always tight around Christmas, it usually is the case that I will wear the same outfit for Christmas parties year after year.

Anonymous

I guess I'm a bit of an oddball . I don't mind repeating at all . I don't consider what other people might think - in fact , I don't assume other people notice or care . When I have a "going out " outfit I really like , you can bet I wear it a lot . Of course , that's assuming I'm not seeing my same friends more than once in a week -:). I suppose if I worked in an office or with the same group of people day after day I would be more aware of it , but I err on the conservative side where never being seen in the same thing twice isn't really something to be proud of - it has negative connotations in my world . I'd rather be remembered for my company that night or what I contributed to a certain business meeting than being remembered for always having a different outfit on . It was something that I took a lot of grief over in the past and it now embarrasses me .

Sara L.

Veteran

I wear the same pieces fairly often - every week - but I rarely repeat outfits. I'm not worried about what other people think, it just keeps me from getting bored if I come up with different outfits. My wardrobe is fairly mix and match so it's not hard to find different outfits and I don't mind the occasional repeat, just not too often.

Aubergine

Veteran

I've done the same thing where, if I remember what I've worn the last time I saw someone, I try and pick something else. Like other people here, I also have about a two-week threshold for repeating at work. Which goes for repeating whole outfits or individual things that are really distinctive, although I'd wear a more basic piece more frequently. Pretty sure there's been weeks where I've worn the same black cardigan three days in a row.

Like Sara, I'm more concerned with not getting bored myself than with what other people might notice. It just makes me feel like I'm in a rut if I wear the same exact thing too frequently in the same situation.

Kari

Veteran

It doesn't bother me at all. I would probably change it up for special events (i.e. if I'm going to a couple weddings with the same crowd in the same year, I probably won't wear the same dress to them!) but I definitely have staple outfits that I wear often, especially to work. I'd rather wear what makes me happy and feel good, and like Thistle mentioned above, make use of my favorites while they are favorites.

Gigi

Veteran

I would have made the same decision about not repeating the outfit. I in general like repeating outfits a lot, but for less-frequent occasions, I try not to repeat twice in a row. But I love my tried-and-true outfits and am happy to repeat them, as long as it's not two days in a row.

MomOfThree1980

I have a week of workout outfits, 2-3 weeks of casual outfits, and atleast a month of business casual outfits (without repeating anything otherwise there's more). I try not to repeat too frequently when going out with friends or working in the office but I do repeat. Just maybe once every 2 weeks or so.

Astrid

Veteran

I probably wouldn't have changed. I don't care at all and repeat outfits with the same people all the time. I've never once had anyone commenting on it.

Sally

Veteran

My clothes can get so boring or uniform like noone would know. I do like to dress up for special occasions but usually when I'm meeting friends I'm busing and running across town in my jeans and a blazer. I was surprised at one dinner when a friend asked why i wasn't wearing my leather jacket? She had liked it and had seen it on me the last time we'd met. At work I try to change my scarves and shoes because the rest of it gets quite uniform.

Summer

Veteran

I don't mind repeating at all, Sally, which is just as well since my budget doesn't stretch to multiple outfits. I do try to change things up with different accessories, though.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks for the comments.

Nicole - I also have found YLF great for helping me remix my outfits as I can get stuck into always wearing these pants with this top and shoes.

Suz - I think we are on the same page here...living a slightly less dressy lifestyle than we would ideally like. So when we get the chance to dress up we want to make the most of it!!

Jazzydance - I think Americans in the most part have larger wardrobes and do repeat less.

Thistle - you are right, I cannot remember what my three friends wore to dinner the previous occasion. And it is great to wear your favourites. When I get a favourite look I tend to wear it most or every week for the season.

Brooklyn - I agree remixing allows a tighter wardrobe. Your colour palette works brilliantly this way.

Smittie - I know what you mean... for parties I will remix or rewear but try not to wear the same thing to the exact same occasion. It does happen though. For us Christmas season is summer which I think makes it easier?

Lisa - great approach. I know you are someone that gets your favourites and wears them well. I do this as well (I have been living in my new white sneakers this winter)...but less so for "going out".

Sara - you are also good at mix and matching which makes your pieces work so well.

Aubergine (nice to see you back posting) - yes more distinctive pieces I can wear less often, but I also think of them as signature pieces. I have a bright pink jacket that is often commented on that I wear in a variety of ways.

Kari - yes, it is good to wear the outfits that make you feel good, and as Angie would say - "wear the heck out of them".

Gigi - your approach sounds very similar to mine.

Astrid - I love repeating too. Great to wear what works for you.

rachylou

Veteran

Well, early morning at-home/dog walk outfit - I'll wear the same thing three days in a row. But going to the office, I rarely repeat and not in the same month. Occasion dressing, never - with the exception of Halloween (bee costume) and the bakery New Year's party (gold lame pants). Out with friends, also a never.

One officey exception- when I commuted to another state, I did repeat weekly.

Staysfit

Veteran

I would wear the same thing for sure, especially if I loved it. I think that's the purpose of being selective and finding items that fit well, look great and make you feel happy. FWIW, my friends wouldn't criticize me for wearing the same thing repeatedly. They would more likely tell me how much they continue to love the particular outfit, or they wouldn't say anything at all. The same is true of my family.

The number of repeats for work is definitely lower than for my going out wear, but I think that's just the nature of the size of the capsules. My gear wardrobe is very small and I wear everything in it once a week, my smart casual wardrobe is huge so there is no way to get a repeat unless it is done with intention, and my dressy wardrobe is also small. I have items within the dressy capsule that would only serve for certain types of functions. For example, I wouldn't wear a cocktail dress to my kids graduation. I have other items in the dressy capsule that cross events more easily and they are used repeatedly. For example I wore the same dress to both my DD's and my DS's commencements this year. The same people were there at both. I do not factor CPW into my selections. I wear what I think will make me feel fab, not what will give me the best value over time. I don't hang with a catty crowd, so I haven't heard any criticism. Only repeat complements.

Anonymous

There was a time when I did not repeat outfits (hardly ever), but my style was all over the place and I was literally shopping for every single occasion in my life. It was hectic and expensive.

After finding YLF, I came to define my personal style. It has been a journey. As part of that journey, I started to define "favorite outfits or uniforms" for different scenarios. I'm still in this process, but it seems to be working for me. I am quite comfortable repeating in casual settings (I would define going out with GFs as casual). I still feel social pressure to repeat less at work, but I am getting better at that as well.

So in essence I am getting really comfortable with repeats. Repeats for work on a two week cycle. Repeats for casual on a few days basis. I want to add that when you start down this path, you really are wearing your most flattering and comfortable pieces because they seamlessly get incorporated into the uniform.

Anonymous

Sally, I think I'm pretty much on exactly the same page as you regarding repetition. I would most likely have changed my dress too, but would be fine wearing it the next time.

Ivy

I'm also on the two-week-repeat cycle for work outfits; I'm glad to know there are others! I work with some people who literally never seem to repeat an outfit, so it was making me wonder if I shouldn't either, but this thread it giving me some perspective. Thank you!

I genuinely can't remember what I wore to meet with friends most of the time, so perhaps I'm repeating and perhaps I'm not....but it doesn't bother me enough to try to keep track. I'm curious, for those who prefer not to repeat outfits twice a row when meeting friends - do you track your outfits with an app or something similar, or do just recall what you wore last time?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't track my outfits on an app; I'd only change if I remembered I had worn the exact same thing the last time, and maybe not even then -- it would depend on the type of occasions, and the size of my wardrobe and suitability of the options. None of my friends would care. It is more, for me, what Sally said -- I don't get to dress up that often so I want to make the most of it when I do!

Runcarla

Veteran

I have a high tolerance for repeating items, and with a wardrobe oriented towards capsule dressing, I can mix and match for what variety I crave.
I DO play a wardrobe game I call 'pay it forward' where I use one item from Monday's work outfit in Tuesday's outfit, and a different item from Tuesday's outfit in Wednesday''s, and so on through to Friday! My 'going out' stuff is basic enough that changing hair, shoes and accessories changes it up enough for my comfort level. I have enough variety in my workout gear for all the activities I do, but favourite combinations for different activities - shirts for running, knee length tights for yoga and weight training. Bike specific padded pants and tops. I've worn the same triathlon race kit to events the past 4 years, but got a new tri suit this summer. My weekend gear probably changes the least. The grocery clerk probably thinks I only own a striped T and jeans or white shorts!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I repeat a lot, but I do track my outfits in Closetspace and will often look back at what I've worn previously. I have several groups that I see once a week or once every two weeks, and I'll try to at least not wear what I did the very last time I saw them. Other than that, everything is fair game.

My summer wardrobe is a lot smaller than my fall/winter wardrobe, and I've found it quite nice to reach for the same combinations over and over.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I repeat outfits quite a lot, but since I generally wear a uniform of sorts -- jeans, tee shirt/light sweater, and some kind of jacket -- I'm pretty sure no one notices. Most of my clothes aren't statement-y. I'm sure people notice I wear my moto jacket nearly every day, but it's different if it's a jacket -- people expect you to wear the same ones all the time.

It's funny you should ask this now, though, because I have a cousin's wedding to attend at the end of August, and I've been trying to remember which dress I wore to her sister's wedding three years ago. I only see these cousins once ever few years, and I highly doubt anyone will remember what I wore to the last wedding, but just in case...I don't love the idea of anyone thinking I only have one dress. Lol. I don't know why I care!

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I don't mind if I repeat at home, or if I am going out to different places or with different people. Occasionally I have repeated 2 or 3 days in a row if I have a brand new combination I really love. I usually have no idea what I wore the last time I saw people, so I don't care about that either.

However, on my husband's side, we had fancy weekend events that required 1 nice outfit, 1 nice casual outfit and one very dressy outfit, and I got new outfits for all of these. With exactly the same people. The casual outfits fit well into my wardrobe, the nice outfits were worn, but only rarely would I find a second occasion for the very dressy outfits. After a while, I started to wear separates, so at least the skirts would get worn again. I had nine of these occasions, I wish I had been willing to repeat. I will do it differently if similar situations occur. The funny thing is, it wasn't that people would remember that bothered me, but that I would look the same in the photos. Horrors!
I still imagine I won't repeat in certain situations-when my DS's marry, for example, but I will repeat otherwise.

At NAS I worked with a sales associate who didn't know me. She pulled a dress for me that I looked good in but is extremely memorable. I am still trying to decide whether to keep it.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Runcarla, I love your "pay it forward" idea. I think it may be a fun way to play with my wardrobe.

I have a friend who works in a school and never repeated an item for the school year. Blew my mind. After the school year she gets rid of unworn clothing. Her clothes aren't expensive, but she loves variety.

fathenry

Veteran

I repeat all the time. I will generally buy multiple pieces for a new season and wear them to death. This spring I chose peach/blush as the ma in color. It happened naturally because I just gravitated to the peach when I shopped. So when I discovered this I made sure all the pieces coordinated somehow with that color. I repeated the outfits all the time at work:
-Peach jacket, white long jacket
-Peach crops, black crops, white jeans
-Yellow sweater, cream sweater, peach blouse, peach tee shirt
-Peach and blue dress, blue dress

It was so easy to get dressed. Repeated everything once or twice a week in different combos. Now I have worn those things to death and will be excited for a new group of clothes this season.I wish I could find that guiding color for fall but it hasnt happened.
So I repeat a ton then then move on. One exception has been vacations or weddings, though I'm wearing the peach dress to one this week:)

rabbit

Veteran

I repeat a lot, since I tend to wear clothing in little capsules intensely, usually corresponding with what the weather and sunlight is like. I also wear newer clothes quite often (like several times a week trying out different outfits) when I first decide to keep them. Also my work at home/studio/get dirty in clothes I wear day in, day out until they get rotated because they need a wash. (I'm really eager to be done with a deadline and get out of this pair of sweatpants I feel like I've had on for weeks...)

But like others I am kind of mindful about wearing the same statement item with a group of people I don't see that often, like family or friends who live in different areas. I wouldn't balk about wearing the same jeans or boots or jacket, but the same floral skirt? Probably not.

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