Spring musings - YouLookFab Forum

I know Angie asked about our spring wish list a month ago but in mid winter -20C I just didn't get in the mood. Now with the sun still up when I leave work, and even shining at 6 pm, I am definitely more in the mood.!

I did a proper spring evaluation. I took out everything I intend to use for spring and summer (the only difference is covered feet/bared feet and legs). And then I did some outfit making. And i checked how many outfits I had used in winter, and projected a little how many outfits I would need through summer. Well, I only need about 25 outfits. And I covered that easily using most of my slacks in about 4 outfits each. Skirts and dresses only managed 1 outfit each. So, my original plans to supplement my wardrobe with new navy and white slouchy slacks is fading away. I have all new slacks from last year and although none are slouchy they all work really well with the outfits I want to create. Slouchy would just throw a ringer in all that.

So then I evaluated my jackets/blazers. I have 2 white, 1 navy and 1 yellow I reserve for spring summer. I mixed and matched and used them each in probably two-three outfits each. Oh and the jean jacket which was the winner at 4.

I do have a wishlist for a replacement to my striped blue blazer I finally retired at end of last summer. However, I discovered that my recent work on losing weight has made 1 white blazer huge on me and the other on its way to being too big. When I finish the current weight loss effort in May, I will probably have to replace those and maybe other things. So I decided to remove all blazers from my shopping list also until the weight is proven stable. Don't even think about how my loved winter blazers are going to fit!....I will face that hurdle in fall.

So what was left on my originally planned summer shopping list? A single white lace top. Now a top, I can take a chance on being a little big later, especially since i want a long one.

I am ironically in the situation of wanting to shop, going to have money to shop in my next payday, and yet, nothing to buy!

To remove this burden, I have decided that I can rather focus on accessories this spring. I would love to get lime, lemon, and deep aqua into my spring outfits. So I have updated my list to

1 lace shirt, long or tunic
1 aqua scarf
1 deep aqua belt, preferably with metal or enamel in the construction

My wardrobe consist of 2 white bottoms, 2 navy bottoms, 1 black slim slack and mostly light or medium jeans
for blazers, 2 white, 1 jean, 1 yellow cropped and 1 navy, plus from winter hot pink, orange, and black leather
blouses/shirts are light pink, white, raspberry, tiger, silver, kelly green, cobalt, and soft yellow.
I made 28 "sure" outfits from all this and probably can experiment a few more from orphan tops here and there.

I am unfortunately well covered for summer

Shopping will be easy! but hard to control..

Thanks for letting me muse and following along. Thoughts on how to add lime lemon or raspberry without actual slacks or blazers appreciated.

I had one idea...I painted my brown broques into antique silver this winter but I never put laces back in. Maybe lime laces (thin ribbon) would be fun?

Oh and anyone who has an idea for a 2-2.5 inch deep aqua belt, feel free to send links! My skills are pathetic finding things online.

Bye!

12 years ago

merwoman

Veteran

You are in great shape Jayne! I feel ready ready for summer as well ...and am starting to think about fall. This has never happened!
I think lime laces on those silver brogues would look great - and you could always switch them out depending on your outfit...maybe a pastel shade as well!

Lyn D.

I am all for this careful wardrobe planning- well done!!
The hardest part for me is sticking to the list with so many tempting R.L. and on-line options around.

jayne

thanks, maybe lilac backup laces. I like lilac too! but don't think it fits in at all with what I already have.

Absolutely Lyn D! I softened the hardship by buying SO an aqua plaid shirt....hope he likes it

Beth Ann

Such a thoughtful plan! I admire your focus and can see how it it paying off in amazing style!

I will muse over accessories, but I wanted to tell you I missed replying to the thread where you debuted your new natural makeup look. I thought it was gorgeous and suited you so well!

Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

Suz

(website)

Amazing planning, Jayne. You are putting me seriously to shame. Even though the light is starting to return, I still have not truly looked at my spring/summer wardrobe yet.

I LOVE the idea of the lime laces for your silver shoes.

I also wanted to ask, don't you also have red jeans that you can wear in the summer (when it is not too warm for that?) They would mix and match with a bunch of your other things as well.

How did you reach your figure of needing 25 outfits? This is one of my tricky points and makes it difficult for me to plan. I guess it is because I have a lot of uncertainty. The majority of my time is working at home. But then every month I also have travel and visits to the city so different clothes for that (on the whole). Then appearances (another type of clothing -- except I never can say whether or how many there will be in any season.) Hmmm. I think Angie is right and I need a suit or two. That would deal with the appearances capsule quite often.

Thanks Beth ann, you are so supportive

Suz, the red jeans are a pretty cheap pair I bought to try out whether I needed a good pair. I haven't fallen for the look I must say. Partly because the red isn't my red and because I struggle finding a topper look that works for me. My long lace blouse is a potential solution to that actually. We will see. They are orphaned for now

To find the number of outfits I just tracked how many I had for winter (these are work outfits) and how often I wore each outfit. I had 3 months of work in winter category and 25 outfits and used each about 3 times. That seemed a bit low usage. Summer will be 5 months of work, so I just decided that 25 would be a good number to set for that longer period and I should get to wear every outfit maybe 5 times. In the real summer months when I switch to open toe shoes and bare legs I will wear my dresses alot and the slacks less, so I assume it will balance out.

I agree with Angie Make a suit capsule with a good selection of shirts from your general capsule ( I know you have some of those!). And maybe figure out a "go to" outfit or 3 and have those in the back of your mind when an event pops up. I think in general you have been always very well dressed, more polished than I manage.

more babblings ...

THe happy news from my stuydy of winter outfits is that I used each bottom 3 times in outfits so the use of bottoms was about 9 times on average in 3 months. But toppers and jackets are rotated less because most of them are hero pieces so they are not so easy to mix and match. But I am ok with that since i like hero pieces alot.

And since I am babbling, I discovered also that I don't use any pattern in winter, no flowers, no dots, and no stripes. I seem to shy from them in winter and be more attracted in summer. Funny how my tastes swing too much. That is dangerous though when I am in purge mood!

Ingunn

Wow, I'm impressed by the analytical approach here, Jayne! Very inspirational. I'm planning for spring this weekend myself, and I know for sure that I need a light bottom or two. I have been wanting white jeans for a while, and also maybe a white denim skirt. I have a few tops and dresses, and I think I'm good in this department. Accessories are always useful for updating, and I love your suggestions.

Ingunn, I also had a white denim skirt on my wish list, and it will be there again for casual when I am at a stable weight. I am trying to find other bottom choices for summer other than shorts which do nothing good for my legs. You will have to let me know if you find something so I can copy you! I assume we won't run into each other accidently!

Tanya

What a clever analysis Jayne! You are so prepared for the spring!

About lemon and raspberry, how about adding either of them through a shoe or a bag to wear with your neutrals? And I actually think adding a lilac top would work for your wardrobe, as you have navy and white toppers and bottoms, and my favorite way to wear lilac is with navy and white. ( and you could add lemon shoes to that as accent ).

thanks Tanya, a raspberry bag sounds s fun! Cannot wait to see what the retailers bring me.

Lilac topper idea is good too but i haven't seen any lilac so far...waiting is hard

Category