SYC Here I Come - 2013 Budget Blown Already - YouLookFab Forum

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SYC Here I Come - 2013 Budget Blown Already

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

When I think of some of my posts about wardrobe planning and budgeting last Winter, I feel a sting of embarrassment. I was quite the optimist! Not only should I not spend too much, I should only buy quality and not too many pieces either. How did it go? Not that well. My budget is blown (by 15% increase), and I've added no less than about 70 pieces in total to my wardrobe this year. By that I mean everything from a cheap accessory to expensive clothing. More of the first than the latter, but I'm not sure that's a good thing either.

Clearly, I need to sober up a little. I also feel that looking after, planning and evolving my wardrobe takes just a little too much time at the moment. I am somewhat addicted to creating new combinations, trying to look my best every day, finding the "perfect" this & that etc.

That doesn't mean that I'm taking a completely new direction with my wardrobe, or stepping back from everything (I will of course participate in the forum), only that I'm going to shop my closet for the remaining of 2013, and that I'm going to try to spend less time on thinking about clothes and style, including browsing the web, and more time on my other interests, like photography.

I'm going to do a version of No Repeat November, but I've named it No Gloom November instead. I don't know if I will be able to show pictures of everything I do, but I will aim to dress with what I have, every day, and beat the November gloom by feeling good in my clothes, without obsessing, and without supplying anything. My wardrobe is in good condition now. When January comes, I'll be wanting to freshen up a couple of essentials, maybe add another pair of boots/booties if I can - but for now, I'm done.

Will you support me? Thanks for reading!

Shopping

31 replies

Latest reply was from amiable

Aquamarine

Veteran

Ingunn, you have such a versatile and cohesive wardrobe. It is such a treat to see your posts and the endless variations you come up with. I am sure you will continue to inspire us with your creativity and flexibility without buying anything new for a long, long time!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous goal, Ingunn! I fully support you and I know you will look fantastic every day. It's true you may have spent more than you'd hoped and bought more than you'd wished, but it all works together beautifully.

I have similar nigglings of self-recrimination -- and I am STILL buying like a crazy woman. I don't even want to count at this point. Perhaps I should, though. It would give me a real wake up.

I do think that when we're rebuilding from scratch (as I was ) it can take several years of pretty serious buying and culling before getting the wardrobe into a position where judicious replacements are all that is required. It seems to take a long time for us to understand our true needs and what will really work. You actually do much better on that than most of us. So brava!

Anonymous

I am in the same boat! I can't believe how much I have spent this year, but I am finally now in a place where I can move forward mindfully.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, everyone! I am waiting for a packet from Nancy with two merino v-necks from BR. They are already purchased and included in the above mentioned numbers. Those sweaters will be the last update for now, and I'm also going to avoid my beloved Salvation Army shop. In fact, I went there yesterday and tried on several things, but I managed to stay strong and left without anything.

Ceit, mindful is the word. I'm trying to be less of an emotional dresser and more of a mindful one for a while.

Suz, I think you are onto something. I guess I was pretty naive when I thought I could have a fantastic wardrobe without the hard work, and all the lessons I've learned, and still am learning. Maybe next year things will be more like I've envisioned - my S/S wardrobe has never been as good as this year, so I don't think any major investments will be needed. Let's see come April/May!

nancylee

Veteran

We are definitely here to support you, Ingunn. And many of us are in the same boat when it comes to budget and wardrobe planning. We start out with the best intentions, and then.......

At the start of Autumn (with 2 1/2 years of YLF behind me), I had thought I was in a good place wardrobe-wise. Then I had my colors done and at least half of the items in my wardrobe suddenly seemed wrong! So it was back to the drawing board. *sigh* I do feel like the learning curve, at least for me, has been steep and somewhat costly in both money and time. The payoff has been great, though. I may not be exactly where I want to be wardrobe-wise, but I'm a far cry from where I started. So, that's to be celebrated. I'm sure you feel the same way.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, Nancy. I know you are right. The payoff of joining this forum has been tremendous. I know I have come a long way, and it isn't over yet. We certainly have a lot to be happy about in this respect, both of us!

Your color adventure interests me quite a bit. I've been trying to analyze myself, and I find myself in the Clear Spring section every time. Clearly, there are colors from other seasons that suits me, too, but as a whole, the colors of Clear Spring are the most appealing, and I also believe most flattering for me - particularly since I started lightening up my hair a year ago. Do you think I'm onto something?

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

Oh Ingunn, I totally get where you're coming from - and I admire your honesty and accountability with yourself!

So... how can we best support you?

LACeleste

Veteran

We Clear Springs must stick together! You have my absolute support Ingunn!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you LBD and LAC! I think the best support is to be allowed to vent here from time to time, and to be told "NO" if I suggest buying anything

Adelfa

Veteran

Ingunn, I haven't made a commitment yet, but I'm thinking SYC might be the order of the day for me right now because I'm moving and downsizing drastically. So why buy things in order to move them? Also, why buy when I don't yet really know the climate or the office atmosphere of my new location?

As to time, you are so right. Looking great takes a huge amount of time! When I try a new outfit of familiar pieces I am always shocked at the time it can take to get it just right. There are always surprises and micro adjustments. For instance, recently when donning a pale pink silk shirt with black tapered pants and a dark gray jacket, I discovered that pumps looked better than sleek booties because they exposed foot skin that bookended the top! This is not something I would have anticipated! I am spending less time on the forum too for now.

So yes, you have my support!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

You have my complete support (and understanding) Ingunn! I have also purchased more in the last 6 months than I had planned to even after announcing on the forum that I wasn't going to. I don't regret anything I've purchased but it's now time to stop and enjoy what I have.

It's true that the fun, creativity and excitement of shopping, playing with new purchases, and creating new outfits can become more time consuming that we would like and can even border on obsessive (for me anyway) and we all need to step back once in a while and remind ourselves of other priorities.

We'll cheer you from the sidelines and see you when we see you

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Full support here Ingunn - I'm going to try and have a NO-vember myself. I haven't gone crazy shopping this year but I have added a lot of new pieces and spent a lot of time trying others and sending them back and tracking the credits, etc. which means a lot of time spent. I do need to focus on some of my other hobbies too - like art and cooking, both things I adore. Luckily I have plenty of cooking blogs to read and several art projects already in the works so I should have some distraction.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I support you! I, too, have gone over since arriving in FL with a little extra money and plenty of extra time. (I'm at 28 pieces, also including little trinkets like a cuff bracelet or crossbody bag, but not over budget yet.)
I am doing a no repeat November but was contemplating adding no shopping to it to make it a complete NOvember.
It is good to understand your true needs vs what you think you can cut back to when devising a shopping plan. That much I've learned over the years here. How about trying cutting back by 1/3 next year, and 1/3 more the year after that, etc.
I have a pair of shorts ordered earlier in the week arriving but no more goodies so it's easy to just start my NOvember fresh.
Good luck to you!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

If I considered my thinking time on clothes in terms of an hourly rate I would be bankrupt

Please do not be hard on yourself we all live and learn on this forum.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I support you too! You have such a fabulous closet full of very beautiful things that I highly admire I think you'll emerge from this no problem :3

Lisa

Veteran

This is a great idea. I overhauled my fall/winter wardrobe at NAS this year. Then went on another shopping spree with my sister about a month later. It's been tough to tame the shopping beast that's been awakened. I like the idea to take a pause for the rest of this year (which is only two months how hard can that be right? to see what, if any, wardrobe holes I still have.

Alassë

Veteran

I'm sure you'll do a great job at keeping yourself happy with your outfits, Ingunn. We will look forward to your SYC fabulous-ness.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Of course we'll support you! You have worked very hard to make your wardrobe a versatile one, so I think you'll do splendidly.

deb

Veteran

Obsessing over clothes takes the fun out of dressing for me. I think you may have more fun by SYC.

Marmee

Veteran

What a great goal. It sounds like you made a wardrobe/style goal and decided put intense energy, focus and resources into your wardrobe last year. Now you can reap the benefits!

ironkurtin

Veteran

I wouldn't feel so bad about blowing a 2013 budget by the time it hits November. Blowing the 2014 budget, now - that might be a problem.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Adelfa, good luck with sizing down and the move to LA! You are right, there's no point in buying new stuff right now unless something very special comes your way.

Shannon, you have the most wonderful wardrobe. When I'm better off again financially, I'll hire you as my bag consultant!

Tex, that is the mindful approach, and it sounds very appealing to me right now. Good luck to you, too.

Mo, that is a very good advice, and I think I will try that next year. If I could cut back by 1/3, I would be very pleased.

RoseandJoan, I know! I wish I was paid by the hour for thinking about and planning for my wardrobe I'm not very disappointed in myself, no worries. I just needed to make it official, or I'd go on an fool myself even more.

Thanks lyn*, Alassë, Marmee and Amy, I think I'll manage, too

Lisa, two months are very doable. I actually did the same during the summer holidays, and it was no problem at all. This time of year is a bit harder with party season coming up, but I have nice things already. Shopping monster to be tamed - yes.

deb, that's so true. I feel too obsessed right now, and it consumes time and energy. Time to step back a little.

IK - of course, no drama. Blowing it a whole year ahead would be much worse. But still, I'm on a saving plan, and I also need to budget more money towards gifts and celebrating during the next couple of months, so now is a good time for a break.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I was thinking some more about this, because I had fully intended to SYC this fall and winter - but I have done some purchasing of late. I have also done some re-assimilation of clothing that I had set aside, reluctantly, thinking to consign or ebay them, because I had an idea that I have too many clothes.... only to find myself wistfully thinking of them, and starting to wear them again. Which I guess is good - better to re-discover and enjoy what is already there, than to spend more money!

When I find myself really wanting to shop, I try and figure out what is triggering it. Boredom? Dissatisfaction with something else, either in my surroundings or my life?

When I get restless and find myself wanting to 'acquire', I visit some decluttering and minimalist websites: Flylady, Project 333, The Minimalists, and Into-Mind, and work towards a sort of mental Zen. I also hunt down Claire's posts about her seasonless wardrobe, and that really inspires me!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, LBD, for returning and adding very interesting points to this thread. I am also trying to find out what triggers my shopping. Clearly, I don't need 10 new tops and 5 pairs of new shoes, or four skirts!

I like the idea of reading about minimalism to cool down. I have been doing that, too, lately. Into-mind is a favorite.

True SYC must be about finding again pieces that are rarely worn, too, so I think that if this works for you, it must be great. in my opinion the more wear, the more financially sound and environment friendly is one's wardrobe, no matter how small or big it is. I've reached a point where purging only to be able to shop more feels wrong, and I also want to wear my existing wardrobe more now.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Ingunn, I completely agree with "purging only to be able to shop more feels wrong". I now really want to wear my stuff to the point of tiredness and not purge it unused and unworn.

Gigi

Veteran

Ingunn, so many of us have been in this situation, so don't be too hard on yourself. :^) I too have overspent myself for 2013, though I do have a few necessities that must be bought yet (winter is moving in, and I have very few sweaters). I too decided to really focus on shopping my closet, and by doing so, I am learning more about myself and what kinds of clothes give me the best "happy quotient." I'm seeing that I tend to buy more of the things that are easier to find (tops), and I don't have enough of the things that are harder to find (bottoms). I am also learning that the capsule method doesn't quite work for me--it gets too boring, with repeating the same colors. And I also think that having to wear my "mistakes" instead of giving them away and repurchasing something better is a good experience, as it really hammers home what I *don't* want to do next time.

It seems like SYC really gives everything a while to sink in and to become part of you. I think if we build our wardrobes too rapidly, we don't have ample time to really "savor" what we currently have and to try things in a variety of combinations, so that we truly know by *experience* what we have in our closets.

DonnaF

Veteran

Ah, yes. Like Lisa, I'm finding it tough to tame the shopping monster that's been awakened after (for me), close to 18 years. I am also thinking that this shopping and playing around with trying various combos and capsules is a form of adult play but more expensive than playing with dolls.

Gigi

Veteran

Donna, it's so interesting what you said about adult play. My therapist has said this to me--she said that when you are a kid, it's very important to try on different kinds of clothes because it allows you to try on different kinds of "personalities" and thus helps you to discover better who you are. For those of us who didn't have a chance to do this as kids, it can indeed create a bit of a monster when we become adults!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Nothing wrong with shopping and perfecting your style, it can be such a joyful process as I have learned from this forum and shopping with Angie in person. As long as you aren't getting yourself into debt or avoiding other necessities like a mortgage or rent, and are meeting important savings goals, it's all good. I say go easy on yourself life is too short.

In other words, I'm with RoseandJoan.

After thought: you *do* exhibit your photography skills when you post on YLF! I so enjoy your pictures, and think you could teach all of us a thing or two.

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