What are your persistent wardrobe holes?

Jewell

For me it's shoes and toppers like cardigans and jackets. Like you, I don't have the "right" shoes for a number of my outfits.

13 years ago

Mirp

Active Member

I also have some shoe holes -- I've went shoe shopping the other day -- but was seduced by the flimsy flats. I wore for the week of springlike weather we had and am now prepared to take back the ballet flats I purchase and get something more sensible. I has 2 pairs of Oxfords delivered this week and i like them. Only one will stay; also some sandals & booties being delivered to my mom's in the US.

My other hole is plain bottoms -- I am a pear -- I love dresses, and pattern skirts -- but as I just put together a travel wardrobe it seems much easier to have plain bottoms and vary up the tops.

13 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I have the exact same issue. I gravitate towards the shoes with heels but then avoid wearing them because my feet get sore by the end of the day. I do wear flats and boots a lot but the boots need to be put away for the summer.

I find pants are hard to fit too so it takes more effort to find a pair I like. I also like my pants to fit on the looser side so it is even harder since my thighs are a bit heavy at the top.

13 years ago

Meredith1953

Veteran

Hmmmm. I am still in the SYC playing in the closet phase so I can't identify all the holes and frankly I need to identify how many of each category I need to own anyway. I don't actually want a larger wardrobe just something that works a little better. Based on playing in the closet and posting yesterday, I would say at least one or two blouses to work under a sheath and a couple of cropped sweater/jackets. Mine are a little longer than they should be to work with the two dresses I was styling yesterday.

13 years ago

Anonymous

My most persistant hole is for clothing that looks great but is cool to wear in hot humid weather and is too revealing on an older body. Last year I hunted for sumer dresses and added some but could use more.

13 years ago

Meghan R

Active Member

My most persistent holes are pants. I'm a pear shape, and I can never seem to find pants that are quite right. It can be tricky to find pants to try, because I live in Maine (where we have relatively few retailers) and I only want to do so much internet shopping.

13 years ago

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

Winter dresses. Even my heavier weighted dresses tend to have short sleeves, and the only warm, long sleeved dress I have is a mini!

13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

(1) Like you, Mander, shoes I can walk in day in and day out, and that work with my clothing style!
(2) Pants that aren't jeans. And I'm including the bottoms of my Indian outfits, unless they're the middle level of looseness --- both fitted and very voluminous are a PITA to find for a pudgy petite body!
(3) Sweaters, and even more, cardigans! Yep, sounds ridiculous --- but the choice of actual wool, as opposed to acrylic and such, on these tropical shores are pretty limited. :-/ I'm down to one cape-ish pullover and one woollen winter coat handed down from my mum (makes it 40-ish years old), plus one pair of woollen pants and a woollen shirt for layering. I *do* have a bunch of woollen shawls, but I'd like something more tailored once in a while, you know, for layering or just having my hands *and* shoulders 'free'?
(4) Summer-weight tops that are cool, don't wilt, don't over-expose, and don't fade in days.
(5) This particular gripe is peculiar to my location, but silver earrings (the kind I wear most) that are quiet and discreet and don't come heavily studded with gemstones, and are *studs*, not hoops or danglers. AMAZINGly difficult, because apparently silver only makes sense if showy, and if you're being discreet, you must be rich enough to wear gold. No, I do *not* understand how this works. Any ladies from India or of Indian origin who can solve that mystery for me, please chime in!

13 years ago

Velma

Veteran

Pants that are NOT jeans. I've almost given up on them, in fact. I have only one pair of dress trousers--gray wool blend with a moderately wide leg--and I'm sure it's been at least 8 months since I wore them.

I have a very long inseam, so pants are tough, and in general, if I'm going to "dress up"--for a meeting with clients, an evening out, or almost any other occasion that rises above jeans--I prefer to wear a skirt or dress.

Yet I continue to think it would be nice, especially in the summer, to have an equivalent of the khaki pants I used to wear in the '90s: a casual, washable pair of pants that is a step nicer than jeans.

13 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

(1) Like you, Mander, shoes I can walk in day in and day out, and that work with my clothing style!
(2) Pants that aren't jeans. And I'm including the bottoms of my Indian outfits, unless they're the middle level of looseness --- both fitted and very voluminous are a PITA to find for a pudgy petite body!
(3) Sweaters, and even more, cardigans! Yep, sounds ridiculous --- but the choice of actual wool, as opposed to acrylic and such, on these tropical shores are pretty limited. :-/ I'm down to one cape-ish pullover and one woollen winter coat handed down from my mum (makes it 40-ish years old), plus one pair of woollen pants and a woollen shirt for layering. I *do* have a bunch of woollen shawls, but I'd like something more tailored once in a while, you know, for layering or just having my hands *and* shoulders 'free'?
(4) Summer-weight tops that are cool, don't wilt, don't over-expose, and don't fade in days.
(5) This particular gripe is peculiar to my location, but silver earrings (the kind I wear most) that are quiet and discreet and don't come heavily studded with gemstones, and are *studs*, not hoops or danglers. AMAZINGly difficult, because apparently silver only makes sense if showy, and if you're being discreet, you must be rich enough to wear gold. No, I do *not* understand how this works. Any ladies from India or of Indian origin who can solve that mystery for me, please chime in!

13 years ago

christieanne

Veteran

I am jealous every time I see a WIW of a great dress. I can't find a dress to fit and flatter me anywhere. I try them on but rely on skirts for a non-pants option.
Colored bottoms. I had to wear black pants daily to my previous job so therefore had like 20 pair (they also got pretty dirty in course of a day) and have only kept the best of the best in closet purge but still rely on black too much.

13 years ago

Mochi

Veteran

Mander, I was in that same shoe boat with you up until after joining YLF this fall. I want on a mad splurge of shoes and boots, spending probably four times what I've spent overall on clothing, but it's really paid off. I totally identify with your statement that there were items hanging in my closet I could not wear for lack of appropriate shoes.

You may need to just start scouring 6pm.com and zappos simply as if you were studying for an exam or trying to find an apartment in some real estate listings. Just look at everything and keep yourself open. I also walk a ton, can't wear a heel over 3" and even a substantially lower heel makes my feet tired within minutes, much less hours. How much of a tradeoff you can take, only you know. But I was happy to find out that at least this season, there are plenty of cute shoes that are both comfortable and stylish and versatile. The danger may be that shoe buying can become addictive, but at your stage you really do need some basics.

What are my current holes, then? I could ask: what wardrobe holes DON'T I have? I could use different types of coats, cardigans and casual jackets, nice trousers, blouses and more casual but pretty tops, fun jeans in various colors that actually fit, I don't have a lot of basics like tights and hose in colors I can use, and though I was shopping madly for a while after joining YLF, I look in my closet (past the shoes) and it's hard to believe I put so much time into the process when I see how few things I actually ended up with.

Also, I can say one thing, that I suspect that no matter what else changes, I will never have an easy time finding a dress that fits well, and may end up not even bothering.

13 years ago

machanteuse (Lori)

Active Member

Shoes always- the curse of XW feet. And I'm having a horrible time with pants right now - everything is either too tight or too loose! I'm still trying to figure out where to shop for that perfect fit, or I need to work a little harder on Weight Watchers...

13 years ago

Susan

Active Member

Like Joy, I need clothes for hot humid days but don't feel good in tanks or low cut tops anymore. (I am 61.) I end up in a V neck Tee every day. I wish I could find lightweight collared shirts that don't need to be ironed!
I also have the shoe problem. I live in flat sandals and go into crisis mode when I travel to cooler climates and have to have closed shoes that are stylish AND comfortable for walking a lot.

13 years ago

Mo

(website)

Veteran

sign me up for the shoe hole team as well. I thought I was fine after having spent almost 2 years in FL, but then moving back to the snow, I realize I need something in between sandals and boots now I also seem to have lots of 3" shoes that I love but can't walk in for too long, so it really limits the amount I actually wear them. Ideally, I'd have a few pairs of 2" slip on shoes I can walk in forever.

13 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Don't laugh at me....well, I don't see how you won't ! LOL..

I have holes that are in my head. These are the holes that I ALWAYS think I have , but I don't really have them. I have a thing for "gear bags". I NEVER seem to have the exactly right backpack or gym bag or tote for the beach/library...you name it. In reality, I have everything that one could think of in every size. I wonder if there is a phsychological disorder for this. Hmmmm.

Otherwise, I really don't have any.

I used to never have the right shoe or boot. But after I started YLF, that changed. I was buying very poor quality shoes and was more concerned about cost than comfort or longevity.

13 years ago

Parsley

Veteran

I'm in agreement with Joy and Susan; appropriate clothing for warm weather is a huge problem. I'm on the lookout constantly for anything summery that is not more revealing than I'm comfortable with, that has a enough structure to hide some figure flaws, but is current and casual. It seems like most summer clothing is geared toward the very young, or else is total frumpdom.

I'm going to be relying heavily on YLF to help me figure out how to dress myself this summer.

13 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Closed-toed work pumps that I can wear all day and preferably walk in for at least four blocks. For the past year - two - three - four or more, I haven't worn skirts and dresses because I lacked the shoes or actually, skirts or dresses I can fit into. Now, (as of yesterday), I own two dresses and have two Halogen pencil skirts! My toes turn purple black if they get the least bit chilled, so I can't wear bare shoes in any but the hottest weather. And my wide, bunioned, padless feet are super fussy. I have my eyes on Fluevog Lily Darlings, but am not optimistic that they will fit or be wearable for me since almost nothing is. . . .The only shoes that keep my feet from screaming in bed are the ones that look exactly like potatoes and the cast-off fake Crocs from my mom. How pathetic is that?!?!? Hope springs eternal, tho'. . .

13 years ago

Anonymous

Well, I don't own any pants that aren't jeans so that might be a hole. I don't have a huge need for them, as I can wear a skirt when I need to dress up. I could use a solid summer dress, more good covering woven summer tops and some fabulous color-blocked flat sandals with thick straps. Tops and pants must be my most consistent holes though. They are the hardest things for me to find.

Oh, and the standard sheath dress that winds up at Ross, TJMaxx, Marshalls, Kohl's or Target is too short on me, usually about 4 inches above my knee. If the midi trend brought the standard dress length down 5-6 inches, I'd be so happy! Petites, you better stock up now! (Well, you can always cut your dresses off, too!)

13 years ago

Laurinda

Veteran

Shoes with closed backs -- I have no flats, pumps, boat shoes or loafers.
I have great mules, clogs, slingbacks, and sandals for my fussy wide feet, but cannot find a pair of shoes (other than laced athletic shoes) that fit but don't slop up and down and blister my heels.

I gave up on finding knee high boots to fit my 17" calves

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shoes and footwear generally, although things are improving since I joined YLF.

Bags. I was a one - bag lady for years but I see now how much difference they can make to an outfit.

Belts.

Hmmm. Maybe it is leather goods, period. I don't have a leather jacket, either!

For summer, I need a lot. Clams or skirts, woven tops, a dress or two.

13 years ago

Elly

Veteran

I go back and forth on this.

The first thing that popped into my mind was toppers and shoes. I never have appropriate ones for outfits . . . I usually only have appropriate ones to wear with gear or t's and jeans.

That said, I am not an easy fit for any body part, don't own a real bag currently because I am quite fussy about them, and it took me 5 years to buy a new winter coat, which I am still not entirely thrilled with.

13 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I echo many others...pants and shoes. Sigh

13 years ago

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

Blazers! I have a few, but none are quite "right." I wear a 00P, so it's really hard to find jackets that fit at all, and most that come close are pretty expensive AND would still require costly alterations, so I don't have many.

Also...shoes! I have feet that are a hard-to-find size (5.5), are narrow, have high arches, and (sorry) get sweaty, so my shoes not only have to fit (almost impossible), but either have to be sandals or some other kind of "open" design, OR have to accommodate socks. Also, being really short, I almost exclusively wear heels...but I can't walk in heels that are too skinny, further limiting my options. I'm not totally opposed to flats, but most of them have zero arch support, and just aren't comfortable to me.

ETA: Okay, after organizing my closet, I had to update this post. I am also extremely lacking in cute tops for work. It seems I'm lacking in everything but socks, undies, and jeans. Hmm.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Blazers. I have an extremely difficult time finding ones that are shaped to flatter my figure. I have one trusty denim blazer that I love. That's the only blazer I've found that really works for me. Luckily, I work in an office where a blazer (other than my denim one) would be too dressy. No one else wears blazers. If I worked in a more formal setting, I guess I'd have to buy some blazers and pay to have them altered to fit.

It's difficult for me to find trousers and jeans that fit my hips without gapping in the waist, but I have somehow managed to find some, so that's not presently a hole in my wardrobe.

I spend a lot of time scouting for blouses and sweaters that are shaped. Most are boxy and seemingly made to fit rectangles or apples. I can't buy a shapeless top and simply belt it because I'm short waisted. I prefer to skip belts entirely and lengthen my torso with tops that skim my shape. Nothing clingy, though.

I have a very easy time with dresses and skirts.

13 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

comfortable but stylish shoes and trousers.

13 years ago

Nadya

Veteran

Belts to wear with pants: I have one that is too big and a bunch that are too small (though they work over a top or sweater).

Shirts and blouses that look good on their own - this becomes more apparent in spring and summer when I'm not layering so much!

I'm working on both of these right now. I wish I knew why the pretty flowy blouses that were so abundant in the fall don't seem to have a spring equivalent. Well, I guess they do, but they are either peasant style, or banded at the bottom, neither of which is my thing. The hunt goes on!

13 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Actually, I'm doing pretty well right now! I can't think of any major wardrobe holes. Oh, except one...a Burberry trench. LOL!

13 years ago

Irene

(website)

Active Member

Pants that go well with flats! Every time I go for pants, I end up with some boot-cuts or wide legged pants, because straight-legged or other suitable are rare commons.
And shoes, you never have enough of them.

13 years ago

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