And that's so funny, Merwoman! The Canadian retail economy will just have to cope without you buying the same type of thing over and over, and the NZ retail economy will have to cope without me doing it! I won't lose too much sleep over it. The older I get the more I realise they are just trying to get me to part with my money. It's MY money not theirs so they only get it if the items are REALLY right for me! Cheers Jenni

I'm really enjoying this thread and keep rereading it--it reads like a relatable a chapter in Women in Clothes.

Great thread!

I can relate to so many of these insights, but my most valuable lesson this year was to realize I truly prefer a tightly edited wardrobe of textured neutrals which I can mix and match to my heart's desire. My wardrobe orphans and culls are always prints and colored items. I like color and prints in theory, and on others, but I've finally realized I don't want to wear them. I'm a neutral minimalist--and It's time to pay attention to MY preferences instead of thinking I ought to have some color or pattern in my wardrobe.

Merchandize your closet.

The main lesson--I still don't know how to shop effectively.

I wear different items I bought this year in different combinations that manage to look like the exact same outfit I wore yesterday. So lesson learned, just wear the same outfit two days in a row if you work in two different places.

Just because you are excited by shopping NAS for clothing for the first time, and you get really excited about NAS because of the buzz on this new to you thing called YLF, and you find out that a new style of dress fits you, and said dresses have sleeves does not mean that you need to buy almost all the ones that work, especially the two one size smaller because you had special events in January/February and wanted to have something special to wear (note-weight loss did not continue as projected/expected) especially when you do not wear dresses that often and you still like your old ones.

Details for anyone still interested:
NAS dresses:
Dress A worn twice
Dress B worn once
Dress C not worn yet
Dress D same as dress C but one size too small, not worn yet
Dress E not worn yet, one size too small

In Jan/Feb. I expected to wear D and E, but I wore A, and maybe C will be worn.

I planned on purchasing one navy dress that I could dress up and down. Instead I purchased 5 distinctive dresses. I planned on purchasing two skirts to go with my existing tops to expand my wardrobe. I didn't find either.

Lesson, buy for real life, mostly stay on plan, and do not get carried away at NAS.

1. Don't shop with my friends, it's always a mistake. I need to shop either by myself or with my daughter.
2. Online shopping is best for most everything except shoes and boots. Its best to try those on in person, and often there are many to try on before finding a good fit.
3. Stick to color palette.

What I learnt in 2016 was to not buy more black, it is well represented in my wardrobe and is not the best colour on me, no matter how practical it seems. Ink blue is a much better colour on me and is just as versatile.

Shop for the body I have now. Not the one I used to have, or the one I hope to have. Stop trying to squeeze in too tight clothing and admit to myself that I need bigger size. It was not easy lesson. But it actually helped me feeling better about myself.

Such a great thread! I am even jotting down notes so I don't forget the things that strike me.

For me, I think it has been to be pickier about what I buy and to have a specific items/items in mind when I go shopping, so I can focus better. I still don't do this very well but it's something to work toward.

Barbara Diane, I hope you return dresses C, D, and E since Nordstrom doesn't have an expiration date on returns.

My wardrobe really works for me, and I can keep wearing it if I want to. BTW, I keep getting compliments on that Marla Wynne cape that I bought on clearance a while ago.

Lesson 1. Do not think you must buy clothes when traveling abroad. Sure, the exchange rate is tempting but there is no way to return items and never enough time to think. My success rate with such purchases is less than 50%.
Lesson 2. Take pictures of the outfits beforehand. The combination might work in your head and not in real life. Don't wait until you are getting dressed to go out. Have a collection of pictures in case if you forget some nice ones!!!

My lesson is to be more picky on the fit and quality - to not get carried away because you like the pattern or colour. My mistakes were either ill fitting (too short, too tight in the shoulders, too loose in the waist) or poor quality (fabric snags quickly, or is too transparent).

DonnaF, thanks for your advise. I think hope springs eternal but I need to face facts. I may keep C as I really like it. I should try it on again as I do have events coming up. D and E really should go back. I am just so embarrassed as I have returned so much I purchased during NAS, and I feel guilty that a) I kept someone else from purchasing it and b) I kept Nordstrom from selling it. I may send my husband as he doesn't mind and he is happy to see the money come back.

The woman at the pick up/returns counter now knows both of us by sight. Ugh!

I also realized that a scarf I purchased but haven't worn is itchy. I must have tried it on over a coat, but that's not how I'll wear it. I went to wear it and couldn't stand it. So it needs to go back also.

I am beginning to see a lot of purchasing patterns that don't work. I think I'll be wearing what I own until they all wear out.

I can relate to so many of these My biggie was to start thinking in complete outfits. There is no point in having the top if I don't have the bottom & no point in having both if I don't have the shoes, jacket etc.

The biggest advance has been in how I think about wardrobe content.

At the start of the year I began applying a few different "rules" to how I get dressed. I began thinking more in terms of specific forms, colour combinations and silhouettes when putting things together. This helped enormously with integrating wardrobe updates, and made getting dressed a whole lot easier.

More recently, I did a detailed analysis of the contents of my closet (see me Style Lab posts) which brought a more concrete awareness of what I'm trying to achieve and how to go about it.

Great thread.

I learnt to keep a spreadsheet of purchases. Although the total sum spent is slightly of concern, I feel better for having recorded and therefore owning the amounts spent. I also feel better for having analysed the purchases a little, and recording my thoughts.

I also learnt to be more comfortable with my body. Thank you YLF for letting me share my concerns, understanding and being kindly supportive.