YouLookFab Forum » Topic: 30 x 30 Recap

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: 30 x 30 Recap https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 26 May 2026 13:07:21 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Carla on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1826287 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 22:19:21 +0000 Carla 1826287@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Workout wear is like a uniform - or PJs - or smalls - or a tooth brush, and should not have counted in your 30x30. If I had counted bathing suits, running gear, cycling kit, etc. I would have gone to work naked! (9-12 hours per week workout time). Oooops! My REAL life entails work (60 hours per week if you count the commute) for a little while longer. I should pick up my corporate socks, and make a little more effort for what time remains. 24-48 hours home-making, chores, garden, etc. 42-48 hours sleep. 6 hours reading, computer browsing, piano. *I don't do TV... Jenni NZ on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1826259 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 21:51:57 +0000 Jenni NZ 1826259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's all so interesting! Even in the opposite season. Emily's comment resonates about buying too much dressy stuff for "going out" ( I do "go out" to dinners quite a bit) but I have too much and need to put a stop to "That would be nice for going out to dinner with" ( our best friends). I have such choice for that I could go out to dinner for a couple of years with no repeats. Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1825667 Tue, 18 Jul 2017 19:07:52 +0000 Anonymous 1825667@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Finally, I made it a point to wear the previously-unworn items on Monday and Tuesday.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with them.  I love them.  They serve a purpose.   Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1825211 Mon, 17 Jul 2017 16:13:37 +0000 Anonymous 1825211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you, Chris987.  Your comment makes my day.  Chris987 on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1825178 Mon, 17 Jul 2017 14:26:24 +0000 Chris987 1825178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have been sporadically reading these 30 x 30 posts and finding so many things that resonate with me. I'm soooo glad you started it Sterling and wonderful to hear comments from othe participants. I've had about 6 weeks of being way too busy to study it all carefully including a laptop battery death just in time for NAS (new Battery being installed today) but now I have the time and am looking forward to it. I've been in a severe wardrobe funk since late spring and these postings will help me sort it out. Also going to visit a Nordstrom store....don't have a NAS wish list this year but do want to check it out. Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1825157 Mon, 17 Jul 2017 13:11:18 +0000 Anonymous 1825157@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Final note.  When all is said and done, I will have worn 32 items over the course of 30 days.  The extra two items reflected the need to dress for the unexpected meeting.     Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824942 Sun, 16 Jul 2017 16:46:44 +0000 Anonymous 1824942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree, Emily!!!!  It is freeing when we finally realize this!!!   Emily K on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824939 Sun, 16 Jul 2017 16:37:55 +0000 Emily K 1824939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Anne's is a useful realization, Sterling, that I found helpful as well.  My closet needs to reflect the actual life I have.  I read on someone's blog that you should write down all the things that you do and the frequency of those things.  Translate it into percentages, or days per week/month.  Figure out how many outfits you need, taking laundry frequency and mix n' match onto account.  Go activity by activity. Desire for variety aside, I need only one decent outfit for a casual dinner out every week.  We don't go to truly dressy places/events very often, so even one outfit, total, would be enough for that.  I found that I kept buying "nice going out clothes" because I felt that I needed just the right thing every time.  "Going out clothes" were waaaay over represented in my wardrobe.  This strategy helped me to be at peace with the fact that I'm buying mostly jeans and T-shirts because most days I dress for child care, dog walking, and grocery shopping. And, it's helped me to see that I should upgrade within those categories--better T-shirts or T-shirt alternatives, for example, instead of upgrading by buying dressier items and outfits. Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824871 Sun, 16 Jul 2017 12:00:45 +0000 Anonymous 1824871@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ OMG.  Stating the obvious.  Anne is right.  In late 2016, I started teleworking two days a week.  That means I only go into the office three days and one of those days is casual Friday.  So I only really have to dress "professionally" two days a week now.  YET my work clothing mindset has not yet caught up. I still buy dressy cloths for "work." Those items do not translate to casual wear for deep summer at all.  Yet another lesson!!!  I need to start re-defining my buying strategies.  I'm definitely going to have to draft a list of questions to ask myself before every single purchase.  That is todays project!! Sal -- I don't know.  I so, so carefully selected my 30 items.  I imagined needing and wanting every one of them.  What I might have done differently was not include accessories (bag and belt).  Those two items took up two slots that could have gone to items that would have made better outfits for the unworn items.  I also started to resent having included workout items in my 30.  So yes, I probably would have defined my parameters differently, but kept at least thee of the four unused pieces.   Style Fan -- Thank you for pointing out that it takes time to build wardrobe components.  I don't need to go out and try to find six or eight pairs of pants for deep summer weather.  I can buy one or two and buy some more in the future.  It takes the pressures off.   Jenn -- excellent question.  I need to go find the thread that seasonal shopping was discussed.   Briefly, we concluded was that seasonal shopping is definitely the way to go if (1) you like that idea, (2) your wardrobe is in a good place, and (3) you can afford it.  But the interesting thing is that not everyone needs to do two large season shops, they might be better served by four, or even five, smaller seasonal shops that closely correlate to their seasons.  Anchie had some the best comments on this subject.   Style Fan on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824860 Sun, 16 Jul 2017 10:43:17 +0000 Style Fan 1824860@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you Sterling for putting the 30 x 30 challenge together.  I am very impressed by how much we all learnt from it.  I also have very few summer bottoms and have been working on filling that wardrobe hole for the last 2 years.  I also agree that summer clothes are not as sturdy as winter ones.  Summer clothes seem to fall apart very quickly.  Very annoying.  Jenn on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824832 Sun, 16 Jul 2017 04:26:10 +0000 Jenn 1824832@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I so agree with what delurked said about summer clothes. Winter fabrics are just so much more sturdy and appealing. Sterling, it sounds like you learned a lot! Has this made you rethink your seasonal shop strategy? Sal on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824828 Sun, 16 Jul 2017 04:14:35 +0000 Sal 1824828@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Sterling for your work in co-ordinating the challenge.  I agree with others comments as to the reasons why you have found the last part difficult.  I have had one or two pieces that have not pulled their weight - but that is okay.  If you were to start again, would you choose the same pieces or tweak them?   I anne on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824791 Sun, 16 Jul 2017 02:10:03 +0000 anne 1824791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling, I think you also mentioned elsewhere that you have changed your work days - that you work home more in the office now, and that since you were in aircon you didn't need many high summer clothes previously. I can really relate to that. My office wardrobe is fairly consistent all year round, although I wear long sleeve tops and hose in winter. When I've had a long summer holiday in our very hot summers my high summer wardrobe has come under pressure. Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824738 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 23:36:20 +0000 Anonymous 1824738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ JAileen -- Thank you for posting.  I remember your posts when you were taking care of your Mother and dealing with a multitude of health care professionals.  I am glad that your wardrobe served you so well.   I wasn't sure how I could explain my lack of deep summer clothes and then I read Delurked's post.  She literally spoke for me.  Summer clothes have never appealed to me and shopping for them is hard.  I am getting better.  I need natural fabrics.  Unlike Joy, ultralight cottons can work for me too.  I do find I have to wash them after a single wearing though.  That does cause them to look tired.   Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824710 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 21:20:09 +0000 Anonymous 1824710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling, your thoughts are always stated so clearly and you are insightful and objective. Thank you for this challenge. I want to repeat it more often during the year. I can identify the need to shop for hot weather. YLF got through to me to shop for one's dominate climate. For Kansas that was definitely for long stretches of hot humid weather. So in the past couple of years I have concentrated on buying for hot summer and considering what footwear I could use to replace sandals I've been forbidden to wear. This challenge showed me that my summer capsule is significantly deep, especially for this new climate of less hot weather and no humidity. Summer clothes are out there but take time to find. Anything polyester can not even be considered. For me this extended to most cotton too. You might also consider what would make a good travel wardrobe piece as much travel is to warm places. Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824707 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 20:55:52 +0000 Anonymous 1824707@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ JAileen - this may not apply to Sterling, but I personally find it so much more difficult to find summer clothing I like. I think it's due to a lot of the tissue thin, cheap fabrics, or the fabric doesn't feel good to me. Too revealing or unflattering, and I find myself ruling out things I might have gone for before. They don't have enough command, if you will, to feel appropriate to me. Plus, the summer fabrications often wear faster, and if the season is long, need replenishing more frequently. I definitely devoted more time this year to shop for my every day life, but it was frustrating to weed through to find things I liked. That's my take anyway. YMMV. JAileen on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824697 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 20:26:55 +0000 JAileen 1824697@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I did not want to participate in the 30x30. Kelly said she felt free when she was done. I wanted to feel free the entire 30 days! However, I enjoyed seeing how all of you coped with the challenge. I do think it's very odd that you don't have enough summery clothes when you live in a hot and humid climate. I understand preferring winter clothes. I do, too, but I have a fairly cold winter, relatively speaking. Our summers are so intense that I feel like it must be our dominant season. But it isn't. Winter is actually dominant here. Last year, for the first time in many years, I purposefully bought casual summery bottoms, at the beginnng of the season, in a variety of styles, and my preferred colors. It turned out to be a good thing since I ended up having to visit my mother so many times in the hospital and rehab hospital, after her fall. I had to meet health care professionals and friends of my mother, and was able to look decent. I think it finally occurred to me that this was my real life - very casual. But that very casual didn't necessarily mean old hiking shorts! Re yellow top: If I were putting together a small capsule, I would only include my favorite colors. Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824685 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 19:50:46 +0000 Anonymous 1824685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Emily -- You might be on to something.  One of my unworn item is yellow.  I hate yellow and black together.  So every time I wore black, I consciously made the decision to not wear the yellow top.   Delurked -- I'll let you know if I figure out just why those four items were not worn.  There has to be a solid reason.  As I note above, one of them was yellow and I anticipated wearing the yellow with navy.  I wore much more black during the challenge.  I say I adore navy, but I obviously fall back to black more often than navy.   Srah -- This challenge was easy because of participants like you.   Emily K on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824673 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 19:00:01 +0000 Emily K 1824673@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It IS curious about your unworn items.  I had a couple of unworn items, and a couple of items that I wore knowing that I didn't like them, but I know the reasons and considered them even as I was building the capsule.  If you like the items individually, is it that they didn't make outfits you like?   ETA:  FWIW, I find this to be the main "problem" with mix and match wardrobes and small capsules--that you can make a lot of adequate outfits, but sacrifice the pieces needed to make really stellar individual outfits. Nomad on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824672 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 18:46:24 +0000 Nomad 1824672@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love reading your posts; your analysis and voice are so clear and thoughtful.  I also learned that my closet isn't great for hot weather; I can get away with it because I'm in arctic AC for most of the day, but it's definitely good to be aware of and (thoughtfully) work to fix. I definitely agree with the wisdom of pulling the capsule into its own space.  Mornings became so easy, even if I didn't have an outfit planned out ahead of time. This was a great experience; thank you for being our fearless leader! Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824663 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 18:02:04 +0000 Anonymous 1824663@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sounds like some good information gleaned. I know how hard the high summer months are to shop for. I find heavier fabrications or coverage more flattering, but that doesn't work when you can't stand to put it on in the heat. I still feel a couple lacking areas, although I am completely over shopping for summer this year. I think that's because I shopped longer than you did this spring (about three months). I also feel like my shopping next year will not be so in depth. I hope more filling holes. My NAS shopping is for two specific things. I am not getting winter items per se - just non summer items. I even went and tried on a bunch of my winter things to remind me to not buy them at NAS. Although that was a hot project, it reminded me of how much I like what I have in my closet. I can already tell I'm tiring of shopping for these black pants and booties. I got a couple other options for them in the mail already and swiftly sent them back. When I get through the NAS options, I'm going to take another shopping break whether I found them or not. I'm being super picky about fit and what I like. I have enough not to settle. I am particularly curious about your unworn items and their status going forward. I would be asking myself what I reached for instead, and if not wearing them was only a seasonal issue or a liking issue. I think it is telling that you don't want to donate them. ETA - also a good lesson is knowing you want to keep some rarely worn items because when you need them, they will be there. Hopefully that eliminates any angst at keeping a fuller closet than you think you *ought* to have. Anonymous on "30 x 30 Recap" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30-x-30-recap#post-1824660 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 17:49:50 +0000 Anonymous 1824660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ First, let me say this was harder than I thought it would be. I started to get bored with my 30 items about 20 days into the challenge. I desperately wanted something different. This sparked a shopping frenzy. Sal mentioned that challenges like this are a bit like dieting. I certainly proved her right.  Like most of the participants, I tried to anticipate all activities and plan accordingly. I was successful, except for one event: an important work meeting. I had to travel for the meeting and I knew it would be a long day under stressful circumstances. I made the decision to wear tired-and-true wardrobe items as a confidence booster. So I pulled two items from my working closet that were not planned. It was the right decision. Lesson learned: it is always good to have safe and reliable clothes to fall back on when you need them to boost confidence. The next obstacle I faced was heat and humidity. I included three work slacks and four casual slacks. Two of the casual bottoms (Old Navy Full Length White Jeans and Gap Khakis) were too heavy for the weather and I didn't want to wear them. That left me with only two bottoms for casual. Elizabeth P suggested I substitute other items in for the khakis and jeans. The problem was that I didn’t have bottoms to substitute in. The most important lesson learned during this challenge was that I do not have a "deep" closet. When the weather turned hot and humid, I was forced to wear a very small subset of my 30 items. Substitutions were not an option because I didn't own the items I needed in the first place. It was coincidental that we did the challenge during my hot/humid period. I am so glad that we did though. The fact that I have so few deep summer wardrobe items was enlightening. It positively reinforces the fact that I need to shop for these items first and foremost. I have given myself permission to really focus on building my deep summer wardrobe. I have been pining ideas and shopping like crazy.  While everyone else is shopping for NAS, I'll be busy shopping late Summer sales.  The good thing is I have my NAS budget to spend so I can look for higher end pieces that I wouldn't normally have bought.  I learned the merits of keeping all of my capsule clothes together in a unique space. Lisa P suggested this concept early on. I resisted at first because it “seemed” like a lot of work, but at the start of the second week I pulled everything together. I was actually gripping about it as I was doing it, but it was worth the trouble. To start with there was no clutter in my mind or my closet. The color swatch was clean and clear across the closet.  I have always switched out my wardrobes twice a year, but now I see the power of condensing it even more …. even by weeks if that matches your seasons. Something that intrigued me were the unworn items. I had four items that were not worn one single time. This was huge given that I only had 30 items to work with. Every single day I consciously made the decision to not wear them and instead wear some thing else. There is a lesson here, I just know it. I don’t know what that lesson is though. I have no idea why I did not want to wear those four items. They fit. They were comfortable. I wonder if I wear those four items during different times of my year because I have no desire to donate them at this time. I also discovered like Joy that a challenge like this has seasonal benefits in terms of identifying wardrobe holes. It is something I want to do at the start of each new season.