https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:24:44 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself/page/2#post-1936988 Sat, 14 Jul 2018 23:09:54 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1936988@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Awesome sorting. I worried that only one color pants and on type of pattern on top would get boring, so was glad when I got to the part about adding some other jeans, tops, and sweaters back in. It sounds like those things will mix in with the other items in this category easily. </p> <p>Reading this, it strikes me that the kind of organizing you’ve done requires having your life structured and knowing what activities you’ll be participating in. Some of those (maternity clothes) are easy to pick out, some of the others may be harder to close the door on, like the office attire. Having all that sorted and your wardrobe sorted to match sounds peaceful indeed! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself/page/2#post-1936627 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 20:34:44 +0000 Aida 1936627@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>I am so impressed at how quickly you got this implemented and moving! /HIGH FIVES <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Would love to hear an update in a couple weeks on how it's working out. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Great new stripey tops. And good vibes on the bra situation! Can be a bit of work to sort out, but sooo worth it.<br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself/page/2#post-1936582 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 18:49:59 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1936582@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Glad to hear the winnowing is going well. I was going to recommend Duluth Trading too, as a lot of my 'gear' items are from them and Eddie Bauer. I work seasonally at a farm/orchard and I found that jeans aren't great unless it's quite cold - cargo pants or pants like the dry-on-the-fly ones (Eddie Bauer makes some too, and capris and shorts) are much more versatile&nbsp;and comfortable. Black and navy are too dark and show stains but anything in the olive/tan/light brown family works well. Comfortable shoes/boots, again in earth tones, and wicking socks, and layers on top (this is where hoodies really shine) and you're set. I very much agree with the advice to make sure your colors are ones you like and flatter you - if you're in wicking pants and a tee 40+ hours a week, at least make sure they are in colors you enjoy.</p> <p>I feel like a great deal of the appeal of the wardrobe in the linked article is that she wears so much white and pastel all year round. If her jeans were blue and her tops were charcoal, say, it would look much less fresh and interesting. I think the general principles are good, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1936533 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:44:08 +0000 frannieb 1936533@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>loved reading your process. The article was great.&nbsp;</p> <p>I am moving and gaining a wonderful new walk in closet - I cant wait to do really look at all my clothes and really sort out my uniforms. It has happened gradually over time for me:<br />My colors<br />Black, gray, navy and burgundy and an occasional white/off-white piece - I have some other color in their but they seldomly get worn - like as in never and I should cull these out. Orange comes into play in the summer. I'm telling you it makes shopping easy&nbsp; peasy and honestly I can pretty much step into my closet and get dressed without even thinking.</p> <p>keep us posted on you journey. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1936321 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 06:17:42 +0000 Bijou 1936321@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really enjoyed reading this post. When it comes to dressing for work, I like to wear a uniform. Working in a corporate field, I can add some fun, but not too much, as I prefer to not have to think about what I am wearing at work and just focus on the task at hand.</p> <p>I had to laugh at your comments about slips. Some items just seem to multiply in our closets, I am sure. Time to ditch them all and enjoy the freed up space! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1936211 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 01:37:46 +0000 jacquez 1936211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm all done! That took much longer than I thought.&nbsp;</p> <p>The final tally of clothes tossed for being too shabby to even donate was an embarrassing 5 trash-bags' worth. The donate &amp; give-away pile was considerable, though!</p> <p>I have a dress-code drawer all set up, and I'll need at least one more pair of full-length grey jeans -- but given the weather, I have til October to find them.&nbsp;</p> <p>I bought three shirts (see finds) to deal with the dearth of short-sleeved stripes in my wardrobe, and next I have to buckle down and cope with the bra situation....</p> <p>Tomorrow I'll see if I can get one of the kids to take a good pic of me all ready to face the day! Pics of myself never work out.&nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you everyone for reading along! It was nice to share what was going on with people.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935625 Thu, 12 Jul 2018 00:53:39 +0000 jacquez 1935625@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a busy day, so I’m going to finish up my sorting tomorrow. But I already have a drawer set up with the uniform in it, and it was so relaxing to just pull out an outfit and be ready to go, without any of the usual unhappy agonizing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935618 Thu, 12 Jul 2018 00:20:22 +0000 Tina 1935618@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@CindySmith -- Oh I totally hear you on the wide leg pants. I caught a pair with my opposite foot one day and fell down the stairs while visiting a client. Bruised the heck out of myself, and it was embarrassing as well. Guess who got rid of those pants? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935580 Wed, 11 Jul 2018 21:38:23 +0000 Aida 1935580@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Woohoo! Loved hearing those updates, great to hear that this is getting into high gear. Hopefully already working </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935477 Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:50:24 +0000 jacquez 1935477@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Folks, thank you all so so much for all the support. I am still not done — my lack of discipline as regards my wardrobe and its maintenance is biting me hard! I have one over-full laundry basket to sort through, still, and one rack of the closet.</p> <p>Some of you encouraged me to just go ahead and get rid of a lot of the things I was relegating to gardening clothes. I was very reluctant to do that, but I took time to find and sort out ALL my gardening clothes and realized that I don’t need any of the things I was relegating, and I should just get rid of them. Done! I probably would not have done that without you-all pointing out that I ought to consider it, so thank you so much for that. </p> <p>I like @jussie’s suggestion of olive jeans — if I get bored with grey, I will keep that idea in my back pocket. I love olive in general, but can’t wear it near my face or I look ill.</p> <p>Re: shorts. I don’t wear them! I don’t know why, really, but I dislike them. I had two pairs at the beginning of this process but both of them are in the donate pile now. They’re in great condition because I’ve only worn them a few times since buying them 4 years ago.</p> <p>All my current favorite lightweight sweaters are on the office-appropriate-to-dressy side, so they aren’t going anywhere — just being moved to that part of the wardrobe. I also have 4 really great dressy-dressy pullover sweaters, with shine and sparkle — 2 from Banana Republic, 1 DKNY, 1 Mango. Looking at them all stacked up together makes me so very happy. The DKNY one is scratchy against the skin, sadly, but I’m going to give it another chance, over a base layer, and if I can’t stand it I’ll donate it. It’s disco-fabulous and I hope I don’t have to let it go. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935182 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 19:33:30 +0000 Jenn 1935182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love Duluth! My favorite (okay, and only) flannel is from there, and they're my go-to for layering tanks. It's almost impossible to kill some of their clothes.&nbsp;Perhaps you can create a gardening dress code, as well, as let that guide your future buying...something as simple as quick-dry pants + plaid shirt. Done.</p> <p>I like the idea of a dress code, but I get bored of the same silhouette, so mine would be more in the form of strict color discipline.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935143 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 17:29:52 +0000 RobinF 1935143@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also read that article and was intrigued, but I didn't even know where I would start. Reading your experience is very helpful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935132 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 17:04:18 +0000 jacquez 1935132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@cindysmith oh arrrgh, produce stands! so messy. I run an edible garden and we do workshops and whatnot, and I'm also a permaculture designer with a traditional landscape that I'm slowly converting. One of my goals for the next year is to get a farm permit for my home garden and start selling the chicken eggs and excess produce!&nbsp;Garden clothes need to be able to take punishment and hold my smaller tools when I need both my hands, and every other characteristic is secondary. The Duluth "Dry on the Fly" line is excellent for lots of reasons but partly because the work I do &amp; our weather means I get wet a fair amount, and having tough fabric that is still lightweight and dries quickly is ace. &nbsp;(Old jeans are for at-home gardening stuff like weeding, not heavy work; modern women's jeans just do not hold up to heavy work.)&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935107 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 16:02:41 +0000 cindysmith 1935107@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dude, I can totally relate! I work in a produce stand, so I'm always covered in bits of vegetable and lots of fruit juice by the time I head home. I'm lucky if I get through a day without snagging a garment on a nail or screw or jagged chunk of wood, or get a hole eaten in a shirt by the boss's pet goat, and it's always a good day when I can head home with no goat or pig poop on my clothes. I've given up on wearing things that I love to work, and just wear things that I like but won't cry over when they get ruined (and they will).</p> <p>I, too, was inspired by that piece, and I loved her color palette. That color palette probably won't work for my job, but I've embraced it for the rest of the week.</p> <p>I've also been working from that uniform theory of dressing for a while now, although I hadn't had a conscious thought that I wanted a uniform. I just knew that, much as I love wide-leg pants, I don't reach for them very often because I tend to get them snagged on something or my feet get tangled up in all that fabric. So I don't buy wide leg anything anymore unless it is cropped or shorts.</p> <p>Thank you for sharing your experience and process. I look forward to reading more about it as you progress, because it will help me work through my need for separate and distinct wardrobes for different functions in my life. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935054 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 14:08:14 +0000 SarahD8 1935054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is great! Thanks for updating us with your progress. I find these sorts of posts so fascinating and great food for thought.</p> <p>It sounds like you have your preferences and your needs well in hand. Your plan for conference/business clothes sounds perfect.</p> <p>I do hope you find a way to wear those lightweight pullovers, since you love them. Maybe another variation on your code will occur to you? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935030 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 12:47:00 +0000 jussie 1935030@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your plan sounds very practical. It’s such a great feeling once the wardrobe is cleaned out and sorted.<br /> I’m wondering whether you may have too many pairs of jeans? Maybe choosing the 5 best pairs would be helpful to reduce the amount of clothing you’ve got, just to make things more streamlined.<br /> Also, I’m wondering is there some way the flannel shirts might be useful still in the general wardrobe rather than relegation to gardening? I’m thinking you could wear them open over nuetral colour stripe tops, or possibly the queer tees, depending on colour? Or even under a puffer vest in winter. Also possibly open over solid colour tees, if you have any. Also, flannel shirts look good with just the collar and cuffs peeking out of a woolen sweater, or a lightweight sweater. Or under a cardi.<br /> Also maybe as you like your olive gardening pants best- maybe you could try olive jeans as a part of your dress code? Olive kind of goes with every other colour so that could be handy.<br /> Also I’m wondering if shorts will form a part of your summer dress code?<br /> Good luck with it all- I hope you feel super refreshed with your organized wardrobe! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1935025 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 12:28:39 +0000 jacquez 1935025@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wearing today: a lightweight linen-blend long-sleeved striped tee w. welted seams &amp; a dropped shoulder; grey Levis. I thought I would hate these jeans — they were buried in the back of a drawer and why would I do that with grey jeans if they weren’t terrible somehow? But they fit nicely and I like them a lot. I guess they just got lost!</p> <p></p> <ul> <li>I thought I didn’t like lightweight pullover sweaters, but 3 of them (none striped!) are in my favorite non-code items pile. I think this means that I should consider adding some lightweight striped sweaters to my wardrobe in the fall or winter.</li> <li>I have a lot of things I never wear. NEVER. I have two cardigans I’ve had for two years and never worn, and three pairs of dress trousers still with tags on. I’m going to donate all of those. (There might be a matching jacket for one of these pairs of trousers in the closet, but I haven’t dealt with the closet yet.) </li> <li>I do still own dresses, even though I haven’t worn dresses since the last time I was pregnant. I own four: a grey sheath dress, a maternity dress, and two dresses with bold floral prints. The floral print dresses I’m going to pass to my sister, and donate the other two. </li> <li> I have a lot more office-appropriate clothing than I thought. I haven’t had an office job in a decade. I do, sometimes, have to look polished and professional, but I’m seriously thinking I should winnow this down to three pairs of trousers and four tops, because that’ll probably get me through a conference without having to do laundry in a hotel. I bet there’s more I haven’t found yet.</li> <li>Why do I still own skirts. Why. </li> <li>My underwear is good. I’ve been very aggressive about culling those for the past few years and I’m pleased with the results. I need to get more aggressive with my socks. My bras are a disaster area.</li> <li>Why do I own so many slips. Why. I don’t wear skirts or dresses. Why, slips, why. </li> <li>I found a striped shirt I own that I loathe so much that I threw it out. I have no idea why I bought it. It is the only striped thing I own that I do not love. My theory is that it is sort of like a sin-eater in shirt form.</li> <li>I have 4 pairs of non-grey jeans that I like a lot. All are Lucky Brand. 3 are men’s 410s in dark blue washes, and one is a pair of women’s cropped white jeans that I got last year and wore constantly. I’ve put them in with the grey jeans pile…sure, they’re not grey, but I do love them. And it’s my dress code so I can change it up! </li> </ul> <p></p> <p>So far I’ve thrown out three bags of clothes that were un-pass-on/donate-able. Clearly it’s been too long since I brought EVERYTHING out into the light. </p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934953 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 02:12:29 +0000 rachylou 1934953@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is really what I do for the bakery... altho I’ve always called it uniform dressing... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934944 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 01:21:42 +0000 Like the Season 1934944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm something of a uniform dresser, too, although with a more variety than you're talking about. Anyway, the concept resonates with me. Thanks for sharing your plans.</p> <p>I first learned about the uniform style of dressing from a co-worker more than 20 years ago. Every day, she wore a white button up and tan khakis, but the cuts of the shirts and pants varied widely. Everything was high quality and fit perfectly. I was fascinated by her distinctive style and how put together she always looked -- somehow never boring despite the repetition. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934939 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 01:08:50 +0000 Aida 1934939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like a great plan to move forward! I'm with Joy though: I vote, if you are able, to remove the halfway pieces now and just get going with the things you really love that suit the dress code. You could always separate those pieces to their own section, so that if necessary you can go to them, but it's VERY freeing to just get that stuff out so you can move forward. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934937 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 01:01:56 +0000 jacquez 1934937@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey all!</p> <p>So far I have determined that I own exactly 0 striped, short-sleeved shirts. It's running in the high 80s(F) around here lately, so I've started building a shopping list for myself. Keeping in mind the desire for a smaller wardrobe overall, I've decided to get 5 short-sleeved striped tops and commit to doing laundry. The short-sleeved Breton top from Boden is the front-runner, right now. I love the colors available.&nbsp;</p> <p>The gardening wardrobe -- well! I'd love it to make me feel like a million bucks, but I have technical requirements for it that means everything that isn't relegated jeans &amp; tees comes from places like Duluth Trading Company. I can be more choosy about what I replace from there, though -- I've noticed that I preferentially wear my olive gardening trousers, for example, and the blue and tan ones almost never. Eventually there'll be relegated grey jeans in there. &nbsp;(Possibly tomorrow. I'm not sure about one of my extant pairs.)&nbsp;</p> <p>I have one more load of laundry to finish before all of my clothes except what I'm wearing right now are ready for me to sort them tomorrow!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934892 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 22:51:16 +0000 Bonnie 1934892@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really liked that article and reading about your plans. I need to give this some thought and try to implement a plan that would work for my life. Thanks for sharing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934860 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 20:46:25 +0000 Anonymous 1934860@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow I just love this plan!<br /> I am inspired!<br /> I think, like you, I am quite a uniform dresser (more so in the winter).</p> <p>Figuring that out and then focussing your energy and budget towards getting great specimens in your categories (like grey jeans and striped tops) is an excellent idea. I think it will bring you lots of wardrobe happiness. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934856 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 20:36:16 +0000 3style 1934856@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have mixed feelings about this. I think that what I find is that when I shift gears and wear something different than the kinds of looks that I’ve been wearing for a few days, it helps me to approach problems in a fresh way. Conversely, if I feel like people are starting to pigeonhole me in a way that I feel is limiting, I find it useful to wear something a bit unexpected.</p> <p>However, I do think it is useful to think about: “would I like several similar items to the one I’m looking to purchase which is in front of me?” And if not, then it probably isn’t important enough to buy. </p> <p>I’m at the point in my life that I’m just not super interested in unique items, or wardrobe variety for the sake of variety. It’s more about versatility. For example at any given time I might always wear a top as part of a certain combination, but when something changes, then I want to be able to wear it in a different outfit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934853 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 20:28:17 +0000 Cardiff girl 1934853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wear rough clothes most days but always make a point of changing out of them at the end of the working day into something nicer even if it’s still very casual.It makes me feel better about myself so I applaud your efforts to allow yourself some non gardening wardrobe space and it sounds like you ve made a very good start. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934839 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 19:25:11 +0000 LaPed 1934839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think this is a very smart approach. I totally appreciate having segments of your wardrobe that emphasize function over form. And I also suspect that if your gardening clothes *work* for you in terms of fit/comfort/features then they are providing a happiness factor based not on how they look, but on what they do. I spend a lot of time in gear and as long as it fits well I don't sweat too much over how it looks. I don't adhere to a dress code myself, but I can see why it works for many. My only "rule" is Don't Wear Gear Unless Necessary. This allows me to choose the most comfortable, functional gear without worrying about whether or not it's stylish enough.</p> <p>I am also a big demoter -- I know many on here don't do it as much, but for me, it jives better with my ethics than throwing things in the trash, or dropping them off at Goodwill or similar, where they already have more cast-offs than they know what to do with. And it makes me more accountable for my purchases if there's no "easy out" when I get sick of wearing something. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934831 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 18:51:29 +0000 texstyle 1934831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm in agreement with those saying you should get your gardening gear capsule set to where you feel good in it too. Who says you can't be a stylish gardener? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934825 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 18:22:32 +0000 SarahD8 1934825@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fantastic. Your grey jeans and striped top formula sounds really nice. I love that the queer t-shirts and striped cardigans turned out to be problems that solved each other!&nbsp;</p> <p>I like how you are dividing your clothes up by function/activity, it sounds like that will really simplify getting dressed for different occasions.</p> <p>My wish for you is that eventually your garden clothes will make you feel like a million bucks, too. Maybe you will be able to slowly "demote" your gray jeans and striped shirts to gardening so that formula is used there too? Or if more specialized gear is needed, as your existing gear wears out you can search for replacements that are more in line with your dress code? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934822 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 18:03:58 +0000 Anonymous 1934822@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Why wait for the non-dress code stuff to pass out of the wardrobe ? Life is too short. Get it out of your closer now...at least a good chunk of it. You could make gardening outfits out of the oldest grey jeans and striped tees. If you like the look, get a blazer or 2 to dress up the grey jeans and striped shirts. Navy would be good. Try thrift stores, even the men's section. Another idea is a leather/pleather jacket. It could be something casual like a bomber or moto, of a leathery blazer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-dress-code-for-myself#post-1934813 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 16:27:36 +0000 texstyle 1934813@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>While I don't have a strict dress code, I do have a similar casual lifestyle and find articles like that to be somewhat helpful. I've been culling things I don't love from my closet over the past couple of years - sometimes it takes me a while to decide since many things were slightly dressier than my daily needs and I wanted to give them a fair chance. My system has been more about color - feel - fit. If I don't love a color (or pattern) I won't wear it no matter what, so those wrong to me colored things have been the first to go. Second is feel - for me it has to be soft, comforting and draping properly - anything fitted, slightly uncomfortable, rough, scratchy, etc. had to go. Fit is a bit harder because there are so many different types and I am sometimes more critical depending on my mood. I went a little overboard the last year or so on some boxy Madewell shirts for example - and now I'm not sure I love the style as much as I did. Two of them get the most wear (same shirt, duplicated) and the other three, not so much. Ongoing learning process. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div> </p>