https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:40:22 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1015307 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 00:26:19 +0000 Suz 1015307@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is just an amazing discussion. Thanks, Texstyle, for starting it. I have enjoyed and benefitted from all responses. And thanks for the shout-out SuzyQ. (My stepdaughter's nickname for me, by the way...)&nbsp;</p> <p>I think I fall into Ingunn's camp. I now want to go out and BUY as a result of the capsules exercise! But at least what I'll be buying for is an actual need, vs. something that might just be "fun" but wouldn't necessarily help on those days when I stand in front of the closet and try to figure out what to wear.&nbsp;</p> <p>I've noticed that for me, it's pretty important to get very specific about a capsule's purpose. What I wear at home is different than what I prefer (that word again) to wear out -- even if I'm just going to the grocery store -- although I absolutely want my daily wear to be grocery-store worthy and not just gear or schlumpy loungewear.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ideally, there'd be an easy transition (i.e. pop on a topper and maybe a scarf, grab my bag, and I'm good to go for grocery store, bank, picking up my daughter, even meeting a friend at a casual pub) -- but there are also times when I just prefer to be more dressy for going out than I'd be at home, even if that is just to "meet the teacher" or go to the doctor or dentist or meet for cocktails. So that is a separate (but overlapping) capsule.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1015264 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 23:55:24 +0000 kellygirl 1015264@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just chiming back in to tell you that you motivated me to do a little closet purge today. I got rid of some tops that I couldn't get to work in my capsules--either they were uncomfortable (fabrication) or couldn't get them to work under a jacket and/or weren't practical to wear alone. Things in the closet are starting to look a little better I'm not done but I'm out of time for today.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1015086 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 20:42:16 +0000 Lisa 1015086@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I find that the capsule exercise is very helpful, and very time consuming!&nbsp; But once compelted it's nice to have a focused shopping list for wardrobe holes and ready to go outfit combinations for rush mornings. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1015056 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 20:20:25 +0000 AnnieMouse 1015056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><i>"how can you even think of getting this new item when you haven't been willing to work with what you already own?"</p> <p></i>Ha! I've been asking myself something similar as I struggle with the desire to buy new pretties for the fall. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1015017 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 19:17:27 +0000 unfrumped 1015017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ingunn, haha, real vs. imaginary holes. Or priorities.</p> <p>I'm trying to ask myself what hole-fillers would make the most difference in one or more of several "problem" areas--ease of getting dressed and out the door; ability to put a desired item into outfit circulation; feeling more seasonally appropriate; trying a new fashion direction; replacing something that looks good but isn't comfortable enough (typically footwear). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014992 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:44:31 +0000 Ingunn 1014992@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is so interesting, and a very smart take on how to curb the aimless shopping/buying. I agree with DV that those two are different activities. For me, since I'm one to like playing with capsules, the result might stimulate my buying, not curb it. Just a warning! This happens because I see so many possibilities, so sometimes I construct the holes, they aren't necessarily there &nbsp;for real. You, however, seem to be a lot more disciplined than me, and I'm sure your capsule work will give great results for you and your savings account, and of course your wardrobe </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014981 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:36:46 +0000 texstyle 1014981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>unfrumped- Glad you mentioned that "I prefer to wear..." because it IS so important. Sometimes, when I make a real&nbsp;effort to fill a wardrobe hole (like bottoms other than jeans for me) I end up making at least a couple of mistakes. And then I get discouraged. I still feel that way about both my slouchy olive khakis and the linen version of the same pant.&nbsp;I should have returned them. But I thought the linen would be lighter and cooler than the khakis. But it was really the silhouette that wasn't working for me. I don't like to have bottoms that feel too baggy and both of these feel that way. I *prefer* to wear pants that are straight, slim or only slightly slouchy. I did at least manage to add a pair of slim grey jeans and a pair of slim chocolate brown "jeans" this year. And there's a (replacement) pair of olive slim pants on their way. Since I love to wear blue on top so often I really need colors aside from denim to work with many of my tops and jackets. I earlier this season tried some cream colored "utility" pants from jcrew but they also did not have the right fit for what I prefer.</p> <p>The above olive pants and the fall shoes I am seeking are the only two items really on my current "need" list - so again, this is why shopping for me should be curbed for a while until I can create those darn capsules and understand what it is I want to look for as I move forward in my fashion journey. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014801 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 16:09:30 +0000 suzyq 1014801@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I've had a small epiphany after reading the thoughtful responses to this very intersting question. <br />&nbsp;<br />It seems to me that the ladies whose style I admire most take the time to really play in their closet.&nbsp; Fine tuning combinations and proportions to hone in and perfect their style. </p> <p>&nbsp;Although my style goals are different from them I can't help but admire what they seem to pull of with ease.&nbsp; In truth I think they work very hard at it or at least follow through.&nbsp; You know from purchase to styling.&nbsp; In fact I'm pretty sure like Suze,&nbsp; they identify their wardrobe holes, purchase said item and play like crazy in closet.&nbsp;&nbsp; I really need to step up my game if I want to achieve my goals.&nbsp; Thanks ladies! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014793 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:59:59 +0000 unfrumped 1014793@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>suz, I didn't see your post and it also resonated.</p> <p>"I prefer to wear "....such a simple but telling phrase.</p> <p>My work-week varies over time and while I have certain outfits that I do like to wear to&nbsp;work, there are types of workweeks where "I prefer" to wear only a certain comfort level in shoes or pants or whatever. I have other items that are comfortable enough for&nbsp;more ordinary&nbsp;days but not for those weeks; or the stress level is high and I need really brainless dressing. That's what I mean by trying to see where&nbsp;outfit creation&nbsp;breaks down. </p> <p>My capsules or choices need to include enough&nbsp;items&nbsp;that fit those types of cycles, &nbsp;or I'll reach day&nbsp;5 or whatever and have "nothing to wear" (meaning not ready to repeat).</p> <p>Or I'll have a week in which I can enjoy wearing &nbsp;pencil skirt outfits but&nbsp; I don't want to wear the same silhouette every day, or I only have one pair of shoes that works with them, or I'm wearing black tights every day and it's boring. So that means there are "holes" that prevent me from going smoothly from one day to another without tearing up the closet.</p> <p>My need for a version of 4-season dressing also fits into this. Since&nbsp;it always seems &nbsp;hard to find summery conservative work wear, I find I probably don't have a good 2-3 week cycle of such clothing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014781 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:45:43 +0000 unfrumped 1014781@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>texstyle, such a great post! You are reading my mind and also encouraging me to do more in this direction.</p> <p>So many wardrobe "lessons" to integrate. For example,&nbsp;I've made progress in being&nbsp;more critical and picky and so trying to focus on really great fit and not so-so when I buy something. But&nbsp;still it's kind of easy (lazy) to&nbsp;&nbsp; do that in a single item----hey, I found a great-fitting top! ( or pants, or shoes). But how does that item FIT into creating usable outfits?</p> <p>Because&nbsp;aha lesson I've been learning is &nbsp;that while, in theory, lots if individual good items might turn out to form outfits eventually, they don't always, and I need to be much more focused on what is needed to get an item working in an outfit, to get a partial outfit out the door and looking fab, and &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;what is the specific purpose of any new item. More intentional. </p> <p>Sort of advanced wardrobe hole thinking. Work harder to fill the holes and don't get sucked in to random pieces, even if nice, and especially if with sales goggles. Do the hard work and/or save up the $$ to build useful capsules, useful mix &amp; match--even a few single-style outfits (meaning, maybe I wear all the same components together each time,&nbsp; &nbsp;but can always count on it to work for the given occasion)--whatever is needed.</p> <p>Fall is really hard because of all the great stuff coming out.&nbsp;When I get&nbsp; a bit of time off&nbsp;though I'm going to do&nbsp;some&nbsp;version&nbsp;of the capsule review. Lay it all out and see, will this take me through 2 weeks at work, being able to grab &amp; go &amp; feel put together without worries ? Where would&nbsp;it start to break down, and why?&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014777 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:41:01 +0000 texstyle 1014777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like I am in good company. I will work on those capsules. I will. Really. And when I do, I will then give myself permission if necessary to shop for one or two things that I figure out are a true need.</p> <p>I sometimes wonder if some who stop posting on YLF have figured out their closets and reached a point of satisfaction. I like to think that some of them have. I know many just get busy with other things in life but somehow thinking of them with neat, happy&nbsp;and organized closets&nbsp;makes me smile. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014773 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:38:13 +0000 Anonymous 1014773@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post, Texstyle. I also want to get better at working with what I have. If I liked the clothes well enough to buy them, I'd&nbsp;better wear them, right? Honestly, I think laziness is my issue, too.&nbsp;I've learned the hard way that trying to put together a killer&nbsp;outfit&nbsp;at 7:00 a.m. when I need to be out the door by 7:05 is counterproductive. &nbsp;My outfits look dull and uninspired, which makes me want to look for the next thing.&nbsp;I'm trying to take time every few weeks to put together 3-4 capsules in my closet so they're ready to go in the morning, essentially allowing everything to be FFBOs!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014765 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:28:36 +0000 Suz 1014765@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is an absolutely brilliant recognition and makes the whole capsule exercise useful, even if you never completely follow through on it! You understand your patterns so much more clearly now.&nbsp;</p> <p>What Kelly said also resonated for me. By doing these capsules, or trying to, we see what our genuine needs are.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm currently trying to put together a "work-at-home transitional weather" capsule. I thought I had a "ton" of tops I could use.&nbsp;</p> <p>Well, sort of. What I learned is that while I do have a "ton" of button downs and a few silky shirts,&nbsp;I do not have enough lightweight knit tops. I prefer to wear knits at home when I work. I have some, but most are heavier winter weight, and few are in my best colours. Interesting discovery.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014761 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:22:23 +0000 Gaylene 1014761@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@ Day Vies, it's interesting that you make a distinction between shopping and buying. I guess I loathe shopping so that's why my shopping turns into buying because I can get it over and done in one session. Not having easy access to a variety of shops is also a factor. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014755 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:18:47 +0000 Thistle 1014755@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*hangs her head*&nbsp; Yeah, I am really, really guilty of the capsule creation issue. I am terrible at it, and so I don;t want to do it. So I don't&nbsp; :)</p> <p>Another really good way to curb buying, for me anyway, was to flipall my hangers around. This way, you SEE, actualy SEE what is hanging there unworn. It has convinced me to donate items I thought I loved as they hung there 6 months without being worn. It has also shown me what a workhorse some items I had not been spending enough on were (casual tops, jeans, etc.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014753 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:16:22 +0000 kellygirl 1014753@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lol! I guess that you are L-A-Z-Y but you ain't go no alibi! Was that a Saturday Night Live skit? It's imprinted in my head but I can't remember where from! Must look for a link </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014750 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:14:27 +0000 texstyle 1014750@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>kellygirl - that's exactly what I've been feeling. But I *have* layering tops and am still too darned lazy to put the outfits together. What does that mean? lol. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014747 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:14:03 +0000 Gaylene 1014747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><i>I think I'm a bit lazy when it comes to doing the fashion "work"<br /> involved in creating outfits. Or maybe I don't enjoy that part as much<br /> as I thought I would.</i></p> <p>The flurry of capsule posts have also made me realize I need to spend some time in my closet instead of checking out what's new online and in the shops. And I'm with you in holding off any shopping until I can figure out what I really ought to be thinking about instead of just tossing more items into the mix because they appealed to me.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014746 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:13:28 +0000 texstyle 1014746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hear you Day Vies - but both shopping and buying take up a good amount of time so I guess I mean both in this case as there is no need to keep looking and looking when I have a closet full of perfectly fine clothing to choose from. I use fashion sites such as this one and polyvore and others&nbsp;to help with inspiration. And I've spent a great deal of time actually shopping over the past year and a half especially. I really do&nbsp;think I need to focus as I said on creating outfits, not adding to my choices. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014743 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:12:39 +0000 kellygirl 1014743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This totally resonates with me. I was out with DD and saw a mixed media sweatshirt that would be perfect for fall. I wanted to get it but I looked at the big dolman sleeves and knew that I would never be able to layer over it. The capsule exercise made me realize that I have way too many tops already that can't be layered over. They are fine for spring and early fall but are useless if I need a topper!&nbsp;</p> <p>Just call me&nbsp;L-A-Z-Y when it comes to working in my closet! I'd much rather buy something new than try to make existing things work. At least I realize it now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014735 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:02:22 +0000 Day Vies 1014735@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Don't confuse shopping with buying! Shopping is browsing and filing away great ideas you can use later on in your closet whether its in person or on line. I am ALWAYS shopping! Buying is actually bringing something new home. I agree I have been shamed into less buying by creating a capsule.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/curbing-my-shopping-via-capsule-pressure#post-1014732 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 14:56:09 +0000 texstyle 1014732@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So I think I figured out a way to keep myself from shopping/buying more items (esp. tops and jackets) that I may not wear or may not need. The recent capsule exercises several YLF'ers have done have helped me. Here's how - each time I get an itch to shop for something I remind myself that I have NOT yet created capsules with several of the rarely worn items I already own, and it's not because they cannot be integrated, it's because I have been unwilling to take the time and effort to do it. So far this self imposed pressure is working. I look at something new, think about it for a minute, and then think to myself "how can you even think of getting this new item when you haven't been willing to work with what you already own?"</p> <p>I think I'm a bit lazy when it comes to doing the fashion "work" involved in creating outfits. Or maybe I don't enjoy that part as much as I thought I would. Either way, I'm going with this because it's helping me reign in my desires for "new" and replace that with a focus to be successful in my closet. Once I create a couple of capsules I figure I can "reward" myself with something new IF I see a clear hole.</p> <p>Not sure how long this will last but so far it has been helping. Not that I won't do any shopping at all. I am actively shopping for new fall/winter shoes and that is a need. Pretty tops will have to wait. Help me stay strong!</p>