YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Dear Vivaldi:

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Dear Vivaldi: https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 09:55:25 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Beth Ann on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1070201 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:42:53 +0000 Beth Ann 1070201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Julie, having lived in SoCal, I expect to see gloves and hats when it's 55!  Fortunately, when we moved away from LA, we detoured first to Tulsa, then to NJ, before arriving in Chicago.  It gave my blood a few years to thicken back up again!  For me, I can't wear boots until it's below 60, or I'm terribly hot! JulieJohn on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1070033 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:34:55 +0000 JulieJohn 1070033@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great thread! I live in the SoCal "40 degree changes in one day" if not 50! Luckily we're having mild temps right now, but I think seasonal capsules are brilliant. On that note (musically inclined), I am currently in light sweaters and booties territory, not yet into the heavier sweaters and coats that the 66-degree temps will require. We really ARE cold at those temps, I swear! gryffin on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1069836 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:56:19 +0000 gryffin 1069836@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Beth Ann-  too funny, I think the term is "whirling dervish" are you too young for the "mr clean" reference?!  Either way I find intensity is a good thing.  I too clean in bursts and woe to he and thee that get in my way!!  So you go girl!!  Focused intensity can move mountains!! Alassë on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1069801 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:15:49 +0000 Alassë 1069801@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great thread, Beth Ann! Thank you for starting it. I've enjoyed reading. Beth Ann on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1069761 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:24:38 +0000 Beth Ann 1069761@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gryffin:  I'm quoting you to my DH today ---  I am not by nature organized, but I am a creative thinker --- with a touch of ADD!  This makes me live in bursts and work in projects.  Woe upon my household when I decide it's time for closet organization!  I begin in one closet, but soon am working in every closet simulatneously, along with the kitchen cabinets.  Thank God I do not have a garage!  My DH once had to sleep on the couch because I didn't finish with my closet until 3am.  Oh -- it was Saturday night and he was preaching the next morning! Windchime:  Still in my gym clothes, but I think I'm pulling out my faux leather boots.  Knew I bought those for a reason! Amy:  Since I don't have a coat closet in my house, your climate would leave more room in my closet for blazer, and pencil skirts, and shoes, and belts, and .............. Stacey:  Yes, it was Suz!  Oh, and did you catch Unfrumped's comment about "Styling Cycles?"  I'm going to play with that idea a bit! Anonymous on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1069710 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:43:46 +0000 Anonymous 1069710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh yes, I hear you completely! I can't remember which Fabber it was -- Suz, maybe? -- who discussed wardrobe planning in 6-8 week increments and it was such a lightbulb moment for me.  Amy on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1069702 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:38:47 +0000 Amy 1069702@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Beth Ann, you made me smile. I really only have two seasons to worry about here...rainy season and dry season. It makes my head hurt just thinking about making capsules for more seasons than 2 gryffin on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1069686 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:24:17 +0000 gryffin 1069686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Beth Ann is organized..repeat Beth Ann is organized...I am so impressed.  Your organizations skills are mind boggling.  I am more buy for your dominant seasons - fall/winter and make them work for pretty much everything else.  As you can tell I need a major upgrade on my summer capsules!!  I do love boots, booties so much that I consider the arrival of sept 1 permission to go into boot/bootie hyperdrive which continues until June.  My only consolation in summer was the wealth of cut out booties - woohoo - fall comes to summer - this was so working for me.  But honestly I am in awe of all of you ladies who flow with and respond to the seasons.  Breathless with anticipation to watch your outfit transitions!! Windchime on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi/page/2#post-1069679 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:16:25 +0000 Windchime 1069679@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Beth Ann -- we must live in the same part of the country. It's raining here, too but the temperature is mild. Hmm...what to select from the capsule for this?? Happy Halloween! Beth Ann on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069655 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 12:56:39 +0000 Beth Ann 1069655@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Unfrumped:  crossposted!  I love you term "styling cycle," and you've hit on something valuable here.  The seasonal change is a device that ecourages us to go into "styling cycles" with out items, preventing boredom and facilitating experimentation.  And yes, I consciously purchase a couple sleeveless tops in autumnal colors, and a few brights like magenta in warm fabrications for spring. Of course, sometimes one needs magenta in the dead of winter! Joy --- I'm a KU grad, so I know your climate pretty well ----- at least Spring arrived a little earlier than in Chicago! Adelfa -- I lived in the Valley (um. not that one.  San Gabriel Valley), and remember quite a mountain climate.  For 3 years I lived in pool house in Arcadia with one room (plus bathroom) and nothing but a space heater.  I could see my breath in the morning, but it would be 80 degrees by noon!  I LOVED the flowers in winter, but missed, even more than fall folliage, the deep blue green of midwestern grass and the tall trees.  Oh --- and I might skip the heavy coat, but I'd be all over boots!  Never give up boots! Windchime:  That's the spirit!  Sounds like your well on your way to seasonal capsules!  And we were spoiled with warm weather this autumn (although Halloween is being rained out as we speak). Suz on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069652 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 12:47:28 +0000 Suz 1069652@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ha ha, Adelfa, your "quite chilly" in LA would be my "quite warm" here in Ontario....almost sandal weather!!  Windchime on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069648 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 12:40:00 +0000 Windchime 1069648@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmmm...I wonder how Vivaldi would have organized "The (Four) Seasons" if he'd lived in the midwest instead of sunny, temperate Italy?! I created my first capsule in late August (inspired by YLF). I called it "fall" and figured I'd need three others to get through the year. It turned out that I couldn't wear half of it until a couple of weeks ago; it was too warm. I've rethought my capsule seasons and am now planning for: Late summer/early fall Late fall/early winter (what I'm currently using) Bleak midwinter (coldest stretch of winter; about two months here) Late winter/early spring Late spring/early summer Midsummer I expect to retain about half of each capsule at every seasonal change, changing out the rest of it for warmer or cooler clothing. Even with all these capsule varieties, I'm still relying on adding and/or removing layers to be comfortable. Adelfa on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069460 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 05:11:05 +0000 Adelfa 1069460@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh dear. I'm getting jealous of all you fabbers who can make capsules for eight seasons. It sounds so fun! Here in Central California I can define four seasons, of course not as differentiated as yours. But in coastal SoCal? There will be very little variation year round! However we (I was born there) make up for it by pretending we have seasons, trotting out the boots all together by mind reading. Also if the temp drops to 66 we describe it as "quite chilly" and recommend a heavy coat (this is actually true) Anonymous on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069422 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 04:06:42 +0000 Anonymous 1069422@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm so with you here in the heartland. We are in mid autumn yet and I need to save the boots, wools and down for winter. I've embraced Suz's seasons and about every two months make a big change of wardrobe items based on weight and color. I wish I had the time to make this all into neat capsules and hope in time to do that. Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069419 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 04:04:23 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1069419@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I totally agree. My recent capsule ideas have been based on 8 'seasons', and I'm not even sure that that gives enough variation in some of the mini weather moments. Beth Ann on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069401 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:49:12 +0000 Beth Ann 1069401@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm in, Gaylene!  And I love Spring skiing, even when it's icy! Adelfa --- I so here you on "personal seasons."  I'm not helped by a frugal hubby (just bought a pair of leopard print slippers, though) who keeps it at 62, and a college administrator who controls the thermostat so she is reminded of her childhood in Costa Rica.  And I teach in a 6 X 10 studio with no window and one one air intake.  Sripping in voice lessons is frowned upon!  See, I have indoor seasons, too! Una -- There should be an ordinance against lumpy ice.  I'm fortunate to have a fastidious DH who makes sure the walk and drive are clean to the pavement.  He also clears off and warms up my car in the morning --- a tough task with no garage!  This almost makes up for his stinginess with the heating! Neel on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069400 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:48:32 +0000 Neel 1069400@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ We have four seasons too  - Less Hot, Hot, Very Hot, Super Hot (with about 4 days of rain in a year which could be just about anytime of the year).  Bummer! I miss all the beautiful colors of the seasons!  I am a nature person and the climate really sucks  I can't wait for the *less hot* season to arrive.  Whatever, atleast it makes dressing easier with no worries of serious capsule making *Says the Grumpy Middle Easterner* unfrumped on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069399 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:48:14 +0000 unfrumped 1069399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think that is a great realization and way to focus. I've been doing more of that approach. For example, I have cashmere sweaters in various colors,and I could wear them evenly spread out, but I like saving the pinky lavender for cold spring, and wearing a lot more berries and red in winter. I think it helps shopping focus. I might have collected too many gray tops , but really they're all different weights and depth of color. So I have fall and mild winter and freezing, and springy gray. But another thing I noticed is that I think I like to go on a " run" of items and repeat variations over a few weeks- a kind of capsule thing- maybe more than pulling out a top to wear once every month or every other month throughout the year. It has to do with seasonality, but also with getting " into" how to wear the item or items. So it's not just a temperature or seasonal cycle, but a styling cycle. That seems to agree with me more than random mix & match throughout the year. For shopping decisions, the mini -seasons helps because I can evaluate by weight- warmth and color and say, do I have too much depth in my cold winter capsule(s)? This summer I realized I was underestimating the duration of our warm weather. I run cold, but still do not wear long sleeves or sticky fabrics and so just needed more variety and depth in warm- weather tops for work. But if using your transitional seasons, I might use color or texture so that some evoke sprummer or barely fall, rather than all scream summer. Also have aimed jewelry to that effect. Gaylene on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069396 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:40:59 +0000 Gaylene 1069396@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Beth Ann, I'm voting to put you in charge of climate control for all of us north of the 40th parallel. I particularly like your delineation of Winter lasting from Thanksgiving (the American date, not the Canadian one in early October!) until the middle of February. That would be about right. We then could nicely move into Wintspring which could feature sunny skies and slightly cool weather perfect for skiing and other hearty outdoor activities that require copious amounts of hot chocolate and doughnuts (see, I am Canadian!) Then on to Spring with gamboling lambs and daffodills, followed by Sprummer, High Summer, Indian Summer, and finally, Deep Autumn. As long as you took over from Mother Nature, we could have perfect wardrobes for each of these seasons. ETA: Una, I was in Whitehorse in the mid 90s for a year doing some contract work for the Government. The winters can be awfully long, though, and so we decided to move back south when my contract was finished. But I could certainly see why someone told me that, if I didn't leave within three years, I'd never want to live south of the 60th parallel again. We still make our way back every few years; my Norwegian husband has relatives in Palmer who emigrated there in the 30s from Minnesota. catgirl on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069392 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:36:26 +0000 catgirl 1069392@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, Gaylene!  And then when that slush freezes and makes impossibly lumpy icy terrain where ankles get twisted. The summers can get warm...and the days are long.  But the season itself it short.  When did you live here? Adelfa on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069379 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:26:40 +0000 Adelfa 1069379@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have my own personal seasons! Today I was alternating between chills brought on by a sinus infection and sudden Fall temperatures, and hot flashes. Or were those the sinus infection too? One thing I know, pullovers aren't working very well for me right now Gaylene on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069378 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:25:38 +0000 Gaylene 1069378@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ah, yes, I did forget to mention the rivers of icy, slushy crud in my tirade. So much fun to step off the curb, only to discover that the snow on top is hiding a foot of icy, slushy crud that pours into your boot. And then a car drives by... Beth Ann on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069376 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:22:59 +0000 Beth Ann 1069376@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gaylene:  The jet stream often carries your weather all the way to Chicago!  Of course, you get to preview it first, so don't say Americans can't be considerate! Oh, Una:  Winter shouldn't arrive before Thanksgiving, and should depart on February 15, or when the chocolate is gone.  Barring that, I vote for at least 2 winter vacations, with the wardrobe to support it! Gaylene on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069371 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:21:44 +0000 Gaylene 1069371@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Una, I must have hit a couple of unusual years, because I remember Anchorage as being surprisingly warm, dare I say even hot,  in June and July. Maybe it was just the endless sun that messed with my head. But the weather could turn pretty quickly, especially when we were camped at higher elevations. catgirl on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069368 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:19:56 +0000 catgirl 1069368@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Gaylene, we get the Chinook too! And then it gets icy and wet and feels tropical. catgirl on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069360 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:13:37 +0000 catgirl 1069360@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I wish! I have two climate oriented sections of my wardrobe: winter and vacation. Within that, gradations like late-summer winter, fall-winter, holiday-winter, deep solstice winter, doldrums winter, is it over yet winter, and no-it's-not winter. Hmm, maybe I need more boots and jackets. Gaylene on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069353 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 03:10:15 +0000 Gaylene 1069353@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, I hear the music loud and clear. In Alberta, we have a phenomena called the Chinook which can turn deep winter (-30C/-22F) to spring (22C/70F) in less than a day. It's not uncommon to see people shivering in heavy parkas and snow boots one week and then sitting in an outdoor cafe in shirt sleeves a week later. Oh, and should I mention our tendencies to have at least one full-flung, major blizzard in late May and another in mid October just to remind everyone Mother Nature is in charge. One year we skiied from October until June--and the next year we rode our bikes around town at Christmas, looking at the lights. I've had flights delayed for de-icing in both August and June last year. Needless to say, there is no such thing as packing away seasonal gear in my neck of the woods. I can wear light summer jackets and wool scarves in any month of the year. What is this thing called "seasons" anyway? Beth Ann on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069251 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 01:37:31 +0000 Beth Ann 1069251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Exactly, Suz!  This year I'm still hoping for a new pair of taller boots, but I'm not settling for something I don't love!  I'm all for mid-season refreshment! And yes, I stay in light jackets and coats as long as possible!  Of course, doing most of my travel by car helps! Suz on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069232 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 01:21:21 +0000 Suz 1069232@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ ETA: I have exactly the same feeling about needing variety in deep winter (and to a lesser extent in high summer/ Indian summer.) So I have decided that buying a few items at the mid-season sales for winter (especially) and even summer is going to be part of my budget and an accepted/ acceptable splurge, going forward.  Suz on "Dear Vivaldi:" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dear-vivaldi#post-1069231 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 01:19:34 +0000 Suz 1069231@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, you know I am singing in this chorus!  I understand completely. I never, ever fully understood this until I joined YLF. I simply flailed and fumed during these transitional times in guilt (about not-wearing items I'd bought for the supposed season at hand) or else complete confusion (at not having the necessary items for the conditions I was actually living through.) Argh!  So yes....bootie season. Goes from late September/ early to mid-October (depending) through to December (or snow, whichever comes first). That's here in Kingston, anyway. Boot season goes from November to ...well...who knows? April? Usually..though the booties come back in sometimes on dry days and more often starting in March.  Then there are the various weights of knitwear. Right now I am wearing the thin, not wool knitwear or the light merino, without layering. Later, I add the layers and/or the cashmere.  The jeggings I keep studiously in the cupboard until boot season. The bootlegs get their infrequent outings in dry conditions NOW.  And on and on it goes. For now, I'm wearing a light trench as a coat...sometimes on its own and sometimes over a blazer or sweater. A week from now, who knows? The wool coats are waiting in the closet.