https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:17:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1874581 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 22:10:40 +0000 Chris987 1874581@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Jenn! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1874086 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 20:51:59 +0000 Jenn 1874086@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your "mistakes" sound so similar to the ones I made the first year or two of revamping my wardrobe! I think it just takes a bit to "settle in" to your personal style, and you're certainly doing it now. Great post. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1874047 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 18:50:12 +0000 Chris987 1874047@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, good to know I might someday order and return less. You have EXACTLY nailed the problems with spring dressing in our climates. I think my spring is a little longer than yours, but not by much.&nbsp;The one activity where I do NOT have any issues is the start of gardening season, where I love pulling away all the dead stuff to see the new things growing, but I'm happiest doing that in old clothes.&nbsp;Love the idea of cashmere sweaters in lighter colors, and heavier cotton ones for spring.&nbsp;You are right, it's&nbsp;the lighter colors that make the difference.&nbsp; Yep, Boden is definitely on my list. </p> <p>Angie, nothing to say but a HUGE thank you! &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1874011 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 17:04:11 +0000 Angie 1874011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm wowed by how well you analyzed the fashion and style part of your life for 2017, <b>Chris.</b> I can see it all come together beautifully, and with purpose and emotion. You have never looked better. Your patience, soul searching and analysis have paid off. WELL DONE.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873810 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 00:45:08 +0000 Suz 1873810@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Chris</b>, this is a wonderful recap, and not surprisingly, I identify with many of your challenges and patterns. First, on the constant ordering/ returning (and getting better at returning what isn't quite right) -- this was TOTALLY my pattern for the first few years on YLF. Over time I got better and better at identifying when it might make sense to "settle" a little bit and when that was just plain dumb. It will come, in time.&nbsp;</p> <p>Secondly, on the seasonal issue -- spring, oh yes (oh no!) spring!!! This (coming from a climate similar to yours) was my biggest bugbear and mystery. What <b></b><b>is </b><b></b>spring? It happens, yes, sometimes for 6 long weeks and sometimes for 10 fleeting days...when it is 6 weeks long, it's variable...some of it is warm and some cold enough for a parka...but the light is different...it isn't that slanted autumn light but a bright harsh light without leaves so soften it...ugh, nothing feels right...you need layers but which layers. There is still slush on the ground but black footwear feels all wrong...so many issues!!</p> <p>I decided to buy a few wool or cashmere sweaters in colours that I associated with spring (pale blue) and a few heavier weight cotton sweaters that I could layer over tops or not, as I wished. I bought some waterproof footwear in grey (which is at least a bit lighter than black). I got some bright happy scarves in spring colours, because even if I couldn't dress like the bloggers or our west coast friends in their cherry blossom joy, I could pick up on the colours. And so on...</p> <p>TRY Boden. I haven't, yet, simply because they only recently started delivering to Canada and I am leery of ordering if I haven't tried on in person first (and we have no B&amp;M stores here) -- but so many forum members have had success there! Worth it to see!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873634 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 15:10:05 +0000 Chris987 1873634@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>thanks<b> cindysmith!</b></p> <p><b>kkards </b>very interesting point about the fit of classic styles. I think you've hit on something there. When I think of the fit of a classic cardigan from Nordstrom vs one from say LLBean I think I see what you are talking about. And with pants...yep it's all about the leg width and shape, subtle things make all the difference. I will definitely think about this more, thanks! </p> <p>Thanks <b>La P</b>...yes this approach should help me&nbsp;identify holes, but also hopefully will help me&nbsp;reduce the number of orphans or semi-orphans. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873631 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:50:38 +0000 LaPed 1873631@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I love the idea of a seasonal base-capsule to identify holes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873626 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:37:39 +0000 kkards 1873626@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><i>".. gotten better about fit, but I totally ignored the quality of the fabric, and sometimes pick overly classic items that are boring, so lots of mistakes."</i></p> <p>chris...sometimes it seems hard to concentate on fit and fabric...i'll find one, but the other is missing. or i'll find both, but it's not a color i like...<i><br /></i></p> <p>as for the overly classic items that are boring....i had a lightbulb moment on this very topic earlier this year....it's all about fit...not just of something fits, but how it fits...ie where is the waist hitting, how wide is the leg, where does the hemline hit etc...i was finding that i was buying items that fit, but the fit wasn't as modern as my style was wanting. so i've tried to get better at assesing does it fit and is it the fit i'm looking for</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873620 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:01:26 +0000 cindysmith 1873620@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I, too, get a lot out of these posts. I also really admire the self-examination that's involved in these posts. Someimes, looking deep inside isn't easy, so I'm always proud of these posts and the courage/wisdom they show &lt;3 </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873602 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:19:08 +0000 Chris987 1873602@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Violettt</b>, thanks so much for the compliment! I have not particularly thought of going lighter with my hair, not sure why. Maybe I should consider it. I do LOVE pale blue tops, it has always been one of my favorite colors, but it seems to be very sparsely available the last few years. I've not been successful at replacing some that wore out.&nbsp; And I'm not giving up on TJMaxx...nope! Just learning to be more careful as you say. </p> <p><b>Joy,</b> that;s so funny! Maybe Rudolph is my secret middle name -) Yeah I do like red sweaters especially around Christmas. I only have two and both need to be replaced. Ah, i see you understand the "oh goody it's all on sale let me buy a bunch so I have all the pretty things" mentality. Sometimes it's OK but for me it's something I need to stop for the foreseeable future. </p> <p><b>Jenni NZ</b> you will LOVE hitting the veteran mark! It was such a great thing for me when I did so. Laughing at "drowning in data"..that's me! Data Analysis (what's now called Data Mining) was one of the things I really enjoyed about my career and I miss I now that I'm retired, so I do it with my wardrobe and it's fun for me.</p> <p><b>Style Fan</b> - the trick with online vs. B&amp;M shopping IMHO&nbsp; is to figure out what works for you! It's so different for everyone and so depends on your style, retail possibilities where you live, and a bunch of other things. </p> <p>Thanks <b>Staysfit! </b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873595 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 11:34:13 +0000 Staysfit 1873595@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great review Chris! I look forward to seeing your polished casual capsules as 2018 rolls along. Happy New Year! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873592 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 10:30:22 +0000 Style Fan 1873592@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Excellent review Chris.&nbsp; I am still working on my style goals.&nbsp; I find buying pieces online to be very challenging.&nbsp; I have just about given up on going that route for shopping.&nbsp; I realize you are looking for petite sizes so it online shopping opens up more possibilities. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873571 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 05:25:04 +0000 Jenni NZ 1873571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well Chris it's already 2018 here. I'm planning my post but may wait for Angie, I think she may do a closet review post this week she hinted. Also I joined YLF in January so may save my post until becoming a Veteran after one year! Everyone else's posts will help me and I especially like your pics due to our similar height and figures. Your "emotional approach" in this post will help as I do run the risk of drowning everyone in my data! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873529 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 03:23:38 +0000 Anonymous 1873529@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You rock reindeer antlers! And look fabulous in the red sweater. Thank you for bringing celebration to those disabled people and their care-givers.<br /> Excellent review and goals going forward. I was going to order a bunch of stuff on-line last night and came to my senses that I could buy one great piece for what I was going to pay for 5 pieces of probably inferior quality. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873509 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 01:52:57 +0000 Violettt 1873509@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Chris:&nbsp;</b>Enjoyed reading your post. You're so pretty, have you ever thought of going a bit lighter with your hair for the new year?<br />You have many wardrobe options as you can wear anything. You have a fab figure and yes, go for some color in 2018~ there is nothing wrong with shopping at TJ Maxx at all, best store ever, but you've gotta be careful about what you buy there. I think you'd look fab in a pale blue cashmere sweater with your hair a bit lighter!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/end-of-year-review-goals-for-2018-long#post-1873490 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:51:25 +0000 Chris987 1873490@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp;Getting this in just under the wire! I love reading everyone’s end of year postings, I get great tidbits from all of them! If you are wondering if these posts are useful, I say YES! Thanks in advance for reading this one.  </p> <p>I tracked wears and purchases for 2017 and am analyzing all the numbers, but I’m also looking at it all from a higher level. I decided to go with a more emotional than data-driven summary . </p> <p><b><u>Top Successes of 2017</u></b><br />For the first ¾ of the year I still bought too much, including some poor quality items and other mistakes, all a continuation of the rebuilding I started in 2016. In October I&nbsp;finally settled down into a better pattern of fewer and better purchases. Now I’ve shifted to a mindset of refreshing seasonally and filling in wardrobe holes. Maybe the mindfulness break I took in October was the cause, or maybe it would have happened anyway, either way I’m glad it did. </p> <p>The two coats I bought at NAS have been fantastic. I posted separately about them. I’m now playing around with ideas for a spring ensemble for this coat. I might be ok wearing a coat in this color for spring if the rest of the outfit is in light colors. </p> <p>I’ve got a lot of good core pieces (more essentials than statement), jeans, lots of scarves, faux leather jackets in a couple of colors, good collection of bags, and winter sweaters, mostly in silhouettes and styles that I really like. I bought a LOT of shoes, and all have been very successful (with a few being just ok), even the two dressy ones that I don’t wear too often. It takes me a lot of time to find what I want but I’m ok with that. </p> <p>I’m getting more repeat wears on items, which tells me I’m getting closer to having a wardrobe that’s just the right size. </p> <p><b><u>Top challenges in 2017</u></b><br />I continued to sometimes buy items of&nbsp; poor quality when I shopped at thrift stores, F21, H&amp;M, and sometimes Loft and TJmaxx. I’ve gotten better about fit, but I totally ignored the quality of the fabric, and sometimes pick overly classic items that are boring, so lots of mistakes. </p> <p>Tops in general continue to be the toughest area for me, and my shoe collection for spring/summer needs an infusion of more modern looks. </p> <p>I put together a summer travel capsule at the last minute and did not like it. It was too casual and boring. </p> <p>I still have too many pieces that are ok by themselves, but don’t work work well in outfits or just don’t get worn, and I still do not repeat outfits very often. </p> <p>My wardrobe feels quite out of balance across seasons. Too many warm wool sweaters, not enough lighter ones for spring, for example. I’ve confirmed this with data. </p> <p>I’ve still buy and return a LOT. This seems embarrassing, or evidence of poor decision making, or something. However, I know that with online shopping it’s inevitable, and with B&amp;M shopping I seem to make better decisions once I get something home </p> <p><b><u>Top Goals for 2018</u></b><br />Find a better balance of accepting and embracing what I truly<br /> want to wear and what works for me vs wanting to copy someone else’s style because<br /> it looks great….all the same things discussed in Suz’s recent posting <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....vel-gazing"><a href="https://youlookfab.com/welookf" rel="nofollow">https://youlookfab.com/welookf</a>.....vel-gazing</a>&nbsp;. Or to quote uncarla…”myself but&nbsp;better”. </p> <p>To better balance my wardrobe across seasons, I’ve got a&nbsp;plan, and hopefully it will help with selection of tops too. I’m going to build&nbsp;a “core” polished casual capsule for each of my four seasons, starting with spring. The items need to be suitable for travel, which&nbsp;will force me to choose nicer pieces. (I’ve got “plain boring pieces” covered, thank<br /> you very much) Something like 6 bottoms, 10 tops, 2 toppers, 1 dress, footwear,&nbsp;bags, outerwear as a starting point. They don’t all have to work together but should form a cohesive whole. I already have pieces that will work for this. I will work on getting these “core” capsules&nbsp;in good shape before buying other/more pieces. I’m already doing this to some<br /> extent with my winter wardrobe, and it’s showing real promise. </p> <p>Continue to be picky. I’ve had a run lately of ordering&nbsp;things that were not quite the color shown on the web site, not quite the size&nbsp;I had imagined despite careful reading of measurements (hello scarves and bags),&nbsp;or didn’t fit, The temptation is HUGE to “make it work and keep it ” but I’m getting very good at just saying no and returning and waiting for the right&nbsp;one. </p> <p>Be more open to higher price points for clothing, and consider&nbsp;buying some jewelry this year. </p> <p>Try some new brands that carry petites. Thinking of WHBM,&nbsp;Gap, Boden. I’ve had a few pieces from the first two but have never tried&nbsp;Boden.</p> <p>As far as my overall style, I’m still feeling like I haven’t&nbsp;found it consistently, but it’s getting there. Structured pieces, modern classic with a smattering of trends or preppy,&nbsp;and always looking for a bit of sophistication. Or outdoorsy/sporty. </p> <p>Figure out what’s going on with my extremely limited wearing&nbsp;of dresses. Maybe I just don’t like them and need to make peace with that, but<br /> I think I just don’t have the right ones with the right footwear. </p> <p>And for the copious buying and returning, I’ve decided that I’m<br /> no longer to feel guilty about it, it’s just the way I roll.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>