YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:02:08 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Anonymous on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1803079 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:15:30 +0000 Anonymous 1803079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I thoroughly enjoyed your 30wears post, Jenn.  I came back to it multiple times to keep up on new posts.  I also decided to return some of my duplicated tops because I honestly felt I overbought and would never achieve a reasonable number of wears.  YAY for the order.  Hope some of what you ordered works out perfectly for you.  Jenn on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1803054 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:06:25 +0000 Jenn 1803054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling, you've inspired me to get in gear for some serious shopping to finish up my spring/summer capsule. I just put in an order for 7 tops (various sizes, so I definitely won't keep them all) to try to get it all done at once. And yes! I'm glad the #30wears gave you food for thought. It's doing the same for me. Anonymous on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1803041 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 14:19:49 +0000 Anonymous 1803041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ RobinF -- I did a complete shoe overhaul in 2014-2015.  That was when I discovered I hated heels (oh, so much pain) and that I needed a wide width shoe.  Although culling so many shoes in a single weekend seemed wasteful, it was well worth it in the long run.  I haven't had the need to revisit my shoe collection since then.    Thank you for posting, Viva.  You made my entire day.  Celia -- I'll be posting a review at the end of my season.  I'll probably post minor updates along the way too.  celia on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1803031 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 13:44:54 +0000 celia 1803031@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am curious to see how this strategy works for you. It seems like a good plan. I also feel that I can find things more easily in Portugal, I guess because there are certain items that were ingrained in my brain that have to do with how the local culture perceives fashion. RobinF on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1803002 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:15:10 +0000 RobinF 1803002@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am really fascinated by this whole method. It makes so much sense that buying things around the same time means they would be more cohesive. And I do like the idea of "snacking" rather than fasting. I noticed you only bought one pair of shoes though!  viva on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802987 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:40:57 +0000 viva 1802987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am just in love with this strategy and this analysis. It's interesting and brilliant, Sterling. I'm wondering if I am at this place in my journey too - although I did not take a 70 fast: that is really impressive! I've been collecting my spring/summer purchases in Finds so may have to post a reflection as you did. I'm very inspired by the idea of "a feast followed by snacking" until the next feast - Fall/Winter. I think this could be a very healthy and financially responsible way for me to approach my shopping, and a smart one too, especially since: <ul> <li>I recently did a closet clean-out and was surprised to see how much I had that I really loved</li> <li>I am very focused now on the holes that still exist, and they are very, very few</li> <li>I am committed to staying on budget this year</li> <li>I did an outfit lab yesterday (posting shortly) and it was pretty eye-opening, just seeing the variations on an outfit that existed in my closet</li> </ul> Because of all of this, I am sure I can stick to the kind of plan you have outlined. There's no reason not to, since some "snacking" is allowed to indulge an occasional whim. Thank you for the excellent blueprint! Anonymous on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802984 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:26:15 +0000 Anonymous 1802984@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I know, Staysfit!!!  It is reassuring to know I am not the only one that practices that strategy!!!  It worked for me for years.  Then the unspeakable happened.  The stores I grew up loving in Minnesota either changed ownership or closed all together.  Either way that retail source ceased to be an option for me.  Luckily it was about that time that more sophisticated retailers entered the North Carolina market (e.g., Nordstrom) and I learned to shop online.  Staysfit on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802976 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 10:31:28 +0000 Staysfit 1802976@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling, you hit on something that I have done many times. I live in CNY, but grew up in suburban Detroit. I head back to Michigan a couple times a year because my parents and DD live there and I always head to the malls. I find it so much easier to find things there than here even though I have been living here longer (over 20 years). I know suburban Detroit is more populated, has greater variety, and the options are almost overwhelming. Where I live, it's limited, almost rural. The mall is large, but the selection caters to a certain demographic and it somehow doesn't work well for my needs most of the time. A lot of my friends go to NYC to shop. It's obviously closer than Detroit. I would have no clue of where to shop in NYC so I have never tried. Anonymous on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802968 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:47:03 +0000 Anonymous 1802968@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree with Suz, your comment was brilliant, Liz.  That might be the crux of my problem.  Back to pinterest to try to figure out my conception of a dressy casual look.   In all seriousness, dressy casual is some nebulous idea that surfs in the realm of my work clothes (but not quite as formal).  In a crunch, I could and would wear my work pants.  Perhaps I should start intermingling the two capsules.  I could use dressier tops to distinguish between the two.   Suz -- I can't predict if I'll be as happy with this wardrobe come Summer, but I remain hopeful.  In a pinch, tee shirts, tee shirts, and more tee shirts.  Oh, and I still have last years Summer wardrobe.  Lots of sleeveless tops from 2016.  They are all relatively new and I love wearing them.  So I should be good.  Thank you for the reminder though.   Thank you, Jenn.  Did you see how your post on 30 wears gave me pause?  Especially in light of all the duplicating I was doing.  Congratulations on finding three of your five Summer items.  That is the next phase in my shopping journey.   I agree, Joy, shopping with Angie would be ideal for most of us.  Have you considered meeting her in Seattle?   I know that might seem extreme, but when I first moved to North Carolina, I flew home to visit family and to shop (no personal shopper though).  I was more familiar with the stores in Minnesota having shopped them my entire life.  I also felt it was so much easier to buy items that I liked in Minnesota.  As an example, stores in North Carolina pushed skirted suits and dresses for work during the spring/summer.  I cannot begin to express how much I hate skirted suits and dresses.   I absolutely refused to be forced into buying them.  So I flew home and bought pants.  Really nice pants.  I was happy.  Anonymous on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802943 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 03:36:33 +0000 Anonymous 1802943@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You did a fabulous job of identifying what you wanted/needed and shopping. Please keep us informed as to how this way of shopping works out for you and your feelings. I'm feeling drawn to this way of shopping and think I'd end up happier with my wardrobe. What I'd really love is to shop with Angie to update a couple of times a year as I feel I need help in determining what I should be looking for. Jenn on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802941 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 03:09:04 +0000 Jenn 1802941@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm so excited for you and your closet full of new and matching items that all work together. My summer shop (ongoing) has been slower and more frustrating than yours, although I have purchased three of my 5PF items for the season.  Suz on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802911 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 01:14:45 +0000 Suz 1802911@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Clever Liz. It seems as if knowing the purpose helps you purchase. You did great on this. My only concern would be weather related, i.e. if you bought items that will work in your extreme summer heat. But if you didn't hopefully you can "snack" on those.   Liz on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802895 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 00:07:17 +0000 Liz 1802895@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It's interesting that you noted you were having such problems with dressy casual bottoms. You know what I noticed? When  you listed the bottoms that you had bought, you listed work, at home, and special events. But your other category was "dressy casual." Three categories said where you were wearing the pants. Maybe that's why you can't find that other category of pants -- you haven't figured out where you're going to wear them and how you want to look at those events or outings. Anonymous on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802886 Thu, 27 Apr 2017 23:24:04 +0000 Anonymous 1802886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Zoiechic -- it was A LOT of new items!!  I have never in my entire life shopped this way before!!  About mid-way through April I doubted myself big time.  I started wondering how Angie and others did seasonal shops. Did I overbuy?  Did I really need to duplicate so many different things?  It took time to just wrap everything and then launder it.  Thank you, Penny.  I am hopeful that this will be my new shopping strategy for all time (with little tweaks along the way).  I can see the power in it after having tried it.   Anonymous on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802879 Thu, 27 Apr 2017 22:58:20 +0000 Anonymous 1802879@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I will be interested as well to see how it works out. With myself, I always seem to think of something that would "go great with x" as I wear items, and then this leads to more shopping :). I do not know how I would do with adding so many items all at once. Penny on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802870 Thu, 27 Apr 2017 22:27:52 +0000 Penny 1802870@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Very impressive, both the items that you've found and the incisive questions for evaluation. Sounds like a solid approach that is working for you so far, and I'll be interested to see your future reflections. Anonymous on "Final Tally for Summer Seasonal Shop" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/final-tally-for-summer-seasonal-shop#post-1802865 Thu, 27 Apr 2017 22:18:47 +0000 Anonymous 1802865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ After ending a ending a 70-Day Purchasing Fast, I implemented a new shopping strategy. My goal was to do two large shops a year, each at the beginning of the Season.  Although my plan includes two major shops per year, there will be minor shopping the rest of the year to fill in gaps as needed.  I want to emphasize "minor" because if I did my upfront planning correctly, there shouldn't be too much that I would need over the Summer.   I started my Spring Shop on March 27th. It didn’t dawn on me until nearly the end of April that I did not have a blueprint for this type of shopping. I posted my concern and received advice, support, and encouragement: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ask-angie-how-does-one-do-a-seasonal-shop">https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....sonal-shop</a>. I bought bottoms (special occasion, work, at-home casual); tops (work, casual); belt (work); jacket (vacation); trail shoes (vacation); scarf (vacation); and hat (vacation). Pants: six bottoms that included colors in red, midnight, fuchsia, olive, and black. Dressy casual was a category I actively shopped. I bought and tried on a multitude of different brands and styles. All were eventually returned. -Two bottoms for work. -Zero for dressy casual. -Three bottoms for at-home casual. -One for special events. Tops: I had such good luck finding tops this year/season. I found eleven tops from Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, Uniqlo, Nordstrom, and Landsend. I took Angie's advice and duplicated several of them. -Two linen button down shirts, one in white and one in yellow. Although the colors are different, the shape of the blouses are nearly identical. So I consider this a duplication. -Four short sleeve crewneck knit pullovers in navy, mid-blue, magenta, and yellow. I considered duplicating but opted against it because four seemed like a sufficient number especially in light of Jenn’s post about the 30 wears => <a rel="nofollow" href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30wears">http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/30wears</a>. -Two elbow length tee shirts in peacoat navy (duplicated).   -One sleeveless stripped top for deep summer. -Two heattech tops from Uniqlo (another duplication). Jacket: One fleece jacket with lots of zippers in navy. Trail shoes: One pair. Hat: One very light weight hat. Belt: One belt. Scarf: One floral for warmth, protection from the sun, and added color boost. Why are scarfs so expensive? The question is "have I put together a comprehensive wardrobe I can wear all Summer long without continuing to buy throughout the season?"  Feast followed by light snacking the rest of the season? I actually think I have. The single category I was not able to find were dressy casual bottoms. I tried on so many variations, but I did not buy any of them. The reasons for returning them varied. It all boiled down to me not having a clue what I wanted.  I may have to spend the next few months observing what others in my area are wearing.   I listed the following criteria to evaluate this new approach. Did I continue to spend at the same rate throughout the remainder of the season? How often did I wear the new items? Did buying a lot of new items means that older items in my wardrobe were neglected?   What was a success? What was a failure? Was this a more efficient and effective way to shop for clothing? How did the cost compare to this time in 2016? Early impressions are that seasonal shops are the next step in my fashion journey.  I was able to shop with a clear and comprehensive plan in mind.  It seemed easier somehow.   One poster commented that if I settle on knit tops now what happens if something better comes along next month.  That is a concern.  I am going to handle it by just not looking.  Supposedly this strategy will free up time.  That time won't be spent shopping ... unless there is a clear need.   Oh, and today is the 27th.  So it took 31 days from start to finish.