https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:17:16 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-806118 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 07:26:02 +0000 Anonymous 806118@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very insightful and helpful post to those of us who are new to the SYC/SYN and are just starting our journeys.</p> <p>Thank you for offering up your experience. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-792103 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:55:01 +0000 Isabel 792103@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a FABULOUS and useful post, thank you !!! I am going to print it out and put it in my "all things style" binder. </p> <p>The point about space limiting what you own really struck home. I definitely don't do that. I will pack things in boxes and put them in the basement. I will hang things up in the basement. I have pocketbooks in the walk in shower that we don't use..( EMBARRASSING ) and so on. Not good role modeling for my kids. </p> <p>You might just have provided me with my New Years Resolutions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-792093 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:33:37 +0000 Anonymous 792093@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh my goodness Ornella, what a fabulous, fabulous post! I loved every word of it. It sounds like you are gaining a tremendous amount of wisdom and discipline in terms of your wardrobe (and yes, SYC is a lot like dieting--a clothes diet, lol!) Your steady, measured approach to shopping thoughtfully for a need is so much better than the binging/starving clothes shopping cycle that can be the alternative. </p> <p>Good decisions can be made regarding true needs when we are able to fend off that feeling of a *style crush*, when the adrenaline is pumping and we can think of nothing else but acquiring that new item. Thank you for showing us how it's done! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-792064 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:01:34 +0000 RunnerChick 792064@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ornella - thank you for these reflections! My experiences this year have been the opposite of yours, in a way, but your thoughts resonate with me a great deal. </p> <p>For several years after I finished graduate school, I had continued to dress myself as if I was a graduate student and on a shoestring budget. When I saw other fashionable colleagues and friends dress well - and appropriately for work and events - I was always envious. The last five or so months have been an exercise in reflection - as I have sought to understand my style/ fashion goals and therefore, my needs - and several rounds of closet-editing. </p> <p>My budget is not unlimited but I am able to spend a little more than before; also, I have come to appreciate that items of good quality - when purchasing stable workhorses - are eventually more economical in the long run. I have now reached a point where I am able to dress myself (a) for my lifestyle and (b) feel good about how I look. </p> <p>I also think that the experiment in reflection and closet-editing has paid off, and that I must now practice the discipline of wearing what I have, and making note of my closet holes and orphans so I can engage in another round of editing six or so months from now. At this point, the idea of Shopping my Needs and Shopping with a Plan make a lot of sense. It's been wonderfully helpful to read your thoughts and reflections as I prepare for this next phase - thank you, again! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-792006 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 10:12:47 +0000 RoseandJoan 792006@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ornella, thank you so much for this post. I adore your logical thought process and how you still inject the fun whilst being practical. </p> <p>I love the term shop your needs and will try to apply it to my future purchasing decisions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790953 Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:32:04 +0000 Ornella 790953@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Krista, RunnerRae, Atlantia and Anne.</p> <p>@Jewell, I like your acronym SWAP I came to the point of having similar strategy to yours about a year ago or so. I had a list on my phone which was updated regularly. Many things were strong needs (e.g. navy and white turtleneck), while some have been dropped in the meantime as I no longer need it (red pencil skirt).</p> <p>@Jeanne, one thing I like about less space is that i spend less time sorting the clothes. I used to have it in two rooms before, mine and guest, and from today's perspective it was actually very impractical for me. Having it all in one place really makes it easy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790248 Fri, 07 Dec 2012 01:07:48 +0000 Jjsloane 790248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes you are brilliant. I admire your ability to keep to your task and to explain the process so eloquently. #1 resonates particularly for me as I have too many extra closets to move items to. I spend an inordinate amount of time rearranging and sorting items so I can know all that I have (and often find forgotten beauties hidden in the masses). I am going to take a page from your book and think it will give me some peace. I'm not as disciplined, but there are some very sound lessons in what you've shared. Thank you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790206 Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:43:13 +0000 anne 790206@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ornella, thanks for this interesting, analytical and warm account of your SYN! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790194 Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:36:37 +0000 Jewell 790194@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Brilliant post- thanks for sharing your insights! A lot of what you wrote resonates with me as I've been SWAPing (shopping with a plan) since January. This was far more realistic for me than SYC and has almost cured me of impulse buying. Earlier this week I found myself wondering if an even bigger closet would create the temptation to purchase more clothes and after reading your post, I'm sure that it would. All I can say is Wow! to your commitment to wear everything you own before buying more. You've inspired me to give it a try. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790137 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:32:12 +0000 Atlantia 790137@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You make me think about things with your posts, and this is no exception. Thank you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790130 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:25:12 +0000 Raisin 790130@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love this post! You articulated your thoughts wonderfully, and with such clarity. Very helpful to read. I feel very much the same and am trying to do as you do and shop my needs. That is why instead of shopping for clothes mindlessly, I actually have a needs list in my purse so I don't impulse buy at the mall or online. So far it's been helpful. I still see lots of things I want but unless they fill a void I need to fill I try to pass them up in favor of the items I know I need. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790073 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 22:13:28 +0000 Krista 790073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ornella I love these insights! What a great read and I agree entirely. The 'dieting' metaphor is pretty powerful. Thank you for sharing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790063 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:43:23 +0000 Ornella 790063@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Una, thank you for always being so enthusiastic! I can sympathize with your friend because the adjustment to new way of dressing, and the new needs in general, is not necessarily smooth, especially is lifestyles are very different.</p> <p>@Sveta, it sums it up perfectly: watch the portion size. Or, as my dad would say, "everything in moderation". My dad dad also taught me the real value of quality shoes, so I can understand you (back) on your shoe shopping strategy given the challenges you have. </p> <p>@JR, thank you (I also saw your comment on the other thread about your cousin, btw, I didn't get a chance to reply there while it was still active.)</p> <p>@Suz, my dear cheerleader. I can completely understand straying when trying shopping bans - after all, this place alone gives us so many ideas and we want to express some of them through our clothes.<br /> Regarding the discipline in putting everything in rotation, I just pull out (or on top of the shelf) some things that had sunk at the bottom, mostly layering tees which offer nice pops of color or scarves. But, the fact I need to do this tells me I probably have too much of certain items! Something to ponder next year perhaps...</p> <p>@Gaylene, thank you for your kind comment. I'm especially glad I've touched on the subject that you feel is close to you at the moment. I completely agree that the trick is in shopping being conscious activity. And you've said it beautifully: <em>...love melds both logic and emotion and is much more long lasting.</em> Although written in the context of relatively trivial subject as shopping is, this simple truth is far more reaching.</p> <p>@Sara, thank you.</p> <p>@Lisa, great minds etc... I admire your discipline and your spirit in conquering the habit you're discussing on your blog. By blogging, you've taken on the task of being even more accountable to yourself and your readers, and I wonder which other lightbulb - or chandelier - moments will come at the end of it. What i find interesting is how simple learnings in the arena of style and shopping can be easily transfered to other areas of out lives.</p> <p>@Shannon, thank you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790041 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:39:28 +0000 Transcona Shannon 790041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This post is nothing short of brilliant Ornella! It is very well written and full of fantastic revelations and wisdom. I need to print this and carry it with me in my purse at all times so when I get a little reckless re: shopping, you can rein me in! Thank you for posting this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-790002 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 19:23:45 +0000 Lisa 790002@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great post. I actually have a blog post slated for tomorrow that discusses the diet idea! </p> <p>I really like the idea to SYN instead of SYC which can be very restrictive. And I do agree, the size of your wardrobe space really can cater to owning more clothes than one needs. I moved from one walk in that I shared with hubby to a walk in all for myself. Now I have 3 closet bars to fill and I refuse to put anything on the third bar or shelf. If I start, I'll fill it up. My solution, I hung a chandelier inside the closet. I don't want to block the pretty piece and that's stopped me from hanging anything on that third rod. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-789958 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:35:40 +0000 Sara L. 789958@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting post! Although I haven't tried to restrict my own buying habits to SYC, I can understand how it relates to dieting. I think your insight into how the two relate is very astute. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-789951 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:30:11 +0000 Gaylene 789951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ornella, you perfectly articulated the thoughts that have been rolling around in my mind this past year, especially this statement</p> <p>"And, I don't avoid shops. I do walk in, look at things, I don't torture myself with thinking "I shouldn't have" knowing if I can justify the purchase, realistically, I will make it."</p> <p>If I know that I'll be needing something in the very near future, it makes sense to buy the item when I see something that fills that need. But that is conscious shopping, which, for me, is quite different than just that feeling of "wanting" that happens when I've seen something that I liked on someone else or am being lured in by an attractive display or marketing concept.</p> <p>I've always been an advocate for buying things that a person truly loves, but "wanting" is a much trickier emotion. "Wanting" is a mindless infatuation that takes over your senses, while love melds both logic and emotion and is much more long lasting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-789944 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:18:04 +0000 Suz 789944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for sharing these wise thoughts with us, Ornella. You are a wonderful example. </p> <p>I agree that shopping our needs is much more effective than putting ourselves on an absolute shopping ban. That is what I am trying to do, too --- although I still sometimes have trouble identifying my needs! It's not so much that I buy for a fantasy life. It's more that I forget to buy for specific occasions that require a different sort of outfit from my ordinary work-at-home jeans. But I am learning, thanks in part to thoughtful posts like yours. </p> <p>You mention that you require discipline to wear everything in your closet and not just wear the favourites. How have you tackled that? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-789901 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:33:56 +0000 JR 789901@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting reflections. Thank you. I'm rather struggling to find my balance in all this myself. I've always been a SYN kind of girl (and I hear you about grabbing pants whenever you can because of fit issues - for me it's footwear). I think you've achieved a very healthy balance here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-789899 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:33:16 +0000 Sveta 789899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ornella, I always love to read your style musings. All of this makes a perfect sense to me. I think you are doing a beautiful job of adjusting for a new lifestyle in a new country. It is so true one the diet analogy! Thta's why I find it very hard to do SYC: as soon as you begin to restrict yourself suddenly you crave more! My rule of thumb for dieting: don't restrict yourself when you want something but watch the portion size. The same works for clothes shopping as well.<br /> I hear you on snapping the pants in the good length: I do the same as they are so hard to come by. I have a similar approach to shoes as my size is so hard to find. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-789898 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:32:53 +0000 catgirl 789898@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ornella, your wisdom and articulateness know no bounds. I love these thoughts. My friend who recently retired from teaching and moved to a tiny village here has been frustrating me with her clothing choices - she used to be my shopping buddy, but now has no place in her wardrobe for dressy/impractical clothes and spends a lot of time in something just shy of gear. But I think she's applying a form of your thought process here! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-i-shopped-my-needs-syn-for-the-past-6-months#post-789843 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:37:44 +0000 Ornella 789843@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is almost like <em>Style Thoughts Legacy from 2012, part 2</em> (part 1 being my recent <strong><a rel="nofollow" href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/epiphany-how-my-style-went-through-b-cycle">epiphany here</a></strong>), I have one more thing I would like to share when I manage to write my thoughts down.</p> <p>I'm less than a month short from the end of my own SYC turned SYN experiment, but as I don't see things changing radically I have decided to start wrapping things, or my thoughts, up and sharing them with you.</p> <p><strong>A short intro</strong><br /> Six months ago I have gone through major changes in my life circumstances. We have moved from England to Germany. I am familiar with some of the brands which are more popular in continental Europe than in Ireland and Britain where I lived over the past 12 years, but I had absolutely no idea how they would meet my wardrobe and style needs. Either way, shopping for me is a tall order in many aspects and just as I had identified a selection of retailers where I knew I could expect some success back on the islands, it was practically back to square one on the continent.</p> <p>In addition to this, I have stopped working for the foreseeable future, which meant my wardrobe needs have changed significantly, I use different form of transport which adds a new set of criteria in order for my wardrobe to function, and last but not least, my budget had shrunk. But as it turned out, it wasn't a bad thing at all, I dare say the effects are surprisingly positive and eye-opening.</p> <p>The major trigger for deciding to go on SYC was the day our things were packed for the move. Boxes after boxes of stuff, my wardrobe included, were loaded to the removals truck and I had tried to wrap my head around how come there is so much of everything despite all my attempts to minimize. Although the guys from the removals company had said ours was a tiny move, to me that wasn't enough consolation. For one thing that was 100% under my control solely, I had decided I was going to wear everything I owe without buying anything new until the end of the year.</p> <p><strong>How did I do?</strong><br /> In the past 6 month I have had only one fantasy buy, which was a great deal - comfortable and pretty dressy shoes. </p> <p>What I've realized along the way:</p> <ol> <li><strong>The size of the wardrobe storage space partially determines the amount of clothes</strong>. In another words, the more the storage space, the easier it is to accumulate more things. While living in the more spacious house, most of my clothes were stored neatly on the hangers and I never had the problem to see what I have. It's different now in the smaller apartment where we all share one spacious wardrobe, which however big it is cannot offer the same ease of access, thus effectively reducing the amount of clothes that is in regular rotation. Which brings me to my next point... </li> <li> ...<strong>There are always favorites and workhorses, either specific items or dressing formulas, no matter how well curated the wardrobe is.</strong> This is what we'll reach for when having little time to get ready. To overcome this and basically use most or all that we have, if that's what's wanted, we need some discipline and thinking things through ahead (planning) in order to put everything available in rotation. On the note of discipline... </li> <li>...I have come to the conclusion that <strong>any form of shopping restriction (e.g. SYC, SYB) is basically a like a form of dieting</strong>. As such, unless you are totally committed and ready to do it all the way, it plays tricks with the mind, and suddenly all one can think about are those sweets and cakes that are a big no-no.<br /> The cure? To continue on dieting analogy, when on diet, you don't go to pastry shops or browse chocolate isles, but avoid the temptations. Easy. I think it is completely pointless to do SYC-esque challenges and then browse the shops or read the newsletters knowing it is all effectively out of reach. I've gone through the viscous cycle of feeling bad about myself because I could not resist the temptation at the times when I had to demonstrate a strength of character and my own word. So I had to change the mindset to... </p> </li> <li> ...Go easy on yourself and <strong>know the difference between needs and wants</strong>. This is how my own SYC became SYN (Shop Your Needs). And this is why I bought puffer coat in July because even then I knew I'll be needing it in much colder winter than what I was used to. I bought oxfords and Mary Janes because the moment I realized I'll do a lot of walking, I needed quality flat shoes that lace or close up. And, I bought not one but two linen shirts because I realized the material works beautifully in the new climate, plus the sale offer with quality brand was such I would never forgive myself for passing either f those. I bought a jacket that is perfect for cycling on a mild autumn day, because I genuinely needed a casual but pretty jacket to keep me warm. I also bough second messenger bag, this was more of a want then need, but it is in heavy rotation. And finally, I bought woolen fingerless gloves / hand warmers, which were initially purely a want but have since become a necessity as they keep me warm. </li> </ol> <p>To sum it up, I'm not saying don't shop your wants, just know the difference. It helps a great deal when you need to decide and to justify the purchase. I receive a few newsletters by the brands which I know might (just might) stock pants suitable for me. It is such an issue to find the right length, that there is no shopping restriction that would prevent me from snapping the right ones when they next come up. </p> <p>And, I don't avoid shops. I do walk in, look at things, I don't torture myself with thinking "I shouldn't have" knowing if I can justify the purchase, realistically, I will make it. But, I wear my existing wardrobe, I have plenty of things that serve my current lifestyle perfectly, some of them purchased years ago and still going strong. I simply rethink how I style them thanks to the endless inspiration available and that's it, or wear them the same way over and over again. </p> <p><strong>What comes next?</strong><br /> Life goes on. So does my SYN regime. There is absolutely no need to change the approach at the moment.</p> <p>If you made it this far, thanks for reading and I hope it all makes some sense to you too. </p>