https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:40:20 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1865028 Mon, 04 Dec 2017 10:31:30 +0000 Anonymous 1865028@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sisi</b> -- I assure you, I still make a lot of mistakes. &nbsp;</p> <p><b>Emily&nbsp;</b><b></b>-- A challenge? &nbsp;I love the idea. &nbsp;I thought about it yesterday, but nothing came to mind immediately. &nbsp;<b></b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1865022 Mon, 04 Dec 2017 10:09:29 +0000 Sisi 1865022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are clever Sterling, I admire you! I am glad for you that you were able to reach so many goals. Me, years and years on YLF (long-time lurker) and I still make so many mistakes. Gah. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864993 Mon, 04 Dec 2017 04:58:23 +0000 Jenni NZ 1864993@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You got me The Cat! I mean 2018 </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864981 Mon, 04 Dec 2017 04:05:32 +0000 The Cat 1864981@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sterling, interesting reading. Agree that it is helpful to write down a plan so that you can read it and remind yourself in the year to come.</p> <p>Jenni NZ, do you really think about goals for 2019 already? How about for goals for 2018? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864890 Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:02:58 +0000 Jenni NZ 1864890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is helpful Sterling. This year, my first in YLF, was helped by you specifically in your shopping fast and the main aim was to buy less. This has succeeded, I hit 18 items yesterday when the past few years had been over 30 per year. The second task was triggered by Jenn and that has been trying to wear everything 30 times. Tracking means I can see what I'm not wearing as much and try to wear it. I'm also trying to cull. I have done that too though I find it difficult and have the whole wardrobe down under 200 pieces of clothing and shoes. (Underwear, nightwear, jewellery and bags are not counted).<br /> I'm not sure if I will make new goals for 2019 or fine-tune these ones further. Thank you for the inspiration! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864876 Sun, 03 Dec 2017 17:54:49 +0000 Emily K 1864876@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Sterling</b>, I've been thinking, recently, about how (with the New Year coming) you'd probably be ready for a new wardrobe challenge. &nbsp;:-) &nbsp;Your posts always give me a lot to think about. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864770 Sun, 03 Dec 2017 00:03:33 +0000 karen13 1864770@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love your process posts (actually all your posts!) I am a few years behind you in learning about my style and needs, so I benefit so much from you sharing your experience. Particularly resonating with me are shopping for my dominant season and for my actual life (figuring out my roles).&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864744 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 20:02:54 +0000 approprio 1864744@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is fascinating. I wish I could comment in more depth because you've given me a lot to think about. I think I'm driven more by solutions rather than goals, but it's a subtle difference, because the challenge is finding my way around all the stuff I put so much effort into tracking down. If there's been a goal, it's finding the glue that binds it all together. Probably more like fashiontern in that respect. Still, as usual, I'm learning from your thought processes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864742 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 19:49:27 +0000 rachylou 1864742@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really like seeing the story of your process over the Years. Seeing the duration of time and the bigger picture. I know I get lost in the weeds... and arrived here with lots of cute one-time outfits and nothing to wear, lol! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864667 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 09:59:47 +0000 cindysmith 1864667@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I need to start truly implementing some sort of plan. I've always been a bit of a haphazard shopper, and it needs to stop </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864642 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 05:17:30 +0000 gradfashionista 1864642@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The goal that speaks to me most at the moment is wardrobe- but not style-oriented. I’ve got a fairly large bag full of clothing whose contents need to be listed for sale online—that and around 15 pairs of shoes (RIP barely born Fluevogs). A full day of photographing and detailing the items is all it would take, but I’ve been slow to do it. I’d love 2018 to be a year where *everything* in my wardrobe is either loved or worn regularly. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864626 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 03:53:05 +0000 Anonymous 1864626@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sterling, I was nodding in agreement to all you wrote. I can hoping to form a " forever wardrobe ", knowing that retirement was soon going to mean much less to spend on clothes. With probably less than 10 good years left, I'd hoped to build a wardrobe to last the rest of my life and make me happy. Ha! Yes it is a process that will never be finished. Getting older brings unexpected wardrobe challenges and I expect that will continue.<br /> Considering one's climate and major season. My goal this year is to fine tune my wardrobe for this ( new to me) area. The major season seems to be the transitional times...spring and fall, rather than really hot or even really cold. That is new to me and means mastering the art of layering and adding more long-sleeved tops and light weight to mid weight toppers.<br /> I look forward to reading more about your journey and learning from you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864603 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 01:34:13 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1864603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sterling, you end your post by asking about other people’s goals. I wrote a long response, but now see that no one else is doing that. So instead of thread-jacking, I’ll just thank you for your example, and cut/paste my response into a thread of its own. Thanks for getting me thinking! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864588 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 00:13:51 +0000 Aida 1864588@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sterling thanks for sharing the entire process in the context of what you did this year. It is a <i>fantastic</i> example of how these things take time! I am looking forward to what the coming year brings and also to how you plan to adapt your shopping strategies. GOOD JOB finally accepting your dominant season!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864584 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 23:55:19 +0000 Penny 1864584@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great insights and amazing progress. You’ve accomplished so much! And terrific revelations, including about accepting that a wardrobe always being a work in progress . . . looking forward to seeing your goals for next year. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864570 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 22:47:15 +0000 Cardiff girl 1864570@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You sound like you ve put a lot of thought and effort into your wardrobe.I sincerely admire your discipline in this regard.l feel your pain over taking a while to accept some of your lifestyle aspects I.e your dominant season.I have taken years to accept that I have a really casual lifestyle when I really like dressing up.I think this shows how the emotional side of wardrobe planning can be just as powerful as the intellectual side but perhaps harder to acknowledge.Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864555 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 21:54:58 +0000 Joyce B 1864555@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love your analysis and I think your time at YLF has been a clear success.<br /> You know what you are aiming for and don’t give up until you are there.<br /> I have also learned a lot at YLF but I have not organized my goals too strictly as my situation changed and I went with the flow to keep things easier for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864517 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:56:01 +0000 texstyle 1864517@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for sharing Sterling, great learning information here. And this sounds very similar to my own fashion journey though I don't have to keep much on hand for a professional capsule, but it is important that I have a small one for those "sometimes" occasions. </p> <p>Buying for our predominate climate seems to be one of the more challenging aspects *still* to me. I mean, I know now that it's what I should focus on most, but clothing retailers don't seem to get that many of us live in a climate that is predominately warm to hot. Even further up north, many people are experiencing long, hot spring/summer/fall seasons, yet finding a good selection of comfortable, attractive, well tailored and washable clothing always feels harder. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864512 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:39:25 +0000 LaPed 1864512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I love goal posts!</p> <p>Your observation that a big seasonal shop depends on a plan for its success is so spot-on. The flurry-of-panic method, even if you only do it once or twice a year, is not conducive to a happy wardrobe.</p> <p>The biggest danger in planning, IME, is when something falls short of your expectations. Like, building a capsule around a fantasy piece, but then when you go to purchase the fantasy piece, it doesn't fit you at all... Figuring out how to roll with the surprises, while still maintaining focus -- I'm always struggling with that. I find it way too easy to become hyperfocused on specific items... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864511 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:35:04 +0000 Sal 1864511@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are very logical in your planning Sterling- I admire that. You have learnt a lot- fabric choice is important , your meeting capsule, and your climate. And your shopping triggers!</p> <p>I also find my gear capsule an easy one to keep tight but with enough options to suit me. Easier than work or casual.</p> <p>I could see you with a work uniform- a small select group of quality pieces in gorgeous monochrome and with some key colours thrown in. Black, white, navy, cerise and maybe one more- mostly solids but with a couple of gorgeous prints and of course your great bags. I know you don't wear much print though.</p> <p>Anyway well done!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/new-years-wardrobe-goals#post-1864474 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 18:17:20 +0000 Anonymous 1864474@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Whether I realized it or not, it seemed every year I participated on the YLF Forum I had a major goal that I worked toward. &nbsp;</p> <p>I started out doing a major wardrobe edit and defining the roles I needed to dress for in life (year one). &nbsp;Angie expressed some concern that I was editing too deeply and that I might come to regret it. &nbsp;I was lucky and the edit went smoothly. &nbsp;And I did <u>broadly</u> define the roles I played in life. &nbsp;Fine-tuning those roles continues to this day. &nbsp;Accepting that roles evolve is as important as accepting the fact that life changes either predictably or unpredictably. &nbsp;Unfortunately, I resisted defining the climate factor and instead dreamed to ski chalets in Colorado. &nbsp;Naturally I bought for ski chalets in Colorado. &nbsp;</p> <p>The second year I embraced capsule wardrobe building (years two and three). &nbsp;I started out small by developing my athletic capsule. &nbsp;With that success, I moved onto my lounging/sleep/foundation capsules. &nbsp;These were easy, but they formed the strategic framework I used to start developing my casual capsule. &nbsp;This was a lot harder. &nbsp;My casual capsule is larger and includes more, less easily defined activities. &nbsp;Developing a causal capsule took a solid two years because I was literally starting from scratch and I had to figure out what "casual wear" meant to me and my life style. &nbsp;I focused on buying clothing items (few accessories) because that was what I needed the most. &nbsp;I learned that the feel of the fabric against my skin was the most important factor in determining whether a garment would be a success for me or not. &nbsp;Unfortunately, I continued to resist climate considerations and bought for my least dominant season. &nbsp;</p> <p>In years four and five, I increased my clothing budget. &nbsp;This allowed me a certain freedom to buy quality over quantity. &nbsp;It also made me much more judicious when deciding upon what pieces to add to my wardrobe. &nbsp;I continued to work within the capsule theory. &nbsp;I continued to work on my casual capsule and added to my work capsule. &nbsp;I accepted the fact that my wardrobe will never be "done." &nbsp;It will be a work in progress. &nbsp;It will also be a reflection of my personality and the place I am in life <u>at this moment</u>. &nbsp;My wardrobe is a visual statement about my life. &nbsp;One I am proud to share with the people in my life. &nbsp;This was very freeing. &nbsp;It gave me permission to experiment and to graciously accept the mistakes I made along the way. &nbsp;</p> <p>For the first time ever, I concluded that accessories were important and I began "finishing" the capsules by adding in defined "accessory complements." &nbsp;I have come to adore accessory complements. &nbsp;</p> <p>In year five, I transitioned from shopping all the time to seasonal shops. &nbsp;I shopped in March/April; June/July; and October/November. &nbsp;I see the power in this mode of shopping. &nbsp;I am not perfect at it. &nbsp;In fact, I feel there is a lot I can continue to learn, but the logic is there and I have embraced that logic. &nbsp;In fact, it is actually cheaper to shop seasonally and have a wardrobe that meets your needs than to buy whimsically and impulsively throughout the year and have a wardrobe that is gorgeous but doesn't allow you to get dressed in the morning (pre-YLF days). &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>In year five, I <i>finally</i> accepted that Summer is my dominant season. &nbsp;My wardrobe seriously lacked summer clothing that <u>I wanted to wear</u>. &nbsp;The June/July shopping event was a flurry of panic activity to try and remedy that situation. &nbsp;By that I mean there was nothing close to a plan in place. &nbsp;The capsule strategy was the only thing that stood between me and my pre-YLF days.&nbsp;</p> <p>Going forward, I recognize the importance of plan -- regardless of whether I am shopping seasonally or year round. &nbsp;In my case, I have to actually write that plan out so that I can read it and remind myself throughout the year. &nbsp;My memory is short and my mind can be very seductive when it sees something pretty in the store. &nbsp;</p> <p>I am going to find some of Angie's posts regarding her planning process and use them as a template for 2018. &nbsp; </p>