YouLookFab Forum » Topic: State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020 https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:26:16 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Bonnie on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088850 Wed, 01 Jan 2020 16:46:31 +0000 Bonnie 2088850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I really enjoyed reading your year end review. I wish I had done a better analysis of the state of my wardrobe at the beginning of last year. I just knew I needed more warm items because of my move to the coast from the desert last December and that my closet was filled with hot weather items and went with that. Now after a year of happy shopping, I've come to realize that I should have paid attention to my Lifestyle, too, especially since I'm retired. I've just divided my Tops (including dresses, toppers, shirts, tunics, and sweaters) into four broad categories. I defined Summer as being any day over 72F and Winter as being any day 71F or cooler (I also now live in a temperate climate so most days of the year are within 10 degrees above or below 70F). My categories are SUMMER: AT HOME, SUMMER: OUT AND ABOUT, WINTER: AT HOME, AND WINTER: OUT AND ABOUT. By sorting my Tops, I now realize that the category WINTER: AT HOME  has the fewest items with the most wears (I count wears, too) and, of course, the largest category SUMMER: OUT AND ABOUT has the most items with the least wears. This information will definitely guide my purchases for next year and no wonder I got so bored with my wardrobe last year. On the upside, I've got a lovely collection of Out and About items and am ready for any occasion. SarahD8 on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088847 Wed, 01 Jan 2020 16:04:41 +0000 SarahD8 2088847@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suz, yeah, I was thinking about that when I read your first post in the thread too — that how we conceptualize our local climate and its impacts on our wardrobe depends a lot on our personal context. Even though we live in roughly the same climate in Vancouver and Seattle, the way you experience it having lived in eastern Ontario is different from the way I experience it having lived here most of my adult life. And I also suspect there’s a difference viewing it from a Canadian vs a US context— how the climate compares to that of the rest of our respective countries. JenniNZ I am hoping to track wears a little better this year. It’s inspiring to see how useful that has been for you. How you categorize your wardrobe sounds similar to the way I do mine in my own reasonably temperate climate: “cold seasons” is fall/winter/spring, when I wear roughly the same outfit formulas (the key for me is that I always need two layers of long sleeves on the top half of my body). And then there’s summer. I suppose you could lump what I’m calling “transitional” in with summer, and maybe I will again in the future — but for now it seems useful to break out parts of my wardrobe that need more attention into separate categories. Cindysmith well...not sure I can claim all this analysis prevents spending money. In some ways it might simply justify it? I do hope it will help me spend more effectively though! cindysmith on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088829 Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:56:46 +0000 cindysmith 2088829@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ If I would put this kind of thought and serious introspection into my wardrobe, I might not have such a daunting credit card bill staring me down. Thank you for inspiring me to get into a solution! Jenni NZ on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088821 Wed, 01 Jan 2020 09:27:20 +0000 Jenni NZ 2088821@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Well done SarahD8, I have enjoyed this post. Like Suz is now, I’m living in a temperate climate here in Auckland. Today being 1 Jan and a public holiday, I have re-written my paper closet lists. I have one list for “summer” and one for autumn/winter/spring. Winter in a temperate climate is not that much different, maybe just a warmer cardigan or jacket with a coat on top for outdoors, the outfit under that could be similar for 9 months of the year. I then divide each section into types of clothing and track the wears. It works well to show me trends like hardly wearing skirts- so I haven’t bought a skirt since 2015. Suz on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088818 Wed, 01 Jan 2020 05:05:06 +0000 Suz 2088818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ For me, it was key to notice when I actually wore stuff. It took a lot of my guilt away. There were generally good reasons I wasn't wearing something...(DUH!!!)...and also reasons why, in a different season, I felt I had "nothing to wear." Even with a pile of clothes in the closet. They just were not the right ones.  A side note, I'm chuckling to myself....in my mental framework, Seattle (and Vancouver, where I currently live) are basically "transitional" ALL YEAR LONG!! LOL. I find it SO much easier to dress here than I did in Eastern Ontario. A lot of my clothes now can at least theoretically cross over the seasons (with layering), whereas back there, my summer and winter wardrobes were almost 100% distinct. And I had to wear snow boots for about five months a year as my only outdoor footwear.  Of course that's a bit of an exaggeration. In fact, I do still have distinct summer dresses/ tops/ bottoms (and I still need them) but my fall/ winter/ and early spring clothing is pretty much interchangeable except I prefer slightly different colours in fall vs. spring.  SarahD8 on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088766 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 18:16:48 +0000 SarahD8 2088766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ah, I wrote out a response to everyone last night and lost it at the last moment! rachylou, yes, exactly -- or in my case, it makes clear how one can have so very many cardigans but nothing to wear. You know, don't knock the garbage bag option -- if anyone on the forum can pull that off with intention and elan, it is probably you! Joy, great point to consider whether alterations might help the puzzle pieces fall into place. In the case of summer skirts I think that's probably not the way to go. Partly because narrow skirts work better for me when they are made of knit material, and my full skirts are woven. And partly because my popover tops are mostly printed, as are my full skirts. So, I need different outfit completers for each. Roxanna and shevia, isn't it great that we can all have such different approaches to our wardrobes but still learn from each other? Even though I am on the opposite end of the analytical/intuitive spectrum from the two of you where clothing is concerned, I enjoy your posts so much. Thank you for reading and commenting. Suz and Barbara Diane, yes, the understanding of transitional dressing is a major penny-drop moment isn't it? A silver-dollar drop! I think that for me it took a while to get it because Seattle's seasons are offset from those of much of the rest of the US (that is, it warms up later in the spring but stays warm further into autumn). "Transitional" (which I might be using in an idiosyncratic way) is what I need in those lag times. nemosmom and Suz, the difference between when you could theoretically wear something and when you actually wear it is such a revelation, isn't it??? I am so, so thrilled to hear that my post inspired a useful analysis of your own closet, nemosmom. Beyond thrilled! Your conclusions make so much sense. I can't wait to see what dividends this will yield as you embark on your no-shop January. Cardiff girl, thanks! May the thrift and/or retail gods smile upon me indeed. Murph11, hmm, perhaps a mending/ironing/clothing maintenance challenge is in order??? Murph11 on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088731 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:54:50 +0000 Murph11 2088731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for sharing your insight. I’m so intrigued with your specific breakdown and what you’ve learned in the process. Bravo! I suddenly have the urge to pop over with my sewing kit to help with your 22 mending/projects (and will bring my armful along as well— and my stack of ironing which languishes in the laundry room). Cheers to you for a fab 2020! Cardiff girl on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088714 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 12:05:12 +0000 Cardiff girl 2088714@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow,this is impressive!Your wardrobe deserves to be in a great state given all the effort you have put into your analysis,l hope that you find everything you are looking for in2020. Jaime on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088665 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 03:08:15 +0000 Jaime 2088665@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hats off to your analysis. I don't do this but reading yours and others does sometimes lead me to insights about my own wardrobe and how I approach it. Great one about the shirts and how you use them!  nemosmom on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088661 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 01:53:12 +0000 nemosmom 2088661@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sarah, I came back to thank you for your post! I went through all my out-in-the-world pieces and assigned them to a season. Skirts and bags were excluded from my counts because I rarely wear them. Items that could span multiple seasons were assigned to the season I most likely wear them; shoes span multiple seasons. I am shocked to discover that my two longest seasons are the two I have the fewest clothes for! Thank you so much! Your post has been super helpful and given me much to process during my no-shop January! Barbara Diane on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088660 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 01:45:03 +0000 Barbara Diane 2088660@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Love this post. I remember the first time someone mentioned transitional weather-it was such a big a-ha moment.  Suz on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088650 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:33:17 +0000 Suz 2088650@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It sounds as if it's really important for you to categorize according to the key silhouettes you are wearing as well as season. "Tops" won't cut it -- you need a certain kind of top for a certain kind of bottom. Makes sense.    The transitional category is a huge wardrobe hole for a lot of people who live on the east or midwest. Spring and fall seem so short. It feels self-indulgent to buy clothes for "just a week or two." But then, um, you still have to get dressed. It was somewhere deep into my first year on YLF that I realized I did not own any shoes. Oh, I had boots. And I had sandals. But apart from gear (running shoes) I had NO footwear for transitional weather. No wonder I found it hard to get dressed for 3 months a year!! That was a lightbulb moment. It also led to my own personal "aha" moment about tops. I discovered that wore almost all my long sleeved shirts and blouses during transitional weather. In theory I could have layered them under sweaters in winter -- and sometimes I did -- but mostly I wanted to wear cozy knits then. I often felt guilty about how little I was wearing my shirts/ blouses. And then I realized it was because I had so little time during the year to wear them. I wear them a lot more now that I live on the more temperate west coast!  Roxanna on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088646 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:24:13 +0000 Roxanna 2088646@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ WOW. I bow to your altar of over analysis Seriously though - though I could never hope to analyze this much myself, I do admire it and I see how useful it is in creating a workable wardrobe that makes it easy to get dressed (my goal too!) I really love your epiphany about HOW you wear things - ie. popover skirts vs. bottoms, transitional shirts. I do this too - wear very specific combinations or wear certain clothes in specific weather - and never thought to break it down like that. How useful to see those gaps when putting together an outfit! Bravo - looks like you are on your way to a well thought out 2020! Anonymous on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088644 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:16:54 +0000 Anonymous 2088644@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Could you narrow or have narrowed some of your wider warm weather skirts to have more bottoms for your pop over tops? Or are those skirts part of outfits already? You have done so much work and put lots of thought into this. You are ready for 2020. rachylou on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088622 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 20:42:14 +0000 rachylou 2088622@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It’s truly illuminating. It explains how one can have a lot of tops yet nothing to wear. It also helps to create interesting, fresh outfits, getting specific about details. I personally can be far too reductionist, boiling everything down to ‘tops’ and ‘bottoms’ - I get to feeling bored because I wear ‘the same thing’ all the time. Lol. With categories like that, I can only make changes like ‘wearing trash bags’ instead(!) SarahD8 on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088617 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 20:19:45 +0000 SarahD8 2088617@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ suntiger, yes, I'm finding it super helpful to break things down in terms of outfit formulas! Really helps me see when things are imbalanced. Would love to hear how it goes for you if you give it a try. torontogirl, the transitional category is so tricky, isn't it? If you look at the proportion of the year it takes up, you'd think you just need two or three outfits. But you actually need enough for a stretch of weather -- or at least I do, due to laundry bottlenecks at least as much as boredom. nemosmom, some items do work across seasons or categories (I realized a couple of my more polished 3/4 sleeve summer tops work perfectly well for professional outfits with skirts, so I'm sorted there without any effort!). And it's ideal when pieces can pull double (or triple, or more) duty! But I do think it's helpful to think about: ok, what does such-and-such season or use case really need in order to work? Or "click," if you will. In answer to your question, I DEFINITELY feel like things are clicking mentally. Not quite in the real physical world of my closet yet. But having a mental handle on things SO MUCH reduces the angst. Thanks all of you for your continuing support and wisdom! nemosmom on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088609 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 19:19:37 +0000 nemosmom 2088609@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow, Sarah! You've done a lot of really hard work!  I love the way you've split everything into high summer, cold, and transitional. I try to pigeonhole things into multiple categories/seasons, and I bet yours is a much better way of identifying holes and needs.  The detail you've put into your shopping list for the new year is fantastic and I am excited to see how you fare.  Would you say your wardrobe is "clicking" now?? Helena on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088601 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:43:07 +0000 Helena 2088601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sarah, this is awesome - I'm nodding along to many of your insights. I think when you have big weather and seasonal variations to account for, it can be easy to try to make things too simple (I often do this). The transitional category has been a huge game changer for me too, in terms of my expectations and how I sort things out! (and what I should hang on to vs. pass on).    You've defined your priorities and done an excellent job putting together a well thought out plan. Looking forward to watching you execute through 2020! Anonymous on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088600 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:42:12 +0000 Anonymous 2088600@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You officially rock! Love how you put the ways you're pairing things. Think I need to copy! SarahD8 on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088599 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:02:18 +0000 SarahD8 2088599@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ 2020 Shopping priorities: Cold Season <ul> <li>Tops: Tunic-length tops, at least 3, focus on light colors and/or patterns, and replace white one.</li> <li>Bottoms: Straight-leg pants, especially mid-wash jeans. Replenish skirt leggings.</li> <li>Toppers: Long cardis – could be burgundy, teal, white, pearl gray (cocoon shape), navy, or light blue.</li> <li>Do not buy: Blue standard-length tops. Cropped cardis.</li> </ul> High Summer <ul> <li>Sleeveless tops: Longer, printed (or solid) tanks that work with jeans/pants. Shorter, solid tanks that work with printed full skirts. At least 3 of each.</li> <li>Shorts: consider black, chambray, rose, coral, olive, print. At least 2 pairs.</li> <li>Day dresses: At least 3 to replace those that are wearing out.</li> </ul> Summer Business <ul> <li>Navy skirt? Black pants? 2 print tops for pants.</li> </ul> Transitional <ul> <li>Bottoms: Boyfriend-style cropped mid-wash jeans. Fluid cropped pants – 1 to 3 pairs, at least 1 solid and at least 1 printed.</li> <li>Pullovers: 1 to 3 longer-length ¾-sleeve pullovers for this capsule (including replacing the teal one).</li> </ul> Footwear <ul> <li>2 pair closed-toe shoes suitable for summer business capsule. (Cutout oxfords??)</li> <li>For straight-leg jeans silhouettes to work, I need a pair of lighter (cognac, metallic, etc.) loafers or oxfords.</li> </ul> Outerwear <ul> <li>Something that would work with skirts in winter (shorter and less gear-ish than my black parka)</li> </ul> Dressy <ul> <li>Priorities TBD</li> </ul> Accessories <ul> <li>Focus on jewelry</li> <li>Do not buy: Dark, solid, neutral scarves</li> </ul> Utility <ul> <li>PJ/Lounge: 4-6 sleep tanks in light blue, pink, and/or medium gray. 3 pair sleep pants. 2 pair sleep shorts. Gray sweater tunic. Open cardi/robe in light pink or blue. ¾ sleeve boxy pullover? Slippers and/or slipper socks.</li> <li>Gym: Black, navy sweat pants</li> </ul> Underpinnings <ul> <li>Figure out camisole equivalent for summer. Then get 3 light, 2 navy, 1 black.</li> <li>More white heattech camisoles. Also maybe a couple in navy.</li> <li>Replace/replenish heavy socks.</li> </ul> SarahD8 on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088598 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 18:00:32 +0000 SarahD8 2088598@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ State of the wardrobe - start 2020 Main wardrobe: 160  53 Summer + 13 Transitional + 89 Cold Seasons + 5 Outerwear) Summer 17 tops + 5 bottoms + 6 dresses + 10 toppers + 11 footwear + 3 business = 53 Tops (17) <ul> <li>¾-sleeve woven popovers - 6 (Wear with shorts, narrow skirts, or short skirts)</li> <li>¾ sleeve cropped (knit) pullovers - 3 (Wear with skirts, especially full ones, and maybe also with fluid (non-jeans) cropped pants.)</li> <li>Longer tanks – knit and woven - 3 (Wear with jeans, shorts, narrow or short skirts.)</li> <li>Shorter tanks – knit and woven - 3 (Wear with full skirts.)</li> <li>Other - 3</li> </ul> Bottoms (5) <ul> <li>Shorts - 1 (Wear with ¾-sleeve woven popovers, or longer length knit or woven tanks.)</li> <li>Skirts - 4 (1 midi, narrow; 1 maxi, full; 1 short; 1 below knee, full)</li> </ul> Sundresses (6) (Wear alone or with a cardi, cropped or hip-length.) Toppers (10) <ul> <li>(Mostly) cropped ¾-sleeve cardigans - 8 (Wear with sundresses or skirts, but also experiment with pairing with longer tanks + fluid cropped pants.)</li> <li>Other - 2</li> </ul> Footwear (11) Business (3) Transitional 2 bottoms + 3 pullovers + 8 cardigans = 13 Cropped jeans - 2 (Wear with printed or solid longer tanks + cardis, longer ¾ sleeve pullovers) ¾ sleeve pullovers - 3 (Wear with cropped jeans, fluid (non-jeans) cropped pants Cardis - 8 (Wear with tank + cropped jeans. Also with sundresses in summer, and some of them in cold season outfits if desired.) Cold Seasons 24 tops + 11 pullovers + 15 bottoms + 23 toppers + 16 footwear = 89 Tops (24) <ul> <li>Tunic length - 5 (Wear with skinny pants or leggings, with long, standard, or cropped cardi on top.)</li> <li>Standard length - 17 (Wear with skinny pants and long cardi, or with straight-leg pants and standard cardi.)</li> <li>Cropped - 2 (Wear with skirts, or possibly fluid (non-jeans) straight-leg pants.)</li> </ul> Pullovers (11) <ul> <li>Tunic-length sweaters - 6 (Wear with skinny pants.)</li> <li>Cropped - 5 (Wear with skirts or skirt leggings.)</li> </ul> Bottoms (15) <ul> <li>Skirts - 3 (Wear with cropped pullovers or cropped shirt and cardi.)</li> <li>Pants – skinny + leggings - 11 (Wear with tunics and any topper, or hip-length shirts and long cardis.)</li> <li>Straight-leg pants - 1 (Still figuring out how to wear these tbh.)</li> </ul> Toppers (23) <ul> <li>Long cardis - 4 (Wear with skinny pants and tunic or standard length top.)</li> <li>Midi cardigans - 4 (These just seem different - I think it’s that they’re easier to wear with structured skinny pants (although not leggings).)</li> <li>Standard length cardis - 6 (Wear with tunic length shirts and skinnies, or standard shirts and straights or some skinnies.)</li> <li>Cropped cardis - 9 (Wear over tunic-length shirts or dresses. A few of the longer ones can sometimes go over standard shirts, but these generally have more limited styling options.)</li> </ul> Footwear (16) Tall boots - 4 Ankle/mid-calf boots - 3 Loafers & oxfords - 2 Clogs - 2 Flats - 5 Outerwear (5) Dressy items: 12 Utility: 55 16 pj/lounge + 14 gym + 5 field gear + 7 grubbies + 8 warm kit + 5 summer kit  Accessories: 90 27 outerwear scarves + 27 small/silk scarves + 14 hosiery + 9 winter + 3 sunnies + 10 bags Inactive: 42 22 projects/mend/alterations + 20 holding zone SarahD8 on "State of the wardrobe and looking ahead to 2020" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/state-of-the-wardrobe-and-looking-ahead-to-2020#post-2088594 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 17:51:18 +0000 SarahD8 2088594@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ In my <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/for-those-who-like-numbers-my-2019-wardrobe-assessment">2019 wrap-up post</a> a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that it is difficult to compare my start-2019 and end-2019 wardrobe numbers because I have changed how I categorize my wardrobe. In fact one of the major, major things I’ve learned this year is how to break down my wardrobe into categories that reflect how I ACTUALLY wear my clothes.  For example, that long-sleeve popover top I thought I would layer under cardigans in the spring but it turns out I only ever wear in summer with sleeves rolled up? Off it goes to my summer wardrobe list to live in the 3/4-sleeve tops category! Also that a handful of flat-knit cardigans that, though long-sleeved, I really don’t wear in cold fall/winter/cold spring, when I gravitate to textured knitwear? They’ve moved over to my new “transitional” category. Within seasons I have also broken down categories (such as tops) more granularly into micro-capsules that reflect the outfit formulas that I use them in. I alluded to this a little bit <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/mid-year-review-ft-epiphanies-long">in my mid-year post </a>but it has continued to prove a MASSIVE game changer. For a long time, my biggest style-related challenge has been not defining my style but figuring out how to structure a wardrobe that would enable me to express that style without too much…angst. Now, I can see so much more clearly WHY I struggle to put outfits together. For example, in my summer wardrobe I have 6 3/4-sleeve woven popover tops that I like to wear with shorts, narrow skirts, or short skirts. And I have exactly one pair of shorts, one narrow skirt, and one short skirt to pair with those popover tops. Oh. In turn this way of looking at things yields a much clearer picture of what my wardrobe holes are, and what are the highest priorities to add to make my wardrobe more functional. One of the other things I’m embracing in thinking about/conceptualizing my wardrobe is comprehensiveness. It has always struck me that wardrobe numbers etc. can vary a lot depending on what you “count.” I decided to count EVERYTHING, from dressy clothes to gardening clothes. (I admit I haven’t yet gotten a handle on undies/socks/etc. or jewelry.) This also yields some interesting insights: for example I have 22 (!) items in my mending/alterations/projects pile. So, hey, there’s a good place to look if I want to expand my wardrobe while spending zero dollars, huh? In the first comment below I’ll post a list of my current wardrobe numbers in each category. In the second comment I’ll put my highest priorities for additions. I’ve also set a budget for this year (which I won’t share in specifics — sorry, I feel weirder about sharing $ info than # info), broken down by category. Those categories don’t correspond exactly to my wardrobe inventory categories, but again, I’m doing what seems to make the most sense for me and for the current state of my wardrobe. That is, areas that need a lot of work/special focus are broken out separately in the budget — but I might divvy things up differently in future years when I have other priorities. Thank you to anyone who has read through this monster of a post! I know that I am a perpetual over-analyzer, and this may well seem like more of the same. But, I really feel like I’ve turned a corner here in understanding how my wardrobe works — thanks in no small part to the advice and input of YLF forum members — and I’m EXCITED to put these plans into ACTION in 2020!