YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 25 May 2026 21:11:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Anonymous on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850347 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 11:55:43 +0000 Anonymous 1850347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Good point, Donna.  The goal is four season.  I doubt it is a reality.   As for travel.  Unexpected travel is part of my job.  But this has been an exhausting year and I am making it my goal to not do any more traveling this year.  I also plan to limit travel next year as well.   The exception is if I want to travel for fun or relaxation.  My casual wardrobe will suit those types of trips.   Thanks Srah!  It was a fun assessment.  I did a similar assessment for tops.  I quickly realized I am far more balanced in that category (luck?) and didn't feel the need to post about it.   My new plan is to assess if my collection of tops works with my collection of bottoms.  Do I have the correct tops with the correct bottoms to form ensembles?   Nomad on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850223 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:47:58 +0000 Nomad 1850223@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As always, great analysis and insights... thank you for sharing. 27 doesn't seem too high (... I may be biased because I'm at 33), but counting them out by wearable season makes so much sense. It sounds like you're on the right path toward rebalancing to better suit your seasons. Trying on everything is such a pain, but really needs to be done every so often. I need to do that soon, too. DonnaF on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850213 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:17:14 +0000 DonnaF 1850213@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I will be impressed if you can actually wear some of your items for four seasons. I live in a moderate climate but tend to find most items work for three seasons (either all but the coldest days or all but the hottest days) but rarely four. Often the fabrication is wrong or it looks seasonally confused. I am also wondering if you travel or anticipate traveling much? When it's not your *home* climate, going elsewhere can mess up your wardrobe numbers unless you are able to do laundry. Not that we should shop much for those vacations. . . Anonymous on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850158 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 21:05:52 +0000 Anonymous 1850158@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Lisa.  I'll plan on try-ons this weekend.   Lisa on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850146 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 20:31:29 +0000 Lisa 1850146@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I adore analyzing and number crunching, so this is a fun thread for me to read! Thanks for sharing! And kudos to you for having everything in one closet, that's awesome! But you must try on all your bottoms, it's the least fun part of wardrobe planning (trying on everything at the start of a season when you prep and/or creating outfits in advance) but it's worth the effort because it'll help you shop effectively later, and you'll have a handful of ready to go outfits on rush days. Angie on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850078 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:46:41 +0000 Angie 1850078@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling, I know you to be proactive. Good job. Your sartorial preferences have shifted quite a bit the last year - hence I asked about your CURRENT assessment of these bottoms. Try them ALL on. And if you like them - KEEP. Then assess whether you like the tops you have to go with them.  Anonymous on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850059 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 15:05:09 +0000 Anonymous 1850059@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks TexStyle.  I feel the same way about Fall and Winter clothing.  There is just something about them that is so comforting.  Despite this, I have enough for now.   I had noticed your comment about cashmere sweaters on an earlier thread (LisaP's thread?) and wondered about cashmere and Texas.  Since we had an unseasonably hot winter last year, I wondered if you did as well.  It sounds like you did too.  Perhaps 2017-2018 will our year to pull out some of our favorites.   Great suggestions, Unfrumped.  I had not even considered the fact that I could layer beneath my flowy pants to extend their wearing period.  I certainly agree about fabrication being one of the most important factors in Summer dressing.  I made the mistake of wearing a pair of ponte pants in August.  I nearly died from overheating.  I think I just "wished" it would be cool enough ....   Hi Angie.  My wardrobe is very much skewed.  Something I hadn't realized until just this weekend.  I am taking action to remedy that.   To be quite honest, I have not tried on a single pair of my Fall/Winter pants.  I literally just assumed they would fit the same as last year.  That may not be true because although my weight has not changed, I feel a certain "shifting" occurring .... especially along the waistline.   texstyle on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850048 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 14:32:48 +0000 texstyle 1850048@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think this type of assessment is so helpful not only to you but to others here on YLF who maybe have too much in a particular season category too. Like me :-).  I agree with others that maybe you could add some additions to your summer bottoms. Off the top of my head (and you know I don't have to "dress" much for work) I have navy linen pants, white light twill crops, olive skort, lightweight tan twill "jeans", light wash lightweight cropped jeans, one summer dress and at least 8 different shorts in regular rotation - white, olive, denim, tan. So that's 14 bottoms for summer wear not counting workout type shorts. I could use two more pair of shorts to replace 2 that have seen better days but I can't seem to find the right ones after trying and failing on several buys that ended up being given away. I love fall and winter clothing more than I love summer clothing and always end up with too many items for cooler weather. I'm trying hard to change that bad habit. Last year I didn't even get a chance to wear a cashmere sweater and I own several. I've decided to really put myself on a tight cool/cold weather budget - I did pretty well last  year and tried to only add things that could span into spring and late fall as opposed to being only suitable for winter. No leather jackets, sweaters, flannel or anything wool for me for at least the next year or two. unfrumped on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850045 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 14:14:30 +0000 unfrumped 1850045@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great assessment and pls ! Your plan to shrink your slim winter pants capsule a bit sounds right. And it does not have to be by instant full--" wear your clothes" and your favorites will emerge. It sounds like a wardrobe hole for you might be summer pants that are slim and conservative but cool enough for your " temperature ". This can be a tough category. For me it is mostly fabrication, in a very good woven cotton, or linen or rayon blend, plus not being TOO fitted or tapered. EF does potentially make such options if a style fits you. If there's any way you can figure out multi season pants- or 6 months of the year - that would help your numbers. I have a high tolerance for wearing tights under long pants- I usually " size up" so they are not squinchy- to extend the season or actually make some tolerable for frigid a/c. So my focus has been to identify the fits and silhouettes I love best and find ways to wear them more of the year with other items( tops, footwear) . Angie on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850042 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 14:04:11 +0000 Angie 1850042@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ First of all Sterling, have you fitted on ALL the pants/jeans to make sure that you like them - and that they work with this leg of your style journey? The assortment looks good, but the ratio perhaps a little skewed. Do you need more Summer and less of the other seasons?  Anonymous on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1850004 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 09:41:12 +0000 Anonymous 1850004@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Laura, it was a very enlightening exercise.  I'm not sure why it never occurred to me before that I really should be assessing my wardrobe from a seasonal prospective and less from an activity prospective.  Both are important, but I obviously overbought for work for winter.  I may find the same thing when I analyze tops.   I so agree, Emily.  I first noticed this problem when we were doing the 30 x 30 challenge.  It was so obvious to me!!  I don't know how I missed it.  No wonder I hated Summer and felt like I couldn't get dressed.  I always assumed it was the heat and that the heat made me not even bother to try.  I even wrote posts about it.   My plan, Jenn, is to let my Winter collection shrink by attrition.  Some of the ponte pants are older and showing wear.  I decided to keep them over the 2017-2018 season just to see how much wear they get (and I may find my flowy pants are not truly four season).  I do anticipate a major re-evaluation that the end of our Winter (sometime in February).   Delurked -- these new flowy pants are new to me.  You seriously might want to consider trying a pair.  They are so comfortable in the heat.  I can feel that I am wearing clothing, but they don't seem hot.  They seem to float around me.  It took some getting used to the silhouette.  I "feel" wider and less sleek in them than I do in ponte pants.  And I had to rethink what tops I wore because volume on volume is too much for me.   I love the linen bottoms.  They are amazing cool and comfortable.  I did not find the chinos to be as cool.  I wonder if I just bought a heavier weight fabric than you did.  Somehow I bought "winter" chinos.  That takes a certain talent.   I have no shopping needs for Fall or Winter.  I yearn to do some shopping, but my bottom analysis proved that would be plain silly.   I still have to assess my tops.  I am guessing that I will find very similar results.  I spent my life buying for "work."  As a result, my wardrobe was very lopsided.  I didn't realize it was also lopsided based on climate until yesterday.   Sal -- at this point, I have no plans to do any additional shopping.  I have to do the same assessment for tops and I am guessing the results will be quite similar.   I am sad to say I gave up on my "power" capsule.  For some reason, when I tried to sort it out, I grew oddly apprehensive.  It was like I froze in indecision.  I reviewed all these different options and then couldn't buy anything.  I have one more public hearing this coming TH. I intend to attempt to wear a pair of really nice slacks and button down shirt.  I'll report back on how that goes.    Jenn and Sal -- thank you for sharing your numbers. I can honestly say I was a little taken aback that I owned so many bottoms.  Because I normally only see one-half of my wardrobe at any given time (off season is always packed away), it always "felt" very minimal.  Yesterday was the first time I hung every single bottom together.  It doesn't feel minimal any longer.  And it is clear I need to wear what I own and not add to my collection.   Jenn -- as part of this assessment, I intend to count "wears" for each piece and evaluate the number based on length of time in my closet.  Obviously, the longer I have owned something, the higher the number of wears.  It will be interesting to see when that magical "30" is achieved.  I always thought people that hung their entire wardrobes were silly.  Why look at puffer jackets during the heat of Summer or swimsuits during the depth of Winter?  It made no sense to me.  I can see the power in this exercise.  I don't know if I will leave the Summer clothes hanging there all Winter long?  I assume that as I wear and wash them, I may box them up.  It is cute seeing the single skirt hanging there.   Sal on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1849949 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:34:37 +0000 Sal 1849949@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree with Jenn and Delurked - unless you want to change your winter staples you are pretty sorted with bottoms.  Come spring though I think you may need a couple more for the warmer months. That is great though - you can focus on a couple of sweaters or fall/winter tops in shapes that suit these pants,  or on building your power capsule!! My pants numbers are Jeans 4 (one ripped and almost gardening only) Ankle pants 3 Joggers 1 Leggings 2 (not really worn as pants though) Lounge/genie pants 2 Shorts 3 Skirts 3 Day dresses winter 2 Day dresses summer 4 So I have 24 bottoms effectively or ways to cover my bottom half.  There are one or two items that do not earn their way (one skirt, one pair of shorts, one pair of ankle pants) that I might update as the overall number feels about right give or take a couple either way. Given you don't wear dresses and skirts rarely I do think a couple more warm weather options would be fine although not strictly essential. delurked on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1849937 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 23:33:47 +0000 delurked 1849937@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Love this analysis. I think it must be super helpful to look at your bottoms this way. It lets you realize even if something is necessary in your wardrobe (ponte pants), that you have enough in this category and don't need more. And where you may be light in bottoms. For the first time in years I bought some summer pants in linen and a couple chino type crop pants. I have been wearing them a bunch. I really like them. I am also wearing my longer (just past knee) skirt. What I'm not wearing too much of are the two dresses I bought. I do wear them some, but I realized when I want to wear them is the height of summer, but they are slightly too warm for that time. And I want dresses at the knee or below, and they are both above the knee. I am interested in a wider, flowy bottom and may add that to a list for consideration for next spring. I see that even though you want to shop for fall/winter, it looks like you have enough bottoms unless you are changing silhouette. You need to hold off to shop bottoms until spring/summer bottoms are in stores. Is that what you see too? If you want to shop for fall, do you have a category of need? Or is your analysis and trying of new silhouettes going to provide you enough newness? Jenn on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1849932 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 22:26:33 +0000 Jenn 1849932@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Based on my calculations, counting the silk pants as BOTH summer and winter, you have 23 winter pants and 8 summer pants (I'm not counting the skirt or the gear). Does that seem seasonally out of balance to you? I think that, for your climate, it should be the other way around! I don't think your total numbers are super high overall. I just looked, and (not counting gear) I have ten pairs of pants and jeans, 3 skirts, and 8 dresses, for a total of 21 available bottoms. That's not really all that far off from your number, and you've noted previously that you're going to have more pants, because you don't wear dresses and skirts. If the four-season experiment works, you may be able to cut down on your winter capsule or let it shrink by attrition. You maybe be able to do that anyway, replacing winter bottoms with more three-season or summer ones over time. Emily K on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1849926 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 21:27:13 +0000 Emily K 1849926@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ So....Me thinks you need A LOT more Summer pants because Summer is a long season for you???? Laura (rhubarbgirl) on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1849848 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 17:24:20 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1849848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great realization, Sterling. I bet this will help with your planning in future seasons a lot. Anonymous on "Summer to Winter Wardrobe Assessment for Bottoms" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/summer-to-winter-wardrobe-assessment-for-bottoms#post-1849832 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 16:19:44 +0000 Anonymous 1849832@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Fall temperatures have not yet arrived and likely won’t be here for another month. However, reading other Forum Member’s posts about planning their upcoming seasonal wardrobe and/or switching out their wardrobes has made me itchy to do the same. I decided to start with the bottoms because they are the easiest to assess. It includes 27 pairs of pants and one black skirt. For the first time in my life, I have all 27 and 1 skirt hanging in the closet. The number seems high, but the closet does not look lopsided or out of balance. Following are my subcategories and the assessment. Slim Ponte Pants (Appropriate for WINTER; Too Heavy and Hot for Summer) I own ten pants in this category (purchased 2014 - 2017). They all fit me well. This is a silhouette I have long loved: full length, slim fitting. I feel “strong” and “capable” in this silhouette. They range in colors from black to grey to navy to brown. They are unexciting but they are a cornerstone of getting dressed for ninety-five percent of my life activities during WINTER months.   Although this is my all-time favorite silhouette, I do not plan on buying any more ponte pants. I finally came to understand that they can only be worn for a sliver of my year. When that sliver of time finally arrives, I will wear these pants almost exclusively for both work and casual. Jeans (Appropriate for Fall/Winter/Spring; Too Hot for Summer) I own eight pairs in this category (purchased 2013 - 2017). They are all full length, slim cut. I believe they fit me well. I own two pair of white jeans (considered a best buy); one pair of blue “field” jeans, three pair of blue jeans, and one pair of red jeans. I also own one pair of olive khakis that got included here because I didn’t know where else to categorize them. I own too many pairs of jeans. I rarely wear them when it is hot. Since they tend to get worn most frequently during the Winter months, they compete for wears with the slim ponte pants. I could easily get by with a maximum of four pairs of jeans (one white, two blue, one colored). There is no need to purchase any additional jeans because nearly half of what I do own is not worn. I bought them because I found them and they fit. I thought jeans were a HEWI. “When you find jeans that fit you should buy them.” I failed to consider climate or life style. Summer Pants (Appropriate for Summer Only; they “read” Summer and can’t cross over to other seasons). I only own four pairs of what I designate as Summer Pants. One of these four is a “special purpose” pant that is only worn during extended hiking/camping trips. So that means I really own three pairs of summer pant (two of which were purchased in the 2017). Both of these 2017 purchases were Eileen Fisher linens in a natural beige tone. They are wide legged and cropped. I worried that I was overbuying a trend, but they are equally worn and I am grateful to have them in my wardrobe. They seem perfect for my climate and my lifestyle. Beige is a new color in my wardrobe. I am loving the addition. It feels perfect for Summer. Certainly the linen is perfect. I rank both of these as “best buys.” Flowy Pajama Like Silk Pants (The goal is to make these four-season pants for all occasions, including work, dressy, casual) I own five bottoms in this category. This is a completely new category for me. All five were purchased in 2017. All are Eileen Fisher. They range from cropped to ankle to full length. The colors range from black to navy to red to berry. Two are “slouchy.” Two are “wide legged (really wide legged).” One is cropped. These were a huge risk for me. They are outside of my comfort zone. I bought the first pair in March 2017 when I felt I needed a light weight Summer pant for work. I duplicated them in May 2017. No regrets. It was the perfect decision. But having found myself so happy with the first two, I bought three additional pair. I can’t say I “needed” the three additional pants. I bought them purely on impulse. Impulsive buys are not always my most sensible. It is my goal to make these four season pants by changing the top I coordinate with them. Lightweight sleeveless in Summer months. Lightweight long sleeved sweaters in Winter months. I’m not yet certain this will work, but it is the goal. I think if I make this a conscious decision it will get easier and easer with time. Since these are a new silhouette, I am still very much experimenting with them. I do not like volume on volume so I have been wearing fitted, cropped tops with them during the Summer. I am happy with this silhouette and my friends tell me it works well. I am genuinely looking forward to experimenting with how to make them work as a four-season pant. I am still getting used to the wide legged-ness. They certainly are cooler and easier to wear than anything else I have experimented with to date. I have yet to wear them for any work event that is formal. They “should” work but I always feel they are too trendy and not quite appropriate. So for those events, I resort to old, tried-and-true formulas. For the time-being, I feel I have enough. I will buy more if the four-season experiment is successful. In summary. Historically, I bought pants/jeans that are only suited for a sliver of my climate. For the first time ever, I bought not for “work versus casual” but for “winter versus summer.”  It made a huge difference when I started to view my shopping from this prospective.