YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops) https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:13:37 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813296 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 20:07:44 +0000 Anonymous 1813296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ No topic is ever off topic in my threads. I am interested in all things fashion, Delurked.   Congratulations on not shopping in June.  I wish you well in that.  Like you, I just don't love summer clothes.  I agree, they are flimsy, sheer, and generally cheaply made.   Keeping lists is a powerful shopping tool for both buying and abstaining from buying.  After a few days, I either really, really still want it and then I happily buy it or I cross it off my list.  Most of the time I cross it off my list.   You are so brave to review your receipts.  I used to track returns using iBank.  It was so embarrassing!!!  I had such a high return rate that I hung my head in shame.  I can see how this would be helpful. You can immediately identify manufacturers and retailers that don't work for you. But shot!  I don't know if I could face those long lists of numbers.   Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813254 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 15:48:19 +0000 Anonymous 1813254@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling - I am not shopping for June. I am not usually good at shopping fasts, so I don't want to extend my official time. However, the summer usually has too exposed things for my tastes (super thin fabric tops, short dresses etc.), which is part of why I follow Angie's example of trying to shop early for the season. That's also the reason if I do need fall/winter items I shop early for them. By later in the season, it's too heavy and in fabrics that are too hot for me. I will keep a list if I see things this month - mostly so I can talk myself out of ordering anything to test out how it could be just the thing I "need". I actually just went through my online receipts and looked at what I have ordered in the last year. Not just what I kept, but what I returned too, to remind myself of brands that are or are not working, types of items I'm gravitating toward, or wardrobe holes I may have already filled. I started by looking at what I ordered last NAS and went forward. Also maybe off topic, but I like the look of larger earrings (I saw I ordered a cute pair last Fall, but returned due to bring too heavy), but my ears won't tolerate much weight on them. I am a new fan of Nickel and Suede leather earrings, which are so light to wear, so that's another category I won't look for except through that website. Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813245 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 15:20:54 +0000 Anonymous 1813245@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This post wove across multiple subjects, all of them interesting to me.   Approprio indicated she is considering a purchasing fast for the next few months.  This really resonated with me.  IF my new purchasing strategy is as successful as I think, I should not need to buy anything between now and August 31th.  Three months.  That is a long time.  I can imagine identifying lots of things "it would be nice to have" to complete or upgrade an outfit. Rather than buying them I'll add them to a list for future purchases.   Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813243 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:56:44 +0000 Anonymous 1813243@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Approprio -- always so nice to hear from you.  I read all your posts while I was on vacation, but I was unable to respond or comment.  Still I managed to keep up.   I am always a firm believer in purchasing fasts because each time I do one, I learn exponentially.  That drives future changes/revisions.  I doubt I would have any success with my seasonal shop if I hadn't implemented a purchasing fast first.  I encourage you to fast during the next couple of months and see what you learn.   There as a tailoring question on a post by lozz-oz.  I was wondering if you saw her post and had the opportunity to help her out.   approprio on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813215 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 13:45:05 +0000 approprio 1813215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Brilliant Sterling! This is a very timely post for me, because I'm reviewing my own strategy at the moment. There's a lot to take in just now, so I'll be back later to read the whole thread in detail. I've found it very useful to analyse my needs and prioritise a couple of important purchases rather than shop opportunistically. This is not to say that needs haven't been revised on the fly, or that there hasn't been any frivolity (hello Ann D shoes and monkey backpack), but I've filled quite a few gaps and there's a satisfying sense of completeness to my wardrobe at the moment, so I'm thinking of reimplementing the shopping fast for a few months while I enjoy the summer season. Nice work! Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813184 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 10:53:47 +0000 Anonymous 1813184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Congratulations on adding your first sleeveless top, Barbara Diane.  I have always found them to be both comfortable and sophisticated.  I hope yours will make you just as happy.   What a great idea, RunCarla.  That would add both interest and variety.  Having just read Delurked's post about her seasonal shop, I realized I lack variety.  Your suggestion might be the solution.   Sal -- I agree the math just does not match reality!!!  Even though I claim to be a serial repeater, obviously I am not.  I think everyone needs more than 10 tops.  I have a few favorites that I repeat over and over again, but the rest of my wardrobe is worn much less than once a week or even twice a month.  I don't exactly know how to capture that new piece of information.  I Somewhere between 15 - 20 (probably closer to 20) "feels" right to me.  Sal on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813126 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:41:49 +0000 Sal 1813126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am pleased that it is working so well for you Sterling.  I remember you struggling to find tops so it makes sense to me that you stocked up here. Sometimes pieces that were favourites one year become second favourites the next year. I would find 10 tops not enough for me for a dominant season - I am a repeater too.  My office/home ratio is similar to you and I would repeat one whole outfit normally every week and mix up a couple of others.   I would be thinking somewhere from 15-20 for summer would work between casual tanks for the weekend (2-3), long sleeve popovers (2), office tops (8), and evening/dressy tops (2) plus a couple of others...   Carla on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813122 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 03:24:41 +0000 Carla 1813122@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Something you might like to try when you do your next seasonal shop, is to build a colour capsule around a trending colour, or one you just fancy. During my seasonal shop (like you I do S/S and F/W) I try to collect at least 4 items in a new-to-me colour (a la Vivienne Files). Since my core wardrobe is black, grey, white, and blue, almost any new colour will mix and match. F/W 2016 I added maroon/wine and olive. S/S 2017 I'm trying blush and red. Barbara Diane on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813053 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 23:14:42 +0000 Barbara Diane 1813053@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ When I changed out my clothes I found out I had more clothes than I thought. Although I think I would like some new items, and I am looking to fill some holes, I have been happy with remixing my old items. I have added a sleeveless sweater -my first - and a pair of lightweight crops. Will look for lightweight elbow tops to go with my patterned bottoms. And I'd love a more stylish lightweight dress. And a ta mini top. YLF and posts like these have really helped me analyze my purchasing habits. So thanks. Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813051 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 23:00:19 +0000 Anonymous 1813051@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ As a test, I calculated the number of tops I have across all seasons. Nine short sleeve tee shirts for casual Seven long sleeve tee shirts for casual Four sleeveless tops for work One short sleeve top for work Nine knit tops for either casual or work. TOTAL = 30   Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813043 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 22:10:33 +0000 Anonymous 1813043@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Here are some of my numbers from the Vivienne Files: 1. What is the time period for which we are planning? 182.5 (or half a year) 2. How many outfits do you wear, on average, in a day? I wear two outfits (work and casual) three days a week.  I wear one outfit (casual) four days a week.  So I wear ~1.3 outfits each week.  This is more than one, but less than two.   3. How many garments are in your average outfit? Two.  I wear a top and a bottom in every single outfit.  Rarely do I wear a topper.   4. How many times (within your time period) are you willing, or do you desire, to wear each garment? I am a big repeater.  I can wear the same garment multiple times.  This may be where you and I differ.  A lot of people cannot wear the same thing on repeat.  I can.  I decided I can wear the garment four times per month or weekly.  That means I will wear a garment 26 times in 182.5 days.  (I hope others will check my logic here).     Now comes the math: 182.5 days x 1.3 outfits/day x 2 pieces per outfit = 474.5 is the number of garments you will wear during your selected time period.  Seems like a lot, but we have to factor in the number of times you are willing to wear a garment on repeat. 474.5 garments divided by the number of possible repeats.   In my case that is 474.5/26 is approximately equal to 20 garments.  Ten of those should be tops.  Ten of those should be bottoms.   I hope that is correct.  I'll do it again with the aid of a spreadsheet.   This is very conservative.  There is no way I could live with just 10 tops.  I would double that!!!!!!!!!!  Wait.  I have doubled that.  Perhaps I don't wear my clothes as much as I presume.   Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813041 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 21:52:32 +0000 Anonymous 1813041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ OH WHAT A GREAT QUESTION, Rambling Ann.  The Vivienne Files actually addressed this very question based on your personal preferences and desires.  Let me see if I can find it for you.   Here are a few posts I found for you: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.theviviennefiles.com/2015/07/how-many-pieces-of-clothing-do-you-need.html">http://www.theviviennefiles.co.....-need.html</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2017/02/how-many-clothes-wardrobe.html">https://insideoutstyleblog.com.....drobe.html</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://recoveringshopaholic.com/what-is-a-normal-sized-wardrobe/">http://recoveringshopaholic.co.....-wardrobe/</a> I admit to only having read the one posted by Janice at the Vivienne Files, but I found it both interesting helpful.  I am more than happy to explore this topic with you, if you are interested.  Let me know and I think I will start a separate thread.   Rambling Ann on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813031 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 21:00:18 +0000 Rambling Ann 1813031@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling, are you getting a sense of how many items of each type you need to get through a season? I'm sure this depends on how much repetition you prefer, but if there are 90 days in my summer season (sadly, that's about it for sleeveless top weather here), and I want to have a reasonable CPW, it seems like I should be able to figure out a target number of tops, pants, etc. Not that I need another stitch of clothing since all I am wearing are camo pants and fishing shirts while I work outside. My pretty stuff is waiting for me to take a day off. Maybe July. Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1813024 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 20:38:53 +0000 Anonymous 1813024@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lyn D.  Stylebook seems like a fabulous wardrobe cataloging tool.  I intend to research it this weekend and see if it would meet my needs.  Thank you for the suggestion.   Hi Christina F.  Seasonal shopping has definite advantages, but the individual has to be in exactly the right position to make it successful.  Finances were definitely the first consideration for me.  I would never have been able to rationalize seasonal shopping if my finances didn't support the change.  I would advise every single person to consider this aspect before undertaking seasonal shopping as a strategy. Defining a seasonal-needs list when some or all of your wardrobe is in storage is challenging.  I couldn't have done it.  Although I swear I know every single garment in my wardrobe, I am always surprised when I do my seasonal switch outs.  I got lucky this spring.  I just happened to have switched out my wardrobe right before I began my seasonal shop.  Purely coincidence, but obviously an important step.    So we both learned that seasonal shops are more success if you have a strong grasp of your base wardrobe.  An app like Stylebook might be helpful, but I have admit, the idea of setting it up discourages me.  I worry about backups and seamless syncing between devices.  If I lost all my hard work, I would cry.  Like you, I also have other things going on in my life that need immediate attention.   I will say that at this moment in time, the shopping bug is completely gone.  I went on a two and half week vacation and just haven't had time to resume my "normal" life yet.  THAT will change as I transition back to my normal life and my fashion hobby re-asserts itself (AND it will).  We both know that.  But right now, I am trying to catch up on everything else in my life.   Thanks Lisa.  Your encouragement is always welcome.   Lisa on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1812948 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 16:51:36 +0000 Lisa 1812948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Congrats and excellent job on changing the way you think and shop for your wardrobe!   Christina F. on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops/page/2#post-1812925 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 14:32:06 +0000 Christina F. 1812925@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for posting this very thoughtful review. I too have sort of implemented a seasonal shop, though without too much consideration - I just kind of did it because I'm finally in a financial position to do so. I did a lot of shopping in April-May for both Spring and Summer (I had a lot of summer clothes already). Mostly, it's worked out well. There are a few challenges for me, though. First of all, I was shopping for a season while most of the clothes I already had for that season were in seasonal storage. That made it tougher to see wardrobe holes, so I bought a bit indiscriminately. I have way too many warm weather tops, and am having trouble culling them, for instance. I should use something like Stylebook, as suggested above, but I have enough projects around the house to occupy my free time right now, and they're all bit more urgent. I also still want new stuff, even though I'm down to just a couple of wardrobe holes to fill. I think figuring out  my wardrobe has become too much of a hobby for me, and I need a new hobby that will enable me to step back from it a bit and "shop my closet" more. But that's a life problem that's a bit OT from this post I could at least focus my energies on integrating the new pieces with the old, at any rate. What you say about sale shopping also resonates with me. I probably can't let go of doing it after years and years of frugality (long time in grad school), but I can at least think about whether I'd buy stuff if it weren't on sale. I did just buy some sneakers I wanted that weren't on sale (and were quite pricey). Many stores nowadays have kind of trained us to hold out for sales, so it's very hard to let go of that mentality. I'm glad you're making headway! Lyn D. on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812865 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 07:54:58 +0000 Lyn D. 1812865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling, I have found in the past that I have bought too much and not appreciated it! Since setting up the STYLEBOOK app on my phone I have catalogued all my clothes. I am able to group together purchases by Seasons and get a visual grasp of what I have. It has slowed my random purchases and has made me more grateful for what I already own! Hope this helps! Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812751 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 18:30:00 +0000 Anonymous 1812751@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Penny.  I am loving everything navy.  For the first time in my life I am finding navy items that match across retailers and manufacturers.  It makes buying and wearing it so much easier.  I wear it on repeat.   Penny on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812748 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 18:24:32 +0000 Penny 1812748@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Congratulations on your success! So pleased to hear it has been working out. Like you and Smittie, navy is often a winner for me - most of my clothing purchases this year have been navy, and I can easily wear them for day, night, office, and weekend. And as long as you're wearing and enjoying everything, I don't see anything wrong with a lot of purchases in one category! Janet on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812700 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 15:15:45 +0000 Janet 1812700@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, I am shopping less and posting less too. I'm sure the two are related. We are planning some home renovation projects and I've been traveling, plus shopping for a new car, so I'm not as focused on clothing as I have been in the past. I'm focusing on mostly appreciating what I have, and only adding things that are either replacements for stuff that's wearing out (I think I'm about to replace my two old black clutches because they're both looking a bit worse for the wear), or something that is very wearable yet adds something new to my wardrobe (i.e. The printed skirt since I have nothing else like it, or a summer top in a color that I wear a lot but don't currently have in a summer top). Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812693 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 14:49:38 +0000 Anonymous 1812693@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sterling, your rationale for buying 11 tops makes complete sense when you consider the context of when you were buying! You are right that clearance shopping causes you to shop all the time, or at least, be on the hunt all the time. I would love to get away from the hunt, and in fact, back when's i was shopping purely to fill holes, I would not bother with sales or clearance. Oh how things have changed. I so want to get to a 2-shop a year system! Thank you for your recommendation for goodwill. I confess I never go into goodwill, but I should start. Basically, I need a bunch of sweaters, that's it. Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812692 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 14:30:54 +0000 Anonymous 1812692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Janet -- I have been following your posts and had realized that you were shopping less.  Are you posting less often too?   I am relieved that you and Gigi reminded me that the novelty of my new clothes will wear off and that I'll probably resume wearing the older stuff again.  It makes sense, but I had to hear the words for it to click in my brain.  I am keeping all of my older clothing items because I do love them.   Another factor that I hadn't considered until this moment is that I have been on vacation, living out of a duffle bag.  I had a very specific set of clothing with me.  I was getting so dirty that I stopped wearing half of what I brought because it was clear they were slowly being destroyed by dirt/sweat/sunscreen/snagging.  I treated the hell out of my clothes when I got home.  They are wearable again but I learned so many lessons while on vacation.  Oh, I wanted to say one more time, GORGEOUS BAG.  That color is amazing.   Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812691 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 14:18:22 +0000 Anonymous 1812691@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks so much, Bijou.  Your words are so encouraging.   The Forum is powerful force when it comes to maintaining mindfulness.  My Pre-YLF closet was made up entirely of impulse purchases (no rhyme, no reason, no plan, no coordination).   That explains how I could own a very expensive wardrobe and yet have absolutely nothing to wear.  YLF taught me so much about shopping with a plan and that plan had to include my current life style and my climate.   My hardest lesson was to shop for my climate.  I resisted that idea for several years.  I oh so much wanted to live in a cold weather climate and wrap myself in cashmere sweaters and scarfs and drink hot chocolate in a ski lodge.  That was just silly.   Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812689 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 14:12:43 +0000 Anonymous 1812689@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi Smittie -- I can explain my 11 tops.  Over the course of several years on YLF I mentioned time and again how successful I was at finding bottoms. Yet I always had lots of hits/misses when searching for tops.  Tops must have been on my mind when I started shopping this year because I really wanted to change my success ratio.   Then there is a particular style of top I really like:  short sleeved, crew necks in natural fibers.  I couldn't seem to find that style in the stores.  Then all of a sudden, there it was!!!!  Like it was meant to be!!!! THEN Angie wrote a post about duplicating sartorial favorites the day before I started shopping.  Ah!  An omen.  I must duplicate, duplicate, duplicate.  There you have it.   Clearance shopping was a major problem for me.  I shopped sales and clearance almost exclusively.  Although I thought it was beneficial, it actually kept me in constant shopping mode.  I never shopped searching the sales racks .... just to see what was there.  I absolutely had to break that cycle and this was one way of doing it.  I still endorse sale shopping for others, but like a recovering gambler, I have to be weary about slipping back into that mindset for myself.   I think my next step will be to try the five item thing.  It seems the next most natural step on my style journey.  But as you mention in your post, your wardrobe has to be in a really good place to be successful at these shopping techniques.  I think I got lucky this year and lots of things came together for me.   If you chose to throw your entire fashion budget at your winter wardrobe, it will certainly be challenging.  If I am correct, winter is your dominant season?  Have you considered shopping second hand outlets like the Goodwill or Ebay for winter items?  I find lots of really good quality winter clothes at second hand stores (sweaters; jeans; even coats).  I don't have as much luck with second hand summer items because by definition they are flimsy and don't hold up that well.   Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812686 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 13:48:16 +0000 Anonymous 1812686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm really enjoying hearing about your shopping experiment this year. I do think 11 tops is a lot of you already have some you can wear. I wonder why you thought you wanted that many? Was it a design (elbow sleeves) that got you buying a lot of duplicate? I don't think it is a real "mistake" because you hopefully won't have to buy so many tops next spring. It is interesting that you are wearing your navytops more than the other colours. This is actually an observation I made for myself last year, so this year I stocked up on navy tops and that was actually a great decision! I wear a navy two-three days a week without a problem and no feeling of needing more variety. I like navy because it looks good on light and tan skin (versatile) and doesn't stand out at the office. It is a good office colour, and let's face it, that's where I am most of the time. With regards to your shopping strategy, I too tried to buy at the beginning of the season, but I don't think I was as successful as you. I cannot get away from clearance shopping, it seems, and my "shopping at the beginning of the season" was actually "shopping clearance to get stuff for next fall" :-) Another contributor to my "fail" was that I was also trying to do the French 5 thing at the same time, in a looser way. The thing I didn't realize is that I'm just not ready for the French 5 (STILL!!). The issue is that I AM ready for the French 5 for my summer wardrobe but my winter wardrobe is still in a bit of a shambles and so I was lacking focus on what I should buy and ended up buying a few statements, a little bit for summer and a little bit for winter without a very good plan. I'm not sure how to fix this problem except to lay off summer shopping completely and throw my entire budget at my winter wardrobe. Tough to do Bijou on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812680 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 13:10:46 +0000 Bijou 1812680@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I shopped at the start of the season too and have felt that I developed a more cohesive wardrobe because of it. It is interesting to hear your feedback on the duplication of the navy tops. Both look great, but I can see how one could become a favourite (due to feel or even ease of laundering).  I always appreciate posts like this, it really does help to make more mindful rather than impulse purchases. YLF has been such a positive influence on me to shop for the life that I live, rather than a fantasy life. Janet on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812674 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 12:53:57 +0000 Janet 1812674@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Good to hear your new tactics are working for you. I'm kind of the opposite -- I've slowed my shopping overall this year, and have done no "major shopping." I'll be traveling during NAS so I will probably not buy much during that time (last year I think I ended up with three NAS items, the least since I've been going to their sales). I do tend to wear the new stuff a lot at first too, but I agree with Gigi that once the novelty sheen is off a new item, it starts to balance out and the neglected older stuff comes back into my radar. So I am not quick to get rid of "older" items if I still like them. I've made a few careful purchases since the beginning of May. Ive ordered some things to try and made a quite a few returns (for example, I'm always keeping an eye out for interesting, casual dresses, so the matchstick dress below was tempting and I had to try it, but I didn't love the fabric or the extra slit, and the fit was not right). The blue bag and the printed skirt have been instant successes though! Anonymous on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812666 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 11:59:02 +0000 Anonymous 1812666@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Angie and Harmonica.  Your positive-reinforcement is greatly appreciated.   I recognize that you, Angie, recommended this shopping strategy for as long as I have been reading YLF.  I don't think I was ready to commit to trying it early on though.  I had a lot of personal work that had to be done in relation to my wardrobe before I reached the point in my style journey that supported a change in shopping strategy. I reached that stage sometime in 2016.   I also had to overcome my sales shopping addiction (which I worked on in 2016).  I thought it would be hard for me to pay full price at the beginning of the season rather than waiting until the end of the season.  I did some mental work that resulted in consciously giving myself permission to buy at full price with the assumption that the happiness factor would be greater and that I would achieve a reasonable cost per wear.  It is a new and interesting mindset. So far, so good.  But I learn from experience.  I recognize that there is some fine tuning that needs to be done before my next seasonal shop.  I'm not sure what month that will be to best meet my goals.  It does release me from shopping NAS.  I won't have a plan in place by then and July is so far ahead of when my Winter starts that it is silly for me to even try to take advantage of the sale.  The exceptions, of course, are underpinnings and athletic gear.   Angie on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812580 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 18:55:46 +0000 Angie 1812580@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Nicely done.  Shopping at the start of the season is a favourite strategy of mine. I keep on encouraging it. Glad you reaped the reward.  harmonica on "Update on New Shopping Strategy (Seasonal Shops)" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-new-shopping-strategy-seasonal-shops#post-1812571 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 18:27:14 +0000 harmonica 1812571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Love this kind of posts. So happy you have found a strategy that works for you! The financial situation is a very important frame for how to plan your wardrobe purchases.