2019 Workhorses - YouLookFab Forum

Angie's post about wardrobe workhorses really resonated with me. I'm a generally positive being and I'm pretty sure that I almost always think that what I add to my wardrobe is going to be a workhorse but it rarely happens. I count wears so I know exactly how many times I wear each item. This year I've also been taking an OOTD photo and when I look through the months I can see the repetition and it looks boring. So it seems I wear these 15 items for 1/2 of the year and the rest of my wardrobe (125+ items) for 1/2 of the year. Maybe I need to do another 30 item 30 day Wardrobe Challenge with another set of items and get out of my rut.

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5 years ago

Bonnie

Veteran

My new Challenge is to get out of my rut and wear another set of 15 items for the next month. Wish me luck!

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Cardiff girl

I think that we all tend to do this don’t we,reach for the same well tried and tested items.l think your challenge is a great way of addressing the rut!l have found that cataloging my wardrobe and counting wears has pushed me into wearing a wider variety of my clothes.

notsaf

How I wish that Everlane heavyweight tee were still in stock!

Good luck!

Anonymous

Wishing you a successful leap from the wardrobe doldrums!

I am doing something similar. Every time we go out, I am making myself reach for something either unworn or rarely worn. It’s been a lot more interesting for me. I have really enjoyed the variety & not falling back on the same 5 or so outfits regularly.

No point having pretty clothes or useful clothes, if I don’t actually make use of them.

Kathie

Good luck with your challenge! At least for me, I find it helpful to think about why I don't wear something- is it fussy? Needs alteration? Needs a different support act? Laundry bottleneck with the support act? And then I work to solve that problem. I really like the color palette in your second group- some nice brights as the weather gets cooler!

nemosmom

I rarely predict successful workhorses, aside from jeans... so I sympathize!

I love your 30 day challenge with 15 new things, and it looks like you have selected some really fab pieces to shake things up. I bet that red puffer is stunning on you.

Cardiff girl: Counting wears has been a revelation to me, too. The top items have been worn 35 to 50 times this year and the added items worn 1-10 times. I would have never guessed there was that much difference.

notsaf: Thank you. I just got the one and it goes well with almost everything I own. I hope they bring it back.

Jenna: So true. I'm hoping that posting this Challenge will help me start wearing a greater variety of items by making me feel accountable.

Kathie: Thank you. Maybe I need to try making outfits with these additional items in a styling session so I have a set of "go to" outfits that I can refer to.

nemosmom: Thank you. The red puffer is new and I predict it will be an instant workhorse. I just received it, love it, and am in the process of exchanging it for a larger size. It runs small.

Jenn

(website)

I love this challenge, bonnie! I do something similar. At the start of each month, I look at my stats and pick 3-5 seasonally appropriate items that I think are underworn. I try to wear each of those items at least once, three or four times if I can. It does help break me out of ruts, and sometimes it makes me remember what I loved about those pieces when I bought them.

Gretchen

What a good idea! I tried something similar this season when my travel picked up, forcing myself to pack things I don't usually take. It took me out of a rut, and let me try some new looks that I otherwise wouldn't have done (and yes, I had a FFBO just in case!)

Angie

Fashion Stylist

FASCINATING. Excellent challenge.

Suggestion: Put these 15 items away for the next month, and see what happens.......

ETA: AHA. I see you're already doing that

Jenn: What a great idea. Three to five items might be more manageable and make sense for me, too.

Gretchen: Travel wardrobes are a good opportunity to experiment with styling a limited number of items.

Angie: Brilliant idea. I will put the workhorses away for the month. I had thought to mix them with the newer pieces but I think the second set of items can work well without them.

YAY. I'm VERY curious to see how the challenge goes. OF COURSE, holiday events don't count, and you can grab whatever you want from your wardrobe for those.

Sal

Awesome idea! Let us know how you get on. Great way to mix it up.

As I have just this week brought out my high summer capsule and stored the last winter items ( two dresses, two boots and a couple of sweaters) I am trying to wear my summer pieces just to check in if I still like them. Just makes me mix it up!

Yes to this, and also seeing why the unworn things are unworn? Fit? Problematic in some way? Missing some essential? Sometimes upon wearing them you quickly realize why they're unworn!

Angie: Thank you. I'll add what I'm wearing tonight, to play bridge with friends, below. Not sure about the shoes. I've excluded my two pairs of white sneakers and my other white choices are my high sneakers which may be too chunky or my white booties which may be too dressy for the occasion and of course I'll keep you updated.
Sal: Thank you. And what a great idea to wear everything before editing.
suntiger: Thank you. In my case, I think it's because I'm a creature of habit and also like to keep things for special occasions (which rarely happen). It's past time to break my rut.

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