2020 goals - YouLookFab Forum

As I posted in my end of year review, 2019 was a year of intense wardrobe rebuilding, focused on workwear. This thankfully resulted in a versatile, functional wardrobe that brings me joy. Like apparently many others here, I feel like I can slow down with shopping for workwear in 2020 and be happy wearing what I have with minor refreshers.

Still, there are some wardrobe categories I spent only a teensy bit of time and money on the past couple of years. I tend to neglect the following categories, all of which I mean to focus on in 2020.

Basics (in Angie’s sense, so underwear and hosiery) I find tedious to shop for: at once hard (to asses fit based on five minutes in a dressing room or no trying on at all) and unrewarding (because they go unseen).

Investment pieces like bags and coats because it takes a lot of time and ideally, some saving up, to find something you really love. Most of the time I fail to save
up my monthly budget and buy less than perfect coats or jackets that seem like more of a budget deal. Sometimes this works. Sometimes this really doesn’t. On this (wants) list are a new crossbody bag, a weekend backpack and rainproof winter coat.

Casual wear. This deserves a separate post. Let’s just say it seems unsatisfactory to buy stuff for wearing on days spent at home by myself or with my family, only to have them stained and creased before I’ve even set one foot out the door. Of course, this reasoning has lead me to far too many days spent in pj’s or joggers & fleece. Not good for my self-respect. Now that my workwear is in good shape, I have a firm resolution to upgrade my casual wear. I’m inspired by all of you who are full-time care-providers or working from home or retired and looking
good anyway.

I’ve thought to focus on these three categories before but never succeeded. I really feel this year will be different because I have a satisfactory work wardrobe and for the first time I am actually inspired to take care of these other areas.

Have you ever focused a whole year on underrepresented wardrobe categories? Did you manage to STAY focused?

4 years ago

notsaf

Veteran

This sounds like a super plan for you, tackling both the big stuff (planned expensive purchases) and the small (everyday essentials). Both should bring you a lot of satisfaction in the long run. I'm with you in needing to refresh bras!

rachylou

No. That’s a brilliant thought. I have to think about it.

Bijou

Have I focused on an underrepresented category - answer - YES, however this was flat shoes that was forced by an injured ankle. Whilst I no longer wear totally flat shoes, it did get me into lower heels and I have vowed to stay away from heel heights over 7cm high because I simply take those heels off and put on my lower ones - even in a ball gown.

Liesbeth

Thanks notsaf. Not really looking forward to the bra really, that one may just be the hardest!
Rachylou, if you don't feel the need then they're probably underrepresented for a reason ;).
Bijou, you rock those heels but you're right to ditch the stilts :).

Helena

Fab plan Liesbeth ... I definitely do the same as you, overlooking basics and loungewear in favour of more satisfying purchases ... However I (now) just embrace this as part of the natural process. Good luck with your refreshers and looking forward to seeing your progress!

RobinF

I agree the basics aren't as much fun to buy, I am that way with workout gear also. It makes sense that focusing on these should be easier this year since your work wardrobe is in a good position. I am not good at keeping focused which is probably why my wardrobe doesn't seem to improve.

TG, very wise. Probably for me it's just natural too, was long due, to get concerned with these clothing categories because their state is comparatively so much worse
Robin, knowledge is the first step ;). Though for some (not me!), improvement seems to come intuitively...

Anonymous

Ug I'm with you- those are my challenging categories too! Workwear always seems the easiest. More people see it, and it's needed 5-6 days a week. For the less fun stuff (ahem trainers...), I've "forced" myself to buy it by not allowing myself to buy other things before that.
Angie did say she was gonna be a bra fairy....sounds like lots of us could use her services!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*APPLAUSE*

I love your focus, Liesbeth. From basics to statements and the stuff in-between. Good job

I especially love the focus on Wardrobe Basics, and I'm joining you! Personally, I find Basics shopping very satisfying because Basics are WORKHORSES. Always feels soooo good to have yummy Basics.

Do start a separate post on casual wear. We will help you figure it out.

To answer your question. In 2018 is a LOT of frock focus, and it was really fun, and effective.

Cardiff girl

I total totally get what you said about basics being unrewarding to shop for and about the difficulties of casual clothing when you have young children.Its also difficult carving out enough time to go shopping and be fussy about fit and the like isn’t it?It does get easier though and you are right,you will feel better if you get out of those Tracksuits!A small ,washable capsule worked well for me,focusing on moderately trendy pieces in good colours that mixed and matched with each other.You really don’t need a lot to start with.

Runcarla

When I started on the forum years ago, I was like you in that all my wardrobe budget went towards work clothes, and everything else was an afterthought. Casual wear was a pair of mom jeans and a shapeless men’s style T-shirt, and occasion wear was repurposed workwear. Clinton Kelly of ‘What Not To Wear’ made an impression on me about making an effort to dress well for myself and the folks at home when ‘off duty’, and Angie’s capsule posts helped me understand that I should probably have different clothes for different aspects of my life, with a few things that could cross over.

I didn’t focus on one part of my closet to the exclusion of others, but worked a little bit more on the categories that needed it. Some years one part needed more attention than others. My high summer/hot weather capsule seems to always be in need of attention.

Oh! To keep your at home stuff nice, invest in an apron that you really like.

slim cat

Ditto on neglecting some home clothes and tiredness of underwear hunt. I got lucky this year: after wearing fav undies/bralettes from the same brand for many years I found a bit better version from Madewell that works for me (natural fabrication, gentle on skin, affordable on sale). The old favorite aren't available anymore .

Suntiger, if only I could put some money under my pillow and wake up to find the perfect bra!
Thanks Angie! I do like to have nice and comfy basics but my success rate has been so low it's discouraging... but I shan't despair!
Cardiff girl; yeah, I feel like I spend a lot of time on style (browsing, this forum...) and shopping but actually I'd really need more if I want to be patient & picky! Now it's often hurried shopping trips with a list that's all over the place and/or trying a small selection ordered online.
Carla: I won't ban myself from buying workwear either, but will focus my time and money elsewhere. Good tip about the apron. I always wonder where those stubborn grease stains come from...
Slimcat, good for you. What a drag to find something that works and then they discontinue (or redesign!) it.

nemosmom

Sounds like you have zeroed in on your needs for the year. You can pretty much put your work wear on "autopilot" and shift your focus to other categories!

I hear you on the casual wear dilemma - I had a habit of just wearing only demoted old tees and sweats around the house because they were comfy, and I didn't care if they got ruined while cleaning, cooking, or caring for the kids. Trouble is, when I started working from home, those were the only clothes I would ever wear. I would spend my budget on "nice clothes" because I felt sloppy, but then I would never wear them.

Nemosmom, you're actually one of my inspirations for this project casual wear! And yeah, I felt my sloppy dressing spilling over to my working-from-home days too (1-2 days a week) and that may have tipped the scales...

Style Fan

When I was working I bought mostly work clothes. My casual clothing was a disaster. I had jeans but I could wear jeans to work on Fridays and then Thursdays. My casual summer outfits were scary.
After being retired for 8 years, I have some reasonable outfits for deep winter that are not jeans (jeans are not warm enough) and some reasonable outfits for hot summer days.

Joy

As a retired woman, I the need to be able to be ready for going out at a moments notice. You will get more outings if you look ready.. Get dressed with accessories each day.

Style Fan, funnily jeans will once again become core to my weekend wardrobe.
Joy, wise words...

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