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2023 Style Goals

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I've spent the last few weeks trying to come up with updated style descriptors and it's just evading me right now. Last year, my guide words were edgy, easy, and emotional, but I don't think that's quite where I am at the moment.

Every since UmmLila talked about wearing a cape and being the "neighborhood sorceress," I've been enamored with that persona. I'm in a place right now where I don't feel compelled to match environmental norms and simply want to do what I like. I'm still feeling warm, earthy colors, botanical patterns, and plenty of black. Some days I want to layer on the pattern and texture and other days, I'm happy in the simplest of jeans and a plain top.

In some ways, my goals are the opposite of what some other forum members have mentioned, which really goes to show that we're all in different places in any given year.

1. Beef up my options for when it's sunny and 72°. While others have mentioned needing to scale back on clothing for transitional weather, most of my wardrobe works well for either hot summer or chilly winter. That covers about 7 months of the year here. The other 5 months are comfortable and temperate and I actually have a pretty difficult time dressing for "it's nice out today."

2. Be more impulsive. I know! The thing is, I instinctively know what I like and what's probably going to work for me. I'm practiced at seeking out my preferred colors, patterns, and fabrics. I also know my sustainability standards, which don’t go away when I purchase on impulse. My impulse purchases are almost always better than my most well-thought-out ones, so I want to let loose and trust myself.

3. Put together a travel capsule for Europe in spring. I need to curate a combination of new items and pieces already in my closet for a month-long trip.

4. Wear an apron when I cook. This one is so simple, but I always forget and I think being consistent will make a difference in terms of wardrobe care.

If anyone wants to have a go at style descriptor words, I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I may just go without this year.

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31 replies

Latest reply was from Jonesy

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'll be back, Jenn - but want to officially welcome you to Team BIG APRON. I cook a lot, wear one daily, and they make all the difference!

Potential Style Descriptors:

Luxe, Earthy, Adorned, Textured, Natural, Embellished, Relaxed, Controlled, Playful, Bohemian.....

Sorry! Got to run.

Indigoprint

Veteran

Love an apron too. !!

Irina

Veteran

Clear and concise, Jenn. I hear you on being impulsive. I used to be satisfied with my controlled approach to wardrobe building. But been thinking recently that some of my beloved items were bought impulsively, more like love from the first sight. Hmmm.
Re: apron. I keep one in my kitchen in plain view or I will forget to put it on.

jussie

Veteran

It’s really interesting that you have found your impulse,
instinctive purchase to turn out so well. I wish I could say the same! Something that can be fun is shopping with a friend/SO and seeing what they suggest, so different from what I would select but can be successful.

Best of luck with 2023.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I didn’t know I was at odds with the forum, but I sure am in agreement with you here. Impulsivity has always been my shopping Modus operandi and I’m pretty ok with where it’s gotten me, tbh.
Have you told us about Europe before? Don’t know how I missed that! A business-adjacent trip featuring a stop near Paris?

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I'm liking the sound of your goals - though 72F/22C is already 'hot summer' to me I think I get what you mean though - lighter weight pieces that can be layered?

As for the apron, have found some lovely linen styles before that may fit your style:
https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/lis.....n-pinafore
I hang mine up & leave a headband in the pocket, so that I'm not faffing about with my hair when cooking

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, aprons are the best. I got myself two for Christmas last year and although I don't always remember to wear them, I'm getting much better with it, and am so delighted about it! It really does make it more feasible to just wear the clothes while also getting on with one's day. I think I got mine from Etsy, too. Super useful items.

I'm going to mull some on the descriptor words for you.

Meanwhile, I love your decision to be more impulsive. I think -- considering your more typical approach -- this would fall into the category of what Angie calls "organized emotional" shopping. You can't really go wrong with that.

Dee

Veteran

Yay to doing what you like!! You seem to have a really fun somewhat bohemian style, and it should be interesting to see where your impulses take you fashion-wise.
I’m a convert to apron wearing myself too, best way to keep our clothes protected when cooking, cleaning and even when eating lol.

Anonymous

I submit free-spirited as a style descriptor for you. I have a floral organic cotton apron from EcoChoices that I love and should wear more often. Thanks for the reminder I don’t see it on their website right now.

https://ecochoices.com/

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rachylou

Veteran

*Go with the flow*?

An interesting point about having something to wear when it’s nice out… as I look at all my puffers… lol

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think that, after a lot of experience and practice, impulses are actually the product of complex unconscious thought. I know that there are certain areas that I can trust my instincts - and others not! Perhaps wisdom could be part of your descriptor. I think of sorceresses as wise.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

So much love for aprons! I actually have two hanging in my kitchen already, but I still forget to wear them! I just need to make a habit of it.

Zaeobi, funny you should mention the headband in the pocket, because I just put a hair elastic in the pocket of mine last night. I like having my hair out of the way when I cook. (And, oh my gosh, I'd consider "hot summer" here to be over 90°F/32°C.)

Suz, definitely organized emotional shopping. I do have a shopping list and I've learned that I do better when I just have the list in the back of my mind and "discover" the right pieces than when I do an all-out search. Some of the items I bought in 2022 had been on my list for several years.

Stagiaire Fash, early days on planning for the trip. We will be making that stop outside Paris, but the trip is mostly a chance for my husband, who's American but spent much of his childhood in Europe, to revisit and share some childhood memories.

Irina, I think we have similar analytical approaches to wardrobe building, but once you really know your style, I suspect "impulse purchases" become less impulsive and more instinctual.

Angie, some of your words were on the long list I made myself:
Luxe
Earthy
Relaxed
Bohemian

Texture is also really important to me, and I almost made it one of my style goals, before deciding it was something that would happen whether or not I made it a specific focus.

Relaxed artisan luxe?

rachylou

Veteran

Oh I like relaxed artisan luxe!

Sally

Veteran

I was just thinking today I need an apron as that is usually my excuse for not wearing something nice…I don’t want to get it dirty

Runcarla

Veteran

I looked up ‘instinctual’ and the word ‘passion’ was used in the description. I like the idea of instinctual purchases used instead of impulse - at this stage of your fashion journey.

*big YES to wearing an apron. I sometimes keep mine on for when I eat!*

Sal

Veteran

Not feeling very inspired right at the moment but I will enjoy watching your more emotional shopping!

Here’s to some luxe and sorcery!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

And the apron must be not only big, but also thick! A thin fabric won’t stop a real oil splatter. I like a thick heavy canvas one; Williams and Sonoma make great ones.

Olive Green

Veteran

I am thinking of Lily Tomlinson in Grace and Frankie, another possible neighbourhood sorceress. Somehow the word Fearless is coming up.

Olive Green

Veteran

Sigh, Tomlin, autocorrect.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Your style is so cool and cohesive! You can have some of my impulsivity in shopping if I can borrow some of your careful deliberation. I am getting better at it. It’s a balance, as you know.

Oh, I’m with you on the apron thing! We have a big old red Williams Sonoma apron that I use — I think it came with a set of pans or something because I have no recollection of buying it. But when our new kitchen is done, I’m treating myself to a new apron! I think I need one while eating though — the other night I wore a new favorite cream batwing sweater out for dinner and somehow got a spot of food right on the front below my boobs, howwww? But I managed to get the stain out yesterday and breathed a sigh of relief.

NancyW

Veteran

Aprons! I have some Japanese aprons with sleeves, but my current climate is warm and they are often too much. Last winter I made myself one from a linen/cotton blend. Noe ties, it slips over my head and crosses in the back. Always hanging on the pantry door. When I look at your WIWs it is the balance that jumps out at me.

Ginger

Veteran

#1 really resonates with me (from about 72-76). Too chilly for bare legs and feet but I can overheat easily. Unfortunately I don't know what options to beef up!

Otherwise I think you're on an excellent track. Aprons are logical and an excellent discipline to extend the life of your clothing. Relaxed artisan luxe is perfection.

Kim M

(website)

I like that you're keying in on your descriptors. With the forums input you'll have them in no time-ha! I need to pin Jaime's quote somewhere: "impulses are actually the product of complex unconscious thought". Love that idea. // I got a little loosey-goosey with wearing my apron during the holidays and found a grease spot on one of my favorite tops and a coffee spill on another-boo!

Minaminu

Veteran

much love for the apron! I like the descriptor

Relaxed artisan luxe

SarahD8

Veteran

72 F is getting on towards high summer for me! I also want to beef up my options for transitional weather but for me that means 60s F.

I LOVE your "be more impulsive" goal -- seems just right for where you and your wardrobe are at the moment. I think Jaime is right about the nature of impulsivity too, provided that one has done the work underlying it --- which you definitely have.

It seems like you have found your way to a good descriptor, but being a persona person my first response was "does a neighborhood sorceress need a style descriptor -- or can she just rely on her conjuring skills as needed?" Look forward to seeing where you go with all this in 2023!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jenn, how fab that our adjectives for your style aligned! A testament to your KILLER signature looks.

Bohemian Relaxed Luxe

Anonymous

Love "neighborhood sorceress" as a style descriptor for you!
To me, sunny and 72 means wear normal summer clothes It may feel warmer here though cause the humidity, so I'll picture my 60s in my ideas!
Thin kimono toppers
Flowy or cropped pants or maxi skirt with sleeveless top
Lightweight blouses + shorts or shorter skirt
Lightweight sleeved dresses

Basically instead of arms and legs bare like for summer, just one or the other.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I'm giggling at how different our conceptions of high summer are! A 72° high here means a morning in the low-mid 60s, a mild and sunny afternoon, and a chilly evening.

My high summer clothes are reserved for temps above 90°, which usually start in April and go through September, sometimes even into October.

Angie, I'm tending towards "artisan" over Bohemian mostly because of the sort of festival attire and more shapeless silhouettes sometimes associated with boho.

rachylou, sometimes temperature isn't at all indicative of how cold it actually is. We spent the last two days at Disneyland in puffers and warm layers with temps in the upper 50s.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love "relaxed artisan (or artisanal?) luxe" for you! I think it suits more than bohemian also because your shopping tends to be from artisanal makers (or nearly so). It signals your values more accurately.

The climate stuff is hilarious, right? I've been chuckling too. It does come down to humidity, in large part. And wind.

70 to 72 still feels quite "transitional" to me (just north of Sarah DB). I don't feel it's "high summer" until the temps get considerably warmer, which nowadays they do, up here. From sometime in June through to September, off and on.

By which I say I'm not ready to wear my high summer clothes when it's low 70s. But it's way too warm for winter things! What I would wear in the conditions you describe would be cropped pants (cotton, probably) or a longer skirt that covers the legs, closed shoes (rather than sandals), a cotton long sleeved top with sleeves that can be rolled (probably) or a cotton knit or a tee, and possibly a lightweight jacket or cardigan, preferably one I can stuff in my bag when it feels warm. I might also bring a scarf along. That way I can shed or add layers as needed. The tricky part is that it has to feel like an "outfit" regardless of how many or how few of those layers you are wearing. I think this is part of why I enjoy a pattern mix. The top, scarf, and/or skirt or jacket can be different patterns as long as they coordinate/ feel cohesive. Proportions are also relevant -- some toppers don't work with some bottoms, and so on. I figure you remember all this from your previous lives in other locales...but it might take some adjustment for the new climate conditions in terms of how many items you need to cover this kind of weather.

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