2024 Goals: Get Organized - YouLookFab Forum

I'm feeling the need of some focus and organization. It's more mental and structural than in the actual wardrobe.

Goal-related goals for later:

Style words: I overthink them!
Moniker: The Duchess Next Door; I've had for a while and I think it's fine but I can put some brainstorming on it

A couple weeks when trying to respond to Suz's "Duped by Dupes?" thread to illustrate how many duplicates I have, I got annoyed at the gaps in my Finds. So I started pulling pictures from ebay and Poshmark listings I've won and general searching for old stock photos. So far I’ve made dozens of custom finds. Eventually I'll need to start taking my own pictures, ugh.

While updating Finds, I blundered into the Collections tab. I tried to use it years ago, but capsules like "Shoes" and "Winter Wear" weren't very useful. However, in the last few years I've developed some particular outfit formulas. Now it makes sense to turn the meaningless “Short Outerwear” capsule into “Short Toppers – Jeans” and “Cropped Toppers – Skirts.” And suddenly I can see the holes in my outerwear collection, and why I have such trouble finding the right jacket to wear for given outfit and weather.

Now I'm at the point where I need to refine my outfit formulas to capture other significant capsules. I've also been identifying wardrobe holes. It's so easy to get distracted and shop ebay and Poshmark while I'm already there to save pictures!

My immediate goals:

Catch up with existing wardrobe Finds
Sketch out my silhouette archetypes
Build capsules to go with each archetype
Focus on wardrobe holes thus identified

The last goal will help me rein in too much buying of duplicates. I like a plentiful closet but sometimes there are just too many options available for terrific prices on the secondhand market. It's hard to sort out what the best choice(s) is/are without firm goals.

Other goals:

Find a “sweet spot” for hair length and continue to regrow volume loss
Make headway on my giant sewing list
Don’t shop for fabric unless I have a specific need (SO GUILTY)

Finds: My complete Prairie Underground long hoodie collection! At least with the best pictures I could find. The blues and pinks aren't as close as they look. I love these things. I've worn one for 3 days of the last 5.

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PRAIRIE UNDERGROUND Long Cloak Hoodie

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3 months ago

Ket

Veteran

I really love your hoodies! Oh my gooooosssshhh! So love the length and shape! Are they a RTW brand or sewing pattern?

Regarding the collections… you’ve given me such a helpful way to look at them. So thank you <3 I’m slowly finding my formulas and holes as well. Def will and a peek at the collections tab soon. Xo

Sal

Great plan - it's easy to buy what works and what is readily available. I do it too and have to focus on adding things that I need to wear but don't like shopping for. I had a year of that last year with lots of simple essentials being added but it has made dressing for every occasion quite straight forward. Things like basic tops, knits and a couple of plain unpatterned skirts.

Dee

Nice collection of long hoodies, how do you usually style them?

You’ve now got me thinking of new ways to use the “collections” feature in finds. I’ve managed to put most of my newer wardrobe purchases in from the last year, but I also need to update my secondhand purchases too if I really want a more accurate picture of my current wardrobe.

Like the idea of defining a silhouette archetype too, that should help to make shopping more disciplined.

Ginger

Ket, the brand is Prairie Underground, and these are the Long Cloak Hoodie design. It's pretty iconic for their brand and they've been making it for I don't know how long, probably close to 20 years by now. They are not cheap garments but I've gotten these off the secondhand market. They're really magical for me! The shape is amazing, that two-way zipper is genius. I hope you find a way to use the Collections feature! It suddenly clicked for me and I'm really a fan now.

Exactly, Sal. I'm really looking forward to identifying some of those missing things. I think I've gotten my basics covered, but there are other items, trouble spots I know are there but have trouble articulating.

Dee, I wear the long hoodies like a third item completer, so either over jeans and a long sleeve tee, or over a slim-profile patterned knit dress and tights. The sweet spot for dress length is about 4" longer than the hoodies, which are mid-thigh on me (~36" long). I always unzip the lower zipper pull to where it's comfortable, which can vary depending on the particular hoodie (I have several sizes). I'm wearing the below combination today; the dress print has medium blue and pale pink in it.

Secondhand purchases really get me! It's easy for me to forget to make a custom find at the time, and sometimes the listing pictures aren't very good so they're not great in Finds anyway.

I think I'm very picky about shape and proportion. I should have made the connection to silhouette a long time ago! But the Collections feature is really helping.

Sperry Women's Calf High Boot Winter

rachylou

The collection by formula is brilliant!

Jaime

(website)

Goals sound great and I agree with Rachy that your collection plan is brilliant!

Barbara Diane

Love the long hoodies as toppers.

RobinF

Love those hoodies! Looks like a fun brand!

Joy

I think I own only one long hoodie and it is in the swimwear box. I am inspired to try them as toppers for spring. It is too cold now.

Suz

Ginger, it's so great that the Collections feature has come into its own for you! I found it tricky at first as well, but now I use it quite consistently. I keep track of all items purchased and retired (edited out) in a particular year. I keep collections of items that fit with a particular direction or trend I'm trying to work into my style more consciously. When I'm thinking about shopping, I make a collection of what I already have in that category, to see if I really need to shop -- or if I really need to edit stuff out -- much as you are doing. And sometimes I will make a colour collection -- to see what I have within a season for a given colour family. I also make collections of my essentials -- for me, white or ecru tops and navy tops for each season, white and navy bottoms. It's been useful!

Those Prairie Underground hoodies are so fab for you. Love them.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Yay, Ginger! Thrilled you're using the FINDS feature so thoroughly. Happy dance!

I use the Collection feature ALL THE TIME - for my YLF work - and much like how Suz uses it. Also for travel capsules, and all sorts of other wardrobe capsules that are about my wardrobe, and client wardrobes.

Thanks for answering the hair length question on the blog post! Sound plan!

I'll keep an eye on your fabric shopping gene, young lady

Cardiff girl

Great plans.As a fellow sewer l do not think that you should feel guilty about fabric purchases,we all have that “secret” stash!

Thank you both, Rachy and Jaime! I always thought of capsules as mostly a minimal dressing thing (or a travel wardrobe). But type of clothing, and narrowed by use, turned out to be super helpful.

Barbara Diane and Robin, the long hoodies are a magical garment for me. They make everything "go" better, add color and whimsy and do it in the silhouette I love.

Joy, that sounds like a good plan. I'm in the middle of winter and admitting that hoodie + dress isn't warm enough to be sedentary at the desk.

Suz, I tried to add a "2023 Purchases" collection for the heck of it. It's scary large compared to others! Interesting idea to use it for items you're shopping for. I'm not usually that deliberate in my shopping, but I can see it would be very helpful.

Angie, you made me laugh! Note that I didn't say I wouldn't BUY fabric, I just won't deliberately SHOP for it. I did buy at the estate sale of the lady who sewed designer pillows and had an incredible stash of fabric. Most of what I got was for costuming but not all, like the 15 yards of colorful plaid silk taffeta for $40. It's usually $20+ a yard. I'm envisioning a semi-formal gown from a 1950s evening dress sewing pattern.

Cardiff girl, you are an enabler! LOL I just want to use it up and make some of these things I've had planned for years!

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