30x30 Casual #2 (01-07) - YouLookFab Forum

I wore this out to my birthday dinner last night. It was the only "dressing" I did all weekend... it was so freaking cold I only left the house to drive DD around and get some groceries, and I was so bundled up it didn't matter what I was wearing!

The "challenge thinking" for this outfit was for what you don't see... the tee I chose to wear under the sweater. I would normally have grabbed a cheapie to wear, but as I wanted to be cognizant of my capsule numbers, instead I grabbed an EF tee, that I am likely to repeat. I did like the way the necklines perfectly aligned.

Does this mean I should consider getting rid of some of my cheapies? I don't know. I would truly rather launder things that I don't care about, if they are comfortable, do the job, and aren't visible, to keep the good things good (but still wear when they WILL be seen, of course). Maybe it means I don't buy any more cheapies? Maybe it means at the end of the challenge, I evaluate how often these type of tops got worn, laundered, how they were worn, and THEN evaluate.

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by Elizabeth P

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Alessia Corduroy Pant

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Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Faux Fur Chelsea Sneaker (Women)

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Eileen Fisher Crewneck Long Sleeve Jersey Tee (Regular & Petite)

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6 years ago

Windchime

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Happy Birthday, Elizabeth P!

Goodness, black loves you! And I love your shoes with this outfit!

Having necklines aligned is definitely worth a lot, and your EF scored on that count. Do the cheapies show above the neckline of the sweater? The laundry consideration is also huge. I'll be interested to know what you decide at the end of January.

Christina F.

Looking good! Happy birthday!

I kind of cycle my cheapies into my lounge & sleep wardrobes.... it depends how high quality you want those items to be, though. Lately I've moved into having nicer things for those purposes, but I will get rid of the cheap things over time as they become unwearable. I can see the value in making the nicer stuff last longer by using it less, though.

Elizabeth P

Thanks Windchime.
Laundry not an issue... I have lots of stuff, and do laundry all the time. "Laundry is my life".
My cheapies have various necklines - although I'm not sure any of them match this one so well. That was a nice revelation... the sweater is wool, and while wool doesn't generally bother me, I do get the odd itch at necklines. This combo totally took care of that.

Thanks Christina. I suspect I will not replace my "cheapies"... or maybe end up with one only, ultimately, as they wear out.

Definitely some thinking to be done with this item. Note to file.

LaPed

The leopard pants and the high tops look so good together! This is a really fun outfit.

I know exactly what you mean about cheapies... like Christina, I tend to "demote" mine after a few years. First lounge/sleep, then painting/dirty chores. Trying to align the number of "nice" things in the closet with the number of "nice" things one actually needs is tricky. I try to wear the heck out of things, as Angie says, while being careful not to put stuff right in harm's way (cooking, art projects, etc).

Then I laugh, because I'm not in the least bit hesitant to spend a good chunk of change on high-end outdoor gear, knowing it's going to get stained and smelly and torn and patched. If only fashion clothes worked the same way, gaining more cachet and street cred the more beat-up they are (I suppose in some circles they do!).

Anonymous

I was thrilled by your focus and concentration.

But what really made my day were the questions you posted at the end of your post. THOSE are the questions I ask myself often in life. I hope you will post ruminations at the end of the challenge or some time thereafter. I would certainly like to understand the logic.

Me? I own lots of the cheapies that I can launder frequently. However, I am trying to make myself buy better quality fabrics to lay against my skin. I find I am genuinely happier when the fabric feels wonderful against my skin. I ask myself, am I worth it? I think I am. Why don't my habits reflect that?

I'll ruminate on the subject as well.

Katerina

Happy birthday Elisabeth!
I love your cool, casual outfits, they are wonderful!

The pants rock! This outfit is brillint! I love the perfect balance you have created with the black and white - the white detail on the sneakers is perfect with your hair. The earrings look very good on you. Cool!

Emily K

(website)

Happy B-day, Elisabeth! That's a nice outfit for the day and task. Darn, I sympathize with those of you who are so cold, now! Personally, I think you are OK to keep the cheapie tees. You have polish, you wear your clothes (especially when they can be seen), and I haven't felt that you need to upgrade your wardrobe beyond where it is now. So, there's still a place for the cheapies.

Joy

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth. I can no longer see your outfit but even the cost of those cheapies adds up. My solution has been to find EF pieces on EBay at a good price and wear the heck out of them. I really love silk as a year-round layer. It never seems too hot but gives warmth when needed. It is also a great travel fabric. My second choice is 100% nylon. (as opposed to polyester) Stein Mart used to have a variety of nylon layering tops.

rachylou

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

This is my kinda outfit

Re cheapies: this is a conundrum. I think it, for me, depends on how cheap is cheap. If they can take heavy laundering, I’m all for it. That’s value for money.

Thanks ladies! Sorry for the absence... had a busy afternoon at work then once I got home spent most of the night on driving duty. I love that my kids are busy, but yeesh....

So:.
Rachylou - that's kinda how I look at it as well. Most of my cheapie tees are from Costco, and stand up to wear and washing really well. I get rid of them if my fit fancies change.The somewhat down side is that a few years ago I stocked up because I was wearing them a lot - so it'll be years before they are worn out!

Joy, why can you no longer see my outfit? I'm confused. EF on ebay is a great idea - I do have a few items I got from there, maybe I should stalk them a bit more. Hmm. Could be dangerous!

Emily, thanks, that's a nice compliment. In general the cheapies aren't going anywhere, but I do think I can reduce the number of them. I think this is the approach - take note of how often I wear a long sleeved top or tee, and then do some number crunching.

thanks Katrina. I think you just answered a question about why I like these sneakers so much! Well, other than the warmth and comfort :). I hadn't thought of them being a bookend - yet still black. Win win!

Sterling, my cheapies are either 100% cotton, or 100% merino wool, depending if I want warmth or not. So easy to wear, I can't use the excuse of upgrading the fabric. I will try to muse at the end of this challenge, if certainly want to use this challenge to think about this kind of thing more, it's just a question of getting thoughts to "paper". I am not good at that!

LaP - trust me, aligning these numbers has NOT happened in my wardrobe. Not by a long shot. But maybe in a couple of months I'll be one step closer??? I chuckled at your gear comment.... yup, me too. Some things you pay before BECAUSE they are going to get beat up, others you pay for then protect them. Funny.

SarahD8

Great outfit! Looks comfortable yet funky, and approachable.

Re: the "cheapies," I wonder if there will be one or two that you will be drawn to most often because the neckline or some other feature is exactly right with a lot of your other items -- or if it's the opposite. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out for you.

Good point SarahD8, and one I should remember to think about when I evaluate. I can think of one right now with a squarish neck, that is great to wear alone, or under a hoodie, but doesn't go well as a layer. Well, given I have nicer ones to wear alone, and plenty of others to wear with a hoodie, maybe I don't need to keep it as a layering piece?

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