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80% theory 20% practice

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Or, how my year here at YLF has shaped up. In all honesty, I have spent a good amount of this year, and this last 2 months in particular, stuck inside the house. Between being unable to walk for months, then having my car shipped back home and being without transportation, I have been housebound more often than not. I probably leave the house only twice a week now - one being on foot in 90 degrees and the other going out for lunch or dinner on the weekend.

So although I am still learning and hatching outfit ideas in my head, the reality is that it is mostly theory and not much put into actual day to day practice as of late. At the start of this month, I packed up my shoes and all pants, sweaters, and long sleeves in anticipation of a move sometime this fall. I've taken to writing ideas down as they come to me lol. Like:

sequin tank + satin wideleg trousers + heeled oxfords
brown sheer stripe top + nude layer + black bandage skirt

I'm beginning to wonder if I need to unpack all my stuff again and just play dress up even if I am merely going to sit at home. I guess I'm afraid if I don't put it into practice I'm not really getting anywhere on the journey.

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Lynne

cciele

Veteran

I think coming up with outfits in theory is a fun way to exercise creativity! But you are right, it's in practice that you see how the pieces work together on your body and what you can do to improve.

If it's not a pain to unpack/repack, I would say go for it. But I think with every combo you put together in theory, you are moving along on your journey

Kari

Veteran

Mo, I think that writing down ideas, or creating Polyvore combinations that you want to try, is a great idea when you don't have the opportunity to practice it with all of your clothes. (I hate packing and probably wouldn't bother unpacking/repacking again!) You may change your mind or have new ideas once you actually move and are exposed to fall weather again, but at least you are keeping your brain engaged and having fun.
Sal from AlreadyPretty had a post a while back about how she assembles her own outfit list: http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....-list.html

Vildy

Veteran

Far be it for me to tell you to unpack your clothes but I figured out that it wasn't good to wait for the life that would be more gadabout to come to me and that I should dress at home as if it were "real life." Husband and son have long since given up asking me where I was going. I'm real weather sensitive so, being mostly around home, I have the opportunity to yank things off and change. But I usually do get dressed nicely at least once, often more. I also want to know that I have all the pieces I want to put together so I can get dressed fast. For me, writing out what goes together doesn't work, most especially if I don't know for a fact that it does. There was a nice little book called Conservative Chic in which she points out that there are some hitches with mix and match since lots of things that look like they should go together, in practice, don't.

As long as I'm mentioning it, the other two pieces of real useful information I got from it are 1) it depends on how big the surface area is, whether you can wear a print. A top and a bottom or dress or even just a top or bottom, can be way too much. But a camisole or scarf or handbag might let you wear an otherwise overpowering print. It's the amount of print. 2) You might be able to wear a color you like that's difficult for you, in some other texture. If you can't wear shine, maybe you can wear it in velvet, etc. I find this works.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

oh Mo, i can so totally empathize! I have spent years housebound with health issues, and currently i only get out of the house 2-4 times a week.

But i 'get dressed' every day. First, i hate that 'well, i'm just passing time now, my 'real actual life' will happen some other time, some other place.............maybe.......' i just decided i didn't want to treat myself that way. If i am the only person who sees me that day, the only one who appreciates my outfit, that is damn straight plenty reason right there for me to put on the dawg!

At the same time, theory will only get you so far. You only really know how things work, what you like, what you hate that you were sure you'd love, and so on from experience. I also realized that if i wanted to look great when i went out, i needed the 'day to day' practice of getting dressed every day! And i found that, as a member of Team Dress Up, i really stretched my style wings by coming up with more causal looks that still were 'me'.

Hope this helps! i obviously feel very strongly about this, because of my own life experience. If nothing else, maybe you can haul out a box or two of faves and see what you can come up with, and have a little fun take care, steph

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

heehee, Vildy - we cross posted in more ways than one!!

(big hug) steph

rae

(website)

Veteran

Some good advice here! I feel the same about my weekend clothes sometimes... I play dress up at night a lot, and take pictures, so I know I can throw on something good when an outing finally comes up. Lord knows I'm not savvy enough to whip something up on the spot...

Scarlet

Veteran

If you are not pressed for time in organizing your move, I don't see any reason not to unpack some and play dress up. You can take photos and plan out your fall/winter "looks". Why not?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thanks gals . . . I did sort of unpack a bit today (shoes) to go out for lunch. On the one hand, it feels kinda silly to get dressed head to toe to sit here with the cat, but on the other hand, what are my clothes for if not to wear?
And Steph - very good point about me being worth it all for myself no matter if anyone else sees me! Thank you

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Mo, I vote play dress up! Your clothes are there for you - you are not there for them.

It costs nothing to wear the clothes you already have. Enjoy it and become "outfit fit" once again.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Angie, such a good phrase "outfit fit"! Practice does make perfect, or so they say Okay, unpack and dress up I will

Aida

Veteran

Yay glad you're going to unpack and dress up You know, taking photos and sharing with the forum here is a great way to feel like you're NOT just dressing up for the cat. I only see my family on nearly all days, and sharing my outfits here really makes the effort that much easier to put in

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

What Angie and Aida said! Dress up for yourself! Plus, I'm learning a lot from you! So you're not just dressing for yourself, you're doing it for all of us! Thanks Malina!

tarzy

Veteran

Do you ever watch those period British dramas where they get all dressed up just to go downstairs to have dinner? I sometimes feel like that. (Except I don't have a personal maid putting my hair up into an elaborate do.) Sometimes I like to wear pearls to the supermarket just because.

Lisa

Veteran

I like the "dress up anyway" idea. After all we live life everyday, whether anyone else sees us or not. I'm not saying you should walk around the house in high heels all day for no reason. But there's nothing wrong with sitting around the house in "non-lounge wear." When "lounge-wear" becomes "daily wear," it can get frustrating.

If there is time, I vote unpack and play dress up. Nothing can replace a review of photos from an outfit. And every photo you post, is going to help or inspire someone on the forum. So no outfits are ever gone to waste. Plus it will help you keep molding what you do and do not like.

Deborah

Veteran

Yay, dress up. I love "playing" in my closet and trying things on and putting outfits together. I find it relaxing, fun, means I have outfits ready to go ... oh and it's 'me' time.

Elly

Veteran

I can completely relate Mo-- since I joined YLF (and a couple of years before) I have been taking it a step further and working on almost ALL theory with no practice (no shopping and working on remixing with a very minimal closet). Now I HAVE to jump into the deep end with practice and shopping. I know I am going to make mistakes, but I really hope all this theory study will help me to minimize them.

If I were you I would unpack and try some things, since I bet you will be harried after the move. Plus, I haven't seen very many things that you own that wouldn't be comfy or unpractical for days days at home unless you spend most of them doing crafts, cooking, or hard-core cleaning. Loungewear is great but when you are home all day every day it can make you feel like a bum (take it for someone sitting at home right now). When you are at home all the time wearing regular but casual clothes is a good. Plus, then you don't feel like true smart casual is such a step up from your daily wear and loungewear actually has a place as a treat at the end of a long day or a lazy Saturday.

Lynne

Veteran

Malina, forum member Imogen is a big fan of capsules built around particular wardrobe items. If you log onto her site, Insideoutstyle, and subscribe to her newsletter, you can download a free copy of her eBook, Creating a Wardrobe on a Budget (or similar title). It goes through examples.

You might enjoy doing something similar, if you have time? It makes you quite familiar with what you have and how it works.....and the cat will enjoy sitting on your work as you write :).