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A jeans realization

Anonymous

Aka-more nerding out over my wardrobe

I picked up a second pair of new to me jeans yesterday, full length straight, since the cropped ones didn't play well with ankle boots and I figure low PUPY value (8 estimated). Full length jeans maybe 26 PUPY (not for work and I don't go out Sundays, besides fitness). I don't know how much I'll wear either TBH but cheap as chips on consignment.

Anyway- I've always felt better with jeans paired with neutrals and consider them a color. My coloring is so warm, they just don't relate at all (except my faded tattoo). I don't have blue eyes and even my veins are barely visible. But I have a few prints that include blue/teal that I'll try pairing with the jeans. I think that would be "quieter" and more harmonious than a whole different non neutral on top.

My older pair, the embroidered ones, I think are problematic for this reason. The embroidery is tiger lillies and has green and orange, which feel too much with the denim if worn as a top. Plus- tiger lillies?? What was I thinking? They're a July flower- and there's no way I'm wearing jeans anywhere near July!

I'm still 2 + months away from jeans weather of course, but good to figure this out in advance!

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Tiger lilies—wear them on those chilly spring days when it seems it’s taking forever for temps to warm up. Bet you have some dark greens or variations on rust that can make tonal matches with the colors in the embroidery.

And I salute you on the consignment shopping!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

"I figure low PUPY value (8 estimated). Full length jeans maybe 26 PUPY (not for work and I don't go out Sundays, besides fitness). I don't know how much I'll wear either TBH but cheap as chips on consignment"

....I want to comment constructively, but you lost me here

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*getting more tea*

rachylou

Veteran

I think of you as quite polished if not necessarily formal. Tops with blue would be polished.

Interesting about the embroidery. I wanted a pair of floral embroidered but never did it. IRL, I think they felt too much for me too. Or if they were going to be too much - there was never enough embroidery on them. So I have floral jeans but not embroidery floral.

Anonymous

Yep that's what I've done as far as season, cause our springs are often cold. The colors paired with the denim are just too much in big blocks together. They generally just get paired with black!
Truthfully they'd be better on a Spring, but they're pretty and I designed them

Anonymous

Re PUPY value: I have about 26 weeks of colder than 70 weather (November- April) and 26 of warmer than 70 (May- October). Over 70 I only wear skirts and dresses, about 40-70 either skirts/dresses with tights or pants, under 40 usually only pants.

So 1 day a week potentially, for 26 weeks, as I only go out 1 weekend day and don't wear jeans to work. If I go out after work I go straight from work in whatever I wore. At home I only wear pull on clothes!

The 8 for the crops would be 8 potential casual transitional (60-70 degree) weekend days. They did work tucked into my tall boots, so potentially higher PUPY- but I'd more likely choose the full length for warmth.

This is all assuming my current shoes, work situation, and historical climate!

Anonymous

Highest PUPY for me are the things I can wear to work, especially skirts- cause they are good about 10 months of the year. Plus they're comfortable enough to wear on weekends, so 6 days × 10 months.

Lowest PUPY are casual transitional things, because of the short season and 5-6 day workweeks.

One day a week I don't interact with a soul besides immediate family- so just gear or loungewear

ETA- occasionally I'll wear pants in the low 70s, if it's raining- but that's usually early spring.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Do you have a goal for the ratio of how many total pupy all the items in your closet have to how many “wearing occasions” (not necessarily days, because sometimes you don’t go out, sometimes you might wear multiple outfits in a day)? Do you want them to be exactly the same?

bj1111

Veteran

i am wrapped up in how to pronounce "PUPY"

pyu-pee like pepe le pew

or short u as in puppy?

or long u pooh-pee?

where do you put the stress--first or second syllable?

Helena

Veteran

Can someone help me with what pupy means?

Anonymous

I’m as lost as Angie . What the heck is PUPY ? And the weekend ?

Anonymous

*chokes on avocado- cheese toast*
I pronounce it like puppy! I'm quite fond of puppies except when 9 adorable little Rotties mess the second I change the paper!

I'm pretty much guaranteed to have to go out 6 days a week, between work and family. Hence why I need 1 "mic off" day! I don't wear multiple outfits in a day, excepting gear and at home wear, so 1 "regular clothes" outfit per day.

Basically I use PUPY as a shopping qualifier, rather than a tracker, but 5 work pieces to 1 non work would be ideal. I have had a bad habit in the past of buying too many low PUPY clothes- particularly those "mild weather only" or specialty pieces. It keeps me on track to have the bulk of my small closet and budget going towards those potentially high use clothes.

ETA- PUPY = potential uses per year
So- the approximate number of days I would wear something, given my schedule/activities and climate.
I work Monday- Friday business casual, and occasional Saturdays. The other Saturdays I help family, do errands, see friends, or do other fun stuff. Sundays I paddle, take long bike rides, garden, hike, archery, and reset for the next week.
My seasons I count by weather, rather than calendar, since we just don't have much in the way of transitional. But I am starting to think of cold and bitter cold as seperate now, instead of just "winter."

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

My vote is for PEWpee, lol.

But using it to make shopping decisions—if you had the long jeans for weekends (1 day) half the year, the crops with 8 pupy, and something else, maybe a lightweight summer dress, with 18 pupy, then are you done with weekend shopping until those wear out? Or would you have so many weekend clothes that they’d have more pupy than there are potential occasions to wear that kind of clothing? Do you see what I’m asking?

JAileen

Veteran

I thought I was the only one who didn’t know what this acronym meant.

Anonymous

I've done quite a few PUPY posts, but not in a long while. Being wfh for over a year threw off my system and I wore gear every day. But I'm back in my cage 5 days a week, so back to normal clothes.

The point wasn't PUPY though, it was what I think could work with the new jeans (neutrals, prints vs solid non neutrals). The PUPY is simply why they wouldn't get that much wear.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I have been mostly absent from the forum for quite some time and I was like, WHAAAAT new YLF acronyms??? Makes perfect sense "potential uses per year" -- this is what makes me such an emotional shopper/dresser I never think about stuff like this but I really, really should. Maybe I wouldn't be constantly running out of drawer space.

slim cat

Veteran

Currently I do “Can I wear it to work? And maybe in dressier setting if I’ll get some ..”. So far it’s something similar but without exact numbers. So far jeans are out - can do my old dark straight ones, cardigans are out - only for skirt wear doesn’t cut it and so on.
You have very precise and analytical system- I’ll probably should try to do the same ( if I can as emotional shopper ).
Anyway - straight dark jeans are the ones I refuse to give up. I like them with wide cuff too - just need to wear pretty shoes. Hope for some pics of your new jean outfits later - when the weather permits.

Sal

Veteran

This thread made me laugh! Yes to jeans with patterned tops. And really one or two pairs only.

Helena

Veteran

Ah thanks suntiger ... It makes sense to me now! PUPY is a very useful concept so I appreciate learning it today! I definitely have an issue buying the fun spring and fall pieces that I get to wear for, oh, 2 weeks before the extreme weather comes

And yes to denim being a colour! I find darker or more muted washes less colourful though, fwiw.

JAileen

Veteran

I’ve really enjoyed reading this. Wow! You’re very analytical. I was, too, when I worked, but now I’m a slacker retiree and think, “Oh, I like that! Tiger lilies? Yes, please.”

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I've known what PUPY is for absolute ages! I love the concept. Always pronounced it pew-pee in my head. I’m sorry Suntiger but phonics doesn’t allow it to be pronounced puppy! The double letter means a short sound and the single letter a long sound. Still, it is your word…
Could it be added to a list of YLF acronyms please Angie and Inge?
Might have to come back later for your actual question.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Laughing about the acronym discussion!

I think you should wear the tiger lilies whenever you want! Not just summer. After all, roses bloom in the summer too but people wear them in prints all year round. Why shouldn’t it be a signature motif if you love them?

That said, I do get what you mean about the color, considering your tight color palette, and your lack of dedication to wearing denim in general! But I do believe in keeping items that bring joy even if they only make a couple appearances a year, provided they fit and can make at least 3-4 outfits, and the wardrobe isn’t too full.

I consider your PUPY concept only in an abstract way, and sometimes it goes right out the window when I fall in love with something. Why else would I have a full rack of jackets in our climate? LOL I do justify it by realizing that I largely tend to keep items like that for quite a few years and don’t mind spreading the wear out over that longer time period.

Anonymous

Glad the PUPY concept is helpful- however we pronunce it Pot-ay-to, pot-ah-to! Yes- add to the list please Angie!

The tiger lilly jeans are staying of course, but I bought the others for the versatility. Plus they've gotten a bit thin cause they're veeeery stretchy!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Got it! Thanks for the explanations, Suntiger.

In summary: You wear jeans infrequently so don't need many pairs. You are a dress and skirt gal most of the time, unless you're in gear or Athleisure. Pants feature in cold weather, and best at full length, although you will tuck into boots.

Anonymous

Bingo Angie

But cold weather clothes are problematic for me- hence all my naval gazing. I am determined to "solve" all my problematic categories!

*offer still stands to trade with any hot weather dressing haters and skip the below 60 weather altogether*