A new challenge for me

Synne

And anyone who might want to join...

No-Shop is admirable, but unrealistic for me. From now on, everything I buy will have to be ESSENTIALS. Or very likely WARDROBE WORKHORSES.

This means: no more crazy statements. No more wardrobe benchwarmers. No more expensive clutter.

This also means: I need to get serious about personal style. What it is. What it isn't.

And last but not least: What the heck are wardrobe essentials? What does this mean to my style?

Join me if you want!

I am starting off with returning two beautiful items. In very flattering colours. Nice cuts. Fresh. But in no way essentials to my style. They will be worn scarcily or maybe not at all... Enough of that nonsense!

5 years ago

Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from

April

Veteran

Synne - I'm ok with statement pieces that get worn only occasionally, so I'm not perfect for your challenge, but where there is some overlap is that I too am figuring out my current style and have resolved to be very picky about what I buy.

I want quality and things that make me feel great, not things that are "eh - good enough."

Keep us posted on your progress!

5 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I’ve been wandering out of my style lane a bit, which I’m wont to do. I will join you in the effort to be more disciplined(!)

5 years ago

RobinF

Veteran

I really need to do the same, especially figuring out my style. Sometimes I think I'm all over the place and other times stuck in a rut.

I like those pieces you are returning though

5 years ago

Synne

Veteran

Yay!

I like those items too. Right now predicting essentials (or workhorses) is a stricktly intuitive thing. And maybe not a good prediction. I might be wrong... But better to err on the side of less.

There's just something about these items that tells me they won't be worn alot. Firstly, I never wear skirts. (Hah, and I ordered them regardless). The skirt is also a smudge short (or long, or whatever). Hits me at a weird spot between my knees and ankle. The pants are low rise. Hard to style with my long torso. I can see these beautiful items hanging in my closet. And only hanging in my closet...

Sooo.... back they go.

5 years ago

nemosmom

Veteran

OK, I laughed (in solidarity, of course): I never wear skirts, but I bought 4 last year. Sigh. They sure are pretty on the hanger, though.... I share your desire to focus on essentials or at least workhorses, but I want to be careful here, too. It's a year to be picky about what I add, and work on finding creative ways to wear what I have.

5 years ago

Synne

Veteran

There's a lot in my wardrobe that looks sooo good on the hanger, it's ridicolous. But not on me!

5 years ago

Carla

Veteran

I’m in month two of my Style Your Closet/Wear It All challenge. More specifically I’m trying to work my way through all 25 of my different tops. A 2 week vacation has actually been a boon, as it has facilitated the wearing of my sleeveless and summer specific tops! It is also showing me where my wardrobe holes are.

5 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Synne, good job in returning these beautiful items that just are not for you. Buying clothing that you will wear lots is definitely the recipe to a great functioning wardrobe.

5 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Fantastic challenge Synne!! Cheering you on!

5 years ago

Christina F.

Veteran

It will be good for you to try to focus on the brass tacks aspects of your wardrobe. It was a huge help for me to do that. if it were me, I'd have to be sure that I don't edit out too many existing statements, or else I'd start buying more to fill the void. That pitfall may not apply to you, but I mention is just in case. (My wardrobe happy place gives me a balance of essentials and statements so that I feel like I have variety... I could edit out a few statements but I am afraid of just buying more once I do.)

It's great to return good looking items that you actually simply think you won't wear. I feel like that's an "achievement unlocked" place in wardrobe development! The next phase is to consider those items but not buy them, which is what I'm currently working on.

5 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is a great challenge for you, Synne. Those are gorgeous items in the photos and I can see you wearing them really well -- but your comments about them are great indicators that you are on the way to refining your style to wear you want it to be. As fab as an item might look -- even on your own body -- that doesn't mean it's earned a place in your closet.

I agree with Christina -- it is an achievement to send things back that aren't perfect. I try on and send back (or leave in the dressing room) SO MANY MORE things than I bring home but it took me several years to figure out how important that is.

5 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like your challenge, Synne! Fun and focussed. Workhorses can be hard to predict though. Remember that

Love the attention for ESSENTIALS. You don’t need to have an essential-rich style at all. I’ve moved away from it. But a few right essentials are indispensable.

5 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

This sounds great, Synne. I applaud your intention to be focused and discerning. I like what Runcarla said -- maybe some sort of "Wear it all" challenge would help you hone your sense of your style, and also separate the wardrobe wheat from chaff?

And, I was also going to echo Angie -- it's ok to have a style that is NOT essentials heavy! Some people are not happy wearing lots of essentials and if that's you, then you can come sit by me.

5 years ago

Joyce

(website)

Active Member

Synne, I too am going through this process because I have so many Statement pieces in my wardrobe I am blinded by the light.
After Angie's post I went home and wrote Statements, Essentials (glue) and Foundation. I didn't understand the task last year but equating essentials as the items that make every thing else work, glue, helped me.
Out are the statements and essentials that have had real estate but no traction either due to lifestyle change or purchase mistake. With a cleaner slate it is much easier to identify what works and why. Happy exploring!

5 years ago

notsaf

Veteran

Good luck, Synne! I love essentials, and am cheering you on.

5 years ago

Bennett

Veteran

Yeah, I fall into that trap as well. Some of it I can blame on being delighted at the things other YLFers are finding and wearing well! But their life is NOT my life; I need to stay focused on this girl!

I wish I could justify that skirt you're returning, but for MAYBE two wears? Pass.

5 years ago

CarolS

Veteran

Great challenge! "No more expensive clutter" -- also my great downfall.

5 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

This is very interesting. I am right now hunting for more flare jeans because I have decided that they are my new essential. Finding statement pieces is actually easier for me because essentials have to be just right and versatile. Will be following!

5 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Good thinking. It is certainly feeling quite a long time now of not buying anything in the way of clothing or shoes since 7 December. ( I did buy the new specs). I didn’t promise a no-shop year, just a month, but the longer I try to wear what I have the more it actually puts me off buying more things, because it is actually difficult to clock up those wears.
And when I look in lovely shops, as I did today on a fantastic hot summer day when I had a 2.5 hour break between work obligations, I look at the pretty things like tops and some gorgeous orange and pink sandals but am much less tempted than I once would have been. I think it’s because I am training the muscles of not buying what I know I won’t wear enough-as you are doing here.
I own 7 very nice skirts. In 2019 I wore one of them twice, 3 of them once, and 3 of them not at all. Ergo- do not even look at skirts.

5 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I have found that if an item is in a workable color scheme, in my case for Spring I enjoy lilac, khaki green and navy, it is going to get worn more. If it's an orphan color, or a minority color in my wardrobe, it becomes an orphan.

5 years ago

Anonymous

Sounds like a good plan, since you have so many statement items!
That skirt would be a workhorse for me though

5 years ago

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