I have been SO inspired be everyone's year-end reviews/year ahead goals posts -- thanks to all who have shared. I probably didn't manage to comment on all of them, but I read them all with great interest.

I’m still formulating my thoughts around what I will really need for 2022 — and of course waiting to see what the universe will deliver in terms of opportunities to leave the house -- but I thought I would share some of my preliminary thoughts and goals as we kick off the new year.

In no particular order, here are my random goals/guidelines as I start to build a more functional wardrobe in 2022.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Remember it’s not over yet — I made great strides in 2021, but I’d like to take my body recomposition a bit further — continuing to reduce my visceral fat level in particular, and adding muscle/tone. Until I have a better sense of where things will settle (both body and life in general, frankly) I’d rather have a small collection of clothes that work well together than a lot that don’t. This means still trying to exercise some restraint and not buying everything I try on!

Re-use what I can — My closet includes clothes in a wide variety of sizes from various stages of the journey to my heaviest weight. Where it makes sense, I will make use of those pieces while I work on building my wardrobe. I can think of at least a couple of pairs of pants that should finally see some wear this spring — the floral ones mentioned above and a navy and white patterned pair that I don’t think I ever wore. I think there might also be a pair or two of shorts I’ll be able to get some use from.

Be complementary — Enhancing some of my existing complements will help me pull cohesive looks together. I’m thinking cream/white, burgundy, toffee/cognac and maybe grey/pewter/silver (again, much depends on what comes across my path). I have bits of all of the above and patterned scarves that in some cases bridge more than one complement (a strategy I really like!). I also have a teeny yellow complement that should be fun as spring approaches.

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. I’m building a wardrobe from almost nothing. Despite weight loss, I am not an easy fit - in pretty much anything. I live in a small market and do not have the time or patience for a lot of online shopping and returns — especially in brands I’ve never worn (and thus have no clue of fit).

I often don’t have the luxury of waiting to see what else is out there. Exactly what I want might not exist in my market in my size or at my price point. I might have to jump on ‘close-to’, and be prepared to adjust my plan based on what I can find.

I’ll strive for something closer to perfection once I achieve some basic level of functional wardrobe.

Treat black as an ensemble player — I don’t intend to banish black from my closet, but it’s time to let other players share the spotlight.

I like black and it is eminently practical in my wardrobe for many reasons. Black footwear and pants are probably always going to be easiest for me to find, and, especially while I work on rounding out my wardrobe, black pants and boots can make a good foundation for lighter and more colourful tops and outerwear, which brings me to my next two points…

Lighten up — I hope to introduce a greater variety of lighter neutrals to wear with black and the brighter colours covered in my next point.

Think white, cream, beige, oatmeal, camel, cognac, tan, taupe, grey, and even charcoal.

Brighten up — While I like the quiet simplicity of wearing neutrals, sometimes I want something more vibrant.

One of my happiest purchases just pre-pandemic was a long green cardigan. It hasn’t seen a lot of wear since WFH began — I haven’t once been inspired to put on a long cardigan for around the house. But gosh, I felt so ALIVE wearing that colour. I want to be able to mix colour with neutrals and to play with colour combinations — sometimes tied together with a scarf and sometimes just standing on their own.

I already have a couple of sweaters that meet this criterion home on spec.

Be thrifty — I have a lot of wardrobe holes to fill, so it will be wise to find ways to keep the cost in check! I’m inspired by the success so many Fabbers have with thrifting. I don’t expect the local thrift scene will offer quite the amazing finds that turn up in larger centres, but I’m going to give it a try to see if it can help me fill some holes. I figure it could be an inexpensive way to experiment.

Be pragmatic where it matters — I’m thinking easy care fabric that wears well, simple shapes, not a lot of excess detailing. I need a strong cast of ensemble players that are versatile enough to play dressy or casual, office or (gasp) evening out. For me, simple pieces fit this bill, and are one of the easiest ways for me to ‘fake’ a more expensive look. This doesn’t mean I won’t grab the right distinctive piece if it comes my way, it just means I’ll be trying very hard to focus on getting a basic functional wardrobe in place so future distinctive pieces will have good partners.

Be playful — I don’t want to take myself or my wardrobe too seriously. I’m delighted with my new playful winter hats, and I have a pair of (still slightly too small) floral patterned cropped pants that I can’t wait to wear this spring. They go a bit counter to the “build a foundation” goal above, but they are definitely playful, and I think they will bring a high happiness factor in both late spring and early fall.

I love pattern mixing, and would love to get myself in a position to do more. I’ll keep an eye out for playful patterns and colours that will work with my basics and neutrals.

A FEW WORDS TO LIVE BY...

Easy, elegant, simple, playful, timeless, creative, intelligent, functional, confident, carefree

SOME KNOWN 2022 NEEDS

This is really just a guide. I won’t find some items on this list. Or will find something else that’s not on the list but seems to make sense for me.

• New eyewear
• Workout gear
• Sleeveless tops for ‘hot summer’
• Lightweight bottoms for ‘hot summer’ — Soft wide leg crops have been a fave the past few years
• Mid-weight knit tops for early spring and mid to late fall — heavy enough to wear alone, but light enough to layer under a cardigan or blazer if needed. Drop shoulder or raglan sleeve and a boxy cut.
• A few pairs of casual-ish pants (suitable for the office if needed)
• A blazer — I’d like to find a light- to mid-weight, light coloured, slightly oversized blazer to dress up jeans or wear to the office.
• An oversized denim-look shirt — I’m thinking possibly a mid-blue denim-look Tencel shirt that would look great with the colours in the floral pants I have in the wings to wear this spring. Actual denim feels too bulky.
• Jeans
• Swimsuit

At this point the list of possible items to purchase devolves into everything in the world, and I decide to stop projecting!!! I suddenly decide it might also be time to change my hair up a bit... Gah.

PURCHASES TO AVOID

Scarves (such a weakness, and so easy to buy!) Expect mixed success here.

Office-only wear — I expect to still need some office appropriate clothing, but with retirement not too far off, I want to avoid adding anything that’s likely to be “office only”. Instead of thinking “oh, I could buy this for work” I want to try to shift my thinking to “oh, I’d like to have this and, as a bonus, it would also be appropriate for the office.”

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That’s a lot. And possibly a bit contradictory. But contradiction is actually pretty authentic to me. I often want to go left and right at the same time.

I still have a lot to learn about where my style is going, and there will be missteps along the way, I’m sure. But that’s how I’ll learn and course correct, so I’m going to try to take it in stride.

If you’ve stayed with me this far, thanks for reading. Your thoughts and comments are always welcome!!!

Here's to a happy and healthy New Year for all of us.