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A quick 2020 wrap-up

Helena

Veteran

Hi all, inspired by the 2020 wrap ups going on, I am mulling a few learnings from this year ... a weird year for sure, but still plenty to reflect on style-wise ...

I was able to count up about 20 purchases for the year, including some jewellery and gear. I'm sure I'm missing a few items, so let's call it 30 - which I think is reasonable, if a little higher than I would want ideally.
Most of the purchases seem to have been good ones - emerald has featured prominently as a colour, which is interesting and I guess reflective of the trend (and my colour of the year - green - as it happens!)

I had a real wake-up call courtesy of the OBG challenge that Carla prompted. Despite my classic style, and the fact that my style has stayed quite consistent, I have few OBGs in my closet. This is particularly true of fall/winter items, where I would expect more longevity. This might be in part because I keep a small closet and so things look worn faster, and I'm okay with that. But there are a few mistakes I have made/continue to make that I need to rectify:

Buying sweaters too small. This is a big aha. I think it's driven by the fact that I lost a lot of weight after my kids were born (breastfeeding + crazy thyroid + post-partum anxiety will do that) and am actually about 10 pounds up from that time (and where I should be), which I really only clicked on today. So I think I have been buying a particular size out of habit, and need to get in the habit of sizing up, which I have been doing a better job of this year. But this resulted in me editing out a number of sweaters that style-wise should certainly have become OBGs. Sigh. Hopefully they will be a great find for some skillful thrifter. Onwards!
Updating tops when what I need to do is update jeans, shoes or outerwear instead. Tops are fun and easy to buy, but I can only wear so many and I'm such a repeater that this is especially true of me - so I end up with excess that annoys me and then I edit it. Jeans are a pain, and shoes and outerwear are expensive, so I tend to avoid updating these until really necessary - but one update on each of these would probably make simple tops feel fresh and thus reduce the buy-edit cycle. So need to be mindful of this.
Over-editing. I know, I know. I've said it a million times and I still do it. I'm so annoying. Expanded holding zone, here we come. I think I will actually give myself points this year for NOT editing stuff!!

Thanks for prompting this reflection all! xoxoxo

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from Helena

Liesbeth

Veteran

How fab that you had some lightbulbs in this weird, weird year. I hear you on buying tops too small - though for me it also has to do with inconsistent sizing and needing to have the shoulder seam sit right. And prefering a looser (skimming) fit over bodycon now. I have some tighter tops that I keep because they can be right underneath a blazer, but I dislike them on their own.
After my 2020 I can highly recommend focusing on underrepresented categories. If you allow yourself a spontaneous purchase from time to time too, it should be doable ;).

Minaminu

Veteran

great learnings and fab plan for the next year! Tops are so easy to buy, it was an eye opening when I started recording my purchases. It can be so helpful to focus on weak areas of the wardrobe, not as easy as to buy another nice top!

Minaminu

Veteran

great learnings and fab plan for the next year! Tops are so easy to buy, it was an eye opening when I started recording my purchases. It can be so helpful to focus on weak areas of the wardrobe, not as easy as to buy another nice top!

always trying

Veteran

The OBG was a sort of wake up call for me also. In fact I am still finding new ways to style some of mine.

slim cat

Veteran

The need to update the shoes, outwear and jeans is almost the same for me. I did some purchases of shoes and one puffer but didn't achieve the necessary balance yet for the same reasons - the price and difficulties with finding the right piece ( new jeans namely ).
You have a solid plan for 2021 - thoughtful and practical.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are wise, and funny

Helena, a small wardrobe like yours DOES wear out faster - especially the workhorses (just like my small collection of shoes). AND you have a very polished minimal style, which makes neatness and precision all important. Don' worry about too much wardrobe churn because it's par for the course.

Also, GOOD JOB recognizing that you need to size up in knitwear and focus on jeans. Effective analysis as always! You are very good at that.

And last, I'm giving you pessimism to leave the analysis right there, and give yourself a gigantic pat on the back! You look better than ever, and have the wardrobe to match. In the middle of a pandemic no less. You do the homework, and reap the reward.

*applause*

Anonymous

I'm with you! It's especially going to be hard to buy jeans, shoes online. You may want to give yourself a rule like I did last year with the trainers. I didn't let myself buy other things til I bought the trainers!

Bonnie

Veteran

Excellent observations! It is easy and fun to buy tops, and shoes and pants are much harder for me, too. Yes to a holding zone, I've placed a small selection of items in my main closet for this season and put the rest in another closet for the next 2 1/2 months, to see how I like this approach.

Helena

Veteran

Thank you so much everyone for the encouragement and great idea; Angie, thank you the mostest for your patient guidance and positive support always! xoxo

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

What Angie said about small wardrobes. I find it way easier to buy tops, too, and that's also the category where I'm most prone to mistakes.

Sal

Veteran

Smart work Helena!! Emerald is stunning on you so good idea to stock up.

I added 33 pieces this year (gear, shoes, clothing, sunglasses) which is about where I end up every year.... I keep thinking I could/should be adding less but don't.....but needs change slightly each year, bodies change a bit, and of course tastes change.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

30 pieces in a year sounds very reasonable to me and it looks like you have been very thoughtful about your wardrobe building.
Old habits die hard don’t they,my DD has only just stopped buying enormous jumpers to hide in as a hang over from her self conscious 13 year old self but she looks so much better in ones that fit properly and I am sure that you do too,

rachylou

Veteran

Those are good insights. I’ve also started buying more mediums; I don’t know if fits have changed, or my eye has changed, or probably it’s my shape. My weight is actually a bit down.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Very well written and clear insights that made me smile. You may have to remind yourself that one pair of jeans = x tops that you won't buy and give yourself permission that way. As for over-editing, cannot relate !

LaPed

Veteran

Good work! The point you make about "Updating tops when what I need to do is update jeans, shoes or outerwear instead" is something I could have written word for word. Yes, jeans are difficult and hardly ever fit right, whereas tops are easy, instant gratification. Footwear and outerwear are pricy whereas tops can be had for cheap. I really like the idea of being strict and saying to myself, "No cute shirts until I take care of ____ (jeans, boots, coat, etc)."

Helena

Veteran

Yep, I definitely think this is what I need to do - NO purchases until I get jeans sorted out. Funny enough, I'm also proving the concept of 'don't over-edit' today ... wearing my emerald crewneck and my plain old skinnies are the only jeans I like with them, because they have almost no detail (and one major detail - the colour - is enough for me most days of the week).

So now I have jeans that are "good enough" for now, and as well got the insight of what my new straight/slim whatever jeans need to do - be simple enough to work with a bold colour (i.e. no button fly detail, etc.). Yay!

nemosmom

Veteran

Giggling at the similarities! Only, I update tops, then still reach for the same ones, wear them out, then replace them (almost exactly) while the others collect dust. :D. I have over-edited, too, although I don't recall many items that I kick myself for letting go - it's almost as if they weren't right in the first place. There was one jacket... Anyway, my holding zone gets bigger, then I get stressed out over how big it is... like "end up with excess that annoys me and then I edit it"

Green was a GREAT addition for you, and goes so beautifully with your navy (and your coloring!!!). You always look polished and put together, so whatever you are doing is clearly working! I am excited your choices for new jeans and shoes!

Helena

Veteran

Nemosmom, I wonder if it's because we want our closets to work with the organized efficiency of a spreadsheet??

So glad this is resonating with others ... and yes, I do that too - find a top I like, buy three, wear one, wonder why I am sick of looking at the same top lol!

cat2

Veteran

Maybe put your holding zone out of sight until you want to shop it?

nemosmom

Veteran

That's gotta be it! I want my capsule wardrobe of exactly 30 pieces to all mix-and-match with seamless perfection. OH - and it has to look Pinterest-perfect at all times, too *sigh*

It's weird: I claim to like variety, but tracking wears proves I don't. Then, I feel bored with the same thing on repeat, yet I keep wearing it!

Helena

Veteran

I need to track wears and see - I think I like variety, but in really small doses ... like I can wear the same thing for 10 days, but then the 11th day I absolutely need a change, and then on day 12 I'm happily back to the norm. Which totally works providing I stock the closet accordingly.

Have you ever followed the Afrominimalist on IG? Her whole thing is smashing that idea that to be a minimalist means everything achromatic and "perfect" - for her, she brings in lots of her African heritage and her signature repeat item is a bright red jumpsuit. I love her and aspire to that same counter-narrative against the Pinterest-perfect standard!

Anonymous

That was a good read, thanks Helena! I too over-edit, and also don't buy the correct sizes in tops (often too big ). That was an interesting observation you made and it struck a note with me. I also found the OBG challenge (which I didn't participate in but did think about as it related to my own clothes) had a bigger impact than I expected. I have a lot of clothes I really like - shock - and wearing them again has brought me joy

Runcarla

Veteran

So, TG, you wouldn’t be down for a colour clash pattern mix challenge?

I was shocked I tell you when I realized my tops = 24, whereas pants = 7! Bottoms actually total 10 if you count shorts and a skirt.

With the wear counting experiment almost finished 1 year, there are lessons for sure. 3 mariner type t shirts got 25 wears each. Now I understand why I replace my mariner collections every 2 years. The 6 year old button down that has 9 wears this year is still crisp, but looking faded and might get purged next year. I’m guessing I wore it the same amount in previous years so 54ish wears? 50-60 wears is starting to look like the life expectancy for (cotton) tops. Bottoms are another thing. I’ve got white shorts that were previously pants - bought in 2017 - that have 39 wears this year and look like new, and jeans with 69 wears that will get another year, I think - so the jury is out on the life expectancy of pants. I’m guessing maybe 120-150 wears?

The counting experiment and constantly assessing the state of the garments confirms smaller wardrobes will experience more roll over. (I wouldn’t call it churn per se.) Cost per wear is eye opening as well.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

For sure a smaller wardrobe will require more frequent updating! No way around it! I wouldn't worry about it. If your preference is for a smaller, tidier closet, then so be it. But I understand your wish to give yourself points for not editing too much out -- a larger holding zone makes sense in that case, and you might make some interesting discoveries from trying that.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

It’s so interesting that people can have such different basic impulses! If someone had told me to throw out tops that were too small for me when I was heavier, it would’ve been really hard because I would’ve felt they were saying I’d never be able to wear them again, but for you, hanging onto things is difficult.

I don’t really understand why you’re saying you need another pair of pants like the ones you’re wearing. Is it a laundry back-up?

Thinking about your desire to have the perfect little closet and spreadsheet—can you put that to work for you in prioritizing your purchases? If you set up a spreadsheet or chart that clearly shows holes where pants or shoes should be, would that motivate you to get them? You could even buy x number of pants hangers and only hang pants that fill all your criteria. Would the empty hangers push you to fill them?

Since you like the planning aspect, maybe it would work for you to say you get one new top at the end of a season of you have shoes, pants, and outerwear lined up for the next season already.

Looking forward to how you adapt in 2021.

Helena

Veteran

FI, I mean I need a pair that is a more updated cut, but that would fill the same role as my current skinnies ... if that makes more sense?

Set up a spreadsheet today

Thanks everyone!!