A way to beat the winter blues… - YouLookFab Forum

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A way to beat the winter blues…

Irina

Veteran

…is to keep myself occupied. And preferably, not with shopping
It all started with me digging out one of my oldest sweaters for the kkards’s challenge. I realized it is time to say goodbye to the sweater and looked to check a few other things in the closet. The result - a full on maintenance project. I don’t look to edit but mostly to reassess. I de-pilled some cashmere sweaters, ironed some pants and took a couple of things to alterations. I’m taking pictures to sell my unused things. You might see me posting a few in Style Exchange. I don’t want to donate much but have to make some decisions on what will go where.

Next, I will look at my lounge wear as I tend to keep it past it’s due date.

Also, will try an outfit lab for some outfits to wear to another concert we will be going to later this month.

Do you have strategies to beat the winter blue (aside from flying out for a beach vacation)? Our Aus and NZ friends of course are in the middle of the summer, so probably are not the best bunch to ask

Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Roberta

Sal

Veteran

I get the winter doldrums too - and we have had the wettest summer ever in my part of the country (also Sally and Jenni's).

I do find small challenges help me in the late winter and early spring time - things like trying to wear pieces that are neglected or one year I tried to wear every winter item of clothing over a calendar month.

You will appreciate this work later!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

To beat winter blues and chills, make sure you know if your heat/water heater are gas or electric power, and have utilities turned on appropriately!

More on topic, I’m considering a cache of blazers and dressy dresses I just uncovered. I’ve been saying I want to learn to wear blazers—this might be my chance. I’ll try on the dresses once I have heat (other than space heaters)

Runcarla

Veteran

*sheepishly* I’ve been playing at making up a travel capsule ‘cause I’m going somewhere warm next week. After all the tales of lost luggage at the airports recently, I’m trying to be as minimal as possible so that it’s carryon only.

Last week, I did treat all my outdoor footwear to a mink oil treatment and then sprayed with waterproofing. I also inspected my cool/wet spring outerwear, and finally retired the beloved black brocade spring coat. It was looking faded and worn, and had much mended pockets.

Irina

Veteran

RunCarla, thanks for reminding me, I should spray my boots, too.

And how fun it is to work on a vacation capsule!

April

Veteran

The de-pilling of cashmere items is going on here too! Helpful to hear that others are doing the same.

LJP

Veteran

My solution is to lie down and read a book .

ChristelJ

Veteran

Oh my, I'm so impressed with all of you who do these maintenance chores for the wardrobes. The de-pilling, the ironing, the waterproofing and the altering are my least favorite things to do but I know would be very helpful! On the other hand, I do a ton of hand washing and it does help my clothes last longer.

Your very thorough set of tasks is inspiring, Irina!

Irina

Veteran

ChristelJ, I forgot to mention that I hand washed my silk shirt today . I do hand wash silks and all my better sweaters.

L'Abeille

Veteran

I'm with Lisa...

Actually I used to perk up the February doldrums by going to an indoor garden/conservatory. Looked up ones near me... closest is in Massachusetts?! If I need to travel, I'd go somewhere warm!

Time to order the seed catalogues I guess.

cat2

Veteran

I use an app to tell me when things I want go on sale. If I see something new in my feeds that I really like or need, I don’t buy it, I flag it in the app for later alerts. This last rainy weekend I just did a cull of the Spring offerings for two favorite brands. I likely will get to the two others I track during Super Bowl commercials.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good job, Irina! Like hearing you're a wardrobe and style busy bee

My Strategies:

Wear brights and whites!

Chat extra with close friends

See close friends if possible

Bake and cook up a storm

.....and for the last 6 weeks, hubs Greg and I have been on a MAJOR declutter our home and lives project. We've fininshed. It's an incredible feeling!

kkards

Veteran

Yay for doing a constructive project.
I’m with Lisa, read a book, listen to an audiobook book.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Well this year in NZ we actually need to escape the summer! As Sally said it has been the wettest summer ever and hasn’t felt like summer at all, only had under a week of the usual nice days. So we had picked now anyway to fly out for the first time since the pandemic and are in Phuket, Thailand.
In our winter I do often do some sorting out or do a lot of family history on the computer! And read books and watch TV.

Indigoprint

Veteran

Not meaning to be contrary but I like the down time. I am doing much the same as you Irina and LisaP...reading books, going through my things in a way I cannot seem to once the weather is above 40 and means getting set for the busy season.

Tanya

Veteran

For me it is the mix of several things: research & plan wardrobe themes for upcoming season, read books and bake a lot.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I do get affected by the shorter days even though it doesn't get extremely cold here. Not sure what I do about it though .

Olive Green

Veteran

So envious of a husband who will part with something, lol. Angie, you are lucky! And we both loathe clutter, so it’s a seesaw for him.
Here, I cook, and am just learning to brine a chicken. And people invite themselves over for cake on the regular. It’s become a joke. They bring friends, now.

Anonymous

Poster child for SAD here! Big yes to lots of reading, and lots of sleeping. Lots of swimming and laying in the sauna too. I am working on some creative projects this year, which helps a lot. I started teaching drumming again, and am writing another novel and working on related media (music playlists, designing rooms). I'm doing a little hiking and decluttering (my place and mom's), but not much. It definitely helps that the winter has been mild, but I'm sooo looking forward to summer!

BlueJay

Veteran

I actually like winter, but only if we get snow and it stays on the ground as I think it's so pretty and novel. This winter has been so mild and the dreary rain depresses me (it's supposed to snow here in winter!!).

Strategies:

As L'Abeille mentioned, visiting an indoor garden/conservatory;
playing indoor tennis on a regular basis (so grateful for this opportunity!);
watering my household plants (practicing mindfulness);
immerse myself in winter with outdoor activities, walks, skiing, outdoor skating, tobogganing, building a snow person, snow forts, etc. with DD (but the weather has to co-operate!); and
give myself a manicure (I usually wreck my nails so I don't want to pay to have it done).

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like winter and am not particularly fond of summer, so I'll be out hiking while you all hibernate.

This winter I'm way too consumed with our house renovation to pay much mind to my style, which is currently operating on autopilot. We had a dinner last night with a colleague of my husband and his partner, and I threw together an outfit in no time that felt good, after a couple of false starts that felt frumpy or too businessy.

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RobinF

Veteran

I cocoon in winter. When I get home from work and it is dark and cold I don't want to leave the house. So lots of books, movies and knitting projects here. Oh and leaving for a cruise tomorrow That helps.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Update: they connected my gas again today, so I now have hot water, heat throughout the place, and two hard-working little space heaters.

anchie

Veteran

February challenge that I am doing is keeping me focused on my current wardrobe and not on shopping.
I am also occupied with helping my son plan and shop for furniture for his first apartment. He is moving out in few months, but you have to order everything months in advance to have it delivered by moving in date. Well, except IKEA where we are going tomorrow.

Irina

Veteran

Interesting to read all that you are doing this winter.

I probably should’ve explained that I do have other activities. I do swim, yoga and exercise at a gym.

I’m mostly bored with clothes and miss being outside more. But not today! Today is +7 and sunny, I wore a wool coat and no hat to the office. And added a bright scarf ❤️

Jonesy

Veteran

I am late to this thread, but I am high fiving Janet: I really love winter and winter dressing! I live in the Great Lakes region of the US, so we get our share of freezing weather, but I like the cold :). Summer heat and humidity drains me and makes me feel groggy, but cold makes me feel alive. We walk our dog three times a day (20-40 minutes per walk), so I am outside all winter long, and get acclimated to the cold pretty easily. And I love creating layered winter looks, and drinking tea all day. In contrast, I will be grouchy in August for sure!

Roberta

Veteran

I don't mind the cold - I live in Chicago after all - but gray skies bring me down, it's true. I just can't seem to get enough light in my condo, even though it faces west. On a sunny day I'm completely happy. On dark days I read, I look up new recipes, I play in my closet, and try to get out to look at art or scenery. That always lightens my mood.

And the conservatory is a brilliant idea. Last year when I was feeling really down, I went to the Garfield Park conservatory, and it was so warm and humid and alive that I sat down in a corner and had a little cry and felt so much better. All the plants were reassuring me that spring would come again.