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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

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carter

Veteran

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41 replies

Latest reply was from carter

Anonymous

Carter, I'm gobsmacked by your dressy capsule layout. It's so impressively colour and style cohesive. You must have zero trouble getting dressed in the am if this is indicative of your planning . I love that you included coats in your capsule too. Did you use Stylebook for this? I wish I were the organised type...

I need to tackle my Fall purge this week as the resale shop started accepting items. I'm gearing up for the emotional self-flagellation of parting with those once-worn items from last year's NAS, including a Vince leather jacket that I dropped a bundle on. Youre my purging role model!

Sal

Veteran

Gosh what progress!

I love what you have been left with, that could take you pretty much anywhere. Your potential new additions also sound sensible. I love your patterned dresses too, nice colours for you.

Well done.

carter

Veteran

Thanks so much, Aliona! I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have any problem dressing from your closet either! I don't use Stylebook. I use http://www.clippingmagic.com to get rid of the backgrounds on the item pics, then make the sldes in powerpoint. A bit nerdy, but I think it's fun;-) I hate those purchasing regrets, but best to move them on out. Why didn't you wear the Vince leather jacket?

Thanks, Kiwigal. The two patterned dresses are by Ali Ro. I think this style would look great on you as well. Ali Ro may be too short for you, but something like these would be awesome on you.

Sal

Veteran

Mmm I was thinking that too! I think I am taller and have more tummy and thick thigh issues than you, but I think we both are hourglasses with strong shoulders. I like that your dresses both have open necks, the boat and vee, which is better than me than the high crew neck that so many shift dresses have.

carter

Veteran

Sally, totally agree with you on neckline issues with strong shoulders/chest. You are the 5'8" version of 5'5" me:-). Vee and boat necks are definitely best on me as well. The black sleeveless is not my best neckline, but the cut-in shoulders help a bit. I also find it looks best with an eye-drawing necklace that can visually drop or elongate the neckline.

Elly

Veteran

Wow, Carter! Purging went well. Was it easier than you expected?

As far as my goals go I managed two find two pairs of summer sneakers and struck out on the summer dress shoes (so I will keep looking). I also evaluated my NAS purchases and decided on all but two pieces. I also have two items to take to the tailor.

I also found at least one workable bra.

I will evaluate other fall purchases this week, make the final NAS decisions, and call my hairdresser.

Style Fan

Veteran

What a great dressy capsule. You look ready for all kinds of events.

DH and I have been purging for the last few months because of some house renos. That is all I am going to say about that. I did a big purge 4 years ago when I retired and have been slowly doing more. I don't have that much to do. I wear most of my clothes and the ones I don't wear I am keeping because I will wear them at some time.

Joy

Veteran

What a productive week you hsve had! I applaud your culling progress and appreciate your way of deciding what you might need for the next year. Very inspiring.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

That outfit collage is drool-worthy. You must feel ready for anything with this level of preparedness, and I'm sure it makes the culling easier, knowing for sure that you're ready for anything that might crop up. All those empty hangers, too! It must feel great!

My challenge this month is to start filling in my many missing wardrobe essentials. So, what did I do? I bought another pair of glasses. Having fun with eyewear is one of my longer-term goals, but these weren't on my list. D'oh, It seemed so simple.

carter

Veteran

Thanks, Elly. Yes, it was much easier than I expected. The two hardest items were two that I absolutely love and would have kept, except that they had noticeably faded (there's a window in that closet). After that little heartbreak, it was much easier to let the not-as-perfect go. It sounds like you did very well this week. I still have a couple new items to evaluate as well. I will add that to my list!

Style Fan, it sounds like your closet is in great shape! We are both retiring this year, so we're probably where you were 4 years ago. We'll be downsizing in about a year as well, so I imagine there will be another significant round then as well.

Thanks, Joy! Hope we'll see a "week in review" from you as well.

Joyce B

Veteran

Wow, Carter, you are coming up with the best challenges. I am very impressed and I am nowhere near what you managed to accomplish.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am awed by your abilities both purging and photo!

Anonymous

Carter, it's this jacket. I love the softness of the leather, but there's just too much going on for me. I think I bought a size too big, which compounds the problem. Also, I'm just not sure where/how to wear it. Our season flashes from too hot to too cool in a couple of weeks, and I feel too 'outdoors' when I have it on inside. I just find myself reaching for other jackets over this one, and that's when you're supposed to give it up, right? I've only been holding onto it because I know I'll get nothing for it at resale and I'm angry at myself for buying something my gut told me not to!

I'm so dreading the closet purge. You are the best role model!

And if the sleeveless dress you're talking about above is the Eileen Fisher one from this year's NAS, I think it's flat out AMAZING on you.

Vince Drape Neck Leather Jacket

$995.00 $397.97

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Aliona, if you don't think you'll wear the Vince and can't return, list it on the Style exchange here! Someone else might give it a loving home and you can recoup some or most of the cost.

Carter, I applaud you!! What a great job you have done and you even salvaged some dressy outfits. Brilliant. Very sad about the things you loved that faded. Alas....

The challenge has gone well for me so far. I have worn 5 untried Angie ensembles (but not shown them all yet).

Tomorrow I start my packing capsule for the trip; I won't wear any ensembles on that trip except by fluke. But when I come back I'll return to those. Already I've tried a few new combinations, and I've also enjoyed some items that were languishing a bit in non-ensemble outfits that I wore this week.

carter

Veteran

Thanks, Jenn! Yes, it does feel good, I just want it all gone asap. I think that whatever your stated goals, you have made tremendous progress this month in defining and refining your own style. Kudos to you!

Thanks, Joyce and Shevia! I'm fortunate to have a bit of time on my hands at the moment.

That's a great jacket, Aliona. I totally get the season flash thing though. Sometimes we only recognize Spring and Fall in hindsight;-) I agree with Suz that the style exchange may be the perfect solution for the jacket. The black sleeveless dress is the EF. I'm so glad you like it.

Thanks, Suz! 5 of your 11 ensembles already done! You're killing it. I'm looking forward to your packing capsule. Where are you going, and how long? (Did I miss that somewhere?)

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Drooling over your dressy capsule! But i love the pic with so many hangers!!!!! I get very excited to see empty hangers too It means I took out stuff that wasn't useful and have a tighter wardrobe!

Your progress has been amazing. Very proud of you!

carolbee

Veteran

I am so impressed with the purging progress, and you still have a dressy capsule, well done.

Melaine

(website)

Beautiful! I love your capsule, makes it worth all the work. I love your power point layout!!!

I have made little progress in August but I did finally figure out how to sync stylebook between my ipad and iphone! Yay!

jenanded

Veteran

Love your clothes but covet your clipping/ppt skills even more Carter I have been trying to copy your ppt work and do have to say its great for working out which shoes and belts go with outfits since you can 'see' them together....

dakotacheryl

Veteran

Great post Carter, and congrats both on the closet purge and on the upcoming retirement!! So wonderful when that can be accomplished at a younger age!!

When looking at your dressy clothes, I was thinking that a pretty skirt or two (black lace came immediately to mind) would be a nice addition.

Sadie

Love the dressy capsule- I think you have all possibilities covered.
I'd love to try that clipping program as I have photos of all my things as well.

celia

Veteran

I love a good purge
I applaud how organized you are being in this process.
Looking forward to see how the August challenge works out.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

This is nothing short of brilliant Carter and so inspiring. Your dressy capsule is beautiful - cohesive and stylish.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

GREAT JOB, CARTER. You are going like a Boeing. Sounds like you've got hubs all organized too.

Did you try on the outfits for your "new" dressy capsule?

Sadie

OK Carter here's my crude attempt using PPT. These are my go-tos that should cover the occasions you mentioned above: fancy dinners, galas, weddings/birthdays/christenings/graduations.

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carter

Veteran

Thanks so much everyone! I'm highly motivated to purge, but cheers are very helpful! Sorry I'm just getting to chime back in. Crazy busy day.

Jenanded, so glad you're finding some value in your own ppt slides. The visual of how things work together is so much easier.

Cheryl, I struggle with skirts because of my very short waist. I end up tugging them down constantly. I purged 3 long skirts just because I refuse to tolerate fussy clothes anymore:-)

Angie, I did try everything on. That's when it dawned on me that I had purged all appropriate tops to go with the jackets;-). I even went back to look at the silk shells, but they just really weren't worth saving. I'll take care of this little hole soon.

Sadie, that's awesome! Much tighter capsule than mine. Absolutely perfect!

shedev

Veteran

Way to empty those hangers. Great idea to plan your event capsule so that you are sure you have all the bases covered. I'm 1/3 the way thru SYC. I'm not even looking at stuff. Can't buy it if I don't see it.

Susie

Veteran

Wow, and I thought that I was an organized planner! I love how you took that fear of 'needing something some time' and turned it into a very objective outline of the occasions that you are likely to encounter. That had to make it easier on focus on real needs and on what to keep, and then easier to part with the extras too. Great job!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Carter, you kicked butt on the culling. WTG! I'll post my wrapup in a sec.

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