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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Creativity Calendar

Beth Ann

Veteran

Creative thinking is my daily operating mode -- I'm what Malcolm Gladwell would call a maven: thousands of tips and great ideas swarm through my head all at once. I am a dream factory.

Sounds glamorous, yes?

Except that it is like editing a starlet's gowns -- impossible! I have only so much energy, time, money, and influence. And I end up brainstorming when I should be implementing plans. Or doing the dishes. Or sleeping.

What does this have to do with fashion?

I've decided I've got to put my fashion plans on the calendar. For example, I just upgraded my undergarments and loungwear. I don't need to run through these departments when I'm out shopping for a while. Now, if I happen to spy a perfect pair of slippers --- if they jump unbidden into my line of vision -- I'll call that a serendipity, but I will consider these capsules complete until at least spring. I will save ideas for new makeup and skin or haircare, and rework these only every couple of months -- as the seasons change. I will not go searching for a new shampoo or hairstyles, for example, until Christmas, since I know I like to play with my hair for my holiday capsule and often find my hair getting drier as winter deepens.

I'm trying to work more from my list of needs and strong "wants." This season, that means new snow boots, a new coat or two, fresh sweaters (merino or cashmere, with banded bottoms), It also means not leaving every option "open" all the time.

Anyone else find themselves running in circles with constant reinvention?

32 replies

Latest reply was from Lynne

catgirl

Veteran

This is brilliant, Beth Ann. I love that you are so creative. And I too need a way to curb and channel all my various fantasies. I'm like the person who can't find their spatula and ends up with a drawerful. In fact, my plan for this week off was to cull my closet - which I did - and for the next week I have off, to put to paper in some way what I do have and how to make it work, WITHOUT BUYING ANYTHING ELSE. I plan to set aside a place in my closet for a week of outfits at a time, and try to use everything in my closet in rotation - or else just let it go. *cue Frozen*

Keep us posted, PLEASE!

Adelfa

Veteran

I know that state of mind very well and have been fighting it a very long time, mostly with spreadsheets which are my favorite thing--a creative endeavor in themselves! I think I fought it so hard, and largely so successfully, that I lost something. So now I'm trying to make room for more spontaneity and serendipity! More crazy just because. I think it's a hard balance especially if you're trying to avoid what you describe. I know you'll manage it though

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

This is a great point. I myself would do well to incorporate these kinds of structures into my seasonal budgeting and planning. I've got a 'wish list', which is more like a 'stuff I need to replace or that I'm looking for list', but I don't always do the best job of keeping it updated or consulting it when I go shopping.

And on the wearing side, I like the idea of a calendar, or some kind of list of things that I want to wear. I usually do that physically in my closet somehow but a list of things to try would be great as well.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I love that description, Beth Ann: a dream factory. I feel I'm a bit like that, too. Your plan sounds great!

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

Are you familiar with Mette who blogs at The Yogastic Shopping Planner? She has a five year master plan that plots her anticipated wardrobe needs on the calendar. The level of detail is kind of mind boggling, but she clearly relishes the rhythm and pace with which it unfolds. Anyway, check it out. Her writing is very sunny and I love her little slice of Scandinavian life.

Elly

Veteran

Oh gosh--- I like the idea that you draw on that Angie has mentioned before-- having certain times of year that are particularly good for you personally or particularly good for sales for refreshing less exciting parts of wardrobe and fitting them into the plan and budget. That something I do, but I am also still working on developing.

As far as planning purchases, that tends not to be a problem. Because I can't shop in B&M as easily and maintain a fairly minimal wardrobe out of a mix of choice and necessity each purchase is carefully evaluated. However, when those plans fall through or suceed is usually where I end up in a hole. Either I'm sick that I spent so much energy and didn't end up with the pieces I needed to function, or I have the pieces and don't feel like tweaking things and experimenting and trying new things because of a lack of wardrobe energy. I need to encourage myself to keep shopping, keep playing, try wildcards, and take photos.

Neel

Veteran

Is it like collecting loads and loads and loads of recipes on pinterest ... And never really cooking or having the time to cook?

I know that is not related to fashion. But yes, I have those crazy dream factory days :). And I like your idea of tackling them

Alassë

Veteran

Good to know about yourself, Beth Ann! I've found it useful to cull all wants down to strong wants, giving myself permission to be open to the strong ones (but not every random thing that catches my eye).

Beth Ann

Veteran

Oh yes, Una, that's me! Because my job requires creativity, I'm always cogitating over performing and teaching ideas --- and end up with 5 tubes of toothpaste I forgot I already had.

Adelfa: I think you're my mirror image -- I'm all spontaneity and free association. Spread sheets are bondage!

Laura: I understand! I'm trying to use my Notes app or Evernote -- keeping the list simple and just deleting and adding while I'm waiting in line at checkout, etc.

FC: Every sewer is at heart a dream factory --- oh, and yes I have about 10 sewing projects in my head, too!

Thimbelina: Thanks for the tip! Sounds like I'd love her!

Elly: I'm the opposite with shopping. Being in the Chicago suburbs gives me lots of B&M opportunities (although not much time). I find it necessary to try on everything --- even purses, because I care about "scale." I tend to "drop by DSW on the way home from work." You can see why my shopping strategy is haphazard.

Neel: We have "Pinterest meals" in our house. I actually use those Pins on a weekly basis, at least! The good news is I know longer have stacks of magazines and folders of clippings that are far harder to sort through!

Alasse: Oh yes. It is essential, in a marketplace full of marvelous items, to say, "I'm not looking for red pumps today" and move on!

Mostly I'm hoping that I will focus my creative energies better if I'm not open to pursuing all ideas all the time -- less Golden Retriever (squirrel?)!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*applause*

Brilliant, Beth Ann. Sounds like a very sane and sensible strategy. xo

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Ditto Thimbelina. The first thing that came to mind was http://theyogasticshoppingplan.....endar.html
I like the idea in theory, but hers is too ordered for my taste. I need that bit of wiggle room to score the random awesome out of season deal that I spy and can't pass by.

Astrid

Veteran

Beth Ann, what an insightful post! And yes, I often feel just the same. I feel like I'm not focused enough on my real wardrobe needs and because of that it takes too long for me to get where I want to be and I become impatient with the whole process. Dressing would probably get much easier if I would shop with more discipline.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Thanks, Angie! And thanks for not saying, "Um. Haven't I been preaching that for years?" Sometimes you gotta sit in the pew for awhile until your mind and heart are ready. Or sometimes you just have to get so overwhelmed that more structure is a welcome relief!

Mo and Astrid: You are two of the most disciplined women on the forum --- thinking before you buy. I always assumed this came easily to you. You both have good points -- real wardrobe needs with a bit of fun (maybe a bright coat or bag for you Astrid and a shiny party skirt for Mo) to keep the "fun with fashion."

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Oh man, that shopping calendar is sending me into orbit, as Angie says. That kind of thing is exactly what I needed when I was posting about how long stuff lasts and replacement rates a couple of weeks ago.

Beth Ann, I agree - Mo's posts in particular, about numbers and how much of each item we need, have definitely sent me down the path of thinking about these factors of wardrobe building more than I might have otherwise.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I can't wait to the day when we meet in person, Beth Ann. You are the kind of dream factory I love to be around. It's inspirational and energizing to be with someone who is creative in this way.

I tend to be less "dream factory" than "dream nursery" -- I'm usually nurturing one or at most a couple of ideas at a time. (Side note -- I used to think this meant that I am not creative. We have such rigid ideas even about what creativity means and how it expresses itself!)

Anyway -- I love this idea of putting your fashion plans on a calendar! Somebody -- was it Into Mind???) did a post recently on the retail season, which could be a great place to start. I wish I could find the post....will go look for it and also follow thimbelina and mo's link.

I think I need to do this, too, especially for the basics -- meaning the underlayers. And workout gear. And PJs. It's just so much more fun shopping for the top layers and then it's easy to forget that we need these foundational pieces as well.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Timely post 100%. Less open options and more working with needs and strong wants. YES!

Alassë

Veteran

This post, Suz? http://into-mind.com/2014/08/1.....-the-year/

Day Vies

Veteran

Oh wow Beth Ann you have described my permanent state of mind! My mind is always subliminally scanning for that "thing" I've been searching for. I also keep myself awake at night running through possible outfit combinations which of course have to be vetted later for actual fit and proportion.

Aida

Veteran

Ah Beth Ann my mind works the same way, I feel you. I don't have a calender setup (although that's pretty clever, especially for seasonal things I always forget about like PJs), but I do separate my seasonal shopping lists into categories: "Holes", "Upgrades", "Key Trends", "Want Trends", and "Other Wants" (the order of importance being linear there, most to least). I focus heavily on the first two, then the third, and significantly less on the last two. It's certainly not infallible, but it does help keep me focused better than simply listing all the things I want for a given season. I'm basically going for open-ended with focus

unfrumped

Veteran

Good (creative ) thinking !

I'm not nearly as organized and have a less glamorous description of what I try to do: I pick areas where I specifically say I want to just "make do" .
Granted, these are often the not-hard areas, but they still help.

Such as: handbags. I just don't spend much time with mine. I added several over the past few years and none are super-fab, because none struck me as so. I rotated to my more fall-winter gray bag recently and still like the leather of it and want to "make do" and not invent a handbag "need" just because I'm supposed to have a fabulous bag.

I might do the same for coats, even though I can justify coats, running cold as I do. I added some fun warm scarves last year and may just enjoy accessorizing my existing coats. Right now I don't feel a real pull and so want not to get the wantsies just by fixating on it. At least I want to wait until I have some real focus-- and not a fashion update focus per se.
Jeans--I have several pairs and in mid-winter I wear my lined ones or something warmer anyway. Just not looking.

Unfortunately I'm loving a lot of new styles of sweaters and could over-do there very easily, so have to remind myself there are only so many days and I've got several now that I can't wait to wear and expect to enjoy repeating.

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I have to chime in here: on athletic wear, I feel always behind & in need of something and so are my two daughters who are cross country & track runners, so we recently got one subscription to fabletics that we are sharing. It's a monthly thing, so we each get one new three piece ensemble quarterly, usually a sport bra/workout top/compression pant or capri combo. They go from xxs to xl in sizes. The bra is low support (okay for yoga class or lifting for me) and the compression pants are very opaque. We like everything we've ordered so far.

Runcarla

Veteran

Thank you for the post. Like Suz, I would love to meet you IRL.

Calypso

(website)

I'm interested in how you organise your work life/inspirations/thinking/doing /planning ! I'm a florist, and there are lots of aspects of floristry and related activities that I try and more that I want to try. And the internet doesn't help !
For example, today I read about dyeing silk ribbons with natural ingredients. I culd use these on bouquets. They look great. Then there's the basket- weaving with left-over sticks and grasses. Had a go at that. I can make cool lampshades too !Did I mention that I have a day job !!!! And that I sew ? How do you prioritise ? Perhaps a bit off-topic, but by the sounds of it, lots of women here have similar problems.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Laura: Isn't is great to learn from other fabbers? Such a rich resource on the forum!

Suz: What fun we could have with a meetup! I wish I could stick to one or two creative ideas at a time! Of course, like many creatives, I'm capable of hyper-focus: a necessary thing when one is, say preparing for a performance. I'm a natural for living in "project cycles" rather than long term routines. I just need to learn to harness it for my benefit, and the benefit of those who have to live or work with me! I wore the same simple make-up all summer --- just switching between three lip colors and sometimes adding a eye liner for a bit more "punch" Because I had refreshed my makeup in the late spring -- I felt both fab and free! It was one decision I didn't have to make every morning. I realized I needed to narrow my focus -- actually, capsules help me do this, too.

Yes, Ornella. I'm like one of those people whose desk is piled with folders --- all neatly organized, but all on top of the desk --- because I have to see them all -- all the time. Sheesh. It's exhausting.

DV: Exactly! And what if I miss that one great thing? I need to enjoy what I have more, as well. For example -- I skipped the dress department in Macy's because I have great dresses at the moment. Might I find a once-in-a-lifetime frock if I looked? Perhaps. But then I wouldn't have funds for the boots, sweaters, and coats I really need.

Aida: I've been devising something similar, Aida: using notes and Evernote to keep my lists on my phone - so I'll have them when I shop. I've made mine by season, with essentials at the top. The calendar will be a prompt to "open" a category again.

UF: You are wise to realize that you're not interested in becoming a "bag person." We have to choose the items that matter most to us, and, for a lot of people, a few classic bags of decent quality fits the bill. And sweaters? I love sweaters!

Thimbelina: You're the first person I know who has used this new service. Thanks for the review! Great idea to rotate with your family!

Carla: I keep telling my DH I want to go back to Canada!

Gigi

Veteran

I love your creativity! Often, when I go out on a walk (by myself), I think about my wardrobe and what pieces I would like to buy next, ha ha. I wouldn't be surprised if you do this too!

I have gotten into trouble with being "overly creative" in the past by not being focused enough. I never seemed to be able to take any one particular look to what I felt was a fulfilling point. I would always be missing certain pieces that I needed to make a particular minicapsule work because I would get sidetracked in building other minicapsules! So this fall, I made a very detailed mood board according to the Into Mind blog, and it was so, so helpful! I was able to really settle on one or two silhouettes to try for fall, as well as a couple of new colors to add and a couple of very particular items to purchase (neither of which I have found, boo).

So when I go into a store or browse online, it's with the idea that I am looking for some very specific things, so I don't get sidetracked in departments where I don't need to be. I haven't found a lot of what's on my mood board, but that's OK! The stuff I have found has been great, because it's exactly what I wanted. And I have no regretted purchases.

This has made me feel more in control of my closet. I also feel that various looks are indeed within my reach due to this planning, that all that is really required is patience until the particular item or color shows up.

And on handbags...I care about scale too! I just passed up a tote today at the Cole Haan outlet that I had been pining for—perfect color, perfect design, good price. But it was a little too big compared to my small-boned frame. So it did not come home with me.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Alasse -- thank you, that was it, yes!

Beth Ann, if you come to Canada, you have to visit me, too!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Suz: You are definitely on my list. I've been to the West (Vancouver Island, Banff) and to Ottowa, along with the expected Windsor. I so want to see Toronto and Montreal, and go back to the Canadian Rockies!

Calypso: Crossposted!
Did you say organise? Hee. Well, actually, I can organize, at least to a point. With so many things to be curious about, I've learned that thinking of a thing -- imagining it -- is a joy in itself. I can't possible fulfill every idea I think about, but the ideas are stimulating on their own. Isn't that essentially what we do when we read a book? Observing lives we don't actually lead? I've also learned that I might think about something for a long time before the opportunity to put it in action comes around. Sewing is in this category now, as I feel that I will need to sew some to have the wardrobe I want, but, with all my current activities, I have no time (or space) for it.

In my dominant creative area, singing, I've learned to get help with the final editing of projects, which is excruciating. I can think of 40 pieces for a program, but I only have time for 22. Saying no to, say a gorgeous french art song, slays me. Once, I brought in my singer friends, asking them to help me edit. Then I sang through the "cut" songs as kind of a "memorial service for the songs that never were." We also had tea and cake. You know what? Singing those songs in my living room, with my friends and a sense of humor about the whole thing, was a better experience than the final concert.

I'm learning that sometimes I have to just enjoy ideas in my head, but often I keep them stored away -- just in case. Trying to do too much leaves all my best energies diffused and weak --- and it annoys the hell out of the people around me. Hee.

Theyogasticshoppingplanner

I was wondering what animated the amount of visits from youlookfab to my blog and found this discussion. Some of you went to check out my calendar and it is thoughts like yours, Beth Ann, that made me create it in the first place! It has definitely made me focus my attention to the things on the calendar. I need something to shop for, otherwise I'll be all over the place buying things that are nice, but not needed. Right now, I'm going for a blue top with short sleeves, so that is all I see! For instance, I delete shoe related emails right away without looking. I don't enter beauty boutiques, because only the top is on my radar. Otherwise I would be all over the place just like you...

Beth Ann

Veteran

Greetings, Yogastic!

You have come upon the beauty of the YLF Forum -- the collective experiences and wisdom of the group builds up and inspires! Not just one, but 3 persons in the thread suggested I check out your planner, which is awesome in it's scope and detail, btw. I also love how you manage to still have fun with fashion in the midst of it. I hope you find some inspiration here, too! There are amazing people here -- Angie most of all! Of course, she's been blogging about having a plan for purchasing for years -- I just wasn't yet ready to change!

BTW -- If I were only distractible with fashion, it wouldn't be so bad. I'm curious about everything: books, art, history, faith, music, parenting.......... gotta pair back somewhere!

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