Do you ever buy a new thing and then wonder... - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you ever buy a new thing and then wonder...

Aziraphale

Veteran

...how the heckity heck you got along without it before?

I got shiny black classic 8-eyelet Doc Marten boots in December. I hadn't had any Docs since my early twenties, when I wore pretty much nothing else. I hadn't really though about Docs for a long time (possible over-saturation during the grunge era!), but last year my husband bought me a utility kilt from that shop in Seattle, and while I liked how it looked with my chunky steampunk 3"-heel boots, I decided what it really needed was a good ol' pair of Docs. So, birthday money in hand, I went out and got some. (I also got a pair of white pointy-toe Doc Marten chelsea boots, but those will need another thread).

Anyway. It turns out that these boots are what was missing from my wardrobe, and I didn't even realize it. They go with everything. That is not an exaggeration. For my style in particular, the classic Doctor Marten boots appear to be essential -- and I didn't know! How could I have been so short-sighted? I bet if I'd hired Angie to help me shop, she'd have noticed this glaring wardrobe hole a lot sooner.

Have any of you had this happen before? If so, what item was it? I'm not talking about wardrobe holes that you are aware of (I've had those before -- like the perfect charcoal knit cardi that you're always reaching for but that isn't there!).

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

shedev

Veteran

Mine was olive pants. Olive was Hedev's color. I never liked the color, but for some reason I bought a pair of olive cargo pants. They went with everything in my closet. I'm never without them for long now.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So great that those boots are working well for you! I love Docs.

I think of these items as the "wildcard workhorse" and I've had a few over the years. A graphic tee was one. My cheapo fuchsia knit jacket from H&M. (The upgrade from J. Crew is also lovely but not quite as versatile). White sneakers. A leopard belt. They're the thing that you suddenly reach for with every outfit.

Aziraphale

Veteran

shedev: I always have a pair of olive pants, too. Mine are more army green (greeny-grey) but they do go with lots of things. It's the main alternative to denim blue.

Suz: Wildcard workhorse! That's what it is. Mind you, Docs don't seem like a "wildcard" to me. It feels more like coming home.

Style Fan

Veteran

I love Doc Martens. I almost bought a pair in December. They would definitely work in my wardrobe.

Over 10 years ago I bought a dark brown cashmere button up cardigan. DH insisted. I had never worn one and thought it was too classic for my wardrobe. I now wear it all the time. I take it with me on all my trips and I shudder at the thought that it might wear out.
Since buying that button up cardigan I have bought several more but that original one is my favourite.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I hear you on the "coming home." I love Docs, too, and I am certain they'd be perfect for your style and climate.

I guess it sort of defeats the definition of "wild card" as something outside one's usual style zone, but sometimes I think of wild cards a little differently, as the "obvious thing you've somehow forgotten." They're not necessarily crazy or silly or fun or (though of course they can be), but whatever they are, at the time of purchase, you have serious doubts and hesitate -- yet once you get them home, they turn out to be just different enough from what's already in your wardrobe to make a difference. Or else they go with everything in a way you had never anticipated. What makes them wild is how wild you feel about them once they are finally in your possession!

kkards

Veteran

oh my gosh yes....about a month ago or so, i posted about the boots in this find...i loved the idea of them, but was stumped as to how to wear them. fast foward to today, and they are my reach for weekend shoes. i cann't imagine getting dressed on a Sat or Sunday without them, they make every denim casual outfit look like a "fashion" outfit.

Dolce Vita 'Avalon' Combat Boot (Women)

$299.95 $179.96

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh yes. The long black BCBG jacket is mine. I had been looking for a replacement for an equestrian-ish black blazer I wore for years, so I had it in mind that another black hip-length blazer was the answer, albeit one with some sort of unexpected detail or edge. And funny enough, I bought both my slash-sleeve black blazer and the long one at BCBG in Boston with Angie and the fabbers on the same day. What I didn't anticipate was that the long jacket would prove to be way more of a workhorse than the blazer! Now I actually fear the day that jacket starts to show wear. It will be hard to replace. Unless I can find my own Buffy jacket like you mentioned elsewhere.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES. Isn't that great when that happens. An instant wardrobe workhorse.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Looks like there are all different kinds of items in this category!

Style Fan, a brown cashmere cardigan sounds absolutely yummy. I remember the first time I bought a cardigan. I was in my 30s. I had always thought they were too conservative and stuffy for me, but then I tried one on one day and it made me think of sexy librarians or academichic, so I bought it. Turns out it was super useful! I now have at least eight cardigans, and use them all the time. Unlike yours, though, the first one wasn't all that special -- I now have others I like more.

Yes, Suz, you're right. Doc Martens aren't really "different", style-wise, for me, since I've owned them before, but there was nothing in my current closet that had a similar enough vibe to fill that niche. Like you say, they are different enough to make a difference. They are the missing puzzle piece that I didn't know was missing!

kkards, those are great boots -- the perfect weekend thing! I like the metal grommets (is that what they are called?) for the laces. Ruggedly stylish.

Janet, I'd love to see a picture of your BCBG long black jacket. (I love jackets and coats). I know what you mean about good coats being hard to replace. Often, what makes it a good coat is that it has some unique feature or cut that you haven't seen before, which is precisely what makes it hard to replace. (Incidentally, my Buffy coat is NOT a workhorse. I love it, but it comes down to my lower calf and makes me feel short, unless I wear it with heels. I'm considering having it shortened by two inches, so it's still a long coat, but is more in proportion with my small frame).

Angie, yes! It is.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

This is the jacket I mentioned.

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BCBGMAXAZRIA Arelia A-Line Coat

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JAileen

Veteran

For me, it's not a specific item, but a concept: boots! We moved from Texas to Lake Tahoe almost 30 years ago. We had to get all kinds of winter clothes. We barely needed them in Texas. We got snow boots too. But I never had any boots other than them and hiking boots. Mind you, we lived at 6200 feet. It snowed a lot, and was cold from November through April. Yet I had no boots. I wore skirts and dresses to work with shoes. I can't believe I didn't freeze to death.

Now I wear booties all the time. Our area now doesn't get as much snow, but is still cold. My feet and ankles are always cold and they really help a lot. I love them.

The other thing I can't believe we lived all this time without: an ice maker! Everytime I get a glass of water I am reminded how much I love it.

RobinF

Veteran

I love it when this happens! One I can think of is my original moto boots. I hesitated to buy them because I wasn't sure they were my style but I loved them so took a chance and they have been my favorites ever since. I didn't even know I needed them. Now I can't do without a pair.

LaPed

Veteran

Yes, I can totally see how Docs are an essential for you. My only Docs right now are brogue oxfords, and as much as I love them, they definitely don't fill the black Doc boot hole at all. My Blundstones come closer since they're equally stompy, but more rural, less urban. I might add a pair of the Made in England 1460s next fall, we'll see.

I had to ditch pretty much my entire shoe collection a couple years ago post-pregnancy. My feet grew half a size and never went back down; it took me a while to accept that fact. I had a lot of boots I loved that I'm thinking I need to just replace directly in my new size. Docs, Frye Harness, etc.

Chuck Taylors are like this for me too. There was a very brief period when I didn't have a pair, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I don't wear them ALL THE TIME the way I did when I was younger, but they're definitely an easy staple for me.

jill58

Veteran

Janet, I love that jacket!

For me, the Sam Edelman chelsea boots that I bought this year fall into this category. I didn't think I absolutely needed them at the time but after I bought them I realized how sad my older black booties looked. In any case I've been wearing them constantly.

Sam Edelman Justin Chelsea Boot

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L'Abeille

Veteran

LaP, don't replace them all at once if you're planning on having another kid. My feet went up 1/2 size in either length or width with each of my 4 pregnancies. Nobody warns you but I think it's pretty common.

Bonnie

Veteran

Yes I have. I bought moto boots a year ago and they became instant workhorses. They seem to go with almost everything I have. Before that, I bought the Timberland sneaker boots in black at NAS which I'm still wearing a lot. The moto boots are my dressy boots and the sneaker boots are my casual boots. Before that I had 0 boots.

cindysmith

Veteran

My first pair of combat boots. They were double H boots and I wore them for almost 15 years before I had to send them to the donate bin because my feet got bigger. I always keep some sort of lace up rugged sole boot in my rotation now because they just work with so freaking much!

jennifer

Veteran

Yeah about the sizing up of feet after pregnancy that no one tells you much about? I babysat for a lady who had five kids . She was a US 7.5 before kids . After she was a US size 11. Another thing, weight loss can also change shoe size. Actress Linda Dano lost weight and a half a size in her shoes! Wardrobe department didn't catch on to it and she ended up clopping around the set in too big shoes!

unfrumped

Veteran

Often footwear.
Some loafers and oxfords had that effect though at the time they were experiments.

Sara L.

Veteran

OTK boots! I was worried when I bought them that I would never wear them, that they would be too over-the-top for my style. But it turns out I wear them all the time.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Janet - drool - gorgeous jacket!

JAileen -- I couldn't live without booties, either. I've been wearing them for years and years, though -- I can remember a pair of block-heel Franco Sarto boots from circa 1995 that I wore until they fell apart. I hear you on the ice machine, too -- I don't have one, but I wish I did.

Robin and Bonnie, I don't have any moto boots, but I do love them. One day I will own a pair! I can see how they would be useful.

La Pedestrienne, I'm sorry to hear that you had to ditch all your shoes post-pregnancy. I have a few friends who had this happen. I also always have a pair (or two) of Chuck Taylors. At the moment, I've got classic black high-tops and burgundy low-tops. They are useful.

Jill, I really like those chelsea boots. They are classic and gorgeous!

L'Abeille, and Jennifer, that's a lot of change in shoe size! I have a friend who went up from a size 5.5 to a 7 after two pregnancies. It hasn't happened to me --if anything, my feet have shrunk a tiny bit! Or, more likely, shoe sizes have changed. I used to be a straight-up size 6, but now I'm often a 5.5.

Cynthia, I love combat boots, even more than moto boots. In fact, the classic Doctor Marten 1460s (the boots I have been talking about) are essentially combat boots.

Unfrumped, it does seem like footwear has the potential to be transformative, doesn't it?

Sara, what do you wear your OTK boots with?

Staysfit

Veteran

Yes, talk about an aha moment! I discovered that my life was so much nicer with a blue structured handbag. I purchased it on impulse and it has been a workhorse that I am not sure how I managed without in the past.

Dooney & Bourke Saffiano Leather Satchel

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