Fact: It's really hard for me to buy basics - YouLookFab Forum

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Fact: It's really hard for me to buy basics

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I know they're important. Yet it's so hard for me to buy what my brain seems to consider "boring" things when there are so many fun things around! Then my closet turns into a riot of color and pattern.

Fall resolution (uh, just go with that...): I will spend my money on more solid colored items and basics to help compliment the fun pieces i already own.

But....I'll probably buy these first... >.>

Shopping

19 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

MNsara

Veteran

Oh, oh, oh!! Those booties are fierce AND fun!

Who cares if your closet is a riot of color and pattern - you always look adorable!

If you bought a bunch of 'basics', would that change the way you dress? Probably not, then you'd have a bunch of basic orphans. . .

ETA: Buy the booties and let someone else do the 'basics'

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Love those!

Debora

Veteran

You've just redeemed yourself!

Anonymous

Remember the words of MaryK:

Leopard print is a neutral!

Therefore

Those booties are a basic!!!

MNsara

Veteran

Whoa, Alicat - that's goooood!!

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Sarah - aww thanks for the boost! You're so sweet.

Alicat - that seriously made me laugh out loud. MaryK is a genius and i'm totally borrowing that statement to use in my life.

Anonymous

My work here is done. Good night, everyone, sweet dreams!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Still laughing at leopard is a neutral after all this time! Loves it!

Nicole, I'm the same way... I have exactly ONE camisole, and I bought it secondhand. Grudgingly. And it still has tiny white stripes on it, so it's not 100% basic... so I guess what I'm saying is: buy the fab booties and save up loose change to buy a $5 black tee at Walmart, hehe.

DressLover

Veteran

"Riot of color and pattern." I'm taking it, using it, and making it my own.

And yes, red is neutral. Animal print is neutral. So this must be neutral, right? RIGHT?! No? Yeah, well I tried, Nicole.

Seriously though, I'm sure you have more basics than you think. A simple cut in a fun color can be basic. A patterned scarf can be basic. It's all about context.

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April

Veteran

Nicole, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'm supporting your resolution for the fall by repeating my favorite Michael Kors quote:

"70 percent of the clothes you own should be meat and potatoes. 30 percent should be icing and fluff — that’s colour, pattern, shine, accessories. Too many women get the proportions the other way round, then can’t figure out why they can’t get dressed.”

Louise

Veteran

I still make sure my basics make my toes tingle. Nearly all of my camis have some lace on them, are a colour I love, have some texture or are snuggly soft. You always look great, what do you feel like you are missing? It could be that you can function perfectly well without basics? x

Di

(website)

Veteran

Nicole, I ink your basics might just be different from other people's basics.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Nicole, I feel like I'm the same way! I look in my closet and see pattern!, color!, pattern!, pattern! But I like my patterns. I seem to dress my bottom half in more solid and subdued "basics." Those cobalt skinnies will push that, if it ever cools off enough to wear them!

I know the risk of patterns is that we may quickly tire of them, but I continue to take that chance. Unless you feel like you need a change, keep buying and wearing what you love!

Kelly

(website)

I have felt that way too, in the past, but I recently discovered it is because I want even my basics to have some kind of embellishment. I have a black cami that I wear all the time because it is trimmed with lace. If it was just plain black, I'd feel very "meh" about it and would hardly wear it. I have some basic long-sleeved tees in black and purple that were gifts from my mother-in-law that I have relegated to pajamas because I just do not wear plain, unfitted items like that on a regular basis. Basics can be fun; they do not have to be boring. But they do have to be "YOU".

Mo

(website)

Veteran

yep, I had a hard time with this one, too. After joining YLF, I did several keep or donate posts which weeded out a lot of my patterns that were dating. Then about a month later I bravely tried to join in on SYC. I bought a few things during - and they were all solids and pretty basic! Something new for me, for sure. But I must say they did stretch my wardrobe and made it easier to put outfits together. There is a place for both in the closet - and basics can be fun if you find a great fit and/or small detail that makes it fun for you and more personal.
But *do* buy those booties no matter what!

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

Thanks everyone! I love the line of thinking that basics don't necessarily have to be basic. I do love things with texture and/or special detailing so going forward this is what i will continue looking out for. I think this will really help me out.

It's not that i feel i have some giant wardrobe holes or anything, just that, like April pointed out, I have 70% fluff and only 30% meat and potatoes lol.

I am going to work on my fall resolution but i will continue to be "me" as well. And i'm still getting those ankle boots. DSW just sent me a rewards certificate. It's obviously meant to be.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yay for getting the booties!!!

Anonymous

I used to be the type that only bought non-basics. I had a LOT of cute things. But they all ended up being more or less orphans since it was SO HARD to put together a nice outfit without bursting my brain every day. It was really a light-bulb moment when I figured out that the reason I had nothing to wear is because I didn't have any BASICS. So I did make myself really focus on getting some good basics in my closet. It really has made my life easier in the mornings getting dressed. And I actually wear my cute stuff MORE!

And basic doesn't mean boring. I consider basic more along the lines of grounding. Something that is a workhorse for you. Don't fight it....basics are really important.

Aida

Veteran

I'm just starting NOT to buy basics ^^ Nicole, I too like the idea of "basics don't necessarily have to be basic", and I'm totally going to keep that in mind as I update my old basics. I've a feeling some of the items you're counting in your fluff percentage work as basics for you, though