Fall/Winter 2014 Assessment

Staysfit

I went back and counted exactly how many items I have in my fall/winter wardrobe not including gear/purses/jewelry, layering tees, underwear or coats. I wear layering tees everyday in the cooler months to help me stay warm. The total number of items is 136. The total includes shoes/booties/boots. It was interesting that I have around 10-12 items in each category except sweaters which is my largest category with over 30 items and skirts which is my smallest category with only 5 items. This is the smallest my fall/winter wardrobe has been since I was in High School. My focus this year was on building essentials. I believe I was successful, and am happy with what I have.

I find that I am wishing for some of the variety that my previous larger wardrobe gave me. I certainly do not want as much as I had in the past, but it would be nice to have a few additional items to round out what I already have now. The following is a list of what I think would be useful, and I am making it my 2015 fall/winter shopping list. This is rough, and clearly subject to change. It will be interesting to see what happens as the year goes on and I look back at this.

1. Leather moto jacket/leather jacket of some sort - preferably mid blue in color, or some other mid range color that will go with most of my wardrobe colors. Mid green (Jade or Emerald) would also be a good choice.
2. Dresses with or w/o sleeves (4 + 1)- style appropriate to wear to work, and to religious services, or to local shows, knee length or just slightly above knee (this means no shorter than 38"), preferably in a solid color, but can have a small print, no grey! Must be in a color, no white (already own). Can be sheath or fit and flare style. Empire may also possibly work. Shirt dress possibly. Nothing baggy or boxy. Wrap dresses OK. Keep eye out for DVF T72 Style in great prints in my colors) (My personal favorite type of Wrap) One very nice dress appropriate for dressy event, fundraisers, college graduations, receptions, etc.
3. Button down blouses in colors (2-3) - blue, green, print, maybe yellow
4. 2 Tunic tops in colors or prints, to wear with my skinny jeans.
5. Vest of some sort in a neutral (maybe leather?/ maybe tweed?/maybe asymmetric?)- I need to look at some pictures to figure this one out
6. Blazers (2) if I can find any! (one in a neutral and one in a color) - so far my lifelong quest to find a blazer has been unsuccessful, but I will keep trying to find one!
7. Bangles - white gold/silver
8. Earrings/necklaces - pearl/white gold/silver
9. Purses - 1 white, 1 red, 1 pink; 1 clutch possibly metallic silver? (All must be lightweight - less than 1.5 pounds before I add my belongings)
10. Footwear - white booties/ light colored shoes, navy shoes/booties/boots, cognac boots (if weatherproof only), red (to replace an old pair)/wildcard
11. Two wildcard sweaters - I can't go through a season without adding a sweater, so I have to put this on my list
12. Scarves with patterns (2-3)
13. Wool coat +/- (I can still get by with my Cole Hahn, so this is only if I find something I really really love)
14. Interesting wool skirt

It looks like a fairly long list, but I haven't considered things this carefully before making a list so I am happy with the result. For me, this is significant progress. Now I need to go through the same process for my spring/summer wardrobe!

Thanks for reading!

Have you figured out what you will be needing for next year?

9 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from Staysfit

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Staysfit, you are so analytical about your wardrobe needs. Nicely done! I have no idea what I will need next year--in fact, I can't imagine that I will actually need anything. But one never knows (or I don't, anyway).
When I saw a moto jacket in a mid-blue on your list, I thought of the one that I tried on at AllSaints a couple of months ago. I ended up getting one in a color they call "khaki" (in Finds below), which is actually a muted olive green. But there was also one in a color called "petrol," which was a gorgeous mid-indigo shade. The website photos do not capture the colors at all, in my opinion. I don't know if there is an AllSaints near you, where you could see them in real life; if so, they'd be worth a look, I think.

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9 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Very thorough list. I'm interested in your plans for scarves, how you'd like to use them.

Meanwhile... I have pulled all my clothes off the shelves and out of the closet and dumped them in the middle of the bed, in prep for a total review. I've been feeling happy with my clothes. Maybe too happy. Could be getting complacent and slobby...

... and now that I have a huge heap on the bed, I'm thinking of instead going for a walk up the high street and looking at gee-gaws with the dog. Lol.

9 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Firecracker, Thanks! I wish we had an All Saints around here! My monitor makes the petrol look almost black. I wish I could see the real color. I will be traveling to NYC in a few weeks for a conference so perhaps I will get a chance to do some shopping.

Rachylou - I would skip out for the walk! You can always sort through your clothes. It's been unseasonably warm around here and sunny also! My DD and I went out around the neighborhood and all our snow is gone!

9 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sounds as if you have a very clear handle on what you would like next.

Do you feel happy with your style direction or do you want to evolve your style in any way? (Not a trick question and no right answers! Just curious.) Perhaps this is not an issue because you've just done a big overhaul and many of your things are new.

9 years ago

Alassë

Veteran

I have also made a detailed list of useful items. It's very satisfying to know that the items you've chosen will be hard workers in your wardrobe.

9 years ago

Anonymous

I admire your diligence with this project. I'm going through a similar process - having pitched out half of my clothes about a month ago. I have been idly thinking about what step to take next - but the truth is, I'm a little afraid.

I have such a nice tidy clean closet and drawers that I don't want to screw it all up by adding in things that haven't been planned for. Your list is very specific - and I'm curious how you came up with it. Did you look at each category (pants, dresses, skirts, tops etc) and decide what was missing? Years ago, I used to make little lists of what I thought I needed - but the reality was that either I couldn't find a particular navy skirt (for example) or , what was on the list wasn't filling any REAL hole. Lather , rinse, repeat of the whole buying merry go round.

I'm too scared to add things right now as I have no idea where to start. Any of my old shopping behaviours aren't to be trusted, so I'm a little gun shy. Pants? Could certainly use a pair, but am not good at finding a good fit . I may end up buying nothing ! Wouldn't that knock my husband over

Anyways - good luck with your list - and I'm looking forward to hearing how this process ends up working for you.

9 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

Suz, You question is a good one. I am happy with my current style. Most of my essential pieces are fairly classic in style and should work for several years before they need updating. I don't think I will need to do much changing next year. I believe the items on my list would allow for some freshening of my wardrobe to keep it up to date. For example, even though I have some specific colors in mind for blouses, like blue, the color blue is fairly common, and the shape/style of a blouse can be very flexible. This allows for many options, maybe a statement blouse, or anessential blouse, etc. I could possibly pick something in a new silhouette, or one that I am already comfortable with.

Suz's question makes me think about what I actually changed in my style since I started my posts at YLF. I think the most obvious change is that I have been thinking more clearly to define what my style is, so it is not an everything goes style anymore. I have come up with words to describe my style, I have thought about silhouette, color and contrast. I have considered my body type. I definitely reworked my closet to reflect my preferences in terms of color, style and silhouette. I believe my closet mostly reflects the things I have learned. I think it could still use some tweaking in terms of texture, and possibly color. There are some items that may not be entirely true to my style as I have defined it, although I like them enough for now. These items will eventually need replacing. I am clearly learning how to shop for my style and this is an ongoing process. There are also more neutrals than colors, and I would like to add some color options, which is why my 2015 list is color dominant.

Lisap, I am offering you moral support from afar as you decide upon your next step! I created my list by perusing my closet and looking at what seemed to be missing and also by wearing my clothes over the past two months (which have been cold enough for fall/winter clothing) and noting what seemed to be lacking. Whenever I wished I had something to make up an outfit, I wrote it down. Then I looked at the items I had come up with and tried to think about what would be able to make multiple outfits with what I already own. Those items stayed on the list. I change my handbag depending on what I am wearing. Not everyone does that. I have an insert that I pull out of one bag and put into the next. It's easy and quick. I looked at the colors in my closet and the bags I already own, and that is how I picked the handbag colors.

9 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Even though you've been changing your style in terms of colors and shapes, I'm impressed that in the midst of the change you figured out what is consistent in your style, know the overall types of outfits that you want to achieve, and what you need to achieve them.

I do have a solid set of pieces (gray, blue, black, white, mostly) that mix and match well. Then I get off topic, sometimes, or in a different sort of mood (e.g., it's so gloomy out, I must have brights; all-white; avant garde shapes instead of usual straight up; or the worst nemesis- I will wear more dresses/skirts in cold weather.) This sometimes leads me to identify "needs" that are not really needs. The problem is that I don't always know at the outset if I'm bored or having a genuine style shift.

Also, since I work from home, my only real clothing requirements are based on weather and exercise, which contributes to my magpie tendencies.

9 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I'm so impressed with how you've approached wardrobe management! You'll definitely have to come back to this list when shopping for next year. You can also continue to note things as you progress through the season. Your list might have new additions by next fall, and some things may not be wanted any longer.

9 years ago

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

This is impressive! I love these analytical posts, with all the planning and anticipation and the creative ideas - I look forward to seeing how you progress through the coming year, and your thought processes throughout. I draw inspiration from all of this

To answer your question about 'needs', my actual needs are few - and I have enough time to seek out things that will really work, as opposed to being in a great rush. Here is my shortlist of needs and burning desires:

Need:
Replacement bras in black (1 more), nude (2 of these) and 2 sports bras
3 pairs each of black and nude thongs.
Comfy lounge socks
Pro flamenco shoes in black leather, in a character shoe style.
Same in tan leather, but these can wait until 2016.
New white bikini (my current one is looking pretty worn)
Summer shorts in black, white, tan, and/or navy. Preferably linen. I lived in two pairs of black linen shorts last summer and LOVED them, but they are a looking a bit worn.

Want:
Classic stiletto pumps in nude-colored leather
Black Ferragamo Vara ballerina flats (or a reasonable knockoff style).

Playing around with the idea of:
A summery, fitted lace top in cream, ivory or white to go with a coral silk skirt I already have. This gives me something colorful to wear to summer weddings.

9 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

LBD - I have never owned linen shorts. I have some linen pants that I rarely wore last summer. I still need to look through my summer clothes and do an assessment. It sounds like the shorts were a winner for you!

I hope you post your new flamenco shoes once you find them. I love dance, and all that goes along with it!

9 years ago

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