Help keep me on the straight and narrow - YouLookFab Forum

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Help keep me on the straight and narrow

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm officially over my spring/summer shopping budget by $200. Not bad, but still, it's over. Plus I've decided to put my monthly thrifting "fun money" towards summer vacation instead. I mean really....I have PLENTY of clothes!

But...I LOVE TO SHOP! And I love taking inspiration from all of you and your wonderful outfits which leads me to want TO SHOP (do you get what I'm saying here???).

Therefore I will need all of your support and creativity to help me with my self-imposed SYC. I need to work my current wardrobe items like crazy so will want all sorts of suggestions on different pairings and stylings.

Obviously I will allow myself necessary items like underwear, etc. plus a few t-shirts that I'm needing to complete some outfits and for summer casual wear plus two pairs of bermuda shorts (one denim for casual and one black for dressier). But that's it.

Are you up for the challenge - can you help hold my hand???

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44 replies

Latest reply was from rae

rae

(website)

Veteran

I have a feeling I will do better keeping you on the straight & narrow than I have done keeping *myself* on the straight & narrow! I've already bought not one but TWO possible May items - will have to have a green dress death match.

Anyway, underneath all that rambling was a YES, of course I'll try to help. I feel like I know your closet fairly well, and I think you can totally do it! When does SYC end? After your vacation?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I'm having a hard time just trying to make to May 4th when I go to San Francisco.
Right now I want approximately 1/2 this collection:

http://lucette.mdz.com.au/

christieanne

Veteran

Ok so a couple of summer items (that can count as your vacation thing) and that's it until say August? Is that what your goal is?

christieanne

Veteran

Ok so a couple of summer items (that can count as your vacation thing) and that's it until say August? Is that what your goal is?

catgirl

Veteran

I will support you. I know just how you feel. This is why the consignment store helps me - I use my credit there to fulfill my urges. I feel like I'm a "grazer" when it comes to shopping - I like to browse constantly and buy in single but constant purchases, rather than going on a big seasonal spending spree. This is actually how I eat too. I nibble all day rather than eating a giant meal!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

How's about SYB? SYC can be so cruel!

I'm supposed to be at 1 new thing per month, but 2 or 3 is more realistic.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I keep repeating this to myself: Fashion will go on. There is always something to want. Wanting is temporary.

One of my favorite bloggers had a really good post on this lately:
http://stopitrightnow.blogspot.....ption.html

"WORK HARD : Just work (hard) for whatever you want, be that a Proenza bag, a hundred thrifted silk button downs, a bio fuel Mercedes hooptie, a trip to Vietnam rice paddies, whatever! Your tastes will change, just as your priorities will, but fashion will always be there. Just put the work in and live the life you want."

krishnidoux

Veteran

I will help all I can, but I myself am over budget too, and yet not done!

You can create smaller rotating capsules from what you have. Only keep the capsule items in your closet. Hang the rest in a different closet or store it away. Use the smaller capsule as if you were travelling, visiting someone, and that was what you had brought. Try to make it last 2 weeks. Then go back to the rest of your clothes, swap for another capsule. (You will feel some newness).

Keep us posted! And keep posting WIW too!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Rae - a green dress death match! I'll look forward to that!

Rita - I think by having gone over my budget by $200 illustrates I'm no better at SYB than I am at SYC!

IK - love that quote and the link. Thanks!

Krishnidoux - thank you! The capsule idea for this purpose is brilliant. This way, I'm always swapping something out. Thanks!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You know what? Here's my proposal: You are not allowed to go shopping any more unless I am there with you.

No?

Okay. Well...how about...you think about all your upcoming FALL purchases as rewards and start thinking about your fall wardrobe? You are such a brilliant planner. To be honest, I think you deserve major points even for establishing a budget. Even if you don't stick to it! I find it so difficult to do. Granted, I'm in the "building from nothing" phase so it is awfully hard to predict what I will need to spend simply to avoid walking around half naked, but even so. I am in awe of your amazing organization and planning. Don't you get a bonus for that? Go spend your bonus, lady!

Gee, I'm no help whatsoever!

In all seriousness, though, I am with Una about the consignment store...I have just dropped a few things off in the hope it will net me some rewards and "free" shopping down the line. I have done pretty well there so far.

Sona

Veteran

I have this problem too. After much culling, selling, donating my wardrobe is bursting at the seams again. And I still want MORE. this despite uenxpected fereral taxes to the tune of $$$$. I hearby solemnly promise that until June 2012 I shall not buy another item until TS tells me its ok. I'm holding your hand girl but you have gotta hold mine too!! Stay strong. (Now just you wait- Angie will have a post tomorrow about 20 best buys for summer and you and I will both cave in...). Ok Stay strong. Deep breath. No matter what Angie posts about that has me crazily in lust I will not buy it. (for now.)

How about you TS??

AJ

Veteran

A paper doll for you! How do you feel about this pattern mix? Can the shirt layer over the dress fine? Have you worn this fab blazer with the dress yet?

There are a couple of things that I'm itching to buy even though funds are low. I find playing in my closet and adding to the inspiration file folder helps.

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Transcona Shannon

Veteran

AJ - you're a genius! I'm also thinking of layering the red/white polka jacket over the floral dress. Both are pretty "out there" for me - but hey, live a little!

Suz - I really like the idea of thinking of my fall purchases as rewards. What I don't spend now can go towards fall. And you and I seriously NEED to meet up one day and go shopping! What's in between you and I in terms of a city to shop in???

Sona - girl, you make me laugh! Nice to know I'm not alone in my weak will. And you are so right - Angie is gonna post some beautiful stuff and you and I are gonna be in SO MUCH TROUBLE!!! Grabbing your hand now and holding on tight...

Anonymous

Hahaha! I'll hold your hand all right, as we skip gleefully down the yellow brick road into thrift store after thrift store!

Like Una, I'm a grazer too. I need to go every week. I don't have to spend a lot of money, but I need my fix (especially now that I'm in my dominant season). And I need to spend time browsing. It wouldn't be any fun if I was just in and out of the store in 5 minutes. It's therapy for me! Something about the problem solving part of my brain likes to have a few items to mull over and consider the different outfit/style persona possibilities. Hubs does NOT get it at all, but it's like my *me* time.

Do any of your stores have a dollar day? Could you squeeze $5 a week out of the grocery budget? I find I enjoy myself just as much if I buy something and then have to return it (because it wasn't right) and then I have the store credit to shop some more the next week. This probably seems like a huge waste of time to most people--so I only admit to it here--but it's my hobby and it totally recharges my batteries!

Jem

Veteran

It's so fun to shop, isn't it! It will be tricky to not shop any more (did you say for how long?), but you can do it! I think I'm almost finished what I need for spring/summer, too. You can do it!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

You may totally be onto something Claire. I definitely enjoy the "thrill of the hunt" and find wandering the aisles of my local Value Village somehow relaxing. And Rita is quite right that SYC is so darned hard (I've failed twice already!).

Maybe I'm just feeling a little guilty regarding a few shoe purchases lately that took me over my budget. I can see squeezing $5 a week for a wee pick-me-up!

Jem

Veteran

I also meant to add that I love AJ's combination!

Meredith1953

Veteran

Wow! So much support and good advice. I'll do what I can to help keep you on the straight and narrow but I think we do need to keep IK'S words in mind though.....

<snip>
I keep repeating this to myself: Fashion will go on. There is always something to want. Wanting is temporary.

I hardly thought about fashion before YLF and now find myself even after SYC to be spending more money monthly than I intended. I am using IK'S words as my new mantra! Not where it pertains to wardrobe holes but I still need to SLOW DOWN!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Jem - no, I didn't say for how long...maybe I'm avoiding the answer?!

Meredith - i think that's what I found myself doing too - spending more monthly than I had planned and now it's time to reign things in a bit.

Fruitful

Veteran

Shannon, I hate to say it, but if you seriously don't want to buy clothes the best thing is not to spend time with people who talk about clothes all day long

I have a number of hobbies that I naturally cycle through, and when one of those takes more of my attention I just don't have the time or interest to go clothes shopping. Come on, you are a multidimensional person there must be a number of things that intrigue, delight and obsess you?

That's kind of how I manage my shopping. It's like an abstract ecosystem that keeps itself in check. At times when I'm here less often, it's partly because real life gets in the way, but also because there's something OT I'm obsessing over When I'm done with that obsession for the time being, I get back into clothes!

Deborah

Veteran

Shannon, you have my total support! I can relate 100%!!! I would like to say I will join you on SYC but i don't know if I can!!! Like you I have more clothes than one person can wear and I don't "need" anything but I love clothes. I think it is a creative outlet for me:). I think the discipline of SYC is a good exercise and you know there will always be another, better dress coming along.

I am waiting on the arrival of a pair of tailored work pants and have to pick up a red jacket I have on hold tomorrow but......I can't believe I'm doing this....should we go on SYC together!! We could even start with a short time frame and then reassess?

Shannon, we could both put aside a little bit of spend money each week of SYC and then purchase something wonderful at the end?

No pressure...what do you think?

(Of course as I write I am madly running through my mind in case there is anything on my wish list that I must have now lol)

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Fruitful - pretty wise words there lady! I actually do have another obsession which is about to kick in - GARDENING! and I expect my time on YLF to probably decrease as the gardening increases.

Deborah - kind of like a "buddy system"? We could be each other's sponsor. I like your idea of starting with a short time frame - how about we see if we can go the month of May without purchasing anything new? Should we include thrifting or not?

Deborah

Veteran

Scary! Yes let's do it! So shall we start Tuesday May 1 (next Tuesday)?
Maybe we should allow thrifting so as not to be going cold turkey lol. Should we set an allowance for thrifting?

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Deal - we're start May 1st and go until May 31st and what do you think about allowing $5 per week for thrifting and we can either spend it weekly or hold it and spend the $20 at the end of the month?

Deborah

Veteran

Done! $5.00 per week for thrifting sounds good. Shannon I am so excited and frightened at the same time:). This is going to be a great test of just how functional our wardrobes are:) xxx

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Me too Deborah (the frightened and excited part!). I'm lucky in that I have a few items I've thrifted over the last 3 months that I haven't pulled out yet so it will still feel like I have something new.

I'm leaning waaaaaaaaaay over and shaking your hand on our deal!!!

P.S. Should we start a thread on May 1st to keep track of each other and let others know how we're doing?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Claire, you are one smart cookie! My lizard brain loves to browse, too!

Deborah

Veteran

Great idea about the thread Shannon. The thread can be provide daily therapy during our "withdrawal".

I also have some things I have purchased recently but not worn so hopefully that will help. But if I start posting evening dresses (or other inappropriate items) with jackets for work you will know the boredom has set in!!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ditto if I start posting gardening gear with heels!

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