How I Shop - YouLookFab Forum

My 2021 shopping summary post turned into a wordy monster as I wrote about all of my Finds for the year. WHOOPS. But while all this data is swirling in my head, and considering Angie's post about Fabulous Unplanned Wardrobe Purposes, I figured I'd actually try a little bit of analysis. Here goes!

I'm a very organized, picky person. In dressing, I am very emotional. My shopping is likewise emotional. And I want to be picky, but most of my adult life has been a drought of finding anything close to how I want to dress. Through necessity I've trained myself to settle for what I can find; at times the alternative is no clothes at all. So when something catches my eye, my mind asks, "How can I make this work?" instead of "How will this fit into my wardrobe?"

As I said to Suz in the previous post, my wardrobe finally hit a kind of critical mass about 3 years ago. Mainstream fashion going somewhat "vintage" was immensely helpful. First through some judicious skirt-making, and then through eShakti, I significantly expanded the wardrobe with items that actually weren't make-dos. I was able to keep honing and tweaking exactly what I wanted, even as my own preferences evolved slightly with time.

Recently I dedicated some serious thinking to defining what I most like to wear, and how it can be adapted for different seasons. This is boiled down to two outfit archetypes:

1) Tee and denim

2) Fit and flare dress

I could trace these back to my young childhood, but I'll spare everyone.

Archetype 1, tee and denim is inherently casual. (I've never felt at ease in smart casual when it involves pants.) It goes from hot summer with t-shirt and shorts, to sweaters and jeans with fun socks and tennis shoes or saddle shoes. The components are simple:
(1) Well-fitting tee shirts, either graphics, solids, or patterned; or sweaters
(2) Denim shorts or long jeans

Archetype 2, fit and flare dress has many more permutations. It can include dresses (short or long sleeve), fitted tops (tees SS/LS or sweaters), and flared skirts. Cardigans can be worn over for additional warmth, and hose or tights added. Components:
(1) Well-fitting tee shirts, either solids or patterned; blouses; or sweaters
(2) Flared skirts, light or heavy weight
(3) Dresses, light or heavy weight

The first component is basically the same for both. Tees like Lands' End's "tailored fit" work very well with both skirts and denim. Sometimes I size down to keep them from being too wide above the waist. The bulky/loose sweaters don't do double duty, and woven blouses do not work with denim for me.

With these archetypes, I have a structure for my roving shopping eye. When something catches my eye, I can run through the categories it would fit, sort through the other items I have in that category, and decide if it's a good addition.

Because of the critical wardrobe mass, I now have quite a variety of outfits to choose from, and a good structure for choosing additions.

- Dresses, being single-item outfits, are the simplest to add. I just try to have footwear that will go, and hopefully a topper.

- Tees and sweaters I need to not overbuy. They're by far the easiest to fit on me. I wear fit-and-flare more than tee and denim, and honestly I have more tops than I need. What I added this year was mostly to wear with skirts.

- Skirts are very rare to buy; either they're denim or knitwear.

- Fabric shopping is a huge weakness. Although I've sewed a ton in the last two years, the stash has still grown. I try not to buy without a specific purpose, and get to work on the project as soon as possible.

Talking myself out of an addition is usually because the item would split wears. Lots of tennis shoes, tees, and sweaters fall into this category. The other big argument is if I can think of a similar but better item I'd much rather have. That can go on a shopping list!

My lingering fear is that by thinking too much of these archetypes I'll still miss out on things outside that box. I know that's an issue but haven't figured out how to address it.

3 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Ginger, I don't think you need to go outside of these two archetypes unless you are bored with them and want to. I see you as someone with an enviable signature style because your style:

is very distinctive - I could look at a dress and think "that is very Ginger"
suits your lifestyle and climate
allows for great creativity
perfectly flatters your figure
works beautifully with your hair style(s) - you are just as creative with your hair as your are in dressing.

It sounds as though you have now got your wardrobe to a point where you no longer have to 'settle' and don't have to do the hard work of making things work and now only need to add those items that are perfect in every way.

I loved reading this and think you have hit on a winning formula for you.

LaPed

You make it sound so easy!! I agree with Bijou that your strategy allows for plenty of creativity, personal expression, and variety. If it ain't broke...

I'm really curious: do you have separate footwear and outerwear for your two archetypes, or are they able to cross over?

slim cat

You have a great strategy and fab results! I feel similar about my own 2 "archetypes" ( or 1 and 1/2 ) - probably missing on some other fun new styles/pieces. On the other hand - trying to go into unknown direction is taking way too much energy and effort that I'm not willing to to spend in our current situation.
I ditto what @Bijou already wrote - you have very distinctive and creative style that perfectly works!

Jaime

(website)

Well Bijou said it perfectly. Going out of the box is not a virtue in itself here. If at some point you feel the need to try something new, it will probably be a concrete iteration of some other archetype. It will find you. Anyway, your style is fantastic already!

Ginger

Bijou - ' I could look at a dress and think "that is very Ginger" ' - A lot of people have actually said that over the years! Your list is both reassuring and helpful for me, since I struggle to put it into words. And allowing for great creativity - yes. I really, really like this way of expressing the variety I crave.

LaPed, I left out all of the struggling and questioning! It's been a journey. I admire your style and approach as well. Although our styles are very different, I identify a lot with your focus on seasons and practicality.

That's a really good question about footwear and outerwear. Offhand, I'd say that there's not a bunch of crossover for either. For footwear, it's the degree of refinement: denim works better with sturdier-looking footwear, and skirts with something slightly more dainty. Strappy flat sandals, white Keds, and low heel tall boots are the only things that I'll wear with either.

For outerwear, the difference is the silhouette: Fit and flare needs either very short toppers (motos and short cardigans) or long and flared ones. Denim does well with hip-length jackets and coats, but the really cropped ones look silly. I have one puffer that actually works with either archetype. That said, outerwear is a huge, ongoing struggle. There are so many possible combinations of weather and outfit! I haven't cracked that code yet. I've started making notes of the occasions when I'm stumped, which may help me find some patterns.

slim cat - "

trying to go into unknown direction is taking way too much energy and effort" - That's an excellent way to put the feeling I had. Like smart casual with pants. It would take so much time and effort to start to figure that out, and it's really not worth it at the moment.

shevia - "

If at some point you feel the need to try something new, it will probably be a concrete iteration of some other archetype. It will find you." You're absolutely right; I feel this at a gut level. I like when I pivoted from dresses to top/skirt/cardigan for cold weather. Same silhouette, very different dynamic to dressing, but it felt exactly right.

Runcarla

You are not alone in having a favoured silhouette or uniform, and I say milk it! That you have a signature look is actually a powerful thing.

Stagiaire Fash

Thanks for the post. I love the WIWs you post, and the creativity in your distinctive style. I often feel something n your posts that might be humility or might be feeling not quite good enough. I hope it’s just the former, because your style is awesome.

Cardiff girl

I think that when you see something outside your formula that really speaks to you,you will know.If you have to question it ,it’s not the one.A bit like picking a husband really(lol!)

rachylou

I do or did that a lot - ‘how can I make this work?’ It led to over-buying. I do think sticking to the silhouettes I honestly like to wear is most functional, but it’s a good point about missing something out of the box that might actually work well.

Jenni NZ

I agree with the others that there isn’t really a need to change now you have determined these archetypes. Partly because it has taken most of your adult life to get your wardrobe to this stage.
That’s a different feeling to someone like me who has always found plenty of things to like, and for some time too many. For me the cutting back has been important to reduce that “drowning in clothes” feeling.
So just watch out that you’re not drowning in tops is all!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

All that's left for me to do is this:

*APPLAUSE*

You soul searched, stuck to your guns, followed through with organized emotion. Reaped the reward. You ARE THERE.

Nothing needs fixing or changing until you feel saturated and bored with your style. I vote for now - milk it

Thank you, Carla! It feels good to define things. In the past I got lost in all the variety. I had to step way back to figure out the common threads.

Thanks, Stagiaire Fash! Nah, no humility, just figuring things out.

Very true, Cardiff girl, and you made me laugh! Maybe that's the biggest clue - if I really want to try something, that's the time for serious consideration.

Rachy, exactly. And that kind of over-buying isn't ease to weed out, since it's already passed a lot of the usual criteria. Maybe this is an area to really lean on instinct.

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