I Don't need anything - YouLookFab Forum

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I Don't need anything

MsMaven

Veteran

Well, this is distressing. Today I opened up my drawers and looked in guest room closet as well as my everyday closet and to my dismay, I don't need anything. I have plenty of clothes and quite a few new things to wear this fall. How did this happen?

I suppose I could shop for more comfortable shoes, but at this point I'm not sure that is possible. My feet are at least ten years older than I am.

I guess I could buy some new undies.

It isn't that I am 100% happy with everything in my closet, but I do have lots of clothes to carry me through the next few months. I have a lot to do other than shopping, so this should be a relief, but I do find it strangely unsettling.

Anyone else find themselves facing an empty "to do or to buy" list?

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from puppycat

rachylou

Veteran

Actually I'm in that place right now. I'm afraid that makes me boring on the forum front... But I'm very happy outfit wise on a daily basis.

Debbie

Veteran

I have things I want to buy but need that's a different story. For me I have a hard time sometimes because I feel like I need to buy in order to stay current so I may over buy.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Right there with you Ms Maven. I don't need to buy anything....and I don't even have anything on my list. I could buy some undies too....and some socks. But even those aren't exactly pressing needs.

I do find it unsettling....I enjoy the quest for the next 'perfect' item a little too much. Sadly, there will be no 'quests' in the near future for me.

retailgirl

Veteran

I definitely don't need a thing. I could probably go all fall and winter and not repeat a whole outfit. I lost weight and replaced most of my dress pants, my 10.5 shoes no longer feel comfortable and I've replaced them with size 11; I have two nice wool dress coats and two casual coats, I have handbags. I'm tempted by fashion jewelry sometimes, but I have some nice fine jewelry that I've collected over the years and I make it a point to wear it. The only thing I could conceivably need would be a dress if I were invited to a wedding. So I try to combine my things in different ways.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Well, I can certainly relate. But -- have you done a good closet sort lately? That usually helps me make room for new things, (ha ha).

I find my sleepwear capsule is usually quite neglected, as it is a hodge podge of tired tees etc. Every once in a while I think, why not buy proper sleepwear but I don't see anything that excites me.

Bijou

Veteran

This is a great position to be in. It allows you to save for a really special item that you have always wanted, but not allowed yourself to buy - well that would be my take on the situation!

I like to refresh my leisurewear and gym wear capsules each season - not exciting, but necessary. Some nice fresh clothes can make the difference in my enthusiasm to exercise.

catgirl

Veteran

Enjoy it!

Deborah

Veteran

Yes I would say I am in the same place as you;). Feels a bit weird! But feels good to. There is a freedom that comes with not really needing anything

Sal

Veteran

Enjoy it while it lasts!!

Great to be free to save the money or spend it in other areas of your life, or to buy something really special that you have been wanting.

Summer

Veteran

I need a few things, but otherwise I'm quite content with what I have. "Enough" is plenty for me.

krishnidoux

Veteran

It's good news that you feel you have everything, but the fact that you are not 100% happy tells me something is off. My immediate feedback: you need to reassess your current wardrobe and curate it in order to get rid of pieces that are not 100%.

Sometimes, we have closet needs, but they are hidden because the holes are artificially filled by pieces that do not live up to their full function. For example: cream knit top. You may have one but it is slightly too transparent so it requires a cami underneath which impacts on the style: or it has bat wings preventing you for wearing it with some jackets, which ends up seriously reducing outfit possibilities.

I spot such items by looking at key pieces and asking myself the question: What do I want it to achieve? (Example: be cream color, be long sleeves, be conservative, be warm enough, not be transparent, be of a certain cut & shape, be of a certain texture, and be worn with X bottoms, X tops). If the piece I am holding doesn't respond to all requirements, then I have a closet hole.

carter

Veteran

I'm on the hunt for comfy shoes and one casual dress. Otherwise, I certainly don't need anything either. I admit I do find that a bit disconcerting.

I do have some alterations that need to be done, and I would love to find a cognac or tobacco colored belt. I'm also having laundry bottleneck issues on gear tops, so perhaps a couple more would help.

That's all I can think of. Scary.

always trying

Veteran

I don,t need anything either, but what I am doing is doing a thorough job of analyzing things I have. Purging things I do not really love, unless they are things That are not easily replaced like waterproof boots. I am also concentrating more on acessories.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

It's a fantastic place to be! Enjoy it. Save your money for something really expensive or designer that you would love to have. Save for a "want" instead of a "need." Put the money that you would have normally spent on clothes to some other use and enjoy that instead.

No matter what, please continue to post outfit pics. I love repeats, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who does.

missvee

Veteran

I'm in a similar place now and it feels GOOD! For the first time in many years I don't need winter boots or booties, having bought 3 new pairs last season ( cough, cough ).
And I just unexpectedly found a new lightweight parka which had been on my wish list since late winter. Don't you love it when something you need just falls into your lap?
Knitwear is one area that will never be complete. I've resigned myself to the fact that sweaters do pill or sag even when the price suggests they shouldn't. So a few mid season replacements are a given. And that's okay. Sometimes it's fun to add a new colour or style as the winter drags on, and on, and on...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ah....time to rest and relax...or time for a good edit.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ha! I don't NEED anything either. I have even had moments in the last week or so when I get a case of the wantsies when I see something here or elsewhere on the web, but it has passed fairly quickly when I realize there is either something similar (albeit not as perfect in my mind, which is a topic for discussion!) in my closet, or that it's just not practical for my style or my life. I have been better at catching myself lusting after things just because they're new and different and it's fun to acquire something new and different.

Over the last month or so, I have bought a couple of new bottoms (the Current Elliot cropped jeans and the burgundy Rag and Bone Dres), a couple of new tops (the Bobeau mod-ish top, still under review since I haven't worn it yet), and the Stuart Weitzman knee-high black boots. I'm waiting for the weather to cool off enough to wear those purchases, along with some of my NAS purchases as well (although I've already worn all the NAS items when I was in cooler temps in Europe, so those have proven worthy of staying in my wardrobe). I'm still deciding on whether to keep the cropped Eileen Fisher two-tone trousers I posted here a while back. The Current Elliot jeans I've already ripped the tags off and worn, so those are keepers!

But my point in thinking through all those recent purchases, is that considering those is making me realize that I need to wait to buy more until I actually get a chance to wear some of the new things. We're still going to be getting temps into the 80s here for at least another week, so fall dressing is not a factor for me yet, and I need to consciously slow my roll when it comes to fall shopping. I have fab stuff from last year (and years prior) that I still look forward to wearing, and there are only so many days in a year to dress for, you know? I like having a wardrobe with many options, but I'm doing my best to be more mindful of my shopping.

So yes, I understand the "unsettling" part of being in this place, because shopping is an easy "to-do" thing for me. It feels productive and fills the time in a much more pleasurable way than other things that I really *need* to be doing!

Anonymous

I didn't need anything, either, until my DH & I got invited to a gala & I had to find an appropriate dress & evening bag.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

Veteran

I'm in a very similar place to those who feel they don't need much of anything, having shopped more in the last 2 years than the previous *many* (because I really needed to). I feel pretty good about it, having checked off a number of things on my list recently. Some didn't work, I got over them, and happily sent them back for refunds. My search for the HEWI petite flared jeans is complete after a weeks-long event of ordering and shipping (they're online-only), testing 6 pairs in different size/style/length combos. Can't believe I found 2 that worked (and with sale prices and promos, $22 each!). I have one dress I'm trying 3 of to see if I'm happy with any, but I think that will be the last clothing item to sort out for a while. I do have a few accessories holes, but I'm in no rush.

This situation is a new experience for me, and I like it. For the first time ever, for instance, I have outfits already picked out, including jewelry, for 2 fall/winter dress-up events that I only had tiny holes for (evening bags...of which I've had just about none in my collection. For one outfit, the clutch cost $7.50--I am a stone turner!) These outfits mix new things purchased with the wisdom of YLF in mind and a few of my oldest vintage/thrifted (or flea marketed)-in-the-90s pieces (and a dress I bought new in the 90s). Can you tell I don't follow the purge-if-you-don't-wear-it-in-a-year-or-two rule? Anyway, I am thrilled to be able to do this pretty much with SYC.

Of course, I will magpie on a few things now and then. Fun jewelry is usually the thing that gets me...just picked up a string of blush ring pearls yesterday at an antique mall. Need? Well, maybe not exactly...

Anonymous

Your post was very amusing. Just for the record, I too think my feet are a decade older then me. It just never occurred to me until I read that line in your post.

I don't need anything right now. I will start to transition my summer clothes out and in my winter clothes in. I was pretty satisfied with my winter wardrobe when I put it away last year so I should be in good shape. It is a great place to be. And like Kiwigal, I have YLF to thank for this.

unfrumped

Veteran

Very easy to relate to your observations!

It's that awkward transition season, too because I'm not ready for wool sweaters yet, but should not buy any winter things until I've done "a good sort" as cocolion says, and review. But it's rather warm to try on things and then for the sweaters, I may not want to leave them out (moth-wary) just yet.

So this can be risk period of overbuying before checking on existing fits and outfit goals. I want to avoid that. I love a couple of new transition-season pants I've got, and burgundy leopard print coat. Stored away are LOTS of sweaters so I don't need more unless there is a real need to change silhouette and definitely need to do 1 in/1 out or 1 in/2 out.

Since I have a major goal of working more on outfit creation with existing items and finding my favorite, feel-great outfits and wearing those, I think I will bite the bullet and do a winter clothing review in the next couple of weeks , even if I need to re-fold and store some items. The more I'm able to prove to myself that I do have a solid lineup of "happy" outfits, that keeps me from buying things I don't need.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Ha, it is oddly unsettling, isn't it? I feel kinda similar after I pulled out my fall things from storage this weekend. I'm sure a hole or two will appear as I wear things, but there's nothing glaring missing.

This year, as part of my 'less but better' project, I've been trying to think about planned obsolescence, and trying to replace items with better/higher quality replacements. So I'm trying to point my browsing habit and my acquisitive energy in that direction instead of looking for different things all the time. (It works some of the time, at least.)

rachylou

Veteran

Ok. I WILL need winter boots... Hehe but that's a long way off I feel...

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I went through a period of several month without shopping and it felt quite strange.

I have colder weather holes to fill this year. And I'm looking forward to shopping to fill them. However, I need to be very careful. I bought items to fill my summer holes and I haven't worn them nearly as often as I expected.

Truly needed item is a big cozy sweater in the correct size and a flattering color. Wants to refresh my look are a long top/tunic and a long sleeve top with a v-neck/tie to wear open like in the recent post. These would definitely update my style. In between a need and I want are a short warm jacket and a coat that is dressier than my very casual puffy one. I got by last winter without the jacket or coat but I was occasionally under dressed.

Anonymous

I feel the same right now and it feels awesome!

I am hoping to set some money aside to save up rather than buying more clothing, shoes, accessories.

I have a gift card for my birthday which I will use for new winter pajamas, but that is all I am needing right now.

I want to thank YLF for helping me get my wardrobe set for my lifestyle, needs, and climate.

Maybe in the spring, my list will have some items on it - but I am going to enjoy the 'no wantsies' right now.

Thistle

Veteran

Fabulous place to be! Save your budget and enjoy your wardrobe!

puppycat

Definitely in a better place this year than I was last fall, thanks to YLF!

I went through my coat closet today and reviewed what I had in terms of winter outerwear. I found I don't need a thing. I'm in Southern California and we really only have the occasional evening outdoor event in winter that calls for a coat (ice skating fundraiser for a friend's school, trick or treating with the kids next door, several "family tradition" events in a colder geographical location around the holidays, and that's about it.) So my coat inventory is as follows:

Zip up hoodies (my Lululemon-type yoga hoodies are my daily workhorses in the SoCal winter - 90% of the time there's no need for more than this)
Lightweight nylon trench-style raincoat---This was a HEWI for me that I finally found early in the summer on deep discount. I wanted a jacket that is light but professional-looking for fall/winter days that are damp but not especially cold. This is a super light weight, above the knee, black double breasted coat that I can throw on over my work clothes and it looks polished and keeps me dry.
Lightweight black puffer - This serves the same purpose as the raincoat, but on my off days or when I'm wearing casual clothes. It keeps me dry but isn't terribly warm. People in really cold climates would probably laugh that I call this a puffer, Maybe I should just call it a puffer-style instead, since it has a puffer look without the warmth.
Black wool pea coat - I purchased this last fall when I saw a great deal but it's been used only once so far, on our trip to visit my mother in law in Northern California last year. I probably won't wear it again until we go see her this year. It may last me the rest of my life at this rate---it's a classic style, luckily.
Gray duffle coat - This is also a wool coat but the casual style means I reach for it more than the pea coat, for weekend outings in winter. Some of my favorite outfits from last winter were worn with this coat-- a black sweater, jeans and loafers with a colorful scarf and I was set.

I wish I could say this was all I have but I have three denim jackets (denim, white, and olive corduroy), at least three or four utility jackets (black, olive and grey) and a ridiculous number of sweaters. I love fall and winter shopping far too much for a woman who lives in Southern California. I can truly say I don't need a thing this winter except a mid-heeled boot (I have Uggs, flat heeled Cole-Haan ankle boots, black suede wedge booties, Dr. Marten's motorcycle boots, and high-heeled OTK boots, but not the most basic work-wearable mid-heel boot.