It's Forever Summer! - YouLookFab Forum

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It's Forever Summer!

Beth Ann

Veteran

In the B&M stores, at least! Picked over summer items are all I see as I visit my local shops. I think I'll have to travel 45 minutes to Nordies to feel a bit of fall coming on. Banana Republic. Loft, Macy's, Kohls, Target -- there's hardly a long sleeved shirt to be had!

Fortunately, I'm not in the market for my fall refreshers yet, although I would like to purchase a couple of long sleeved tees for our upcoming trip at the end of August, and I'd like to see, feel, and try on some of the newer merchandise as I plan ahead for the purchases I'm make at the end of Sept. and October. At least it's helping me stick to my budget!

I guess I've been primed for Autumn by NAS. Anyone else finding sad-clearance aisles?

Now, if I was looking for erasers, pencils and notebook paper, I'd be in luck! They're everywhere!

Shopping

19 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Oh, yes! I'm done with summer buying. Next season, please? I've been scanning Nordstrom's site for more fall shoes, actually, because I didn't see what I was looking for at the anniversary sale. (I want some oxfords; as tempting as the Stuart Weitzmans are--and I haven't tried them on or seen them IRL-- I don't think I want to spend that much, as I don't wear oxfords all that much.)
Laughing at your comment about erasers and the like!

rabbit

Veteran

Occasionally I can find something at the end of summer clearance racks abounding right now that will work for my fall wardrobe too. I picked up some pale gray skinny jeans at H&M and a pale pearl gray cardigan at Macys that will work to enlarge my cold weather outfits from all dark all the time.

Actually clearance at H&M and Forever 21 right now have a bunch of black, sweaters, and jackets. It's a little confusing. Marshalls clearance is more understandable: white jeans, poppy colored tops, and sandals, and although they caught my eye, there aren't enough weeks of 'tropical' left.

The pre-fall thing I'm noticing the most in retail land? High-waisted acid wash skinnies, they are everywhere that sells to juniors....

Beth Ann

Veteran

Ah, FC --- this is why I should be sewing. But my space is getting crowded with camping packing ---- my kingdom for a sewing room!

Rabbit: I should check H&M -- perhaps the juniors shop earlier, with back to school? I think I will pass on the acid wash, but I think you're wise to scope out the sales for items that will cross seasons. Even in my climate, I favor mostly mid-weight items anyway!

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

I am stalking few local shops on-line --waiting to see if there's stuff for fall yet. It is beginning to trickle in, slowly. I, too, want to plan and get a small wardrobe set up. I've decided I'd like to use navy and grey as my neutrals--but I am beginning to have my doubts that navy will be available (in comfy bottoms.) Grey--maybe. I've seen a couple of things, but I have no idea whether they will fit.

I've ordered a few things from Land's End but forgot to write down what colour I ordered a couple of tops in, so I am a bit frustrated!

Meredith

Veteran

Very in between seasons around here. I've made a mental note for the future that all summer shopping needs to be done by the end of the 4th of July sales and early fall shopping should be done at NAS.

Alana, you should call LE and ask them. Customer service picks up after one ring. A real person.

marianna

Veteran

Not sure… can't remember the last time I was in a retail store besides Nordies! But with all the NAS excitement, I can't help but feel that fall is right around the corner (especially in our neck of the woods!)

kkards

Veteran

yes, it seems a lot of left over spring/summer. but as we've had the weirdest weather this summer, I'm not sure what season i'm actually dressing for. One day it's in the high 80's, the next it's barely 75. So, yes, I'm totally done buying for summer.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Alana: I've yet to find much success in online shopping, so it's a last resort for me. While my time is limited, living in the Chicago suburbs gives me most of the "usual" B&M options. I will likely need to do online shopping is I want to, say, add brown to my wardrobe this fall. Love your plan for blue and grey!

Meredith: In-between seasons is right! And it seems more pronounced this year!

Marianna: If you're going to be limited to one store, I'd pick Nordies for sure!

Kkcards: The Chicago summer has been much the same. It'll be hot for a day or two, but, mostly it's been deliciously cool. Fortunately, I love cool summers and am wearing all my favorite pieces anyway!

Beth Ann

Veteran

I think I'm realizing that a big part of being inspired for the next seasons involves seeing, feeling and trying on fall items. I'm very influenced by fabrics and seeing things on a screen or a catalog layout isn't a rich enough sensory experience to get my creative thought processes rolling. Anyone else have this experience?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I was done with Spring and Summer shopping in June, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment this year. Things cool down in mid Sept around here so we have 6 weeks of warm weather left at best. Got to wear the heck out of my Summer clothes.

Yes. The stores are full of Summer clearance and beach attire. Great for those with long Summers. Hope you find fab bargains.

unfrumped

Veteran

I hear you. Maybe it's good for me because a, I shouldn't buy any more summer and don't like the sleeveless items that abound, and b, I shouldn't buy too much for fall either because I should wait until I do a wardrobe review of what I've got!

Sara L.

Veteran

It's supposed to be almost 100 degrees here so I'm not ready for fall yet. I get hot just looking at all those sweaters and jackets. I'm still enjoying summer, which is my favorite season anyway.

Alassë

Veteran

Yep, I always get impatient for fall after being on YLF. The ladies discuss fall wardrobes early, and I keep expecting retailers to follow!

Anonymous

Totally with you Beth Ann on the sensory experience. Some of the on-line shots get mind-numbingly boring after awhile in an attempt to provide no distraction from the clothes . I also actually like to see how stores merchandise lines- good ones give you great ideas for pairings or pieces I might have otherwise ignored. I cannot assess quality from a picture, and have been disappointed one too many times to trust a digital image. All that said, I'm over summer buying (I hate looking at cluttered sales racks - yuck) but am enjoying the opportunity to wear a lot more of my clothes because of this crazy varied weather we all seem to be having!

Anonymous

Had a look round my local town in the UK last week and was totally underwhelmed. No decent pickings at all.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Angie, fortunately I am accustomed to doing my summer refreshers by the end of May -- as much a result of my cash flow, with a University job that goes dormant every summer, as well as what's available in retail. At least the stores aren't tempting me with Fall merch before I'm ready to purchase!

Sara: This summer has been easy to dress for in my neck of the woods --- mostly cooler, which is a blessing!

Alasse: I think I need to to muse over the next season for awhile before I know what my plan is! At least YLF is helping me do this, and Nordies!

Lisap/Diane: You understand what I mean. I'll willingly shop sales, but once the clearance starts to get tired and spotty (particularly in my size), I'm ready to move on. I like to try on some representative pieces -- a sweater in a newer boxy cut, a jacket in a new color, boots and bags in brown....... I'll do a couple of these excursions and then come home and stare in my closet. I need to see garments in 3-D and technicolor, feel the weight and texture of the fabric, and get a feel for fits.

I did find a pair of berry color jeans. I looked for those all last winter. They fit, but they were curvy skinnies, and I realized I'm just so over skinnies, far preferring a slim, tapered straight. That bit of information will go into my wardrobe planning. Of course, now I'll probably find skinnies everywhere and straight fits will elude me!

shedev

Veteran

I finished summer shopping at the end of June. I want to enjoy some wearing before fall weather sets in. If I'm lucky, I'll get till the end of September.

Anonymous

I think I'm the opposite of a lot of people. I actually had a hard time focusing on heavier stuff at NAS because I'm not ready to think about summer being over! And I may get a little less excited than some about the summer-to-fall transition anyway because my color choices and cardigan obsession mean I pretty much dress like it's fall all year. Really, the big things that change for me are the shoes, the tights or lack thereof, and the weight of the cardigans.

But it can definitely be frustrating when you want to see what's out there, but there's nothing much to see.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Shedev: I admire your contentment! Actually, I'm not anxious for summer to pass, either!

Aubergine: You are queen cardi, and you have branched out to new silhouettes that honor your love for the sweater while keeping it new! And that's third piece is always my favorite, too!