Looking back, looking forward

i am grateful to have had a happy and healthy year (knock wood). I wish all of you the same, if not in 2023, then in 2024!
This year:

I eliminated a whopping 107 items from my wardrobe. A lot of them were duplicates that I just wasn't wearing, and in some cases a whole category, like leggings! I NEVER wear them. My coat collection dropped by half. Anything ill-fitting went out the door as well.
I bought a lot more than I hoped (40 items) but that was still only about 60% of what I have purchased annually in the past. I also spent more on individual items instead of hitting the sales really hard. A step in the right direction.
A few of the things I bought were minor mistakes. The striped turtleneck that was Pinterest-inspired didn't really work out, and I found that the linen tops I bought felt scratchy. I'll keep washing them and maybe they will soften up.

Next year I hope to buy:

Fewer items. For example, I know FOR SURE that I only wear tees and shorts in the summer, so no more dresses or gauzy tops.
Textured and detailed items. Most of my purchases this year fell into simple/playful/practical categories, and in the end it all felt a little boring. Color does not necessarily equal striking.

I guess I would like my 2024 persona to be playful/practical/ROCK STAR! Wish me luck.

I hope you will post your thoughts on this year and hopes for the next. I get so much inspiration and practical advice from this group.

5 months ago

Bonnie

Veteran

You have had a really great year and I love your 2024 Persona. Good job going through your wardrobe and editing out what you don't wear. I did a successful low buy year in 2023 and it feels good. I'm getting to use the items in my wardrobe that I love and gaining more space.

Dee

Love your playful practical ROCKSTAR moniker. Your outfit combinations always seem to have a fun and playful edginess to them. Good job editing out what wasn’t working anymore.

I’m quite satisfied with the way my 2023 fall/winter wardrobe is functioning so far. I’ve stuck to a strict colour palette of mostly solids but with a few striped tops and this has allowed for easy mix and matching.

Things I want to do for 2024:

Be more realistic about the type of items that I actually wear. No more dresses, have plenty not getting much wear already.
Take stock of my spring/summer wardrobe because it feels a little all over the place, particularly with some of my pattered items. Want to pare my patterns down to mostly stripes, polka dots and a few ditsy florals.
Get rid of my uncomfortable footwear and find comfortable yet somewhat stylish footwear that will make my feet happy again.

Suz

(website)

Ooh, I love your new moniker for the year! That is fab and I can see it will nudge you in just the direction you want. Plus, it sounds like you made some progress on fashion goals this year.

I wlll eventually start a thread of my own with some ideas for the coming year, but the short version is, I did a BIG refresh this year -- the biggest in a decade. I retired far more items than usual and also purchased far more than usual. It was time. I've been enjoying my new things enormously.

bj1111

You are a ROCKSTAR.

Good on you to dive deep into your closet. shopping for real life if so hard to get right and still be excited to get dressed.

I hear you about summer wear. I like my jcrew chino shorts and am focusing on more well fitting linen tops that don’t look like I shop at the lands end boys section.

Jenni NZ

Sounds good Roberta! I’m with you on not wearing my dresses enough. Last summer I started wearing some of the nice ones to work to get the wears up and when it warms up (early summer here but so cold I wore a winter outfit today) I hope to do that some more.
Well done on reducing purchase numbers. I’m not quite ready to write any plans/goals yet but it will be more of the same aims- increasing wears of all current items and very judicious purchasing.

kkards

playful/practical/ROCK STAR!
what a great moniker. I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

and I love how self aware you are.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Great new style monika, Roberta! Go PPR! It's exciting and satisfying to see you have fun with fashion. Please carry on

You had a wonderful fashion and style year, and I wish you an even better 2024! You're honing your look with ease and a great attitude. You are fabulous!

Joy

I like your choices for the year and congratulations on the closet clean out. I also did not buy much this year. I added a few metallic medium brown items and a bit of green. Most of my purchases were second hand. I have assigned clothes to various months with a light and dark neutral and a few accent colors or color, so I have been wearing more of my wardrobe. I am happy with more winter colors and outfits. I have added more for really cold days. Replacing boots and booties has gone slower than expected. I have not found much in the way of olive accessories. Sweater dresses are getting a workout. I could use more. In the coming year I need to refresh pants. They need to be pull on and not press on my waist. No back zippers for dresses. This makes it harder to get a good fit in anything. I have lost about ten pounds and pants I have had are falling off of me. Even my feet have changed. I am too small now for many brands, but am unsure of sizes.

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