March Shopping Challenge (ETA) - YouLookFab Forum

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March Shopping Challenge (ETA)

Anonymous

This post might be premature, but Suntiger's accountability post triggered me to consider my own shopping challenge.

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....val-gazing

I committed to 36 items. Everything will be counted except underwear and hose. I will count bras, sleepwear, gear, lounge wear.

In January I bought three items.

Two pair of socks (duplication). Great purchase. I wear these every single evening. This year’s product is superior to earlier years. I should have bought three pair.
One pair of jeans.

When the buy/try/return cycle was completed for February, six new items were added. This brings the total to nine.

Longchamp tote in ruby (unsurpassed joy).
Athleta Stash Pocket Saluation Leggings in Black.
Athleta Headlands Hybrid Tights.
Thirdlove 24/7™ Classic T-Shirt Bra in Soft Pink.
Uniqlo Lace Short Sleeve T-Shirt in Blue.
Uniqlo Lace Short Sleeve T-Shirt in Off White.

In March I added two new items for a total of eleven.

Athleta Stash Pocket Saluation Leggings in Grey (duplicate of what I bought in February because they can be worn during the summer months).
REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket in Blue Ether.

Suntiger wrote that as a result of her slow shop, she had a higher success rate compared to last year ….. with many less pieces and much less $ spent. Her purchases are gorgeous and meet her needs. That is what I am striving for as well.

In contrast to Suntiger, I have added much more than I did at this time last year. I can justify the additional purchases based on the need to replenish my wardrobe due to a change in weight. But I am keeping track and judging their merit in my wardrobe rebuild.

I want my purchases to be based on current needs. The second duplication of the Athleta Saluation Leggings in March might have been a reach on my part. I admit that.

The need to duplicate is a wardrobe building problem for me. I am working on it by restricting myself to two identical items. This is actually progress for me.

Thank you Suntiger for proposing such an interesting challenge.

ETA: The Athleta Stash Pocket Saluation Leggings in Grey were returned on March 31st. They were an obvious duplicate and did not fit remotely similar to the black ones. Tighter. Shorter.

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Nordstrom Butter Crew Socks | Nordstrom

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Mid Rise Classic Straight Jeans

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Gap Salutation Stash Pocket Tight In Powervita

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Gap Headlands Hybrid Tight

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Women Lace Short-sleeve T-shirt

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Women Lace Short-sleeve T-shirt

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Shopping

32 replies

Latest reply was from

Anonymous

Duplicating can be a very good strategy, and I'll be duplicating those Athletas too! There are many things I wish I had been able to duplicate, after using and enjoying them, but then they were sold out. Or-they changed the fit (&%$* you cuddleduds...)
And "unsurpassed joy"-that means it was a very good purchase

Anonymous

Thanks Suntiger!

SarahD8

Veteran

Well done, Sterling. Thoughtful as ever. I learn so much from you!

You know, I think some people are just duplicaters. When we find something that works we like to stick with it. ("We" bc I am definitely in that camp myself.) Maybe instead of placing arbitrary limits on your duplication, it would be worth thinking about when this strategy HAS (and hasn't) worked for you. Just a thought to encourage you to be gentle with yourself.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

NICE

You are doing great, Sterling. Thoughtful and practical.

Make sure though, that you're also purchasing items that satisfy your need for wardrobe excitement. You have to love wearing your stuff - not just like them, think they're okay, serve a purpose, and are useful. They have to make you feel fabulous and spark joy. Listen to the emotion in your heart, as well as the reasoning in your head.

If duplicating works for your style - go for it. That said, it's always a trade off to duplicate a tried and tested loved item, or try something new. As a footwear duplicator myself, I understand the dilemma.

LaPed

Veteran

These seem like really smart, hardworking additions, and a lot of them fall into Angie's "basics" category. It seems like all of them satisfy specific needs and/or bring lots of joy. Good work! I have older versions of both of those Athleta leggings (the Salutation and the Headlands) and really like them. They hold up really well too. If you find yourself in the market for more trail tights, I highly recommend these North Face Utility Tights as well. Super comfortable and sturdy and surprisingly flattering.

Runcarla

Veteran

My lace Uniqlo tank tops from last year saw lots of wear and look brand new - one year later. I am looking forward to getting them back in rotation once the temps warm up a bit. They add a dilightfully feminine touch to my otherwise casual outfits - dressing up white jeans or chino bottoms, or peeping out from a jean jacket.

I hope your lace T-shirts turn out to bring your lots of wearing pleasure!

Anonymous

Thank you, SarahD8. Your words give me courage. I can give you the best example of when duplicating failed me. It was pre-YLF. I found the perfect pair of slacks for my life and I bought at least ten pair in every color available with varying lengths. I couldn't wear all those pants and many of them were eventually donated unworn. I was mortified when I realized what I had done.

In constrast, Angie's tactic of duplicating shoes has always been successful for me because of my hard-to-fit feet. If something works, definitely duplicate them.

Angie -- one day I hope to return to buying clothing items that bring me joy. At this point in my life, I am merely rebuilding my wardrobe with the basics I need. I'm ok with that for 2019. It is all part of a plan.

Although very basic, I can say that I am buying in a very careful and measured way. I think the purchase through. Sale shopping is a thing of the past because those purchases rarely served me well. I can also say that my impulse shopping has subsided to some degree. This subsidence probably comes from careful consideration of what do I actually need right now .... at this moment. I've never really bought in this way before.

I think when it is all said and done I will be have a joyful wardrobe that meets my current needs.

Anonymous

RunCarla -- I own TWO of those same Uniqlo sleeveless tops (navy and off white). They do look brand new. I thought adding the short sleeved tee shorts was a no-brainer. They wash great! They look fabulous. And you feel like you are wearing a tee shirt!!!

LaP -- I am buying basics right now. That is what I need the most in my wardrobe. I am thrilled with the Athleta additions. They serve me so well! I have been doing a lot of trial hiking on weekends. I'll look into the North Face Utility Tights!

Bonnie

Veteran

I'm also buying basics. I've neglected that category in the past in favor of statements. Because of my move to a cooler climate, I really needed to add toppers and pants. Your finds look a lot like mine.

Joy

Veteran

Sterling, you are an inspiration, as you carefully consider each purchase.
I am also looking for basics, especially updated bottoms.

Style Fan

Veteran

I am a confirmed duplicator. It works well for me. Your purchases look like a mix of basics and joyful pieces (Longchamp tote).

JAileen

Veteran

Re duplicating, I buy charcoal LS tees in quantity, because I wear them nearly every day. At one point I figured they had each been worn some 25 times, and someone here said I’d gotten my money’s worth from them. So I thanked them for their service (just kidding) and donated them to a shelter. Does gear include hiking pants?

I’m so glad your tote recovered. I’ve done things like that, and it always makes me feel sick. Sometimes they’re fixable, and sometimes not.

Sal

Veteran

Thoughtful careful additions. Love the bag and the tights look fab.

We all need times of replenishing the essentials and basics. My year will be a bit like that too.

Anonymous

We all need times of replenishing our basics. Thank you for reminding me of that, Sal, Joy, and Bonnie. You can take a lot of joy out of building a solid foundation to let your statement pieces really shine. In my case, I just want a solid foundation of clothing to get dressed every single day. My weight continues to fluctuate up and down by ~3 pounds. Last year it fluctuated ~5 pounds. Those 5 pounds meant two different sizes so I was very reluctant to commit to any one size. At least now I am consistently wearing one size! And that is great.

Sal -- good luck replenishing your basics.

JAileen -- I love reading your posts because they always give me outdoor wardrobe aspirations. Hiking pants are categorized as gear. Any item I use to exercise is gear. Some of my hiking pants actually look like sturdy cross overs that can be worn in public though. My tote DID recover. I was so relieved. The grease slowly faded away. Now even I don't see it any more. But no more eating in the car!

Thank you, Style Fan. I think I have a mix of basics and joyful pieces. I derive significant joy from the feel of a good fabric against my skin. That is my problem as I search for long sleeved tee shirts. I know exactly how I want them to feel like against my skin. I'm not finding that with the right combination of neckline I need. I continue the search.

Joy -- It is so nice to see you. My time recently has been devoted to work and I haven't had as much time on the Forum as I would like. I do manage to read your posts; I just haven't had time to comment much. I hope to change that by May. Good luck finding updated bottoms! I'll watch from the sidelines with great interest You do the work. I reap the benefits!

Hi Bonnie -- Buying basics can be a lot of fun, especially if buying for a new cooler climate! I am actually envious. I've been away from the Forum due to work constraints. As a result, I missed any posts you might have made about a move. I'm going back to read them this evening to catch up. Hope the move was successful and you are loving the new cooler climate.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Well done Sterling. You are very disciplined. I think the bag is a smart choice for a “sparks joy” item if your weight is fluctuating and you otherwise need to concentrate on essentials.

Anonymous

Thank you, Brooklyn! The red bag sparks tremendous joy!

jussie

Veteran

I’m a duplicator. Why not? If it works well for you and you wear it all the time then it just makes sense.....

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sounds like a wardrobe and shopping plan worth trying, Sterling. Basics and Essentials are important. And the joyful new bag goes a long way

nemosmom

Veteran

I duplicate essentials! They work so hard, and your statement pieces would be orphaned without a strong supporting cast. It sounds like you are building a great solid foundation for your CURRENT lifestyle and needs, and doing it in a thoughtful way. Thank you for sharing - you are very inspiring!!

delurked

Veteran

Good work sticking to your rebuilding essentials plan. I like the lace tees. Plus, I ordered Athleta bottoms for DD based on your high reviews of them.

karen13

Veteran

Excellent plan and execution. My college age DD now has two pairs of those Athleta tights and never takes them off. I love the pockets on them; and just am not a tights person or I would buy.

I am not co7nting gear in my plan either. It may represent 1/3 of my wardrobe or more, but that is my life in the mountains. Somet8mes I have vague longings for an office job where I could justify all the lovely blouses! Shoes and blazers I see here.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Duplicating isn't something I do, and it surprises me in people who love fashion--I'd expect you to want ALL THE THINGS, but you obviously don't, at least not in the way I'm thinking of.

On rebuilding a wardrobe with the basics you need (and I skipped over a lot of comments, so forgive me if I'm repeating what someone else said); are they really the basics you want? I rediscovered a wheel last fall with my realization that although I consider warm navy tights a winter wardrobe basic, I was much happier with cable knit tights than with the plain fleece-lined ones I had otherwise. That's basically half my "lurking quirk" thing in a nutshell. I don't like big, flashy things, but I do feel good in basics that have just a little upgrade somewhere. I think the lace Uniqlo tops you and Runcarla have fit in that category.

Another thing I've realized I need to do is make sure I get the right colors. I've never felt smashing in neutrals, so I'm getting them very sparingly, and am looking for berry variations of things I would otherwise think I needed to have in black or brown. Of course your leggings probably won't feel as delicious as the perfect ball gown with all the trimmings, but before you load up on plain janes, make sure that's what you want (or, taking the metaphor further, "who you want with you at the ball"). Just my $.02

I'm glad the oil faded!

Anonymous

Hi Delurked. I genuinely do want all the things, but I can't have all the things. So I am selecting things that best allow me to meet my specific goals.

I am currently in a wardrobe rebuild stage. Stocking up on basics is what I need to be doing at this exact time in my life. Although I am very attracted to color and some prints I don't feel the need to own them right now. Navy and blues seem to satisfy my soul.

To be honest, all this could change next year. But if it does, I will have a really solid foundation of basics to build upon.

Hi Karen13. It is the pockets in those Athleta tights that are so fabulous. I don't know how I existed without them in the past. The pockets have literally revolutionized my athletic capsule.

Not everyone is counting gear. I decided to count it because I knew I would likely be buying a good amount in 2019. I haven't been wrong about that so far either. There is nothing wrong with living in gear IF you live in the mountains! YAY you.

Hi Delurked. I was originally concerned that I might have purchased the wrong size in the lace tee shirts. Having worn them, I am relieved I got the size I did. They fit great. The wash even better.

Thank you, Nemosmom! Hearing that so many other people also duplicate makes me feel less embarrassed about it. My wardrobe does work hard. I know because I calculate cost per wear. A garment has to earn its place in my wardrobe. Right now though there are few statement pieces to shine amongst all those basics/essentials, but they will come in the future. I'm very much focusing on my current lifestyle. That is a lesson I learned on the Forum. So thank you!

Hi Jussie! It is nice to know you too are a duplicator! It does makes sense!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Are you talking to me? I think you called me delurked & misunderstood my point. Please tell me you caught the impersonation: "Are you talking to me?" lol

I know you need basics and am not suggesting you shouldn't buy them. But I want you to be sure that the ones you're buying are the ones you want. This worries me To be honest, all this could change next year. But if it does, I will have a really solid foundation of basics to build upon. because you might find you have a solid foundation for something other than what you want to wear. It’s easy to say “parts is parts”, but if you look back at responses to Angie's post on basics, you'll see that there are lots of different kinds of basics. They depend on what they are going to support (new home analogy: I can't buy "wall anchors", because there are different kinds for hanging items of different weights, and for drilling into plaster, wood, or concrete walls). It would be a pity if you move onto the next phase of your wardrobe building and wish you had more light neutrals instead of black jeans & leggings (though pockets are indeed awesome). Or maybe you'll get more into blues instead of black. Maybe you'll be all about pleated midis & want tights instead of socks. Whatever. So even though you are not in that stage yet, I think some thinking and preplanning there might be useful in this stage. I hope that's helpful.

Re buying "all the things"--it's kind of like going by rows vs by columns--to me that phrase means going across and getting one of each, but you did it by going down and getting each iteration of the same thing. A funny difference.

Anonymous

Thanks for sharing this, Sterling. I admire, and appreciate , your pragmatic approach . Sometimes I wish I could start afresh and rebuild from square one - and I'm using my own upcoming move as an opportunity to do a version of that rebuilding . My own basics and essentials are all over the place (figuratively) and I could stand to use your methods and ideas myself. Lastly - I too experience 5 lb weight fluctuations and it's been the bane of my existence for my whole adult life. Fit is a moving target.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I'm really enjoying watching as you go through this rebuilding process and seeing your monthly reports. I do think you'll get to a point where you have a balance of really practical building blocks, and items that make your heart sing because they represent your true style.

When I first started rebuilding my wardrobe after joining the forum several years ago, I did a lot of trying to replicate outfits I liked online. I don't still have many of the pieces I bought back then, but they definitely did lead me to a place where I was comfortable with formulas that worked for me and could recognize (usually) which impulse buys would become workhorses, and which were coming from a more misguided place.

Anonymous

"Fit is a moving target"-wiser words were never spoken!

Anonymous

LisaP -- you are right about the freedom that is created when you do a massive wardrobe purge. You start fresh from the ground up (that includes foundation pieces like bras and underwear).

After having religiously read YLF for years I have a firm understanding of how to go about building a new wardrobe for myself that I obviously lacked years ago. I'll sill make some mistakes, but those mistakes will be very limited.

Jenn -- I agree wholeheartedly. In time I will achieve a solid foundation of basics/essentials. It is at that point that I can start adding in pieces that make my heart sing. And for the first time in my life that new wardrobe will come closest to representing my true style in my real climate for my real life. Amazing!

Fashintern -- How embarrassing. I am so glad you recognized my response to you!!!!!! I tried to go back and fix the post, but it has been too long and it is now memorialized.

Your point is well taken. I am not too concerned about building a wardrobe of basics/essentials that I will find less useful to me. I am buying for my exact current life. I am wearing the new purchases a lot (and doing laundry frequently). Since the wardrobe rebuild is going slowly, I can pivot as needed. And truthfully, my wardrobe will always be built on black or navy pants.

When I responded to you, I was thinking more along the lines of color. Right now I am buying lots of blues and navys because they feel right to me. What I originally meant was that in the future I might add in fuchsia. All these colors will work well with my very neutral wardrobe.

Suntiger -- We'll all have to remember that fit is a moving target. I've learned to keep my wardrobe lean and to really wear the items I buy. No more saving for some undefined special event in the future for me!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I should’ve known you were thinking ahead already. No worries about the name; I’ve done worse.

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