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Musings and a big change

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I posted earlier this week that I wanted to start a shopping budget from September.

Upon further reflections, I've decided that I will be going on a shopping fast instead. I've added a lot of new clothes to my wardrobe this summer in parts. I have a wonderful collection of clothes, it all fits well, and I'm yet to wear several pieces at all.

My wardrobe is in a very happy place as of now. I refreshed almost all categories --- dresses, tunics, tops, scarves, sandals and jeans. Now is the time the ENJOY these purchases. I will still be wearing my summer clothes well into November, so there is lots of time for these new additions to come out and play. Adding anything more will only be wasteful, and I'll again fall into the trap of having more clothes than I can possibly wear.

Apart from my trip to Singapore, I don't intend to shop at all from now until winters actually arrive. Even then, I highly doubt my winter collection needs any refreshing....with the exception of one pair of black heeled booties. I may add a red or bright blue coat, but only if I can find something that steals my heart.

The plan, as of now, is to use all the learning from my time on YLF to wear my winter clothes in fresh, new ways and update my style without having to update my wardrobe much. My bootcut jeans (I have 4 pairs now) will nicely refresh my winter style, along with the booties, and will be a welcome change from skinnies tucked into tall boots. My new scarves (I've added 8 this season) will nicely change up the look of old sweaters and coats.

I've learnt a lot from YLF to wear older clothes in new combinations and now is to time to put all those learnings into practice.

This shopping fast is exactly what I need for the next leg of my style journey ---- i.e., to have fun with fashion and let it become a creative outlet. There is nothing creative about buying something new to wear every weekend, in my opinion.

So I will be playing a lot more in my closet and I hope to get to know my wardrobe, my style and my dressing needs a lot better. No more impulsive shopping and the hunt for the next PERFECT thing for me. I'm excited about this new leg of my style journey

Shopping

35 replies

Latest reply was from Maneera

Murph11

Veteran

Wow, Maneera -- Such focus! Good for you! I look forward to hearing how you handle this fast in times of weakness

lyn67

Veteran

I may join your shopping fast, Maneera! This post could have been written by me. So wish (us) luck and perseverance:-).

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Much luck to us, Lyn. I will not fail....and if you stick around, I won't let you fail either

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Thank you Murpheleven. I had this epiphany last night that I was beginning to enjoy shopping more than i enjoyed honing my style. That's not a path I want to head down. I've made some fabulous purchases.....time to put them to work!

celia

Veteran

I like the way you say that being creative is not to buy a new item of clothing every weekend.
I look forward to see what outfits you can create with what you already have.

Anonymous

Yes, I agree with Celia, I love how you expressed your point about creativity not equalling going out and buying more. I think Angie is a great and inspiring personification of that. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations. And enjoy that trip to Singapore.

Sara L.

Veteran

Sounds like a focused plan. I'll be interested in seeing your outfit creations and how the shopping ban works for you.

Alassë

Veteran

Best wishes for your challenge!

BethT

I am in the same place you are and am currently in a shopping fast as well. I am putting my efforts into working with what I have, taking pictures (maybe actually posting them someday), and figuring what I need. It's great to read your thoughts as they really are very supportive for me!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Wow, Maneera! This is a big change! I thought you came up with some really fab outfits during your shopping fast in July...and that experimentation/creativity was what led you to shorten the denim vest that's become such a workhorse for you. I can't wait to see what you come up with over the next few months.

I agree that it's really important to enjoy what we have instead of constantly plotting the next acquisition. That can get exhausting.

Anonymous

How wise you are Maneera! I have the feeling you're going to have a great fall shopping in your closet. Let us know what wonderful outfits you create.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Thank you very much, ladies.

I intend to really really step up my game. No more quick shorts and tees outfits for me. I'm going to actually put all my purchases to the All Day test....atleast the non-dressy items. Some dresses and tops are not meant to be worn at home, so they'll get worn over weekends.

What I'm really excited about is bringing out my shoes. Enough of hoarding shoes you only wear over the weekends! As I had planned, I'm going to create FULL outfits - clothes + shoes + accessories. I just feel like dressing at home like I'd dress to go out this month! Of course, I won't be wearing any heels

I will click photos everyday. And I'll post them every few days.

Anonymous

Good for you, Maneera. You always inspire me.

Anonymous

Look forward to your creative posts--dressing as art. Beauty and function, re-envisioning what we have, shopping at home. tis a wonderful welcoming of who you are.

abc

Veteran

I think this is a natural next step in your journey. Congrats for making this decision. You'll learn a lot and look at shopping differently afterwards, too.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

A lot of this really resonated with Maneera... I may join you as well, although I'm not sure I want to put that into writing :).

I was thinking this about my summer wardrobe just last night... I love my summer clothes, and there just isn't enough time to wear them all, let alone wear them all enough. So I'm almost looking forward to NEXT year to have more fun with my summer clothes. Right now I'm desperately wearing my favourites before the weather turns.

I bought several new pieces for fall during NAS, a couple of them were even HEWI's, and I seem to remember I was pretty happy with my fall/winter clothes last year. So with any luck that adds up to needing very little. It's time to sit back and enjoy. But I will publicly say that I'm allowed a new pair of black short boots... my workhorse ones were ready to be replaced two years ago, and I'm still looking for the perfect pair to replace them. Preferable before they fall off my feet. I may also add a new winter coat. Last year I lived in my black Costco puffer... I think I deserve a better, colourful coat esp given the length of our winters!

Evie

I am so with you in this, Maneera! I have a tendency to keep adding new items to my closet, instead of wearing and enjoying the many pieces I've already invested in!!! I, too, would love to stop the shopping sprees and exchange them for some creativity. I would love to see myself developing greater creative skills and finding joy in the creative process itself. I am a very visual person, and therefore quite an impulsive buyer! Thanks for inspiring me to do something I've known I need to do for a long time!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I'm glad to hear you say that, Evie. Atleast I'm not the only one! I am a very visual person too....and quite an impulsive buyer. I think I probably buy something every single week! But as Elizabeth says ---- I have too many great clothes and shoes, and not enough time to wear them....let alone wear them enough. I do have September and October (and who knows, maybe even some part of November), but Im sure I won't be wearing any skirts/dresses/shorts post October. I've got to make the most of September! And that won't happen if I still keep adding more clothes.

Elizabeth, I need black boots too. And will hopefully find a new coat for winter as well I'll make more concrete decisions once my winter clothes come out of storage...But for now, it's all about enjoying the fab summer buys, while I still can.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Whoot! This is a great place to be with your closet and I predict you will make many discoveries about your style during your self-imposed fast.

One thing that might make the time go smoother would be to count wears. It sounds tedious, but I did it last winter and found out much more about my style than I had expected! I don't have a huge wardrobe and I thought I knew what I was and wasn't wearing. Well...I did know. But I didn't always understand what I was missing...or why I wasn't wearing certain things. Often it is weather or occasion related, but sometimes it was about not having the right companions. And so forth.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

That's a good idea, Suz. I'll do this too!

Atleast I'll have a clearer idea of what kind of clothes I tend to wear repetedly. Then when I'm ready to shop again, I'll know what to buy. And if I discover orphans or outfits with some missing support acts, I can fix that too. Thanks for the suggestion...sounds very logical at this stage

Astrid

Veteran

That sounds like a good plan, Maneera. I think taking a break and just enjoying your clothes can really help you to pin down your style preferences and clothing needs. If you quit shopping for a while you have way more time to put thought into actually dressing and it's easier to pay attention to the goodies you already have. I also think consciously taking care and paying attention to the things you own can really help with wardrobe contentment.

Adelfa

Veteran

I have enjoyed my shopping fasts. I think you will too.

Sal

Veteran

I took two 1/2 months off shopping (and it was actually from the 8th June to the 27th of August so 2/12 to be fair). I planned to wait until September but I found some things I loved and decided to pounce.

I have not gone naked out of the house during this time.....

Over the last week however I have bought three new items- I have only shared one with the forum. They were the three items at the top of my list and two have had good use already, and I am very confident the third will too.

I have tried a few new combinations (some have worked, others not) and done lots of repeating. I have taken a few pics which have helped and looked at what suits me.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think you will enjoy playing in your closet just as much as shopping - can't wait to see what you come up with!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Agreeing with Suz about counting your wears - it has made such a difference to me (I resisted doing it for SO long). It is frightening how little we "need".

I also make note of what did & didn't feel right with my outfits - it is often the same sort of thing. For example, fit is very important to me on the top half of my body. If the fit is off I tend not to want to wear it, so I am much pickier about how my tops fit now. I have also learned that I don't like high contrast outfits on me - so I make sure I have a mix of light, medium & dark tops to work with my bottoms.

It sounds like you are in a wonderful place can't wait to see where you go from here

Brooklyn

Veteran

Good for you Maneera! I look forward to hearing about what you learn. I have become much more focussed in my shopping as a result of ylf. I actually have a list now of things I need to update or replace things in my existing wardrobe. To avoid impulse buys or repetition. I think it is making a difference for me but its early days yet.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Caro----you have literally put my thoughts into words. The reason I resist counting my wears ---- I will find out the number of things I actually 'need' is frighteningly low. And then, how will I justify my 'bursting at the seams' closet even to myself? However, ignoring the facts doesn't make them any less true, doesn't make them go away.

Phew. The kind of person I am.... I think I'll never be able to completely STOP impulse buys. But I've gotten way way way way pickier since I joined YLF...so most things don't pass my high standard, thankfully. That, in itself, has really brought down shopping numbers. To be fair, while I was shopping often, both online and offline, I wasn't keeping EVERYTHING.

In fact, today I intend to count and document all things that I haven't worn yet....and make a conscious effort to wear them. That should be FUN!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think not having new things to distract you will help you get to know what you have better. Caro is wise, very wise.

Dee

Veteran

Maneera, I've done a good chunk of my fall shopping so I should probably also step back and wear the heck out of my clothes! I think it's great to have a wardrobe that you like and suits you well - and to edit out the things you don't. A shopping fast should help on both of those counts. You've done a lot of analyzing since you joined YLF so I'm excited to see where you go next!

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