My 2019 numbers - YouLookFab Forum

It’s the beginning of December and I have spent my shopping budget for 2019, and am left quite grateful and content. December is too busy for clothes shopping in my book anyway. Time for some introspection...

For context: halfway through the year, after much consideration, I decided to increase my shopping budget. I realized my wardrobe was still heavily in transition two years after having had a baby and this was just something I had to accept.

I’ve bought 43 items in 2019 excluding undies, sleepwear and gear. I keep no numbers on culled items. But I did get rid of a lot of ill-fitting pants and shoes, and put some items I’m not feeling right now in a holding zone. So all in all my active wardrobe remained more or less the same size.

Breakdown by type:
10 pairs of pants (the first to go when weight fluctuates)
1 skirt (new-to-me midi style)
1 dress (also midi)
5 sweaters (started to prefer sweaters over cardigans)
3 jackets (also prefer jackets over cardigans)
6 shirts
5 tees
7 pairs of shoes
2 bags
3 scarves

Of these 43 there have been 3 duds and 3 items that aren’t currently earning their keep. The duds were a bag I ordered online with no option of returning, but that was disappointing in quality and has been relegated to casual wear only. And a pair of Ecco shoes bought on holiday – I know they get a lot of love from Angie but the fit was off on me and they caused blisters. I’m hoping to resell the Eccos as they’re in pristine condition but will need to accept a big loss margin. Lesson learnt: for bigger ticket items, make sure to have a return option. Last ‘dud’ is a shirt that came apart at the seams after about 5 wears.

The other three are inexpensive mistakes: a t-shirt in a color that doesn’t suit me as well in daylight as it did in-store. A scarf in a color that’s harder to match and isn’t part of a complement. A knit shirt in a color that’s outside my palette too, and too sporty. Lesson learnt: cheap ‘experimental’ items bought on a whim rarely work for me.

I was pretty bummed at first to have a 14% ‘failure rate’, but after reading other forum members numbers I concluded that this amount of shopping ‘mistakes’ is actually pretty common. So probably I’m not such a bad shopper after all .

So all in all I am pleased with how this year went: the other 37 items have all (but my final two additions) been worn several times. There are hard-working essentials, much-loved statement items and outfit-enhancing completers. My budget increase allowed me to work on all these categories resulting in wardrobe happiness in every season!

For 2020 I’m going to try and focus on upgrading my casual wardrobe. I say try, because I just have so much more fun buying office clothes that I know won’t get dirty in the blink of an eye…

I'll follow up with some MVP's in a comment, if you're still reading.

4 years ago

Liesbeth

Veteran

Most valuable players are:
My watch: I now wear it every working day and don’t know why I didn’t get one sooner. I’m loving how it adds bling AND sérieux to any outfit.
On summer weekends I nearly lived in my Uniqlo linen pants – such a relaxed style.
My lightweight pale blue summer coat could take a little rain and added the perfect insulation on cold summer mornings.
Apart from the Ecco’s I’ve had great luck with shoes: my white loafers were a summer hit, my new brogue booties are so comfortable and cool I have to make a conscious effort to not wear them every day. End-of-year additions include two pairs of tall boots (one cognac and one black) that are very promising for MVP’s.
The Uniqlo ezy pants deserve mentioning too, but because I got them in four (!) different variations none counts as an MVP by itself. Still, I think all renditions will easily get to thirty wears in the end...

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by Liesbeth

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notsaf

Congrats Liesbeth! Here's to fewer duds in the new year.

rachylou

Or maybe cheap experimental items do work... mitigating the cost of the lesson (!) I say you had a good year!

slim cat

All decisions were sound and logical. The duds were just a few compare to a great collection that you accumulated this year - job well done!
Since I generally like ECCO shoes I was curious which style of that brand disappointed you ( I had some bad luck too this year ).

Yeah notsaf, that sure is a goal of mine for 2020!
Thanks rachylou. A bitter pill though, the cost of learning ;p.
Slimcat: they are the soft 8 (see find): the heel turned out too tight on me even though they felt comfortably snug in-store!

Cardiff girl

I think that you have done really well.We all get duds no matter how careful we are and 3 in a year is really nothing to beat yourself up about.Shoes are always tricky as until you ve actually worn them you really can’t tell and then it’s too late to return them but if you can re sell the eccos that would be good.

Anonymous

This is a fabulous post!!!!!! Congratulations on a very successful year.

I own two of those Uniqlo pants. They are a MVP in my closet.

I discovered the hard way that if Angie raves about a pair of shoes, they most definitely will not fit my feet. I can eliminate swaths of shoes just by reading her reviews. Shoes are one of my biggest wardrobe challenges due to difficult-to-fit feet. You did great this year.

Finally I commend your 2020 goal. I too am trying to upgrade my casual wardrobe. For some reason, this is a major challenge for me. I'll watch your progress and see if I can learn from you.

Thanks cardiffgirl! I've had good luck with later pairs of shoes, but I did wear them around the house a bit before throwing away the receipt (forum tip). I'm more careful now ;).
Sterling, it's funny (though probably less so for you) that Angie's picks are your no-go's! Good that you know that now. Do share too if you work on your casual clothes!

Helena

Fabulous Liesbeth! Sounds like you've done a terrific job. I like Rachy's comment about the duds. Sounds like this year was a very successful rebuilding year!

taylor

I find it inspiring that you track your purchases, and those that really work out best for you. You have great goals set for 2020 and your casual wardrobe capsule....you are so focused!

nemosmom

It sounds like you had a successful year, in all! 3 duds ain't bad!

LaPed

I'm a big fan of Uniqlo's linen pants too! Definitely a summer MVP. Looks like you had a great footwear year, and 3 duds doesn't seem unreasonable to me. I try to pass things on while they're still current and in good condition and rest assured they'll work for someone out there.

Suz

(website)

You are making me really want to try a pair of Uniglo pants! Amazing.

I think you had a terrific year in fashion. You updated/ revamped your style and had very few duds.

Footwear is always a risk. No matter what. We just can't tell how things will work in the wearing.

Re the Eccos -- I think the style Angie prefers are the 7s. They are softer and a bit "easier" to wear; I know, because I own both 7s and 8s, and wear both -- but I must wear insoles with them for. Different styles of insole for each shoe. In my case, the 8s are horrible LOOSE on the heels and always flop a bit no matter what I do, but I still wear and like them (somehow).

I'm hardly the person to talk, though, because as I was saying to my DH the other day, I think I've only ever owned 4 pair of boots/ shoes/ sandals that did not cause blisters on my first few wears (and sometimes subsequent wears). And at least 3 of those were the most expensive brand of shoes I've ever worn so I can't really afford a whole closet of them.

It's the shape of my foot and I am doomed! Anyway...I use prophylactic blister bandages on my feet and sometimes this actually works.

My "solution" is plenty of variety. It (sort of) works.

karen13

It sounds like your analytical approach is paying off. I love these kinds of posts as I am trying to become a more thoughtful consumer, and I learn so much from all the different approaches on YLF.

I have those Ecco Soft 8s and loved the look, but have found they are not a high mileage shoe for me. I think the rubber edge is just to unforgiving to my wide forefoot and sensitive toes. I did try taking out the insole, but that just dropped my foot farther down and exacerbated the rubber edge issue. I wear them with very thin socks on low mileage days.

For what is is worth, my DD, who is also wide footed, adores the Ecco Soft 7.

Like Suz said - shoes are a challenge. I am trying to only buy shoes in wide widths and then only if I can return them after an extensive in home trial. And I have an extensive selection of different thickness of insoles to layer on top of my orthotics to adjust the fit. Sadly I still have problems and too many shoes that aren't a 10 on the comfort meter.

Thanks TG, taylor, nemosmom!
LaPed: sounds sensible, I just hate the hassle of selling and can't easily bring myself to donating brand new stuff.
Suz, thanks for the detailed input on the eccos. I did size down but the snug heel still slid apparently. Not sure I'll shell out again for ecco's with this risk but they sure look nice.
Karen, glad you find my posts useful! To be honest, I rarely have foot issues and most brands fit me well. I can be grateful for that. I can imagine the frustration of experiencing duds on a regular basis.

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