My 5 dressing resolutions for 2018

I read so many inspiring new year goals on this forum that I thought I should list mine. I'm sure that writing down my resolutions here and reading your insight and advice would help actually following them!

1. Quality first - In the past years, I have bought too many poor quality items that were short-lasting and/or ill-fitting after a few washes. Now I should focus on both quality and fit before any other consideration.

2. Make a style effort for work - There is no dress code in my workplace. As an engineer I work among scientists and geeks who mostly don't care about clothes at all, and it would be easy for me to wear jeans and t-shirts everday. But I also work with military people, who do care about looking dignified and conscientious. Out of consideration for them, I should make an effort to be up to their standards.

3. Wear lighter colors - I love light-colored outfits on others...but personally too often end up wearing black and dark wash denim (as a teenager, I used to be borderline gothic and got used to seeing me in darker hues). The few times I sported white and/or beige outfits, I got so many compliments that I guess these colors I love also fit me well : I should keep these compliments in mind and wear light-colored outfits more often.

4. Be more rational with shoes - I have too many shoes, but I always wear the same ones. Common issue. I should not buy poor quality, unconfortable or not consistent with my lifestyle. No more "but they are sooo pretty!" excuses.

5. Don't forget HEWI - I crave for a few key items, and I should not forget to keep the budget for them (and to actually look for them in stores instead of spreading myself with impulse purchases).

Edit. Added "fit" in #1, following Joy's advice

8 years ago

Toban

Veteran

A great set of guidelines for your year. With the focus on quality in both clothes and shoes, as well as finding HEWI’s, perhaps this year you might try new stores and brands?

kkards

well thought out and comprehensive list...
re the lighter colors, one thing that i will caution...one reason that you maybe getting compliments when you wear light colors is that people are just not used to seeing you in them...if you are comfortable with light colors, go for it, but don't feel you "need" to

krishnidoux

What is HEWI?
I love your list!
For Resolution # 2, you might find only one key piece will do, such a classic jacket or a pair of fine (but still workable) pumps, perhaps featuring a cuban heel or a kitten heel.

Here are my resolutions:

1) Make more with what I have (curate, embelish, alter when necessary, if piece are alone, get the matching item, and purge too when necessary);

2) Prefer cool and style over an image of what I should look like (so this means for me shopping less at Talbots lol).

3) Dress my larger body. I gained about 10 pnds last year. It's not a bad thing for me, but it does make me curvier. I have been frustrated with previous items fit for size 0 and 00 when I am now a 2 or a 4. If I keep trying to fit my curvier self into tiny garments, eventually my brain will revert to older unhealthy modes involving over-exercising and under-eating, leading to all kinds of tiredness, ugliness and rapide aging. So my resolution is to rid my wardrobe of things that make me feel like an encased sausage lol, and to embrace my podgier self. It's not a sin to have a little more on one's frame. Funnilly, not all garments are now rejects: many of them do fit much better at the waist, now that there are some hips to push that waist hem upwards.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Very well thought out. Keep these style goals close and check in on them now and then.

Aurore

Toban: thank you for the idea of trying new stores and brands, thinking more "outside of my box" would indeed help!

kkards: you are so right. Thank you for these words of wisdom.

krishnidoux: HEWI for Highly Elusive Wardrobe Items is an acronym and concept I discovered on Angie's blog, for these items you keep looking for and seem to never find.
I definitely can relate to your #1 and #2 goals. I have to say I admire your perspective and objectivity on your #3, since body image has always been an issue for me...with such a state of mind, I think you can only succeed!

Angie: thank you for the support!

Anonymous

You might change or reword the first resolution to include FIT, but maybe that is already a given for you. Good list of resolutions to follow.

Stagiaire Fash

Those sound great. Interesting perspective on the two different cultures at work.

Krishna, I can so relate to the hips pushing waistbands up. That can be a couple inches on me, and it makes a real difference with some skirts.

unfrumped

Aurore, that’s a great list. I need to have” look for the things on your list/ HEWI ‘s “ on my goals list also!

Style Fan

Aurore, your list sounds great. I am still working on mine. I have been trying to only buy quality items for a few years now and it really does make a difference.

Thank you all for your insight!

Joy, FIT is indeed more a base shopping principle than a resolution for me (even if assessing if something actually fits is not always easy). I reworded my resolution to include it since quality without fit is not worth it...

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