My favorite (old) things - YouLookFab Forum

Dear YLF,

It has been some time since my last post but I have been following attentively and enjoying everyone's posts.
This has been a tumultuous and challenging year for everyone and emotions have been on a rollercoaster.
I am having a difficult time choosing the title for this post as I am also trying to understand what lesson I can take from my current approach to clothing, churn, dressing and all that goes with it.
The current resurgence of 90's fashion that I strongly identify with triggered an internal process of understanding what are the items that usually are part of my wardrobe in one version or another. This was something I already knew at some level but I went a step forward.
I would usually clean my wardrobe by giving away the items that have bad or unfortunate feelings attached to them. In the beginning of the year, even before COVID I decided to not give away things and allocate a bigger holding zone because sometimes I would feel that I would pass items that I regret passing, it was not sustainable, DD is fast approaching an age where my clothes fit her and I am starting to feel (confirmed by the whole COVID working from home situation) that my tastes and my way of dressing are determined by what I like and not necessarily by outside constrains.
So, I asked myself "What would happen if I decided to build my wardrobe with the items that bring happy memories ?". By this I don't mean just 'spark joy' but actually remind me of particular situations in which I wore these items or similar that I can take strength from no matter what.
As approaches go this was not the least expensive (and I partly blame Kate Middleton for the Massimo Dutti coat and brown pants), because I realized that there were items that didn't have in my closet but were being revisited in the stores and I really wanted to wear again.
I leave you with the Finds of some of the items that are part of my core wardrobe. I will try to post at least one outfit with the back story soon.
Sorry for the long post and thank you for reading to my musings if you got this far.
Please share your thoughts on this or on your own wardrobe if you would like.

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Relaxed Chunky Turtleneck Sweater

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Top Pick

Massimo Dutti

Handcrafted checked wool coat - Women - Massimo Dutti

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Massimo Dutti

SKINNY FIT HIGH-RISE SATIN TROUSERS - Women - Massimo Dutti

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Banana Republic

Space-Dye Turtleneck Sweater Top

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Banana Republic

Washable Merino Turtleneck Sweater

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Custom Find

by celia

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3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

What an amazing philosophy of dressing! Several people have commented recently on never again wearing things they wore on very bad days. Why not go with the reverse? I never have been able to get my head around wearing things with “low happiness factors”.

Jenni NZ

Sounds a great approach Celia! Whether what you like stays relatively consistent though surely depends on a lot of things? Like how eclectic you are, how many different styles you like?
I have made my wardrobe more sustainable by trying to wear everything in it and thus not having I guess “dead wood” in it. This also makes favourites last longer.
I did enjoy having my 2 daughters borrow my clothes in their teens and early 20s. Now they are 26 and 29 and don’t live here it doesn’t happen.

Jenn

(website)

This is just such a lovely approach..and a powerful realization that there's some core stylistic traits that are going to stay with you and memories that will continue to make you happy over time.

I think I feel this way about Chuck Taylors (per the photo of me wearing them back in the 90s and still today). Some clothes just remind you of who you...and that's not a bad thing.

celia

Fashintern- I actually feel uncomfortable during the day if I am wearing something that 'was there' for an unpleasant situation. This 'feeling' that I get from clothes is one of the main reasons I don't buy secondhand clothing. I have nothing again wearing items from people I know and like but otherwise try not to.

Jenni NZ- " Whether what you like stays relatively consistent though surely depends on a lot of things? Like how eclectic you are, how many different styles you like? "Absolutely! I think it helps that I am more of a classic dresser and am pretty consistent with the colors and fabrics I buy.
Jenn-Yes, brilliant said! Some clothes just remind you of who you are

Joy

That is a fabulous approach. What will determine what you buy? Those items do not yet have a history with you.
I notice most of the finds are tops or toppers. Are these more of a need or create memories more than bottoms do?

Joy- I am not planning on buying anything per say, apart from what I already bought, but an example are the brown pants I bought. When I come across a photo of Kate Middleton wearing them( although we are in no way similar) I remembered that a pair of brown pants was usually in rotation in my wardrobe. In fact ,a pair of very similar brown 5 pocket pants from a brand called El Charro was the first ever purchase I did by myself and that was different from anything else my pears were wearing at the time. I wore the pants trough high school and university and they were 'me'. My practical mind run trough the outfits I could make with a pair of brown pants and the contents of my closet to see if it was worth it but the main draw was that a pair of brown pants was going back to basics and to be confident in my choices even if they are not mainstream(too much to ask from a pair of pants, I know )
Regarding tops/bottoms, I am more attracted to tops/toppers but if I have to add anything bottoms to this list I would say that dark rinse straight jeans, black skirt, tan/corduroy pants and black bootcut trousers will be enough to have on rotation for me.

Runcarla

There have been a lot of (happy) stories told about the garments featured in the OBG outfit posts, so there is something in what you say for sure!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I am nostalgic with you, Celia! Fun approach, and yet another reminder that style is always from the inside out

Jaime

Very interesting idea! I do think I gravitate toward items that I associate with a good day, but have never gone about it intentionally.

Lynne

Lovely, Celia!

Bijou

This is a great wardrobe philosophy and these pieces are all classic and timeless.

Janet

Well, I just realized this post is not new (thanks to a spam post which I removed), but I’m glad it got bumped back up because I missed it the first time around and I enjoyed reading your line of thinking, Celia!

It’s so odd the way situations can imbue a wardrobe item. I have a hard time wearing the coat I wore a year ago when I face-planted riding a Lime scooter (thankfully other than a knot and nasty scrape on my chin and a scraped up hand, I was unhurt). Every time I pull out that coat, the association is there. I haven’t given up on it yet (especially since I’ve not had much occasion to wear it this year anyway), but I sometimes give it the side-eye in my closet.

Conversely, I wore this patterned skirt for the celebration of life party after one of my dearest friends passed away this year. Her family asked us all to dress in bright happy colors, as she loved to do. I wore this skirt with a red sweater. Normally I would expect that associating an item with a memorial would make me sad, but because of the tone of the event, as it was set by her loved ones, the association with that skirt makes me smile and think of her warmth and her smile.

Memories and wardrobe items can be powerful!

Nordstrom

Fuzzi Butterfly Print Asymmetrical Midi Skirt

Mural Mural Blazer Midi Coat | Nordstrom

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