My short-term "concrete" style goals

Here are what I think are my most achievable style goals for the next few months. I said concrete because I have tried to get more practical and outfit-oriented so that I had a chance of achieving something, rather than just saying more this or that in general terms. Of course the concretions below stem from observing some of the outfits with higher happiness factors and trying to see what was involved.

--Updated trouser silhouette and more outfit interest/detail—still straight but less wide, which looks less schtumpy to me at present (wearing generally low heels) and is becoming more available in retail, so I have taken the opportunity to update some of these basics for FFBO’s; continue to look for more refined footwear and/or footwear color contrast (e.g. burgundy, gray, cognac, or pattern).

--“New “ (to me, this year) silhouette of a somewhat tapered trouser—full-length, working on styling with the right proportional tops and updated footwear combos. Pleated-tapered, slim tapered if I can find curvy fit, slouchy tapered or possibly track-pant type options, but focus is work-worthy style & fabrications. I’m wondering if all of this is going off-trend already, but so be it.

--Refresh pencil skirt outfits: such as: bolder pattern or textures in skirt itself; wear skirts with newer footwear and/or tights options—refined oxford (lower vamp, slimmer silhouette, +/- slight heel), slipper flat or new type of boot/bootie; continue with classic flats for comfort and simplicity; new tights options (not-black neutrals and subtle patterns).

--Oversized long and/or short boxy sweater/knit tops, incl. hi-low, possibly dressy “sweatshirt” styles with pencil skirts or slimmer pants, depending on proportions —a form of the loose-over-fitted silhouette that still seems in style (?) and functions well for work.

There could be more, but these seem the top contenders based on how they look to me plus what has been available either in B&M or with reasonable on-line time. The practical aspects of whether I can actually find the pieces needed to create certain looks has been important so that I can at least move from style point A to point B and not spend inordinate amounts of time searching and returning. Or perhaps, just learning to focus on a couple of types of “new” looks at a time and not get too scattered—the bird in the hand concept. So my goal now is to try to organize my closet and dressing routine around these "looks".

Do these seem very tame to YLF? I yam where I yam, but would love to hear if you’ve also figured out some kind of focus or formula that constitutes your "seasonal" or short-term style evolution.

12 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

I think these are wonderful and specific - I need to do exactly this kind of concrete thinking instead of flailing around.

Alassë

Good job pinpointing your exact goals, Unfrumped. I like the phrase "some kind of focus or formula that constitutes your 'seasonal' or short-term style evolution."

Suz

(website)

These sound do-able to me. They also sound pretty ambitious. I'm not sure I can handle so many at a time.

Mine are even simpler, like: Update tall boot capsule. Update knitwear. Buy 3 new toppers (if I can find what I want). Buy a new bag. That kind of thing.

But maybe this still leaves too much to chance -- i.e. "update" might not be specific enough. I find, though, if I keep Angie's blog posts in mind, it tends to help me understand what types of fit I'm aiming toward.

unfrumped

alaskagirl, you don't seem scattered to me;; your style is fabulosity.
Alasse, thank you, you can see I've had to bite off small amounts!

Suz, it might be too ambitious for me, too! What is is,though, is summarizing and focusing the new items and plans into some kind of discrete do-able outfits. So it is, as you say, a way of naming the update as something specific so I could both get it and know when I'd got it, if that makes sense. Another way of naming a wardrobe hole, I guess. Plus some examples of each type of outfit has been percolating/coalescing to some extent, so my goal is to "nail down" how to put them together so I can get dressed in the morning!

Parsley

I admire how systematic you've been in identifying your goals, including specific ideas of how to achieve them. Brava!

I'm sure I would benefit from doing the same. I've been facing the somewhat daunting task of replacing just about everything because of weight loss, and I've even had to replace some of my replacements! So I'm trying to figure out what the most essential basics are that I have to have, and then gradually replace the rest.

Parsley, thank you. You describe an interesting situation--and thinking about it, I'd maybe approach it differently post-YLF. Meaning, before I might have said, oh, need black pants, colored tops, whatever. You know, the kind of 10 wardrobe item list or something, even if not those same items, and all kind of mix and match expectations that do not always pan out.

Now instead, I would be thinking in some kind of overlapping ways of activity capsules plus overall silhouette and proportions--something I did not pay as much attention to as before. Not, "buy pants" but, how do I want to look in a total outfit? So then what pieces do I need?

Really I suppose that's how we should be thinking all the time--kind of giving some thought as to what we would want if we were starting from scratch even if not. Not just, I guess I should get this item x because I already have the y's to go with it, but, what items, if added, will take me where I want to go?

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