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Patterns, Phases, Uniforms?

Ginger

Veteran

I've been noticing a pattern with my wearing. The recent big blocks of WIW's have helped, plus what I'm wearing now. Basically: I go through phases where all I want to wear is a particular silhouette or type of outfit. But this silhouette changes up multiple phases in the same season. Usually a month or more at a time.

November WIWs: Lots of separates. Tops and skirts. A sprinkling of dresses.
December WIWs: Almost all dresses. Some short with leggings, some long.
January so far I don't have enough pictures, but it has been mostly dresses again. I'm wearing separates today mostly because some November WIW's jogged my memory.

This pattern thing is almost a compulsion. When I'm in dress mode, I don't WANT to mess with coordinating a top and skirt. A dress is simple and comfortable and awesome: Boom, outfit done. When I'm in top/skirt mode, I'm enjoying the feel of a very tidy waistline and a swishier skirt. I love the extra color and pattern of a good combination.

None of this is a conscious decision. I don't know why the compulsion changes switch. Is there a name for this? Surely not FFBO. That's usually particular items, whereas this mode is more a silhouette. Maybe uniform dressing, where my subconcious regularly changes the uniform preference?

It's mostly an academic question. (Although I wish I hadn't come up with it when Angie was on vacation! She brings such clarity!) But a good thing to be aware of, and it does raise some other issues.

First, it makes it harder to define style goals and style descriptors. Especially using, for example, the exercise from Unfancy that Style Fan and Janet have used. If I did it, my answers would be largely shaped by the current "pattern." It's hard for me to remember other items and how I feel about them. If I did that exercise in the middle of a Dresses phase, it might give results that aren't encompassing.

Second, what do I do when I'm tired of all the uniforms? Cold weather doesn't last long enough for this to happen. Nor spring and fall, since I'm kept hopping keeping up with the daily and hourly temperature swings. But my "Hot Weather" dressing season lasts for 4-6 months. I do go back and forth between dresses, and tops and skirts. But eventually I get sick of it all. Especially in September and October when fall fashion is in full swing and we're still regularly hitting highs of 90-95F or greater.

I know this is something Maneera has mentioned in the past, though I don't remember how she's dealing with it lately.

I doubt a new uniform would help much. (Especially not if it involves pants.) Maybe if it was a different sub-uniform? Maybe I can trick myself into believe it IS a different uniform.

Usually I try to solve this with new purchases. It does help, but shopping just isn't good (for hot weather clothes) at that time of year. And it's very bad for my budget.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from L'Abeille

rachylou

Veteran

Oh this is me. I will wear certain looks for about a month at a time, wear them to death. I pull out mini capsules is what I do, and hang them separate at the front of my closet (I have some waterfall hooks for this). Then they go back in. I sorta SYC once a month or so.

My big problem is SOCKS. I also do this with socks. Wear a certain type for a month and switch. The issue is made insane by OCD laundry habits. I have to separate and then I have to have enough to justify a sock load. I am busy giving away shawls to make room for The Socks...

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

This is me during winter. In the depths of winter (and not this above-freezing nonsense), the weather is remarkably consistent (cold and colder). Once you can predict the weather, then you can find the optimal outfit for style, warmth, and comfort. It then becomes really hard to break out of the habit because you've found something that works, and it removes one less choice from your day.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

It couldd be called a style rotation.

I do it on a monthy basis but maybe weekely because of my restrictive work uniform.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I find that I do this, too.
I am starting to get tired of my winter uniform of sweaters, skinnies and boots, so I am trying to switch things up a bit.
At the end of my long summer I am very bored of the same old pieces. I try to buy summer pieces in fall colors and light layering pieces (vests, short sleeve and open weave sweaters) and save them for this period. I find that earlier in the summer I may do brighter colors, but by fall I want my muted colors and neutrals, and I want to layer (even if its very light pieces). I also switch up footwear for more closed styles that feel more like fall. It's tricky to do when it's still so hot, but it makes me happier.

Sal

Veteran

I took a quick look through the December and November WIW photos which I loved...I do see a pattern although some are separates and some are dresses.
- flared skirts - short, knee length and long'
- you have a couple of key dress silhouettes - full skirt, and falling from the bust in knit (not sure what this one is called, but it is great)
- feminine hairstyles
- low heeled shoes and knee high boots
- statement jewelry

I see a big range of colours - black, ink blue, green, red plus more!!

You carry your looks off brilliantly well. You know what suits you but still mix it up so it is not boring.

To a degree I think most of us have a period when during the year we struggle with inspiration - for me it is late winter, but this summer has been so cool I have not worn several of my most favourite pieces yet!! I am finding this annoying. In your late summer/fall perhaps this is the time to really wear the unworn pieces, experiment with new combinations and partake in challenges.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ginger, I think this is a great insight. Taking pictures teaches us so much. I found something similar almost immediately when I tried to use the Unfancy questionnaire (which I still found useful, by the way). Anyway, in my case, what I instantly learned was that my favourite items are favourites for about 2 months at a time and then not any more (apart from a few notable exceptions like certain denim) -- and in my case, it's pretty much weather related.

I like Ledonna's term of "style rotation."

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA -- living where I do, I have the opposite problem in terms of seasonal boredom. I love love love and never get sick of my spring/summer things, and get so so bored of my winter ones. I have tried to deal with it by varying silhouettes in winter but do struggle with it. For instance I bought leggings hoping I could switch things up with tunic and leggings, but guess what? I hate how they look on me and also how they feel and won't wear them. It's too wet and slushy for me to wear flares or I would. I've been a bit more successful with culottes.

That could also be an option for you, by the way -- culottes or sarong style shorts...skirt-like but still slightly different.

JAileen

Veteran

I do that too. My uniform now is bootcut jeans and a charcoal grey long sleeve tee. (I know, pretty specific.) Then I add something warm such as a sweater, and then boots.

One day I wore a lavender tee and was annoyed with myself when it didn't work with accessories I wanted to wear.

Ginger

Veteran

Rachy, you're more organized than I! I don't even realize I'm doing a mini capsule until halfway in.

gradfashionista, reliable weather is definitely part of why I get so fed up in warm weather. I guess I wear the formulas to death until I'm ready for a change, but then the weather won't cooperate! At first it's such a relief when the daily temps aren't always 78F-98F or more... and then it's a big letdown to realize that that 72F-92F makes absolutely zero difference in how I need to dress. This fall I was just counting the days until our highs stayed out of the 90s... then out of the 80s... (It wasn't in November, FWIW, and we've hit 80 2 or 3 times since then anyway.)

Ledonna, style rotation makes a lot of sense. It sounds like you're also a lot more organized and self-aware than I am!

chewy, I think your approach is very wise. I made an attempt a couple years ago to add more fall-colored items in cool fabrications, but I never did enough to make a capsule. I didn't try it with footwear, either. That is something I can work on now. I feel the urge to layer, too, but I can't handle it even with light ones when the high is still 85+. That takes me well into October usually. But the right colors and shoes (and switching my bag out) may help.

Wow, Sally, that was a great summary of my style! I'm especially struck by how spot-on my footwear is. Yes, it's either flats or tall boots. I added some terrific gray booties over Christmas, but that's it. These are almost all work outfits; I'm not good at WIW'ing regular not-work clothes.
I've thought about challenges, but to be honest I feel so grumpy about it! Miffed at the weather I guess, which is a silly thing to do. Maybe I do need that kind of discipline.

I'm intrigued, Suz - when you say your favorites are so for only 2 months at a time, does that mean your weather changes significantly every 2 months and that drives the timing? Interesting! This recent "rotation" for me was roughly a month long, but I remember a summer where I wore basically two skirts and a galaxy of blouses. Had to have been 3+ months. So apparently my timing varies, even without weather input.

I've tried culottes very very occasionally, and it's a disaster. Probably much like you and leggings. I think my proportions are just so far out that it won't work. I'm reliably a size 6 or sometimes 4 in blouses... size charts put my hips in a 16. Not really a matter of JFE, unfortunately! Sarong shorts might be fun to try, though. Shorts and short skirts seem to let my eye get away with more JFE looks because of the structure from my long legs. That won't really help at work, though. However, I have thought of adding maxi dresses. I know they aren't Angie's favorite, but I have two that I really like wearing. That would mix it up a bit more and still be practical for the weather.

JAileen, you are amazingly precise! I would be very bored wearing the same thing, but it does sound very straightforward. And it makes perfect sense that the lavender tee would throw off all of your accustomed coordination. Coincidentally, I have a hard time using lavender and purple.

GLAMOROUS Long Sleeve Printed Lace Up Maxi Dress

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Style Fan

Veteran

I think Sally did a great job of describing your style. It is hard to put words to your own style. I have been agonizing about it for awhile. Longer than I have been on YLF. I have done lots of quizzes. I would like to know why I always end up as romantic when I never wear ruffles!
I actually think you have a good sense of what looks good on you and what your style is. When you showed the swing dress it was not what you usually wore. You could pull it off but it wasn't your usual retro style. I think of you in fitted tops and flared skirts. It might be a dress or separates but that is usually the silhouette. You also have nice pretty touches like earrings or patterned tights.

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Ginger. I love maxi dresses and would like a winter one. Some of them are too boho for me, and some are too "sexy", not allowing bras etc.

Anonymous

This is a fascinating post. I love the idea of wearing a "uniform." But it never occurred to me that the uniform could evolve from one month to another. I will be back later to read all the comments.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ginger, you'd look gorgeous in a maxi dress. I am not sure how "duchess next door" it is...but the second find might qualify as that.
And it's an easy thing to try, right? No harm in the attempt at adding variety.

In answer to your question, yes -- it's weather related for me. Winter is really long here but it's not the same all the time. There's winter lead-up where you can get away with wool coats unless it's snowing and you probably don't need to wear thermals and you don't really feel the need for heavy sweaters. (Usually November-December). There's deep winter where the thermals and heavy sweaters and snow boots come out to play. (That's pretty much Jan-Feb with sometimes a bit in December and/ or a bit in March) There's end of winter, where you still need winter weight clothing, including cashmere sweaters and puffer or wool coats and snow boots, but the light has changed so the craving for lighter/ brighter colours begins. (March). There's cold spring where you still need a wool coat most of the time but might get away with a trench instead, and you can start breaking out the regular footwear once the snow goes and as long as it is not pouring rain (April). Then there is spring (about 3 minutes in May) and then summer, which goes from June-September but is varied as well, this time more or less in one month increments.

Blazer/ jacket weather (May); variable but often hot but still okay for crops and regular shirts (June); July/August (stinking hot), and September (jacket weather again), and then cold fall (October.)

Style Fan

Veteran

Suz I love how you describe our weather. Spring is 3 minutes in May. Now I know why I never wear my Spring clothes. Really it is always winter or stinking hot.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I think it's inevitable when you have a long season that you get sick of the clothing options by the end of it. I too find that I can't tolerate pants or jeans in summer, at least not for daytime wear. So I am limited to skirts, dresses and shorts in summer. And shorts aren't work appropriate for me. This summer I have been experimenting with changing up my look with accessories (shoes, bag, jewellery). I think this can work for me because I like to dabble in a lot of looks (boho, hard edge, 70s retro, classic). But your style is much more defined and cohesive than mine, so that might not work for you. Colour and pattern changes are probably the way to go.
Don't rule out culottes. I have one pair of heavier weight culottes (see find). I may try summer weight ones next year if the trend stays (it is big here) AND I decide I am happy with the ones I have (the jury is definitely still out!). You might like the style I got, it looks more like a wrap skirt and less like pants. You could get something similar and have it taken in at the waist for a nice A line effect.

Noisy May Wrap Front Wide Crop Pant

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Ginger

Veteran

Suz, that is utterly fascinating that your weather is so precise. Now wonder that you have specific capsules; it sounds like an excellent way to handle these changes. And this concept is entirely foreign to me. I can depending on it being above 90F from mid-June to mid-August (and often way above), but after that, anything goes. Any temperature, any weather from wind, clouds, sun, rain, ice, and snow. Christmas Day, for example. The record high is 80F, the record lowest high is 18F. That's just a data point, but it's representative of the kind of extreme variation. Did you see the concert dress on my December WIW? The high that day was 73, roughly about noon. By midnight it was 22, thanks to a Canadian cold front (hehe), and wind chills were below 0F the next morning. (I find weather fascinating; this article explains which cities in the U.S. are statistically predictable vs. unpredictable and why.)

I think this is part of why I find skirts and dresses so appealing. Unless it gets above a certain temperature, I can just choose the right warmth of dress and layer under and over as necessary.

Brooklyn, our preferences sound very similar. I live in shorts when I'm not at work, too. I would love to add more shoes! But shoes are a seriously weakness for me... I probably shouldn't give myself permission to go crazy there. Culottes... I try to keep an open mind, I really do. But seriously, I don't see them on *anyone* around here. I don't want to stand out that much. Especially since my style is not avant garde (which they would be in my environment). Especially since they are incredibly hip-emphasizing. Especially since I would have to make them, to get them to fit a 15" waist/hip difference. The only kind I know I could carry off would look like one of those 70s divided skirts with front and back box pleats. But I have no idea what to pair with that. And I wouldn't feel comfortable.

Ginger

Veteran

Oh! Suz, I forgot to mention that ironically, the Duchess DID wear that first maxi dress. On tour in India last spring. It was a wild card purchase for me, but when I saw it on sale at ASOS I tried it because I'd already seen it on her. I don't think it's strictly Duchess style, either; it's more back to Kate Middleton style. But it was perfectly suited for the time and place and activity. I like it because it looks and feels fabulous and fits very well.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, that is amazing!! So fun. I definitely think you should give it a go then!

harmonica

Veteran

Wow, great insights, Ginger! This is so me, but I didn't realize until now. I've found that I wear some pieces all the time for a period (or a season), then feel a need to change it up. I live in a climate similar to Suz and seldom get bored with my summer wardrobe. I like Ledonna's term style rotation.

L'Abeille

Veteran

My climate is similar to Suz's, except more moderated by closeness to the ocean. So our 3-minute spring comes 2-4 weeks later, and summer could be very hot, or more likely cool and rainy, so what I need/want to wear on the hottest days will depend on where I am that week: air conditioned office, sailboat or beach, or visiting a city. (Thus my summer wardrobe is really diverse, whereas in winter I am more content to re-wear the same outfit almost weekly.)

What this thread has made me realize is this: although I break up my wardrobe (conceptually; it's all there in the closet) into mini-capsules: festive, deep winter, late winter, sick-of-winter, cold spring etc, I have done this exclusively based on colour scheme (for someone who basically wears black, white, and red, you wouldn't think it possible, but it is). I have never paid attention to what silhouettes I choose, prefer, or feel in the mood for, in terms of determining a pattern. Clearly I have some work to do. (Well, it WORKS as is, but I get bored, so this gives me another angle to focus on.)

Ginger

Veteran

Double post!

Ginger

Veteran

harmonica, I first realized it when I wore a white skirt I made all. summer. long. At least twice a week for probably three months. And I was happy with it, and looking forward to wearing it again the next summer... Instead, I had to force myself to reach for it. It just didn't feel like what I wanted to wear! I used to think it was burn out, and so I've been more hesitant to wear things I like. But now, I think it's Ledonna's style rotation. Just a natural thing.

L'Abeille, I'm totally fascinated that your capsules are based on color scheme at all, much less that they're all different and still black, white, and red! I would love to see that. But if you're bored, that's not the best thing. Silhouette is definitely something to work on.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Ginger, I live in the moment enough that I struggle to recall what I want to wear at different times of the year, or why I even own those items. But as an outline:

Festive season (from start of Advent to end of Christmas/New Years) I will incorporate something bright and cheerful every day. Lots of jewel tones (red sweaters or blouses, scarves with jewel tones, my scant few deep green items); the metallic and glittery pieces I acquired for being in musical extravaganzas; if all black, some sparkle and texture.

Come January, just like with diet and exercise, I'm in the mood for clean and simple: so I'll wear black and white, or black and grey, but not both. And of course lots of cozy knits.

And... I can't remember how I switch it up for sick-of-winter; but when it should be spring but isn't, I pull out some pale blue and aqua items (like I own about 3 in all) and try to do springlike colours with winter items (I think Suz and Joy do the same); even the odd floral. Once actual warm weather arrives, I don't need the pastels for mood boost, and my nautical navy and white come to the fore.

Oh and plaids and tartans all over the place in late fall but rare in spring. (From the StatsCanada twitter parody account: Today 93% of Canadians put away the fall plaid and got out the winter plaid.)