I am falling behind with my challenge. I have not posted any of my outfits from my travel capsule. We have had some visitors and we are having some more. It seems that everyone wants to visit us in Montreal. Also I have a tiny bit of work to do. A tiny bit of work for me is causing mental anguish. Really I need to get it done.
My travel capsule is working out well. I did buy some colourful socks to close the gap between my rolled up jeans and chelsea boots. I found some plum lightweight wool socks (knee high). They are close to the colour of my boots.
I will try to post an outfit.

Stylefan -- You are on "holiday"... in the beautiful city of Montreal. Please do not feel pressured to post or adhere to any "challenge"... unless said challenge is simply to enjoy your travel time and your guests. I can totally understand why everyone wants to come see you in Montreal... lovely hosts... fabulous surroundings. What's not to love about this? Glad your travel capsule is working so well... eliminates a lot of potential anxiety. It was worth the careful planning. Love your idea of colorful socks to "close the gaps" with booties. I plan to do the same this Winter. May you continue to enjoy your time away.

We finally got cooler weather, it's gone from highs in the 90's to highs in the 50's in the last two weeks. I forgot how cold the 50's can be (I know - it's much colder almost everywhere else) and am finding all sorts of wardrobe holes having to do with trying to stay warm. My big accomplishment last week was to style my new red topper which I shared in a forum post. This week I am going to style my new tunic which I bought after seeing Angie's Friday Ensemble post. I have a several holiday parties to attend that are not super dressy, so her suggestions were the perfect solution to what to wear.

Bonnie -- That is a huge drop in temperature. No wonder you feel the chill. I loved your post about your new red topper and how you built a capsule using this coat plus seven additional toppers: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....red-topper Hope this capsule will come in handy now that you are having cooler weather. I look forward to your new post about styling your tunic as per Angie's recent suggestions. I love that formula!

El Cee, I don't know if you are keeping this going this month, but here is my report from last week and my goals.

1. Make outfits with my velvet scarfs. Not done, do this week.
2. Find a place for my sweaters that works. Done. But I put them where my scarves were, which doesn't work. They fell over onto my closet floor yesterday, and took more with them. New challenge, make my scarves storage work.
3. Decide whether or not to wear a dress on Thanksgiving, and if yes, how. Accomplished. I decided not to wear one, as it was cold, and the home we have Thanksgiving at is often quite cold in winter. But did wear a dress yesterday to two different places. First time since early October, and a second wear for one of my NAS dresses. The others are at one and none. Lesson, no new dresses at NAS 2017 unless I get in a lot more wears this year. And then, still, probably no need for more. I was so excited as I hadn't had new dresses in years, and they had elbow length sleeves! New challenge. Look at my calendar and see when to make a point to consider wearing dresses. Maybe write it on my calendar.
4. Start mulling what wardrobe related changes I want in 2017.

I would love some kind of challenge for looking at 2017, either now or starting in January, but El Cee, you have certainly done your share. Whatever you want to do with this post or another or none, I have appreciated your time and support. Thank you.

I just put all 4 of my challenges on my calendar for between today and Wednesday, and for the 2017 changes, through the 31st. I will see if this helps me do the challenges. If not, I may start actually blocking out time.

That is a GREAT idea, Barbara Diane. I always schedule my tasks (both work and personal tasks) and allocate time to get them done.

Barbara Diane -- I will probably run a "finale" thread on Wednesday. We will all probably have enough fashion and non-fashion challenges and demands going on over the holidays. (Do not need to add more to our plates.) We could certainly run a new challenge after the New Year... perhaps in February when a lot of us are bored and in need of inspiration. Kudos to you on what you accomplished this past week. You have a fabulous plan for tackling your new goals. Scheduling these tasks right on your calendar is genius. Putting Sterling in that genius category as well.

Thanks El Cee. You always make me feel so warm and fuzzy. I really need warm, fuzzy feelings this week. A lot of family stuff is going on and it has been hard to focus. Even shopping has been a "chore." Can you imagine? A chore!?

I totally get it Sterling. This time a year can be filled with a lot of stress and over-the-top expectations. Hugs to you! Remember to be as kind to yourself as you are to all of us.

Hi to you all, I have enjoyed the threads and kudos to El Cee for keeping them going.

Nothing much to report here - summer has arrived so it is a pleasure to get dresssed - still not too warm, and I am loving pulling out items both new and old and wearing them.

I would be in for a SYC thread at some stage.

Well, my ball skirt was shipped today (and thus billed to my charge card). Shopping fast broken!

I am going to try to confine myself to building a dressy capsule, while I commit myself to planning for 2017. This next year will be my last participating in the world of work, since I will be retiring in the spring of 2018!

Kiwigal - several of us have expressed interest in either SYC or Purchasing Fasts. They amount to the same thing.

I'll volunteer to start a thread on February 1st for those that are interested. No pressure. It would be more of a learning experience that we can share with one another. I am not going to suggest we start in January because I find the after Christmas sales too tempting (for me personally).

Please list your name here if you are interested. I'll make sure I reach out to each of you in February with a personal invitation.
Sterling

Kiwigal/Sally -- Glad you are enjoying your summer and your warm weather wardrobe. I always look to you ladies in the Southern Hemisphere to give me inspiration in advance of our next season.

Runcarla -- Can't wait to see your ball skirt! Woohoo!!! And I am also looking forward to hearing what you are putting together for your dressy capsule. That is nice that retirement is just around the corner for you. Guess 2017 might be time to focus on more of your casual wardrobe needs in anticipation of this big change. I am not yet retired, but my work environment drastically changed -- going from business casual/office to a (mostly) work from home casual situation. I initially found the transition to be tough.

Sterling -- Count me in for a February challenge! I am always restless and bored about that time. I love Carter's idea about calling the challenge "Shop Your Closet First" so that it is more inclusive and gives some leeway. Some of us may need/want a complete shopping/purchasing fast (probably me), but others may want to include some new things from time to time -- while still giving lots of love to their existing wardrobe. Your "orphan challenge" at the beginning of the year was fabulous in that it helped us to explore and analyze what was already in our closets without putting a "no new purchases" restriction on the exercise. In the end, I ended up not buying too many new things because I was falling back in love with pieces I had ignored. It really was, for me, a "Shop Your Closet" type challenge.

OK ladies -- tomorrow I will post a Week 12 Finale thread so we can look over all we have accomplished. Good work!!!

Sign me up for a 'SYC First' challenge. I need time to study and think about what my closet needs to do for me in the coming year. I'm finding I've got the basics covered for the most part and thinking it needs a boost of excitement that only really on trend items might provide. Just what those on trend items are and how they will work for my life is what I need to think about!

Hi, it's me! Man I can't believe how busy things have been. I have barely been logging on to check out Angie's blog, let alone contributing much to the forum. My challenge for the past couple of weeks has been "get through it, dressed". Accomplished!

But I do have a challenge on for the next couple of weeks. I had mentioned here that we are doing a "Casual December" thing for charity. I had decided that this was a good chance to get to wear dressier jeans and casual clothes a bit more, as I really don't have a lot of opportunity in the winter. (Skinny jeans yes, but boot cuts and wider legs, no go with snow) But I also enjoyed last year's Dec challenge (thanks to Beth Ann) to dress festively for December. So this year... festive casual is my theme. Sparkles and denim. We'll see how it goes... Am on Day 2.

Sterling, I'll definitely be paring back my shopping after Christmas, and will likely participate or take motivation from any SYC "club".

So we have a nice group for the February challenge. As most of our challenges, each participant will define their own personal goals. We will encourage and learn from one another. I'll follow El Cee's example and post a weekly challenge update each week. Looking forward to the fun with each of you.

Carter

Barbara Diane

Kiwigal

El Cee

Elizabeth P

RunCarla

Approprio

Sterling -- Thanks for offering to take this on. I am truly looking forward to the fun of it all! I believe that Carter and Barbara Diane had also expressed potential interest in a challenge... if it fits in with their 2017 goals. I bet some of our other regulars might join in as well. I will post something on tomorrow's finale thread about your February challenge.

Elizabeth P -- Love, love, love your "Sparkles and Denim" challenge theme! I may steal it (with your permission, of course). I may be spending a couple days a week in an office setting this month and next. It would be fun to up my casual style quotient for the holiday/winter season.

Seems we're shooting for February for the start of SYC. Style Lab is doing a wonderful job of exposing the strengths and weaknesses in my wardrobe so I'll have to make sure any gaps are plugged before then.

I may need to skip SL this week. I have a post in the pipeline but I'll be travelling so minding the thread will be difficult.

And I have to pack a tiny capsule. Not a huge challenge but a challenge nonetheless.

Travel safely, Approprio.

Sterling, you're the bomb for stepping up to run the SYC challenge! I know you said that each person's challenge rules are welcome, but I do want to make sure that if I take a SYC first approach but do end up buying something, that that's ok to discuss. It's totally fine if you think that would be detrimental to others. I can always post a separate thread if I'm truly in a quandary about a possible purchase.

Approprio -- Wishing you safe travels. Looking forward to the next edition of your Style Lab... whenever it comes out. Good luck with packing. Even with a shorter trip, planning a capsule is such a good strategy.

Carter -- I am gathering that we will be at liberty to interpret SYC in whatever way works in achieving our own goals. For one person that might mean a total Shopping/purchasing fast. For another that could be analyzing and working with what they already have in their closet in addition to incorporating new purchases into the mix. As Sterling just mentioned above: "each participant will define their own personal goals".

Love the idea of defining our own SYC goals. To be honest, I've NEVER fessed up to wanting to SYC or do a shopping fast as I hate the idea of admitting failure if I then need the forum to help with me a K/R!!

But I'm at the point now where it's not an embarrassing "Yes, I've spent more money" thing, it's a "Seriously, I can't wear what I have, stop getting new stuff!" thing, which for some reason is easier for me to talk about.

Thanks El Cee, Sterling and others

Elizabeth P -- I think a lot of us are on the same page. I personally need to better analyze and utilize what I currently have in my closet before I consider new additions. Careful culling prior to purchasing may be part of this process for me. I do not think I could do a strict "one in, one out" thing... but I need to be more analytical and planned with my future purchases. And I certainly do not need an ever-expanding closet.

Sterling, El Cee: thanks! I started putting together the capsule this evening and I don't think it's going to be a problem, providing I get the laundry done in time.

Elizabeth P: no shame, no blame! As El Cee says, we're all in the same boat. To be honest, my reasons for doing the Style Lab and by extension SYC is not to stop shopping altogether but to be more focused on what I actually need and not what I think I need. I'm already drafting a few get-out clauses of my own

Excellent! Count me in!

Carter -- El Cee explained my thoughts perfectly.

LOL... Angie's post today. "Sparkles and Denim" for the win!

Elizabeth P -- I immediately thought of you when I saw Angie's blog post. Yep... Sparkles and Denim for the win!!!!!