Resolutions for next summer - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Resolutions for next summer

anne

Veteran

We are well and truly still in summer here in Australia, but here's my thoughts for next summer
1. Buy a pair of (for me) expensive sandals made with soft leather for work.
My expensive summer casual sandals (see below in finds) have been a revelation in comfort. I also have some wonderful heels from when I first joined YLF (maybe 7 years old) that are similiarly soft - both sadly too high and have to be worn with caution

2. Spend a bit more on summer casual clothes.
My summer non-work wardrobe is where I really skimp. Apart from shoes, it would be rare for me to spend more than $25 on an item, and frequently less. It's been (for the Aussies here) Valley Girl etc with Target the fanciest. AND, I have been have had more duds in this category than anything else.

Last winter I splurged on a top from Katies (usually considered by me as too pricy) and it became a workhorse. Since it was on sale it was only about $10 more than I'd have paid at a cheaper shop and I was very pleased by it.

So I'm thinking of doing a version of that minimum purchase idea - like say 3 items of at least $30 or $40 each.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

View Info

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from Ginger

Joy

Veteran

I think that you are on the right track to buy a few nicer things. The best items in my wardrobe are all Angie picks that came at a bit higher price than I am used to paying but have had staying power because they are well made.

anne

Veteran

Thanks Joy. Nice to have that encouragment from your experience as this actually feels like quite a big step for me.

The third part of this resolution is to try pretty hard to buy things that are current and new and NOT things I have been thinking about getting for the last 3 years!

Sal

Veteran

Comfortable shoes are so worthwhile!!

Casual summer gear can be picked up cheaply - but I find I don't need many summer items because they are so quick to dry. I have been repeating and repeating and repeating!!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

Anne your second point gave me pause as that's exactly what I hope to do going forward. Being careful to not get into a trend on the tail end as I warmed up to it is a great point. I redid an entire wardrobe and have stopped shopping to see where I am at and with all the basics and then some covered any additions will be truly special and just a few. Sounds like you have thought this through and have a sound plan.

anne

Veteran

Sally I don't have many summer items either and I repeat a lot too. I do find though that I am hampered by the fact that so many of them need ironing.
Leaving aside what I'd only wear in the house, or possibly the beach, my "hot summer capsule" consists of 3 dresses.

For less hot summer, of what currently fits, I have one more dress, one pair of clams, 5 or 6 tee shirts and I in addition I wear some of my work tops casually too. No shorts, no skirt if it is too hot to wear denim or a maxi skirt.

I probably have enough, but I'm not that happy with a lot of it.

TraceyLiz, thanks for the encouragement. Hope it goes well with you too!

Sal

Veteran

Your hot summer will be longer than mine- ours is about six to eight weeks, but erratic. I work from home so it all merges in together somewhat. I have enjoyed loose cotton harems with a tank as one option, shorts and long sleeve Kurta top as another, and a loose maxi dress. I have two summer day dresses that I like that are good for weekend and work, and two ankle pants, one skirt and that is about it for daywear plus tops. I think a long sleeve thin cotton top is a great piece to add- markets sometimes have them. Mine died yesterday at the Australia/NZ cricket ODI.

Anonymous

I think I need to FOLLOW exactly the same plan. It makes sense. I really like the sandals in your finds. Very pretty.

Anonymous

Yes to spending a bit more for softer, more comfortable footwear. Looking after you feet is so important and worth it. Also getting one or two items of clothing at slightly higher price is a great plan too. You can consider cuts that suit you and fabrics that wear well. I bet you end up with some more workhorses. Having a budget in place for these purchases is great too. Planning to buy more clothes in your casual collection is a great idea as it sounds like a wardrobe hole and why not feel good at weekends and evenings too? You obviously have a definite need with the hot weather you've been experiencing (39!..yikes!)

Helen11

Veteran

I thought of you, Anne, when I looked in the shoe shop last week. I was looking for comfortable shoes, a little wider than the standard. I still haven't tried on any Ziera shoes, at $200 plus, it's a huge step in price ranges for me. (I went across the road and got $20 shoes at Rivers....)
I agree that spending a bit more on better items is worthwhile. (Do I do that? see above)
Do you think it's worth looking at the end of season sales now?
Summer is my dominant season here. I find it frustrating that the shops are now bringing in winter stock. It only cools down mid- April!

I have read good reviews of Frankie4 shoes. And I did see on the Diana Ferrari website that they list many shoes as a C fitting (and on sale now).

Hope the weather cools a bit for you, soon.

shedev

Veteran

This seems like a good plan.

anne

Veteran

Sally I have a suspicion that NZ hot summer and our hot summers are different creatures! Above a certain point ankle pants and maxi dresses are too hot, along with anything with sleeves, collars, waist bands...
Hot summer isn't monolithic; before the current heatwave we have some quite cool maximums - mid 20s, and often there's only a couple of hot days in a town and then some cooler one - 31 to 34 would be
typical.

DH has just come home, so will write more tomorrow.

rachylou

Veteran

The sandals are brilliant. I think your resolutions have merit if they can get results like that.

And to support the case: My family had to institute a minimum for our Xmas gift exchange. No one wanted another mug! Lol.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Anne, I agree with Sally that summer gear can be picked up pretty cheaply. Last year I got 2 dresses from metalicus that cost $35 each and I have worn them a lot this summer. They are always having sales. And Decjuba currently has lots of summer stuff on sale for $30 each (including the knit top I wore in my last wiw which I thought was a bargain for $40!). I try not to spend too much on summer stuff because it gets such a thrashing (because of the frequent washing) but shoes are a bit different IMO. Maybe you could shout yourself something now. Lots of hot weather left yet

Anonymous

,I am.in a similar situation. I really want to expand my summer casual capsule and am looking for some ideas.

Anne, I think spending a little more per item is good. But replenishing t-shirts/tanks with new ones yearly makes a quite a difference to your fabulousness (colours are bright and true, graphics are not all scaly, blacks are really black, shape is still good).

As far as shoes, definitely get yourself a good pair, because shoes are one of the only elements that can show style in the summer. A nice change from jandals/flip flops

My summers are less hot than yours but so very HUMID. A typical day might be 26 with humidity (so more like 32).

ETA: I agree with B. And Sally that you can have many of your summer clothes for quite cheap, so spending a little more on summer things is really not much more at all!

anne

Veteran

Helen - Deb has got some great comfortable shoes from Rivers - they can be a good option. I have such annoyingly problematic feet - I tried on those Ziera sandals I was keen on and even they weren't comfy! (so at least I've stopped wanting them)

Thanks for the shoe recommendations - I'll check them out (I have had a good pair of Diana Ferrai sandals in the past)

Rachylou - I've never heard of that for gifts!! (Mind you mugs are always welcome at my place as we have a high breakage rate)

Brooklyn - you give me encouragement with those examples. I had NO idea that shops like that would sell things so cheaply!

On getting somethings new now - that a couple of you suggested. Am not so keen (despite bargains) for 2 reasons - one is that buying at this point is a common factor in several of my bad purchases, the other is that it doesn't so easily fit in to the plan to buy at the beginning of a fashion cycle.

Smittie - I can NOT handle humidity! My sympathies. Our heat is dry. I did buy a couple of new kind of tee shirts this summer.

Just to add a little extra info, I wanted to say that I'm pretty much proposing more expenditure in this area! Necessary because I've only bought quite small amounts in this area
this summer (4 items)
previous summer (that was supposed to be my big restocking year for that capsule) 5
one before (3 )
One before - possibly none?

rachylou

Veteran

Big family! Of course, maybe I should mention that the minimum didn't help entirely. The next year I got a giant poster George W. Bush...

Sal

Veteran

Yes Anne - your temperatures are much higher. We can have some humid days like in the weekend - 32 degrees and humid, but that is a rarity. I agree - waistbands are the worst!!

It is hard to get the balance between cool and comfortable, and presentable. That is where thin cottons are really great.

I have added to my dressy clothing this summer more than my casual - this season for casual I have only added only one pair of shorts, and one dress that crosses over between work and home.

However, I did bring two pairs of ankle pants, black heels, a black knit smart tank, a bolero and a dress for a wedding into the house. But next summer my casual at home/beach wardrobe will be looking very tired!!

Anonymous

Haha, Anne. By anyone's standards you have not bought yourself very much at all! I say 'go for it!'

Cerinda

Veteran

Thanks for the timely reminder to take stock of this season --really figure out the lessons learned-- before getting to caught up in planning next (snowdrops and crocuses blooming; daffodils up)

Ginger

Veteran

I feel like a cheater, benefiting from your Lessons Learned while able to head directly into my own summer. I need to do a major closet review, but after that I'll be putting together a key list of my own, like yours. My hot summer is from about mid-June to mid-September, give or take a month on either end. I like a large wardrobe to keep from dying of boredom as well as heat. But there are definitely improvements I can make, and some key basics that could add a lot. Thank you for sharing!