Sal's July Challenge Day 1 - YouLookFab Forum

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Sal's July Challenge Day 1

Anonymous

I am not planning on posting every day. But I am particularly proud of what I accomplished on July 1 and wanted to share.

My modified Sal's Challenge is to coordinate my bag to my ensemble on a daily basis. I also want to make an effort to wear dressier shoes. Ultimately, it would be great if I could develop some micro accessory capsules. What did Angie used to call these?

Normally, I use a tote to lug stuff to and from work. I reached for my pink suede clutch instead. Pros: This was the first time I used this bag in 2019. I adore the look and feel of this bag in my hand. The pale color lightens up the overall ensemble. I feel sophisticated when I am carrying the clutch and nothing else. Cons: Clutches are really hard to manage when you are carrying a coffee cup, lunch bag, computer, and assorted files. Once again I confirmed the overall stupidity of a clutch in my life on a work day. A clutch does not make any sense whatsoever. My goal is figure out how to use this clutch for non-work days.

I hadn't planned on purging any bags but I seriously questioned why I owned this bag. I chided myself for having purchased such a silly bag in the first place. This purchase does not make me happy. It sparks dismay.

Normally, I wear either black or navy flats. Instead I grabbed some silver flats. Pros: These are great shoes. Comfortable. Great support. Can easily walk a mile. Felt Fabulous and Happy. Cons: None.

Added in a pearl necklace and matching earrings. Felt Fabulous.

July 2. Teleworking. Cleaning house. No bag. No shoes. No jewelry.

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Dressing

24 replies

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Anonymous

Great job, Sterling. Can you attach a shoulder or crossbody strap to your clutch so it can be hands free if desired? I love those silver flats.

nemosmom

Veteran

I hope you find a way to wear the clutch - it is pretty, but should not bring you anguish! Hooray for going out of your normal routine and reaching for the silver shoes!

Anonymous

I have a version of the "it looks so happy but does not suit my life at all" pink clutch too!

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delurked

Veteran

Not every item we own needs to be a workhorse. I think if you reconsider that some items can be for special times, it may be easier to hold onto things you bought because you enjoy. Not every single item will have a low CPW.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Hi Sterling! The micro-capsules...are you thinking of Angie's "complements"?

Anonymous

Complements! Thank you, EmilyK.

You are so right, Delurked. But I still need to somehow put that bag front and center so that when those rare occasions occur, I remember it and use it. I would so love to have this bag "spark joy.

Suntiger -- You make me laugh!!! I sure would like to own your clutch though. It is that pretty. Out of curiosity. Are you finding a use for it?

Thanks, Nemosmom! I am going to continue to consider how to use that bag going forward. It is just too nice to let it sit in a dust cover in a back closet. My goal is to find a reason to use it once every two weeks.

Thanks Joy! You and I did GREAT right of the gate, didn't we? There is no way to attach straps to this bag. It is shame too. I think this bag was meant for a woman with an entirely different life style. OR for a woman that not lug her entire life around with her everywhere she goes. It would be entirely different if I didn't carry coffee and a lunch bag.

delurked

Veteran

Do you have any bags that fit into a larger tote? I may try to revive some smaller bags that way. So I can take out the small purse and carry as needed, but have a larger one with my other items for the other part of the day. It might help me reduce shoulder pain.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I agree with you that clutches are not meant for “lugging” stuff. In that case, you could use it for camera, keys, wallet and toss it into a bigger tote with lunch, change of shoes, files, whatever bulky stuff you have.

I know it isn’t intended to be carried this way for over long distances, but for just a hundred yards or less, can’t you loop the wrist strap around your wrist and let it dangle? Then put the crap down and clutch it elegantly again.

Anonymous

It is pretty! Also it doesn't stay folded closed. There's a magnet that sticks when its empty, and does not stick if it is not empty
I think I've used it 2-3x in a year: a wedding and a jazz concert or 2.
This little one I do use, basically as a wallet, in my big tote. It has lots of spaces for cards. Since it has a strap its more functional.
I also have a barely used Kate Spade clutch, that I used to use much more often.

kkards

Veteran

or you can double bag it...carry a tote and put the clutch in it....then if you run out of lunch or stop at the grocery later in the day, just pull out the clutch....

Anonymous

Hi Kkards!! I could potentially double bag it. I will consider that as a possible option Thank you for the good idea.

Suntiger -- I have almost purchased clutches exactly like you showed. The magnet issue never, ever occurred to me. One more thing for me consider when I shop. I don't think I'll be buying many more clutches for my current life style though. Perhaps some distant time in the future.

Fashintern -- There is no wrist strap. It is a Rebecca Minkoff bag with decorative tassels. I don't have any good pictures available to show you. Goggle the brand. You'll understand immediately. I wish I could figure out how to use those tassels to fashion a strap of some sort.

Delurked -- I have several great wristlets. I intend bring them into rotation again soon.

Sal

Veteran

Love these shoes - glad they worked!

The bag is pretty - I have a similar one in orange leather ( nicer than it sounds) - I like it for short outings such as lunches or movies..... but not for work. Clutches are small and easy to store luckily though!

Anonymous

Oh! And I dug out all my red lipsticks!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I called them COMPLEMENTS, and yours is fab. That said, you are awfully unhappy with your clutch so do pass it on. Next.

YAY for wearing pearls

Anonymous

I had to laugh at "sparking dismay". I feel that quite often Life is too short to fuss with things that don't work hard for their money, and require fixing , altering and other assorted things to make them work. It's super pretty, and RM makes wonderfully soft bags, but if it's not working, get rid of it. I had to do the same with my RM backpack a few years ago. I too am hanging onto a clutch from CM that is now almost 10 years old, used maybe 2x, and yet is the most useless thing ever. It cost a bloody fortune at the time - I'm such an idiot. I cannot bring myself to get rid of it for some reason. You've thus inspired me to put it into the donate bag. Next, as Angie says.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I have one clutch in my collection. I use it for parties and evenings out. I quite like having something small that I can tuck into the seat beside me at a movie or play. Do you have events like that in your life that you could use this for?

Lucy

Veteran

It's a lovely bag, and great shoes!

I carry a bigger tote to work - lunch, yoghurt, keep-cup etc. But I keep a smaller clutch inside it. During the day, if I pop out to a meeting or a coffee, I can just use the clutch. Might something like that work for you?

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I cannot wrap my head around clutch purses. They actually make me angry in a visceral way ! Like go ahead, just chop off one of my arms while you’re at it...? A clutch and heels together and I feel totally incapacitated

Also, clutches are notoriously easy to forget on a seat, under the table etc.

But I’m sure you had reasons for buying it— gorgeous color, soft leather, so seductive.

Anonymous

LisaP and Jessikams-- In full disclosure. I am NOT putting my RM clutch in the donation bag. Here is the thing. I was seduced by YLF that clutches were all the rage. I knew for a fact that a clutch would never work for my life. Yet I went out and bought one. And I just didn't buy a cheap one to experiment. I bought a very expensive one. Slaps forehead.

There is something in me that absolutely cannot place this clutch in a donation bag. It is the money! It hurts my sensibility and pride. So I continue to try and incorporate it into my life.

There are very good ideas here as to how to start incorporating it into my life. You are right, Jessikams. It is a gorgeous color, soft leather, so seductive. But without a doubt it is incapacitating. Such a good word.

Thank you so much, Lucy. I am going to experiment using the clutch for quick meetings/lunches. I have to overcome my fear of getting it dirty. I currently treat it like it is fragile and could disintegrate just by being exposed to air. I need to mentally get over that issue.

Sal -- Clutches are small and easy to store. After the great purge of 2018, I want to get over my "need to keep things pristine and perfect." I think that need goes back to Catholic grade school. My Mom always had us change out of our uniform immediately to keep "it good." I must have absorbed some subliminal message and can't seem to move past it When I was purging "pristine and perfect" clothing in 2018 I recognized the absurdity of it all. I had saved everything so that I could donate them. It was ridiculous. I resolved to learn to enjoy those things for myself. This clutch represents a small hurtle.

Jenn -- the clutch is perfect for those types of events. I rarely attend those types of events any more .... for so many different reasons. Here is the thing. I believe this clutch is a thing of beauty. I want people to see it and admire it (but definitely not touch it). I was so disappointed on Monday when no one noticed my very beautiful bag. That might have been because I was weighed down with all sorts of shit and the clutch looked ridiculous balanced on top a computer/files. It really was a balancing act. I probably looked like a hot mess and people felt sorry for me.

Anonymous

I understand

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Gosh I think Catholic grade school sounds as bad as strict Presbyterian mother! We also had the “keep it good” thing. And I also struggle about the money. Understanding about sunk cost only helps a little bit. There is that theory about being much more aware of loss than gain, attributing more value to a loss than a gain, or something.
I want to be beamed up to Carolina or wherever the heck you live so we can go out to the ballet clutching our clutches and I can admire your gorgeous soft pink one xx

Anonymous

You are wonderful, JenniNZ. I adore the ballet and do not have one single friend in life that would join me for an evening at the ballet. I used to go myself, but eventually tired of that and those evenings faded into my history.

You are dead on about the cost of the item. I have tried hard to embrace the sunk cost thing. It never helped me. I am much more aware of loss than gain in many things in life. I am in an introspective mood this weekend. I will think about it some more.

Bijou

Veteran

Please count me in on the ballet club and I will use a useless clutch too! Sterling thank you for reminding me not to save good things and just use them. You know that gorgeous owl bag I own... it is white and is used only for special conditions (can't get dirty or wet) - well I am planning on using it tomorrow because it makes me happy.

Anonymous

I am so glad you are going to use your owl bag, Bijou! YAY YOU.

In the interest of being fair to my clutch, I used it today to meet a friend for coffee. It worked great today! Soft. Pretty. I was very happy with it.

What I need to do is be fair and use it when the occasion will result in a high happiness. A work day is very unfair to the clutch and unfair to me.