Two recent short essays posted by Lyn Slater and Jennifer Alfaro helped crystallize thoughts I've been having all summer regarding fashion and where it fits in my life.

Fashion and everything it means to me: shopping, trends, capsules, planning, brands, sales, returns......is fading out of my life pretty quickly. I just simply don't care anymore. Style though? Oh yes. That will never change.

At 62 now, and with a job that doesn't require a wardrobe of interesting pieces, and with different financial priorities, I do not need nor want much. I used to justify having a larger, always-current wardrobe because I worked in fashion and style-adjacent jobs . I felt that I had to present myself in a certain way ....but I don't now. And don't have the travel/social lifestyle that went along with that career. Whereas I used to eat out in restaurants and meet friends for drinks weekly , and loved getting dressed for it, I bet I haven't been in a restaurant in a few months now. I can't see that changing - unless I win a lottery, lol.

A few weeks ago I was half-planning fall purchases of a camel coat, brown loafers and maybe even a brown bag. But the longer I thought about it, the less sense it made ! What the heck do I need a new coat for? To look great going from my car to my work place? And where do I think I'm going in new brown loafers? To the drugstore ? I have plenty of coats and shoes and there is zero chance I'll be caught with nothing to wear and looking like a disaster . Having beautiful new updated things doesn't feel necessary now. Of course I love clothes, but.....the more I had, the more I wanted. It was a terrible , expensive cycle I was stuck in for a long, long time. Decades, really . Each adaptation of a trend, say in denim, meant an updated set of tops and jackets, and updated shoes ,and it went on and on.

Earlier this summer I edited down my spring /summer wardrobe and took a social media hiatus. I didn't shut it off entirely - who am I kidding? - but a break from most of it helped clear my mind . And I bought almost nothing new this summer - a real first.

I don't have much to contribute to the fashion conversation on the forum anymore as I don't thrift, don't pack for trips, don't create capsules and complements and basically don't shop anymore unless something really grabs my attention. And here I must be frank: accidentally and recently discovering I've been blocked by a couple of forum members was also embarrassing and a wakeup call : do I really need to spend time on something I'm having to work too hard at to not say the wrong thing and irritate or offend someone ?

I know my style, and am confident I can clothe myself well without getting caught up in the minutiae of trend details , and I look forward to channelling my energy into other creative pursuits that I've neglected for decades. What is going on in fashion at a micro level and worrying about whether my pants are newest length is not a concern and I want to be free of the noise. I think I looked and dressed better when I had less information and discussion available to me - pre internet days. I sound like I'm 100, I know As recently as a few months ago, I thought I would have to expand my shopping sources to get the look I wanted. But again, I do not want to spend time on my laptop browsing for just the right top that elevates my style, or the right denim that is current and cool. I'm good with what is easy to find, and if that makes me less fashion-y ......I'm ok with that.

Anyways, I've enjoyed being on the forum for probably 10 years now - with some breaks - and thank Angie and Inge especially for their work in helping me when I needed and wanted it . Thanks to the forum members for your positive comments, jokes and constructive feedback - I appreciated all of it and valued the camaraderie I did find with many of you.

Wishing you all a lovely fall season, and perhaps we'll meet again on the internet - you never know !

xo
Lisa