Seasons, colors and shopping moods - 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

Seasons, colors and shopping moods

Irina

Veteran

This might only be interesting to those who shop for a season ahead and not for something to wear right away.

I know that I have a tendency to shop for the warm seasons in the middle of a winter. I dream of sun, greenery and warmth. The lack of visual stimulation plays a trick on me and I find myself attracted to more colors than I usually wear, also sometimes in bolder shades. It is not a problem, I wear more color in the summers but I have to keep myself in check. I’m aware that I get tired and overstimulated by the end of warm months and will long to be dress in whites only.
Since the last December I bought mostly color and pattern so from now on if I look at something, I will look through filters of black, white and navy.

Do you find your shopping affected by seasons or your moods?

Pictured here are my 2023 clothes purchases.

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.

Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from Zaeobi

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m researching/shopping for S/S. I’d like to pick up some things sooner rather than later because I’ve got a vacation to somewhere warm next month, but I can squeak by with what I have because there’s a washer and dryer. I get the impression S/S will drop later in March.

I’m waiting for something exciting to inspire me colour wise. It seems if I try too hard to find a specific colour at retail I don’t find what I want, and I miss what is out there.

I could bolster my red or lilac capsules or develop a green or orange capsule, but I’m kind of obsessed with a dress I thrifted last summer that has all-the-colours and I’m using it as a focus. I want whatever I get to make me feel like this dress makes me feel - even if it doesn’t look like it, IYKWIM.

View Info

cat2

Veteran

I took a spin through my Summer pants to see what fits and realized I have lots of blue and black options, but not much color. I have since added one pair of army green and have a couple of pairs on order that are a new to me yellowish green — helpfully called Sea Kelp by the manufacturer. I am hoping they will provide a color boost without getting too far outside my lane.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I was just looking at those trousers today!They are a fabulous colour,hard to resist in a cold grey January..The turn of the seasons tends to trigger me looking towards the season ahead.

Anonymous

I historically have a bad habit in the early spring of buying things that are too light or too bright for my coloring. I think I've improved in the last couple years though!

Right now, I'm mostly just wanting black, camel, and metallic gold and copper. I still have a pretty colorful wardrobe, but am not interested in adding more color...yet.

Indigoprint

Veteran

I am a total mood shopper. I will shop to celebrate, if I am sad or to get my mind off of a hard day.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting. I haven't been a terribly good planner in the past three or four years and have shopped pretty much in the season. Which has its benefits and drawbacks. This year I want to get ahead on a few items if I can.

My colour palette stays the same all year but tilts -- in spring/ summer, I wear predominantly denim, other blues, white, light grey/ silver, and a bit of fuchsia and clear red.

In fall/ winter, I wear a bit less white, and add more navy/ ink, charcoal, burgundy, plum, as well as red and bits of lavender.

There's no rule about it, though -- a lot has to do with what I can find at retail.

LJP

Veteran

I haven’t been looking yet - because I too have a tendency to get carried away with all the beautiful colours and prints after our cold long winters …..only to find / remember that they aren’t right for my real life and look odd “ out in the wild “ . I don’t really need to plan it out as my needs are low and very basic so I can afford to go with the flow and see what strikes my fancy . Spring is such an unpredictable season here too and can be too short to bother with .

slim cat

Veteran

I rarely get carried away - last time it was early spring 2022 when I've got a bit more than usual pairs of same style sandals for summer ( it all worked out since we have long CA summer ). Sometimes some tops in amazing bright colors do tempt me only to remind me later that I can't wear them at all - lol.
The only color I'm coming back now is soft sunny yellow ( light and on the cooler side ) - I'l try to get some printed pieces that have some of that happy yellow in a mix. Summer bag would be a good choice .

Tanya

Veteran

Your new purchases are lovely!

For the past couple of years, I do plan and start shopping early - for SS in January, for FW in July. I look through all the fashion week shows and read related articles. I try to pick my color palette for the season, which I have been doing for four-ish years so far, and a theme, which is more recent from last year. I will check if there are some potential pieces left/available from past season. However, I am not super strict about the early choices and allow them to evolve as needed until the said season starts.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Irina, sooo with you! I always refresh early. I'm buying Summer with snow on the ground, and Winter when it's hot! I like it that way too

Cute orange pants!

Spring shopping is my BEST! I come alive. It's my weakness and favourite. Thankfully, I can wear a lot of it through Summer.

As for my mood with respect to palettes - they don't change, other than that I wear more navy and a bit of toffee in the colder months, and more white in the hotter months. I am as bright in Autumn and Winter as I am in Spring and Summer!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I often buy off season. I don’t plan my wardrobe as carefully as some of you although I do have a list now of the kind of thing I am interested in. It’s still about the numbers, but I like what I like as far as colours so if I see something that’s love and I already have other items to wear with it I may pounce. I already bought one autumn item in my summer that was the last one left, fits, colours I adore, and was reduced from $218 to $80. Will model later for the forum. I try to anticipate what might be wearing out that is an essential for me and get from an outlet store if I can: eg, black ponte pants. I never care if they are from an earlier season as “high fashion” doesn’t push my buttons.
( Notwithstanding what the Miranda Priestly character said in the famous scene in “The Devil Wears Prada”. )

ChristelJ

Veteran

Your new purchases are very warming and fun, and look like you.
I crave certain colors very randomly. I don't think it has to do with the season. Right now it is red-orange or cool green that I want, and get a little obsessed with. Not too easy to find the right items.

kkards

Veteran

Well this made me think….and I realized as I was starting to reply, that i shop for fall and winter year round, but really only shop for warm spring and hot summer when the weather suits. Interesting, need to think they this more…

nemosmom

Veteran

I used to intentionally shop off-season (especially for my kids’ clothes) but wound up with a hodgepodge of gear in colors I don’t like. I certainly browse more when I am stressed.

As for color, I have added a lot of chocolate brown, since it was absent at retail for so long. I am not feeling inspired to add anything specific. I keep thinking I want brighter lighter colors, but if I am honest with myself I know I won’t wear them. I am finally comfortable wearing earthtones year ‘round, after getting over the mindset that autumn colors were only ok after September.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

“Won’t this bit of craziness be fun” and “I bet I will like this wild thing then” sound a lot like me shopping when I was losing weight. I made some good choices, but also had some crazy ideas about future me.

Jonesy

Veteran

I love your new additions, Irina! I tend to buy the same colors all year round, but have to avoid overbuying in anticipation of summer, since summer dressing is always very casual for me.

Irina

Veteran

Interesting that not many of you are affected by seasons.

I have some thoughts on “planned” shopping but will keep them for a future topic on shopping strategies.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Irina just to say I really love your posts. They’re so thoughtful and often thought-provoking. I look forward to the shopping strategies one in due course (no pressure intended )

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I find everything I do affected by my moods, so yes. I definitely am an out of season shopper, or rather a random when I stumble upon it shopper, but am trying to be more disciplined.

Sal

Veteran

I do shop out of season but mostly only sale pieces that I am very confident in. Like tall boots on final discount or a swimsuit that I loved and found at a lingerie store on sale. I don’t think it’s through a filter of longing for the new season.

My mistakes happen in the piece that suits me that I don’t have anywhere to wear it too, or not being fussy enough when something is close but not right.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Pretty much what @sal & @kkards said, lol!

I wonder whether it's because winter gear tends to be pricier in general (because you need it to be highly functional), so it's easier to grab it when you can (usually at lower rates) than wait until you're freezing your behind off to buy that coat/ boots etc?

I've finally managed to find many winter items in my 'new' dark neutral (a warm chocolate brown) but am still struggling for Spring & Summer (like cropped cardigans, sleeveless long cardigans & 3/4 cotton tops). So I imagine that will likely manifest this year as more S/S shopping during that season.