Sept wrap up - tracking, WIW and finds - YouLookFab Forum

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Sept wrap up - tracking, WIW and finds

Sal

Veteran

Hi All

Thanks to Jenn for running this challenge. I haven't been terribly active and great at contributing sorry but I have been beavering away in the background.

I had a pretty casual transitional month - lots of work, not many social events, and the weather has varied from jeans and a tee weather, to wool coat and boots. I have not pulled out my summer clothes yet but since most of my closet is transitional I have plenty of options.

Progress

I have started adding my closet to finds. I am getting there but still have a fair new to go.
I am now thinking about my closet in five sections/capsules

Transitional - All year (bulk of my closet)
True winter (May-Sept ish) - coats, boots
True Summer (Oct-March) - sandals, sundresses
Occasionwear
Gear/Lounge etc (won't be on finds)

Learnings

I don't have laundry bottlenecks and don't really need to duplicate except in rare cases (gym gear, black tops)
I wear my clothes less than I think- my culottes were worn once in September and about seven times all winter. Getting to 30 wears takes an effort.
By far my most worn pieces are shoes, bags and gear.
- My running shoes were worn 21/28 days and with my backup lightweight sneakers 2/28 days (which means I exercised 23/28 days in September. I wore most of my gym pants 4-5 times in the 28 times. I should not feel bad about expensive running shoes. Tops to wear to and from the gym are also used a lot!!
- My cognac bag was second with 9 wears and my navy bag was used 5 times.
- I wore 11 pairs of shoes (excl gear) in the month.
- Accessories were tracked but I stopped tracking sunglasses and rings as it was too hard.
- October will look quite different as we are on holiday for a week and I will be bringing out summer clothes and putting away winter ones.

Pics.

There are a lot!! I won't describe them all - a mix of work, weekend, a run, friends' lunch, comedy show, and a restaurant birthday dinner (not mine).

My favourites are 2 9 16 and 17.
My least favourites are 1 and 6.
I liked 4 and 18 until I saw the pics!! 4 was definitely better on the day and 18 was rather late at night after the comedy show.

New additions for the month.

There are a few (see finds)

Camel Sportscraft trench - a second hand buy for $23
Cognac slouchy bag - Trademe/Ebay - second hand
Cream rollies - love them - so comfy!!

Thanks for reading this far if you got here.

What are your favourites?
Any suggestions.

Cheers
Sally

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Helena

Sal

Veteran

Another lesson:

1) I look dishevelled so easily!!
2) Excuse various things on the floor - careful spotters will see laundry baskets, garbage sacks......

Roberta

Veteran

The white jacket in 2, 9, and 13 is a smashing piece. Perfectly proportioned and fitted to you. I agree with you about 6, but it's just a matter of the lengths not playing well with each other. I quite like 1. I like 14 more than 8 because I think that tucking the top shows your figure to advantage. I can confidently say I did NOT exercise 23 days this month.

This challenge also made me examine my wardrobe seasonally. Very useful, especially when I looked at color too. Thank you, Jenn, for leading us!

Sal

Veteran

Thank you Roberta. The jacket is actually a really light grey/duck egg colour - and it is a reminder of how I do like tailored looks and should veer that way more often.

Yes I agree with 6 - the culottes and the coat are the wrong lengths and possibly the wrong vibe for each other. Culottes would be better with a shorter jacket (which I don't actually have). And I prefer the tucked top too - the photo does show that.

Joy

Veteran

You always look fab, but 2, 9, and 13 stand out as favorites because I LOVE the jacket on you. I also really like 18 and 19. Your new coat looks wonderful with your hair. The Rollie's are great summer and transitional shoes. Score!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Hi Sally, I looked at the photos before I read your thoughts. I love no 6! Looks so maximal and fashion forward. I like the different lengths. So, there you go.
I also really like your Witchery jacket outfits and the dresses, especially 12.
You had a great month. Bravo for tracking AND taking pics. I am impressed with the variety that you achieved.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

What a treat to see so many of your outfits all together! My immediate favorites were 10 and 18, but honestly, I had two many likes to list them all. I'm really impressed by your wardrobe's adaptability. You seem to cover various dressiness levels and work/social obligations with ease.

I like your capsule breakdown, and that's very similar to how I think of my wardrobe, as well--mostly transitional, with small collections of hot summer and cold winter additions. That may change next year, though, when my hot weather needs expand the cold weather ones shrink.

It's funny you just got a pair of Rollie's, because I have been debating trying a pair, but knew nothing about the brand! Glad to hear they're comfy.

Rollie Rollie Double Zip Genuine Calf Hair Bootie (Women) | Nordstrom

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Top Pick

3

Mirjana

Veteran

So many great outfits Sal, really for different weather. I especially like #1. #9 and #12.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Great to have so many outfits to look over.You have an interesting and varied look which is great.My favourites were #1 and2 with #15 because anything with a faux fur coat in it is groovy in my eyes!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I can't pick a favorite! But I will stand up for 6 and it's column of white. Those colors are always fresh and nice together.

11 pairs of shoes! There are 5 I'm thinking of getting between now and summer; that would bring my total to 21. I've been wondering if that's too many. Maybe not so bad. Thanks, enabler

LaPed

Veteran

Like Jenn, Rollies just popped onto my radar recently, and I've been wondering about trying a pair. I love those cream oxfords! I don't need anymore cute little oxfords, but their booties are tempting.

I really love outfit #2; I recall that I was a skeptic of the pale blue blazer at first, but it looks really super on you! And I like the gold hardware with the silver brogues; mixed metals for the win! #6 caught my eye as well. I'm taking notes on the dramatic silhouette. Long over wide is tricky and you've done it so well.

Bijou

Veteran

Sal, I LOVE your style and as an Australian, it is so relatable to me. My favourite is #6, love the elegance of this look and #2 and #9 are also complete winners because that sharp jacket is gorgeous on you and seems to welcome in the warmer weather.

My least favourite looks are #3 and #8 - you have such a great figure that these long tunics hide that, however this is being really nit picking, because they still look great.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOW. Great lessons and great looks! You will LOVE having your wardrobe in Finds. I don’t know how I managed without it. I like the way you identified your seasons too.

A lovely mix of cold and warm Spring outfits. That’s the way it goes. My KILLER faves are: #2, 15, 18, 19 and 20.

Katerina

Veteran

It is wonderful to be able to see all these great outfits together, Sal. I had many favorites here, but tried to narrow them down. The ones I love most are 1, 6, 9, 12, 17 and 19. I adore the colour combination in 12. And the beautiful contrast and structure of 6.
You have a fantastic wardrobe and create lovely chic outfits for lots of occasions and weather, and with a lot of fun and interesting details.
I really like your new pieces too, especially the thrifted trench and bag - great finds!

jussie

Veteran

You look fantastic, and it’s impossible to choose a favorite! Great looks Sal

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Joy. I appreciate your thoughts. Yes the Rollies will work here from Sept to December and then again from March-April - and even on cooler summer days. I am really happy with them:) I liked 18 a lot and should have photographed it before 11pm........

Brooklyn - I know you will like anything with knee length boots.... I think 6 needs a tweak somewhere - I think a shorter coat would be better. I liked wearing it but the photo made me wonder about the proportions.

Jenn - Rollies are an Australian brand but made in China. A rubber sole - very light weight - but super soft and comfy. I have some summer slides which I like too. They are quite popular here, I bought mine online and I am pretty much always a 9 and I bought a 9. Mine won't be waterproof as they are perforated - and given the design I think they are a transitional weather shoe/boot. Interesting re 10 - I wore that to move our workshop around - the sweater is almost lounge wear but I am still fond of it. I liked the combo with the straight jeans and moto boots and scarf so much I repeated it this week!!

Thanks Mirijana - I liked 9 and 12 a lot - 1 am not sure about. This dress is in it's third year and I have not enjoyed it as much this year. However a long sleeve black dress is a useful item to own.

Cardiff Girl - I know - faux fur is so much fun. I wore this for Jon's birthday dinner. It felt quite OTT but I like that sometimes.

Thanks Fashintern - I own 20 pairs of shoes (plus rainboots, running shoes, rubber jandals). There are about four dedicated summer ones that I didn't wear and the rest that were unworn were dressy ones (a couple of pairs that I could probably pass on but can't quite bring myself to do so!!) This seems about the right size for my needs but I am determined to buy practical ones at the moment. My climate is possibly not as extreme as Berlin though. Shoe shopping is fun though!!

La Pedestrienne - thank you. The blazer has been a great addition and it made me realise that a sharp tailored piece or two really help bring together my casual pieces. I will get a similar but different one in a darker colour next year - probably black or navy - maybe red. Rollies are comfy and quite popular here - I also replied to Jenn about them earlier up in this post. And 6 is the divisive look- I can see why some love it and some do not.

Thank you Bijou. I agree with you re these looks and am determined to avoid boxy longer tops from now on. I will now wear the pink one tucked- the black and white I quite like and it is useful and comfy but I think waist definition is more flattering on my shape.

Sal

Veteran

Angie- thanks for chiming in and for providing the Finds feature. I plan to add my casual knits and summer clothes and occasion wear in a couple of weeks. It is a really useful feature. Thanks for sharing your favourites - I do think the faur fur and knee high boots and tangerine orange is very 2018 maximal:)

Katerina - thanks for your input. Another fan of 6!! It was good to get so many photos together to compare and it has clarified things for me regarding silhouettes that work better than others.

For the counting fans only (feel free to skip)

My numbers were;

11 pairs footwear
9 different bottoms (all pants/culottes)
6 coats or jackets
5 dresses (one with two wears, three only once)
13 tops - sweaters, tees and blouses
4 bags
3 scarves
24 items of gear (mostly gym/running but also painting clothes)

Unworn were

20 items that were in season
20 summer items (not in season)
12 dressy/occasionwear pieces
9 items of gear eg cycle pants - I only biked once in the month and just wore joggers

Of the 20 pieces in season that I didn't wear (the rest I am not concerned about) there were the following reasons

a handful that I have worn quite regularly already this winter and am a bit tired of/wanted a break from eg black floral blouse
a handful that are harder to wear so less popular eg green silk top
a couple that are not quite right - a skirt that needs altering, a top with a mark on it
a couple I just didn't quite have the right occasion/weather for

Thanks for the comments and feedback - it is useful!!

Anonymous

My favorite part of this challenge has been what each participant has learned about herself. Your post was interesting to me for a couple of reasons.

The lack of bottlenecks. I also don't experience bottlenecks, yet I am always inclined to duplicate. Tracking helped me understand that behavior. (I still duplicate to some degree, but it is better thought out).

It is interesting too how we perceive that we wear our clothes so much more than tracking shows. That was quite a shock to me when I crunched the numbers the first time.

Finally, realizing how much wear my bags get over the course of a month, I was able to adjust the upper limit of how much I can pay for a new bag. That was revolutionary.

Anonymous

I think 1 & 6 are really fantastic looks on you!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Wonderful mix of athleisure and glam looks that makes for a very interesting style. I love 9 and lots more but lost track.

jussie

Veteran

Just wanted to pop back and say I actually think numbers 1 & 6 are among the best looks here. Hehe just goes to show we all perceive things differently!

Helena

Veteran

Great collection!! I see no dishevelled, if that was referring to your photos ... I see relaxed, natural, and confident without any fuss, yet still interesting and intentional looking outfits. YLF!