September Tracking Discussion - Week 3 - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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September Tracking Discussion - Week 3

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

We've made it more than halfway through the month!

The Challenge: Mark down what you wear each day during the month of September. This can be as simple as noting your outfit in your calendar, or as complex as creating your own spreadsheet. Taking a daily photo is useful as well. I’ll start a new discussion thread each week, but feel free to join in at any point in the month. Also, don't hesitate to start your own weekly thread for individual input!

I'm going to go into the statistical weeds a bit this week.

How many different items from each category have you worn so far this month?
What percentage of your wardrobe have you worn (or, if you keep a seasonal closet, what percentage of the items you have out right now?) If you really want to dig deep, you can figure this out by category.
Are there any capsules (in Angie's sense of "groups of items that serve a specific purpose") you haven't yet touched this month?
What about items you thought you'd be wearing, but haven't yet?

I know that not everyone wants to go this deep into analysis, so please share any other observations you've made, and feel free to ignore my questions if they're not for you!

Dressing

42 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

How general/specific of categories?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Fashintern, I was thinking basic categories like Pants, Skirts, Dresses, Tops, etc, but do what would be useful for you, in the way you think about your wardrobe.

Wise Shopper

(website)

I'm just curious what you will do with collected data. What's the purpose and outcome of this study? I.e. to identify the trend of the month, the most popular/unpopular items/categories, calculate the total, etc.? The percentage part is especially intriguing. Will you publish the result later? (This is my math major speaking)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Note to WS: I trust Jenn that this is what she says it is. I think YLF usually does a good job of keeping out people looking for a business angle, although you are correct that posts, sans photos, are public, so could be seen by anyone and used as they wish.

So far this month I’ve worn
4 pairs of pants
5 tank tops/bottom layers
3 dresses (if we count the time I ran to the store 2 blocks away in the dress I use as a nightgown)
2 collared shirts
4 cardis
2 pullover sweaters (sleeveless & ss)
3 pr shoes

That’s about 30% of my wardrobe here, and is all of my shoes, 80% of my pants (one pair couldn’t be worn because they were rung up incorrectly, so had to keep tags until I got back to the store). 2 of 8 collared shirts; over the past 2 months I’ve worn 5 of them.

There is much more change between last month and this month than I would’ve thought. That’s partially because the unusually high temps had me wearing shorts and a white floral skirt last month, but also because some things just look too summery, even though the high temps are around 80.

I’m not wearing dresses as much as I expected. The neck is a little big on 2 of these, but that didn’t stop me from wearing them before. I thought I’d be living in these, but haven’t worn any of them once. There is a black and white dress that’s predominantly white I’ve worn, and a red one. I expected to be wearing more black in general.

I’m only wearing light-colored tops if I can put something else over them, because I only have colorful bras & hate shopping for them.

I expected it would be chillier and I’d have more need for socks and sweaters than I’ve had.

I haven’t worn my swimsuit or exercise clothes, because I’ve been a slug. (BTW, young man adamantly insists he will not go to the sauna this winter. We’ll see).

This week I’m wearing cuddley comfort clothes and blankies; I have caught my son’s cold.

by Stagiaire Fash

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by Stagiaire Fash

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by Stagiaire Fash

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Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Wise Shopper, I'm not collecting or aggregating anyone's data.

Bonnie

Veteran

Interesting questions. My totals:
Shirts = worn 9 times (have 6 in my capsule)
Tunics = worn 3 times (have 5 in my capsule)
Dresses = worn 1 time (have 4 in my capsule)
Crop Flare Pants = worn 10 times (have 2 in my capsule)
Crop Pants = worn 3 times (have 2 in my capsule)
Tees = worn 1 time (have 1 in my capsule)

I'm trying to wear my summer items for the coming 2+ months so my capsule is larger than it would be for 1 month. My observation: It's really interesting that I wear shirts and crop flares as often as I do. My conclusion: I need to start wearing my dresses and tunics or rethink what I add to my wardrobe.

I've only tracked my summer "out and about" capsule. I'm not interested in tracking sleepwear or gear. Those capsules are small and get multiple wears.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Not counting gear/lounge/sleepwear, I have worn:

2 out 7 dresses (29%)
13 of 28 tops (46%)
6 out of 12 shoes (50%)
3 out of 12 toppers (25%)
3 out of 7 skirts (43%)
5 out of 7 pants/jeans (71%)
3 out of 7 handbags (43%)
1 out of 13 accessories (belts, scarves, and hats) (8%)

Overall (again, without gear/sleep/lounge), I've worn 37% of my wardrobe. I keep a year-round closet, so I haven't touched any of my outerwear. I've only worn one long-sleeve top, and no cold-weather layers. I haven't worn any scarves, and I haven't had to dress up in formal/cocktail-wear.

I really would have thought I'd be layering a bit more by this time in September, but with highs in the 90s, I'm still firmly in summer clothing.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Back to add, I think I'm a little tired of my skirts and dresses after wearing them all summer, because I’m surprised by how few of them I’ve worn this month, despite the weather. I'll have to think about how to deal with that fatigue when living somewhere with a longer warm season. I don’t think the answer is a larger variety of skirts and dresses, but maybe more silhouette options for the heat.

LaPed

Veteran

Hmm, I think the only capsule I haven't touched so far this month is puffers. I've worn boots and wool, but I've also worn summer dresses/skirts and sandals. Really all over the place. Dealing with about the same temp range as you. Doing the math in my head, I think I'm also wearing about 1/3 of my wardrobe (but that's including gear and lounge). Like you, I haven't been wearing scarves this month, not even summer weight ones. Not sure why that is -- I think just the fuss factor of having to take them off when it gets too hot in the afternoon.

Re: dressing for a long warm season... When I was in Las Vegas I found the one thing that I really needed but didn't have was lightweight long sleeve shirts -- linen, chambray, oxford, etc. They can serve as super lightweight toppers, add sun protection, and get year-round use. If it's chilly you can throw a camisole underneath, or cardigan on top. Having a bunch of lightweight tops *with sleeves* really opened up a lot of styling possibilities: leave the sleeves long, roll them up, wear it open over a tank top or jersey dress, tuck, semi-tuck, knot the shirt at the waist, etc.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Good to know, LP! That's not a category I wear a lot of right now. Will have to think about it!

If I included sleep/lounge/gear, I think my percentage would go up by a little. Gear is at about 50% (the warm weather items) and sleep/loungewear at 90-100% (I don't track that, but the shelf was empty when I did laundry. )

Nomad

I like Jenn's format, so I'm borrowing it. I don't count belts, scarves, hats, or handbags... I use one bag for work and one for not-work, and the same belt 90% of the time (unless I'm belting a dress).

2 out 11 dresses (18%)
13 of 43 tops (30%)
10 out of 28 shoes (36%): One pair of shoes was culled, so 27 is the new total
7 out of 18 toppers (39%)
1 out of 6 skirts (17%)
8 out of 18 pants/jeans (44%)

My wardrobe has 124 non-gear, non-accessory items, so overall I've worn 33% of my wardrobe. Using 1/3 of my wardrobe in a little under 3 weeks doesn't seem too bad. Number of wears per item span from 1 to 4 so far. Boots are my closet weakness (I have 9 pairs of boots and 5 pairs of booties), and it's been too hot for those except for one or two gloriously cool days this month, so those will go into rotation soon. I wear dresses more often when it's cooler, so I expect that number to go up in the fall and winter.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Jenn, I've had the same feeling about my skirts and dresses -- I've worn them so much this summer that I'm taking advantage of the only slightly cooler weather to break out the pants and jeans. But I'm also spending a lot of time in gear, working at home and trying to get in some walking/yoga/exercise when I can, in between rain storms.

WS, this is just a personal challenge amongst YLF participants who choose to join in on any given month. Sometimes it's a "wear your closet orphans" type challenge, or sometimes people opt to use some art works as inspirations for outfits... not any sort of thing for outside use or study. Just for fun.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This month, apart from lounge, gear, etc. I've worn:

6 pairs of jeans (5 repeats, worn multiple times -- 2 white pair, 2 blue denim, one burgundy, and one pair of wide leg crops, worn only once.)
6 shirts (all worn 2 or 3 times)
5 knit tops (all cotton, all worn multiple times)
2 long cardigans (both worn multiple times)
2 blazers (one worn once, one worn 3 times)
1 dress (worn twice)
2 Tshirts (one worn one, one worn twice)
2 belts (multiple wears)
3 bags (multiple wears)
2 sneakers (worn multiple times each)
2 sandals. (one worn once, one worn multiple times)
1 pair of booties (numbers in footwear may be skewed because footwear only arrived a few days ago.)
2 coats (trench and casual utility coat)
3 scarves (ditto footwear comment)

39 items is a little less than 1/3 of my total wardrobe, but a greater percentage of the current wardrobe since I did not bring some of my heavier winter items with me out west, and an even bigger percentage of my seasonal wardrobe. I'd say almost all the seasonal (transitional) wardrobe apart from footwear/ scarves (for the reason given) and dressy items. I'm still engaged in setting up house -- shopping, building shelves, etc. so I haven't had occasion to get truly dressed up yet.

I have not worn puffer, wool, or cashmere items. Have not worn dressy footwear. Have not worn dress trousers. Have not worn a "dressy" dress.

There's nothing I really thought I'd be wearing that I'm not wearing. I'm delighted to be wearing my long sleeved shirts more often than I wear those at home. I had weaned myself from buying shirts because while they're an easy fit on me and I like them, they get very little wear in my extreme climate. Here, they're often the perfect thing.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Interesting how many of us are right around that 1/3 mark. I'm going to ask this question again at the end of the month.

Joy

Veteran

Jenn, I did not make a capsule for this challenge. I will have to make a count and get back to you. I suspect this is about 30% of my summer wardrobe. Thinking about outfits has me wearing a mix of old and new.
No untouched capsules except winter things like woolies, puffers and boots/booties but less black than usual for this time of year.

Sal

Veteran

Hi Jenn

I have not really touched my dressy capsule at all (I did pull out some pumps for one lunch with friends) - it has been a very casual month.

As a shoulder season here I have worn a "coat"only once - and not worn my puffer either - it is out of favour. I am trying to wear my winter clothes that I will put in storage in 2.5 weeks time (we are going South on a holiday/vacation so I am not changing over until after that time - South is cooler!!)

There are a couple of blouses I have not worn that I thought I might have - and I have only worn my favourite jeans once. Exercise gear and footwear is getting worn the most- other things are 1-2 times in general. Even my two winter work dresses have been worn once each - my culottes once. Honestly what this shows is how little I do need..

Thanks for running the challenge.

Sally

Like the Season

Late to the party, but I have been tracking! So far this month, I've worn:

12 different tees (graphic, solid, short-sleeve, long-sleeve, 3-quarter sleeve): 18 wears total

6 cardigans: 11 wears total

3 hoodies: 3 wears total

6 jeans: 18 wears total

1 button up (vintage denim shirt worn as a topper): 1 wear total

2 blazers: 2 wears total

4 sneakers (2 Eccos, 1 Skechers, 1 hightop Dansko sneaker-boots): 10 wears total

3 mary janes: 4 wears total

1 pair boots: 4 wears total

That's 38 items, about 1/3 of my wardrobe. (I don't count scarves or other accessories, sleepwear, or gear.)

I haven't worn any of my summery woven tops this month. Too cool. But it has been too warm for sweaters. I'm finding it important in these temps (cooler mornings, warmer afternoons) to wear toppers that can be easily removed...

Runcarla

Veteran

I'm analyzing in 10 day increments, so 2 more days to go. I can say with confidence that shorts and white jeans will be the MVP's. The last week has been hot and humid (mid 30's Celsius) and 2 days were spent sweating it out in the garden. No need for warm toppers - just the opposite.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I haven't divided up into categories for this challenge, may be a little more time than I wish to spend. It is 19 September here today. In the 19 days I have worn 28 different items. These were all bar two from what I call my autumn/winter/spring wardrobe. I have a separate section for what I call summer. I have worn two items from that actually, my favourite black Mamma Mia T-shirt ( at least 10 years old) on a hotter day, and my floral bomber twice. I also wore non-tracked "painting" shorts and T for 2 hard cleaning days, not in the 28.
I have not worn a dress or even much of tunics for the 19 days. Seem to have turned into a pants woman! Jeans worn on the 6 weekend days so far, otherwise work pants.For us it is cooler going into warmer, as spring warms up. It seems to be only about 26 percent of my 104 item 3-season part of the wardrobe. My total wardrobe that is tracked is 172 items ( no gear, underwear, sleepwear or bags). Same bag every day.
So only 16 % of my total wardrobe in 19 days. Sigh.
Still, when I started at YLF in January 2017, I think I was nearly 190 items ( forget exactly) and kept finding more tucked away to count. And I was 52 pairs of shoes. Now 43 pairs of shoes which includes 2 pair bought this year. So I have been judiciously editing. Really hard. You have all helped!
The new bronze cardy was worn 12 times out of the 19 days. The floral bomber twice, the ubiquitous black Scope jacket 4 times, and no topper twice (as warmer.) If I hadn't had the new bronze cardy, that black jacket would have probably done nearly all those days as the toppers get removed in the offices most days.So I don't really care if a lot the same as not seen inside so much. That black jacket is a duplicate, as the first of it was bought in 2016 and by the time I retired it this year it had 150 wears! The new one has 11 wears so far since into rotation. The old one is OK still but a bit pilled. It is in a holding zone considering whether to shave the little pills off. I would be so lost without one of those jackets. They don't make them any more. I tried to get another from the outlet store but gone in my size, sad. The previous black soft merino cardigan/jacket of a different brand, from 2009, which was dying by 2016, made me realise I just want such a cropped jacket most of the year all.the.time. I am a little anxious about the trend to longer blazers. Don't think I will like them.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jenn, I noticed the 30% convergence too, thought of it as a quirk. Sounds like you see some kind of meaning in it? Jennie NZ, you want yours to be higher? Why?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Because I have too much stuff I don't wear enough. 16 % in 19 days? 84 % unworn? I know it's only 19 days, but still ... Wearing the heck out of only a small percentage, I guess.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

19 days is 5% of the year. A month is about 8%. If everything was worn equally, there wouldn’t be anything for special, no “Sunday Best”.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Y'all are getting way more into the numbers of this exercise than I am! It's good, I'm just chuckling as I'm pretty much just looking at pictures and assessing my habits and patterns as the seasons begin to change.

My analysis is not numbers-focused at all -- it's more about being aware of my choices when dressing for the day, and how it should affect my choices in shopping as I move forward. I've been in a little bit of a shopping mode lately, looking to replace a decade-old favorite running jacket, and some versatile workhorse black pants. Refreshing these activewear/athleisure pieces is not necessarily exciting, fashion wise, but actually dovetails with the search for versatile black pants. I now have four new pairs still with tags on (all Athleta, two wide leg and two narrow) that I'm assessing. They all have slightly different "uses" but I'm realizing that I spend a LOT of time in this kind of thing. I think that multiple pairs of black "crossover" pants (that cover a lot of bases: casual, travel, and athletic use, as they can go hiking but also look presentable for casual street wear as well) may be wiser for me than another pair of jeans, since I have plenty of jeans in a variety of silhouettes.

That, and I'm pretty sure I'm due for another closet edit. There are a bunch of tops I didn't wear once this summer.

JAileen

Veteran

I’m not counting, either. I am taking a picture daily which I’ve never done before. I’m still trying to make my outfits out in public interesting, but my outfits at home are just functional.

Our weather has cooled a little. The mornings are chilly (we got down to 38 Sunday morning) but the afternoons are glorious (low to mid 80s).

I bought new underwear and bras this week. I need to clean out their drawer.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Janet, while I enjoy the numbers, myself, I absolutely believe that the mindfulness you mention is the BEST benefit of tracking. I’ve been casually looking for a similar pair of black pants—the kind of thing Athleta calls “studio to/fro.” I’d like them for travel, and for after swimming in the winter. Keep us appraised of your search!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Fashintern, I actually felt like my 37% figure was a little low for the lifestyle I want. We’ll see at the end of the month, though. If I had it my way, I’d be wearing 90% of my clothes each month, but that’s not realistic in a 4-season climate, so maybe 50-75%? That would leave room for seasonal pieces and a few special occasion items.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jenn, the only items I can think of that I might wear summer and winter are tank tops that could be first layers in winter. But I don’t usually do that, because I don’t want to wear them out that way, and there are other things that are warmer. I do wear them in fall & spring, under shirts or cardis. And of course gear worn for indoor sports.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

That makes sense for certain climates, for sure, Fashintern. In the dry West, though, all our seasons are prone to temperature swings, so the only items that really don’t cross seasons for me are things made of linen and heavy wool—a small percentage of my wardrobe. My “seasonal switchover” involves putting four sweaters in moth-safe bags and ignoring the existence of my parka and snow boots for a few months.

(I giggled a little when you mentioned “cold 60-degree nights” on another thread. Our warmest July/August nights run in the mid-60s, and I’m usually complaining about how it hasn’t cooled down enough.)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Wait, what? Did *I* say it was cold, or was I laughing at my Florida Boy? He was quite ridiculous about being cold until he caught me trying to stuff his puffer jacket into his backpack the morning his class was taking a field trip. He said, “Mom! it’s not THAT cold”. He was right. Still, this winter’s going to be a shocker, lol.

I did not realize you had such big temp swings in short time spans there

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