September Tracking Group Discussion - Week 2 - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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September Tracking Group Discussion - Week 2

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

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!

Some questions to think about in week 2:

1. Do you track any additional details beyond just the items worn? Weather? Happiness? Activities? How helpful is that for you and why?

2. What pieces are your all-stars/workhorses so far? Are they what you expected?

3. How often do you change during a day? How much of the day do you spend in each outfit?

Dressing

42 replies

Latest reply was from

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jenn, I can see how noting activities and weather would be helpful in a database I planned to build over a long period of time, and was keeping digitally. Searching for what to wear to a rare but recurring event would be easy that way. But I don’t understand happiness factors, other than as a way to weed out the closet.

2. Dang I like those white jeans. Anytime they’re clean, I’ll put them on. I got the pink ones at the same time, thinking they’d be roughly interchangeable, but there are times when it’s gotta be white.

3. I change every time I go out/come home or if there’s a big change in temps.

Anonymous

GREAT questions, Jenn.

I have tried to track "degree of fabulosity." Unfortunately, this is subjective and it is hard for me to be consistent. What I can record with certainty is when an outfit did not make me feel fab. I record it and the reasons why. If the reason is one part of an outfit, I immediately decide if that part needs to continue in my wardrobe. Frequently, the answer is no. This has been my most successful method of purging.

My Allstars have been Gap Vintage Tee Shirts in blue and black. They fit me great and the 100% cotton is comfortable. This doesn't surprise me because I always change into a tee shirt when I get off work. What surprises me is how comfortable the cotton is against my skin.

I change multiple times during the day: work, casual, gym, and lounge/sleep. Each outfit consists of two pieces (top and bottom). My wardrobe capsules do not overlap. A work piece does not get worn casually and vice versa.

Greyscale

Veteran

Two days into the second week, and I seem to be consciously choosing different clothes relative to last week's capsule. Even though it's tempting to wear my new favorite jeans every day! Last week's choices would make a perfect minimal capsule for travel / downsizing my wardrobe (not that I plan to do that). This week's choices so far aren't core pieces of my wardrobe. They're fine, but if I got rid of them, my wardrobe wouldn't suffer.

It's funny, I track all the time, but something about analyzing it week-by-week is different. I even made a capsule collection in Finds to keep track - week one is here: https://youlookfab.com/finds/c.....ction=6365

Runcarla

Veteran

I like to take outfit pics, but didn't keep up while on vacation. The forecast for this week is more hot and humid weather so I imagine that I will reach for the shorts and white jeans once again.

Interestingly, though I packed black pants, I didn't wear them and they are back hanging in my closet waiting for my mood to change!

JAileen

Veteran

I’m finding I’m trying not to wear the same exact outfits as last week. If I weren’t keeping track (by photo) I probably would wear the same thing day after day. I definitely do that in winter - jeans and a charcoal LS tee.

The weather is definitely a factor. Every day last week, except for the first, was over 90. This week we’re supposed to get a break in the weather. I’m trying to remember how I dressed when it was warm but not blazing hot. I’m not sure. Maybe short sleeves but not sleeveless, and crops instead of shorts. This morning I went out around 10 AM in shorts and a sleeveless top (pink Tuesday) and then realized that it was only 68. Brrr.. It’s plenty warm now.

Joy

Veteran

Good questions, Jenn. I am tracking accessories such as jewelry, scarves, bag and shoes because I want to know what I am using most. So far it seems classic stuff like hoop earrings, I should add weather and activities.

My all stars in this season are EF pants and jackets or linen toppers because they work in the climate for chilly times and hot afternoons (I can roll the pant legs). Underneath I am wearing lots of basic tank tops or sleeveless shells.

changing during the day depends on my activities. For example, today I put on EF russet pants, tank and loose knit poncho type topper for a club meeting this morning. Now the pants are rolled to be ankle pants. I took off a summer scarf that was getting too warm. I plan to wear the same outfit as I did this morning to a ladies meeting at church tonight.

If I had been called to watch grandchildren this afternoon, I would have changed into more sturdy jeans and taken off the ponco thingy that can get caught easily on things. My shoes are bronze fabric flat espadrilles, so for grandchildren I would change into sneakers or something that could take water and sand play outdoors,

Style Fan

Veteran

Great questions Jenn. I do make notes in my journal but didn't share all of them here. Not sure why. I do find outfit pictures very helpful.

SarahD8

Veteran

Great discussion. Here are my answers:

1. In addition to items worn I've decided to experiment with "rating" outfits. Here is the scheme I've come up with:
1 - I loved this and can't wait to wear it again
2 - Solid, would wear again (but I'm not, like, heart-eyes about it)
3 - Would not wear again without tweaks. I'm also noting the reason in broad terms: Color, Proportions, Fit, or Warring Factions (meaning 2 garments don't play well with each other, like the neckline of a top doesn't look good under the neckline of a sweater, or whatever). Also added a notes column to explain specifics.
I'm hoping this will help me identify things like which outfit formulas are super reliable for me, which wardrobe items are most reliable vs. which ones I have trouble styling, if there are any patterns in terms of why outfits tend to fall short, and which outfits/items make me the happiest to wear.

2. Allstars/workhorses: raw-hem cropped jeans (5/11 days, yes would totally have predicted this); silver tassel slide sandals (4/11 days, they are new and I have worn them every day since I got them. I stalked these puppies all summer until I found them on super sale, and am very pleased that I seem to like them as much as I thought I would.)

3. I don't track loungewear/pajamas/etc., only "real" clothes. I typically wear only 1 such outfit per day, usually for 12+ hours. It's interesting to see that other folks seem to change much more often throughout the day!

K.M.

Veteran

Like the others, after tracking my first week, I'm now more conscious of changing up not only individual pieces but also silhouettes. My first week had a lot of skinny pants (partly because of two rainy days). So now this second week I've been wearing dresses.

1. I definitely track context. Weather is one of the biggest factors in my outfits (e.g. rain as mentioned above). Also: activity, and whether I will be doing a lot of walking or not.

2. I was surprised to see how often I wore skinnies. I wear them but I'm not the biggest fan (prefer widelegs, flares, bootcuts...) However, they are just too practical in terms of footwear, weather variation, versatility.

3. I spend the day in the same outfit and change into my PJs at home.

I'm loving this challenge and especially your discussions and questions!

Windchime

Veteran

1. I keep a list of my outfits, separated into casual, work, and other.
2. My white shoes and white mules are still my most-worn items, even after Labor Day! I’m intentionally trying to keep wears of tops and bottoms pretty even.
3. Most days, I keep work clothes on until it’s time to put on pj’s. A couple days, I change from a work outfit to a casual outfit.

When I did a similar challenge in January, I gave myself a list of 30 items, not counting footwear and accessories. There are a lot more options for September because of the large temperature differences. I made a list of everything I could theoretically wear this month, and it has almost 50 items on it. I’m sure I won’t wear all of them in one month. Then I go again to the question of do I have too many clothes, which is why I decided to participate in the challenge.

L'Abeille

Veteran

1. I tracked activities (actually don't have to right now because I'm tracking in my calendar). This is important because I expect to refer to this in future, so it helps to know what outfit was comfortable and practical for an overnight shift, or whether I wore this outfit to church already this month.

I don't rate every outfit, but I do make note of the 10s, so I can repeat them, and the ones I didn't like, so I know to tweak them if I try again.

2. I never repeat in the same week, except outerwear and shoes, so no workhorses have emerged yet.

3. I usually wear the same outfit until my bedtime bath. My office clothes can't be precious, and my style is RATE, so I will weed the garden or walk on the beach in my work or church clothes. I do use an apron though.

The exception is footwear: I often change shoes midday to give my feet a break; I change to walking sneakers for my walks; and at home I exchange my shoes for supportive house slippers.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm just catching up and have not been consciously tracking. But I do have a pretty clear idea of what I have worn, the weather, and happiness factors.

My first week here in Vancouver, the weather was sunny and warm. Perfect weather for white jeans, shirts/ blouses with sleeves scrunched, sneakers. (And a good thing, too, since none of my other footwear has arrived.) Twice, I wore a dress. I also wore long cardigans in the evenings.

This week it is rainy and cooler. I'm wearing blue cropped denim and my burgundy cropped Dres. Lightweight cotton knit tops and my J Crew raincoat. A scarf when required. Sneakers.

I was SUPER happy in the first week's outfits. I almost never get to wear long sleeved shirts back in Ontario without another layer and it was so fun to bring those out to play.

This week, the happiness factor is much lower. These are outfits I'd wear in autumn back in Kingston and they feel blah. But I'm doing housework/ errands so can't really amp things up a whole lot now.

Right now -- working from home, shopping, doing errands, setting up house -- I'm wearing the same thing all day. That's unusual for me. Typically I would change from gym clothes at minimum.

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Jane

Veteran

Thanks Jenn, good questions.

I haven’t tracked additional details, but I do know that how I feel about an outfit will change during the day. I can feel uneasy as I realise that I’ve worn the wrong thing for a particular event.

I will repeat but generally not on consecutive days.

I change clothes especially at the weekend, between geat, dog walking, errands, relaxing, seeing friends. Because of this I can get through a lot of items. I get this now, I hadn’t done until I had started tracking.

Greyscale

Veteran

SarahD8, I like the idea of a 1-2-3 rating system. I'll start doing that this week and maybe rate last week's outfits too. Some were surprise 2s that I thought would be 1s.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Greyscale and JAileen, so the fear of falling in a rut overrides wanting things like getting the thing through the wash cycle (which requires rewearing, because it isn't dirty) or a small wardrobe? Are there other things that weigh on this?

Jane, are you trying to wear everything this month?

I ask because I'm still trying to see how tracking affects wears. I must not have enough things to keep track of, because short-term, I don't have much trouble remembering if I've worn something in the past week or so. Beyond that, I don't care if I repeat items in the same setting.

No-shoes- Suz, welcome to the club! Figures that if you only have two pair, they'd both be the same kind, huh? I've gotten so used to just having these things that when they call in a week to schedule delivery, I might just put it all off until the second part is ready early next month, after we move. Anyway, it looks like you are doing really well with those shoes--good variety among the things you wore, and some nice pieces in the Finds.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the discussion questions!

I do note activities because- like most people I guess- my activities have powerful functional requirements, e.g., I go by bike to coworking space (requires pants), I go to language class by metro (more flexibility to wear a skirt, but need another layer for A/C), I lounge at home with destructive and shedding cats (light washable colors required). It helps me to nail those requirements down so I don’t thoughtlessly buy black lounge sweatpants which will then be useless.

Helena

Veteran

Great questions! I have been making a one-word little note as to what drove my outfit choice - things like "hot day", or "errands". We've had wild weather swings so that's been a big influencer. My workhorse has been my white shorts, which I've worn an embarrassing number of times, and a black crewneck sweater that I just picked up after a loooong spell of avoiding most black. I should track accessories and shoes etc more; given my uber-simple wardrobe, without these I don't have much of an outfit! I think I will learn that I would be better of duplicating/varying some classic pieces vs. going for outfit variety. I'm a uniform dresser to my core; there's just no way around it.

LaPed

Veteran

Great questions!

1. Notes -- I do make note of items that I'm unhappy with, or on-the-fence about, to decide what needs to be culled. For example, I have a skirt I wore once last week that went into the holding zone because the fabric is getting dishevelled, lots of little loose threads. It is a comfortable, practical jersey skirt, but it doesn't really move my style in any particular direction (though I seem, somehow, to always get compliments on it when I do wear it?). I'm thinking I may demote it to beach wear.

2. Workhorses -- Apart from gear/lounge, my workhorses last week were a navy linen blazer and blush suede oxford-style flats. This week, the weather has changed from warm/dry to cold/wet, so I'm wearing a completely different set of clothes. My most-worn items so far are a black-and-white breton top and my new grey/black jeans.

3. Changing -- I have at least two outfits each day: a sleep/lounge outfit that I also wear in the morning to make breakfast, pack lunches, etc (this includes tee and shorts for sleeping, plus a hoodie and pull-on pants for warmth when I get out of bed). From that I change either into a gear outfit to take the dog on nearby trails, or a town outfit for teaching/errands/rehearsals. I usually end up wearing both of those outfits at some point during the day, but the order varies depending on schedule. On the weekends, I do often go straight from PJs to gear and back to PJs, because weekends often involve all-day or overnight hikes or paddling trips. That will change a bit in the winter, when I'm a little bit less outdoorsy (low cold tolerance).

Sisi

Veteran

Interesting questions. Here are my answers.

1. I generally do not track other factors but in the past for a certain period I tracked the happiness/unhappiness factor and I had a light-bulb: dark outfits make me unhappy, no matter how good I look and how many compliments I receive. Colours definitely influence my mood more than I thought.

2. My latest big winner is a pair of fluid blue pants that I bought at a cheap store at the ridiculous price of 10 euro. They had been a HEWI for a long time. Bought them on July 10, # of wears up-to-date 13. I am so pleased with these pants. They are exactly what I wanted: super lightweight, breathable, I do not feel them on the skin.

3. I change once a day during the working week (work clothes and then home clothes) and 2-3 times a day during the weekend. I am trying to become more consistent also during weekends, that is pick an outfit that goes for everything (errands, hairdresser, visits to friends, dinners out). I think I am improving.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

1. Do you track any additional details beyond just the items worn? Weather? Happiness? Activities? How helpful is that for you and why?

I track activities and weather, because those have a heavy influence on my choices. I can remember happiness factor from the photographs, as well as styling details (accessories, how did I wear my hair, etc.), so I like tracking with notes as well as photos.

Tracking my workout gear has been surprisingly helpful -- just making notes, no photos. I was reminded that there is a pair of UA running capris that I really don't love anymore. They're a little too warm for the weather I wear them in. I think I may need to pass those along, so I'd be in the market for new ones. My others are from Lululemon and were bought when I first started running, what, 7+ years ago? That's something I hate shopping for, but probably need to bite the bullet.

2. What pieces are your all-stars/workhorses so far? Are they what you expected?

Honestly, my wardrobe is large enough that two weeks rarely offers much chance for duplication except for shoes and bags, and basic bottoms like jeans. My footwear and bag all-stars are pretty predictable.

3. How often do you change during a day? How much of the day do you spend in each outfit?

I generally change at least once a day -- most days involve a workout outfit or a home/lounge outfit, and an outfit for wearing out and about. Time spent in each varies, but it tends to be a fairly even split because I will often put on my workout clothes in the morning and get some stuff done at home before actually going to work out, and then showering and changing for the rest of the day at lunchtime.

No huge revelations yet, but I'm kind of enjoying the process as it's making me pay closer attention to my wardrobe choices.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

GREAT questions, Jenn.

1. Weather and Happiness Factor are important to me - and somewhat related.

2. We're changing seasons - been wearing fun NAS stuff.

3. Change four times a day if I go to yoga. Otherwise three times is typical. Outfit - Lounge - PJs.

Ginger

Veteran

1. Do you track any additional details beyond just the items worn? Weather? Happiness? Activities? How helpful is that for you and why?

To be honest, my "tracking" so far consists solely of OOTD photos, plus the details I remember when I'm writing up my forum post. That said, weather and activities have a HUGE amount to do with my outfit decisions in the first place. So yes, I mention those. They give the context for what I'm wearing, especially in a transitional season. Happiness is not something I've given much thought to. It's rare that I am out-and-out unhappy with what I'm wearing. Very occasionally I am So Super Thrilled that I grin at myself in every mirror. But I'm not going to get that from my entire wardrobe because a lot of it has to do with non-clothing factors.

2. What pieces are your all-stars/workhorses so far? Are they what you expected?

My shorts are the workhorses! And several specific t-shirts. No, not a surprise. I am also seeing some footwear workhorses that may emerge as well, though one week of data is hardly sufficient.

3. How often do you change during a day? How much of the day do you spend in each outfit?

Typically once a day, on work and church days. Work days, it's about 11 hours for the first + 4 hours for the second. Church days, it's about 6 hours + 8 hours.

ETA: Just saw Angie's response to this. Including pajamas, yes, that makes it twice a day to change.

JAileen

Veteran

FashIntern, even though I don’t have a job, I’m busy and doing laundry more than once a week takes too much of my time. Plus, like Donna, I like the loads to be full. Although, I think my washer may compensate for load size. I need to check that out. In winter, when I wear LS charcoal tees, it’s not an issue because I have seven of them! I might wear a pair of jeans for days in winter. I don’t sweat in winter like I do in summer. TMI, I know.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

JAileen, not sure I get it, but it’s not important. Of course people have things to do besides work!

Sal

Veteran

I have been tracking but not very active on the forum due to workload and a weekend away. I have taken some photos and will share some thoughts at the end of Sept.

I have enjoyed reading many of the tracking posts.

1) I have put down a star if I love the outfit - and a sad face if I don't like it - I have had both so far this month. I don't track the weather but I consider this when I choose what to wear.

2) Gym/running gear is a total workhorse - why do I complain when I have to replace running shoes when they are worn pretty much every single day!!

3) I change two to three times a day - gym gear, day clothes- usually these get tweaked if I am not going out at night eg take off blazer and put on sweatshirt.

My realisation is that what I wear in a month will not represent what I wear in the following month. For example I plan to swap out winter clothes etc in three weeks after a holiday south where it will be cooler. So I am trying to make the most of my boots and wintery items in the next 2.5 weeks before I go away. October will be cool spring and look different to November which is often a hectic social month for us, as is December.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I just realized I forgot to post my own answers!

• My app tracks the weather and has a way to tag activities, but I rarely use it. Because I have my outfits on a calendar, I can usually match up what I wore for what event without any database tags. Outfit photos help me a lot with recalling happiness factor, but that's not something I track either, because it's subjective and can vary from wear to wear.

• September is an odd month and we've had record high temperatures, so I haven't been layering as much as I thought I would, despite 40° temperature swings. All-stars haven't shifted much since August. Sadly. Sandals, ballet flats, lightweight tops.

• I usually put on workout gear first thing in the morning, spend an hour at the gym, and then come home, shower, and change into daytime clothes. I don't change again until I put on pajamas, usually an hour or less before bed.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Fashintern, I can imagine that having a folder with my pics of "highest happiness" outfits would remind me of the best way to wear certain items. I don't do that specifically, but I do keep a WIW photo folder find that when I think I'm feeling tired of something or "over it," looking over the times I wore it and felt great can help me rekindle some joy and get more happy wear out of my clothing.

Sterling, I need to find my equivalent of your t-shirts. I don't like the way most short sleeves fit me, so my wardrobe consists mostly of sleeveless tops and various toppers. There are days, though, when I really just want something in-between!

Jessikams, you must have light-colored cats? We have one white cat, but the other is a tuxedo...no color is safe from the hair!

Greyscale, it does feel a little like making weekly capsule wardrobes, doesn't it? This week has been quite different weather-wise than last here, so for me, it's almost like wearing a different seasonal capsule.

Runcarla, I had a similar experience recently with my black ponté pants. I wore them for my flight to California a few weeks ago and when we landed, instead of heading to the art museum as we'd planned, my husband drove straight to the beach (I swear, he couldn't help it). Those black pants felt DEAD WRONG on the Santa Monica pier. Way too heavy and dark.

JAileen, I'm having similar weather difficulties here! It was 58° when I left the house this morning and 94° by mid-afternoon. I'm enjoying the unique sensation of being cold in the mornings, though, so I haven't been bothering with sweaters or jackets. The cool temps pass quickly enough!

Joy, you have Colorado layering down to a science!

StyleFan, I'm always happy to have photos, even if they're not great and for my eyes only.

SarahD8, I love when new items get worn immediately! I like your rating system, especially because you use it as a tool for outfits rather than individual items. I think it would be a mistake to write individual items off just because of one or two low-happiness outfits. Sometimes, it's all in the styling.

(back later with more)

Gigi

Veteran

1. I track only the items worn, but if I was feeling really good in an outfit, I will put a smiley face next to it on my handwritten log. The smileys don't get transferred to the spreadsheet. I have to retain my handwritten logs if I want to go back through them to find my best outfits. It's quite easy to spot them on the handwritten copies.

I should make a log sometime of my most-loved outfits so that I can get rid of my handwritten copies. However, I find that it is easier on my handwritten copies to check what types of outfits I wore for a particular season.

For instance, I know that last summer I reached for the same pair of shoes over and over again because a few of my outfits lacked appropriate shoes. I wanted to get another pair of shoes that could complete these outfits, so I looked over my log to see what types of clothing I had on when reaching for said shoes. That helped me know which outfits I needed to keep in mind when looking for another pair of shoes.

2. My workhorses are pretty much what I expected--no surprises.

3. As to changing outfits, I normally wear the same outfit all day, but once or twice a week I may have a day where I need to change into exercise clothes for a class. On those days, I don't bother logging my exercise wear; I log only the street clothes outfit. If I happen to wear exercise gear the whole day (which is a rarity but does occur sometimes), I don't log an outfit for that day.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

K.M., I was super-excited to wear skinnies last week. It's been a while, and I haven't worn the again this week. For me, they're IMPRACTICAL in the summer months, because they're so hot!

Windchime, I think you could wear 50 items in September. I just did a quick count and, counting shoes, but not belts or bags, I've already worn 28 items!

L'Abeille, you never repeat in a week? That's interesting data, in and of itself!

Suz, I predict you're going to have a fun fashion year.

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