Shop Your Closet Challenge for November? - YouLookFab Forum

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Shop Your Closet Challenge for November?

LaPed

Veteran

As I mentioned in FashIntern's thread, I've been thinking about setting a shop-your-closet challenge for myself beginning November 1st. This is partly to keep my budget in line, partly because I really dislike the way consumer culture ramps up during the holiday season (especially here in the US, it seems), and partly to push myself away from browsing-as-hobby (possible New Year '19 resolution as well). I know I'll be more successful if I do it with a group, post updates, make the time for outfit creation sessions, etc.

So here's my idea: Identify the categories that feel like "needs" but aren't really, and find ways of satisfying those "needs" through one's own closet. To use myself as an example, I am always looking at blazers but already have two that I don't wear as much as I'd like, so I'll continue to push myself to create blazer-based ensembles. I've been really excited about the return of bootcuts and flares, but I already have a pair of flared wool trousers from a few years ago -- so why not wear those instead of adding more?

Challenge tracking could be WIW photos, written updates, capsule snapshots, whatever is most helpful to you. I propose a month-long challenge running through November, and I can start a weekly general discussion thread if that's helpful to folks.

Does that make sense, or interest anyone other than me?

Elizabeth British Tweed Blazer

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Brooks Brothers

Wool Two-Button Jacket

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Signature Italian Wool Trouser, Plaid

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55 replies

Latest reply was from cheryl

The Cat

Veteran

Great idea! I share your feelings concerning "the way consumer culture ramps up during the holiday season" and actually try to avoid shopping in November and December.

Can't promise to post photos etc. these days, as some of my close relatives are seriously ill and I have a tight work schedule. But I enjoy visiting the YLF forum when I have a few minutes for myself and need a little break from duties, sickness and worries ... I will follow your challenge with interest.

Cee

Veteran

My shopping list for November consists of insect repellent !

Kathie

Veteran

Full confession, after my closet clean-out, I realized that I didn’t have nearly enough tops to go with the dozen skirts and trousers that I still love and wear. I was relying on the same two merino sweaters to go with 6-8 of the items. So, I focused on tops exclusively this month, and have bought 4-5 more tops- two black blouses (one short-sleeved and one long), one cream blouse, one floral print, and one navy fine gauge sweater (on order, so may be returned if it’s not right.)

That said, by November 1, I do plan to be completely done with adding anything, and will be focusing on enjoying what I have, along with alterations of a few items.

LaPed

Veteran

Kathie, I'm in the same boat; I've purchased three solid color long-sleeve layering tops this fall (one is still OTW) because I was so lacking in that category, especially once I purged two merino sweaters. I have a lot of patterned bottoms for F/W and trying to style them last winter revealed this to be a major hole. Now I have to remind myself not to buy any more!

The Cat, I'm busy this time of year. Fingers crossed I'll be able to keep up with weekly posts.

Cee, bug stuff in November?! You headed to the Amazon or something?

nemosmom

Veteran

Ooooh Count me IN! I have a couple pairs of boots coming next week to try out, and 3 items at the tailor, but am challenging myself to not spend anymore before the end of the year (hoping to extend that into the new year). Post-edit, I feel like my clothes are WAY more organized. Now, I just need to figure out how to put it all together.

I am also guilty of browsing as a hobby and would benefit greatly from spending that time here instead!

Cee

Veteran

No, LP... Start of the insect invasion in Australia !

Diana

Veteran

Ha, well, I’m already doing this as I haven’t shopped for clothing since mid-September and am planning on staying on this shopping diet until after the New Year. I’m not being super strict about it but I haven’t bought anything yet! (This is partly just a personal challenge, but also because we just bought a house and are feeling poor... plus we are moving to said house sometime in Jan most likely so are trying to declutter before then!)

New hand knit items are an exception, if I happen to finish any, as I already own the yarn! But the rate of creation is slow, lol, so I don’t expect it’ll make a huge difference.

It’s interesting to do the closet edit at the same time as a shopping diet! I have kept certain items that are a little older or not 100% ideal because I can’t replace them with new or better ones right now. But I don’t feel like I’m sorely lacking in anything. I think a few items are going to wear out/fall apart during the course of this season so I’ll reassess in early spring.

I will say, I have a pretty big wardrobe and I keep things for a long time so it might be easier for me than for someone who has a smaller, but more frequently turned over wardrobe.

ETA: my last WIW post with many outfits consists of entirely shop-my-closet looks. https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....r-catch-up

Christina F.

Veteran

I’m in! I plan to try to stop shopping as well, since I’ll be traveling hakf of the month anyway. (I may get a wearable souvenir in Spain, but it’s more likely to be an accessory like jewelry. I also want a fan.)

Anything in my shopping list is more of a want than a need at this point, and I have gotten so picky that I’m constantly returning stuff. I like the scavenger hunt aspect of that, but it’s also tiring and I think it will be good for me to step away from it. My wardrobe finally feels like it’s 99% where I want it to be. Also, financially I will have other commitments (travel and the holidays). I am leaving for my trip November 1, so the timing is great for me, too.

ETA - forgot to say that browning as a hobby is a big problem of mine. It fulfills an artistic or creative need in me, but temptation always ensues.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Looks like I'm already signed up, lol. As I should be!

But I did just get my red boots, right under the wire.

No more browsing as a hobby is an excellent resolution, one that I probably shouldn't wait until New Years for. After finding and ordering "the" red boots earlier tonight and making a find for the Blondos I've already decided to get when they go on sale (L&T just had 30% off, but my size was one of 2 that was sold out, grr), I continued browsing and made finds of 6 more pairs of boots. For no reason at all, because I'm not planning on buying any more now.

At this time of year I usually channel any desire to shop into getting presents for my family (not on Black Friday, however), but not this year--I bought and wrapped Christmas presents for everyone but the college student in June. She'll get a decoration for her dorm room, and everyone else is done. So I don't have that "outlet". Really, I need to channel my energy elsewhere!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

NICE.

I'm cheering from the side lines.

Cee

Veteran

Angie circa 1950-something.

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Cee

Veteran

Must be wearing contacts...

Molly Mac

Veteran

I am in. I have tried to be much more thoughtful about my purchases this year but I do fall into the "it's on sale and so cute" trap especially during the holidays. This might inspire me to do my first WIW post.

Kathie

Veteran

I was washing some knitwear last night, and found that my black BR merino turtleneck has developed a hole. GRRR. I usually have two, and finished last winter with just this one. Anyway, it’s an essential. So, I’m in for shop-my-closet, but with one modification for a black cashmere or merino washable turtleneck.

I was also re-reading Katerina’s thread about a possible “style-stretching” challenge in November, and many people were focusing on pushing themselves to move past fallback options in one area or another (accessories, blazers, footwear). I can definitely see myself doing both, shopping my closet, AND trying combos I might not usually wear.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Yes! I’ve been thinking of doing a no buy for November, as I’ve filled most of my needs and I also tend to shop as a stress reliever during the holidays. I’m in.

LaPed

Veteran

Oh, yay! Looks like we've got a good sizeable group. I'm super-busy between now and Halloween, but I'll be sure to write a kick-off post of some sort on Nov 1st. Looking forward to lots of creative restyling!

And no, finishing up your October shopping isn't cheating. I still have two things I'm waiting on that I ordered earlier in the month. No guarantee that I'll keep them, and I may look at them with more critical eyes if they arrive in November... Also, a shopping ban is a *perfect* time to finish up knitting/sewing projects you've started, so those don't count either.

The rules can be as flexible as you need them to be, of course. I know for myself it needs to be all-in with no loopholes: no rushing out to buy tights, even if every pair I own gets a run -- wear some pants instead! But I don't want people feeling like Cinderella, with a big to-do coming up and nothing but rags. Although there are so many pumpkins lying around this time of year...

kkards

Veteran

perfect! i'm in....i have a few October bits and pieces still winging there way to me....a few years ago we had an November challenge that was No(repeat)ember, with the goal of not repeating an outfit in totality, which is how i'm going to approach this. what i remember from this challenge was how it made me think and be more mindful about what i wore and how i wore it.....and the closet edit has reenforced that i have the closet to do this, even if all i do is change out the shoes!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Great idea! I’ll mostly be cheering from the sidelines, but this may not be a hard challenge for me unless I find something amazing or have an unexpected need in Cape Town (which is entirely possible!). We’ll be away pretty much the whole month, and I’ve just done some shopping, so I’ll be doing the “shop your suitcase” thing in November!

Staysfit

Veteran

I have a limited shopping list, and if I find something on the list, I will buy it, so I guess I wouldn’t really be able to do this.

rachylou

Veteran

No fair. I’d decided to wait UNTIL November to do some shopping! Lol. Need a new long puffy; they don’t roll in out West here until then.

Christina F.

Veteran

Janet and I need to do a shop your suitcase challenge :p I will be gone less, though, just 15 days in total.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I will be cheering from the sidelines, too. I usually stop shopping for clothing between November and March or April -- apart from any needed replacements to winter boots, gear, and the occasional knit refresh at the January sales. And then I avoid shopping again in June/ July/ August (except for NAS).

In fact, I tend to have dedicated shopping months: July (NAS), September, October (for F/W). March, May, June (for Spring/Summer.) And then I just wear my clothes the rest of the time. But this year I need to be flexible because of the new climate. And, ahem, the new availability of fun consignment stores. (More on that, later.)

Anonymous

I'm in!!!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I don't think I can do it La Ped because we have 2 weeks holiday in Bali from 11 November and I am saving summer shopping possibilities for there ( have never been there, and there are said to be many lovely things there). I have also been shopping my closet for the whole month of October and will until 11 November when we fly out. Last purchase was a sleeveless print top on 22 September for our upcoming summer. It's amazing how overall easy I find a 6-week shopping fast now- but I suppose trying to clear 27 years of detritus from our house does tend to reinforce not to buy more stuff!

LaPed

Veteran

Well, to all of you with exciting trips coming up in the next month: I'm jealous. Bali, Cape Town, Spain? Yes, please! I'd say "shop your suitcase" is easier and more fun than "shop your closet" but maybe that's just. I never feel much temptation to shop while traveling, not for clothes at least.

I think my shopping pattern tends to be: cold-weather stock-up in September/October, and warm-weather stock-up in March/April. Sometimes I add some late-winter refresh items during post-holiday sales (Boxing Day/New Years) because winter is my dominant season. We tend to travel the most in July/August and so I do very little shopping those months. It's true that this time of year isn't the hardest for me to swear off shopping since I feel pretty prepared for the season ahead. It's really the browsing/fantasizing I need to give a rest.

DonnaF

Veteran

Sounds good to me! My only exception will be if a couple pair of shoes long on my Wish List are marked down.

Christina F.

Veteran

Ooh, I loved Bali! Have fun, Jenni!

La Ped, I don’t shop for clothes when I’m on vacation either. We have little space so we either buy consumables or I buy small things like postcards, jewelry, magnets, etc. I will be on the lookout for some holiday gifts. And a fan, as I said.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

We’ve been living out of suitcases for the past 2 weeks. Fall break ends Monday, so we’ll be back in Berlin & back to our regular Berlin wardrobes. It will feel like so many options! I think the suitcase-shopping, especially since we packed for warm and chilly weather, and it’s been quite cool all week, so we’re each shopping half a suitcase, is a big part of why I’m tempted to buy stuff right now.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I won’t be participating. I’ve only bought 2 items for Spring/Summer here and I’m in desperate need of some casual wear for summer. I find that my casual summer items wear out quickly because of the constant washing. So I am actually hoping November will turn up some possibilities. I am feeling very uninspired about summer at the moment.

But I will watch with interest. My favourite posts are when people show different combinations or stylings of their existing wardrobe items. I wish there were more. Bring it on!

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