Shop Your Closet Day 1! - YouLookFab Forum

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Shop Your Closet Day 1!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Looks like there are 15 of us who are in. Strength in numbers, ladies!

I'll be posting a weekly thread here and I'm journaling my experiences at my blog, http://www.writing4dummies.blogspot.com.

Thank you Angie and everyone else who offered support! This is a great veteran challenge and a roadtest of our YLF wardrobes. I could never have come this far without Angie and YLF. Time to get creative with the closet! And our friends' closets ...

This morning, I realized I forgot to buy underwear -- yikes! How do you feel on Day One? Fear and trepidation? Excitement? Fear of not having enough underwear?

General

50 replies

Latest reply was from Laura

Louise

Veteran

My sticking point will be Ebay. I must not enter that site for any reason over the next 5 months!! or I'm doomed! I think I will just avoid shopping, I am very weak willed though I do need to return a top which has washed badly think I need to wear a blindfold and have someone lead me to the returns desk!!!!! x

Anonymous

Day one: I'm feeling like I'm going to be severely tested by finding all the things I've been looking for (but don't really need) at fantastic prices now that I've signed on. I know that I don't really need anything and that there're always sales, etc. The Biblical readings today at Mass were all about giving up worldly things for the spiritual, followed by a short talk from The Little Sisters of the Poor who care for the elderly and dying poor with no compensation other than what others give them. It sort of put everything in perspective and made me more determined to do this challenge.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm excited for all of you! It's an interesting challenge for Style Veterans. Selfishly, I'm also excited for me that I can still shop the trends over the next 5 months - don't mean to rub it in but we are heading for my dominant season and I'm a fashion stylist :0)

My guess is that you'll be super enthusiastic for a while until you hit something that you really want and can afford. We'll be here to pick up the pieces though so no worries yet :0).

Good luck!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Yes Angie we will be looking for support here once temptation hits in the form of fall trends! Yikes! I don't know if living vicariously through YLFers is going to be enough. Luckily I have stylish friends with nearby closets!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your stylish friends with nearby closets are going to be a saving grace. Butter them up with lots of cake.

Louise

Veteran

As I said I'm weak willed if I can make it till the end of August I'll be happy (and surprised!) Though I do claim a dispensation (is that the word?) for next Saturday as I'm at the YLF London meet x

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Thanks for sharing the link to your blog Laura- I added it to my bloglines.
I can't go that long without buying anything, but I am seriously cutting back, so I will be keeping up with you for moral support. That being said- I am off on a shopping trip today LOL I have a return, an exchange, and a gap to fill (with the exchange money), so it's really not new money being spent. Yesterday, I went through my current closet and found an item that I can alter and wear, and put together some items that will work for fall (writing the combos down in my journal so that I don't forget). I was surprised at how well what I have will work for fall, so that calmed some of my fears.

bj1111

Veteran

laura, i'm playing though clearly not a veteran so i may be counting on ylf to pick up the pieces and put humpty dumpty back together again.

ps: already baking muffins...

Debora

Veteran

What a fun challenge! Good luck to you all!

PalmFronds

Ah the first morning. I have to admit, I was vexed the ban was already here! was already reconsidering buying that LAMB bag for the last day of NAS...
I am with Louise, I will need to stay off ebay for the whole time or I am certainly doomed! I have given myself one allowance outside of the ban: if I find that Massimo Dutti jacket I wanted, IT'S MINE!!!
Otherwise, I am starting my ban by making a list of everything in my closet I have either not worn or not worn enough, so I can work on getting them into rotation during the ban. That way I hope not to miss buying new stuff so much

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I was so panicked about what I did and didn't have that I opened my one storage box of winter knitwear (protection from moths, otherwise everything is out and hanging in the closet). It did calm me down! I was happy to find some items I'd forgotten - cobalt blue Edwardian turtleneck, olive BR sweater dress and far too many grey sweaters (what was I thinking?) among them.

Now comes the fear that I lost all of my gloves last year. I am a notorious glove-loser.

It's going to be fun to see what our shopping lists look like for January - whether we become super picky or want to buy everything in sight!

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Laura - it may sound goofy, but my dream is to be able to shop my closet. Really! Not saying that I hate shopping or anything, or that it isn't fun to pick up something new (I'm having tons of fun now, maybe too much - I'm looking at YOU, Boden and NAS!) but the idea that you can go into your own closet full of things that you already know fit you (assuming you keep a good rein on your wardrobe) and 'play dress up' - just totally fab.

Louise

Veteran

MPJ I think I must be a shopaholic!! (can you get therapy for that!!) I'm at the point where you want to be and I NEED nothing, it's all I wants!!! x

tarzy

Veteran

I'll be watching all of you with great interest. I'm nowhere near ready to do this - I'm still assembling the troupes in my own closet - but this is definitely something I'm working toward. Good luck all!

Isabel

Veteran

I decided against my last fling - the Loft tunic - and I will also start today.

You asked on your blog if we had any rules , I have one ( so that I can be as genuine to the process as possible ): if my rain boots or underwear spring a leak, I will buy some.

( PS - I have a $198 credit at Boden that I will spend on my children instead of me. I am taking this way seriously...how many more days to go ? And I zeroed out two shopping carts of "stuff" . )

taylor

Veteran

Well, I just got back from my Sunday Mall Stroll...was I tempted , YES...so many things I would have absentmindedly snapped up...but do i need them... NO!!!

My weakest moment was in LV...MY favorite bag was there.... has been out of store stock for a month or so....I just go in to stare at it an hold it:) I also found a pair of LV shoes. My husband joked with the security guard..."My wife is on a shopping ban...If she makes it till Christmas I will buy her that bag and those shoes"

Well, that's all I need to keep in my head to keep me on track...all the motivation I need!! A nice prize at the end!!! I really think I can do this!!

Here's the bag in Amaranite. http://www.louisvuitton.com/we.....#038;buy=1

items that will make Laura's " Shop Your Closet Project" all worth while!!

I also REALLY realized how very impulsive I can be when I shop...not such a good thing.!! This will be great for character building. Having been broke enough in the past to not be able to shop, I understand all too well the feelings that go along with that:(

Great blog Laura BTW!!

Louise

Veteran

Taylor it's down in black and white so hubs has to abide by it now what an incentive hummm I wonder if I can wangle a similar one? *calling* Mart.......... x

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Yay, Taylor! How's THAT for incentive. Gotta love your hubby. A LV bag and shoes under the Christmas tree? What a guy!

taylor

Veteran

Ha...I don't think he believes I will make it....I'LL show him!!

Tanya

Veteran

I am following this with great interest. I almost joined all of you but knew that I could not make it.

Taylor, if there ever was an incentive than there it is! I will be cheering for you so that you get that super-awesome Christmas gift!

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Ha! You guys are so strong for going for this! I think I will do all your shopping for you.

Laura, so glad you are going to be using your blog for this! You might want to even consider, on the days when you are feeling the most like you want to give up, to challenge yourself to put together something in a new combination and -- wait for it -- photograph it for everyone to see. You all could do that when you are flagging!

Taylor, that is some mighty fine incentive; go go go girl!

Queen Mum

Veteran

Laura- I hope that by January I become super picky. I plan to keep a running log of things that I think of over the next 5 months that "I wish I had to complete this outfit" then evaluate in January how much use I would really get out of it.

JennyK (NC)

I didn't see the discussion post about this, so I'm guessing at the task. You can't purchase any clothing item until January? Hmmm... I have to say, I'm not tempted right now. I feel like I'm still in wardrobe building mode. A month or 6 weeks I could handle, but not 5 months! You ladies are brave!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Woohoo - Congrats on the start girls - I'm cheering you all on from across the ocean!!

Taylor that is some AWESOME incentive there!

Lisa

Veteran

Laura-I am watching this thread, maybe next year after I've been with YLF for a full year I will be able to do something like this too.

Taylor-*gasping* you MUST make it through this and GET THAT bag! How much support do you need, I'm here! tee hee.

Good luck to everyone over the next few months.

AJ

Veteran

I look forward to your weekly posts! I'll be admiring and cheering you all on!

Taylor, wowie zowie! That bag is so yummy with its shiny leather! Oh, so great that you have such a FAB goal to look forward to! How fab that you already discovered that you shop absentmindedly. You can do this! I'm giggling at the thought of you visiting your LV bag every Sunday from now on until January! : )

kellygirl

Veteran

Can't wait to see how this goes! Thanks for sharing your blog!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Taylor, what is the name of your LV bag (notice how it's already "your" bag)? The link is going to the LV home page. I must see the prize!

For a prize, I am going to buy a ticket to NYC in Jan to stay with my girlfriends and hit the sales. As much as anything, I have missed travelling in the past, oh, decade or so since having kids

p.s. to Kristen: Great idea - I am going to need your photo-taking tips.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Ooooh, an NY shopping trip is a perfect prize for you, Laura! And I am happy to help you with the camera tips. You have a tripod, right?

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