Shop Your Closet - midway thru week 4 - YouLookFab Forum

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Shop Your Closet - midway thru week 4

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Okay, how are we doing? I am really pushing my self imposed boundaries this last week.
I spied a dress in my pre-search for a casual blue dress for spring. It was not befitting the category I was searching for but I had to have it!
I am allowing myself any proceeds from clothes sales, in consignment or on eBay, to not count against my SYC. The idea is no money out of pocket.
Basically, I got the dress before my listed clothing has sold, so I bent my own rules. I have no doubt I will have the cost of the dress covered soon but I did indeed dip into my pockets to make it happen. Bad Mo!!!
The upside is it is only $16 out of pocket, and I have $9 on account at consignment right now to offset it already. Oh, and I can return it. So, yes, I broke my SYC but only for about $7 and then only for about 4 days because I'm sure a heavily watched item I have listed will sell. How is that for roundabout justification?!

In other news, I decided my foldover waist jersey skirt is going back to ON and so that leaves a balance freed up to likely try the ruffled blue dress there. Even though it is a knit and not woven, it's the closest to what I've been looking for for spring. Besides, exchanges are free with ON, but returns cost.

SO . . . . . I am about even by the end of this week if I get, and keep, both dresses. Or, I will be sitting on about $40 of refunds and returns if neither works out.

It is hard to just leave it all alone!

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Queen Mum

Veteran

I was feeling really good until I saw Angie's blog post this morning. Now I want to run out and buy all the components for her bright jacket outfits. I won't though. I can add the components one per month.... February is right around the corner

Mo

(website)

Veteran

That's the spirit, Kim!! Feb is super close!
It is harder than I imagined, even in the dead of winter, to just leave the shopping alone.

ironkurtin

Veteran

FAIL!!!! However, I have returned some suckage...

- Nau coat = dud. It was cut very stiffly and the fabric felt like a slightly tougher version of those recycled plastic bags you get at Whole Foods.
- Vanessa bruno coat = dud. Way too small! Outnet, a 38 is NOT a size 6!
- Via Spia faux fur jacket = dud. Whoa, now I understand why this was on clearance!
- Too-large faux-fur sweater = dud. Unanimous vote was that it was too big, so back it went.

But I also kept some rockage. It's hard to feel bad when I like things!
- $14 Inhabit sweater from ebay
- 3 Inhabit linen tops from Inhabit site-wide sale
- pair of linen Vince pants from Bergdorf's

Am still awaiting
- Kors faux fur vest from Piperlime, with gift credit + some $
- rag and bone original line pants from Yoox
- linen tank dress off ebay

Sigh. I was not meant to SMC I think. Still, I can try!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I'm going on SYB. One Good addition to my closet per month, foundations and replacements exempt. Hubby shrank my beloved kelly green cardi! Please don't touch my laundry if I don't ask you to!! That is going to need to be replaced. The animal wedges were my January purchase. I am planning to look for a spring bag during the NYC YLF meetup. Hopefully this will be my loot for February. I am shopping online but mostly for inspiration these days. I am in a hug your closet phase for sure right now.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Just a question for you gals doing the one a month purchase plan - do you think this is sustainable as a shopping strategy in the long run? Do you want it to be?
I ask because, for most of us, SYC is a sort of temporary thing - done for various reasons. But I am becoming more and more interested in what I can handle long term, to be both financially prudent but also to keep my closet updated and under control. I will be very curious to see if this pans out for the year, and might adapt to the same strategy once I'm working again.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I basically hadn't shopped for the last 10 years, had two kids, and went through some dramatic size and style changes. Then in the last year since joining YLF, I have spent a lot of time and money rebuilding a decent wardrobe. Right now I feel like I am done! It feels fantastic to have the appropriate clothes for almost any occasion right now. That happened because close to 95% of my closet is new in the last year. If I look at my WIW's, there are a few golden oldies but mainly my outfits are brand new from the last 6 months. At this point I am looking for seasonal updates, small tweaks and a slow period of style evolution through upcoming years. I do not envision a wardrobe overhaul like this one any time soon. I wanted to do another purge before the contractor comes tonight to start redoing my closet, but there was really nothing in there that I don't love or wear. I'll probably get rid of some cheap shoes as I replace them with decent ones over the next year.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Rita, if you don't mind me asking - was the budget for this overhaul roughly the equivalent of what you would other wise have spent in say, 2 or 3 years of slowly buying replacements?
I would love to have the overhauled fresh wardrobe that I want to hug but just can't see doing it in a 6 month or one year window. Perhaps it is my budget that gets in the way of that?

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Mo, I was lucky in that I had the leeway to do it in a relatively short amount of time. The first thing I had to do was reframe the whole pursuit as something that was important to me and my family, not just a frivolous waste of money when I already had a closet full of clothes. Once I got over the guilt and shame of spending money on myself, it was like opening the flood gates. Getting dressed was so stressful every day. It was affecting every part of my life. Not only did my clothes not fit my current body but they didn't meet the needs of my current circumstances. I didn't want to live this way anymore. So some things, like a Disney vacation, home renovations and new furniture, had to wait while I spent a ridiculous amount of money on myself. I know I won't be doing this again because I have given myself permission to make seasonal updates. My wardrobe is never going to be 10 years out of date in season or function again.

Lisa

Veteran

This is the first time I've done SYC and so far, so good. No new purchases. However, every time previously I failed. I was purchasing new items regularly since finding YLF. After 2 years, most of my wardrobe is new, and I am much happier with it. I've spent more time and money than I want to admit rebuilding my wardrobe. But now I am content with what I have and more focused on CPW. I figure, if I do very little purchasing this year, it will help bring the average down on how much I've spent on clothing in the past few years. I've been really focused on looking at outfit ideas for inspiration instead of "what can I purchase new today." One thing that helped me with my overhaul, was when I realized that I don't need as large a wardrobe that I thought. With a 4 season climate, and a closet with items that I can remix across seasons I get more mileage and leave more space in my closet.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Rita. Funny thing is, we actually had the money this last year to do it (I mean, the BF bought us a new truck afterall) but maybe I do have some guilt involved that I didn't really recognize.
The part about having a closet full of clothes making you feel that it's frivolous to want to redo your wardrobe hits home! But the majority of my closet was disposable. I did make strides (slowly) in 2011 within my budget but I hope to make this year better yet. Maybe with less money, but also less pieces.
And AMEN to never having a 10 year lull and then having to overhaul all over again!!!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I actually brought back one of my birthday gifts and bought a less expensive pair of jeans (and a small art print)- and spent less than the original item. It's funny- I could actually use some new clothes, but when I do get out shopping I can't seem to find the perfect item.

rae

(website)

Veteran

QM, I was sorely tempted by Angie's post, too! I spent a good 5 minutes reminding myself that I don't like mary janes and that I'm not supposed to buy shoes that will upset my ppl.

There's also an additional % AS sale going on... paced around the apartment muttering, "You already have a brown leather jacket. You already have a brown leather jacket..."

On the good side, I'm returning the striped shorts I cheated on SYCasualC for, since they are not perfect. I may try an ON pair, but if I get those it will be with a GC.

My end of season sale purchases should be coming to a close soon, too. I got my Sloan dress pants, pre-emptively replaced a citron blouse, got 2 gray cardis, boots to UWP-ify the office clothes, and a pretty cool UWP office jacket. Then I might be on regular SYC (cue dramatic organ music)...

Queen Mum

Veteran

Regarding your question about sustaining the one per month purchase, Mo. No, I don't think I could sustain that for longer than the year. I feel that after this year I will probably up to 2 purchases per month. That is much more realistic and seems to fit with the size of wardrobe that I am comfortable with and the duration that I like to keep most things. Then my closet will be in a happy state of slowly and constantly evolving to keep up the fabness every season.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Makes sense, Kim. Actually, when I plotted out what I felt I'd need to stay on top of keeping current and updated, it worked out to about a dozen items each season (s/s and f/w) plus a couple accessories (belt or bag or scarf whatever). Similar amounts as you think you might level out at.

Kim

Veteran

I'm out of SYC I think! LOL I bought some jeans, a shirt and a sweater, (all on clearance, but still...) I'm in the works of getting some premium jeans, so I'm gonna say no more SYC for me. I don't have any real reason to be doing it, other than the challenge, but I've done it before, so it's not even a novelty for me now.

So ladies, I'm gonna go back to my hobby of shopping my budget and leave the guilt behind! LOL

Good luck to you all. It's a good thing to do and you can learn quite a bit from it.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I am back on by default, with the refund of the ebay impulse dress. But I am already looking ahead into a blue spring dress, if/when enough of my listed clothes sell to cover it. Have my eye on one. Just waiting to earn the funds. I kinda like it this way - almost a forced one in, one out rule. I am determined to follow my rules this time!
And maybe, just maybe all of this will result in enough savings by the end for those beloved Frye Julia boots.

celia

Veteran

Still on board.There isn't much to tempt me out there at this time of the year and I still have some items to wear( like the B44 that I still have to make it work), so it has been easy.
For the past 3 years I have been trying to rebuild my wardrobe after having my daughter.i set a budget and in the beginning it worked.But then every month I have this huge stress of being able to spend my budget and what good use Icould make of it.Because I would come across good deals I would spend over my budget.
Right now is liberating not having to think where can I spend the money and find the next great item.
We will see how SYC goes and I will devise a strategy to updates according to it.
I also have to do the disclaimer that I may hav to buy a pair of dressier sandals in the summer because I don't have any and I missed ones last summer.

cciele

Veteran

Still off the wagon here. All these sales are tempting me! And then my favorite local boutique decided to have a superhuge sale this weekend... ugh. But I am trying hard to consider things that would really work with my wardrobe, in my main colors. I have been branching out colorwise and now I think it's time to minimize a little there.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Wow Rita, you really are my wardrobe overhaul twin, down to the long overdue revamp, two kids, and the way you went all out and redid everything in six months! I feel like you wrote my post for me! So, ditto Rita! I am hugging my closet too

I realized I don't have it in me to do a true SYC, but I am on SYB. I am not shopping like mad like before, but I have some duplicates of items that I need to decide on (like I have a couple of red cardigans that I am trying to decide between, or a couple of different sizes in the same shoe), so I have some things that still need to be returned. And I did purchase a frivolous "resort wear" outfit that I am waiting to receive. I am so bad!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I managed to spend the rest of my birthday money yesterday. I found a leather cognac purse for $17- and it's a good replacement for the other one that I have that is not so comfortable (and with my back issues, comfort is key for purses), and also a pair of comfy black gladiator sandals (also $7)- which is another replacement for the black heeled thong sandals that I have (also not so comfy). So, not exciting as far as brand new items; but very necessary replacements at a great price.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I have been meaning to SYC, but as part of my wardrobe analysis this week I started surfing ebay to look for clothes that appeal to me, and just happened to find some candidates to fill in wardrobe holes, and yadda yadda yadda....

So I've bought a grey handbag, a houndstooth skirt, a black cardigan, and a grey cardigan. Sigh. But I have also already listed one of my older handbags, a top, a skirt, and a coat on ebay to make up for it. And I have two small boxes of stuff in the attic to try and sell once I get around to it. So that almost counts as SYB, right...?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

That's my rationale, Mander! They will sell eventually, right? And besides, that's following the one in one out rule.