Shopping for Fall 1/2- The Rules(long....)

Dear YLF,

To be honest I have to divide this whole Shopping for Fall thing into different posts because there is so much going on in my head. My last 2 years feel to me like Bilbo Baggins book There and Back Again. I was home,then I went to work now I am home again, and who knows what I am going to do next.
I started this stretch of staying home by decluttering and was very happy when I could fit all my wardrobe and DH (excluding outerwear ) in my bedroom closet.
I have been in Canada for some years now and finally get the grip on the fine line between what my dress needs are in the different roles I play and according to the weather , and how much I am willing to compromise my european ingrained dress code.
I noticed the following things( I will stick to Fall/Winter so this doesn't get extra long)

Blazers used to be one of my passions, however I find that here they read as too dressed up for about any activity. Even in the workplace, most of the times . Also, it is an item that rarely is used as outerwear. So, I need toppers but ones that I can wear under the big winter coats, if it is a blazer fine but that cannot be the first consideration.
I do need to keep a small work wardrobe , small and keep being the operative words. Few pieces that are not used unless I am going to work.
I need more contrast in my Winter outfits. My skin gets really light in cooler months and my hair is still the same brown. Black seems like a trap I fall every time but I need to temper it with light colors as blush for example.
The fabrics used in the clothes for the cooler months are heavy and in great part masculine, Although I love those qualities I have to balance it out with some feminine details (colors, prints, lighter fabrics) otherwise I feel pulled down by my own clothes.
I hate to spend money on boots (and shoes in general )but I need to buy winter boots that I feel are pretty . Having more than one pair would be ideal.
I need short sleeves/ sleeveless blouses to wear underneath toppers, the ones I have from Spring/Summer don't work with the winter clothes and I prefer blouses to t-shirts.
I need to find different silhouettes to wear during winter.
I need to limit the colors I buy somehow because they are all over the place, maybe some wardrobe capsules as the months develop like Suz does?

In general some of my clothes needed to be replaced.Once upon a time I felt I had to stock up on my favorite colors but in recent years I figured out that I can find a shade that I like every single year, so I have no reason to hold on to things just because I am afraid I cannot find replacements. Actually sometimes I feel I find too many colors I can wear.

All of this reasoning led me to my Fall Shopping Rules which in very basic terms are:
You can buy clothes if:

They are a layer for an outfit formula
They replace an item I really need to have
They allow me to diversify the outfit formulas by themselves.

The 3 rules don't necessarily have to co-exist every time but one of them has to be there.

Also, I decided that clothes(not boots) buying would have a deadline and that will be the end of September. I will rethink clothes shopping in January.(when I write the post about what I bought so far you will see I am not being very hard on myself)

Thank you for reading. Needed to put this in writing.Please feel free to comment.

10 years ago

Gwennie

Active Member

Celia, These notes and observations look so much like the ones I write myself working to figure out what I need and want to try out. For me, I personally can identify with having a lot of colors and like you, working to make sure I can create capsules that work well together. Good luck with your shopping with your new rules!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I love reading these kinds of thoughts about shopping because I generally enjoy the activity but, like you, I don't want to be doing it constantly. I like your idea of having a deadline for acquisitions and then enjoying what you have (similar to E's two shopping period a year system).

I also like your observations about needing winter sleeveless and short-sleeve tops. I always want ones that work year-round, but summer fabrics and styling aren't the same as winter fabrics and style trends, so it makes sense to adjust accordingly. Moreover, that's okay to do.

My question for you is: do you know your outfit formulas? I think it's pretty important to get all the pieces for a formula (especially a new one) when you do buy, so you don't end up with orphans, banked on the idea of some future formula change.

deb

I really like your ideas. Well done.

celia

Jenn when winter comes and the ground is covered in snow my uniforms are:
-leggings + sweater dress
-skinnies+ tunic
- skinnies + blouse + cardigan
Regarding this ones this year I want to update some of the cardigans. I also want to buy colored skinnies ( already bought a burgundy) so at least there is diversity in colors.
Maybe I will add a vest to mix it up. I have a fur one but it is either outerwear or a good layer for when it is really cold.

Regarding the blouses, I feel that on crave different colors and prints in colder months than in hotter ones.

Suz

I really love the idea of setting a deadline for purchases for the fall -- this could work really well for me, I think. I am a seasonal shopper for the most part and then like to forget about shopping in the months in between. If I shop the NAS then I usually shop a little bit right afterwards, too (sometimes end of season finds for next summer, especially footwear) -- and then refreshers in January. Your plan could accommodate that.

I think your "rules" will prove really helpful to you and your recognitions are also valuable.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Celia, isn't it great to get it all down in writing. Good stuff.

One tip - don't make Sept the clothes deadline - it's too soon in the season, and you have a VERY long Winter. Make Nov the deadline and rethink in Feb. The best of the season is available Sept through Nov (excluding the NAS in July) - so it would be cutting off your nose to spite your face if you were forced to do it all this month.

Angie, very good point. I was looking at the new styles of sweaters showing up now and was wavering on my deadline. I will think about how to conciliate this. Thank you.

Elizabeth P

Great observations about yourself Celia. And thanks Angie for that "tip".

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