Should I just make a commitment? - YouLookFab Forum

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Should I just make a commitment?

Aziraphale

Veteran

This is going to seem a little OCD (or maybe not, in this community) but I've been keeping track of what I wear every day since October so that I could get a handle on what exactly I'm wearing the most, to better target my shopping dollars later. Without going into details, this is the breakdown of the tops I wore:

black tops: 34 times(i.e. I've worn a black top on 34 occasions since October -- I'm not exactly sure how many black tops I actually have. Some tops have been worn a number of times)
grey tops: 22 times
white tops: 15 times
navy tops: 7 times
some kind of stripe, always neutral: 6 times
everything else: 9 times.

...so, on 84 occasions, I wore some kind of neutral -- mostly black, white or grey. On only 9 occasions did I wear a top with a definite colour, like burgundy or teal. With my red-streaked hair, I'm even less likely to reach for a coloured top now.

Does it make sense to commit myself to neutrals only in terms of tops for the immediate future? On paper this sounds really limiting, but I feel the need to simplify my life and my wardrobe. Maybe focusing on neutrals is one way to do that.

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from cheryl

April

Veteran

Nothing wrong with committing to neutrals if they're what make you feel best. I love my neutrals!

You're probably onto something about your hair color. If you look for forum posts from Greenglove, you'll see that Jean (very colorful with red hair and blue eyes) favors neutrals as well, and looks smashing in them.

Thistle

Veteran

I can see why you lean toward neutrals. You are letting your lovely hair do the talking, so to speak.

If that is what you love, and that is what you wear, of course that is where your fashion dollars should go! Fashion is meant to be fun! And it sounds like there is little point in putting fashion dollars into colors as that is not what you are currently reaching for. All part of your style journey.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

If it will bring you calm why not? You can always change your mind

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Absolutely. Rule out coloured tops for now and revisit in a year if you feel bored. If you don't, it wasn't a problem and the marriage can hold.

Greyscale

Veteran

This is what I do, and I have almost identical coloring to Greenglove, also. But I don't like rules - if you see something in a color you love and will wear, go for it.

Edit: to clarify about rules - I think of things as guidelines rather than firm rules. It's not that I refuse to wear color - it's that I only very rarely want to. If at some point it ossifies into something restricting not freeing, it's worth reconsidering.

gryffin

Veteran

Do you have to be absolute? Would it make you more comfortable to say you're going to concentrate on black/gray/white (hey preaching to the choir on this one) but you give yourself the latitude that if something really speaks to you and would work in well you give yourself permission to consider this. But these tops would assume an accent role? Or is it easier to just make a decision flat out? I think you'll know what's really the best for you!!

Aziraphale

Veteran

It just sound so restrictive, you know? Not buying colour, I mean. But if it's a toss-up between a colour or black/grey/white, it seems I've been choosing the latter every time. Maybe I should make it formal.

"Bring me calm" -- that's exactly it, Mo. My life has been a whirlwind this year, although not altogether in a bad way, but many days I do feel slightly frantic.

carter

Veteran

Are your bottoms such that only neutral tops really work? If not, why not challenge yourself to wear colored tops 10-15 times in the next 30 days.? By then you'll know if selecting neutrals was just a habit that needed to be broken or if you're just not that into colored tops.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Carter, many of my bottoms are denim, so theoretically work with lots of colours. But I still think that the absolute best colour for dark blue denim is grey, and the best colours for medium blue denim are black or white.

Same goes for my bottoms that aren't blue denim. I have army green skirts and pants, a brown plaid skirt, brown tweed skirt, camel skirt, grey serge skirt with cheerful yellow buttons, etc...they all look best with a black, white or grey top (to my eye, at least).

The only bottoms I really prefer with a coloured top are these two skirts I have -- one's a black-and-white stripe mini, and the other is a pleated a-line grey-and-white plaid summer skirt.

I really don't think it's a habit. I think it's a true preference. I keep trying to wear colour, but most of the time I take it back off.

DonnaF

Veteran

Do you think that this palette is mostly a F/W thing, and that you might wear more color in S/S? I wonder if you should draw conclusions as to S/S until you have gone through a cycle. FWIW, I have a bit of a beige/cream with black capsule I wear in S/S, and I have absolutely no desire to add pieces that would work in F/W. I also have quite a bit of F/W gray pieces that I don't want to wear in S/S unless it's silver gray.

carter

Veteran

Funny with "the absolute best color for". I think that's the decision then. No more colored tops for you!

deb

Veteran

It appears you reach for the neutrals anyway so why not? If you purchase something colorful right now my guess is it will be an orphan so why waste the money.

Anonymous

Yes, I think you're onto something. I would always look at the neutrals offered in a top you're considering first. There's no reason you couldn't buy a color if a really perfect one jumped out at you, but why force yourself to wear colored tops if you're just not feeling it right now? Yes, things could change in the summer, but maybe not if you keep your hair this color. Have you thought about branching out into the khaki/camel/caramel family? That might be beautiful with your hair.

Helena

Veteran

I am so doing this - what a great idea.

If you felt good for the most part, then I would absolutely go with your personal flow on this one, which sounds like neutrals. However, rather than saying strictly "no color", why not just remind yourself when you buy something colorful that you are most likely only going to wear it a few times ... if it still seems worth it to you, great and no guilt as you were conscious about it. Other times, you may be content to appreciate it on the hanger in the store and leave it, or buy it for a colorful friend!!!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think a core of neutrals sounds great because it's what you mostly wear, but if most are neutrals then having a couple of colourful tops that you love shouldn't be a problem. What colours were the other tops you wore? Are there any colours you love? If yes, I'd be adding them, if no then it sounds like you are set

catgirl

Veteran

I've committed to a color palette. Because I haven't purged old favorites that aren't in the range, it's not quite cohesive, but it really helps. I gravitate to the same things so often. Why not make your life easier, as long as it also makes you happy?

Gigi

Veteran

I like what some of the other posters have suggested: don't make it a rule that says you CAN'T buy neutrals, but focus on neutrals and remind yourself of your data when you find a color that you want to buy. This way you're focusing on the positive instead of on a restriction, per se. But I do think that focusing on neutrals would be a great way to simplify your wardrobe.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Una, out of curiosity, what are your colours?

rachylou

Veteran

I'm wondering too if there's a bit of a winter phenom going on... I am totally wearing the same thing every day right now...

E

Veteran

It sounds like you've made a commitment already, in the way you dress at least. I'd go for it!

kkards

Veteran

i bet if i counted my count would be similar to yours. but i've actually taken the opposite tact, i'm trying to slowly add color back. i say slowly, because its still me natural tendency to look at the navy's, blacks, and whites/creams, but i ask myself, do i need another navy etc. and instead look at a color that i can layer over or work with neutrals that will work with my overall wardrobe.

AnnieMouse

Veteran

If it's what you're reaching for and what you love, I see no reason not to! (And as a fellow tracker-of-wearing stuff, I love posts like this)

I will say I find it interesting, because I find I wear just as much colour with purple hair as I do when it's dark brown/ black, though I find I tend to avoid red now in a way I never did previously. All shades of pink, blue, green (or blue-greens), and orange though are fair game!

cheryl

Veteran

I think you love neutrals and there is no reason why not to make those your most purchased and worn items. If a colored item pops out at you then give it a whirl but most importantly buy and wear things that you love and that make you happy. A closet full of color that you never want to reach for wont make you or your wallet smile.