Six Month Update - YouLookFab Forum

The posts of others prompted me to do a six month review to see where I am on my goals. 1. I am still on budget. I used the funds to update my casual summer evening out dresses, buy a dress for an upcoming Fall wedding, and snag a couple of pairs of flats for every day wear. 2. I have been diligent in wearing the navy pieces I am trying to phase out; it takes time to move the needle but every month I see a bit of progress. 3. The fashion universe gave me a boost on restyling my work pieces, by trending short tweed jackets and Chanel inspired jackets. I finally figured out my problem with pairing them with jeans was the silhouette. I found the jackets provided too much volume when paired with my wide leg jeans. But then Veronica Beard showed them with boot cuts, and I dug out my 2017 boot cuts, re-hemmed them to my current heel height, and have been quite happy with the result. Let’s see what the fashion gods deliver for Fall; I could really benefit from a return of jackets with nipped in waists….

1 year ago

Star

Veteran

Sounds like you are perfectly on track. Good that you found a way to wear your jackets. I have a Chanel type jacket that I am thinking of donating. It just does not match my lifestyle any more. I wore it a lot for work 8 years ago but not so much any more. It is made in Paris though so I am a bit loathe to. You say you are phasing out navy. What are you replacing it with? Is it a complete palette change or just the navy? I was going to phase out black and introduce navy but surprisingly found that black works very well with my silver hair. Navy is also good, so I will still introduce more navy in time. I did thrift a navy Esprit button down and a Tommy Hilfiger plaid with navy button down in the meanwhile. I do find I prefer navy and black only at night in peak summer. I did thrift a navy Sisley Puffer Jacket in winter that I love which matches a pair of navy ankle boots I purchased at the end of the previous winter.

Dee

Good point about the volume of wide legs being paired with Chanel styled jackets, I could never figure out why I wasn’t liking them on myself either, must try the boot-cut option.
I too would be happy to see nipped waist jackets back. Looks like you’ve got a good handle on your wardrobe.

Suz

(website)

Sounds as if you are making very good use of the clothes you have and finding ways to update your outfits. New summer dresses always feel so fresh. Hope you get chances to enjoy them.

cat2

I was surprised to finally figure out what to do with the jackets. Mine aren’t French like yours, but they are bridge brand American designs and the sunk costs do sort of add up…. I have always loved black, but bought the navy in years when that was the second color available in suiting. You know how there is usually black and one other color? Anyhow, my plan is to wear out and not replace the navy, and just maintain black. I also have grey, and like you I found the black and grey work with my Pandemic Silver hair. So while you do navy and black I will do black and grey.

Suz, thanks for the encouragement. We had really late rain but are now solidly in summer weather and it’s been fun picking outdoor events. I may even drag out some old sandals, which fall into the Sitting Shoe category for me, because I can’t walk far in them but they are pretty.

Oh I am also doing grey more than ever before. Light grey mostly.

Jenni NZ

I love your posts cat2, such a thoughtful and sensible approach to your wardrobe. I don’t have a budget but my natural reluctance to waste money and my past experience of getting too large a wardrobe through indiscriminate purchases means I think very hard about every addition. I’m doing well this year, only 5 items by almost halfway through, and 4 out of the 5 worn a lot already. The 5th item has not suited the cooler weather we are having but hopefully next spring and summer.
I enjoy Chanelesque jackets, glad you have found a way to wear them! I don’t own any currently.

Jaime

I believed nipped in blazers are coming in strong for Fall! I love how you have repurposed your work clothing and it sounds like you are doing great.

Jennie, your search for control over the size of your wardrobe has been inspiring. I don’t think mine had taken over quite as many closets as yours, but likely only because there are only so many dark colored suits to be found at retail in any one year.

Jamie, thanks for the encouragement. I
am on this site because I can get in styling ruts, and seeing the wide range of choices made by others is really helpful. I think of my St John skirt and brocade jacket theater outfit as The Jamie.

Anonymous

Sounds like you're on track! I too am looking forward to the return of nipped in jackets!

RobinF

Sounds like you are doing great! Proportion is so important I think, and you discovered that with your jackets. The wider leg styles are creating a lot of work to make look good (for short-me at least)!

RobinF, so true. With the wide leg pants I want to tuck or have a short topper so I don’t look like a box. But that means the pants need to fall just right in front because they are visible.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

*applause*

YOU ARE DOING GREAT, cat2! On track, trouble-shooting, and evolving. Well done!

I prefer to wear very short jackets or long coats with my wide BIG jeans. Pulling out your bootcuts gives those in-between lengths more structure. Clever fix!

Btw, Smythe does VERY tailored jackets with nipped in waists. Size up a size.

Sal

Well done! I love a nipped in blazer too.

It's so good when your preferences are available in the marketplace - the universe can do us a favour!!

unfrumped

Good work!
Your bootcut story is interesting to me , because when I was visiting my DD2 awhile back, we went Jean- shopping- mostly for her- but I tried on some Hudson bootcuts & she “ made” me buy them. They did look good— though they’re so long that I’ve had to hack them and thereby lose some of the flare width.

Anyway , I was trying them at home with some different tops and jackets, and my reaction was, why on earth am I not wearing more outfits like this ? Of course this is a silhouette that has been classic especially for “ pears “, but I lose sight of it. Also footwear can be harder now because I’m wearing more athletic sneakers , less option for a sleeker boot, and it’s hard to get just the right amount of width to flow over shoes, but not full- on flares. And too hot in summer now.

But I had a similar reaction, noting that my jackets worked better, my favorite fluid- fit sweaters. And the jeans style gave a more feminine juxtaposition to sneakers and jackets than some of my other jeans and pants. Which is a balance I’m looking for.

I’m trying to use these insights in re- setting my own style and picking and choosing from what’s available, according to my own feelings about the outfits, without as much noise from outside influences.

This doesn’t mean i don’t wear several other pants styles—especially because I need other fabrics than denim. It’s more like sayi, why was I wearing THAT when I could wear THIS ?
Plus I also relate to needing jackets slightly more fitted - the big boxy boyfriend style doesn’t work, nor do bombers and such. So, need to be patient and picky.

Angie, thanks for the suggestion.

Unfrumped, I think sleeker boots are heading our way again, but with lower heels than last time. For summer I have been wearing my tan pointy toe flats with the boot cuts. I do have to hem off a few inches as well.

Bijou

Congratulations! I love how you look to current trends and customise what you already have. 2023 looks to be a very successful year for you.

Want to add I am impressed with your Wear and Wear Out strategy. Inspirational.

Category