Spring Style Rut - YouLookFab Forum

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Spring Style Rut

Dawn

(website)

Does anyone else get this feeling of sliding into a style rut in the spring? I feel completely uninspired with my wardrobe lately, and where normally I have been able to create two or three new remixed outfits from my wardrobe, I've been wearing the same combinations every week. While it's great to have reliable outfits to fall back on, I love the feeling of creating something new and exciting.

At the moment, the weather is still cold and rainy so I have to wear the same clothes that I have been wearing for the last four months while shops fill up with pretty clothes for warm weather. I've decided to abandon my shopping ban as it was way too stringent as after doing a wardrobe audit, I discovered that I really needed new camisoles, bras, cardigans and leggings. However I will be sticking to my original budget.

It also doesn't really help that I haven't had my eyebrows shaped or my hair cut since December, and that my skin looks dreadful lately. After coming off the Pill six months ago, my skin has gotten oily and spotty which is really upsetting for me as I never had any sort of spots or acne when I was a teenager. I'm guessing the stress of my thesis really is not helping with that though.

Today, I'm going to get my eyebrows shaped and hopefully that will make a difference. I also got a bra fitting at the weekend and was wearing the completely wrong size (30C) when I actually am a 30DD.

Later this evening, I hopefully will finish an extremely harsh wardrobe audit.

What else can I do to get out of this style rut?

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Kristine

Veteran

I understand Dawn! I'm at the end of a long winter and I'm tired of everything in my wardrobe. It sounds like you're on the right track, a little maintenance and a few new basics. Maybe treat yourself to a $10 citrus body scrub or something else fun!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Oh I hear you Dawn, this winter has been relentless. You could try incorporating a couple of spring summer trends into your wardrobe now. I've already started to wear my chiffon pieces (layered over heat tech for now) and I'm wearing lighter coloured shoes.

I'm looking to try a new fruity pinkish lipstick too.

I hope spring is just around the corner.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I know exactly what you mean. I find Spring to be the most frustrating season! Too cool for bare legs, too warm for most winter clothes.

I think that Julie has hit the nail on the head with looking for some new lipstick, I might do that myself.

How about buying yourself some flowers, daffidols are just coming into the markets now or perhaps some iris' or some tulips?

Louise

Veteran

Dawn i'm with Julie i'm wearing lots of summer things layered with long sleeve t's mind you i've been doing that all winter! Really i'm wearing mostly summer clothes with an extra layer over or under then adding thick socks and boots, big coat and woolies to go outside x

Misia

Veteran

I understand!!! My last posting was about that and I still feel blah, maybe all you dooing is going to help you. I should spring clean my closet too, thats always puts me in the better mood!

rute

Veteran

I feel the same! What spring? Spring hasn't arrived yet to Portugal! It's winter! So cold and so rainy this year!
The stores are packed with new stuff and I don't feel like buying anything because we cannot wear it now.

AJ

Veteran

I get that way in the summer when it's too HOT to get dressed up. When the weather is cold, I just feel there are endless ways to layer.
I've been doing a self-imposed challenge to see how I can translate the NY fashion week designers' looks from what I have in my closet. That has help me come up with remixes that I would have never thought of before:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/w.....17/detail/

Maybe just a couple of new pair of tights/hose/leggings/scarfs might get you inspired?

Anonymous

I find that just adding in an accessory in your favourite spring color goes a long way to break you out of your winter blahs. I've been reaching for my turquoise tops and necklaces the past week and a little bolt of my favourite color cheers me up a lot. I think if you want to buy something, a bright, springy accessory paired with your functional warm clothes may boost your spirits right about now. Getting your hair and brows done, fresh undergarments, will really help as well. I just did a little closet purge last week and the new order in my closet is helping my mood. Plus, take a dose of Vitamin D...by this time of year, we are all pretty depleted.

Spring WILL come. We just have to be patient. Today, I am focusing on the little leaf buds, cherry blossoms in the trees, brilliant blue skies, daffodiles poking through the ground....and ignoring the ice on the puddles and frost all over my car!

Anonymous

This winter has been dragging on forever with it's constant snow and ice and grey days which are not typical for this area. I'm longing to wear even buttondown shirts with a cami and cute flats but the weather demands layered sweaters and heavy pants or jeans with layers underneath, with waterproof boots and heavy woolen socks. Like Marlene, I've been making heavy use of beads and scarves in turquoise as well as cream, yellow and coral. That helps for now.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I get in a rut by the end of summer- it's the same dresses over and over again.
Go get yourself a hair cut and get your brows done for a treat, and give yourself a home facial. That will get you on the road to feeling better.

bella

(website)

Veteran

- Get a bottle of nail polish in spring colors. I just got this:
http://www.amazon.com/Essie-Wi.....B002ULRAQE
- I also did a closet cleanup. I arranged all my tops according to color.I ended up with a pretty color wheel on my shelf which cheered me up and motivated me to wear some of the spring colors that I hadn't worn in sometime.
- I also busted out some spring dresses which hadn't seen the light of day since last September. I will try wearing them with leggings and tights this week.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Poor Dawn, not a fun phase to be in! Will your shopping ban allow for one or two fun accessories? I recently broke my ban for the purchase of the turquoise necklace in the ylf store and I adore it. Right now it's brightening up a simple jeans/white shirt outfit while snow falls outside, and it's giving me just the right amount of polished boost. I think you're on the right track, though, and I admire your discipline! I'm sure a mini-makeover with brows and hair will go along way to lifting your spirits.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Big Hug, Dawn! Can you throw in some really cheap colourful scarves? Also, try layering blouses over shirts and adding a new shade of lipstick.

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Oh Dawn I SO get what you are saying... except I'm in the opposite season LOL

A typical long hot summer that probably still has at least a month to go, all the shops have gorgeous autumn/winter things in and I want to start using some of the cool MOTG layered formulas...

Sounds like eyebrows and underwear are a good idea though - I think I might actually paint my toes a wintery colour...

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Interesting! I've been fascinated by everyone's longing for spring and some people already beginning to transition in their areas. We are at least a month away from anything like that; we just got 4 inches of new snow last night!

I've been trying to mix up all my winter stuff as much as I can before it gets put away, especially the boots. I'm not ready to start shaving my legs again. LOL!

Dawn

(website)

Thank you everyone for your comments. I got my eyebrows waxed yesterday and feel much more polished now. My haircut is booked for Thursday.

Lousie & Julie, I paired a spring sheer top over a long sleeve top and under a wooly cardigan today and it really perked me up. I'll try that with a couple of other tops for the next few weeks. I'm also going to pull out my summery ivory waistcoat tomorrow.

Angie, I bought a beautiful purple scarf in H&M yesterday which adds a fresh pop of colour to my wardrobe.

I'm now about to paint my nails pink. I think that it's the small things that will get me through this cold spring.

Anonymous

Great ideas Dawn. I love the way you do these little things that add up to make yourself cheerup in the cold spring. You are very smart indeed. Why sit around and be depressed when you can do just small inexpensive things to cheer up.
I am learning from you.

Maya

Veteran

I feel the same way. With my stylist gone, I have been reluctant to experiment with new people cutting my hair as it will be a costly disappointment if the cut doesn't come out right. That said, my hair looks hideous right now and I'm about ready to cave. I also haven't been able to wear my contacts all winter because of really bad dry eye. Overall I just feel schlumpy because I know I could look a lot better than I usually do.

Also like you I am on a strict budget and the weather here has been so disgusting and depressing that I haven't been inspired to do much experimenting with my wardrobe. I'm stuck dressing purely for practicality. I have to wear my boring black La Canadiennes all week because it's too wet and nasty for anything else. Spring and summer bring their own set of difficulties for me, so a simple change of season is probably not going to put an end to my doldrums.

Today I caved and bought the H&M blazer I tried on with Angie over my lunch break. I couldn't bear it if it sold out, so even though it is totally irresponsible of me, I went ahead and bought it and will just have to figure out a way to get that money back quickly! I have to admit it did cheer me up. I smiled and smiled and smiled some more when I found it in my size!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yay, Dawn! Yay, Maya!