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Style renewal vs. style refresh

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It seems I'm posting non-stop these days! The reason? A large scale closet refresh. In posing the question Janet raised the other day: Do I want to wear this? I found myself giving the side eye to a lot of items in my closet. That is something that has not happened for a decade. Which is the last time I did a style renewal. Then, it was as a result of significant weight change and new roles. Now, I've had a smaller weight change, I live in a different city with a different climate, and a few (but not all) of my roles have changed.

Despite those factors, I don't think I'm undergoing a style renewal in the sense that Angie describes here or here. My core style persona remains consistent with the one I identified back in 2012 or 2013.

But the kind of refresher I seem to be undertaking -- while organic -- is much larger than any I've undertaken for a long while.

For a long time, I've maintained my wardrobe and evolved my style by buying somewhere between 20-30 items a year (more or less) and retiring an equal number (more or less). That includes footwear, a high wear- high buy category for me -- I never get away with fewer than six new pairs of shoes/ boots a year and it's usually more. This year, I have already retired 35 items and purchased 20!

And I'm far from done, fab friends!

So, I'm curious about you. How often do you do a major refresh of your style? Or have you ever done one? Have you ever done a style renewal, in Angie's sense? Is there some other term that covers what I'm doing now? Is there some reason for it? Are others going through a similar shift? I am guessing, from Dee's recent post, that I'm not alone.

Dressing

51 replies

Latest reply was from Ket

Anonymous

I feel like I do major closet refreshes about every 2 years! Trying to really identify the things that are historically true for me so I don't continue the cycle.

Actually, I was reading one of Angie's links- and one of the comments was about a Fabber that helped you several years ago! Couldn't hurt to revisit that
That said, it makes sense to do a big refresh/renewal with your new climate and roles.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Suntiger, something I didn't mention was that size of wardrobe also plays a role. I have a medium to large size closet, meaning things don't wear out super fast in my closet, except for shoes (as mentioned above, I regularly go through multiple pairs a year if they are walking type shoes -- so sneakers, boots, casual sandals), jeans (sometimes), summer tops. But those with a smaller wardrobe can burn through their clothes in a season or two and need to replace the lot, especially if they bought most of it at once in the first place.

I, too, would prefer not to contribute to waste...on the other hand, it is also wasted if it sits in my closet unworn. (Which is why I sent back the silver jeans, LOL.)

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Yes l am feeling a very big shift coming on .l have already donated/binned/sold at least 30 items,lve got another 70(!) pending and am eyeing up my still quite full wardrobe and wanting it smaller.This is the first time in my life l have done a significant “cleanse”.Maybe it’s my age,weight changes,life changes or maybe it’s some sort of reaction to the pandemic or Prehaps a combination of all of the above.The fact that a few of us seem to be headed in this direction makes me wonder if it’s a sort of post pandemic effect…discuss!

Irina

Veteran

In the last 10 years I have done refresher once in about 3 years. This is how long pants stay in my closet. When I buy different style pants/jeans (and often a different size), I usually end up adding some new tops or knitwear. So, three styles so far - mid rise full length straight, mid rise straight cropped, high rise wide cropped.

It is not a big change. I now prefer pants with elastic at the back to accommodate weight fluctuations. My refresh slowed down due to lesser hours in the office and consequently, less need for variety and I still like cropped pants.

LJP

Veteran

I've certainly noticed your renewed activity and interesting new purchases What you haven't mentioned though (at least I don't see it ) is *why* you are doing this (apart from a weight change and some role changes). Is it purely an interest in current trends and styles (some cycles and seasons have more than appeals than others, etc) ? Or have you been itching to make some changes?

Personally, I'm feeling in the midst of a style renewal. More obvious, say, than a style refresh. For the past several years, I've been looking to update or change my look somehow, but never found the right looks, the right resources , the right influences and inspirations etc to help me along. So I kept on buying versions of the same thing and my closet looked exactly the same: season after season, year after year .

This year, however, it seems to be clicking , and I'm honing in on a way I'd like to dress now, and what kinds of pieces I'd like to own. I see a way forward and am excited to be shopping (which is not necessarily a good thing, lol) and trying on new things. I saw a dietitian about a month ago, and have been following a completely new way of eating which has helped me lose some weight (will be a long process but that's ok - I've got about 15 more lbs to go ) and has helped me feel better about my appearance. All of that of course makes clothing more interesting again.

I know I've said this before here on the forum, but I truly feel like a dramatic change has happened in fashion as a whole, and in trends and styles at the consumer level. It's a lot for many of us ( big wide jeans and long pants and cropped tops don't look good on us all ) but it's a very interesting time with a lot of options. Like you, I've experience a dramatic change in my work environment, and what I buy needs to cover more roles.

I have lots of clothes too, and a LOT of footwear, and I'm having to give myself permission to donate more than I would normally in order to make room for the new look I'm striving for. That new look though will require far fewer pieces - I hope. But I'm waving goodbye to a LOT of older summer clothes that no longer fit the bill.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Suz, three years since the start of the pandemic, and life normalizing to almost what it was pre-pandemic - it's no wonder you feel like a semi style renewal! As LJP correctly points out, fashion has changed quite a bit the last three years, and we seem to want to catch up to a point that makes us feel fab. Signature style in place, but change is desired. All of that at play...... and here you are in the midst of a larger refresh than expected

Personally, I DESPERATELY want CHANGE, and made it my word for the year. My hair is my most dramatic change - and it's still changing....

Like Irina, - and you, Suz - I am trendy with my jeans and pants. That's the category in my wardrobe with the highest churn, and what I refresh the most frequently.

I refresh my footwear capsule frequently too - but not because I am trendy with my shoes. Far from it! I am very set in my ways with shoes. I wear what I wear, and that's it. But I am hard on shoes because I walk a lot, so they wear out fast.

I've refreshed my pool-beach-resort capsule this year because I'm going to Greece in Sept. That I haven't done since 2017! It's been fun to focus on that for change, and I've enjoyed it immensely.

As for tops and knitwear, they don't get as much of a regular refresh. I am also quite set in my ways with tops, but make sure they look current with my trendy bottoms. That said, I am in top and knitwear heaven the last few years because they are SHORTER! I love that.

Dresses are being refreshed more vigorously this year because many were passed on, and I'm buying up midis before they are once again in short supply. Those above the knee lengths are creeping in faster than I expected.

Bags, coats, jackets, skirts, and jewellery are refreshed the least frequently.

LaPed

Veteran

It's so fun watching folks on the forum try out new style directions! Your recent try-on/shopping posts have been inspirational and educational for me.

I'm not sure I'm in the midst of a style shift, more a settling-in? A lot of current trends -- baggy/slouchy pants, shorter tops, a generally sporty/utilitarian vibe -- are so in line with my existing wardrobe that I'm just leaning into it. It's refreshing and liberating to no longer be fighting certain aspects of my style and body that weren't "in line" with previous trends: big thighs and calves that never fit into skinnies; hair with a natural center part (lol); a refusal to wear pointy shoes or heels; a love of all things slightly RATE and undone. I already have "my" version of many of the trends in circulation these days (barrel legs--check; wide legs--check; crop tops--check; belt bag--check).

I love the eclecticism of the current style moment. I no longer beat myself up about not having a perfectly streamlined, all-neutral, minimalist wardrobe. I don't beat myself up about wearing outfits that are 50% gear. The woman in front of me in line at the coffee shop today was wearing Hoka trail runners and a batik dress and it looked great to my eye. Anything goes! Perhaps my style refresh is simply remixing the things I have more freely: more layering, more high-low, more colours, more patterns. I feel like it's all in the closet already, and I don't need to add anything new to feel current. "It's not what you wear, it's how you wear it," and all that...

Runcarla

Veteran

In the year after retirement (March 2019-2020) my style underwent a renewal as I grew my hair, changed the shape of my specs, and focused on casual/dressy casual clothes and footwear for my new lifestyle. March 2020 my wardrobe was smallish, but almost 2/3 new. As you point out, small wardrobes have a higher ‘burn’ rate due to more ‘wears’ - and that was true for my hard working items. I’m finding 2-5 years is it for everything from clothes to footwear. I seem to turn over 1/3 of my closet (24-28 items) annually.

Earlier this year I edited a few things I had from before I retired. At the moment I have 7 garments from 2019 or earlier, and 1 pair of shoes. Accessories (bags, scarves, a belt) have fared better, but even my beloved LePliage bags are showing wear at the corners!

Like you, and others on the forum, I’m doing a style refresh. Time to add some colour, some pretty, and a bit of dressy.

Dee

Veteran

I am feeling the same way as you Suz, but I have no idea what to label what I’m doing currently with my wardrobe beyond feeling a strong need to shift my silhouette to something more relaxed and looser now. It feels liberating not having such a confining fit anymore but I’m also not doing anything oversized, that’s just not me either.

I suppose the pandemic may have played some sort of role in this shift, but I really think aging and this phase of life maybe part of it as well. Besides, I do like changing things up every once in a while, its just plain fun.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am joining the bandwagon too Suz. I am not sure what it is - my lifestyle and needs are more or less the same, but I am seeing myself differently lately and thus finding some of my usual fall backs less satisfying. I was also trying to figure out the right word - maybe reconsideration, which might lead to renewal? Anyway, I am still at the phase where I am figuring out what I no longer like, but will follow your progress (and musings!) with great interest.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I was in the midst of a long response when my computer crashed! Back soon to answer!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I am loving this discussion. So curious to hear more! What is motivating Angie’s desire for change? What new vision of self are you aiming for Suz? And LaPed, show us more about how your style preferences are meshing with the fashion zeitgeist!

I am in the midst of several simultaneous big life changes and I notice in terms of fashion that I want to RESPECT myself more. Treat myself like an adult boss lady. Higher quality. Less cheap trash. But still edgy and fun. I’m at a new place in life and I’m feeling unapologetic about wanting to declare it. We’ll see how it evolves!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Well just to be contrary I am not feeling any style change at all, at all! I’m leaning into what I like more than ever- which is 80s not 90s overall.
Don’t know what’s going on with most of you? Is it because I went out to work throughout the pandemic?

Staysfit

Veteran

Suz, I’m heading towards a wardrobe “replenishment” more than anything else. The number of items in my closet has dwindled to a point where I need to add back some color. Like you, I remain content with my personal style. However, I am wearing the clothes in my closet on repeat. Many look tired and worn. I have started an edit to help determine where there are gaps and what needs replacement. Managing my wardrobe is a continual learning process for me. I have decreased churn over time as well as the size of my wardrobe. Understanding the frequency of wardrobe item replacements and number purchased per year is harder for me to quantify. My best guess is that I purchase more when the current styles and colors align with my personal aesthetic and purchase less when they do not.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Interesting discussion and I’ve only had moments to skim, so I’ll be back to read and consider more thoroughly.

Personally, I’ve only had a thorough renewal of wardrobe after significant size change, which coincided with my starting running and a more active life, including going to work at a studio outside my home — that was over a decade ago. That was a time of a lot of experimenting, as I had just discovered YLF and other fashion blogs, and I went down a lot of style avenues that did not ultimately feel authentic to me.

My subsequent refreshes have been more along seasonal lines or in certain categories — footwear, swimwear (just in the last month), denim, etc. Those were mostly in response to my changing needs or tastes, and some to keep current. The idea of a full overhaul feels excessive to me, because my wardrobe is pretty sizable and I tend to like most of my clothes for a long while.

I may be on the cusp of a refresh due to size, as I have slowly and steadily lost a bit of extra fluff, and am about halfway to my goal. I’ll see how it all shakes out before doing anything drastic.

gryffin

Veteran

Suz - for me it's about availability to a certain extent. With the advent of wider bottoms, shorter jackets are more prevalent than long. So I've shifted, from predominantly sleek belted tunics and long jackets for work, for slender pants, belts and shorter blazers. I added in some great theory cropped dress pants, duplicated the VB scuba pants in blk/navy. I haven't worn skirts in years but just bought 3 to try them out with my shorter blazers for more variety. Also a few slim fitted VB double breasted jackets for the scuba pants are a new updated look for me. I have not loved the trends for the most part - I don't wear wide bottoms or puddle pants, I don't wear slip dresses (too bare), I don't wear sneakers except for working out, yada yada. But I think my sea change is to really focus on my wardrobe holes and to do my own thing. I've been buying significantly less since the end of last year and typically practical, needed duplication or for holes. I'd like to weed out and simplify and just to stay in my own head, my own comfort zone and do my own thing. I still get wantsies when I see all the great stuff everyone else is buying but I'm better able to resist it, to celebrate and appreciate I love it for someone else but it's not me. I could use a couple more slim cropped dress pants and layering tops. No blazers have been calling me, they usually come in spurts and I have a nice selection of booties. Slim clam diggers are a want to replace an old long donated shredded denim pair but I'm back to what I've always loved and always worked just the new evolution. Interested to see where everyone else's journey takes them - the adventure continues....

LJP

Veteran

Jenni- I worked outside of the house for the entire pandemic. I would hazard a guess that it's about differing levels of interest in moving forward with fashion.

Olive Green

Veteran

What? You sent back the tinfoil jeans? I was prepared to live vicariously through your daring and really fun choices!
Still happily sighing over the plaid tulle….
I think colour is the refresh I needed. Closet went from earthy and muted to the brighter autumn colours that make me happy. Orange and deep pink with the green and taupe neutrals, warm and cool contrasting. Bit of gray, no black…gold, not silver.
After years of letting the gray hair be gray hair, just stripped all the remaining colour and it is a white pixie now. It is still utilitarian, but more striking with my colouring and year round outdoor tan.
I think back to a Visible Monday challenge some bloggers issued a few years back. Choosing to be visible outside of public facing roles is a new thing. Dressing for me rather than a role is a shift.

RobinF

Veteran

So many good points here and so much to think about!

I think I am more of a refresher - gradual changes, a few items at a time. I am also a late adopter of styles so I need to see them on real people for a while before I feel the urge to try them myself. That is kind of where I am now with the wider pants. But bottoms are not my trendy item, that is probably shoes.

I have felt off with my style for a while, most likely because of letting my hair go gray and the feeling that I have to compensate in other ways. Along with that is this big cultural style shift and all of a sudden I don't like any of my clothes but also don't know what I do like.

salt-sea

Interesting and thought-provoking reflection. I feel like after a couple of years of feeling stuck, I am undergoing a style renewal of sorts. A huge part of it relates to day-to-day routine; I went from, pre-pandemic:

4-5 days/week in the office - business casual
early morning pre-work exercise
business travel 1-2x/month - business formal/business casual

to this:

a remote-work situation, with more casual Zoom attire expectations
exercise fit into my daily schedule (no more 5am alarms!)
no business travel
having a dog, entailing daily walks and hikes
more light gardening + yard work, also fit in around my schedule

This shift has led to a sort of unsatisfactory wearing of workout gear and jeans and sweatshirts much of the time. Which is fine, but leaves me feeling like I don't know how to dress up anymore.

I'm also changing jobs in the near future, so I am uncertain what my new work wardrobe needs will be. Could be the same, could be closer to my previous situation. In any case many of the outfits I wore 4 years ago look dated to me right now.

Another big factor is what I found available; I love slouchy trousers and wide legged pants, and felt as though I could hardly find them for years. Now that they are so easy to find (along with full-length pants at last), I'm replenishing my wardrobe. I also did a color analysis, and found that really helpful for ruling out a lot of choices when I shop, particularly for tops. I still need to get a few more tops, as the looser bottom silhouette doesn't work as well with all my favorite long-over-lean oversized tops. Shoes are another story; I have plenty of sneakers and sandals and a couple of great boots, but want to find some super comfortable loafers and maybe some mary jane squarish ballet flats.

I have a pretty large wardrobe and don't seem to wear through my clothes quickly, and I'm loathe to part with much of it - yet. So what I'm doing for now is assembling a smallish (for me) spring 'capsule' of things and putting that in the foremost part of my closet, and putting the blazers and out-of-circulation stuff in the back of the closet, and in some totes out of the way. Hopefully that will let me explore more outfits with a smaller number of pieces, and make better weeding-out decisions in a few months.

Star

Veteran

My style preferences have been evolving over the last year or two. Not due to trend changes but mostly due to my hair going silver. RobinF I have had the opposite outcome - my style was feeling more and more off with my dyed hair, which in recent years did not match my cool skin tone and eyes. I always had a quirky/edgy leaning to my more RATE tomboy-ish style. Now the silver hair is calling for a more classic style, still a bit edgy, but even a bit preppy (What!!). I have been doing '1 in,2 out' over the last year when I thrift and slowly my large wardrobe is starting to reflect the pieces I am more attracted to now. I think I can call it a Renewal, albeit a very long winded one.

Star

Veteran

Salt-sea I also find making a seasonal capsule from my large wardrobe works better for me. It is less overwhelming and leads to better outfit creation for me. If I use my entire wardrobe I have too many options and when I finally create an outfit I really feel good in it is way too late in the season to repeat or replicate.

Irina

Veteran

Well, I have to clarify - I don’t feel like I need a refresh at the moment. I’m staying the course. So, am I with Jenni NZ on this?
I wanted to go bolder with my style in 2021 after buying many pieces from the Uniqlo and Jil Sander collab. That was a push I needed. I’ve been experimenting more, making choices outside of my comfort zone like buying oversized dresses, a skirt or some orange pieces.

I think we all have different approach to change. Some find comfort in familiar and other feel stagnant. For me, change is good. I don’t advocate discarding one’s entire wardrobe for the sake of change, it should happen more organically. But I personally need a room to grow once in a while.

salt-sea

That's a great point, Star - by the time you create an outfit it's too late in the season to get the most out of it. I've been using this Cluster template from The Vivienne Files, and it's helped me see what's missing, and what I'm over-including. It sort of forces me to create a couple of outfits from each item, too.

Star

Veteran

Salt-sea I also find the templates from The Vivienne Files super useful.

SarahD8

Veteran

I feel that I’m undergoing a bit of a style dormancy. It will be interesting to see what happens when those new shoots do start pushing through!

ChristelJ

Veteran

Fascinating thread!

My latest style renewal was 8 years ago. I moved across the country from an urban to a rural area and a different culture, and different climate. I retired from an office job. I got married. I had major health issues and drastic weight shift. There was a lot of trial and error, and confusion. Mistakes were made.

I have been slowly absorbing all that and doing small refreshes every few months since then, tweaking and tweaking to get more comfortable. Of course the pandemic, my own aging, and the fabulous advent of more casual footwear, tech fabrics, gleeful juxtapositions, and just more license to DYOT in fashion have also occurred along the way. And I found YLF!

To keep my wardrobe flexible now that I realize change is actually the constant in life, I find I embrace my life-long love of certain core elements such as pretty patterns, and refresh by changing lengths, widths, and colors once in a while. On top of that, a craving for variety and a thrifting hobby keeps me in a state of frequent random superficial refreshing. It's all so much fun!

slim cat

Veteran

I do gradual changes in wardrobe. One of the reasons is the absence of the things I prefer in my price point and sizes - namely low rise in pants or jeans and rayon/cotton/modal in fabrication. The change in rises was discussed many times but the reality is so that you can find some jeans but will have trouble finding low rise trousers/pants in wide leg or relaxed style.
I did succeed in finding a bit more jackets/toppers with relaxed style but it was tricky - some of them look clownish on my straight frame.

The shift to more loose/relaxed style is happening but slow and with some difficulties so major wardrobe changes just not really possible at this point.

Runcarla

Veteran

I really like what Irina articulated about experimentation and pushing her comfort zone.

***

Thinking about the psychology of all this, I wonder if after a period of hunkering down in survival mode due to the pandemic and the difficulties so many of us have been experiencing, that we want to disassociate with the ‘before’ times and celebrate our survival? Go out and be ‘seen’ to have made it through to the other side, as it were? Even if dressing for ourselves…

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