SYC: Are We There Yet??

Laura

Week 18 and we're in the final stretch! How are you feeling, Team SYC?

My next magazine story is due this week. Anyone have a suggestion for a topic? I was going to write about the little black dress episode, but since that was Halloween, I really need something more of-the-moment.

15 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Jonesy

Queen Mum

Veteran

hanging my head in shame......

I'm not doing so well... I keep taking pit stops
I know it seems that I did alot of damage the past month, but all but 2 items were purchased with gift money. Then came this weekend....

My husband and I have a Christmas party that we attend each year where the dress is nothing special. Most women come "smart casual/holiday festive" Slacks and festive sweaters seem to dominate the evening. There will be 3 gals there younger than myself, the rest will be upper 40's and above. I"ve been playing with my 3 black dresses, but not feeling inspired. Then on Saturday morning I dragged my husband to the Rack (really only to make a return, but printed out my groupon just in case) and started browsing through to see if there was anything he needed to buy me for Christmas. I spied a cute sequined sheath tunic, popped it on (just for funsies) and my husband really liked it on me. I knew I didn't have a proper top layer for this top so continued "browsing" and found a halogen military jacket that looked really cute with it. I was already wearing my black skinnies and boots... so had an instant outfit there. My husband was really enthusiastic about this little outfit that we put together, so how could I disappoint him? It will be perfect for this party... fun, festive, hip and casual all rolled into one. Plus, It was a much cheaper date than dinner would have been

In the interest of full disclosure, I must also confess that I have several items that I ordered on line (with this same party in mind) Obviously, since I found these other items in person, most likely my online purchases will go back (unless of course the black silk tunic works out... I can see that under the sequined tunic and denim skinnies for Christmas day.

I'm really struggling to not feel that I've failed you Laura. I wanted to succeed at this, but honestly when I look at my closet I know I had some cold weather holes that needed to be filled. For instance, I started the challenge with a total of 2 cardigans, and only 3 long sleeve tops (that weren't boring layering tees)

I think mostly what I have gained from this challenge is a realization of how big my wardrobe needs to be, and also the realization that I do need to shop regularly and allow myself to add a couple items per month to my wardrobe to keep from feeling deprived.

15 years ago

Queen Mum

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oh and for your article Laura.. how about writing about how to make some holiday appropriate outfits from what you have in your closet.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

Oh Mum, you did not fail anyone. I think that you are right about the outcome. I realized alot ( I fell off at the end of October and went nuts last week, additionally ). I am done now. I need nothing and I have now updated with a few peices. I think that was my biggest lesson, that I only need a couple things for updates.

Laura, how about just talking about Black Friday and the incredible marketing machine and the sales and the temptation....and so on? You could joke that you feel as if you need an outfit for it since it has become a "holiday" in and of itself. You could talk about how so many of just fell off the wagon and hit our heads this week. So is really about clothes, about accumulation, about numbers ? Is it about how we attach value to things ( value meaning a dollar value ). Hey my new red cashmere cardigan for Christmas was only $39.99 ar Marshall's !!!!!! I paid HUNDREDS 10 years ago ....

15 years ago

(website)

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For me, this last week I was good again After the previous weekend's slip of a tee and a scarf I went back to my closet. Tried, and wore, several items over 5 years old. And once I switched my hangers around to see what does and doesn't get worn I really started to look at some oldies I knew I hadn't donned in at least a year. Some I put on and tried to see with fresh eyes and some I just didn't feel very fabulous in.
My purple print wrap dress that everyone here gave a thumbs up a month or so ago I decided last night has to go. And the purple halter top I layered under it, that I was about to toss several weeks back, now I want to keep it. LOL! I am realizing that although there are general rules and guidelines, there are also certain things that appeal to *me* and make me feel fab while others just make me feel dowdy. Oxford shirts and pearls with pumps is NOT me and I realize denim mini's and halter necklines will never be many of you. And that's perfectly okay! So this insight is helping me to shop my closet with the much older items to work them in newer, fresher, more age appropriate ways.
I am also finding through this experience that many of my outfits that I thought were dressier are just smart casual. And again, that's just fine - my life is smart casual. But I feel freer to put on something for *everyday* that I might have not worn in the past because I wanted to *save* it for an occasion if that makes sense.

All this to say, I am finding I have a lot more options in my closet if I really put my mind to it and also let go of ingrained (incorrect) thoughts about what's casual and what's dressy.

15 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

Go Laura! I'm afraid that I am shopping again, though mindfully and with some level of moderation :)!! That does count for something in my estimation. Queen Mum (and everyone else too), I think moderate shopping is an honorable goal!

15 years ago

Anonymous

I've been good this week and didn't go to Black Friday sales at all. I returned some boots I had been thinking of keeping for my Christmas gift. SYC made me realize that they weren't quite what I wanted although they were nice quality and comfy. If I kept them I would still be on a hunt for the ones I really wanted. Footwear seems to be my biggest downfall and also my largest wardrobe hole for winter. However, I'm chopping at the bit for January and to add something new to my wardrobe for the fashion fun whether I need it or not.

Edit: I like Kim's idea for your article of making holiday outfits from your closet. Angie's blog had some good affordable ideas, but you could take it a step further. Maybe you could start a thread asking YLF members for their ideas. Mine: I'm thinking of using red satin ribbon to belt a jacket rather than a traditional belt for a festive look. I'm also planning to mix some of my mom's quality rhinestone necklaces from the 50's with pearls and clip on a sparkly snowflake brooch.

15 years ago

Kristen

(website)

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Laura, what about an article about holiday attire? You can even reference your LBD at Halloween experience, but also look toward the upcoming events too.

While I am not doing SYC, I am 3 weeks into a shopping ban due to the 30 in 30 Challenge. I haven't really been tempted to shop much in such a short span of time, but I am SICK of my 30 items for sure! The possibility of actually being allowed to shop from my closet feels like such a luxury...LOL!

15 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Ha! That's right Kristen, it's all relative

Ladies, you have all done amazingly well on this challenge. No disappointment whatsoever. I'd say we could all officially call it a day but my show must go on until Jan. 1. Shopping in moderation and with eyes wide open is the best possible outcome, isn't it? We have succeeded!

Thanks for the ideas. I do think the holiday attire idea is the way to go so I'll be working on that one. As Joy said, maybe I'll start a thread on ideas of how to take an outfit from everyday occasion to holiday occasion - love the red ribbon idea!

15 years ago

Theresa

(website)

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Laura I think you are doing fantastically and I can't wait to read your next article!!

And for everyone else, I too feel a bit like I *cheated* - especially seeing as I didn't even join in from the very beginning, but again, the insights and experience gained, have taught me things that I would never have worked out on my own.

Due to my recent weight gain, I have so very little in my wardrobe that now actually fits me, but because this is the weight my Dr and I have been working towards for me, I'm more than ok with the needing to replace certain aspects of my wardrobe.

However, SYC has given me the power to look seriously at what I need, what I don't need, and so my "big clothes" list is very strict and whilst browsing I occasionally see things and think they'd be great, I'm not even swayed to purchase because they aren't on my need list, so could possibly become an orphan/waste very easily.

So, with only 1 month to go, I declare SYC a GIANT success for everyone!

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

still shopping....

15 years ago

Patience

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Something interesting that I have learned (and maybe another topic possibility) with all the Black Friday sales is how used I am to feeling like I *must* have something I had been eyeing once it goes on sale. In other words, something I had on my list goes on sale and all of a sudden I feel justified in purchasing it whether or not I need it. Needless to say, I'm working through this though it has been hard. Recognizing the fact has definitely helped. Also, my husband and I ended up having this really interesting discussion on the fact that Americans (probably thanks to McDonalds) are really conditioned to be proud of getting stuff on sale. I don't think the culture in Europe is quite the same and this is reflected in the sales structures of the two. What do you think?

15 years ago

Laura

(website)

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This is such a good thought, Patience! I had that same experience this week with Nordstrom - mysteriously a pair of boots on my wish list dropped $200 without actually going on sale - the actual list price changed, like a fairy who read my mind dropped the price just for me!

You are right about Americans and our love of a bargain. Oh my gosh, my grandparents (who lived through the Depression, bless their hearts) were so obsessed with getting a deal -- dinners out, groceries, you name it, if it was a bargain, they loved it.

Another topic, sort-of related: We have decided to downsize our home, and we're putting our current house on the market this week. I haven't completely processed this yet, and I don't know where we'll wind up, in a townhouse or rental home, or what, but now I realize that my desire to do SYC was just a precursor of things to come for me & my family.

15 years ago

Jonesy

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Wow--big changes afoot! Good luck selling your house and finding the perfect, smaller place!

15 years ago

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