The Dreaded NTW Syndrome - YouLookFab Forum

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The Dreaded NTW Syndrome

krishnidoux

Veteran

NTW: Nothing to wear. Namely, when standing in front of and contemplating your full closet. So what gives? Why? With all the precious knowledge, awareness, new behaviors acquired here over the years, and, most importantly, all the money spent on "sensitive, intelligent, practical, useful" must haves, I still haven't tamed that demon. I lie to myself, I am in denial most of the time. But the truth is that I often feel a certain distress in the morning - not all mornings, but enough of them to want to do something about it. I absolutely abhor NTW syndrome and want nothing but to overcome it once and for all! Do you think it's possible, or am I a desperate utopist?

I have found some tricks, and yes, they work... to a point. Examples: identify holes and missing basics as well as trying outfits in advance including footwear AND outerwear; getting rid of any unrealistic outfits and dressing for my actual real life; repairing and altering; etc. Yet, some mornings I will still not be able to put together the simplest outfit.

How I dream of an ideal, impossible, unattainable 7 beautiful, perfect items closet, 5 of them hanging, being used and used every day without any headaches, hang-ups nor hiccups. Like Bae Doona's Sense 8 character, Sun's, would be (when not in jail).

Are you in the same boat as me? What do you think?

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from Christina F.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Wait, a 7-perfect-item closet? That does not sound like enough. They’d wear out in no time, and what if one develops a rip or stain? But hey, I am SO not a minimalist.

I find that NTW syndrome is very much a product of my state of mind, not the state of my closet. I have plenty to wear, but some days nothing feels quite right, and two days later, even though my body is the same, I happily wear my clothes and feel no angst.

Now, if I feel that way for days on end, I take it as a sign I need to evaluate my options more thoroughly. You’ve posted some fun looks lately. What is causing the disconnect? What do you want to wear, and why are you not finding it in your existing wardrobe?

krishnidoux

Veteran

Janet, " have plenty to wear, but some days nothing feels quite right, and two days later, even though my body is the same, I happily wear my clothes and feel no angst." Yes, you've summed it up exactly.
7 items is extreme, and, I agree, would probably prove unpractical after even a week. But it's just a dream. I have no particular style issues right now other than feeling I don't need to buy new clothes, I got a lot lately, yet, I am frustrated that I would experience NTW syndrome even after splurges.

kkards

Veteran

i think it's called February....LOL....i feel this way every year around this time...ready for something new, especially something lighter....

krishnidoux

Veteran

Oh! Kkards! You might be onto something...

Anonymous

I agree. February and March are the worst. Hang on.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think kKards and LisaP have a point.

Time. of. Year. Weather. More snow....

These 2 months are the roughest fashion months we have in the northern hemisphere, especially for us in our climate.

For me, the trouble begins with the footwear. When the only footwear I can wear is snowboots, it all goes downhill from that. There are only certain outfits I can put together in that circumstance. So even though in theory there are other combinations, I fall back (when I can) on the same dull options and feel bored, annoyed, and guilty about the unworn things.

But I also have forgotten the life-changing wisdom of trying-on and photographing. It does help. I need to do it again more often. Knowing what works in advance saves many a morning scramble.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Suz, this is a great tip. Thank you for your perspective, so helpful. Yes, yes, yes, I am with you 100% about the falling back on the same combos easy to wear with snow boots (read: not too depressing with snow boots). Nicer stuff can look so sad with "gear", and this time of the year, gear is forced upon us, I feel.

Cee

Veteran

I just reach in, grab one item ( shirt, skivvy or sweater ) and then quickly decide what match with it.

unfrumped

Veteran

I have the same thing intermittently. A few patterns I've noticed:
-- if I had a vaguely planned outfit but the weather changed-- maybe had planned suede shie but it's pouring rain, or I hadn't paid attention to a major temp change. ( I do have some rubber ankle boots I got on purpose to be acceptable to walk in the door wearing, so should remember because can carry suede, or any, shoes in tote bag). So that seems to be able to throw me off.
-- I get a bug to wear a certain item and the somehow can't get set on the other oart ( top or bottom). It seems this might either be an item I've not done enough outfit creation with and need to know 1-2 FFBO's for every item.
-- I have a large enough wardrobe tfat even if I wear the same combination outfit, I wouldn't have to repeat for more than 2 weeks, yet somehow I cant " see" which outfit might be in rotation.
-- " moods " that defy explanation.
I think sometimes u should organize my closet mite by " mood" or some similar concept rather than Item type!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Yep,it’s the weather s fault again!Roll on the spring(it’s been snowing again here today).

madeline

Veteran

I decided to wear one of my bright floral cardigans yesterday and that helped. Feel your pain - freezing rain here today.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That's it, exactly. What looks "not too bad" with snow boots? That is always the main question at this time of year....

rachylou

Veteran

This is true about February. The fog is always deepest in February.

Sal

Veteran

I know the feeling - and it is a horrible sinking feeling and I end up feeling dissatisfied usually.

It happens to us all I suspect - and is often about the weather, or boredom, or maybe the end of the season. On those mornings when I can I pull out a FFBO (Fast fall back option) - that has gained my own and maybe forum approval and I know works. It may no longer be exciting but it is easy.

Wear your best lipstick.

And in the evening or weekend reflect about gaps you may have...for a long time my handbag was letting me down, and also my winter coat was letting me down... Sometimes it is not that simple but maybe one piece will provide the pizzazz you need.

My winters are not comparable in coldness or difficulty with wearing clothes aside from snowboots - but they can be wet and dreary - and I have found a small injection of new fun things in the last 6 weeks or month of winter is a lift. I don't get sick of them even if I wear them once or twice a week, and they just add that fun.

jussie

Veteran

Don’t be hard on yourself. Winter sucks.
Also, I think we ylfers have high outfit
standards so it’s difficult when we gotta just wear winter boots and snow coats because that just pains us.
Also perhaps some of us have a tendency to over-analyze things, including our clothes.
Having done try-Ons and taking photos in advance is helping me at the moment, although there are days where I’m still not happy lol oh dear...

The Cat

Veteran

I don't think I ever say: "Nothing to wear." And if I did, that would hardly be true, as I know that I usually have several possibilities. Not because my wardrobe is enormous (it isn't), but because I choose clothes and accessories which go well together, are versatile and can be styled in various ways,

It helps to identify which essentials you need, check before each new season that you have them (and replace them if needed), and to have some statement items.

Every night, before I go to bed, I plan my outfit for the next day. I love playing around with my items, and I seldom wear the exact same outfit twice.

I often pick 3 items I would like to wear, and then I have fun by creating the rest of the outfit. The 3 key items will be in 2 or 3 different main colours (prints may be included): 1 or 2 non-neutrals and 1 or 2 neutrals. If possible, I will repeat these colours in the rest of the outfit. If not possible, I will just add other suitable neutrals. For tomorrow, I just chose these 3 key items: black blazer, torquoise braided belt and pink button-front shirt. Then I decided that the rest of the outfit will consist of: black velvet skirt with subtle pink&purple&blue&grey vertical stripes, black opaques, black loafers, torquoise scarf and torquoise glasses.

Joy

Veteran

Ah, the dreaded February/March wardrobe blues. It is the time when I did deep looking for things that are warm but have had little or no wear. Then I discover why...ill fitting, scratchy, unflattering, etc. I am wearing one of those outfits today. It seemed good in my mind but feels dowdy and fussy.
Sterlings 30-30 challenge helped me find combinations in my closet that I liked and now go back to constantly.

Mainelady

Veteran

I know the syndrome. I do think the weather and length of winter play a part. State of mind does, too. Some days it is hard to be inspired and easy to fall back to old favorites, but even old favorites lose their appeal at times.
When I am indecisive I sometimes think I have NTW, when the truth is more likely that I have too many options and just can’t commit to an outfit. Then I get fretting about time and my decision making efforts get harder. Sigh.

Style Fan

Veteran

This time of year is very difficult for northern hemisphere types. When I stayed at home and didn't flee south I focused on keeping warm.

unfrumped

Veteran

I do think there can be an element of too MUCH choice for me, so I have to guard against trying to fill a hole that’s not there, unless I can determine that it’s time to cull several things or decide on a style shift. Always remembering seasonal and temperature issues.

Staysfit

Veteran

Time for a vacation, then everything will look fresh again.......my next best solution is to clean out the closet because I always find something I don’t expect. Some item I have neglected that inspires an outfit, or even an accessory of some sort.

The truth is that when I have NTW syndrome something else is bothering me or taking place in my life to cause stress. When I can get that sorted, my closet and clothes feel good again.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Ooooh Staysfit I can relate!

Gigi

Veteran

When I have NTW syndrome and it won't go away, it's usually because I'm undergoing a style change. If this is the case, I browse around on the Internet for a while to get inspired to see what style I might be attracted to next, and I start deciding what pieces I need to buy.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Agree with Janet that it is psychological and with everyone about the weather, time of the year, lack of light etc, bringing us back to our mood. A whiff of lavender or lemon sometimes helps me.

tulle

Veteran

Funny about the snowboots, Suz, and so true. Luckily, it seems that everyone who lives in my area makes a silent pact to ignore each other from the waist down during this trying time of year.

Sisi

Veteran

I have what I call "difficult starts". There is the occasional morning when nothing-nothing-nothing looks and feels good. Even an outfit that a few days ago felt ok. After thinking and rethinking I came to the conclusion that it is just me - some days I just get out of the bed with the "left foot" as we say in Italian. At a certain point I just decided to accept myself and the hell with it. I will feel blah all day, ok. But you are doing very well - you found some tricks that work!

P.S. I have not read all the comments yet, but I think that Kkards, Lisa p and Suz are definitely onto something.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Sisi same here. There is, for sure, some of me in this. I wonder if my body changes that much from day to day. One afternoon I will love myself in a particular item. The next morning: I hate how it looks! Or just feel it's "off". Also often it is a question of mismatch, despite my upstream efforts in that sense: a sleeve that is just a bit too batwing won't fit through a blazer's sleevehole - or will fit, but uncomfortably; suddenly none of my 24+ belts will do for a particular bottom; or, like unfrumped said, it's the weather that day...

cindysmith

Veteran

Ugh, for me it's the weather. It's cold, and a bit icy, and I'm just sick and tired of having to wear all the clothes at once. All. Of. Them. I feel like the staypuft marshmallow man. And since I'm basically wearing everything at once, I look at my closet and realize that "I can't wear that, I just wore it two days ago" (even though 2 days ago it was in the middle of several other layers and therefore not visible)

lyn67

Veteran

Oh, it happens, to all of us! And is really depressing. That's why I am always on the hunt for the same essentials but with a curent twist (like having 3x grey knit dresses at the moment) but feeling fab everytime I dress them.

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