Inspired by a recent post by approprio here are some of my takeaways from limited shopping over the last year or so.
Last items bought:
July 2016 - red Cole Haan cross body purse; 4 pair Gap jeans
August 2016 - 2 pair Frye boots (boots+Frye+Rack prices= my downfall)
November 2016 - winter parka, winter hat; plaid button up shirt
For me, that is not a lot in a 8 month period. I have a feeling I'll fall way off the wagon when I go back to the USA (no trip yet, but one's probably coming). Hopefully this helps keep me focused.
Priorities
I definitely need (general):
- To focus on personal care: hair, nails
- To dress for my lifestyle (sigh)
- To get dressed every day (WFH slippery slope)
- To use my purses
- To wear my hats more often (sun protection important here)
- To reorganize my closet and cull again (cue the Frozen song)
- To solve the long term shoe storage issue (custom storage solution)
I definitely need (clothing/shopping specific):
- To re-evaluate my jeans
- Skinny are too skinny
- Straights are too long
- Replace the one worn out Gap pair (?)
- More dark wash (?)
- Flat slip on shoes (only have AGL and black flats), maybe a sporty sandal?
- A jacket or topper that works with a tunic top (For some reason I don't reach for the ones I have)
- To replace the worn out navy leggings
- To at least evaluate the bra situation
I probably need:
- More sporty luxe items (like the Lucy capsule I have) - track pants, sporty pants, mix and match
- Solid color summer dress with sleeves
I could use, but can live without:
- Nude tone wedge sandal
- NYDJ henley blouse - solid or print (see note about uniform below)
I crave:
- Structured shoulders
- To be dressier than I need to be
- Comfort
I must not buy:
- Boots
- Heeled shoes
- Toppers, blazers, jackets (one exception above)
- Items that don't fit my lifestyle
- T-shirts
- Dresses without at least a short sleeve (I'm self conscious and will wear a denim jacket over the top if sleeveless, so it doesn't make sense for the heat of summer to have only dresses that require a topper)
I've also found that I have a uniform and I repeat it over and over. To the point that I am bored, yet finding myself looking for more of the same blouse. I am usually pressed for time and find myself reaching for a NYDJ henley blouse (or knockoff/equivalent) + skinny jeans and I'm done. No thought, no variation (I have several colors, solids and prints). It's probably a symptom of not shopping much lately coupled with how well the shirts wear and flatter, but I need to branch out more and try to use what I have instead of just defaulting to that formula.
If I'm not wearing skinnies + fluid blouse, I'm wearing one of my two sporty luxe aka soccer mom outfits. It is what it is I need to admit this is practical for my lifestyle and embrace it. With higher quality items, coordinated to be a capsule, I feel better about wearing them.
I'm to the point of wearing out a few items. Haven't done this in a while, shows that I'm wearing what I have, which is good.
Summer will be here soon (hottest temps around Mar-Apr) so I need to be ready for the transition to hot weather dressing.
I feel like I'm gonna go crazy shopping next time I'm back bc I really have bought very little in the last 8+ months. I need to balance it so I'm not restricting myself SO much that I need way too many things all of a sudden. Hope that makes sense.
Thank you for reading, feedback welcome and appreciated.