Wardrobe goals 2023 - YouLookFab Forum

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Wardrobe goals 2023

jussie

Veteran

Hi everyone. I’ve had a bit of relax time this Christmas, and I’ve been mulling over some wardrobe plans and goals.
Overall, honestly, my wardrobe is in pretty good shape. Any lack of outfit pizzaz is due to my own error, not from any lack of “raw materials” being available in my closet! My wardrobe is on the larger side of medium, and I am happy with the size of it, I do love variety so it works ok for me. However I definitely don’t want to increase the amount of items, due to both space constraints, and because I want to actually wear all my clothes…

Goal 1: no-buy until Easter. This is quite a massive challenge for me; honestly I’ve never done a proper no-buy before. Like, ever. But I want to do it because I’d like to more fully utilize the great items that I have before I purchase anything new. Also I would like to use some disposable income to put towards attending some art classes in the new year.

Goal 2: make more use of all the accessories and lip colours I have. I tend to skip this aspect of getting dressed, I allow precisely enough time in the mornings to choose an outfit and do hair and makeup, but I really want to allow another 5 minutes or so to pop an accessory or a bold lip colour on. I think the right earrings or purse can really take an outfit from good to fantastic! And I have some really cute items that lay mostly unused due to my morning time constraints.

Goal 3: Think carefully about whether to hold on to my slim fit jeans. I have two pairs of slim fit ankle jeans. One dark indigo and one black. I like the fit of these jeans, and of course they go well with some looser fit tops…. So long as the tops are not cropped. This is because these jeans are fitted around the butt and hips, and I feel like I want at least a tiny bit of coverage of those areas.
So really short and wide tops just don’t flatter with this cut of jeans for me. So anyway, they are very useful, but only for certain particular tops. I also like them with my doc marten boots. But a priority for me is to have a fairly current wardrobe, and I’m starting to feel like the slim jeans are just not current enough for my fashion preferences. But I’m not quite ready yet to let them go… hopefully they feel fresh enough for a couple more months.

Style moniker or descriptor? Not sure exactly, but, fun pops of colour, and a slightly child-like cheerfulness coming through in my outfits at times seems to make me feel good. And of course comfort and practicality are super important!
Thanks for reading xx any advice appreciated. Here’s some recent outfits. I was happy-ish with these.

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Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like you are in a good place and your outfits all have exactly the bit of cheer and quirkiness you want. Love the pink skirt outfit and the wide floral jeans are great! I have never seen blue lipstick like that before! I would hang on to your slim jeans if they fit well and are in good shape. They will be back - just like my baggier jeans that I saved are now .

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Slim jeans are useful if you ever need to wear snow boots. Otherwise, honestly I would give them away. The more I try to wear mine, the worse they feel on my body. I have grown to hate that “sausage casing” feeling!

I’m debating over my slim cropped denim jackets (2). They seem incredibly outdated but might be useful as layers under coats, if I could ever remember to use them that way.

I look forward to seeing your outfits with the finishing touches of lipstick and jewelry! You have a nice full lip shape but I’m not sure about the blue though Those final touches do make a difference but I often skip too—- I run out of time plus we’re still wearing masks here, so lipstick gets smudged and earrings get tangled

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Jussie, it's nice to see you on the forum again. And wow, that blue lipstick gave me a shock! I have never seen that before! Having said that, you look fab in the cobalt!

I love the skirt/ pink/white top outfit on you -- simple, but a bit unexpected and fun. I also really like the wide floral jeans.

If your closet is full, a no-buy until easter sounds reasonable...and in particular so you can devote resources to the art lessons.

I have 2 pairs of slim (not skinny) jeans that I keep. They remain useful to me, not just for wider tops, but when I'm on my bike, when I need to tuck pants into boots, when it is chillier out. I think it might depend a bit on your climate...but I do think slim jeans are a classic at this point. Still, differences in details (the rise, for example) will influence how current they feel.

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Indigoprint

Veteran

Sounds like you are in a good place. I am hanging on to my skinny jeans as when worn with a tunic is a classic look to me. I live in a climate that may have snow on the ground from October to May so I like to tuck things in my boots( including doc Martens). I like your outfits, esp #5 , natural, a bit Boho.
I am having fun experimenting with wider jeans and my stompy boots but it is a challenge to get it "right".

jussie

Veteran

Jaime: glad you can see some cheer and quirkiness! The blue lips were so wild hehee! Just felt like really pushing the boat out that evening ;).

Jessikams: yes the sausage casing sensation is unpleasant… it takes ten minutes or so to get used to it and relax into the tighter jeans… it’s a tricky decision whether to pass them on. I predict I will pass them on in a few months, if I can figure out another way to wear my doc boots. I must get about trying them out with my wider leg pants. For some reason I don’t wear the doc boots with dresses and skirts, it’s sort of too 90’s boho for my personal taste. The blue lips are totally crazy! I’m the first to admit it, but rather fun on a rare occasion.

Suz: my slim jeans are extremely similar to the left pic of the ones you posted actually. Hopefully they are a classic, for practical reasons like you mentioned. And I do like them with oversized button down shirts too. Also they are flattering when worn under a large puffer coat too, whereas a wider leg with a big puffy looks a bit frumpy to my eye. However like jessikams said they are a bit uncomfortable, some days I just can’t face them at all and I need something soft and cuddly! Also, I’m glad I gave you a little startle with the blue lips; there’s still some new frontiers in fashion hehe! It’s actually special effects/stage makeup blue, not a normal lipstick.

Indigoprint: yes the slim jeans are undeniably useful in certain ways. And that tunic/slim pants is just a great “FFBO”. I do think it’s time for me to experiment a bit with different shoes and how they work with various pants…I’ll assess the situation gradually over the next few months and try to avoid any rash decisions…..one look I see people sporting lately is of course black leggings with oversized hoodies or sweaters, this might work with docs?

Runcarla

Veteran

After noticing that my skinny jeans (2 pair) were getting thin in the rear I picked up a new pair in a quite different silhouette (see Finds). I saw a woman wearing skinny jeans, but turning the cuff up wide - like 6 inches. I liked the look for summer, so have held onto mine - but don’t think they’ll last through ‘23. Though I’m not off jeans, I’m more ‘into’ alternative pants styles at the moment.

Like your bright hits of colour. The (trending) Barbie pink, and bright blue. Dopamine dressing done well.

Colourful Gamine(?) for a style monicker?

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Jussie I tried a navy blue lip for a while! Sort of a fun and different “dark lip.”

jussie

Veteran

Runcarla: your new jeans look great. Do they work with all the same tops as your skinnys did? Colourful gamine sounds gorgeous and playful. I always think of a gamine as being cute and pixie ish though…. I am a little larger, more squarish of frame than the lovely gamine I fear…
Thank you for saying I did the dopamine dressing right; I certainly love that term and hope I achieved it.
Turning the cuffs up really far on skinnies is a great idea, and would certainly make them look cheeky and intentional.

Jessikams: navy blue lip?! Marvelous!!

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Love the pink skirt outfit and the floral jeans!Abit of colourful whimsy is a great look on you.l too have gone off my skinnies but am keeping them for wearing with boots when it rains as they are useful then and l only have one pair so don’t feel bad about hanging into them.

Val

These outfits are fun to look at! Full of energy and movement.

Anonymous

Good goals and ditto for keeping the skinnies to wear with boots. I'd call them a classic too. Love the pink skirt outfit! I could see the blue lipstick for Fairyfest!

Synne

Veteran

Lovely to see you again!

Now about that style moniker/descriptor: to my eyes, there's something inherent about your persona/looks, that at least comes across in photos. You look very approachable, kind, funny, sweet, creative. It didn't surprise me the slightest to learn you where an elementary school teacher. I think what you try to convey with quirky outfits is what's already inherently there, if I make any sense. Maybe you don't need to focus about trying to communicate what's already a big part of your personality, you're already glowing! What styles make you feel best? The blue lip looks fun, but more in a "dressed up" way. Maybe you have a lurking rock rebel style?
Your no-shop goal is enviable and smart, I'm joining!

jussie

Veteran

Val: thank you!
Cardiff girl, Suntiger: seems like most of us are hanging on to a pair or two of skinnies, just for the pure glorious practicality.
Synne: thanks so much for your words. I really felt happy when I read that my outfits gave an impression of sweet, approachable, creative.
That’s so lovely to hear, and frankly a relief. Made my day! You have a good point, maybe there’s no real need to try and cultivate a particular image or look, because it’s going to pretty much take care of itself anyway. What a nice sentiment. Like a person’s handwriting is unique to them, a persons clothing choice might display how they want to be perceived, sort of subconsciously?? It’s food for thought anyway. Though some people are as wild as can be and their clothing is quite sedate so it doesn’t always hold true. But hopefully for those of us who are interested in clothes and put a bit of thought into it, there must be some kind of natural transfer that takes place?

Dee

Veteran

Jussie I like your on the "large size of medium" to describe your wardrobe, a no buy policy until Easter does sound very reasonable. It will give you some insight into how well your wardrobe is working for you before adding something else.

I'd likely hang on to your slimmer jeans for now, since they are working well with you blue docs and longer tops, its good to have this option when you enjoy variety. I'm finding the wider pants aren't always the easiest to work with either.

rachylou

Veteran

I like the way you put that about raw materials. And the blue lipstick is wild!

What would you do with your longer tops without the jeans?