Wardrobe Planning - YouLookFab Forum

Synne

It sounds boring, but limiting colours and sticking to a strickt palette helps a lot. I am all ears to what other planners will share here

2 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Yes, Synne, I could see that. I don't have a strict palette, but I am mostly attracted to a certain range of colors that go pretty well together. I think my preferences about contrast will also play into how versatile my wardrobe is.

2 years ago

Anonymous

Stay tuned for textbook
Not sure how much patience I'll have for writing it out on my phone- but see my elemental capsule and PUPY posts for preview!
ETA - the Vivienne Files is a great blog about wardrobe planning. Her actual picks are generally not what I'd choose, but the idea is workable.

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I haven’t read this, but it’s recommended by a source I trust. https://anuschkarees.com/curatedcloset/

2 years ago

Star

Veteran

I agree with Suntiger. The Vivienne Files blog really the Hows and Whys of a cohesive wardrobe click for me, although the pieces she highlights are not to my taste that often.

2 years ago

Irina

Veteran

I’m working through my winter lists and can share my process with you.
For the next winter I have:
1. List of essentials - things that I actually need. This comes from my experience in the previous winter seasons and my clothes edit in the last spring. This is a priority list.
2. Wardrobe winter goal - mine is adding lighter colors. I have a list of items I would like to add in lighter colors.
3. Wish list - loosely defined statement pieces. I will consider it if I come across it but are not going to spend much time chasing it.

Here are lists for each category. I might add something in the fall but this is it for now.

Essentials:
Black, knee length puffer
Winter high tops Converse
Jeans in dark colors
Thick wool pants in dark colors
Black mid size crossbody bag

Goals:
Light color sweaters - bought already
Beige hat and scarf

Wish list:
Festive sweater
Cream faux fir coat
Below the knee wool cardigan

I’m waiting for NAS to hopefully find some essentials. If not, it will have to wait until fall when winter inventory starts getting to stores.

2 years ago

Toban

Veteran

My wardrobe is small to moderate in size with a fairly tight color palette. So new pieces generally need to mix and match well within existing wardrobe. I try to do a seasonal refresh that somewhat resembles the “5-piece French wardrobe” … that is, a small number of new pieces (across categories, like a dress, shoes, topper, scarf, and top) that adds a freshness to my existing wardrobe. I also replace my essentials as necessary. I also pay attention to what I am currently gravitating to when I get dressed and what laundry bottlenecks are. For instance, I just added another pair of lightweight joggers from Athleta in navy because I am fostering kittens and spending a lot of time on floor. I found I was always wanting my olive print joggers that were in the wash so felt it was an item I could duplicate in a second color for max wardrobe versatility. My “duplicates” are generally rare, max two in a specific category/silhouette, and always in a different color. I hang 99% of my clothes and do laundry 3 times per week (mostly because of running clothes) so laundry bottlenecks are rare. I tend to wear new pieces in heavy rotation. If I don’t have an immediate plan to wear an item, I don’t purchase it. I also focus on my real lifestyle (which stops me from buying the fancier dresses I would love because I have no occasion for them.)

Some items I’m specifically looking for and, occasionally, I spot something that wasn’t on my wish list but that I intuitively know will be a fresh workhorse in my wardrobe.

I also buy for “now” (or ahead by a couple of weeks) and never buy end of season items unless I’ll get immediate use. I generally ignore NAS because I don’t bring in fall clothing til October/November. It’s too far out for my mental space. I’ve adapted a bit to shop slightly early because of online shopping but not that early.

I also listen to my intuition. I kept going back to the same floral olive Athleta pants on the web for weeks. Because I kept thinking of them I did eventually buy them when shopping in person. I was slightly worried that I didn’t have the tops to go with it, but they’ve been quite versatile. I never buy something that will need me to make additional purchases to make work.

2 years ago

cat2

Veteran

I do piece counts before shopping for a season. Then I can see where I am well-stocked and where I have gaps. I make Buy and No Buy lists based on that mix. Last Fall I was low on jeans, the prior year I was low on sweaters, this year I somehow had no long sleeve Ts, etc. Then I only buy pieces in a palette of colors that I love. I shop end of season sales for as much as I can, then fill in a few items at full price if I have to.

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I'm sitting on the fence listening, because my system is so different from the common one. I do shop for current needs/to fill in gaps, but because I hang onto so much, I'm likely to be able to fill a lot of needs from my wardrobe; the gaps are few and far between.

I think the devil in the details is figuring out what the numbers should be--knowing number of pieces per category isn't much good without that.

I've been looking forward to going back and getting my midi-length wool winter skirts pretty much ever since we got here, recently found out they'd all been stolen. I haven't figured out yet how many of them I will replace.

Toban, you never buy outfits?

2 years ago

Irina

Veteran

I’d like to add that I buy only the pieces that would work with the rest of my wardrobe - in my colors and style with a very few “wild cards”.
Like cat2, I prefer to shop end of season sales for all my clothes.

2 years ago

Anonymous

Irina - I like the sounds of your system . I’d like to be less emotional as shopper and be more pragmatic . But I wonder : at this age , can one change their behaviours / habits ?

2 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Silhouettes and formulas by capsule… i do it like the old toy, Fashion Plates - I just colour in the template!

2 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

For several years, after a trip, I only bought grey or blue. On the trip I was pleased with how well my things worked together. Since then, I added olive and pale pink. But it really made things easy.

2 years ago

Irina

Veteran

Lisa P, absolutely. I started to plan my wardrobe maybe 5 years ago. I fall in love with some random clothes once in a while but not like before. I remember buying a bright red short puffer I adored and could only wear with jeans. At the time I wore jeans on weekends only. And this was my choice of the only one short puffer for my wardrobe

2 years ago

cat2

Veteran

FI, I started the piece counts when I took over my husband’s work closet, which is casual. I figured out that if we started the season with a dozen things in each category, and the usual number of things wore out, he would still be able to get dressed at the end of the season. So if heading into Fall he has a dozen jeans, long sleeve shirts and sweaters waiting for him, he is pretty much set. For work I do similar numbers: a dozen tops, toppers, and pants are usually enough. I add a total of 6 skirts or dresses for variety. I also add one piece of outerwear for each of us each winter, and make sure we have scarves, gloves, etc. , and always have shoes and belts in our core colors. When I add something new I try to make it visually distinguishable from what we already have, so it feels like we have enough variety.

2 years ago

slim cat

Veteran

I don't exactly plan wardrobe but like already mentioned stick to tight color palettes, go for separates ( mix and match ), limit wild cards for the ones truly fun pieces.
Checking last year needs/wants helps too - my need for midi skirts ( 2 bought last summer - workhorses ) resulted in 3 new ones this year ( 2 simple ones - black, navy with polka dots and one special - black brush strokes over white, handkerchief hem ).
I like to shop end of season or at least middle of the season. NAS is less interesting for me because of long summers in CA ( or maybe I just love summer shopping in general ).

2 years ago

Anonymous

Ok -textbook time
Part 1: practical considerations

To start I keep an inventory of what I have on lists and Finds.

Check fit and condition to see if any wardrobe basics/essentials need repair/replacements.

What are my life activities now- this frequently changes- and upcoming events?

In what weather do I do those life activities (ex- I use workwear from 0-100 degrees but only bike over 55).

Are there chronic fit/wardrobe challenges or wardrobe holes related to weather or otherwise. Hello transitional shoes :/

For identified needs what is the PUPY value (potential uses per year) And what is my historic amount of use? For me weekend transitional weather clothes are needed least, summer workwear are needed most. Low PUPY = low budget for me.

Am I over or under-represented in some category? Example - I have 20 sleeveless tops I could wear to work (or weekend). It's a high PUPY category at 156 (26 weeks x 6 days a week)- but with 20 at equal use 7.8 wears. And that's assuming I don't use my sleeveless dresses, which I do. So- no more for me!

2 years ago

Anonymous

Part 2: capsules and other fun stuff

What do I have for Each activity, weather condition, silouette? Finds is a helpful tool!
What is my color scheme for each? See my little elemental fitness capsules...
What is currently trending that I may enjoy?
Do I have pieces that would work with those trends now?
Are the trends appropriate for my climate/activities? Low PUPY=nope, or try 1 on the cheap.
Do I have wardrobe orphans? Why (low PUPY, passed on something it went with, magpie impulse buy)? Do I want to invest more to make them work?
Do retail reconossance. What's available, what looks interesting? Try on a metric c-ton of pieces if B&M. It's not necessarily buying- it's information gathering.
Are my usual retail solutions viable (still open, fit current shape, have colors that work in my palette)?
Keep planning with the new information.
Buy some things...return some....repeat!

2 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Wow suntiger!

2 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I have developed a rough list of core items for me. Most are essentials but not all- eg floral summer dress is key for me but more of a statement. I would say 2/3 of my wardrobe falls into this list. Some areas are overstocked - eg summer skirts - and others are at the minimal level. If my current black boots wear out I don’t have any others.

I have quantities that I want in each. So I like to have 2 pairs of straight blue jeans ( I currently have three). I am happy with three - they are all different. But I don’t need more for my life and needs.

On top of replacing these I add in other pieces on more of a planned whim. Some are planned eg I wanted a blouse in a light colour - others are impulse buys eg two party dresses.

I do review capsules as well - last year I added more to my smart work capsule, this year has been about exercise gear.

The system is not foolproof though as I discovered during a prolonged cool snap that my work winter wardrobe was skimpy. The last two winters have been mild. So I added two new cold weather pieces- a sweater dress and some cords to stop the monotony of jeans every day!!

2 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

Love reading everyone’s approaches. Instructive even if I not something I can adopt.

2 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well fascinating! Apart from refreshing my basics (bras, underwear, socks, camis) I really don't have any needs just wants (many or few depending on mood). I like to play with what I find . Kind of like a collage made out of recycled materials.

2 years ago

Anonymous

Me too bj1111. Very inspirational . Also guilt - inducing

2 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

@lisa p, my life coach says guilt is an unproductive emotion...i'm trying to believe her.

2 years ago

Anonymous

Oh it absolutely is . I’m aware

2 years ago

Sal

Veteran

My wardrobe is organised. My house is often not…….And my work desk is the opposite of instagrammable.

2 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I use a combination of the ideas already mentioned.

First, I ensure I've got the basics (underwear/ socks/ PJs.) covered. I stock up on these once a year at sales. Ditto for gear (if needed).

Next, I know what my essentials are and ensure I've got items in those categories that still fit/ are in good shape. For me, essentials include jeans, tops for various weather conditions in my key neutrals (navy, grey, white), silver/ grey/ white footwear, etc. I keep a running visual list in Finds. Coats for various weather conditions are also essentials in my climate.

(Note -- as others have suggested, it helps to narrow down your colour palette. It also helps to identify your key activities, as Suntiger suggested).

Once I've dealt with basics and essentials, I try to figure out if I've been feeling any gaps. Are there laundry bottle necks? Am I not wearing something because I'm missing the supporting act? Do I want to purchase those items or simply get rid of the orphaned item instead? Am I bored with my silhouettes or happy with them?

Also, I ask myself if there are new trends or combinations I want to try. I don't follow a strict French wardrobe 5 item system but I do try to include a wildcard or a new-to-me style or type of item each season and I aim to refresh/ update at least one statement item a season.

2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

“ My wardrobe is organised. My house is often not…….And my work desk is the opposite of instagrammable.”

Lol—same!

I once had a roommate tell me that if I could stand having my closets a little messy, our living space would be so much neater, because I tend not to put things away unless I can do it just right. She’s the same one I once accused of not returning a blouse she’d borrowed, because she hung it in the wrong space.

2 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

Shevia speaks my language :)! I sort of plan my wardrobe and outfits (e.g., plugging major holes I identify, thinking about my various roles and wardrobe needs, paying attention to my dominant season, etc.), but sort of don't (e.g., I browse TheRealReal online all of the time and buy whatever strikes my fancy). Excel sheets, lists, and CPWs aren't really my bag, nor do I think explicitly in terms of essentials vs. statements. It's funny because I am extremely planful and organized in other areas of my life, but I think it boils down to clothes and style being primarily a creative, artistic outlet for me (I love Shevia's collaging analogy!). Too much planning/tracking sucks the joy out of it for me.

2 years ago

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