What do you do when...

shiny

You haven't been shopping in a long while, and you get the urge to refresh your wardrobe - you envision a dose of color to perk you up from the long Boston winter and make you smile....

But then you visit store after store and all you see is:

1) Odd, drab shade of pastels that completely wash you out and make you look like a dead fish.

2) Grey. Everywhere. Grey. I do love grey, but I have enough grey tops now. Thank you very much.

3) Beige. YUCK. Including beigey creams - what's up with that?

4) Bright orange which makes you look like a traffic cone.

5) Which leaves you with just one last choice: black. How many black tops can one have?

Sigh. Guess I'll be sitting out this season. I sat out last season too.

/rant

15 years ago

Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Did you try Loft? There's lots of color coming for spring- I guess it just hasn't hit your market yet. It's nice to see you around again, Jennifer!

15 years ago

Barbara

Veteran

shiny, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I just got the Spring fashion issue of IN STYLE magazine and bold, beautiful color is EVERYWHERE! So there is hope. Just keep looking!

I don't do beige either.

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

It's so early in the season, we are due neon, brights, prints, animal prints, lots of tangerine... give it time Shiny. It's also great to see you on the forum today!

15 years ago

crwilson

Veteran

I feel the same way about what I'm seeing. I'm not that hopeful either because the colors that are coming aren't particularly flattering to my skin tone.

15 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Chewy, LOFT was my first stop. Left empty handed. Almost bought this:

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....ype=Petite

..... but yellow really isn't my color, and the pink in it brought the pink in my skin out, making me look all blotchy-pink.

These colors look atrocious on me:
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....ype=Petite

I gave this a whirl, but I know from past experience, I will never wear it. BR did this shade several seasons ago, I thought it worked for me, but I eventually realized orange is not my color - AT ALL:
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/c.....ype=Petite

There were some cute tops at AT that I liked, but the only other color options were grey and black.

H&M was even worse.... although I did end up buying an adorable black and white striped, cropped jacket. I had some reservations, as I have been doing the black+white+bold splash of color thing all winter. I got it home, modeled it for DH, and he said "you look like Beetlejuice."

I disagree - I think it's totally Posh Spice - so I'm keeping it anyway.

On the plus side, I'm really, really glad I found YLF when I did, and upgraded my wardrobe when jewel tones abounded. I am set for clothes but it's nice to add something new every now and then.

15 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Also wanted to add that I am seeing so much black and beige. It reminds me of my old uniform in the 90s: black top, khakis, black shoes. So boring. I really REALLY do not want to go back there again. It doesn't look fresh to me this second time around - it looks tired, old, stale. Because it reminds me of being in a style rut. A very long one.

15 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Hm. I remember seeing a lot of color in my local Forever21. They don't always have the best quality, but might be good for an inexpensive pick-me-up. I also saw a few cute, bright items from LL Bean, of all places (random for me, since I'm on the West coast).

I also do the Ebay/Amazon/Thrift thing, but I know that's not for everyone.

15 years ago

Anonymous

Shiny - be patient! I'm sure in a few weeks we will have more to choose from. Its hard when you have an urge for something and you can't find it. Maybe a new scarf or necklace to tide you over?

15 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Marlene, thanks, I will be patient! And yes, I did splurge on the long strand of pearls Angie posted about. Love them!

It's interesting but for months now, whenever I get the urge to splurge, I find myself walking away empty handed. More often than not, I find myself saying, "Hmmm, I have something like that already in my closet" and putting it back on the rack.

It's frustrating, but it's also a wonderful feeling. I've never felt this way about my wardrobe. That's the power of YLF for you!

And, my wallet is very happy these days. LOL. Which is a good thing, since I have a daughter going into college in the Fall.

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Shiny, nice to see you post!

I like where you are right now. It shows that you are being very discerning because you have a killer wardrobe.

Here are my suggestions:

Shop at other places - perhaps you have outgrown AT, BR and ATL. I refuse to believe that you can only shop in petites.

Buy a handbag in a colour you love and don't have.

Wait for the season to unfold.

We are here if you need us.

15 years ago

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Shiny -

Have you tried using ShopStyle to find where all the color is hiding?

http://www.shopstyle.com/

For example:
red scarf - http://www.shopstyle.com/browse?fts=red+scarf
purple blouse - http://www.shopstyle.com/browse?fts=purple+blouse

etc...

Love Angie's suggestion of adding a colorful handbag - I suppose that could apply to other accessories as well - scarves, shoes, necklaces...

15 years ago

Scarlet

Veteran

There are lots of bright colors on display in Europe. Hang in there, hopefully they are headed your way.

15 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

I think colors are on their way. I find I am often not impressed with the first wave of colors that come into stores during spring.

15 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Good to see you again, Shiny! I was also thinking bags or scarves. Or how about a fantastic pair of shoes or booties in a bright colour?

15 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Yes, Angie, exactly! I am far more discerning now. There's never an occasion where I don't have anything to wear, and that's the most fantastic feeling. It was my goal, when I originally discovered YLF and started this style journey!

You'll also be pleased to hear that I did a major clean out this past weekend. I had a bunch of winter sweaters - V-necks and chunky sweaters, as well as some cardigans that had seen better days. I'd been holding on to these in storage and having a very hard time releasing them. I think because I didn't trust that I'd ever find something to replace them. Even though I never wore any of them - many for several years now. It felt so good to dump them ALL!

When spring arrives, I'm going to take another pass through everything and do some more pruning. I am getting closer and closer to having all my clothes in one closet.

Inge, I was very tempted to find a pair of new boots this winter, and I did do some shopping in that direction, but once again I had that discerning eye and didn't purchase any. I realized, for me and my style, I prefer the sleek look of the boots I already own. My boots may not be "of the minute" but that's okay.

Oh - but I did end up buying a pair of flat black oxfords! Very comfortable! This was one item I'd been wanting for a long time, but having trouble finding. These found me. On the sales rack at Bloomie's.

They've been quite useful even though it's winter. I realized that instead of wearing UGGs with my formal dress to get myself to an event, I could wear the oxfords. (I switched into platform heels once I got there). They looked adorable with my party dress and tights, and I didn't slip and fall on the ice. (Aren't you proud of me, Angie? LOL)

I have plenty of scarves right now, and as for shoes, I have just the right amount to fit in my closet, so I think I'm set there too.

15 years ago

Elly

Veteran

Hey, shiny--- some of us enjoy looking like a traffic cone!

Just teasing you, but orange is my favorite color. I actually crave it. I will admit that when it was OUT I resulted to getting my orange fix by buying hunting clothing in neon to wear as gear--- yes, I was that desperate. And I wore it with pride--- there are way too many photographs from hiking trips and adventure type vacations with me wearing a neon orange bucket hat. Including hawaii, the horror!

I know orange isn't for everyone, but perhaps you could order something online to give you a boost. A nice coral or turquoise scarf could be worn with your black and grey and would give you a shot of happy color by your face and beat the Boston blues (I currently have the it-is-blucky-in-Colorado blues, and yes, I made up that word blucky) until some more of the many colors that Angie and Panatone have predicted for spring come through in your local retail.

15 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Those oxfords sound like a fantastic buy, Jennifer and I'm absolutely loving the sound of all your boots!

15 years ago

Sara

(website)

Active Member

DIY-Dye It Yourself! If you have some dingy white pieces that still fit well, you can buy a box of Rit Dye for a few dollars and give them a new life and a place in your spring wardrobe. Lucky Magazine recently did a feature on this where they dyed everything from dresses to handbags.

Alternately, you could always buy yourself a bright new lipstick.

15 years ago

April

Veteran

Shiny, it's great to see you! And I know where you can find some great items to refresh your wardrobe -- come to our YLF clothing swap in Connecticut on March 19! PM me if you want the details...

15 years ago

lisaflex

Veteran

J Crew has some super cute t's and cardi's.....colorful! fun! scarves to match too!

15 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Shiny, I'm so glad to see you around! I have really missed you in action on YouLookFab in the last year (or so.)

I'm in the same boat. I feel like it's actually a pretty good time to take a shopping hiatus because my wardrobe is in good shape, and I'm not seeing a lot of colors I love right now. I had much better luck finding rich, beautiful colors that *don't* make me look drab and corpsified in the fall.

15 years ago

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