What's your stance on "Outfit Repeats"? - YouLookFab Forum

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What's your stance on "Outfit Repeats"?

Tara

(website)

Veteran

We're all on a style journey and for some of us it's more difficult to find outfits, combinations etc. that we really like than it is for others.

I was reading this post on Already Pretty today and Sal was alluding to the fact that she wore the exact same outfit combination today as she did a little while ago:
"...Simple, fun ... and a complete repeat. I can't remember the last time I wore this dress, but when I did, it was with these exact shoes and these exact bracelets."

I'm not sure if she was saying it was a good thing or a bad thing...

I often find myself wanting to come up with something "new" (like a new outfit/combination etc.) every day so I have something "new" to post here.

This is a good thing as it makes me constantly stretch my boundaries. However, I find myself shying away from "outfit repeats" as I figure it's boring for you guys to look at the same old combinations. But I do really love some of the things I've come up with, so I'm trying to figure out why I don't feel like I've achieved something if I wear the same combo again!

How do you guys feel about this? For a lot of us the point is to find what works and stick with it (or similar) whilst evolving a little along the way.

What's your stance on posting outfit repeats or similar combinations? Does it get boring? Or are you pleased just to see people finding something they're comfortable in that makes them feel fab?

General

27 replies

Latest reply was from Katja

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I must confess that I do quite a lot of repeat outfits.

Sometimes in a morning, when I'm politely indicating that the kids should get ready for school <ahem> as a I dress, trying to be creative in the fashion stakes is really difficult so I reach for a combo which I know works.

It must be said that some of this is due to a rather small wardrobe at the moment to choose from, so possibly as the options increase, so would the degree of repeats! I would LoVe to be one of those people who are never seen in the same outfit twice though. For any of you who achieve this, I'm green with envy!

Louise

Veteran

I often repeat. I think it would get a bit boring for us to keep seeing the same outfit piccies because it has already been commented on but perfectly acceptable to wear it again just not post it x

crwilson

Veteran

I repeat a lot. A really lot. It's not ideal, but especially for casual wear, I don't have that much to choose from, and I'm usually getting dressed under duress (like KatiePea, while ever-so-politely suggesting that my children get ready). I don't post the same outfits, though.

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Yep same here, If I'm in a rush I go for something that I know works. I think in the terms of Sal from Already Pretty it would probably be something that she would be more concerned about (dont think she is thought), being in the blogosphere and putting your daily outfits up for everyone to view.

I do enjoy your posts Tara when you come up with different combos for the same garment because you have such a creative talent for mixing and matching.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I am very guilty of repeating the same outfit combinations time after time. If I find a clothing combination I like e.g. a particular dress with a cardie, I generally stick with it. But hey, I have never pretended to be a creative type!!!

April

Veteran

My feeling is that if you have a "killer" way of wearing something and an "almost killer" way of wearing the same thing, it's better to repeat with killer than to mix it up with almost killer. (Of course, two killers would be even better, but sometimes there's one best way.)

Now that I've said that, I'll say that I get bored with repeating too much. I do it, but it makes me itchy to shop...

Barbara

Veteran

I repeat often. If you feel fabulous wearing a particular outfit, you KNOW it's a success. In fact, I make lists of seasonal favorite ensembles, including bags, shoes/boots and jewelry. Sometimes I'll mix it up, because my wardrobe, having been recently simplified, is truly mix and match. But I always come back to my feel-good favorite outfits. And I think that's dressing smart!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I typed this out before, but the internet ate it.
My whole goal for my summer wardrobe is to find a few dresses that work, and to wear the heck out of them. It's way too hot to do any layering, and difficult for me to find dresses that work at all. When I do- I don't mess with the combo's that work. On hot days, I am glad not to have to think about it. The rest of the year, I don't repeat nearly as much- there's just too much variation possible with layers.

bj1111

Veteran

i'm with khris...if it works, it works...no sense fussing about just to make it different.

also if i take the same outfit and swap out the necklace for a bracelet or a shoe for a boot, does that count as a repeat? i think so, but others may think differently.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Repeating is not a problem for me, I'm pretty sure Angie has blogged about this before as well. I'm with April, sometimes an outfit combo just works so I try not to mess with it too much.

MNsara

Veteran

I have no problem with repeats. If I put together an outfit that I feel fab in and I think it looks fab, then I am pleased to repeat it (rather than insist on changes).

I have enough outfits that need changes to even reach the point where they are worth repeating!

I can work in five different schools each week, so I am always a bit worried that I'm somehow wearing the repeated outfit at the same school over and over again (like I have my own 'uniform' for a certain school?) I suppose I could keep track, but that would be too organized

Queen Mum

Veteran

I agree with the others... if it works, wear it to your hearts content.
I think your question was also whether or not to post the repeat outfit. While we don't necessarily need to post the same outfits week after week, remember that there are always new ladies on the forum who might not have seen a particular outfit. This is one reason I like to post several outfits at a time when I post. There could be a repeat outfit in the lot, or just a simple dress and sandals, but there are others that are hot-off- the-press and have a bit more creativity going on. Honestly, I love this site because it is full of women like me who are on a budget, have a busy life, struggle to be content with their bodies, drive carpools, etc.... I love to see what these women wear in their day to day lives. And if you wear the same outfit twice in a month (gasp) then it gives me permission to do so as well

shana

Veteran

I am A OK with repeats. So much less pressure, especially if you've already worked out a fab combination.

Louise

Veteran

I am quoting Angie's words from the blog post below

"I simply wear the same outfit combination more often. And I’m perfectly happy to do that!"

http://youlookfab.com/2010/07/.....rsatility/

Katja

(website)

I'm a serial repeater and see no reason why that should be bad in any way. Clothing is not a consumable in the same way food is (once you've used food once, you can't reuse it). The ethical and ecological implications of deciding that repeat wearing of the same garment is bad are kind of horrifying.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I agree that when you find a winning combination it makes sense to repeat it again and I do it too. However I still trying to find other combinations which I did not try before. Often it does not work better than my '10' one and I never repeat that again. However sometimes I can get another winner and would miss on this if not trying for new combinations.
I would not post an outfit repeat though as I think it is boring to ask opinion on something you have already asked before. However if you have even a slight change there (such as another scarf, necklace or shoes) it is OK to post even though the rest of the outfit was seen before.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I absolutely have, Julie. I repeat outfits all the time. I feel zero pressure to have to create lots of different looks with items. I will wear the same killer outfit over and over again - year after year. Why fix something that isn't broken?

This thinking goes hand in hand with my philosophy of having a small wardrobe. Wear what you have more often. But make sure that you LOVE it.

marianne

I repeat all the time. If I like an outfit, I don't have a problem wearing it every week, or multiple times a week if I am not seen by the same set of people. This summer I pretty much wore the same 5-7 outfits. With our short summers you can get away with a tiny wardrobe.

AJ

Veteran

I don't have problems repeating an outfit, but I don't post the repeats. I suppose if I changed two accessories, I would post it because a dress can look quite different with a change of belt and shoes.

I like to experiment with my clothes, so I do try to mix things up as often as I can. However, when I'm pressed for time or I can't think of anything else for an event or outing, then I'll go with a past winning combination.

April

Veteran

Katja, can't speak for others but let me just clarify what I mean by "repeating." I mean putting the same items together in the same way -- not merely wearing an item more than once. I would never deliberately wear an item only once. That *would* be obscene!

Lisa

Veteran

I'm striving for a repeat-able wardrobe full of pieces I love. If I love it, I don't mind wearing it again and again. I try to post outfits on YLF that I am either 1-Proud of and think I nailed a look, or 2-Am wondering if I got a look correct, or 3-Have no clue where to start and need advice on keep or toss and/or styling ideas.

Lynne

Veteran

team repeat

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Well, I have a daily outfit blog, so I try not to repeat even killer outfits. I do repeat items all the time, but I put them in different combos, either different accessories or shoes or something. Even just my summer dresses get worn with different camisoles and sandals.

If I wasn't photographing myself every day and posting it on the internet, I might repeat. Maybe. I don't know, I enjoy the creativity of new combinations. Plus, I don't know why, but they often don't work as well the second time anyway.

cfun467

Member

I think that if the outfit is cte you should wear it again but maybe a differnt piece of jwerly. I mean like it is redlicos to wear something once and just leave it in the closet for 5 years later you are going to see it and just throw it out thatis so stuiped

Mae

Repeat offender here. If it works, I'll trot it out again and again. However, I do like to mix and match so that it's not SO boring.

lynne

Veteran

I repeat all the time, but not in short rotation.

Katja

(website)

April, thanks for the clarification - I did misunderstand, and I apologize.

I guess I still repeat combinations and don't feel like there's anything wrong with that, either.