When your Finds look better than your Closet - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

When your Finds look better than your Closet

viva

Veteran

Having a bit of the wardrobe blues ... every time I look down at my Finds, everything seems to hang together into a coherent gorgeous style, but when I look in my closet, I don't seem to be able to translate my items into a look that I adore!!!

I'm definitely struggling with the summer-to-fall transition. Work is ramping up so I've got to really knuckle down, and it's time to start getting dressed every day instead of hanging out in shorts or workout clothes. And it's all much, much harder than I expected.

I know I need some fall refreshers (and not having a ton of luck with the ordering): booties, jeans, couple of tops, maybe a blazer ... but in the meantime, I am having trouble putting things together in an interesting way.

Could I have cut back my wardrobe too far? Or do I just need tie to adjust? Does anyone else struggle at transitional times?

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Caro in Oz

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I always struggle with transitional times. I think it's partly because these seasons are rather short for us. "Warm" fall, especially. And warm (real) spring. Cold spring is another matter....but I never understood until last year that it made sense to have some clothing particularly for that time.

Stuff is only coming into the stores and online now (and in the next few weeks). You will find your refreshers.

Oh, and my Finds are better than my closet, too....or actually...my Finds ARE my closet, for summer. May I be as lucky in the fall!!

Aquamarine

Veteran

I don't transition well, period...clothes or life changes

celia

Veteran

Viva, I feel your blues. For me it usually happens when the weather starts to be rainy , I usually look despondently to my shoes and have no will whatsoever to get out of the house.
I agree with Suz that most of the things will start to come out now so you will have a lot of options to refresh your wardrobe. And with the light change you will also adapt to the winter fabrics and hues.
And, for what is worth, my FINDS also look better than my closet

Aubergine

Veteran

My finds look way better than my closet too.

I think this time of year is probably the best clothes-wise for me (the perfect intersection of dresses-with-bare-legs weather and rich, deep colors), but I definitely forget how to get dressed and end up staring into my closet completely confused during other seasons. A little later in fall when I have to actually start wearing tights or pants is a big one, as is early spring.

Elly

Veteran

I'm using finds to collect looks (that hey, I actually might buy) combining new pieces I enjoy in my price range with things I already own (esp. from the past season) so my finds look great and currently what I'm wearing with our weird weather doesn't.

Anonymous

Same here. I did, however, find a blazer last week that I didn't particularly need (another black one) but the price and styling (some cool zippers going on) attracted me, it fit perfectly, made me feel great, and I've now worn it 3 times in the last week. It's making my older tops/shirts etc look good again until I can get my hands on some "real" new fall merchandise.

I am pleasantly surprised that this one new piece is tiding me over and making me interested in getting dressed again.

viva

Veteran

Okay, Lisa, I want that blazer. Or a piece like that!

Elly and Aubergine: The weird weather and closet confusion are so relatable for me. It's beautifully chilly in the morning and evening, but still very hot during the day, so it's very difficult to know what to do.

I just received a check from the consignment store so I have a little extra to play with. I may try to scoot out to Nordstrom tomorrow for some in-store tryons to see if I can find one piece that can lift my mood and help tide me over until I can really wear the leggings and jeans and wools that I know will make me much happier. I hope you are right, Celia and Suz, that there are some new items there that will lure me.

Aquamarine, it's so easy to forget how challenging transitions are. But maybe a great blazer can help.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Some of it is just visual. Clothing pics for online catalogs are taken carefully. It's kind of like food on TV vs what you get when you open a boxed frozen meal lol.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It sounds like you are refining your style persona quite dramatically and are on a new leg of your journey. A disconnect is inevitable. It all takes time and money to get there. Slowly but surely.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I had been looking forward to fall, and being disciplined about saving up my fall clothes. But now in what is the last blast of summer, I've been determined to make the most of the weather and I've been enjoying my spring and summer clothes. I realized after reorganizing my closet by color/season earlier this year that I really buy the same colors that suit me again and again (blue, gray, black, white, with a dose of pinks and purples and a smidge of one or two more unusual colors). This might be a little boring but that means I have the same colors in different weights and fabrics and that makes seasonal transitions a bit easier.

Quietgirl

Veteran

Hi Viva!

I have a couple of "Transition outfits" that I live in right now. Maybe not so good for a 5-day work week but I just repeat them for a few weeks until cold weather gets here. They are mostly brown-beige based (not colors I usually wear) so they look and feel like fall but they are still summer. Those pieces are a dark beige pencil skirt and shorts......a cream graphic word tee shirt, a camo tee, a cream LS sweater, a black skirt. Mostly these outfits are comprised of pieces that work with a pair of leopard flats that I own. I accent with red.

These were Looks from my Stylebook app that I put together last year. They still look current and I like them. It seems to be good for me. Yes, these are mainly pieces saved for early fall and it is about the only time I wear them. They are so unique for me (colorwise) that I love the times I get to wear them.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Joy

Veteran

Like Quietgirl, I have a few pieces reserved just for fall that I enjoy and look forward to wearing...bittersweet orange linen sleeveless tops and cardi, a couple of skirts with patterns full of oranges and reds, a sheath dress that's olive with orange floral. These are perfect for our warm autumns and help the transition. Like Suz, I realized last winter that there is a place for items just for cold spring. White jeans are important transition pieces for me.

viva

Veteran

It's so interesting that some of you save pieces just for early fall. Since I keep a largely year-round wardrobe (except for the lightest and heaviest weight items) I've never considered this. I will definitely have to think about it -- it could really ease the transitional times and give me something to look forward to playing with.

Angie, I find it so interesting that you feel I am in a major shift, and I think you might be right. I am simultaneously attracted to everything and nothing. I feel the need to try on a lot but only a few things really work. And they are not necessarily what I would have purchased a year ago. I think some in-store time could be helpful, as trying on a lot may be the only solution to finding what really moves me.

Susie

Veteran

For those of you talking about the transitional time, are you already experiencing fall like weather or is it more of a calendar thing? It is still summer hot here (and probably will be for several weeks) so while I've purchased lots of new things for fall, I'm still thinking summer as far as dressing.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Viva,

I'm blaming this post for pulling the trigger on this sweater in my Finds. You are so right, my finds do look more cohesive, and the missing pieces in my closet won't get there by themselves.

Knitwear upgrades were in my plan for fall, just not today. But I would be sad if I didn't at least try on this one.

Saks Fifth Avenue RED Buffalo Plaid Mixed Media Cape

View Info

Top Pick

2

viva

Veteran

Susie, such a good question. For me, it is part calendar (it's September!), part life shift (DH back to teaching, my research business is ramping up again), and part weather (it's quite cool in the mornings and evenings (long pants, booties, and a jacket make sense -- although midday still can hit 80). It just feels different.

Rambling Ann, that is a great piece. If I had anything to do with pulling that trigger, I'm happy. I would love it if I could find something really powerful like that. Or something which gave me a feeling that powerful. Love it.

Anonymous

Do you think you just need to get into the groove viva? I usually fumble around a bit figuring out a formula or at least a couple of outfits that work when the weather shifts. Will jeans and sandals work, or do I want to wear dresses with ballet flats--that kind of thing. Even though most of my pieces technically go together, different tops and bottoms marry up better than others. Throw a few new items into the mix and it takes some time for figure out my new favorite outfits for the season.
If Angie is right, and you're experiencing a style shift I can imagine you have to go through a lot more work to nail down some new silhouettes, because you're not just tweaking an existing uniform. Hang in there though! You know the results will be well worth it.

Quietgirl

Veteran

Angie is right. I am new here. I am in transition. I think it is why I feel comfortable in last year's items. Until my new style " gels", I am going to enjoy the process (and take my time). Sounds like you are in the same place, viva.

Your post has generated great food for thought!

Anonymous

Your statement about being attracted to everything yet nothing is me right now too. And Angie's comment about a major style shift also hit me too. Vivian, apart from being the same person I swear that we are, this now makes more sense to me. It's not so simple as finding the perfect blazer to get one through this in-between state - it's more like nothing I used to wear is at all appealing or makes any sense. And who can load up on a whole new wardrobe? (she asks after spending an hour on Zara.com this afternoon) Maybe, just maybe, someone suggested to me - all of this obsession is just a distraction from something more important (like my job, for example, lol). Anywaaaaays, back to on-line shopping I bought a pair of Adidas Stan Smith's today though and am inordinately happy. Sales guy at Footlocker asks me why I wanted these (maybe women in the Prairies aren't onto this yet) , and I replied "because I LIKE them". Had no answer to that.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I usually start with suitable shoes for transition times, and work up from there.
1 Fab new Season piece might also do the trick.

gardenchick

Veteran

Sorry you're having the wardrobe blues!
I did want to say maybe you're being a little hard on yourself? From the photos of outfits you've shared, you look very good!
Or maybe, as others have said, a few (not many) new pieces will energize your wardrobe.
Good luck!

Gigi

Veteran

First of all, Suz is NOT allowed to say that "warm" fall is short. I will not have it!

I actually haven't been having as difficult of a time with the transitional weather as I'd thought. The weather has still been quite warm, so it doesn't feel like fall yet. But I have noticed a shift in the colors that appeal to me. I've been adding some warmer and darker colors to my palette: rust, cognac, black, navy, dark salmon. I have been pairing these with white or light denim for the most part. Maybe finding some refreshers in a different color palette would help?

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Agreeing with clearlyclaire - it sounds like you need to try everything on & come up with outfits that work for the weather (layers?) & your new style direction.