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WIW - variety but still feeling ho hum ETA something different

Christina F.

Veteran

I’ve been feeling ho hum about dressing. It has been cool for the first half of May, and my office is especially cool in the mornings. I’ve also been sick. (Saw my family! And got a cold from my cousin’s new baby, sigh.) So it’s mostly been a pullover and jeans. I have a lot of the former but I’m tiring of the same-ness, even so.

Putting the pictures here, I do see variety (sometimes I put on lighter clothes in the afternoon), but I haven’t felt it, I guess. I also haven’t taken pics of all the pullover outfits. I have tried layering instead in a few cases. A few pieces have snuck in there too (see Finds)

It’s warming up and hopefully I’ll feel able to wear some dresses or skirts. I hate hosiery and though I dress a bit for WFH (no sweats or pajamas bottoms), I draw the line at hosiery. I did wear a dress one day, for like two hours before it got cool and rainy. Sigh. I guess I’m learning I need dresses and, to a lesser extent, skirts in my rotation to feel happy. I’m also impatient for my winter clothes to go away entirely. And… pandemic fatigue. That’s probably 99% of the problem.

Bonus cat photo made it in They love the back door.

ETA - it’s nice today! Last photo is a romper I got. Very specific season (shoulder or summer evenings) but I love it.

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Perfect Straight Pants in Washed Twill

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Oakley Cashmere VNeck Sweater

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Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from RobinF

Synne

Veteran

Lots of variety here, looks like you are having fun dressing and being creative with expressing yourself, although you say you feel otherwise. And that hen-sweater!!! Completely caught me off-guard! I want it too!

Hope you feel better soon! Beautiful kitties. Looks like they are enjoying their new home alot!

Helena

Veteran

You look amazing and these are great outfits! I totally get it - there's a lot in the world to feel ho-hum about ... it's hard to feel enthusiasm for much in my neck of the woods right now frankly!

Have you ever done one of those wardrobe challenges? A 10x10/30x30, or a 30 day something that gives you a prompt every day to spark creativity? Those can be really fun when the closet is giving you the blahs. Just a thought

YLF!

always trying

Veteran

You do have a nice variety,,the straight leg variety and the jackets in 5 and 7 and the top in 19 catch my eye. I do understand the ho hum though, as my sweatshirts and jeans are my ho hums now.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’m also impatient for my winter clothes to go away entirely.

Yes, yes, yes, me tooooooooooooooo

I was thinking of posting a thread asking how people push warm weather clothes when it’s still chilly out (because I look at my winter clothes & just can't). Some days I just pile on the layered look. Other times I try to hide the warmth by wearing my long johns, etc—in MAY. I’m so done with chilly weather & rain.

Love the jacket & shoes pairing in 5.
The dress in 6 looks like perfect pandemicwear—comfy to hang out at home in, and also do perky and nice that you could wear it oitw, if going oitw was a thing we did. It is so on you—the shoes are great with it too, and you’re having a good hair.
I want to steal the pants from 12, but they look too good on you.

slim cat

Veteran

Very nice variety - like outfits in #5, 13, 15 and 18 especially. I totally get "the ho hum" dressing and do it myself on some days ( most of the days off ).
Cats are adorable!

Irina

Veteran

I see a lot of variety and great outfits here! Fun chicken sweater!
Your cats are so adorable!

bj1111

Veteran

So much good stuff. I hope improving weather chases the blahs away.

Ps, I need that chicken sweater. Like.right.now.

Star

Veteran

So many fun tops and shoes, and stripes! Lots of fabulous stripes. Your outfits are interesting.

LaPed

Veteran

Oh, I totally hear you on wanting to wear dresses and skirts but not wanting to wear hosiery! It's so hard. I don't know if it's a side-effect of pandemic life, but every time I try to put on tights the vibe is all wrong *and* they're uncomfortable. I think I may just have to accept that dresses and skirts are a summer-only thing for me, when I can do bare legs and sandals.

I love all your happy stripes and graphic tops, especially the little hen in her beret. But I do know that sort of boredom you're talking about; jeans-and-pullover starts to feel like the same thing on repeat even if there's a lot of visual variety.

Glory

Veteran

I see lots of variety here and truly wonderful pieces. I totally get being fed up with the winter duds. I wore a winter coat last week grrrr. You’ve had lots going on to contribute to the blues - moving, a cold, pandemic. Hopefully soon you can break out the spring wear and enjoy some warm weather!

kkards

Veteran

Ok, this is 100% more variety than what I’ve been wearing the couple of months ...its BF jeans and a sweater, rinse lather repeat.
love that Boden dress on you! I’ve i add another short sleeve dress to my wardrobe that’s the one I’d add. But i think my fav is #13, love the green pants with the denim jacket. And yay for the clogs, I’m really finding mine to be the perfect WFH shoe.

Christina F.

Veteran

Thanks everyone! I think I will feel better now that the weather seems to have turned. Today it's a tee-shirt and jeans rather than a pullover I think I need to think more about accessories than I have been, too.

Synne, Irina and BJ - that hen sweater is quite a few years old, from J Crew. It's kind of an archival piece of mine that I pull out a couple of times a year. It's a "French" hen, you see! A visual pun. You may be able to find one for resale online if you're lucky!

Helena, I've never been much for challenges, but it might be a good idea next winter, especially if I'm still working from home a fair amount. The office may reopen in September, but I doubt I'll go in daily anyway. I will need to use some weather stripping on the back door, which is where my office is - the room runs cold!

always trying - I think it's more a state of mind than anything else. Ho hum indeed.

FashIntern - I hear you! May can be a real struggle. It seems like it should be warm but often is not. The first half of May here in NYC felt like April Plus. That's an older pair of pants from LOFT. A lot of my pants from that era stopped fitting, but those are great, go figure.

LaPed Yup, something about hosiery just seems extra confining. I tend to have belly issues anyway so the compression is not my friend, though when I go out in winter and want to wear a dress or skirt, I accept the necessity for warmth. In the warm weather I have to worry about shaving my legs, but that seems more manageable

kkards - thanks! My whining is not that warranted and is really more about other stuff than the variety of clothes I have been reaching for. I am ready for bare limbs! (Ask me again in mid-August, though.)

rachylou

Veteran

Cute all around! But yes, the last stretch into full summer can be trying...

Bonnie

Veteran

Nice variety of outfits. My favorites are 12 and 18.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Your jumper game is very en ponte!I love the bright blue and the chicken one!l understand your frustration at the weather,it’s wet and freezing here.l look longingly at my summer clothes from the refuge of my fleece every day at the moment and
yes the pandemic has gone on far too long and we are all totally fed up in one way or another but hopefully as the vaccinations start to make an impact we will see the benefits.Cute cats!

Sally

Veteran

Love all your jean combinations. My favourites would be 8, 18 and 19. The blouse in 18 is gorgeous!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sweet Christina, rest assured that you look your usual super duper fabulous self! Lots of KILLER outfits, and the new hair is sooooo great. It's hard to pick faves. I love it all

YES to mega pandemic fatigue, awful Spring weather, and feeling grotty when you have a cold. It takes it toll, and I empathize. Feel better soon.

Jonesy

Veteran

Sorry to hear you've been sick! I love your collection of striped tops, and you have a lovely range of denim options, but I hear you on the repetitiveness! Hopefully spring will find you soon and you can work some dresses and skirts back into the mix.

Mirjana

Veteran

Beautiful as always, so many great outfits, but my favorites are, #9, 12, 16, and #22.

Christina F.

Veteran

Thought I replied but it got eaten, I guess!

Thanks all - the weather has made it turn toward tee shirt weather. I think I relied on my dress and skirt capsule for variety more than I knew! I think my blah feelings had more to do with other stuff. Objectively, I have a lot of variety.

Highs in the 80’s are coming next week. It has barely been long sleeve shirt weather (though with air conditioning I’ll still use those. as I WFM till at least September. Though I can work outside now too!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Late to this, but I hope you’re feeling better! I can completely relate that when other things are not going well, I feel like I can’t get my style right either. Rest assured that it does not appear you’ve lost any of your usual sass and style. I especially like that blue striped top and the blue sweater on you — something about those colors seems to really light you up. And you are still making me want button-fly jeans!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Glad to hear your weather is shifting! I do see variety here, but also a lot of the same silhouette. Adding in dresses and skirts will make a huge difference. The long topper in #11 creates a different sort of line, as well.

I was reading a minimalist wardrobe newsletter I get the other day and, though I know you're not a minimalist in this sense, the first line really struck me, and maybe you'll get something out of it too. It just said, "Your wardrobe doesn't need to entertain you."

With fashion as a hobby, I always do sort of look to my wardrobe for entertainment, but the thought that it doesn't have to was sort of freeing. When you're feeling bored and know you have plenty, you can, if you choose, turn to other things for enjoyment and take that pressure off your clothes for a bit.

JAileen

Veteran

You’re feeling ennui? It doesn’t come across in your outfits. Your photos are such an improvement! I hope you’re enjoying your new home. I really like your casual/sporty style. Is the chicken wearing a beret?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hope you are starting to feel better. I can really relate to the boredom of "pants and top." I think you and I both crave silhouette variation and that is just so much harder in cooler weather. I won't even wear my wider leg jeans until it gets past a certain temperature. Especially with work-from -home. (If going out I might do it with higher boots, etc. but if just at home, not wearing boots in the house).

You look great, though, and I can't get over how cute the hair is on you!

Christina F.

Veteran

Janet - thanks, I do feel better! I do love blue. Hey, you would rock the button flies.

Jenn, you are spot on. I’ve lacked a lot of my normal hobbies and entertainments due to the pandemic. A big one is travel planning - but we are cautiously looking at a Fall trip to Greece, as we feel okay vaccinated since we don’t have kids to worry about. The other thing that’s been a focus is working on the new house, buying furniture and decorating over time. That has taken pressure off the clothes and helped satisfy my artistic eye.

JAileen - just ennui due to the weather and being sick. Things have started to turn around. I’m better and so is the weather. We just got a grill! And yes, that is a visual pun on the sweater. It’s a “French hen.” Old J Crew piece!

Suz - I love the hair. It’s been a big hit. I hear you on silhouette variety. I need to put the jeans aside too. Easier now that it’s warmer. (I just added a new outfit without jeans to the post.)

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

This post set off a realization for me. Want to hear it? It’s a big one, so get ready. I just realized that spring is a season. That’s my monumentous intellectual work for the weekend, lol.

I have been so glad to be back in 4-seasons world, and my son this spring has finally gotten into the groove of enjoying seeing the flowers come out and that special spring green on the trees, but comments on this post made me realize that I haven’t thought about springtime in my wardrobe. I’ve sort of expected to go from winter almost straight into warm summer idyll. Last year and especially this year I’ve spent weeks on end bellyaching about it and trying to figure out what to do since I can’t wear my summer stuff yet.

I’m sick of my winter clothes, and it’s too warm for them anyway, but I’m putting on my thinking cap about layering, colors, and what else makes for a good transitional wardrobe, and how I want to build mine.

Thanks for providing the impetus!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I see a lot of variety and lots of great outfits. And very happy cats! You may be itching for a bit a style refresh with your move, but meanwhile you are looking good!

lyn67

Veteran

Hope you're feeling better-but have to assure you, it doesn't show in the picties-you are doing such a great job dressing for your day, all fab colors and pattern but especially perfect FITS and SHOES to them all! Love your hair, pants and danskos especially!

Bijou

Veteran

Lovely to see pictures of you settled in the new house - your cats are most definitely looking at home and super cute. I 100% understand where you are coming from as I work from home too and so I am not out and about as much, so each day has a certain amount of 'sameness' because of that.

For practical purposes, jeans are just so easy to wear. However, I have been trying to make myself dress up in jackets and dresses from time to time, just to increase variety and because most of my dresses and jackets are items I prefer to wear.

You outfits look fab and the haircut is such a winner on you.

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