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WIW, wardrobe analysis and thoughts on fantasy life

shedev

Veteran

I've been tracking wears for a few years. I have 10 catagories with some subcategories. I've done all my big purges and each season just brings me some tweaks now. This year, I figured the average within each category. I'm going to use the numbers to edit within catagories. For instance, I have the same number of jackets as I do coats but my coat season is much longer. I plan to edit out one jacket as I add one coat. In most catagories, I will purge a thing or two without replacing it, but in a couple I will add without a purge. Since I have more catagories with low averages than high, I expect to have slightly lower numbers at the end of the year.

Sterling had the great idea of using pinterest to stop buying for a fantasy life. When I started my pinterest board, it was just a bunch of stuff I like to look at. It was a lot of crazy dystopian stuff. One day I asked myself why I don't look like my pinterest board? The short answer was that it was full of really expensive stuff that I could not get in Cleveland. When I started the 5 piece, I took price out of consideration. The 5 only had to be things 10s. Only 2 of the 5 ended up being unusually expensive. Overall, I spent a little less. The things looked like my Pinterest board. I asked the forum if I should stick to my 5, or complete the style renewal. I don't think anyone said stick with the 5. So I've been pretty liberal with the concept of basics, but I'm still sort of thinking in terms of the 5.

I do buy for my fantasy life. Here are some things I thought about before I made the jump. Can I do all the activities of my normal life? Is there a version (like dystopian lite) that would work? I came up with 3 capsules of clothing, 1. dressy, the need to be appropriate trumps style persona here. Job interviews and funerals come to mind. I do need to buy a little for this capsule. 2 is most of my work capsule, it consists of military, moto, and sporty luxe. I'm saturated in this capsule. 3. a little work and a lot of fun. This is the dystopian capsule. This is the main thing I'm buying. I would apply the questions to other fantasy lives such as the goes to fancy parties one. I love looking at gowns but don't feel the need to purchase. I do have a high tolerance to dressing outside my environmental norm and standing out as opposed to blending in.

On to WIW. I'm wearing item 2, Sorel Toronto boots, and item 3, Nicholas K Zella sweater, with AE jeans in Raisin and Jo &Co tank.

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SOREL Toronto Mid Boot - Women's

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4

AEO Sateen X Jegging

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5

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2

21 replies

Latest reply was from Brooklyn

Alassë

Veteran

I enjoy hearing your analyses; thank you for sharing. It's good to hear that your system is working well so far, and please share the results of your averages purge later on.

lyn67

Veteran

Thanx for posting about your 5's. Your wiw is a great inspiration, this one is on my radar (layering short sweater over a long tail shirt) but still not having the right pieces. You did it so well!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shedev, what interesting reflections! I really like that you are buying for your fantasy life -- but within reason. It makes total sense! A lot of the dystopian elements can be worked into your casual/ fun capsule and a few might even go well to work.

I also really like your idea to sub out items from less worn categories for additions to more worn categories. I also have more jackets than coats -- and a shorter season for wearing them. I used to wear blazers under coats quite regularly but I don't tend to do that as often any more, and that means there isn't a big window for wearing jackets at all. Whereas coats are pretty much necessary from September through to the end of April and sometimes May. So really, a few more coats is not such a bad idea in the long run. (She says, eagerly going off to shop!)

Do you like those Sorel Toronto boots? Are they warm?

donnat

Veteran

I enjoyed your reflections. I don t look anything like my pinterest board either. That has given me something to think about. I have been following your "5" I think you are doing really well with it..

Meredith

Veteran

Love the way you broke down your capsules. Good stuff and I will be thinking about those descriptions. Thanks for sharing your reflections!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

This post is so interesting, shedev--thank you for sharing your thought process. I love that you figured out how you could buy for your fantasy life! It looks dynamite in practice, too; your WIWs since you started the 5-piece focus have been stellar. In this one, I like the short over long silhouette on you, and the unexpected touch of raisin mixed with the black and gray.

Anonymous

I was excited to read this post. You have always had a very clear and focused vision. It has been instructional for me to follow along.

Three thoughts.

I followed your Five posts. I was greatly intrigued with the posts and hope one day to follow suit. I advocate continuing along those same lines as it worked so well for you in 2015. The happiness factor is definitely higher. Overall, I think it is less expensive too because there are so fewer buying mistakes.

I admire that you can actually incorporate aspects of your fantasy life into your wardrobe (fantasy-light). I have yet to learn this skill. All of the fantasy clothes I buy have their tags still on (and yet I cannot purge them). Your ability to incorporate fantasy light into your wardrobe may reflect your adventurous spirit (which is evident in every single WIW). Yay for you!!!!!

My favorite part of this post is the buying/purging plan. I feel those types of plans can only come about from tracking categories and wears. One of the absolute best things I ever did was list everything I own in a spreadsheet (everything, including workout clothes, lounging clothes, accessories, even makeup). In less then a year, I knew exactly what I was buying, what I was wearing, and what I wasn't wearing. I could see what categories were exploding and which were underrepresented. Once I had concrete data, I was able to evaluate what worked and what didn't work for me. But most importantly, I was able to understand the underlying psychology of what didn't work for me. This really helped focus my buying plan.

An example. I absolutely adore scarfs on women. I constantly collect pictures of women wearing scarfs. Yet in real life I never wear scarfs. I thought all I needed to do was collect more pins showing all the ways scarfs could be worn. Hundreds of pins later, I still don't wear scarfs.

Scarfs have the highest cost per wear in any category in my spreadsheet. They do not look effortless on me. They look contrived. I buy them. I wear them exactly once and never wear them again.

....oops. I think I got off topic. Scarfs will do that to me.

carter

Veteran

Well, on my pinterest board, the models are all 5'10" string beans who seem perfectly comfortable in 4"heels. Needless to say, much of it doesn't work for me, but I do still find it inspirational, and like you, I've managed to bring it into my life in bits that work for me.

I love that you go so deep into subcategories with your tracking. I imagine that brings so much more clarity. Great post!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I relate to so much of what you say. I think it's ok to spend more on a capsule (for example your dystopian) even if you don't wear it that much. Because when you do wear it, you feel amazing and like your true self. So that is worth a very high CPW in my book.

I think you look fantastic in this outfit, this has got to be one of your best.

Gigi

Veteran

Good for you for having a high tolerance for not blending in...it's emotionally rewarding to be able to dress in a way that expresses yourself. I'm glad that you are buying for your fantasy life and can wear some of those pieces. I buy the odd fantasy-life piece too and just try to keep the numbers small.

I like the Free People sweater...I've been buying a lot of FP lately. I really like the color combo here as well.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

These are very worthwhile reflections, Shedev. Well done. And I'm another who thinks you look great in this outfit.

shedev

Veteran

Alasse thank you

Lyn, I love the long tank to balance out my halves. Crop top over high wasted pant wouldn't work on me.

Suz, my work dress code is very liberal. Nothing holey and no leggings as pants ( no one listens to that one) I only have a few highly distressed items. So most of it can go to work. The Sorels said they were light snow. It hasn't been super cold yet. My other winter boots are very casual so my focus was on going a little more dressy. The others have seen me through the polar vortex so I'm good for warmth. They are really comfortable for a heeled shoe.

Meredith, thank you

Firecracker, My happiness has been stellar too.

Sterling, the 5 also made me spend more time thinking about what I really want and how it is different from what I have. I looked at a ton of shoes before I settled on the Ash sneakers. It was a really good season across a lot of styles. Pre 5 me would have picked one or two, then by the time I saw the Ash ones I would have passed them up because I just bought shoes. 5 piece me knew what I wanted,( tennis shoes that don't look like tennis shoes) before I started looking. It was easier to not get distracted. I agree that tracking is the only way to really see what we are reaching for. I had a cobalt tank that I really liked. I could have sworn that I wore it all the time. My tracking showed that I only wore it three times that year.

Funny Carter, one of the first things that my pinterest board showed me was that I like lower contrast outfits.

Cocolion, I agree that it is ok to have a higher CPW on some items, joy per wear counts too. So far, a lot of the pieces are getting the same wear as other things. I do wear a fair amount of my things out. Some of the costs weren't that high, but some are splurges. I seem to get to the $2 CPW on low and mid priced stuff. If I only get to $4 or $5 on a few higher end items, I'm ok with it. Most of my splurges tend to be in high wear catagories, like boots or toppers. This sweater is in a low wear category, I think most of the sweaters I own are a little too conservative for me. We'll see how the less conservative ones do.

Gigi, the sweater is Nicholas K. The free people site let me put it in finds. I got it at a boutique in Cleveland. I got to try on most of Nicholas K's fall line. I'm thrilled that I found a place that sells my style. I typed in the name of the sweater and tried to create a find off a few sites until one took. I have good luck creating finds off of Amazon. Unfortunately, Free People tends to be too tight in the arms.

Thank you Angie.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Shedev. Most Sorels don't seem to fit me well but one style does (unfortunately not the type I need just now) -- and these look as if they might, too. I think it's really useful to have a not-too-casual but still wearable boot that can take the snow yet look good if it doesn't snow, if you know what I mean. These might fit the bill.

Loved reading your reflections and YLF!

shedev

Veteran

Suz, I think we both have the narrow heel problem. The wedge is comfy and my heels don't slip even without an insole. These may work for you. They also come in chestnut.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

This is a great look on you.

Sara L.

Veteran

Great look and I enjoyed reading your reflections. I like the short over long that you've done here.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

This is very interesting. You have really succeeded in both identifying your target style and putting it into practice. Your outfit looks great and absolutely you.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Such interesting reflections, and I like that you figured out buying for your fantasy life. Those Sorel boots look both functional and warm - I think I need to start considering those for my next winter boot purchase.

rachylou

Veteran

How intriguing! 10 categories, 3 capsules, average number of wears. I like how you've used this breakdown to figure out where to add and subtract. That's a really manageable way to think about things.

I have an over full closet still. I have stocked so as to be able to fulfill moods. I should winnow more.

catgirl

Veteran

This is a fabulous outfit. Your 5 pieces had me drooling. I think you incorporate your fantasy life - which is similar to mine - quite seamlessly. My recent outfit post shows how I've been doing it too. High five!

Do you watch Orphan Black? My latest style idol is Sarah Manning. I want her beanies, boots, and jackets!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I like your outfit and your aesthetic. And I admire the way you stick to it.