WI...Wear all the time: style rut

I can usually be found in some variation of the outfits in the posted photo.

Outfit 1 = groceries/errands. Outfit 2 = lunch. Outfit 3 = dinner. Outfit 4 - a night out. I tend to throw on a pair of earrings and a bracelet or wristband. The bottoms are sometimes skirts of the same ilk (casual, smart casual, dressy), and my jeans vary in wash, colour, and fit - but in the end, my outfits wind up looking/feeling pretty much the same as what's in the photo.

I'm bored!

I've been into fashion since I was a wee one, and my style has always evolved without a lapse in enthusiasm, so finding myself putting on the same old thing is kind of baffling. I don't know how this happened! Somewhere in there a few cute outfits became the uniforms I don without a thought.

When I leave the house I do feel like I look good, so that's a plus. I like my clothes, I feel like I have some great items, but I want to do more with them. When I get dressed I want it to be fun and exciting again, not just something I have to do so I won't get arrested for indecent exposure, while shivering and squeezing melons at the grocery store.

I clearly have a lot of black in my closet, but I have other colours as well, mainly beiges and browns, reds and oranges, white, and splotches of random others, this applies to both clothing and shoes. I've done a bit of shopping since the fashion ennui presented itself, but I really do like my clothes already and feel like I just need to do something new with what I’ve got.

I'm thinking edgier/bolder rather than softer/prettier, though really I'm happy with whatever will give my look some oomph. I joked in a reply to a recent WIW by Rae, that I felt like I was playing Barbies - but I'm totally open to being a YLF dress up doll. I've got a lot of different types of clothes hiding in my wardrobe, so if anyone has an outfit you think I should try - tell me! I'm happy to try it on and post the result.

And so ... operation Oomph begins!

P.S. I'm not glaring at the camera, I'm puzzling at the self-timer indicator and wondering why the photo hasn't snapped yet.

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14 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

There is an InStyle (April issue) challenge around here somewhere. Why don't you pick an outfit in that issue to copy. Maybe that will get your creative juices flowing. I must say that your outfits look stylish and edgy. I wish my "uniform" looked as polished on a day to day basis!

You do look great already. You seem to know what fits and looks good for your shape. I noticed you wore the same earrings in each of these photos. Maybe just exploring some new accessories will help jump start operation Oomph. : )

Polly (thunalata)

Sounds like Angie's recent blog post on style ruts was just made for you!

You look fabulous in the photos so I think once you get going with ideas you're going to have so much fun.

So... What about thinking of a few more words besides edgy and bolder to describe the direction you'd like to move in?
What about looking at this season's new colours and seeing if there are one or two that would go with what you already have to have in mind for any new purchases?
And then what about playing dress up as Angie suggests - going out with those words and ideas of new colours and trying on lots, not necessarily to buy and just see what happens.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

Saretta

(website)

Active Member

You look great in all of these outfits, but like AJ, I'm wondering if accessories could be the answer to your problem. Why not try bolder jewelry, belts or scarves? That way you would still be wearing the base outfit that you're comfortable in, but you can experiment with changing it in various ways.

My first thought was also accessories. A long necklace or handbag for a dash of color on your torso. Right now your accessories are up at your ears or on your wrists - nothing in the middle region lol.

I agree that you look great and pulled together already! But if you're bored, that might be a place to start . . .

rae

OK, so, more validation that you look amazing as-is. But if you're in a rut, you could try some different color combinations (maybe your reds with your oranges? colorblocked citrus hues feel current to me right now) or test the waters with new spring trends that tickle your fancy. I bet you have a lot of fab items to work with!

Sveta

I agree that you look great in this outfits and this is not a bad rut to be in!:-)
Accessories change can be an easy answer for you but I am going to throw in a bigger challenge for you. I was in a similar rut when I found one shape which was flattering for my body and wore it exclusively. After finding YLF I realized that I got plainly bored because of this. Try to explore different shapes, add volume on the top or on the bottom, try to surrender your waist - in other words try to step out of you comfort zone and try something new, something you never considered before.
Have fun and let us see you experiments so we can share in this fun too!

cheryl

I agree that you look amazing as you are now, but my first thought was maybe a statement necklace or a scarf. A colored belt or even just a tiny bit more color. You look great as it though

rosee

I wish my Barbie dressed like you! (advice already noted above).

Girl X

Accessories do seem like a good starting point, shifting from my usual earring/bracelet combo to something bolder tugs a bit at my comfort zone without actually making me uncomfortable. It seems like I’ll need to find some longer tops if I’m going to add a belt to them, but that’s doable. Statement necklaces are probably something I’ll have to invest in. Shopping, yea!

@AJ – I did all the photos at the same time, so I didn’t bother switch out my earrings. I just wanted to illustrate the types of accessories I wear. By the way, I peeked in at your Flickr outfit documenter – holy skittles that’s magnificent, especially those pages of thumbnails. It’s like an introspective art installation. The artist in me wishes you would take each photo in the exact same place in the exact same pose – with a plant slowly growing and flowering behind you.

@Kellygirl - I like the idea of finding an outfit in a magazine (or wherever) and trying to recreate it, maybe even just choosing an outfit at random. Going into it knowing that this outfit isn’t ME, will definitely help me see what other things might look good that I wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

@Sveta – Playing with shapes is definitely on my list. I’ve started exploring in that direction a bit already, though mostly with new dresses that are belted but fuller/billowy, rather than the straight slim fit I normally gravitate to. I picked up a couple of tops with the same idea. Of course, I haven’t actually worn any of these items yet as I don’t really know how they’re supposed to look.

@Rae the citron queen! – Exploring some new colour combinations sounds like a good idea; another way to push at the comfort zone without being too uncomfortable.

Between the (slightly zany) plan I had constructed, the awesome checklist on Angie’s recent Style Rut post, and these practical, immediately implementable suggestions from you YLF ladies – I’m already excited to start putting outfits together.

Thanks so much everyone!

Patty

I wanna be in your rut!

rute

Oh.. no, not in a rut!
Love your style and your heels

Sheila

Sigh...what a rut to be in...you are beautiful that is certain. My first thought was to add some layers of color...you probably already know the ones you gravitate toward. Can't wait to see your style evolution here on YLF.

P.S. Barbie is envious, because she is totally dependent on others to give her a new look!

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