Word, color and thoughts for 2021 (and one outfit)

Hi everyone! I hadn't planned to tackle all this now, but my move is taking longer than I thought (see Off Topic). Should be in Feb, though.

At this point, I am cut off from 75% of my wardrobe as we wait to move. Some is in storage, and some is packed, though we held off on fully packing. Fortunately, I have most of it catalogued in Finds, so I at least know what I have!

My word for 2021 is Playful. I feel like I need a dose of this in my life, and it's always been an element in my wardrobe anyway.

I think my color is Pink, but I was toying with Cobalt. Maybe both, like in this top I got from Boden. More on that below.

Other related observations about my style going forward. I can't really set goals right now, especially as I can't really shop much until we've closed, moved, and spent a bunch of money on stuff we need in the new place, but I have thoughts.

-Interestingly, I also find I'm drawn to more androgynous, or at least less traditionally feminine looks, such as the pants from Madewell in finds. I guess this can be playful as well? Pants fit can be challenging in this era of high waists, but I want to keep buying drapey-er pants.

`I've decided to be off skirts--I will keep what I have but avoid buying more, because they really are wardrobe orphans much of the time, and they stop fitting well with bodily changes or slight shrinking in the wash (I will have better control of how I wash in the new home). There are always a few I will wear in summer.

-Dresses are still something I will gravitate towards.

-I still love stripes, but I realize that certain striped sleeves are NOT flattering on my upper arms, so I'm going to be more judicious. I also passed on a number of items once I was more aware of this criterion.

-I also need to be more careful about tee shirts and how they fit. Also, graphic tees often look wrong on my body since my torso is so short, and they don't tend to come in petites. (Whenever someone buys me a tee shirt, it looks awful for this reason.)

-figure flattery continues NOT to be my number 1 priority

I ordered a couple of items from Boden, including the pink and white sweater and the striped top. I haven't been able to take too many outfit photos without a mirror at home, but here is one from today with the striped top.

ETA - per Angie's request, I'm moving my essentials to a new post. I thought it would be less confusing if I just edit them out here.

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Boden

Imogen Breton

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Madewell

Pleated Taper Wide-Leg Pants in Mini Houndstooth

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Boden

Eldon Sweater

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3 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Great word and colour choice. I always see the colour choice more as a state of mind, than a colour that needs to be shoe-horned into the closet - but if you find great items in your colour - go for it!

Liesbeth

Seems like you have a good grip! Too bad about the orphaned skirts... but I'm excited where your interest in androgyny will take you! Those pants for one are fab.

nemosmom

Sorry the house is delayed! It must be frustrating being cut off from most of your wardrobe!

I love the houndstooth pants you posted! I share the orphaned skirt syndrome with you. Excited to see how all of this plays out for you this year!

LaPed

Yay for loose pleated pants! I am loving this look as well.

I've accepted that skirts are very weather-specific for me and know exactly what you mean about orphans. Having a few for summer wear is enough; I no longer feel like I need to have winter/transitional skirts, knowing from experience I won't reach for them.

Fingers crossed all the house stuff falls into place quickly.

Stagiaire Fash

I feel for you on having most of your wardrobe tucked away. Btdt!
Pink and cobalt are an electric combo!

Tanya

I think that both the word and color(s) are suiting you very well. Playful is a perfect word for the mix of feminine and androgynous in one's style.

I hope the apartment situation gets resolved soon and that you get access to all of your clothes again.

Anonymous

Love that top on you! And lightbulb re: graphic t's! Maybe try one with a small design that starts high up?

Suz

(website)

Pink and cobalt -- both great colours in my book! And my word is fuchsia, so we can be twins as usual.

I love those pants, too! (Oh oh...)

You look great in the top, BTW.

These sound like really wise reflections on fit and preferences, going forward. You've refined a lot since joining YLF.

I really hope things move forward soon with the house....

Angie

Fashion Stylist

NICE

The playful part comes in the way you combine the items. That is JUXTAPOSITION.

In #1 for example Christina, the headband and puffy sleeves are playful against the stricter jeans. The frayed hems are a little playful too

GO TEAM PLEATED PANTS! I'm waving to you, La Ped and unfrumped.

Maybe you can put your essentials on a separate thread.

Christina F.

runcarla—I agree on the color being a state of mind. I’m also drawn to pink lately too in clothes, maybe because things need brightening and lightening up in the real world.

liesbeth, nemosmom, Suz, La Ped- the pants are great! They’re a tiny bit more constricting than I’d like for working from home, but I don’t mind wearing them only once in a while until I go back to the office. I figure I have to jump on pants that fit me when I find them.

nemosmom and fashintern - I miss my clothes. I miss the novelty of having different options. I am not a capsule wardrobe person AT ALL.

Tanya and Angie - agree on the mix/juxtaposition aspect of “Playful.”

suntiger - yes, a tee with a word or phrase high up works best on me. T-shirts can be very hard to fit on me in general. They are often too tight on the bottom because I’m short wasted. Between that and how they fit on my arms, I’ve learned that I probably need to be much pickier about how they fit on me. They often look too small after a few wares for one reason or another.

Thanks, Suz! It sounds like things are moving in the right direction but everything is in the hands of an insurance company right now. But I at least believe it will go forward, and fairly soon. The seller is demanding it.

Angie - thank you! I wanted to break these up but I kind of ran out of time today and didn’t want to lose all my thoughts into an Internet void. I will try to post an add finds tomorrow. On top of everything else, work has been crazy and we are shorthanded.

rachylou

Ohmigosh, I think that puffy sleeve stripe top is a new NEED for me... ok, but back to you... Nice plan!

lyn67

Figure flattering is my priority, too(think will always be!:-)! Moving out and in a new house is never easy -so these fab stripes are exactly what you need now-and they scream like "Spring is comming"-too! Patience & Good Luck!:-)

Rachylou, you need a top like that!

Lyn, whoops, figure flattery is NOT my priority. I was in a rush yesterday as I got some urgent work as I was trying to post. I will edit. The new top definitely was a pick-me-up.

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