Wrapping up 2021 - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

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

Wrapping up 2021

Minaminu

Veteran

I am aware that we still have 2 weeks left until the end of 2021, but like many others I am quite keen to see the end of it!

Looking back at my (naïve) 2021 shopping list, I quickly realised that I was planning for a lifestyle that is no longer matching my current situation. WFH, lack of travel and physical socialising, a miserable summer (!) and a yo-yo weight... all contributed to a little wardrobe crisis: I didn't know what how to move next in terms of style and needs.

In 2021, I made a total of 27 purchases, 17 of these were direct replacement of old items with better fitting alternatives and when possible lighter colour which resulted in a more balanced range of palette.

I did make a few mistakes (i.e. a soft pink hiking jacket which may not be best for hiking.... and a floral dress on its way and I am waiting for it with a certain apprehension) and the clear winners was a pink pair of flat shoes, comfy and stylish! The good new is that I am well under budget and that my purchases were a total of the 49% of the full price, thanks to sales/outlet and second hand purchases.

My wardrobe is now at around 84 pieces (plus 6 handbags)
6 Scarves
14 Outwear
9 Dresses (including a few in the holding zone, tbc what to do...)
14 Tops and Knitwear
18 Shoes
10 Trousers
3 Jumpsuits

As for 2022, I've decided to play it cool and will continue to lighten up my wardrobe, pink has been such a great addition and after years of cream, black, grey and navy, I am loving the lighter touches and hope to build a little bit more in the new year!

Budget has been set up but I will continue to replace when needed and try in the first half of the year to add some wildcards which will make my heart skip because I doubt that the first half of 2022 will be much different than 2021...

So my question to you is how do you envisage 2022 to be? Do you have any clear plans for your wardrobe?

Hope 2022 will bring you lots of joys, good health and happiness to you All!

View Info

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from nemosmom

Suz

(website)

Veteran

First of all, those are gorgeous shoes! No wonder they are a win for you! What brand? How do they fit? What do you tend to wear them with?

Also, I think many of us can probably identify with the longing to see the back of this year, and the confusion (wardrobe and otherwise). It has been hard to plan or predict and hard to dress for the lives we're living.

Your reflections about your "fails" are interesting. It sounds like you were so seduced by the idea of the colour (pink) that you got a bit carried away and forgot function with the jacket. (Although maybe it will work for fashion wear?)

Your wardrobe sounds very tight and contained and your purchases not excessive. Those who have small wardrobes often have to replace items quicker because there are fewer items in the closet to rotate and things wear out faster.

I haven't got as far as my fashion or yearly review or my plans yet. Will return later!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Pink can be such a happy, cheering color. I have “columbused” it recently too. Nice to hear you’re enjoying its lighter touch. On the hiking jacket—don’t hiking clothes get washed more frequently anyway? Excuse the comparison, but I’m reminded of questions of carpets and countertops, whether they should show dirt so you know it’s time to clean them, or should camouflage it. In other words, if you have to wash it a bunch anyway, maybe it’s ok that you can see it needs washing.

I do not have clear plans for the new year, wardrobe or otherwise. I hear you on the weight changes, am a little grumpy tonight waiting for the new thyroid Rx that should come of the blood test I had two days ago.

I’m impressed with the year you’ve had & how you’ve reshuffled to continue to make progress. I congratulate you and wish you energy to do more of the same, and happiness in your efforts.

Helena

Veteran

I think my plan might be to copy your palette Sounds just lovely!

Sal

Veteran

Love these shoes - and can relate to your feelings about 2021! It has been hard to plan in so many aspects of life. I don’t have an easy answer here.

Pleased your closet has provided some joy- and being under budget is great.

Minaminu

Veteran

Suz, glad you like the shoes! They are from a UK brand called Russel Bromley, I purchased them last July and have wore them during the summer and autumn. I will use them from spring onwards as it's now too cold/wet and they work well either casual or smart.
Interesting point about the hiking jacket! I am still trying to learn to shop preloved items and I thought it would have been more padded, to be used in colder weather. It's actually the same weight as my spring puff jacket and I'd consider this a duplicate, which makes me think one has to go...

Stagiaire Fash, thanks! For now, I placed the hiking jacket in an holding zone and will decide in Spring weather to keep this or my puffer jacket as they both have the weight/padding. My thyroid is playing up as well, so I understand your frustration!

Helena,

you are too kind! I think your colour palette is spot on!

Sal, it's great to hear that you like the shoes! I think I had such high hopes of normality for 2021, which is still not feasible yet in these strange times. I considered myself very lucky that I managed to travel and see my family but there are many friends who have not been able to do so still, so I count my blessings. I like the casual/smart balance that you have in your outfits and hope to get there one day!

kkards

Veteran

Gosh I hear you re 2021. 2020 seems so long ago, 2021 started with such high hopes and is ending with dashed expectations. We kept changing our back to office plans, and so it’s was difficult and confusing to understand what I needed/wanted to wear and what needed to be updated or replaced. But like you I did find that I wanted/needed to add/expand my color palette. I did add a pink coat, but more found myself leaning into a soft olive, sage green. I have no idea where 2022 will go, but I’m going to take it slowly and try to go with the flow.

Irina

Veteran

Sounds like a successful shopping year despite our challenges.
I especially envious of 3 jumpsuits that you have in your wardrobe, I was unable to find even one and I really looked.
Big yes to lighting up your wardrobe, I’ve been doing the same. It’s beige and off white shades in my case. I love pale pink on others.
You shoes are so pretty!
I don’t have a clear plan for 2022. I will have to take a hard look at my needs and wants.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Those shoes are lovely, and it sounds like you did really well this year. Pink is a great addition to your existing palette.

As for the hiking jacket, I wear exercise gear in colors I don’t wear in regular life — bright orange, etc. I kind of view gear in its own category separate from my everyday wardrobe, even though I wear it nearly every day! Just this year I went through and got rid of all the pieces I didn’t enjoy for one reason or another — too short or long, too snug, fussy collar, zipper that slid down… I had a big gear capsule (partly because of a wide range of activities and weather conditions and partly because we had two “homes” and I consolidated the collection when we sold one). It was a relief and I enjoy my gear much more now!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Speaking of your cool shoes, and pink, and jumpsuits, did that outfit with the COS jumpsuit and those cool metallic silver half-d’orsay shoes come together for the special occasions for which you planned to wear it?

Minaminu

Veteran

kkards, wise words! I think slowly slowly we'll get out of this phase and there isn't nothing wrong to go with the flow. Love the idea of a pink coat!

Irina, that's very kind of view! the jumpsuits were bought a few seasons ago and they work very well for office wear or occasion. Beige and whites are wonderful for lighting up a wardrobe and you've added some fab additions to yours

Janet thank you! Interesting concept to use a different colours for sportswear! It must have been tiring to have a wardrobe split in 2 homes, it must have been such a pleasure to have it all in one place!!!!

Stagiaire Fash, good memory! I've decided to go for a more eco friendly option and will borrow it.
One of my favourite shops started offering to rent their clothes - I guess it's the best option until I have a clear idea of where to move forward.

https://www.lkborrowed.com/a/clothing/dresses

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What Suz said!

Minaminu, your tight and focussed wardrobe is impressive. WELL DONE

I love the pretty blush shoes, and also find blush footwear very versatile. (Wardrobe essentials for my style). Happy to hear that you managed to create the right balance of light and dark palettes this year. Important!

As for the "failures" - not a train smash at all! Like what Janet said about her gear.

To answer your question, YES - I have set most of my 2022 style goals already. But you have to wait till January to read them

rachylou

Veteran

Well now, I sit in anticipation of this dress Your wardrobe sounds tight. Personally, at this moment, my co-worker and I have a pact, inspired by her new boyfriend, to only spend money on food next year. Lol. Knowing us, day after Xmas, we will both be making pilgrimages to some distant outlet mall. Lol

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Very cool—renting special occasion wear makes more sense for dresses, which we want to be special, than it does for tuxes, which can be the same time after time.

JAileen

Veteran

I love those shoes, and actually have a similar pair. Pale pink is a favorite color of mine. Pink and grey are really nice together, BTW. I have a couple pink jackets. One is down, and the other one is a utility jacket in a camo print. It’s kind of weird, but I really like it. Maybe your pink jacket will work in a different context.

I don’t gave any idea what 2022 will bring. Hopefully it’s better. I bought a lot of clothes in 2021 due to weight gain. If this is the new normal, I need to change my ways, right away. My doctor told me half of her patients gained weight and the other half lost weight.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Your wardrobe plan for 2022 resonates with me. That's exactly how I plan to shop--replace as necessary and try to amp up the fun and quality of the statement pieces I purchase. It sounds like, even if everything didn't work out as seamlessly as you'd hoped this year, you made great progress on a slow wardrobe shift towards a new color palette. That's fantastic!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Thoughtful and interesting wrap up. I think being forgiving toward ourselves is a good goal for the next year. The pandemic has been quite the roller coaster ride and although I hope we will eventually get beyond it, who knows when and how things will change. Shoes and lighter palette sound great. I am going through a transitional time right now and won't have goals until it is settled, but featuring more white is almost certainly going to be part of my plan.

Minaminu

Veteran

Angie, you teaser !!! I look forward your Jan post, they are always very inspiring and very helpful in my style journey.

Rachylou, I like your pact with your co-worker but also like the idea to hit an outlet mall

Stagiaire Fash, indeed! it would be a shame to spend £££ for occasions wear that I may not enjoy for a long time.

JAileen, I am not sure if you remember but last year you were one of the people who suggested to start a pink collection - big thank you for the inspiration!

Jenn, that's exactly it! I think you are way ahead of me as you have a clear idea with the 60s style whereas I am still in "limbo". I look forward seeing your next purchases and how they will evolve your style!
I monitored my switch from a very dark to a lighter palette and it's interesting to see that back in 2019, 48% of my purchases were black, 32% was navy/blue, 4% was cream and 0% was pink.
This year the switch was quite significant: 8% black, 11% navy blue, 17% cream and 14% pink (17% grey, 6% taupe). I am quite curious to see how next year % will be!

Shevia, glad to see that another one in a transition phase! White looks great on you and it highlights your beautiful hair!!!

nemosmom

Veteran

Nodding along with your assessment of 2021 and the wardrobe crisis! It’s so hard to define your direction when there is no specific destination…

It sounds like you have a good plan for your palette next year. I live the idea of pink and blush to lighten things up!