Your Number Of Clothes VS Number Of Outfits - YouLookFab Forum

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Your Number Of Clothes VS Number Of Outfits

krishnidoux

Veteran

I was reading MaryK's recommended article on how to shop effectively (http://www.caphillstyle.com/ca.....dvice.html), and the first paragraph about shopping for whole outfits as opposed to separate pieces got me thinking about a concern I've been having building outfits. In the article, the author says:

"When you walk into a store and see the hot item on the mannequin, you can get swept up in the awesomeness of the piece. But wait, stop. Before you buy ask yourself, "What else is my closet can I wear this top/skirt/dress with?"

"As an example, let's use the cobalt blue pencil skirt that I bought last night. I can wear this with my white chiffon blouse and my grey tie neck top. I can wear it with my berry-colored crewneck sweater. I can wear it with a graphic tee and flats. "

I always do that when I shop. It's a trick my Mom kept reminding me about on every store's doorstep. But I find for me, no matter how careful I am, it's another story when comes the time to actually pair the items together. The number of clothes in my closet is not indicative of the number of real, possible outfits with them. The later being decidedly lower considering how many pieces I own.

Colours will be slightly off, but frequently it will be the cuts that don't work. I find it very hard to actually match items I already own to new ones, often, it will be a hit or miss affair. And more often even, the bought item will pair much better with something else unexpected I had in my wardrobe.

It may be because I shop at various stores, or because I don't buy a whole wardrobe during one unique season. These days there are a lot of styles out there, which is great, but which can create havoc in a wardrobe in terms of specific silhouettes.

Presently, I have many separate pieces that I am all thrilled about. Yet, spending serene time discovering what to best pair them with, I find that in the end, there are much fewer possibilities than I had pictured when buying them.

I didn't have this problem before, but before, I wasn't very demanding of my style. I just paired whatever with a more or less frumpy result.

Finally, I find I get more pairing potential from my accessories than individual pieces.

Do you find this too or am I alone on my mismatched planet?

Shopping

37 replies

Latest reply was from jayne

Kim

Veteran

Oh I agree! Things look much better together in my imagination (where I pair that new top with *everything* in my closet! LOL). Like you said though the cuts don't always work, it may be too short for the pants or too long to wear with my cardi, and so on...

I do consider it a win if I can wear the item about 3 ways. If that works then I'm good with it. I've yet to find the elusive item that can be worn with everything I own *and* look fab too! Not realistic I guess.

Raisin

Veteran

I think I have a problem with shopping for pieces rather than outfits sometimes. But I'm much better at thinking about this when I make a purchase now, and figuring out actual outfits.
it's funny because for my kids, I totally shop, buy and store their clothes as full outfits! And it works great! My son has all his "outfits" placed together in his drawers so either he, me or DH can just grab one and get him ready quickly. I should take a page from my own book!

unfrumped

Veteran

This post could be reading my mind. I love how you've identified the problem.

Here is where YLF has helped me in 2 paradoxical ways and your post is a great " refresher" course:
Now I'm not expecting each piece to work 12 ways but certainly a few - but those few should be fab! I struggle with top lengths and jacket lengths so have lost my illusions that all can work with all.
The better litmus tests are does an item work NOW with several itms and does it add some special dimension- a big style update, figure flattery or solve an outfit or capsule deficiency. Measure the resulting outfits against what ive already got , and they should be very much as good or better than my best. Otherwise I shopping mindlessly instead of linking the fun of shopping with the fun of reaching style goals. Then wear the item Right off the bat in those several ways.
The exception might be some special occasion wear, which for me may only come together if some pieces are collected over time.

I used to be queen mix& match tailored items and realized that was bordering on queen Mum. Was buying items that "ought" to go but as you so well pointed out, was not being critical enough of the resulting outfits.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

OH, do I EVER understand this. Big time.

I am actually quite good , at finding new items that work with the colours in my current wardrobe. And in days gone by, I used to think that was that! If the colours "went" then shouldn't everything be fine?

Alas, it doesn't work that way! And for me, the issue is precisely the one you have identified. The proportions are off. The cuts don't work well together. The lines don't complement.

Now, part of this difficulty has to do, as you mentioned, with buying clothes over a period of years. But I also think in my case it was compounded by the fact that I wasn't really clear on what my style was. So I would buy things that were stylistically all over the map.

Elegant eclectics can do that and find a way to marry those things so they look wonderful. (But how, I ask myself? HOW??) On me, it just looked like a mish-mash of not-quite-right.

So. I am simplifying. LIke you, I've been focusing a bit more on accessories...trying to find the bags and shoes and belts that might elevate everything.

I'm also looking more consciously to my Pins board and trying to copy outfits from the board. And if I have two pieces of an outfit, I will go shopping specifically for the third piece so I get something closer to an actual look. Then, I figure, I can go from there and expand it.

Does that make any sense? Once I know exactly what I am aiming for and have one perfect version (or as perfect as I can get on my budget) I feel as if I can move forward with greater confidence.

Aziraphale

Veteran

What a good question, Krish!

Your comments resonated with me. I have this problem to some degree, in that sometimes I purchase an item with the intention of pairing with another specific item, and then it turns out that it doesn't "go", at least in terms of the shape of the garment. But often it will go with something else in my wardrobe. I think I partially solve the problem by not having very many colours in my wardrobe. Then the chances of things at least going together colour-wise are much higher.

Not a good solution for everybody, of course.

Anonymous

Wow, Krish, these are really good thoughts. Thanks for putting them down for us. I've been turning the same kinds of things over and over in my mind as well. I watch What Not To Wear, Stacy and Clinton are always telling people insistently to shop in *outfits*. For some reason I thought this did not apply to me. I buy versatile separates so that everything will ALL go together right? Wrong.

For example I have one pair of non-denim pants which are black. So I wear these when I volunteer. I can't wear them with my denim jacket (dress code) so that leaves my pleather moto and my black blazer for toppers. Well they don't look right with the black blazer. The fabrics don't match and it looks like I'm trying to fake a suit. Badly. The worst thing is I was in the same position last year with a different pair of black pants and a different black blazer! You'd think I would learn!

So instead of buying the black pants and thinking they would be a no-brainer, I should have taken my two toppers with me shopping and looked for pants that would go with BOTH of them. Actually I think I bought the blazer after the pants, in which case I should have looked for a blazer that was non-black, or different enough to look good with the pants, while still doing the job of going with my jeans.

All this is to say that I think there is a point to shopping in outfits and I want to explore it. It's not that you can *only* wear those items together in their original outfit, but at least there would be one, bulletproof ensemble or formula and then other pairings would be a happy surprise. Right now I have my eye open for summer dresses. I'm looking for a solid dress that will go with my patterned cardis (and I won't buy one that doesn't work with them). A patterned dress needs to go with my denim and safari jackets at the very least. It's a bonus if solids look good together and patterns can be mixed.

I know what you mean about different cuts and fabrics throwing the balance off with items that theoretically should work together. With me it's often the length or hemline of a top. Maybe we need to take our separates with us when we go shopping?

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I'm getting better at this - but it's still an issue. I recently bought a black/tan knit blazer. I haven't received it yet but I did go to the store first to try it on, then ordered later online. While at the store, I asked the manager who was very nicely dressed, if she could show me some items that she thought would go well with it. It was very helpful to go through this with her as I already owned some of the other items (I shop at this store or buy similar styles regularly). She suggested a chambray button down shirt, a coral tee, another emerald green top and of course a few items in white. Sometimes you can try on items similar to what you have at home while you are in the store and get a better feeling for how it might look.

I also like to really try to study people on television that I think are dressed well and have been known to watch a show just for this reason. I try to take note of things like jacket length, rise of the pants, shoes, etc.

This and sites like pinterest, polyvore, online mags and of course YLF are all helping me gain a better understanding of how to come up with outfits as opposed to items.

I am happy to say that I wore my Gap academy blazer twice in one week recently after having it for a couple of months and worrying that I maybe made a mistake getting it. I found it to be perfect for dressing up simple jeans and button down outfits and for our mild winters, it was the perfect "coat."

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Texstyle, what a great idea to try on similar items to what you have at home in the store!

And Claire - you are so smart. This is JUST what we should be doing -- bringing our to-be-matched separates with us when we shop. Or maybe wearing them.

But yes, more and more, I am also coming to this idea of shopping for an outfit. Maybe each season I will pick one or two aspirational outfits and shop for those, and they fill in the cracks with what separates I can, slowly building the wardrobe of higher-quality items as I rotate the duds out.

It sounds as if you are doing away with all the creativity (just copying some stylist's already formulated idea) but imitation is often the beginning of growth in the arts, so why not also in this realm?

merwoman

Veteran

I may have the reverse of your problem Krish. I can mix and match like crazy - but I have a fairly limited colour palette: black, white, black and white together (how daring), shades of gold, sour yellow and citron, blue in many shades, and a bit of maroon and grey. Sometimes I think that to the untrained eye it might look like I'm always wearing the same thing....

Sarah A

Veteran

Great thought provoking post! I feel i have a lot of outfits from my pieces. But in some ways I like unconventional pairings and different proportions (ill get the feedback a top is too long, too boxy for a skirt I pair it with...etc) often look "interesting" to my eye which I like, prime trait of my eclectic side here I suppose.

I love Unfrumped's "special dimension" test for new items. I am going to put this on my dressing room checklist!

Also, Texstyle, I watch BONES on TV b/c DH likes it and to study Dr. Camille Saroyan's style. Glad im not the only one!

krishnidoux

Veteran

Kim, I love your approach and will adopt it. 3 is a great number, the Wholy Trinity of the Wardrobe! I'll strive for 3 outfits, then lay the rest to rest.

Raisin, isn't it funny how we are so good at shopping for our kids, no headache, no qualms, but for us... we think that somehow we could re-invent the wheel when comes the time to drive.

Unfrumped, so I am not alone here! You bring up a good point: varying lengths. Esp. with jackets compared to tops. And may I add: top lengths and pant rise. That is so often a problem that arise only once at home, trying things on. I like your solution, breaking it down in smaller goals focused on each outfit, instead of trying to satisfy the whole wardrobe.

Suz, you sum up the issue very well. As you say, knowing one's style certainly helps. Ever since I did the Kibbe test and shop with Soft Gamine in mind, I get more interesting things that work between them. Alas, not enough! I do write down missing key elements when I build outfits, and then try to shop for those but that is when I often come home empty handed after long searches. Sometimes after a long battle and series of rejections in cheaper stores, I have to give up, go one floor up in the mall, defeated, enter a more expensive store and boom, the item lies right there in the exact shape and colour I want. So sometimes I think my problem would be solved if I was rich and could afford anything I fancied. But would it?

e., clever way to solve it! I also find that it will match something unexpected in a much better way than what I had envisioned, and my wardrobe has different colours in it. I am actually trying to expand beyond my comfort zone in terms of colours, but these nice surprise still happen - even with unforeseen colour matches.

Claire, I always wonder how they do it on WNTW, to buy a whole new wardrobe for 5 thousand dollars. It may seem like a lot of money, but if you do the math of what you have in your wardrobe, considering coats and shoes, it is actually not such a big budget. They show a little of the process, with the accent on the psychological transformation accompanying the make-over, but they don't really show how the person was able to choose everything that goes with everything in the end. That happens very fast, and always leaves me wondering. You say they go by outfits... I recently needed to rebuild a serious part of my wardrobe because of weight change, and tried to get some outfits. However I find that I can't re-use the beautiful pieces I got other than with the outfit. Granted, at least I have an outfit. But, you know, for the price, I thought I could press out some more juice out of them...

Your example with the black pants nails it. That is exactly the type of headache my beloved pieces give me, and just before it's time to go out with my DH downstairs yelling "Chéri! Waiting for you in the car!" ugh.

Taking the clothes with us is a good idea, and in fact I have done it on occasion, and it was helpful. When I bought tights, for example, it might seem silly, but actually tight's colours and fabric can really clash if you are not careful!

Texstyle, that is a good solution: asking the SA what goes well with the piece you are considering to buy. Also something I do: and although I couldn't buy the other pieces, at least I have an idea of the feel, colours, lengths... I warn that some SA are really clueless about this and will just point out to other things from the "just arrived" collection trying to make a sale. But you can spot them quickly.

How clever of you to study other people's outfits more closely, not just in terms of style, but also in terms of proportions, fit and materials.

Lots of very very good ideas here!

Tanya

Veteran

This thread and the comments are so educational, as I also find myself in the same boat! I am doing well with colors, but often do find that cuts/lengths of items just do not look well together.

One of my solutions has been to try the new item when I bring it back home with everything I thought it would work, and see if that is really the case. For most of the items, I have adapted a 3 fabulous outfits test - can I make three really fab and different outfits with the new item (everything else should already be in my closet)? If not, and I am also not prepared to spend more for additional items to make it work - back it goes. The exceptions are special occasion items which only have to work one way and work horses such as basic white shirt/jeans that I expect to work more than three ways.

I have been also doing something similar to what Suz describes: analyzing various inspirational outfits for the missing items, and seeing which items appear multiple times. For example, I have learned that leopard flats and belt are really high on that list - there are over 10 outfits I aspire to saved in my folders that I am only missing those pieces for.

Lisa

Veteran

I am guilty of far more clothes than remixed outfits. I try to stay away from owning too many outfits stars as I favor a smaller, more remix friendly wardrobe. I do find it helpful to shop for an outfit in the same store because then pieces will "go." And this prevents me from owning lots of wardrobe orphans. If I can't find an outfit in a store I limit myself to an outfit in a shopping trip. If I have to go home with half and outfit and go out a second time looking for it 's mate, then I return the item.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Tanya, Lisa, good points, and I admire your discipline! It's true that shopping in the same store helps to mix and match. Often works better within one collection.

Tanya, so interesting about certain items... we should be all putting together the items we notice like this, just for fun, I bet it would be very useful. In my case I have been noticing a lot of black wedge boots and fit and flaired cut (often double breasted, often oversized collar) coats.

amiable

Veteran

I haven't read the discussion yet, but wanted to say that yes, this is my experience too - things that I imagine will go don't. If I'm lucky, I notice this before wearing it out.....

Now, I'll read the discussion, and hopefully gain some more insight!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

This is an interesting read! I'm learning a lot from your thoughts.

I seldom (read: never) shop in outfits, only single pieces. But I always consider how many combinations I think I can wear the new addition with before I buy anything. I always bring along my phone, or even my iPad so I can refresh my memory by flicking through the images I have of my wardrobe items in Evernote. When I bring the new item home, I try to find time for a dress up session, because combining without trying isn't good enough - like you mention, Krish - one has to look carefully at hemlines, lenght, proportions etcetera. Often I take pictures for later reference. I have narrowed down the choices of colors, cuts and styles a lot lately, so hopefully I make fewer mistakes by making more coherent choices. On the other side, I need to try new silhouettes and colors every now and then to remain current. This is a never ending process, I believe.

dizzys

I am rebuilding a wardrobe after a drastic weight loss and finding that taking closet photos on my phone and referring to notes that I have made with closet holes has helped. I am also finding that my pieces have to be super versatile since my wardrobe is small. This blog has helped me figure this part out.http://www.puttingmetogether.c.....s.html?m=1.....things need to be versatile in color and need to be able to be layered under/ over, belted and tucked....still figuring this all out and making a lot of mistakes trying to be arty and unique...... But its threads like this one that has helped.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I also never shopped in outfits, and still don't. But I do have a bigger picture in mind usually when looking for a piece. And yeah, sometimes what goes together in your head does not pan out in reality in your closet. Some of it is just trial and error. As for # of items and outfits, I've found 150 items (including shoes, jackets and coats) is a comfortable number for variety for me, and I can only guess the number of outfits that makes. Enough, that's for sure!

krishnidoux

Veteran

Ingunn, may I say that your care in selecting appropriate pieces is very much reflected in the final results on your WIW's.

krishnidoux

Veteran

ds, thanks for the link!

Mo, thanks for sharing your "magic" number. It is most helpful. I'm going to go count mine, to see. Do you include shoes?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yes, shoes number 35 Part of that is needing both the boots for Tahoe snow and all the sandals for FL heat.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Thanks!

DonnaF

Veteran

I return a lot of things because stuff I thought would *go* don't. And yup, I've learned that all those pieces have to come off the hanger and on the body to check the proportions. I have also learned that items that I thought would go with everything, like Claire's black pants and black blazer, may not be as versatile as one would think. => Cue my heather gray tipped blazer. Sometimes it may *go*, but the look is darn boring! My orange blazer goes with much more, and the same thing can be said of my citron blouse!

nancylee

Veteran

This is such a good point, Krish. For years I impulsively bought individual items with little thought as to how everything would work together. I've learned (mostly here on YLF) to think more in terms of new items playing with my current wardrobe, but I still make the occasional mistake. Proportion is so important and you often don't know how things will work together until you try them at home.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I never shop in outfits but my closet is fairly small and I know what is in it by heart. I guess I do the math without realizing it in my head, the first pass anyway. If I like the cut, color and think it will work with my wardrobe I bring it home. There there is another pass. I literally pull out EVERYTHING from my closet and start playing dress up with the new thing. I don't expect it to work with 100% of what I have but it has to be a fair amount. And it also has to be awesome! Sometimes it works with everything but I don't get excited about the combinations or they are similar to what I already have so back it goes. I think my return rate is 75% not counting online orders and I really strict with this - if it does not excite me in outfits, too similar or not a good supporting item I am currently missing back it goes ASAP!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

The first thing I do is to sort the shoes I want to buy/wear for the season because I want most outfits to go with most shoes.

If I'm buying a lot in one season I will try to buy it all together or over a week or two so I can return things that don't work together. If I'm just buying individual pieces they have to go with several outfits before I'll consider keeping them. I agree with Sveta if the combinations don't excite me the item goes back.

abc

Veteran

Oh, you are totally singing my song. I had the same exact problem when I was packing for my recent trip (see today's post with my WIWs).

I am relatively early on in my YLF / style journey. I have never thought about outfits when shopping - I think this is the root of the issue, but you are spot on when you said when buying things you thought it would go with X, Y and Z in your closet and were surprised to find out it didn't, but went with A, B or C instead. Same thing going on here.

Thanks for this post, it really has me thinking and hopefully I will be more aware when shopping.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Were you peeking in my closet Krish???

I have the hardest time shopping for outfits because I'm such an emotional shopper - I tend to buy a piece I fall in love with. I can't even begin to count the number of closet orphans this has led to over the years.

And as you've mentioned, I'll get something and have three items in mind to combine it with and when I get it home and try it with those three items, none of it works.

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I switch between buying individual items and trying to *make* them work, or attempting to buy outfits and failing to make them interesting enough with accessories etc.

I am going shopping today, and will be wearing some of the items I need new things to work well with ... hopefully this will work and reduce returns!

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