Why is clothes shopping on my self care list?

Thrift shop finds. I know I'll wear the grey one but the top one is not my usual so we'll see!

A pretty mundane to do most of the time especially if you don’t like shopping for clothing but do like to have nice, well fitting, flattering clothes to wear - such an approach avoidance area for me!

But, and this is big to me. I’m only 5ft 3in tall and gained 10 pounds in the first few months after we moved 2+ years ago and have only now started to very slowly make progress in dropping it. 

So some things are tight, some things I'm just very tired of wearing, almost everything is 2+ years older and I am clear that I need a somewhat different wardrobe for the weather here as well as my current lifestyle. 

All to say, I need some new clothes and I made a plan to shop and end up happy with the outcome. I’m considering this is part of better self care.

I decided to try a seasonal color palette a wardrobe capsule again as I did when I first turned mostly gray back in Atlanta - much grayer now. Mostly I will live in jeans as I have a very casual life right now, but occasionally I would like some smart casual slacks and appropriate tops. 

I also need to make sure I have dog walking, lounge, exercise and sleepwear. My outerwear and shoes will do for another season and I have rain gear for dog walking. September is really a continuation of summer here so my plan is for October thru December.

I started by pulling items I have that fit me, my colors and the coming season. That was 9 tops for various weather (2 tees, three 3/4 sleeve, 2 long sleeve and 3 sweaters), 1 cardigan, 5 bottoms. I demoted several tops to lounge and will see if I wear them. If not, I may upgrade what is in my emergency GO bag.

That left me needing several long sleeve tops, a cozy cardigan, and hopefully also nice slacks. I think that will be a good size Fall capsule for my needs. I didn't give myself a budget so we will see how much I spend.

There are few in person shopping options nearby where I can find clothes that will fit and flatter so I opted to try the 3 local better thrift stores because at least then you know tops won’t shrink! There are also the benefits of seeing a wider range of brands, being environmentally conscious and helping out the charities they support. The costs are low so if I end up not wearing them it’s no big deal. I found the long sleeve top and cotton sweater shown above for $16.25 total.

Next was some online browsing of stores/brands that have worked for me in the past. Then starting trips to stores that are within a reasonable driving distance. Then I will head back to 2 thrift stores to see what they have added. Online shopping is going to be my last resort as the whole order and return cycle is annoying. It is a project for sure from my point of view.

I’m quite curious how other people approach clothes shopping? I used to enjoy it when stores were better stocked and I could always easily find something that fit and flattered me.

 

Spring wardrobe - I know what to expect this year

I had to stand on a step stool for this! Add a full length mirror to the Want List.

The outfit above is part of my capsule and what I wore out to lunch for our anniversary Friday. This is the Berkeley area and jeans work for almost everything. BTW, the Greek restaurant was very good and the atmosphere lovely. 

WHY BOTHER WITH A SEASONAL CAPSULE WARDROBE? 

The reason I do it is similar to what Dawn at the Minimal Mom says. I want to have fewer decisions and less to manage for this part of my life. I want the clothes in my closet to be ones I like to wear and fit my body as it is right now.

My Spring capsule covers April thru June and is similar to Project 333. It does not include outerwear or jewelry though. It also doesn’t include exercise clothing or sleepwear. I do think of those 4 categories as their own tiny capsules although I am rarely wearing jewelry in my life here so far.

Do you join in the capsule wardrobe approach or not and why?

SPRING HERE IS NOT LIKE SPRING ANYWHERE ELSE I HAVE LIVED

Last year I found the spring weather here difficult to plan for but this year I am doing better. My “reverse engineered” capsule wardrobe has to encompass lots of weather variety but few levels of dressiness fortunately.

Right now it is still mostly pretty cool with some warm afternoons. Lots of pulling on the light down or heavy fleece jackets in the morning and evening still. We don’t get consistently warm to hot weather until August or September. The rainy season is slowly coming to an end.

CREATING MY CAPSULE THIS YEAR

So how am I “reverse engineering” a capsule wardrobe for this season? I’m adding items to my capsule as I wear them and they work for more than one day. 

So far I have 25 items that are all in my best colors or neutrals. As I try on items in my closet I am finding some to declutter as they are too worn or don’t fit well anymore. I am buying very little and only to fill gaps. Also the reality is that I will only do laundry once a week so the capsule has to cover that timeframe.

In addition to the outfit above I have 8 more tops ranging from a cashmere pullover to short sleeve v-neck, 5 toppers ranging from a medium weight pullover fleece to a linen jacket, and 3 more pairs of jeans.

The capsule so far also has 2 more scarves, 3 pairs of shoes and one purse. I expect more lighter weight tops, toppers and bottoms will be added as the weather shifts to more frequent warmer days

The orange top is “new” from ThredUp this season.

THE ELEMENTS OF A GOOD CAPSULE WARDROBE FOR ME

I have learned the key to a workable seasonal capsule wardrobe for me here in the Berkeley area is being able to layer different levels of warmth tops and toppers and being prepared for rapid swings in temperature every few days. I want a variety of colors, textures and styles within a casual relaxed somewhat classic style. Every top and topper doesn’t have to work together though and bottoms are simply in a range of neutral shades.  

Every item does have to be able to go in the washing machine. I am enjoying having a hand wash cycle on the machine in this house because I can even wash cashmere sweaters!

 

Boredom and too much stuff!

I suspect we all know by this point that our penchant for acquiring and discarding stuff is killing the planet not to mention many people's pocket books. On the other hand our easily bored minds say "oh, look - something new/novel/interesting/etc." and we want it.

I try to be conscious of what I am acquiring but I do get really bored with some of my stuff. This is especially true of clothes. Hmmm, that probably can be explained by the social conditioning of females in our society to like having a variety of outfit choices and not wearing the same things over and over again.

Every time I think I've broken out of that mode I get the urge to "freshen my wardrobe" lol.

This summer I am resisting mightily as I know I will continue to not have anywhere to wear anything new (that foot surgery recovery - but perhaps the Dr. and physical therapist would like to see me in new clothes????).

Then there is the fact that I have ENOUGH although I do have a relatively small wardrobe. I will have to wear my less preferred items more often and finish wearing out some others as I sit on the couch or hang around the house. I'm staying strong!

I got some fun shoes

And that makes me think about buying shoes for my now 50 year old son when he was about 3 or 4. We lived in Seattle and back then Nordstroms was actually a shoe store specializing in a wide range of sizes and good fit for any foot. 

I had very little money but that little boy had hard to fit feet. He always ended up with red Keds for cooler months and salt water sandals for the summer and was a very happy little boy especially with the red shoes!

Great memories and aren't these new Keds of mine fun for Spring?

Almost Summer Wardrobe Time

It is going to warm up here by the end of the week although we have plenty of cooler days left. Summer doesn't really get started here until late June/early July and lasts pretty late into September or even early October. Layers are still needed all summer but the warmth will get here especially when we spend time further inland.

My friend Liz may already have had 100 degree says in the SE but I'm looking out the window at another June Gloom morning, a predicted high of 69, and running the heat to stay comfy indoors this morning, I'm going to chat about my Summer Wardrobe anyway!

I think I have the clothes to get me through the summer weather already sorted out. Why? I'm getting better at following a process to create a "right for me" capsule wardrobe for the seasons and thus shopping better.

What is that process? My friend Liz Klebba in her Closet Play Image blog lays it out beautifully for  her own summer capsule planning. Here is my version!

What kind of look do I want? How do I want to feel?

Thanks to Imogen Lamport's 7 Steps to Style Program and great blog I am pretty clear about the look I want - I call it Boss Lady, Retired as a shorthand and it is bold, vibrant and modern. Sort of a Relaxed Modern Chic for a height challenged retiree! It is good to have aspirations LOL.

I want to feel like I do when I am having lots of laughs playing croquet with my cousins at their annual July picnic, having dinner with friends outside, or walking by the ocean on a hot summer day. The clothes that fit this feeling, my body and lifestyle are:

- Slightly fitted outfits in comfy fabrics

- Pretty and comfy flats and sandals plus a pair of white tennis shoes

- Dusters, light cardigans, loose pullovers, scarves and zip jackets for layering

- Clothes that work well for being active, walking by the ocean or dining outside

- Pockets, cross body purses and a great summer tote

- Fun earrings, necklaces and bracelets 

Using pictures for inspiration helps to set a mood and helps me with slogging through shopping successfully! Don't get hung up on trying to recreate exact outfits as that can be very frustrating and they may not suit you at all. Colors, silhouettes, mood, accessory use - all are helpful though.

Then it helps to have a color palette that your are working towards. I've picked 4 colors and 4 neutrals from my my own palette for this Summer to use the clothes I have and to carefully add some new items to make this capsule (hopefully) work well for weather, lifestyle and appearance.

What do I already have?  How much do I need? What level of refinement will be best?

In checking what I had from last Summer and will carry over from this Spring's wardrobe, I found that 2 of my 3 summer dresses were past their use date and no longer fit well. I also had to let some sandals go due to foot problems and wanted to add a lightweight cross body purse that would work with everything. Dark navy crops and shorts also got released as they were worn out and too dark.

I know that in Summer my Project 333 capsule needs to take into account more frequent laundering needs. By the way, I don't include hats, sunglasses, belts, jewelry, exercise wear or sleep wear in that count.

I have also pretty much settled into our S. Cal retiree lifestyle and don't need to buy clothes that are dressy as long as I can dress up what I have on the rare occasion that is needed. My life is a mix of smart casual outings, casual activities and dog walking/staying home very casual days.

What do I need? How much do I need?

I've already done this work for this Summer and ended up buying 2 new dresses making sure they would work with the duster from last summer. To there are 2 of my summer colors.

I also bought 2 pairs of sandals (one of which I have on in the photos) and a cross body purse. I'm still thinking about a tote purchase, but will most likely use one I already have as I'm really ready for a clothes shopping hiatus. The exception I may have to make is to buy some exercise clothes for hot weather and to replace items that are wearing out.

I'm ready for Summer weather to get here and to just be able to reach into my closet for an outfit I like to wear and then forget about it the rest of the time! My focus then can be on adding more activities of interest to my days instead of on shopping or spending time figuring out what to wear.

Has summer weather already arrived where you are or are you waiting for it to make an appearance?

Do you go through a process before shopping for the season?

Late Summer Outfit Winners

 I really like both outfits. Why? Flowers in my colors plus necklaces.

Coral is a signature color for me and it makes me happy. Completely new outfit on the left was bought with my son's September S. California wedding weekend in mind - night before pub crawl or day after brunch anyone? The dress and wrap I bought for the outdoor wedding "I Do BBQ". Gratuitous poodle photo bomb.

I don't usually go as plain as the ivory but like the print and necklace. I also really like the gifted scarf.

All of these will keep appearing until the weather cools to much and then come back out next spring.

Bored with Summer Wardrobe? Hit up the Consignment or Thrift Store

Summer is long in S. California and I'm not complaining but I am bored with wearing the same things over and over again. My summer wardrobe is small too; actually a capsule wardrobe. There is plenty to wear but I am really bored with it.

I thought about what exactly was causing me to be bored and it was that some of my outfits were too plain. Wearing scarves to spice them up is out of the question in the heat and my lightweight necklaces lack punch.

So today I zipped over to the back to school sale at my local consignment store with an open mind as to what might help. A top in a different color with built in details or a print? Colored shorts? Lightweight necklaces?

Yes to necklaces! I bought two for a grand total of $26.19. I've got one on right now and it isn't too heavy or hot. Not a big statement or color splash but it is making me happy.

Easy capsule wardrobe boost for little outgo or time investment. And it matches my cell phone case lol.

The search is over - for the Mother of the Groom dress that is

So when your 47 year old son is marrying his sweetie of 20 years by throwing a big outdoor party (an "I Do BBQ") in hot weather what do you wear? I have been on the hunt and finally found this at Macy's 4th of July sale and I'm done! Well except for shoes and a tiny bag lol.

I think I could even toddler granddaughter wrangle in this if they bring her and certainly wear it on other occasions.

Edited to add that then I found the perfect pashmina at the local consignment store!

Clothing!

Well, we know its not optional in most situations and ever for many of us but I do wonder why so much advertising, media time and my own thought process gets devoted to it? And I know for sure its not just a woman thing although perhaps more of us think about it and our appearance then do men. There are men who do though and I truly think that wanting to be perceived positively on first glance is not a gender thing although the willingness to spend time on it may be primarily a one gender thing due to all of the societal and parental conditioning women face from toddler hood forward to look "nice". Not going to spend time searching for data to support this opinion so take it for what it is - my opinion right now.

Now that I have free time again (no job, no children to raise, no large yard to maintain lol) I feel like I have reverted back to my teen years in terms of my thinking about clothing and wardrobe issues. This time I am trying to have more fun with it though and treat it somewhat as a problem to be solved crossed with a "decorating" color challenge while still being environmentally and financially conscious. Whew!

I signed up for the Fashion Revolution "Who Made My Clothes? course by FutureLearn to remind myself about the issues with manufacturing, materials and consumption. Week 1 was interesting but not anything really new. I know myself well enough to realize that I'm not going to buy simply based on country of origin of materials and manufacturing, brand or other issues like those. I don't really buy that much and wear my clothing a long time so am not part of the fast fashion industry at least.

I went on a thrift shop scouting adventure in Ventura with 2 new friends and have 2 new shops to go to along with the consignment shop here in town. I also just learned of another one in Oxnard which I will check out. The benefits of thrift shopping for me is that I am not contributing to the churn and full price/sales price cycle of stores, I can try styles and colors with little investment, and if the garment has been washed I'm fairly certain it won't shrink.

I like the idea of upcycling and have taken on blouse I purchased from the consignment store and remade it into one I like wearing. I have discovered that I am not very interested in getting back into sewing what with the fitting and fabric issues but may take a sewing class at the Oxnard Adult School to learn more about working with knit fabrics so I can do alterations more easily.

Having just seen the lovely cocktail dress a friend in Ohio got from Rent the Runway (I have decided to use that service for a dress for my son's wedding in September. Interestingly they have you pick 2 sizes in the same dress and a 3rd back up dress to order. I'll also have something as back up from my own closet just in case. No more buy an expensive dress for a single occasion hopefully.

Project 333 still appeals to me in an expanded version that fits our long, similar weather situation as we really only have 2 seasons here with occasional forays into hotter or colder weather as we travel further inland or up to the Bay Area. I'm creating my June-October capsule by seeing what I wear rather than picking them out at the front end and then will try to decide about the items that are languishing unworn or rarely worn.

And last but not least, I am still actively involved in Imogen Lamport's 7 Steps to Style program through its active, international Facebook group which is full of lovely and supportive women. Groups have even met IRL in various parts of the globe including my having met some of the participants here in S. Cal. The value of her program for me started with knowing what colors now work to make me shine with my graying hair and softening skin but extend to fit, style, etc. It has turned into a fun hobby and I am much happy knowing I can pull together an outfit each day that is right for me and also spend my money on what suits me. The group give great inspiration and feedback too.

Not a hobby I thought I'd get into at 68!

Living with a small wardrobe: Some May Capsule Looks

I am finding that so far I have enough clothing for Spring in my new location so my shopping has been for accessories, lingerie & sleep ware and some clothing for warmer weather. I continue to struggle with getting the value contrast correct and with silhouette. At least the colors in my wardrobe are flattering now LOL. As you can see, I lead a very casual life! One thing on my shopping list though is a multi-purpose nice dress that isn't black so I'll be able to dress it up or down.

In May by chance I wore 34 items - 5 pairs of shoes, 8 pairs of jeans/slacks/capris, 13 tops, & 7 cardigans/jackets/vests. Add in a purse, 2 scarves, 15 pieces of jewelry, 5 coats/jackets, and various exercise & sleep wear. The weather varied tremendously so clothing ranged from a down jacket to tank tops!

10 Item Wardrobe Challenges - #1

I decided to challenge myself to live with 10 items of clothing (plus shoes & accessories) for 2 weeks. This was for daytime wear not including exercise or yard work. I selected 2 pairs of jeans and one pair of slacks, 2 cardigans, and 5 tops. Shoes, camisoles/tanks, coats, hats, gloves, scarves & jewelry were not counted.

I came up with over 14 different outfits some of which were worn previously, some new and some I would not put in rotation. It did push me to get out of jeans occasionally and try different combos.  I also used 3 pairs of shoes, 2 tanks as under layers, 2 coats, 2 hats, 2 pairs of gloves, 3 scarves, and 8 pieces of jewelry for a total of 32 items.  There were a few yard work, house cleaning days where I wore those kind of clothes but other than that I was comfortable being at home, running errands, going to a party and going out to dinner and coffee. This gives me one nice vacation wardrobe guide for certain weather conditions.

Could you live comfortably with this few clothing items for a season? I liked finding new outfits and am going to start working on 10 Item Wardrobe #2.

I better get better at dressing for this type of weather!

I find it hard to dress comfortable when it is cool in the morning and hot by afternoon - but that is the climate I will be living in once we move. Here are this week's best efforts. Suggestions?

Evaluation: February wardrobe additions - one month and a year or more ago

Apparently I don't shop for clothing in the winter!

In 2015 I bought exactly one item in February - a warm hat. I like it, I wear it when it is quite cold, etc.

This year I did one thrifting expedition in February and came away with 5 items for $26.

- 2 pairs of Columbia shorts for walking in hot weather that of course haven't been worn yet ($4).
- A long sleeve graphic t-shirt that I experimented with altering and will probably not be wearing ($3).
- A charcoal cardigan that I have worn 3 times ($15). I like the shape and warmth but missed some design features I am not sure about. We'll see how much it gets worn next winter.
- Lastly, an orange silk shell that is again an alteration project that is in process ($3).

I ended up with some needed shorts, a better fitting cardigan to replace an old one and some refashioning projects to keep me entertained. Good value for the money LOL.

For March my priority is to find a new pair of athletic/walking shoes. So far 3 pairs have gone back to Amazon. I do hate shoe shopping but will not settle for something that is not comfortable any more! I'd also like to start finding warm weather clothes to add to or replace my current sparse collection.

One thing I have learned in paying more attention to my wardrobe this year is that I tend to wear almost everything I own. I am slowly letting go of the items I don't wear. For example, my younger son was married 4 years ago this coming May. I bought a nice dress, shoes and formal bag for the event. I never wore them again. They are being donated for prom season shopping this year. Someone can be delighted to find them as a bargain.

The other thing I have learned is that I need to find stores that carry clothing that fits me and my lifestyle. Thrift shopping has been fun for experimenting and finding some nice items but too often I'm not fully satisfied with what I have bought.

Right now I am working with a list of needed and wanted items and limiting myself to buying those. We'll see how my warm weather wardrobe shapes up!

Evaluation: January wardrobe additions - one month and a year or more ago

The ongoing challenge of trying to remake my wardrobe.

This January I spent $67 and picked up several things with mixed results. I was also surprised at how little cold weather we had and it looks like February will also be unusually warm.
 
Tops

I am short. Most tops are too long. Some of these fall in that category, but while the first 2 look ok and all fill a need to stay warm I'm not sure about the third.

Olive sweater (Eddie Bauer) - $12 thrifted; 3 wears  - I love how this looks on. Here I cozied it up with a vest, scarf and hiking boots that were keeping my feet warm on our first real winter day.

Wine tweed cowl sweater (Charter Club) - $14 thrifted; 2 wears - I was looking for an oversized acrylic sweater that was right for our colder days and there it was! Perfect.

Stone tweed zip cardigan - $13 thrifted; 2 wears - I have removed the zipper and washed & dried it so far so it is smaller now. I need to play with this more as I think it is too straight and long and makes me look frumpy. I'm going to try fastening it with a brooch to see if that helps. It is warm though it may have to move on to someone else's closet.

Mauve 3/4 sleeve top - $4 thrifted; 0 wears - I'm not so sure about the color of this as it may be too muted for me. I am in the process of shortening it. Will see how it works out in warmer weather.

Bottoms

Gray corduroy pants - $4 thrifted; 0 wears - I was eyeing a similar pair on Macy's website that were on sale for $23 but then stopped by a thrift store on a day where everything was 40% off. Had to hem them and they are lower rise than I prefer but .... how great is that since I only will wear them 1 or 2 months a year. Now that they are hemmed it has gotten much warmer of course with a high for today of 71!

Accessories

Artsy mixed metal and bead brooch - $13 Etsy vintage; 2 wears - This was a great find. Fits my evolving style and makes me smile.

Silver leaf broach - $7 Etsy vintage; 0 wears - I don't like this now that I have received it so it is going into the donate pile.

Years past January purchases:

Indigo down jacket - 2015; $60 on sale - Great purchase. This is one of those down jackets that packs into a small bag and I love it. Perfect for much of our cooler weather, travels well, and goes with everything. I wore it last February on the ferry from Oakland to San Francisco as shown here with my husband and younger son.

Charcoal zip vest - 2012 I think; about $20 -  Another great purchase. I've pretty much worn this to death but it is still ok for casual wear. I'm going to have to find a replacement in the next 2 years.

Evaluation: December wardrobe additions - one month and a year or more ago

Apparently I don't usually buy much clothing for myself in December. This past December I bought several items though and there were some from years previous along with gifts.

December 2015  wardrobe additions:

Grey cuffed sweatpants - $21 Marshall's; 5 wears already - These really fit a wardrobe hole and fit perfectly. Great buy.

Silver bangles - $3 thrift store; 1 wear - I remembered why I don't like bangle bracelets! Not a good buy but less than a latte.

Antique silver and blue brooch - $21 Etsy; 1 wear - This is a keeper and goes with several things that were hard to accessorize. Good buy.

Olive paisley scarf - gift; 2 wears - A great addition to my accessories. Love the colors.

Prior Decembers:

Mixed metals dangle earrings - gift; 2014 - I requested these Etsy earrings and love them. Wear them when I am more dressed up and they go with lots of items.

Cranberry fleece pullover - $10 thrift store; 2014 - I wear this a lot in the winter. Can't beat the  price!

Brown alpaca cardigan - gift; 2012? - I have worn this so much that I wore a hole in it but was able to mend it. Recently I altered it by adding an old decorative button and a snap underneath to bring more shape to my waist and make it new again. I'm sure I'll wear this until it is unwearable.

Evaluation: November wardrobe additions - one month and a year or more ago

In November I spent $210 on clothing with most of it spent on 3 pairs of shoes. I'm finding two of those pairs to be favorites and trying to get my left foot to feel well enough to wear the wedges more often as they are also pretty comfortable. I don't have anything in my wardrobe from previous Novembers.

Navy Clarks loafers - $43 new; 10 wears - These are turning out to be a real workhorse. Comfy and basic; perfect with jeans for everyday.

Grey Clarks flats - $46 new; 4 wears - I am in love with these shoes! Add a bit of dressiness to outfits.

 

Taupe Clarks wedges - $66 new; 1 wear - I'm hoping these are more useful in the Spring but may have been a mistake. True they are comfortable but perhaps not right for my very casual lifestyle.

Ruffle neck Lands End long sleeve top - $3 thrifted; 2 wears - I like this and have created several outfits with it. Still, I would not have bought it full price. The color is great but the ruffles are not my favorite.

Grey headband (Target) - $15 new; 3 wears - Perfect for those slightly cool days and fits in my jacket pocket. I would have worn it a lot more if it hadn't stayed so warm.

 

 

Pearl and chain long necklace - $5 thrifted; 2 wears - I didn't have anything like this and I enjoy it.

PJ pants - $3 thrifted; 8 wears - A useful addition to my wardrobe.

 

Blue space dye leggings (exercise) - $18 new; not worn - It hasn't been cold enough to need to wear these to Pilates yet. I really like the colors though.

PJ top - $5 thrifted; not worn - I picked this up to fill a gap for warmer weather. We'll see if I like it.