Sterling,thank you for suggesting a personal June challenge. I challenged myself to SYC and post outfits for suggestions. I hoped to up my style, look for ways to evolve my style and to decide what needs editing out. I was also looking for new ways to wear the oldies.
My inspiration came mostly from Angie's blog posts...ensembles for her mother, her77 year old client, color combinations and ROG.
I have come away feeling that my summer closet is too large but otherwise pretty happy with the variety in color, fabrics, and silouettes that it offers. In the last couple of years I have worked on summer footwear that is non-sandal and flat, and on finding things that are cool and somewhat covered. Laundering is more frequent and summers are long, justifying more items in circulation. I did not find much so far to edit out.
Our summer heat started late, so I will continue to evaluate my wardrobe into July. I failed at completely SYC in June and bought a few items on eBay, mostly ankle pants that can be rolled. I had added some weight over the winter and some pants I had. are a little too tight.
Other thoughts are that I still don't seem to have a direction for evolving my style, but am not concerned. I do want to try a higher rise with cropped top but that means probably buying multiple pieces. I had thought I'd want to add more color but, after spring, I'm losing interest with the hot weather...Browns and navy maybe, and more EF "stone" while it is available.
Where do you see me going with my style?
June Challenge: Recap and Musings
16 Comments
-
replied 8 years ago
I have thoroughly enjoyed looking at your WIWs. You have literally become my style icon.
-
Sal replied 8 years ago
I loved your frequent WIW, but you are right, there were not a lot of pieces to edit out!!
Well done!
-
carter replied 8 years ago
Joy, you've had a super successful month! Your Summer closet sounds like it's in a great place. I totally hear you about losing interest in the hot weather! I love the EF stone color for you. Also the navy. I'm trying to remember which brown you wear...chocolate, maybe? Anyway, stone, navy and brown sound like fantastic neutrals to carry you from now through cooler weather.
-
replied 8 years ago
I saw a few of your wiw's and was very impressed. I love the EF pieces and the stone shades plus navy and brown sound good. The blush colour that I see you in sometimes, also plays nicely with those colours. Great job!
-
Joy replied 8 years ago
Sterling, I'm blushing to even think I could be anyone's style icon! Thank you. You made my day!
Kiwigal, yes, a big edit could mean more reason to shop. After last summer I'd thought I'd need to replace a lot, but most is still in excellent shape and liked.
Carter, Ike chocolate brown but have new-to-me medium brown crops that I think EF calls "rye" that I also like. There is also a considerable amount of black, grey and white in my summer wardrobe.
Diane, I do love blush but don't have any hot weather pieces. It would work well with navy, stone, grey and brown. I'll have to watch for it. -
crutcher replied 8 years ago
I enjoyed your wiw's but most of all I loved the joy you were having...Having a workable summer wardrobe already tried and found working is a really nice accomplishment...Your colors the EF stone along with navy and brown makes a perfect combination...Enjoy as your summer unfolds and appreciate the hard work and wonderful pleasure you found there...
-
Joy replied 8 years ago
Thank you , Crutcher. I am surprised at how well my wardrobe is functioning. I feel prepared for any occasion. If it weren't for Angie and YLF, I hate to think of what I would be wearing.
-
tulle replied 8 years ago
Joy, I see you as evolved, period. Not that you won't continue to refine your style, but that style is very clear, and you express it whenever you dress, whether you are going hiking or to the opera. You always look polished, you understand that your hair is your best accessory, you know how to pick great accent colors, but you also make neutrals look exciting. You've inspired me to stock up on pale neutrals myself this Spring (as my blonde hair gets whiter, I see the power of the "white-out") with some very happy results. So thanks, Joy. You're one of the masters.
-
Jaime replied 8 years ago
Joy you have great style and not just dressing wise. You dare to try lots of new ideas but never look like the trends are wearing you. I would just say keep on doing what you are doing - and enjoying the process.
-
Runcarla replied 8 years ago
Count me another fan, Joy. I thought you really rose to the occaision with the ROG 'app' and those outfits had a certain street-style modernity. I'm having trouble articulating it clearly, but the ROG outfits seemed 'riskier' and yet you always made them work. You worked from your closet, but put things together in ways I hadn't seen you do before. It felt like you were pushing yourself a little outside your comfort zone style-wise.
-
Joy replied 8 years ago
Tulle, Shevia, and Carla, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude at your kind words. Carla, you are right. I have especially had fun using ROG to push me out of my comfort zone still using what I have.
Tulle, you are so kind and generous. You will be stunning in white out and pale neutrals. Add some gold shoes for your blonde hair. -
tulle replied 8 years ago
Joy, I have some! A beautiful pair of flat, silvery rose-gold sandals that make me smile every time I look down at my feet. Also bought some pearly linen slingbacks with champagne patent toes, white ankle-strap chunky-heeled sandals, and a pair of cream and gray spectator oxfords. I'm bookending like mad!
-
catgirl replied 8 years ago
Joy, the Halogen shoes I got are fabulous flat non-sandals - do you have them? They are perfect for your weather and color palettes!
-
Maneera replied 8 years ago
Great job, Joy. Count me as yet another of your fans. I loved how functional your summer wardrobe is, and that your SYC never seemed to dampen your spirits. You have a large, extensive wardrobe and your love for clothes and great style was evident through your diverse WIWs.
You inspired me to do the challenge myself this month, because my existing wardrobe is rather large too. I noticed how well you chose accent colors and how different your everyday outfits looked from each other, which also inspired me to push myself and try different silhouettes every week.
I think your sense of style is already very evolved. You tried on an old two piece dress and looked smashing in it, you traveled and still looked polished as well as stylish everyday, you don't compromise comfort for style, and you even had ideas on how to wear the same item of clothing in different ways. I think that's amazing! You truly have a good handle on your sense of style...and you inspire me to do better :)
-
Elizabeth P replied 8 years ago
I had to check this post was actually by you Joy, once I started reading it. Come to think about it, whenever you mention any style insecurity or desire to grow style wise, I do a double take. Because in my opinion, you are one of the more stylish and put together women on here. I always love your WIW's, you have a great sense of what looks good on you, and you are always so darn polished! Given that, I think it's even MORE awesome that you are still wanting to evolve, and push yourself.
Here's to a great July!
-
unfrumped replied 8 years ago
I loved your challenges. Things are in great shape.
I have a question I struggle with- whether to be more rigorous in culling things I don't wear often or to relax and have a spare boutique closet of things that are less- loved but better than just meh. i know at least I'm getting better at looking at something in abstract- meaning, if it looks Great but I just don't have lots of occasions, that's more of a keeper ( holding zone) than if I can finally figure out that I'm put off in some way by fit or style, then that item should go.
So, still I feel like a too- large wardrobe will work against me in efficiency, honing style, wearing the best items. But I still have a little of the, "what if/ fixed income down the road, wish I'd
kept that" mentality. Haha, that would mostly need to apply to things other than business- wear!
How have you balance the " just in case" items with feeling too much stuff?