2022 Resolution: Shopping my own bag and SLG collection. Anyone else?

[Katinahat]

2 Aug - brand showcase: A-F
4 Sept - brand showcase: G-L
11 Sept - brand showcase: M-R
18 Sept - brand showcase: S-Z
25 Sept - totes
2 Oct - satchels
9 Oct - crossbodies inc WOCS
16 Oct - shoulder bags
23 Oct - bucket bags
30 Oct - clutches
6 Nov - backpacks
13 Nov - bags that don’t count
20 Nov - pairing bags with shoes
27 Nov - pairing bags with other accessories
4 Dec - bag storage
11 Dec - SLGs
18 Dec - charms

Challenges:
Sept - bags in different locations
Oct - Halloween: wear orange or black bags
Nov - International Merlot Day: wear wine coloured bags or pair bags with wine.
Dec - use the bag.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

What are the main pieces in your capsule wardrobe? pants? skirts? blouses? what?

Well, since winters are long here, the mainstays in my wardrobe are pants, tops and jackets/coats. I love summer dresses but I mostly only wear them in the warmer months (which is about 3 months of the year). So my wardrobe is mostly focused on spring, fall and winter clothes (with color variations keeping the different seasons in mind).
My spring and fall "uniform" will most likely be jeans or pants, top, and a blazer or cardigan. Ankle boots. This is my go-to outfit.
For example, my spring capsule consists of the following:
Bottoms: 2 pairs of jeans (I do have many other pairs sitting in boxes but they are a bit tight and not the right size.)
Black wide-legged pants; navy blue slim pants.
A few skirts in blue, nude pink, gray and black.
Some maxi and midi skirts and dresses (worn more in the summer).
Tops: Lots of T shirts in mostly plain colors but also a few prints.
A few dressier tops and blouses.
Sweaters and knit tops.
Blazers, jackets and cardigans.
Winter coats.
Now that I write it out like this, it does not seem to be small or "capsule" at all. But right now, I don't have a lot in each category (not taking into account the stuff that is in storage). I have not bought any new clothes in over a year, I think. I actually really like dresses so I need to figure out how to wear them more even in the colder seasons.

 

[Cordeliere]

Well, since winters are long here, the mainstays in my wardrobe are pants, tops and jackets/coats. I love summer dresses but I mostly only wear them in the warmer months (which is about 3 months of the year). So my wardrobe is mostly focused on spring, fall and winter clothes (with color variations keeping the different seasons in mind).
My spring and fall "uniform" will most likely be jeans or pants, top, and a blazer or cardigan. Ankle boots. This is my go-to outfit.
For example, my spring capsule consists of the following:
Bottoms: 2 pairs of jeans (I do have many other pairs sitting in boxes that are a bit tight.)
Black wide-legged pants; navy blue slim pants.
A few skirts in blue, nude pink, gray and black.
Some maxi and midi skirts and dresses (worn more in the summer).
Tops: Lots of T shirts in mostly plain colors but also a few prints.
A few dressier tops and blouses.
Sweaters and knit tops.
Blazers, jackets and cardigans.
Winter coats.
Now that I write it out like this, it does not seem to be small or "capsule" at all. But right now, I don't have a lot in each category (not taking into account the stuff that is in storage). I have not bought any new clothes in over a year, I think. I actually really like dresses so I need to figure out how to wear them more even in the colder seasons.

Sounds like a great size capsule to me.

 

[Katinahat]

Well, since winters are long here, the mainstays in my wardrobe are pants, tops and jackets/coats. I love summer dresses but I mostly only wear them in the warmer months (which is about 3 months of the year). So my wardrobe is mostly focused on spring, fall and winter clothes (with color variations keeping the different seasons in mind).
My spring and fall "uniform" will most likely be jeans or pants, top, and a blazer or cardigan. Ankle boots. This is my go-to outfit.
For example, my spring capsule consists of the following:
Bottoms: 2 pairs of jeans (I do have many other pairs sitting in boxes but they are a bit tight and not the right size.)
Black wide-legged pants; navy blue slim pants.
A few skirts in blue, nude pink, gray and black.
Some maxi and midi skirts and dresses (worn more in the summer).
Tops: Lots of T shirts in mostly plain colors but also a few prints.
A few dressier tops and blouses.
Sweaters and knit tops.
Blazers, jackets and cardigans.
Winter coats.
Now that I write it out like this, it does not seem to be small or "capsule" at all. But right now, I don't have a lot in each category (not taking into account the stuff that is in storage). I have not bought any new clothes in over a year, I think. I actually really like dresses so I need to figure out how to wear them more even in the colder seasons.

This is so interesting to read! I think you’ve managed to be quite restrained in your purchases and this is a capsule with key styles working for you. I struggle not to buy things every month and you’ve not bought much in a year.

I do think my fluctuating size has much to do with it especially in trousers and jeans so I’m interested to see you’ve committed to slimming rather than buying more. That’s good. I think I buy things to fit better or that I feel more mentally comfortable in rather than committing to that slimming down again. I have a lot of MH issues tied up in slimming.

My new summer capris arrived yesterday in uk 12 - I got navy and this brighter colour. Is this colour okay or does it draw too much attention to problem areas? (And me last year over a size smaller hillwalking with dog - I wish I still fitted into these). I’m so conscious of my heavier bottom half.

 

[baghabitz34]

I picked... or she picked me. Louis Vuitton Vernis Alma BB in Amarante...

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Congrats, amarante is such a gorgeous color.

 

[dcooney4]

I picked... or she picked me. Louis Vuitton Vernis Alma BB in Amarante...

View attachment 5397003

She is stunning.

 

[dcooney4]

This is so interesting to read! I think you’ve managed to be quite restrained in your purchases and this is a capsule with key styles working for you. I struggle not to buy things every month and you’ve not bought much in a year.

I do think my fluctuating size has much to do with it especially in trousers and jeans so I’m interested to see you’ve committed to slimming rather than buying more. That’s good. I think I buy things to fit better or that I feel more mentally comfortable in rather than committing to that slimming down again. I have a lot of MH issues tied up in slimming.

My new summer capris arrived yesterday in uk 12 - I got navy and this brighter colour. Is this colour okay or does it draw too much attention to problem areas? (And me last year over a size smaller hillwalking with dog - I wish I still fitted into these). I’m so conscious of my heavier bottom half.
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I think the pants look fine. I think at least in this photo the black shoes cut the line of the leg . Try with a light colored shoe and see what you think.

 

[dcooney4]

Thank you for these amazing photos. The wine, the fancy dinner, the cooking lesson, and… zomg… that marble scarf! I love the way you tied it so that the marbling pops out.
I'm guessing that you and Mr. Cookie speak French?

Elaine did you get the other GFG bag you ordered ? I would love to see it.

 

[Cordeliere]

This is so interesting to read! I think you’ve managed to be quite restrained in your purchases and this is a capsule with key styles working for you. I struggle not to buy things every month and you’ve not bought much in a year.

I do think my fluctuating size has much to do with it especially in trousers and jeans so I’m interested to see you’ve committed to slimming rather than buying more. That’s good. I think I buy things to fit better or that I feel more mentally comfortable in rather than committing to that slimming down again. I have a lot of MH issues tied up in slimming.

My new summer capris arrived yesterday in uk 12 - I got navy and this brighter colour. Is this colour okay or does it draw too much attention to problem areas? (And me last year over a size smaller hillwalking with dog - I wish I still fitted into these). I’m so conscious of my heavier bottom half.
View attachment 5397170View attachment 5397172

I think the brighter pants are fine, just not with the black top. Just as @dcooney4 observed that the black shoes cut the line of the leg, I think the black top cuts the line of your body. These pants are a really pretty color, but probably need a soft colored top that the top color blends with the pants rather that having such a sharp demarcation line.

 

[DME]

Thank you all for the kind words!

@whateve the circle bag is fine in it’s essence, but I’m not sure I love this one for a few reasons:

• No top handle
• The angle allowed for it to open is slightly more restrictive than I want. I struggle with it.
• Zipper. Kind of annoying on a round bag.
• I like this TB monogram, or so I thought, but it matches less of my clothing than I expected.
  

This is VERY EXCITING. Open! I want to seeeeeeeee!

If you’re still looking to scratch the circle bag itch, I could recommend the Prada Odette bag. (I don’t think it’s in production anymore, but you might be able to find one pre-loved.) It’s more oval than round, but has a top handle and a detachable strap, so you can wear it multiple ways. The Coach outlet still sells a very similar style if you want to go retail and/or cheaper.

The circle bag always seemed like an organizational nightmare to me (I dislike the hobo style for the same reason since everything falls to the bottom), so this was a really good compromise for me.

 

[DME]

No worries, I miss entire pages of posts and discussions at times too, especially when life gets hectic, and I can't keep up (like right now). Speaking of discussions, I had written a post about capsule wardrobes in response to @Katinahat, but forgot to post it!

Not that I am much of a capsule wardrobe person, but thanks to some covid year weight gain, and not being able to lose it quickly due to a pulled muscle (hence not being able to exercise much), I have ended up with a smaller wardrobe of clothes, mostly those that still fit me reasonably well. Anyway, I am hoping to work out regularly in the upcoming weeks and make some progress on weight loss.

Honestly though, it has been quite peaceful to have less choice when picking something to wear. I don't think I could keep it up long term though, because I would get bored and need variety. But for the short term, it was kind of nice having a "capsule" wardrobe.

It‘s interesting you say this because I have the same thoughts when I’m on vacation since what’s available to me is only those items I packed. By the end of my time away, I’m usually itching for more choices, but things seem so easy for the first several days.

Like so many, I did a lot of pandemic cleaning when there was nothing else to do. Part of that included paring down my wardrobe to only those items I love and that fit well, which has been great. I still have too many clothes, but I am happy with the progress I’ve made. And my dressing habits have changed since the pandemic started (even more casual than before), so I try to keep that in mind any time I consider a purchase. It’s hard because I have ideas about how I want to dress, which is much more glamorous than my actual life really is!

 

[DME]

Well, since winters are long here, the mainstays in my wardrobe are pants, tops and jackets/coats. I love summer dresses but I mostly only wear them in the warmer months (which is about 3 months of the year). So my wardrobe is mostly focused on spring, fall and winter clothes (with color variations keeping the different seasons in mind).
My spring and fall "uniform" will most likely be jeans or pants, top, and a blazer or cardigan. Ankle boots. This is my go-to outfit.
For example, my spring capsule consists of the following:
Bottoms: 2 pairs of jeans (I do have many other pairs sitting in boxes but they are a bit tight and not the right size.)
Black wide-legged pants; navy blue slim pants.
A few skirts in blue, nude pink, gray and black.
Some maxi and midi skirts and dresses (worn more in the summer).
Tops: Lots of T shirts in mostly plain colors but also a few prints.
A few dressier tops and blouses.
Sweaters and knit tops.
Blazers, jackets and cardigans.
Winter coats.
Now that I write it out like this, it does not seem to be small or "capsule" at all. But right now, I don't have a lot in each category (not taking into account the stuff that is in storage). I have not bought any new clothes in over a year, I think. I actually really like dresses so I need to figure out how to wear them more even in the colder seasons.

I love dresses, too. For colder months, I wear them with opaque tights and knee-high boots. If they are short-sleeved or sleeveless, I’ll pair with a cardigan. During transitional months, I wear them with denim jackets (white in spring, blue in fall) and I usually forgo the tights. For shoes during transitional months, it’s ankle booties in spring and knee-high boots in fall. HTH!

 

[DME]

This is so interesting to read! I think you’ve managed to be quite restrained in your purchases and this is a capsule with key styles working for you. I struggle not to buy things every month and you’ve not bought much in a year.

I do think my fluctuating size has much to do with it especially in trousers and jeans so I’m interested to see you’ve committed to slimming rather than buying more. That’s good. I think I buy things to fit better or that I feel more mentally comfortable in rather than committing to that slimming down again. I have a lot of MH issues tied up in slimming.

My new summer capris arrived yesterday in uk 12 - I got navy and this brighter colour. Is this colour okay or does it draw too much attention to problem areas? (And me last year over a size smaller hillwalking with dog - I wish I still fitted into these). I’m so conscious of my heavier bottom half.
View attachment 5397170View attachment 5397172

I agree with others about the black shoes and black top. In addition to a lighter color for both with these pants, perhaps consider a slightly looser top? As a fellow pear, I often use that trick to help me appear a bit more proportional. I also find that, as a pear, if I go lighter on bottom, then I need to go lighter still on top to balance things out. Darker bottoms means I can get away with a darker top.

And I hear you on being very conscious of your bottom half. I’m the same way! As a matter of fact, I was just lamenting my hip bulge this morning when trying on a new pair of shorts.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

This is so interesting to read! I think you’ve managed to be quite restrained in your purchases and this is a capsule with key styles working for you. I struggle not to buy things every month and you’ve not bought much in a year.

I do think my fluctuating size has much to do with it especially in trousers and jeans so I’m interested to see you’ve committed to slimming rather than buying more. That’s good. I think I buy things to fit better or that I feel more mentally comfortable in rather than committing to that slimming down again. I have a lot of MH issues tied up in slimming.

My new summer capris arrived yesterday in uk 12 - I got navy and this brighter colour. Is this colour okay or does it draw too much attention to problem areas? (And me last year over a size smaller hillwalking with dog - I wish I still fitted into these). I’m so conscious of my heavier bottom half.
View attachment 5397170View attachment 5397172

The year or two before covid, I bought a huge amount of clothes, so I had a lot of newish stuff and when the pandemic hit soon after, I literally had tons of nice clothes and nowhere to go! So the restraint comes from having a relatively quieter lifestyle post pandemic, and already having a lot in my closet. And now, a lot of these clothes continue to sit unused because of weight gain. I am giving myself till the end of summer, and I will do a big clear-out at that point, but for now, I am hoping to be able to get back into at least some of those clothes. I didn't stop shopping however. Last year, I added a large amount of vintage perfumes to my collection, and handbag purchasing has continued as well.

I think you look great in both pictures! I agree with @dcooney4 about the shoes in the first picture, so you could perhaps try a softer shade of shoe with black capris. I love the turquoise color and interestingly enough I have a very similar outfit, except that my top is turquoise and my pants are black (also have dark blue and white pants). You could also try wearing a longer or flowy style top if you're not sure about the blue capris, or as @Cordeleire suggested, opting for a top in a color that blends with the pants.

Now, onto the subject of fluctuating sizes, which is a problem I have struggled with as well (hence the need for tubs of clothing in different sizes stored around the house). I am heartily tired of fluctuating sizes. I don't want to have so many bins of clothing sitting around. So I have been working towards a realistic diet and lifestyle approach that I can maintain over the long term. In the past I have lost weight only to gain it back again over time because I don't exercise enough or because I become careless with eating habits. So I am trying to find the balance by focusing on what I eat daily plus moderate exercise, so that I can prevent the fluctuations -- at least, that is my goal!

@DME, I have the same issue in that my clothing and handbag choices are more glamorous than my actual lifestyle! I have to keep reminding myself of this before a potential purchase, but so far it has not always acted as a deterrent.

 

[Cordeliere]

@DME, I have the same issue in that my clothing and handbag choices are more glamorous than my actual lifestyle! I have to keep reminding myself of this before a potential purchase, but so far it has not always acted as a deterrent.

+1

 

[msd_bags]

I’m making a note of Japanese resellers, thank you! I think for the US, Japan is still closed (we wanted to visit Japan, Singapore, and the Philippines in September or October) but I’m hopeful that it will reopen again soon. I would be very curious to hear about your sense of COVID rates in the Philippines. I really miss Tocino (not sure if @jblended liked it too lol)

Hope your trip to this part of the world pushes through in September! Just ask away if you need any info. Btw, national election is on Monday. Some experts are saying that this (and campaign activities) might cause a surge in the number of covid cases, which for now remains low, thankfully.

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Lovely scarf and lovely you!

Pics of the sourdough or it didn't happen!
I love that you've done this deep dive into baking! I'm inviting myself over for brekkie next time I'm in your corner of the world!

Also, love your Japan tips. Thank you for sharing! It's on my wish list of places to live. I'll be asking you for more tips should I get the chance to go.


There's a cafe near me where I live now where they make sapin sapin, monggo bread and ube bars!
I'm gonna get SO FAT!


As a vegetarian, NO!
I'll take the rest minus the pork, but will admit that the pork looks divine and smells really nice, too. I just can't eat it.

Being grouped into this discussion, I do worry someone will pull me up on cultural appropriation! But really, I just have so much love and respect for the country and the people. I trust you both know that!

Hope to post a pic of my sourdough bake later, lol! I'm just not on my phone where the pictures are. And I'll be glad to share my bakes with you when you get to have a trip here! Oh, and I just made ube-cream cheese pandesal (bread roll) the other day. Are you a fan of ube? I love monggo "hopia", but not much monggo bread. I think you're naturally thin? So no need to worry about getting fat with sapin sapin and all those other stuff being easily accessible.

The French eat a lot of French fries but obviously they don't call them that. They also don't call it French toast. Apparently that was named after a guy named French, not the country. Our chips are other people's crisps. Our cookies are called biscuits elsewhere. I don't know what they would call our biscuits. Language is a funny thing. I wonder, as we get more global, if we'll start agreeing on the proper names for things.

I was actually shocked when I first got to know about the American biscuits. Because here, biscuits mean cookies! Lol! And we don't have the biscuits that you have.

Honestly though, it has been quite peaceful to have less choice when picking something to wear. I don't think I could keep it up long term though, because I would get bored and need variety. But for the short term, it was kind of nice having a "capsule" wardrobe.

I also can't make do with a capsule wardrobe even if we have basically the same weather whole year round. I just enjoy having variety!

My new summer capris arrived yesterday in uk 12 - I got navy and this brighter colour. Is this colour okay or does it draw too much attention to problem areas? (And me last year over a size smaller hillwalking with dog - I wish I still fitted into these). I’m so conscious of my heavier bottom half.
View attachment 5397170View attachment 5397172

Same as @DME , I think a looser and lighter-colored top (and shoes) will draw less attention to your bottom half.

Now, onto the subject of fluctuating sizes, which is a problem I have struggled with as well (hence the need for tubs of clothing in different sizes stored around the house). I am heartily tired of fluctuating sizes. I don't want to have so many bins of clothing sitting around. So I have been working towards a realistic diet and lifestyle approach that I can maintain over the long term. In the past I have lost weight only to gain it back again over time because I don't exercise enough or because I become careless with eating habits. So I am trying to find the balance by focusing on what I eat daily plus moderate exercise, so that I can prevent the fluctuations -- at least, that is my goal!

I loved how I look when I was still on WFH mode, because I was able to regularly exercise and I had healthier meals (home-cooked). While I did not really shop during that time, I think some of my "old" clothes looked better on me. And now that I have gained back some weight that I lost, I'm a bit frustrated with myself for not being able to maintain that 'better look' even if same clothes still fit.