No Repeat Challenge Week 2

 I've joined in with SarahDB on this challenge, and fully agree that it's making depth-of-winter dressing both more fun and more enlightening. My extra wrinkle is that I am supposed to pair something new with something older. So far, I have succeeded in this. 

1-2 Monday -- Lilac and grey, with layered outerwear as per Chris  On the floodplain near my house I saw this still-decorated tree. 

3. Tuesday.  Wide legs and Fair Isle. This was the week when cashmere really did feel like a near-necessity in our neck of the woods. It wasn't brutally cold yet on Tuesday, but it wasn't exactly warm, either. 

4-5. Wednesday was a Heat-tech and cashmere kind of day. We hadn't reached our true lows, but I had to meet someone and sit outside with her for more than an hour. Brrrr! 

7 Thursday.  Now we are starting to get serious....more cashmere. Repeating the pants from #1. I can't remember which coat I wore that day -- forgot to get a photo. But it was likely the big parka, because the temps. were dropping. 

8-10 Friday. Minimally and neutrally coated. Definitely wearing the Heattech! And the big parka for my actual outing. 

11-13 Saturday. Another brutally cold one! This outfit is based on an Angie formula from last year. Winter White Denim. 

14-17 Sunday. After all those neutrals, I was ready for some colour! I played with the coats, and liked all versions, but the reality was, this was a very casual day of outdoor ice skating on the floodplain (!!) and so I actually wore my lightweight navy puffer and my grey toque because it is cashmere and therefore, warmer than my other hats.  

My discovery: When it came to the neutral outfits, I felt more "myself" in the white crops with grey sweater outfit than in the navy and white outfit from the previous day. Is it the belt? Is it the crops vs. full length pants? Is it the lower contrast? I honestly don't know. I don't think one necessarily looks objectively better; this is a matter of feeling. 

Thank you for looking and sharing this adventure! 

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31 Comments

  • Jaime replied 8 months ago

    Great outfits! I really like your cranberry trousers (both pairs). Interesting about the preference for the cropped white jeans. Is it the contrast level or the silhouette? Further experimentation clearly required :) .

  • cjh replied 8 months ago

    Greta week of outfits. You look and so well coordinated. I like the striped gray top very much. 


    And your photo of the little tree- so cool! It reminds me of art by Charles Burchfield, one of my favorites.

    https://burchfieldpenney.org/a.....urchfield/

  • pirouette replied 8 months ago

    Well done on all the outfits especially in such adverse weather conditions.  My favourite is the cropped white jeans and grey sweater.  I’m biased as I love neutrals but you look great in all the all the pictures. 

  • Olive Green replied 8 months ago

    Some unexpected and pretty colour combos , and you do look very at home in the winter white and the v neck grey sweater. Slightly lower contrast seems to highlight you rather than the outfit?

  • Star replied 8 months ago

    All fab outfits!   I do especially like the white and grey.  Interestingly I prefer more contrast on myself.

  • lyn67 replied 8 months ago

    Love all the outfits as they are so well coordinated and usually maintain a flow of color in an inner or outer column which is always flattering and elegant. You have some great looking and really warm options in your winter wardrobe-(this is/was  my priority for years,  too). Thanx for the IRL inspiration!:-)

  • Chris987 replied 8 months ago

    Every one of these outfits is fab!! You have huge cohesiveness in your wardrobe - almost all the items would go with all of the others. Also you have a good mix of dark, bright, and light colors, in tops/bottoms AND in outwear/footwear, which probably helps temper that that dreary dark feeling so many of us get in our long winters. I remember you saying you came to YLF (was it 10?) years ago with a non-existent wardrobe and no idea how to move forward. I'd say you've become an expert! 

  • Cardiff girl replied 8 months ago

    Impressed as usual!I love your little knitted waistcoat,it’s a darling.

  • RobinF replied 8 months ago

    These are all great! Love the colors you wear. My favorite is the grey sweater with white jeans, I like the tonal-ness of it and the the pop of belt and fab boots.

  • Runcarla replied 8 months ago

     Cozy, warm, and stylish!  Can’t believe that’s BC!

    We got snow Saturday night and Sunday was cold with a nippy wind, but with fleece lined boots and LE puffer, I was fine for a walk. This morning it’s -12degC, but the wind chill has it feeling like -20degC.  Long term though, it’s going to warm up (to above freezing!) by next week.

  • Sisi replied 8 months ago

    You look fab in all of these outfits!  You look good in all the colors. I particularly love the light tones of # 11. What a beautiful landscape. Photo # 3 is magical. How fun it must be to ice-skate on the floodplain! 

  • SarahD8 replied 8 months ago

    What a wonderful week you had, clothing wise if not weather-wise! These are all great and the overall effect is very cohesive. I particularly like that you are mixing old and new pieces. And, I notice that your clothing pictures seem very harmonious with your landscape pictures somehow, which is very cool.

  • Carol B replied 8 months ago

    Thank you for sharing your adventure with all of us. For me,I find this journey both inspirational and helpful. You have enough variety in your wardrobe in terms of color and silhouette to allow you to come up with endless combinations, all of which are interesting. I loved your photos, but I particularly liked the photos with the vest, the striped sweater and the gray and white outfit. I guess they were simpler but still expressed your  unique style.. The others  with more color, expressed your energy, vivacity and creativity.

  • Suz replied 8 months ago

    Thank you, Fab Friends! Lots of love for the grey and white outfit. I think it works, too. Partly because I think I do best with lighter colours/ neutrals, overall, and partly the contrast is too high in the navy/ white (at least as colour blocks), and partly the longer pants drag me down a bit without compensating "brio." 

    Carol, what lovely comments. I decided to make a count to determine the size of my current wardrobe. As Chris mentioned, I started at YLF with literally no clothes (well, one pair of jeans, a sweater, a couple of baggy skirts and sweaters) after significant weight loss almost 13 years ago! And built my wardrobe from scratch then. I now have what I would call a moderately large four season wardrobe of 145 items, including footwear and coats but not including PJs, basics (undies), exercise gear -- except for the odd crossover item like the white coat you see in the second photo. I'm thinking of editing out a few more items to whittle it down a bit further, but not a lot. If I go over 150 or so, I feel overwhelmed. If I go to far below 120, I feel like I lack options.

    Sisi, it's amazing to be able to skate there -- very rare with climate change. It used to be something people did regularly where I live, apparently. 

    Carla, sounds like the weather's moving west to east, as usual. It is starting to warm up here but we are getting another storm tomorrow. 

    Back later -- work calls! 

  • Suz replied 8 months ago

    Sarah, thanks for the inspiration! I'm enjoying the challenge. In addition to wearing something old and something new and no repeat outfits (but obviously, lots of repeat items) I am trying to do as many of Angie's outfit formulas as I can manage. 

    Robin, thanks. Lots of love for the grey and white on me -- and I feel the same, so that's confirmation of my instincts. 

    Olive Green, I think you are right about the contrast levels. The white sweater is very flattering in person but might feel better with a lighter bottom, too. Or with a patterned one. I often wear it with the lighter denim jeans. 

    Cardiff Girl -- isn't that waistcoat the best? I love it. 

    Chris, great analysis. So, here is where deciding on my colours and neturals and following through has really helped. This is why the wardrobe is so cohesive. I always try to make sure that for each season, I have my wardrobe essentials in my dark neutral (navy or dark denim) and my light neutral (white, winter white, ecru, or light grey). Once that core is in place I can add pattern and other colours to make things more fun. It can be frustrating, some years -- when I can't find my essentials in my core neutrals. For me, the run of earth tones has been tricky because often the only cool neutral available in an item I like or that will fit me is black, which I won't wear. But patience pays off. 

    Lyn, that is really interesting -- the inner or outer column -- I wasn't even aware of that! 

    Star, Jaime, cjh, piroutte -- thank you! 

  • Helena replied 8 months ago

    You look fabulous in these Suz - as always!

    What strikes me with your preferred vs. less-preferred outfits is that the preferred ones have more gamine energy to them (crisper lines, e.g.) where the less preferred has more dramatic classic energy (elongation and more minimal vibe) ... sorry to bust out the Kibbe language but it seems potentially relevant!

    So while they both LOOK fab I get why the gray and white FEELS better for you!

  • Suz replied 8 months ago

    I agree, Helena. And it’s a great illustration of Kibbe at work, right? Dramatic classic is probably my next closest style cousin but it is not quite right for me.

  • rachylou replied 8 months ago

    That’s interesting about the white crops/grey sweater v the navy and white. I wonder if it’s the luxe minimalist nature of the navy/white. It’s artistic, but you’re an artist.

  • Kyle replied 8 months ago

    I have to add my love for the silver and white ensemble. I just find it so authentic and harmonious with your hair. Super pretty. But then I always love your outfits. This one is just a standout for me.

  • Mary replied 8 months ago

    I love your style! 


    It seems like you do most of your shopping online?

    Wonder if you have any fav local stores? ( not consignment as I think we went over those).

  • Suz replied 8 months ago

    Mary, I do a lot of my shopping online, yes. I also shop in Vancouver, when I am there, and in Seattle, if I go there. In Victoria, I haven't shopped a lot for clothes. Partly because i arrived here during the pandemic, I think. I got used to not going out! I have bought shoes here (although not always successfully). But apart from fun consignment finds, most of my stuff is really just mainstream retail -- J. Crew (lots of that -- though it is harder now that they don't have stores in Canada); Aritzia, a bit of Boden, and stuff I've got from Nordstrom (when they were still in Canada or when I visit the US), the Bay, a bit of Banana Republic. 

    On that note, Mr. Suz tells me the Victoria Banana Republic is closing. I don't buy much there these days but used to. And he is sad. 

    Rachy, I think you are onto something...luxe minimalist I guess is not me, much as I might aspire to it, LOL. 

    Kyle, thanks -- and yes, light grey and white does feel harmonious with my hair. 

  • Mary replied 8 months ago

    Oh no about BR closing! I am not surprised as it is always empty and customer service there has been dismal.

    I used to get to Seattle and loved shopping there. Haven’t been in four years and have lost the urge due to the costs. 

    I miss Jcrew and Nordstroms being in Canada.
    The Bays here are a mess.no stock, no help and no choice!

    I grew up in Van but also,rarely get there these days. 


    There are some good stores up island..oh and Sidney has some great stores. Boutique Mode is a fav of mine.
    But yeah consignment stores here for the win.

  • kkards replied 8 months ago

    Wow, what a fab week you’ve had.   Love them all, but that vest!   


    I felt more "myself" in the white crops with grey sweater outfit than in the navy and white outfit from the previous day. Is it the belt? Is it the crops vs. full length pants?
    Might I suggest that it’s the leg width?  That your more yourself in straight vs wide.  

  • Suz replied 8 months ago

    Mary, thanks for the tip! I have a friend who shops in Sidney all the time (she lives up near there). And she looks great! I should check it out. I also like a shoe store up there. 

    Kkards, good thought -- but that's not it, no! In fact, straight is my least preferred shape for pants. These white jeans are a bit tapered towards the bottom (which I do like). So who knows? What is possible is that I prefer the oversized sweater with a (slightly) slimmer pant? 

  • Brooklyn replied 8 months ago

    Great work. I am really impressed by the variety here - in colour and silhouette. I think it is easy in the depths of winter to fall into wearing a uniform.

    I really love the reds on you. Those cargo pants were such a great buy. So different from the usual olive/tan variety. And I love the combination of red and lilac.

  • Lana replied 8 months ago

    I agree with Kyle - the gray and white outfit mirrors your personal coloring. Lots of variety here. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • Laurie replied 8 months ago

    So fab! I also am a big fan of the grey and winter white and all of the accessories and shoes/boots around it.

    Love those skating photos. It was my dream as a kid to be able to skate on a big natural lake or pond. I have never done it! (It's also a little terrifying to me.)

  • Bonnie replied 8 months ago

    You are a cold weather outfit pro. Your collection of coats and toppers is stunning.

  • Joy replied 8 months ago

    I am still working the no repeat January challenge. I have learned that I have too many black sweaters and vests. Today I am wearing dark blue jeans with a black leather racing stripe on each side seam, a short black wool BR sweater, black vest with quilted side out. The vest is for extra warmth and will not be on most of the day. It is reversible and the first week I wore the fuzzy side out. Here are some photos of outfits worn yesterday (1-3) and the first week of January (4-6). Yesterday I wore black crepe EF pants with a charcoal grey wool EF sweater that has matching pants that now fall off of me. Black wool socks and black booties going out. Bagilini bag. For warmth I added a knit black jacket.
    The other outfit is from the first week. Black EF knit pull on pants and matching jacket ( a favorite travel outfit) black socks and boots for snow. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed including suggestions for getting rid of some of this.

  • Suz replied 8 months ago

    Joy, first of all, I'm so impressed with how you are systematically evaluating. your black items as you work this challenge!  And I love the idea of playing with texture via a vest that it quilted on one side, fuzzy on the other. Nice design feature. 

    You fit right in with Angie's accessories blog post today because your bag (it looks like Missoni!) and your specs are the stars of the show! It's hard to see the details but it looks as if the pants may have become too large for you? In the other outfit I love the pairing of scarf and metallic footwear. 

  • Angie replied 8 months ago

    A feast for the eyes on a drab Winter's day! 

    Keeping it short and sweet:

    Suz, YOU LOOK KILLER in reds, lilacs, silvers, whites, and blues. Lots of fab variety too :) 

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