I made a reel for Instagram showing off an outfit for each month of 2022 and it was so fun that I thought I’d share here on the blog as well.
January
The highlight of this outfit for me is the stretchy and comfortable jeans from Chico’s. And I live in black turtlenecks so I had to have at least one outfit on this list including one.
My tips for starting your year off with a cleaned out closet is always a reader favorite, so here it is again, Friends. Hope is helps start the year off right!
My Tips for Closet Clean-out & Creating a Wearable Wardrobe
The best place to start tackling your wardrobe is just with some valuable questions.
*Which items are your favorite in your closet and why?
*Which ones got worn the most this year?
*Which pieces get reached for again and again?
Must-Have Basics
Next, make a list of must have basics for yourself. You can read other people’s lists, but take their suggestions with a grain of salt, Ladies. You know your life and your body best. I don’t know how many times I read that I needed a crisp white linen shirt at a time in my life when I never wore white or even owned an iron. (Just for the record, I do now!)
Start with a basic color scheme, including your favorite neutrals and a few favorite pops of colors. My favorite neutrals have always been black, gray, tan, and denim with pops of red/berry. Navy, brown, beige, white, and olive green all make great neutrals as well.
Next, make note of your favorite and most flattering silhouettes. For a pear-shape like me, I live for fit and flare dresses, including the ever flattering faux wrap dress. I also love flared jeans (long or cropped) and long jackets, coats, and cardigans to give me a long lean look.
Make your own list. Are you missing anything that you really need or would like to own? Maybe some of your basics are ready to be replaced? (Make a list of what you need and keep it handy for after Xmas sales.)
Now it’s time to think about your lifestyle, what you actually do and what you’ll be doing this next year. (I’m all about positive thinking, so also definitely keep in mind what you’ll be needing when you get that dream job and take that dream vacation, Dolls!)
Now try on all your basics and must-haves and if they fit and are in good condition, put them back into the closet.
Then add back into your closet anything you just absolutely and totally LOVE, even if it’s for no good reason.
What to get rid of?
Anything unflattering (anything!)
Anything uncomfortable
Anything itchy
Any shoes that give you blisters
Anything that doesn’t fit you right now!
Anything in a color that doesn’t look good on you
Anything that doesn’t go with anything else in your wardrobe
Anything you’re keeping for sentimental reasons, but don’t actually wear (take a photo or put it in a keep-sake chest in the attic)
Anything you’re just sick of (maybe you wore it and loved it … to death … now you never want to see it again)
Any projects that never actually happened (for me that means the bomber jacket I was going to cover with patches and the jeans that I was going to get hemmed … This also includes the jeans you’ll fit into someday … let it go!)
Costume jewelry that’s starting to look old
Earrings that are too heavy to actually wear
Bracelets that slide off your arm
Scarves in shapes you don’t know how to tie (and don’t plan to learn)
Anything you feel ridiculous wearing
Things you bought on vacation and have never worn since
Anything that shrunk or just never looked the same after you washed it
Anything that you try on from time to time and for whatever reason never seems quite right and always goes back on the hanger
Anything too low-cut that never looked right pinned or with a cami underneath
Anything that was a gift that you never really loved as much as you wanted to
…
It sounds like a harsh list, but it’s such a joy to open your closet and just see things you love and really want to wear!
What to do with all the rejects? Give them to charity, or a friend, or sell them on eBay or Poshmark, or the local consignment store. But whatever you do, don’t start going through them again and pulling things out to save!
I mean really, what are you saying to yourself if you keep these things? That you must stare at the expensive shoes that are so ungodly uncomfortable for the rest of your life as punishment for your bad decision? Haha! Be kind to yourself and let the stuff go! Let someone else enjoy your mistakes and make room for the perfect items in your closet!
It takes some time and energy to do this, but it really does feel great to get it done. I always do mine in stages. Too overwhelming to do it all in one go. But you do whatever feels good to you!
Stay posted this year for more practical style tips and more wardrobe pieces that you can wear again and again.
Join the discussion and keep in touch by signing up for my monthly newsletter!
Fun & Fashion,
Dawn Lucy
About the blog: Fashion Should Be Fun is ME talking to YOU, other middle-aged women who are over 40, but not over fashion. We still want to look beautiful and stylish. We still want to have fun with trends. And we don’t need anyone giving us rules, because we’re all different. This is a place for me to share my love of fashion with you, including style ideas, tips, trends, and inspiration. I know how liking the way we look can translate into confidence and energy. I know we have so much life left to live and so much adventure ahead of us. Let’s show the world you’re never too old to have fun and be fierce.
We sure missed our little dog Lucky who we recently lost, and the holidays always make me sentimental missing my folks too. But it’s also the time to celebrate all the things we’re grateful for and I’m so grateful for my loving, supportive husband, and even this sweet and bratty little husky, Rox.
Now, it’s time for the sales … SO MANY SALES! Would you believe I had 8 pairs of jeans in my Nordstrom cart yesterday? I did force myself to whittle that list down to 4 pairs. The sales are just so good. And as my friend Lynn reminded me, I have a a bit of a denim obsession. What can I say? I’m a California girl who lives and works in jeans. Most of the jeans I picked are Kut from the Kloth. They have really cute jeans and most of them have a bit of stretch, so they are super comfortable too. I also ordered a pair of black jeans from NYDJs, another brand I like a lot. I’ll try to do a try on haul when I get them!
If you’re looking for sales, here are some of my favorites …
Moda Operandi – This is a site I can’t really afford on the regular, but this time of year, the sales are hot! If you want to treat yourself to something designer, this is the time to do it!
If you do a bit of shopping and would like to share your purchases, please feel free to tag me on Instagram! It’s always fun to see what everyone else is buying!
Hope you get some relaxation in this week too!
Fun & Fashion,
Dawn Lucy
About the blog: Fashion Should Be Fun is me talking to you, other middle aged women like me who are over 40, but not over fashion. We still want to look beautiful and stylish. We still want to have fun with trends. And we don’t need anyone giving us rules, because we’re all different. We all have our own shapes and bodies, parts we’d like to cover and parts we still don’t mind showing off a bit. This is a place for me to share my love of fashion with you, style ideas, tips, trends, and inspiration. I know how liking the way we look can translate into confidence and energy. I know we have so much life left to live and so much adventure ahead of us. Let’s show the world you’re never too old to have fun and be fierce!
It’s been a tough start to the holiday season. Some of you know that we lost our sweet little dog, Lucky. He had a very long and very happy life, but it still hurts so much to say goodbye. Frankly, my holiday spirit has been lacking, but this past week, I’ve come out of my fog to wear a couple of cute outfits with some holiday cheer.
Most of my Christmas activities are very casual. Here’s what I wore .. and maybe it can help you decide what to wear this week as well!
Idea #1
Make your sequins and sparkles a little more daytime friendly by adding in a classic blazer or an oversized plaid blazer. I added black jeans, but you can even wear blue jeans. It’s a nice juxtaposition to have a classic and casual piece mixed with your holiday bling!
This is what I wore for a fun holiday lunch with my friend Rachel. Isn’t she fab in her gold sequin scarf?
I love rich fall colors, like rust, caramel, and pumpkin! But with pink undertones in my skin and ash tones in my hair, cooler colors look better on me. Adding a charcoal gray turtleneck (one of my best colors) to this outfit makes it work for me, I think!
Men are notoriously difficult to buy for. Here are a few ideas for you.
Gift Ideas for HIM
Fun & Fashion,
Dawn Lucy
About the blog: Fashion Should Be Fun is me talking to you, other middle aged women like me who are over 40, but not over fashion. We still want to look beautiful and stylish. We still want to have fun with trends. And we don’t need anyone giving us rules, because we’re all different. We all have our own shapes and bodies, parts we’d like to cover and parts we still don’t mind showing off a bit. This is a place for me to share my love of fashion with you, style ideas, tips, trends, and inspiration. I know how liking the way we look can translate into confidence and energy. I know we have so much life left to live and so much adventure ahead of us. Let’s show the world you’re never too old to have fun and be fierce!
It’s present buying time! Here are some ideas for gifts for the women in your life!
Gift Ideas for HER
Fun & Fashion,
Dawn Lucy
About the blog: Fashion Should Be Fun is me talking to you, other middle aged women like me who are over 40, but not over fashion. We still want to look beautiful and stylish. We still want to have fun with trends. And we don’t need anyone giving us rules, because we’re all different. We all have our own shapes and bodies, parts we’d like to cover and parts we still don’t mind showing off a bit. This is a place for me to share my love of fashion with you, style ideas, tips, trends, and inspiration. I know how liking the way we look can translate into confidence and energy. I know we have so much life left to live and so much adventure ahead of us. Let’s show the world you’re never too old to have fun and be fierce!
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