2012 As Told Through Outtakes

One thing I've learned in the past 10 months of this blog is that getting pictures of your outfits taken is awkward (yes, I fully get that I choose to put myself through this). So awkward that I find the need to make odd dance moves and strange faces, and many of those are caught on camera. As well as the gawky in-between poses and movements. Things you wish no one ever saw.

But I think they tell a funny story of the year on this blog, so rather than doing one of those pretty, polished year-in-review photo grids, I decided to pull some bloopers and share a thought on each. Hope you get a good laugh like I did!

An awkward neck and wine teeth in Sonoma

Forced smile on this unseasonably warm March day

The first of many, many awkward leg stances

Um, was it cold? 

I don't even know

It's fun to stay at the...Y M C A!

There's a reason why they say horizontal stripes and busy patterns are unflattering...

Told you the awkward legs would be back

Does anyone really walk like that? And play with their hair simultaneously?

Awkward leg and some shellffish cages...

What the hair? And spacey eyes?

Because THAT's attractive

So, so tired here. 

Hello veiny wrist

Meet your friend, awkward inner arm

I know people think low-rise pants went out with Britney, but this photo proves they're a MUST for me

About to squash a bug, perhaps?

Hey there, food baby

Talking to the imaginary friend on my shoulder perhaps

And just about to twirl

Disappearing arm act # 1

#2 

#3

My fall hair disaster begins

Help, I'm stuck! 

I LOVE leaves! 

Hey what are you looking at? Nothing, pale girl

Shake it out

Get me outta here! 

Why? Just, why. 

TADA! The awkard grand finale! You haven't even seen this outfit yet.

Here's to a fabulous 2013! 

FBFF: My Outfit Spreadsheet

I was so pumped to write this FBFF* post on outfit planning because I think I have the most incredibly dorky way of tracking and planning looks: A Google Docs spreadsheet!

This started in part because I am a complete ogre in the morning. Ask my roommates and my husband. This doesn’t just mean I hit snooze 20 times and will bark at you if you try to talk to me. It also meant that I was getting frazzled when selecting my outfit for the day, so I just grabbed the first thing I saw. Throughout the day I’d be reading fashion blogs and thinking of all the ways I was inspired to play with my own wardrobe, but come the next morning I’d forget all these awesome ideas.

Let's go play in my closet

So, the spreadsheet was born a few months ago. It has a column for each category of item that could potentially go into an outfit: top, 2nd top/sweater/jacket, dress, skirt/pant, shoes, accessories (ie belt, hat, scarf), and jewelry. For each potential look, I write down which item goes into which category (see the screen shot below). This also helps me see how versatile a piece is and how many ways I can remix it into different outfits.

I take some time in my closet a couple times each week to test out the things I’ve put into my spreadsheet and make sure they look as good in reality as they do in my head. I don’t take pictures like Cher does in Clueless (except for this post), but usually just give the outfit a yay or nay on the spot, or find a way to tweak it to make it look better. I often spend way longer than originally intended on this process, because I think of new combinations, rediscover old pieces, and basically play dress up in my own closet, jotting down notes as I go along. (Are you embarrassed for me yet?) I don’t necessarily plan these outfits out for specific days, but generally take stock each week of what the weather’s going to be like and think of some looks that will work with that. I love getting dressed up for special occasions and planning those outfits down to the last detail, but I like to put similar care into my day-to-day looks, too. (Except when I've wildly overslept.)

OK I do take outfit test pictures. Just this for the purpose of this post, though! Oh, and my photographer husband is thoroughly embarrassed by my cheesy iPhone photos and over zealous use of filters from picfx (which I learned about on Twitter from Blair of Atlantic-Pacific)

The spreadsheet also helps me track how long it’s been since I’ve worn something. At the end of each row, I have a column to input the date I last wore a particular outfit. Right now, most of my spreadsheet is dominated with Spring/Summer outfit ideas. One thing I’m pumped about is that as the season draws to a close, I can take a look to see what rows have blanks in the date last worn column, and make an effort to wear those outfits before the warm weather runs out. (Yes, I just said pumped).

I’ve said before that I love to recreate looks worn by my favorite fashion bloggers using similar items in my own closet. Whenever I come across something I think could work for me, I usually pin them and log my version into my Google Doc on the spot. New purchases inspire me too. I love buying a single new piece and thinking of all the ways it can remix with things in my closet. Because of this, I can’t remember the last time I had to buy an entirely new outfit for an event. #Gofrugality

Trying to recreate this look from Atlantic-Pacific with clothing I already own 

I'm sure you're all thinking I'm either incredibly high maintenance or hopelessly nerdy, but an outfit spreadsheet is actually a lot easier than these seven paragraphs might indicate. You can jot ideas down on the fly and test them out whenever you get the time. And that part is loads of fun. I encourage you to try it! Not only will it help you get more creative and organized with what you wear, but you’ll probably find that you have a lot more going on in your closet than you thought you did!



*FBFF stands for Fashion Beauty Friend Friday. It was started as Katy Rose over at Modly Chic as a way to regularly connect fashion and beauty bloggers around a specific topic. (Read more about it here). I heard about it at a blogger conference I attended last month, and this is my first go! Thanks for reading.