Photo by Joshua Hanson on Unsplash

Given how blah the weather was through Summer, it feels wrong to be working on my 2023 winter wardrobe plan, but here I am doing it anyway.

Things to consider for the 2023 Winter Plan;

• Over the Christmas break, I got a little bigger, slimmed down a little, then a little more slimmer (almost in the extra small range now).
• It seems I feel the cold a little more than I used to. Not sure why.
• Gas and electricity prices are skyrocketing, and given I work from home, I need to consider the need for extra warmth without resorting to the central heating.
• Through the summer I tried adding more colour and pattern, but found it too distracting. At least I now know I can only wear colour and patterns when I don’t need to think (thanks stroke).
• I’ve noticed I pretty much wear the same clothes every day (no surprise there), and what with getting sweaty taking those l o n g dog walks, probably need to change my buying habits to one to wear and two in the wash may be a better ratio for my wardrobe.

2023 Winter Wardrobe Plan

Budget

Having overspent on winter clothes over summer (did I mention the blah weather?), I feel like I shouldn’t be buying anything at all. But, I’ll default to the ubiquitous $1,000.

Appropriateness

Must be WARM and fit well.

Style

More or less the same building blocks:

• Colour: black.
• Pattern: colour block.
• Silhouette: Still 1:3 – short top over long bottom, e.g., short top with jeans.
• Design Line: Fitted to Semi-fitted.
• Texture: Light and Smooth.

Needs

More warm warm, WARM clothes!

Over Summer I topped up on undies, socks, exercise gear and shoes so probably all good there.

And I still haven’t got those jeans – I’m not sure how much longer the pair I have left can hold out.

And as I noted, stocking up my wardrobe basics one to wear with two in the wash.

So, I think I need:

• A pair of trackpants.
• Two fitted, warm, heavyweight fleeces.
• Jeans (maybe fleece lined).
• Longjohns, or at least camisoles.

And possible wants:

• Warm shirt or dress for going out.

Wardrobe Review

I’m not exactly sure that a cold day is the best day to review your wardrobe in preparation for the season. Appropriate, but bloody chilly while mostly naked trying stuff on. Though given I mostly just looked at the clothes then stuffed them in the charity bag, I was half naked half the time!

And having completed the review, even taking into account how much I got rid of, I’d already hit the jackpot before I got overwhelmed and quit with three drawers to go. Useful stuff I found:

• 1 pair of slightly too small skinny jeans.
• 6 dresses.
• 4 jumpers (or you might know them as sweaters).
• 2 pairs of slightly too big fleece leggings.
• 2 sets of thermal underwear.

Proportionally, they’re mostly going out clothes which tells me how much life has changed since I grew out of them. Some of it dates back to 2017 when I was still looking for work. I’ll bung it in my wardrobe and see how much wear I get before deciding what to do with it at the end of the season.

Shopping Plan

Theoretically, I don’t need to buy anything, but I want:

• A pair of trackpants $50
• A pair of not skinny jeans $100
• Provision for new sneakers (one of the existing is looking a bit dodgy), say $200

So all up, I’m feeling happy my bases are covered for winter. How about you – is your 2023 winter wardrobe plan ready?

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For more, see my wardrobe planning page.