14 Comments
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Style In Process's avatar

I realised I missed one "no" - no based on your mindset and personality! Another one to add to the list!

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Julia Benbow's avatar

I have only very recently learnt how much I love constraints! They make me more creative, more comfortable and more individual. I only love them when they are self imposed though.

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Style In Process's avatar

good point about self imposed - we humans love having agency!

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maryse's avatar

I have another one. No based on size. I’m plus-sized (18-20) and most brands stop at a size 14. Those that do carry plus-sized make it impossible to try on in a store because they don’t carry larger sizes in store. We rarely find items second hand. And if we do find our size, they are ill-fitting or just plain ugly. Or sold-out. I buy my clothes from a very small number of makers because the pieces I see routinely in these Substack posts are unavailable to me. Don’t even get me started on shoes (11-12). 😜

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maryse's avatar

Universal Standard is my go to these days. But they are purely an online retailer. JCrew does a good job too. But they don’t carry my size or larger in stores.

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Style In Process's avatar

oh my! and this is especially common with the more "fashiony" brands that feel like XS is the perfect size to hang in store all around. Also, I never understood why designers in more modern brands make their sizings not based on the size distribution within the actual population. XS is definitely not the most common size out there. One brand that addresses it and I quite liked is Viveh, what brands have you found doing this well?

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Stephanie Johnson's avatar

SO helpful! There are so many reasons to say no and they reveal just as much about our personal style as saying yes!

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Style In Process's avatar

indeed! and the digital world always pushes us towards saying yes, so takes a lot of discipline to resist!

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Harriet Hadfield's avatar

Love this!

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elle's avatar

Love the primer / message of empowerment. Not being able to wear everything means your body is special and unique, and taking time to match your proportions is self-care.

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Style In Process's avatar

Thank you - you put it so eloquently! :)

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On Shopping My Closet's avatar

I love your „No’s” Dalia 😌 I have to admit I’ve been (again) too fixated on the idea of adding too much to my wardrobe only because it was 2nd hand/from a cool brand/. I’m still learning to stick to my “open to buy list”

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Style In Process's avatar

Yes, it is so hard to resist! I have to constantly remind myself I am not buying, I am not buying :)

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Jeannie's avatar

I love a good list of no’s! Mine is skirts. I love how they look on other people but I never reach for them. The only exception is like having one straight cut comfy skirt.

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