Mid Life Melanin MaMa

Consolidated & Cohesive Wardrobe

January 18, 2021

I usually pair down my wardrobe on a regular basis 2x a year. Last year I missed doing that I wanted to walk into 2021 with a purpose and that started with my Armor my Wardrobe.

Keeping My descriptors in mind when it comes to to my personal style has not changed much. Futuristic Afro Warrior & Mama which was the recently added.

I saw these beautiful velvet hangers on sale and thought I really need to tackle my wardrobe. With a few days off from work I started the heavy lifting. Throwing everything on the bed from around the house except for shoes I got started.

Thought process:
1)Did I wear it in the past 2 years?
2)Is it ripped stained or stretched out?
3)What category does it fall into in my current life?

Most things in my wardrobe now comfortably go together without much thought. I am content borderline happy with my wardrobe. I feel lighter and more like my descriptive words.

Futuristic Afro Warrior Mama

Many many things that were previously loved have been donated to a women’s and children’s shelter. I did the same for my daughter. There are a few pictures here from before baby after and current life.

Thank you for reading
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By the numbers

Lifestyle Categories:
1)Mom/Casual/Outings
2) Lounge Wear
3)Walking/Workout/Thearpy /Outdoor Gear
4) Work

Mom/Casual/ Outings:
Bottoms:
2 pair of denim walking shorts
1 pair denim custom made Overalls
1 African Print Denim Skirt
1 WideLeg African WideLeg Denim Pant
3 pair of jeggings
3 pair of leggings
Total 11

Tops
6 graphic T-shirts
1 denim button up
1 summer crochet festival top
3 mommy and me matching tops
1 velvet long sleeve
4 unique high low about town tops
Total 15

dresses
2 plaid

Lounge Wear(at home)
2 House Dresses
2 Pair of leggings and matching tops
Total 4

Walking/Workout/Thearpy/Outdoor Gear:
3 Capri/spandex
2 full length workout pants
7 tops tank/full sleeve
Total
12 pieces

Work Uniform
5 pairs of Jeans dark black
7 work tops
2 pair of work boots

Underwear
All new standard cotton all functional
4 sports bras

Shoes
5 new to my wardrobe

Wild Cards pictures 8/9/10
1) A print Poncho. If I don’t wear it this year I will donate it. (New)
2) a vintage beaded shawl collar thrifted.. (5 years old)

Bags:
12,14,16 cross body
13 clutch hand painted (6 years old)
15 backpack

Coats:
1 leather jacket (thrifted)
1Camo All weather coat
1 wrap shawl
1 denim jackets
1 African print crop jacket
1 outerwear hoodie
2 denim trench coats
Total 8

Headgear:
2 summer
2 spring/fall
2 winter
2 head wraps
Total 8

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Posted in the General category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

26 Comments

  • Joy replied 3 years ago

    Fabulous! I love your attitude and photos.

  • Helena replied 3 years ago

    Holy wow, you did amazing sorting this all!! This looks so awesome - organized and a great balance between more essential and statement/signature pieces. I LOVE your wildcards ... hopefully as the year goes on there'll be more outings and that will give you an excuse to try these pieces. I also think if/when you want to add, you've now re-booted and got a great view of everything to be strategic! Great job! *applause*

  • nemosmom replied 3 years ago

    Bravo! Well-thought out, and articulated for your real life!

  • Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 3 years ago

    I love your descriptor, I love your beautifully sorted wardrobe, and I want to sneak up behind you and shove you hard, over the border and into the "happy" part of getting dressed!   And oh-my-goodness, you and your baby girl are so freakin' cute, I can't even <3 <3 <3 <3 

  • Jaime replied 3 years ago

    That beaded shawl is amazing! Wow, I hope you have great reasons to wear it this year.
    Especially like this question: "What category does it fall into in my current life?" I haven't seen it put quite that way and it gets to the heart of an aspect of wardrobe review that I sometimes overlook.

  • Bonnie replied 3 years ago

    You are so organized and love that you are donating to a woman's and children's shelter. Your photos are great!

  • JAileen replied 3 years ago

    I love the picture of you and mini you, and also you both in your winter clothes.  You both look snug as a bug.

  • slim cat replied 3 years ago

    Great job on sorting the wardrobe! 
    Pretty family pictures - you both look adorable!

  • rachylou replied 3 years ago

    Tight editing!

  • replied 3 years ago

    Admire crossbody bag #14! Are Wild Cards outstanding pieces that are not worn often? Awesome that you donated to a shelter :)

  • Jenni NZ replied 3 years ago

    Wow what a lot of work Ledonna.
    I can really see your style statement/persona/descriptors in this post. How wonderful that you donated a lot too. I do that with things that are not totally dead yet!
    And you and Zi-Joy are just the most gorgeous pair of mother-daughter duos!

  • Jessikams replied 3 years ago

    Both of your wildcard items are awesome and I hope they get good use this year. And your shoe photo makes me smile! So clean and cute!

  • Kate replied 3 years ago

    Mama and daughter overalls!!! I remember those and that great pic!

    You did a great job thinking through your needs and sorting everything out. I'm impressed. You just may have kickstarted me into doing something similar.

    I do love that vintage beaded shawl collar.

  • Sal replied 3 years ago

    Fantastic work Ledonna - hope it was fun too!  There is something about a clean out/sort out in January.  Great way to start the year.

    I love your bag collection but the matching photos are the best.  Gorgeous.

  • Bijou replied 3 years ago

    Your style descriptor is PERFECT!!! Love the addition of Mama.
    Your style was and is amazing. The best part about it is that you have fun with fashion. The addition of Zi'Joy means that the fun factor has now gone through the roof.

  • Ledonna N. replied 3 years ago

    Joy, Nemosmom, Rachy Lou, Slim Cat, Jailleen, Sal, Bijou - thank you all so much it was certainly worth it and my sidekick always makes everything an adventure.

    TorontoGirl- exactly my thoughts. It feels great to know okay I have this and this so if I want to purchase something it will fall in line with my existing wardrobe

    Mary Beth you made me laugh out loud for real. When I get to play more with my wardrobe and put together more fits the live and happiness will come. Taken me almost 3 years to get this far I feel like this is me rebooted.

    Shevia I wore the beaded shawl backwards for photos Zi’Joy and I took for Christmas in 2019 I’ll post the pictures here it is such a beautiful piece. I started to ask myself that question in 2020. Because almost nothing worked in my wardrobe

    Bonnie, Nikki. Recycling gently preloved garments are so important to me and I know they will not be waisted or sold for a high price.

    Nikki. Wildcard for me is exactly that. Something unique and unexpected but brings great joy and happiness.

    JennieNZ- I remember years ago when Angie posted this. It really helps define my style journey statement/persona/descriptors

    JessiKams I saw a styled photo and wanted to try something similar which the shoes

    Kate go ahead and just do it. It was fun and really helped. I love the overalls and just thrift Zi’Joy something similar each year. I know it’s cheesy but I love cheese

  • Glory replied 3 years ago

    Let me first say how happy I am that you are posting! Love it so much. This was a huge amount of work and so well thought out. I am pretty excited about using the categories for myself ~ that might be the key to my 2021 wardrobe revitalization. You have some great items here and I especially like the mommy and me tshirts.

  • Ledonna N. replied 3 years ago

    Glory thank you so much I decided I needed to do individual capsules among my wardrobe for a start. I felt overwhelmed but I wrote everything down and was ruthless with the purge

  • Angie replied 3 years ago

    *APPLAUSE*

    I'm very impressed, Ledonna. WOW.

    A LOT of wardrobe work and soul searching here. You're very good at it, and are reaping the reward! This is 100% SIMPAT style:

    https://youlookfab.com/2020/07/22/simpat-style/

    LOVE your style moniker, and how realistic you are with your lifestyle. Yet you kept in - and are adding more of - the all important LEDONNA edge that makes you happy, and your style feel like YOU.

    Your matching outfits with little Z'Joy are my best!! #17 and #19 warm my heart. 

    WELL DONE :)

  • Ledonna N. replied 3 years ago

    Thank you Angie. I've been thinking about it so long it has become like breathing.  It was easy for me to accept and I'm just so glad to really take some me time this year.   Giving so much to Zi'Joy I felt drained and just floating through the day now I'm on a very healthy path and I feel like it is not being rushed. 

    Thank you for the link It was exactly what I needed to read.  So much here I could relate to and my current situation

  • MsMary replied 3 years ago

    This is all just fab! I love the pic of your shoes arranged so artfully! :)

  • replied 3 years ago

    Wow to that white jumpsuit! Love your silver collar and African prints too!
    Careful with the velvet hangers though. I have same and they break easily- though they're good space savers. I keep my coats on wood hangers instead.

  • Suz replied 3 years ago

    Wow, you did an amazing job with this, LeDonna! I am impressed! I love how you manage to create such variety in your looks despite what is now a fairly lean closet! It comes of really careful selection with your patterns and a clear sense of your style persona. Futuristic Afro Warrior Mama is perfect for you! And what a great model and inspiration for Zi'Joy you are. Love your matching t-shirts and outfits. You're showing her how it is done! :) 

  • LaPed replied 3 years ago

    You and Zi’Joy look killer in your matching outfits! Your moniker is 100% on target and your real-life capsule approach is so smart. Love it!

  • AJ replied 3 years ago

    Yes, it is so nice to have you back here!  

    Kudos to you for putting in all the hard work.  Your wardrobe looks like it will serve you well.  

    That beaded shawl collar is amazing!  I hope you get to wear it this year!

  • Ledonna N. replied 3 years ago

    AJ I will find a place to wear the collar  It is always great for Christmas or New year.  It is really great to be back  to Posting  YLF I've always been a lurker lol   Got to see what's going on

    La Pedestrienne-  I love having us in similar outfits.  I know corny but now Zi likes them as well it is fun.  The real life capsules help give me a guide and they are interchangeable. 

    Suz  I think I'm gonna be one of those older women who wear every color under the sun all at once.  I really am glad I took the time to do this.  It is really true about how much our children watch what we do and say. 

    SunTiger The White Jumpsuit was made by my Ex-finance.  That is the one thing I miss about him. lol  Yeah  That was my before life.  I love the pictures had to say goodby to it tho.  Thanks for the  heads up with the hangers.  I have very sturdy coat hangers and will remember that.

    MsMary - Thank you It was fun making the shoe art


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I'm a 44 year old Mid Life Melanin MaMa with my beautiful daughter who just entered her toddler years. I hope you will join us honor fashionable and Thrifty Adventures. As we discover a life that is full of fashionable color and joy. We hope to inspire you, make you think, but most importantly make you smile. So I invite you to Journey with us on this thing we call life.