Goodbye Gwynnie Be-eee-ee
Ever since I decided to name this post “Goodbye Gwynnie Bee,” I’ve had an Elton John “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” earworm. It works if you make “Bee” be like 3 syllables.
I mentioned in a post last week that I was ready to let go of my Gwynnie Bee subscription after 4½ years. It’s a great concept, clothing rental. You have an ever-changing wardrobe without an ever-burgeoning closet. You get to try new styles in a way that’s better than just trying them on for a few minutes in a fitting room. I got to enjoy wearing brands I could never have afforded to purchase. I feel a little more adventurous in my style now than I did a few years ago.
But I was starting to look at clothing rental sort of like my storage unit…if I did the math (which I’m not going to do cuz depressing) I’d see how much I’ve paid over the past years…and to have nothing to show for it in my closet…well…(oh gosh, I just did the math. Why Did I Do The Math?!?) Anyway, it’s just time to let it go.
So this Lucky Brand peasant top is probably my last Gwynnie Bee item. My billing date is the 17th and I’ll cancel on the 16th. I doubt they’ll have this back in time to process sending me something else before I cancel.
I actually feel like I owe Gwynnie Bee quite a lot. It was the clothing rental service and then joining a Gwynnie Bee Facebook group that got me started photographing my outfits every day. Then I gave myself a challenge (cuz why just live life easily when you can make it harder for yourself??) of not wearing the same outfit in the span of 30 days. And I photographed them. And when that was done I was kinda like Now What? I was enjoying thinking about fashion and creating interesting outfits. And that’s when the blog idea came to me. And after three months of thinking about it and talking about it and planning it…Fashion Schlub was born.
Here are just a few of my favorite Gwynnie Bee items I’ve worn over the years…
So Long, Gwynnie Bee! And good luck to me coming up with new outfits every week without it!
What I’m Wearing
- Lucky Brand Green Boho Peasant top, size 3x. Also available in what they call “coral” and I call “faded rusty red.” And in straight sizes here.
- Charlotte Russe Refuge cropped skinny jeans, old. Comparable here and here.
- Keds Champions
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Shirley Horst
Now that you are getting rid of GB, I have a suggestion for you about what to wear. You post all of the pieces of clothing in your closet and let your adoring audience put together outfits for you. Then you post those outfits and comment on whether you would wear it. Kind of like paperdolls, only in real life. I know I don’t wear my clothes all of the different ways I could because I get in a rut. Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees, as the saying goes. It is just a suggestion! Some of the outfits may be what you already put together, but some may be a new twist. Like the day your daughter put together an outfit for you, I thought it was great. Since we will be heading into fall soon, maybe that would be a great time to start!
bettyewp
That’s a great idea, Shirley! If I did it in video format, would that work? I’m just thinking of how long it would take to photograph each item individually (cuz lazy) although I HAVE always wanted to do that. I guess I now have a To Do list for my upcoming vacation!
Ruth Josey
Those outfits are wonderful but I can imagine that it does start being a drain on the budget and nothing to show for it. Maybe you can still rent something for a special occasion? I love Shirley Horst’s idea so much, I may try to do something based on that at some point, myself!
Ruth
http://www.VogueFauxReal.com
bettyewp
Yeah, Shirley is already taking up a couple days of my August vacation 🙂
Robin
I like wearing new outfits all the time so I am a chronic shopper of low cost clothes(mostly coordinates) that fit well and look like they came from higher end stores. About 90% of my shopping is done online–hate store shopping. I’ve enjoyed seeing your Gwynnie Bee fashions and often thought about clothing rentals. It’s still a possibility. My closet is packed to the gills and I’m ready for a plus size clothing giveaway or Goodwill donation. New direction for ‘fashionschlub’!
bettyewp
I’m with you on store shopping, Robin! But sometimes I need something quick or want to be able to try on without sending them money that is then tied up for close to 3 weeks from start to finish (when I return the item).
I have some things to sell and donate, too….gotta get on that!
Iris
I particularly like the 3rd photo in the series of photos. Very becoming on you.
Enjoy not having Gwynnie Bee – you have so many great ideas for the blog, you won’t even miss them.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
I miss them already! Ha. The thing keeping me from falling back in already is the knowledge that I’ll be able to get a COUPLE new things for fall and that will help.
But I do like the money still sitting in my checking account today 🙂
Betty (no E) 😄
I just love that Dragon fly dress!!! I looked into GB at some point, but figured it wasn’t really needed since I rarely leave the house. If I had a job/volunteered/whatever, it might have been something I tried.
Looking forward to seeing how your adoring fans style your closet!
bettyewp
Yeah, it definitely makes more sense for someone who needs to be wearing different things every day to a job. It’s like the opposite of me looking at some bloggers’ wardrobes enviously, but I have to remember that they work mostly from home and do NOT have to go to a public office every day, so their wardrobe, no matter how much I may like it is just not really suitable for my life.
Daenel T.
I adore the outfits. And you with long hair! I hadn’t thought about rental services the way you expressed it but, yeah, I can see how doing the math would be *insert grumbly noise*. But I do like that it made you more adventurous, which is probably part of the idea.
bettyewp
It definitely helped me be more adventurous! That was one of the biggest benefits.
Nancy
That reminds me of that you never do those videos anymore! Loved that!
bettyewp
Oh, you mean the 1 Second Every Day videos? Yeah, I loved them too…but when your life gets really really small, you run out of things to photograph on the daily. And I was just not feeling creative. I may take it up again when it gets a little cooler and I don’t hate being outside.
Julia
Well it was fun while it lasted! And it started this blog! So it was worth the money. Can’t wait to see you push yourself in different style directions! Enjoy these summer days!
bettyewp
Yep, I don’t regret it for a minute, it taught me a lot and inspired a lot. But it’s time for an amicable separation. On Friday when I called the phone girl kept asking me if anything was wrong, if there was anything they could do, would a discounted price keep me? I just said no thank you (as every fiber of my being was shouting YES YES I’LL STAY), I was very pleased with the service, it was just time for that money to go in another direction now.
Summer days, pheh. It’s DISGUSTING out there today!
Pauline starsmore
Loved the navy outfit on the sea shore and also the dragon fly dress I think navy and blue is so your colours I also loved the long hair.
bettyewp
I do miss long hair. I want to get it just long enough that is has a little movement, maybe just to my shoulders. Enjoy it for a bit, then maybe go short again. I sort of liked the length it was right around the start of this year – longish layers on top, bangs, but close to my head in the back and no hair hanging down on my neck. Today is 300% humidity and I just came in from a 10-minute shoot on the patio and water is just streaming down my face and my neck is SO HOT with the hair hanging it. Not long enough back there yet to get it up and off me without 2 ponytail holders and like 6 clips. And it ain’t pretty! And I’m headed out in a few for an egg sandwich, so….
After this food mission I plan to stay indoors in the air conditioning for the rest of the day.
Is it this disgusting everywhere today?
Marceline S Miller
Yes, very disgusting heat all over!! But now, 7:15 Eastern, a rainstorm. Ahhh…
bettyewp
I think we’re expecting one, too. There was rain in the city awhile ago and it usually heads out here. The humidity is horrible right now.
Marceline S Miller
Yes, very disgusting heat all over!! But now, 7:15 Eastern, a rainstorm. Ahhh…
I still miss GB too. But it IS great not to have regular money drain…