I love this look, Angie! I have some pants like those in the second outfit. I’m going to try this look soon.

Pre YLF, I would not have considered this look, but I’m starting to reconsider. I like the idea of tweed clams, with a white city shirt and my chocolate brown stack heel slouch boots.

I was unable to see the logic of this formula until you illustrated it so perfectly. Thank you Angie!

Loving the look! I’ve been wanting a pair of those kind of cropped pants like in the outfit 2 for a while now. I also saw them in the new issue of Lucky magazine. They are really cute. I am definitely going to try this look as soon as I get the cropped pants.

Love the looks and am getting really inspired to rework the old wardrobe. But with 4 inches of snow on the ground could you give some winter ideas also? Suddenly I am thrust into digging out the jackets (think Michelin Man) and hats, gloves, scarves. Help please!!!

Angie, I was just going to ask about wearing shorts – but the shorter variety, the tweed cuffed shorts that hit at the top of the thigh, with opaque tights. what do you think about that? Totally different look? I’m referring to some like this:

http://tinyurl.com/ykfbz3u

What do you think?

Thank you!

I’m glad this formula struck a chord with some of you!

Agrace, those tweed shorts are adorable. A little short perhaps unless you’re really young. However, the model is pushing 6ft so they’ll fall longer if you’re shorter than that. Personally, I like the look without hose, but hose can look cute when the palette is monochromatic.

I love this look, and I wear my clam diggers or gauchos with boots. Sometimes I pair it with a long sweater, and at other times with a more tailored jacket.

I need to do a better job of finding fun little scarves to go with this ensemble.

Love it, you naughty school girl, you!

Thank you for this post Angie. I love the look but am afraid of it on some level. Afraid I might get it wrong in some way and end up looking ridiculous. You help take the mystery out of it though with this formula.

thank you for your help!

Angie – is 31 too old to wear the short tweed shorts? I tried them on and the fit was weird at the GAP but if that look is okay for early thirties I might pursue them elsewhere.

Thank you again!

I’m wearing this formula today. Enough said!
(Ooh I do have some tweed shorts to try next year.)

I have to say I’ve seen this outfit in real life, and all it does is cut your legs in half and make you stumpy. It’s definitely arty, but in my opinion not at all flattering. I think there are many better outfit options out there. Sorry to be the single voice of dissent!

Any patch of uncovered skin leaves me chilled to the bone right now, so it’s not for me in winter. I might give it a try in the spring.

I have a pair of lined, cuffed tweed clams that I used to wear with wedge tall boots. But the clams fit well in the hips but flare out a bit – I wouldn’t call them “slim”. I guess more like culouttes but not quite so wide. I think they hit just below the knee too (no skin showing for sure).

I used to wear these a few years ago (pre-YLF). They are tucked away in storage. Maybe I should dig them out and post on the forum to see if they pass muster… I actually stopped wearing this look because I feared it was too young and cutesy for me!

to agrace:

i’m 31 and own a pair of shorts like that. i don’t think i’m too old for them, but i would not wear them in professional environment, as i tend to look younger than i am anyway and it’s no good at work.

however i feel young and trendy in them off hours.

I have been waiting for this formula to get posted because I found it the most unlike me but really tempting to try
Thanks for the examples to help visualize.I think it will work especially well in the south where winters are often mild anyway(although these days it is cold and rainy). I think it is a great alternative to the skirt version Danja did in her post, and it will work great on the playground running after little people if the boots are indeed low heeled.Thanks Angie!

Agrace, I also own a pair of tweed shorts I bought at BR two years ago.They are walking /bermuda length that hit about mid knee and are mid-weight black and white tweed wool.I am in my mid-thirties and very cautious about looking “too young” but I feel great in these, very age appropriate. I think because they are also in black and white they appear more grown up as well. Give it a whirl!

Another fan here! Thank you for the great write-up and visuals Angie!

I have already worn this formula a couple of times with my denim clams It did fl a bit daring, but I really liked the look Unfortunately the appropriate weather for this combo is very short in my neck of woods and it is already too cold for it here.

I have also discovered that clams are much more flattering for my body type than any version of walk shorts, so I am in the process of getting rid of all of them What I would really love to find is cure pair of clams in no-denim material:pinstripe or micro check or tweed. I will probably have to go for slim cropped pants and have them shortened .

hahaaha – I took Angie’s caveat about price points seriously, and thought, well, I like that leather (?) bag, but it’s probably expensive, so I’ll just click on the scarf, as I love that even more…designer cashmere scarf at $800+. Just my luck!

As to the overall look – it does have a certain charm, but Tanya is right, the window for this look is brief in our neck of the woods. However, I would consider wearing this on days where I’m running errands, or have an outside playdate. Not sure if it looks goofy when you’re inside and the boots are off, though.

BTW, I really do love the first look, but might have to go with the second look, as it comes with Purell.

I say yes to this look. As an older woman I like these styles that let me wear shorts without actually showing bare legs.
I have wanted a pair of pants with buttons at the knees, like the pair in the second picture, since i was a teenager. I will be looking for a pair before spring hits.
Very cute look to me, and I have all of the components except the shorts.
Angie where would ankle boots come in to play here? Would you then have to have longer pants to the bottom of the calf?

I have been wanting to try this formula for ages with a modifier: instead of clams or walking shorts, I want to find a pair of shorter trouser shorts and wear them with hose. There are some things I have to do while I’m still young! I have wanted to do this for years but can’t find the right shorts.

The clams/walking shorts formula is cute though, but I’m going into my third clamless year. I wish I could have nabbed those Boden clams, but the stars just weren’t aligned

I love this look in fact total coincidence i’m wearing a version of it today x

This is a look I haven’t warmed up too. I guess it is because I haven’t seen it done right IRL.
I doubt it is something I would do…my eye has never found it all that attractive…but again, perhaps because I have never seen it done the correct way:)

“warmed up to”

I love the look of this look. Don’t own clams (am desperate to find a pair but having no luck). I do have 2 pairs of bermudas that I could try it with. In fact today is shaping up to be fairly cool – maybe I could get away with wearing this to work this afternoon No time like the present hey!

Hi Angie,
I think this look is Advanced YLF, and we should all Proceed With Caution! I do think your suggestions look great, however I didn’t love the look on the ladies from Hong Kong. I particularly liked the top outfit you suggest, but I’d only try it sticking strictly to your example

Meredith, I love how you labeled this formula “advanced YLF”! It *is *a little more creative, but quite easy once you have the components. All you’re really doing is swapping out a skirt for short length pants.

The photos of the ladies in Hong Kong served as inspiration for this formula. I’ve provided a more mainstream approach to the same idea.

Michele, I’m going to suggest how to “winterize” all the formulas next week so stay tuned.

Agrace, I’d definitely keep looking for tweed walk shorts or clams.

Patience and Louise, FABULOUS.

San, you could certainly try booties with the look. Then you’d need to add hose. Keep the leg line one colour when you experiment.

Maya and Tam, I expect you both to sport this look soon.

I would love to try this look- just not in this cold weather we are having. I will definitely be on the lookout for a pair of clams come spring.

I love this look on others, but don’t think I could ever pull it off. I’m not daring enough!

I’ve got a pair similar to the second pair with buttons at the knee. I even paired them with boots the other day. I didn’t take a picture because I thought for sure they would not be approved of. Does the look work with a high heel boot? Guess I’ll have to post a picture and see if I got it right.

I love this look, I must try this for myself!

I am loving all the MOTG outfits. But now I need some MOTG WINTER outfits! Seriously– how do you stylishly dress for snow 4 feet deep and temperatures below zero? And it’s Christmas and Holiday time! Sadly, autumn is over.

Angie, you’re so funny! The purell addition in the second version is classic.

I like this look and have been doing it for a couple years. (Was I woefully out of fashion or just ahead of the game?) I have a pair of corduroy (I know, I know! But I like them!) clams that I have used for the look. Probably won’t be able to wear them this year, though.

Angie, this look is really adorable, but I just have a preference for skirts rather than the walk boots, because my rise is at a weird length and finding pants that fit is a perpetual challenge. But the silhouette is similar to MOTG outfit #6, which is my favorite after number 3!

Hmmm, I finally found a pair of knee-length jeans this summer that didn’t frighten children and small dogs away. I have never thought of wearing them with boots to extend their wear into winter. Food for thought!