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Breaking the YLF "rules"--what's your rule breaker?

PalmFronds

Hi Ladies,
So today I went to brunch with my family and decided to wear one of my favorite dresses. It is hot as hades here, and my leg are not shaved--perfect excuses also. This dress is the only maxi dress that I own.I bought it about 12 years ago at a Saks outlet at the urging of my late Mother who thought the color was perfect for me. On the hanger it did not look like much but when I put it on I felt like a princess.
And so I have kept it, and everytime I put it on again I feel like a princess, no matter it doesn't give me a better bustline or waistline, and it accentuates my straight shoulders(all aspects I try to help out with my usual dressing).Still, I just adore it. The funny thing is that I totally agree with Angie that maxi dresses on the whole are not much for daytime. But this dress is my rule breaker

http://s938.photobucket.com/al.....eDRess.jpg

So 'fess up ladies, what is your YLF "rule breaker?" I say "rules" because I know Angie encourages some fun and plasticity, not rigid rules really. But for all our attempts staying stylish in the YLF-way, we all have one or two rules we stretch, or would like to stretch. What's yours?

Dressing

36 replies

Latest reply was from yublocka

Maya

Veteran

My recent decision to go for high necklines is definitely a rule breaker, but I don't have any at the moment for pictures. I also wear knits for a lot longer than I'm supposed to. My black cardigan from the Gap is 3 years old and I still wear it all the time. I haven't found one that I like more and it serves its purpose well.

This isn't a rule breaker in terms of what to wear, but I am very sloppy about taking care of my clothes. I don't dry clean even when the label says so, and I refuse to iron.

Sorry Angie

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

PF, we've had threads about this subject before. A few times I think. But I can't find them I'm afraid.

Maya, wearing a three year old cardi isn't breaking rules! I have a 4 year old lime green cardi that I still love to wear. It's been on the blog a couple of times too.

PalmFronds

whoops,didn't mean to do a repeat-thread there, but I didn't se the prior threads either.
Just "feeling" that question today I guess...
Maya, I am sure I have you trumped for holding on to some older things in my closet.There are some true artifacts hiding in there! If that really was a rule would be shafted based only on that!

Maya

Veteran

I'm guessing your cardi is a lot nicer than mine Angie.

Anyway, it's not just the cardi. I hold on to all my knits as long as they fit and look nice...BUT I have a much more liberal idea of what fits and looks nice :p

Ele

(website)

Ha, three- and four-year-old cardies! That's nothing, ladies! I realized the other day that my favourite cardi is in fact 6 years old. I got it during my second year of university, at the Club Monaco outlet in Mississauga. I paid- get this- $3.50 for it. It was on the $5 rack because there was a teeny rip (just the size of one or two stitches) on one arm, and since my best friend worked at a CM at the time, I got an employee discount, too. I fixed the rip easily and you can barely tell- best deal I ever had.

And if you think that's good, the next year I got a waistcoat for $0.70 at the same place! I didn't wear it much and don't still have it, though- so the cpw isn't as good.

Kyle

Veteran

I have a pair of boyfriend jeans that I love. I roll them until they hit me at the verboten ankle (or just above) length. I realize this is not recommended, but I do have exceptionally long legs and love to wear the jeans with platform sandals. I like the look.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Are your jeans tapered at the hem and accompanied by a super high heel, Kyle? If so, that will work, just like it did for Danja.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I wear my pajamas to work.

Just kidding.

Chris

I have a black linen A line skirt that is hemmed about two inches below knee (I know - gasp!). It has a nice line to it with some teeny stiched in/down pleats and would be hard to hem. I reserve this one for very hot days (rare here) and wear with a light knit white top and black sandals.
Actually I think I have a couple of other longer than knee length A line skirts in closet...at least one to wear with boots in winter.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

ROFL Ana!

I have considered boyfriend jeans and a maxi dress, but haven't taken the plunge yet on either. It never got quite hot enough to justify a maxi, and I am still too chicken to buy jeans when I haven't settled yet at my final goal weight.

I love me some sky-high heels! I know they're not a no-no, but there's a good amount of YLF skepticism about their comfort. Mine are very comfortable; I try to avoid the bad ones before I buy them.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I wear more black shoes than others would likely approve of, though I'm trying to branch out more.
And I take slight liberties with the length of my capris and do still sport some that are no more than an inch longer than the "just below the knee" length Angie recommends. Don't worry, I've had all my mid-calf-length ones shortened!
I think some of my jewelry is also smaller than the YLF standard, but again, am working on it.
I would still feel comfortable in calf-length skirts, but haven't worn any since finding the site.

Chris

After this thread I went and tried on skirt - it is not as long as I remembered thankfully! Hits at that slim point below knee and above calf muscle if that makes sense. It's not too far out there...

Kari

Veteran

Sometimes in winter I'll still wear a chunky/cable-knit turtleneck or crew-neck sweater if nothing else keeps me warm. I know it is anything but slimming, but sometimes I just get sick of layering up and STILL being chilly.

If it's raining VERY heavily and I'm going to be outdoors, I'll put aside my cute coats and throw on a bright blue water resistant hooded jacket from REI, which I am pretty sure falls into the "gear" clothing category, but keeps me very dry when needed and is lightweight enough to toss in my purse.

shiny

Veteran

I probably said this on the older thread, but I am not giving up my Ugg's any time soon.

Steph

Veteran

Sky high heels can't be a YLF no-no, can they? I think of them more as a "smoke 'em if you've got 'em" sort of accessory, where those of us who can happily traipse about in five inch heels are more than welcome to do so.

My no-no is wearing flip flops and tee-shirts in the summer. I think my flip flops are cute, but they are also very comfy and practical. Personally, I don't see a difference between flip flops and Cons when it comes to walking around town in a casual shoe.

Maya

Veteran

I just thought of this now because of another thread: I wear trouser socks with flats sometimes. They keep my feet reasonably comfy and without blisters and rubbing my perpetually sore pinky toe.

I don't think sky high heels are anywhere near a no-no. If you can't walk in them, find them very painful, or wear them every day without giving your feet a break...that is a definite no-no...but that's not a YLF rule. It's just the right thing to do for the health of your feet. The only time I think they are a style no-no is when you're petite. I think I look silly in 4" heels so I'm not missing out on much by being unable to wear them.

CK

I also have one or two pair of capris that are a little longer than regulation length, purchased pre-YLF. They are dressier styles, and I try to wear them with a bit of a heel, at least.

Laura

I like that there aren't many "rules" given out on here. The vast majority of advice are guidelines. And there is room for discussion! I love hearing different opinions and reasons for wearing looks.

PalmFronds

I agree Laura, that's one of the things I like abut this site--not too many RULES.

But it is nice to see I am not the only one out there bending the "guidelines" a bit

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Leg-shorteneing Gladiator sandals- I love 'em!
I have a higher heeled pair, and a flat pair, and I wear them both a lot. I realize that they are not doing anythign for lengthening my already none too long legline, but it's a "look" that I like. I have large calves that narrow down to rather nice ankles, and my flat pair in particular shows this off.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Oh, skyhigh heels are definitely NOT a no-no, but there are times when I sense some disdain from others for wearing them. The comment thread in the post about the "missing heels", particularly the ideas that the only people who would buy them are women who want to "decorate their closet" with expensive unworn shoes or who apparently don't know their own limitations, was a good example. There was a little too much psycho-analysis about footwear for my taste. I would never cast judgement or make assumptions about people who wear chunky flats, but sometimes the reverse does not hold true.

Interestingly, this also occurs in real life too; I have met several women who not only can't concieve why I would like them, they also make assumptions about my character and my common sense. It's very strange. Even more so because I only started wearing heels in the last couple of years; before then you would have found me strictly in thick loafers and orthopedic inserts. No one thought I was a ditz then!

Anyway, to reiterate, high heels are not a YLF no-no, and Angie herself has never given me the impression she doesn't like them, or their wearers.

shiny

Veteran

Ah, Chewy! You should post on my other thread about this! You look great in gladiators and they don't stumpify your legs. Which is interesting... I know they look great on a lot of people, I'm trying to figure out what the secret is. It's not a simple matter of having long legs - because we saw a lot of examples to disprove that yesterday while people-watching. Now I'm wondering if somehow the gladiators "ground" you, does that make sense? Or maybe one has to have a proportionately long lower leg? I don't know what it is.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

So far, I don't see a lot of “rule breaking” at all. You see! YLF is not about following rules. It’s about solving style challenges using recommended guidelines, and even then there is room to maneuver. There are very few things on my list of absolute no-nos and you'll have a hard time convincing me to change my mind. Three biggies and three medium biggies. I'll leave you to guess the rest.

Khris, I LOVE gladiators. You know that! High heels are great if you can walk in them effortlessly, or sit so that they don’t hurt your feet.

Maya

Veteran

I think it's ridiculous that people judge you that way Kristen. I don't give a hoot about what other women wear on their feet as long as they seem happy and comfortable.

Most women cannot make it through an average day in 4 or 5 inch heels, and it's also true that most women just don't walk around in 4 or 5 inch heels, so I guess when they see you they must think you're suffering somehow.

That's what the original post was trying to get to the bottom of: how come so many sky high heels are in stores when we hardly ever see anyone wearing them? It wasn't meant as a judgment but as a legitimate question. If we see them in stores, they must be selling. And yet we don't see them on the street so much...so where do they end up? There are definitely a lot of women who hobble and limp around in pain in the name of fashion, though. Ask any podiatrist.

Good for you if you can get around in those shoes without any problems. They would be a death wish for me! Actually, I do remember not long ago there was an epidemic of sky high heels in Japan that *was* responsible for the deaths of several girls...but that's another story...

Maya

Veteran

OK I want to guess some of Angie's biggies:

-Any violation of PPL
-Hmm...wearing gear any time while NOT doing exercise?
-Maxi dresses? I'm thinking this is a medium biggie.
-On the shoe side of things: Crocs and bedroom slipper Uggs
-The evil shade of beige (sans sheen)

Did I get any?

bella

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Kristen, it is because we are insanely jealous that you can strut in your gorgeous 5 inch heels that make your legs look miles long, while the rest of us are confined to shorter heights!!!
Rest assured that if I could wear heels and be comfortable, I would wear them EVERYDAY! They are fabulous and so are you in your fabulous heels.

shana

Veteran

I have been slowly purging my closet of the ylf rule breaking items and I honestly think about the "rules" as I put my outfits together now. I admit to wearing t-shirts alone once in awhile and I do still have one pair of bad length capris (better than the 5 or 6 I had in years past!) that I have worn a couple of times this summer. I also have one pair of truly atrocious shoes that would give Angie an apoplexy if she saw them. I am reserving them for gear only although in the past I did wear them out. I think the rule that I break the most is shirt length with skirts. I have really had a hard time finding shirts that are short enough - even in petites since I am both petite and short waisted. I end up wearing shirts that are a tad too long and I just try to scrunch them up so that they are the right length.

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

My biggest rule breaker,( if it is a rule) is the evil shade of beige. I do wear khaki next to my face, I do not wear beige pants anymore. I think I get a break because of my coloring, it looks fine in my opinion. I think there are many interesting shades of taupe, beige and mushroom. I do not think that is a big one for Angie but I could be wrong.
I wish I could wear higher heels, Kristen. You are fortunate!

PalmFronds

Ooh no, I guess I ned to add my khakis to my blacklist then...I am trying SO hard to get rid of them, but they seem like such perfect Mom-pants, clean , not too flashy, not too tight , not too anything-interesting.Someone, help me here...

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