How Has YLF Changed Your Dressing Style - YouLookFab Forum

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How Has YLF Changed Your Dressing Style

Anonymous

I am not asking if you are now a more careful and thoughtful shopper. I am asking if there is a change that occurred as a direct consequence of reading YLF.

For me, pre-YLF, I never owned or wore jeans of any type unless I had field work scheduled. Today, I own five pair of jeans that I wear fashionably. This is a huge change for me. This change took place slowly as a direct consequence of reading posts from Forum members describing their jean capsules. I suddenly wanted one too.

I will say that this change exactly coincided with the casualization of fashion in the work place and low worker morale. So it might have been the dual influences that led me to experiment with jeans as a fashion alternative to black slacks.

I am still experimenting.

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from Ivy

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

My style has changed ALOT. I joined the forum because I wanted to learn how to dress 'casually smart'..... I had no clue how to do that. After looking at all the WIWs from forum members and experimenting ALOT, I think I can now successfully say that I *can* dress casually smart with absolute ease.

YLF opened me up to jean cuffs, stompy boots, the semi-tuck (waves to Sisi), flared jeans, clutches, drapery tees, pretty tees, slip on sneakers and so so much more.

I've finally found a style aesthetic that's quite 'me' & also perfect for my lifestyle plus weather, thanks to YLF!

Anna

It's helping me get braver in my fashion choices. It also helps me stay more up to date with the newest styles, and when others post their outfits gives me great ideas to try. I love my fashion mags but this site puts it all in one place and that helps immensely with my limited time.

Mirjana

Veteran

I agree with Anna it's helping me get braver in my fashion choice, too. It give me idea how to combine pieces in my wardrobe easy and modern, helps stay up to date, yes, really change a lot my styling. I am happy to be here.

Traci

Veteran

I think first and foremost, YLF has taught me to be gentler with myself and more forgiving of my body. It's true that we don't tend to judge others as we do ourselves. Through seeing so many amazing looking women here, of all shapes and sizes, along with Angie's constant reminder that style isn't a number, I've started giving myself permissions to not always have my first objective in dressing to be covering this part or that.

For good or bad,YLF has also caused me to like more expensive things...and buy them! I do still think you can happen upon good quality in less expensive stores from time to time, but I have seen time and again that even in grainy pictures the more expensive items often stand out as nicer. Alas, Target and Old Navy get much less of my money and Nordstrom is getting much more.

I think I've been here 6+ years and I'm still opening to some of the basic dressing suggestions. Only in the last month have I finally started trying to use a column of color base layer. What a revelation that I could have had years ago! I laughed recently at how behind the times I can be, as I was eschewing a "pop of color" in my neutral outfits. I remember when I first joined the forum some members were verbal about not liking a "pop of color" and I just couldn't even wrap my head around the idea that a pop of color isn't ALWAYS a good idea. Now I'm finally coming around. It's probably time for a pop of color to be the new direction everyone's going as a reaction to all the minimalism.

eta: Looking back at the question I'm not sure I answered it in the way you were asking. Apologies if my rambling missed the point.

Astrid

Veteran

My style changed A LOT over my years here. I was a tomboy in ill fitting clothes with no sense for fit or color. One of the biggest changes was probably that I never wore skirts or dresses before and now I love them. And my style is more dressy. Also, even on the days when I wear jeans, pullover and sneakers (which is still a big part of my style) I look way more stylish than I did back then (mostly because things now truly fit me and the colors look good together and on me).

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I lurked for ages before pitching in on the forum about 2 years ago. My style objective at that point was to get to the bottom of what really suited me and why. Before YLF I sometimes struggled to get dressed because I was very fixated on "getting it right" without having a formula. Now I have a formula. Or formulae.

I've learned a lot mainly from the conversation, thinking through some complex ideas like Kibbe and seasonal colour analysis. I've found that applying these concepts I can actually wear a lot of things I might have considered a bit boring in the past because I can get them to work for me in the right colours and proportions.

It's also made me more confident in my choices. I feel like I'm working towards a style that's very much my own and expresses who I am without getting fixated about whether it's the "right" thing to wear.

Most of what I've done since then is streamlining. If anything, I dress more conventionally than I used to, but that's OK. Conventional feels radical when you've been bucking trends all your life.

Anonymous

I think YLF has mostly helped me define my style and buy the clothing that best reflects it. I also appreciate Angie's "just flattering enough" advice, which gives me room to experiment.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

How hasn't it changed my style?

I didn't even have one before I found the forum, and precious little fashion sense, either.

Part of it was budget and time and location (no good stores near me). I longed to dress well but for years barely bought more than a few things (and always at the local discount store or thrift) and wore the same old jeans all the time, didn't follow fashion, didn't have a clue what was going on in that world.

YLF has taught me that style is like anything else in life. You get what you put in. If you put in time and thought and consideration, and look at yourself kindly and objectively, you will find ways to present yourself so that your own true beauty and strength and verve will begin to emerge — and that is what we mean by personal style.

I spend far more on clothing than I ever have in my life. In the past five years I've probably spent more than in my entire previous lifetime! There's a negative side to that, of course -- overconsumption is not doing favours to our planet -- but then again, I had to buy quite a lot to build a wardrobe from the ground up, and the longer I am here the more selective and deliberate I'm becoming in my purchases. Also, thinking in terms of capsules has helped me to organize my shopping better, so that I'm replacing items that need replacing and considering my long term needs, and balancing one prospective purchase against another that I might need to make.

But that wasn't what you asked -- you wanted to know about specific changes. I could probably list hundreds, but here goes. As a direct result of reading YLF, I:

Cut my hair short again.
Tried premium denim.
Started wearing white jeans.
Adopted the semi-tuck.
Bought (and wore) my first booties!
Got into fashion sneakers.
Experimented with a lot of trends, including but not limited to -- slouchy BF fits, cropped pants, graphic tees, higher shaft footwear, culottes, kimonos.
Became (predominantly) an online shopper.
Began to feel more confident in my own fashion choices and started having fun with fashion!

I'm sure I will think of lots more but that's a start.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Yes, it's helped in so many ways. In one way, it was like getting "permission" to wear better clothing, even though I live a very casual lifestyle. Before I was mostly wearing basic shorts and basic tees every day - because I didn't think I could justify wearing my nicer things when I wasn't going out. Now I wear most all of my clothes, rather I'm going out or not.

It's also helped me define my style preferences. Minimal outfits (not minimal wardrobe), slight tomboy vibe, classic, and a hint towards the outdoors.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Sterling, there's nothing I can think of that's so specific, but I do credit Angie and YLF with encouraging me to open my mind and allow my eyes to adjust. I've got a tendency towards being judgmental (it's one of my worst qualities, one I try to fight!) and too often I'd dismiss a style right out of the gates. That path leads to less experimentation, and ultimately less fun. Besides, who doesn't want to broaden their mind?

shedev

Veteran

Mine is the third piece. I've always loved the idea of blazers but never actually wore them. YLF showed my all kinds of nonblazer toppers, and now I wear one about 1/2 the week as weather permits.

JAileen

Veteran

Mainly, I have a more open mind. I try not to dismiss something new right off the bat. As to specifics, I have much better shoes for one thing. I used to wear clogs every day!

Anonymous

Yes to the shoe improvements! I get most of my shoe inspo from YLF. My shoe collection was pretty sorry and out-of-date before signing on. Shoes were always kind of an afterthought for me, and I'm sure my outfits suffered because of this, but now I'm all about having the right shoe on to work its magic with the outfit.

kkards

Veteran

mostly YLF gave me/has given me the freedom to try....I 1st came to YLF because I bought a pair of skinny pants that I wanted to wear to work, but I couldn't figure out how...YLF not only showed me, but gave me the courage (really freedom) to wear them, because it showed me, on real people. and because the forum has given me the knowledge that the worst that will happen is I'll not get the details right, but I can ask for and get help.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Being tempted by more expensive clothing like today's Tina Turk blouse.
Paying attention to trends, and considering them.
Trying combinations and items I wouldn't have tried. Purchasing items I wouldn't have purchased. Adapting blog ideas to what I own, and my pleasure in doing so.
Buying clothing at NAS. Knowing about using a store stylist for NAS.
Leggings.
Thinking about hacking jeans.

But most of all, Angie and the community. The feeling of support and connection, and the receiving of advice, from people I have never met in person, has been surprising and stunning, in a beautiful way.

LaPed

Veteran

This is such a great thread.

The biggest change I've made since joining YLF is becoming less haphazard in my outfits and in my shopping.

I've always had a great willingness to try new silhouettes and odd-seeming combinations, to the point that my style was veering heavily into magpie territory. For better or worse, my response to funky colors and patterns and unusual proportions has always been, "Oh, I'd totally wear that!" instead of, "Oh, I could never wear that."

But over time, I've come to realize that the outfits that make me happiest involve restraint: a simple color palette (dark neutrals and denim), simple patterns (like stripes), minimal accessories that add a dose of edge or cute (or both), subtle pops of asymmetry and color.

I'm finding it so freeing to have this basic formula within which I can play around. It allows me to shop more purposefully and makes choosing something to wear less complicated, and I go out feeling more confident.

Specifically, the #1 biggest change I've made is not buying things that are on deep discount just because they're very cheap. I still very rarely pay full price, but I no longer buy the colorway that's the most marked-down -- I buy the color that's best for me and works with what I have at home.

Ginger

Veteran

This is a tough one! I've been on a style journey since I stopped wearing head-to-toe vintage or repro. YLF has been a huge part of accelerating that journey and giving me confidence along the way. Let me see...

* A tip from a YLF'er led me to American Eagle jeans. My style hasn't been jeans-dependent since I was a fashion-ignorant high schooler, but it's been inconvenient since then to not have a single pair of jeans I can tolerate. Now I have two pair that I love. I'm about 10 years late to skinny jeans, but I'm okay with that.
* Footwear. Oxfords, ankle-strap flats, Chelsea booties, and fashion sneakers. Almond toes.
* Considering, buying, and appreciating more expensive items than I have before.
* Consciously choosing the *best* and not the *good enough*. (Though I'm REALLY waffling on a pine green 1950s wool blend knit with a collar and 3/4 sleeves...)

Lyn D.

Veteran

Lots of things already mentioned!
I pay much more attention to fabric and fit nowadays.
I often wear trends way before they take-off here- some don't get it but I don't mind
I don't feel guilty about how much I spend as fashion is my favourite hobby.

DonnaF

Veteran

Pre-YLF, I basically had no style. I think my wardrobe was mostly ill fitting (on my body) boring Lands End that was over a decade old because LE simply doesn't wear out. I knew nothing about trends and rarely went into clothing stores or departments.

Post-YLF, I am a lot more adventurous, have learned (I think) never to say never, and am aware of trends even if I don't participate. My DD is a young adult and out of the house so I no longer worry about embarrassing her so I don't really care any more if I stand out and dress outside my environmental norm. I still get a little embarrassed because I think folks at church check out what I'm wearing each Sunday because I get comments all the time.

Staysfit

Veteran

The key things that have changed:
1. I use a coherent well defined color palette that makes me happy whenever I see it.
2. I have a wider range of silhouettes to chose from among my jeans, skirts, blouses and knits.
3. I duplicate much less frequently.
4. My third piece isn't always a scarf. It might be a jacket, a cardigan, or a statement necklace.
5. My shoe collection has exploded (It was large before, now it's enormous)
6. I started to wear dresses and skirts more frequently.
7. I stopped hoarding my "good" clothes for special occassions and put them front and center where I would wear them everyday.
8. I am less afraid to make a fashion mistake, even expensive ones. They happen to all of us. It's not the end of the world. I can move on and don't feel overly guilty.
9. I buy and wear what makes me happy and what feels good.
10. I taken risks and tried things even when I was dubious about whether they would look good. The only way to know is to try. It's been wicked fun! I have had some good laughs and found some amazing items.

El Cee

Veteran

Great thread, Sterling! Hmmm... I would have to say that the main YLF-inspired change for me has been to give myself permission to spend more money on my casual at-home wardrobe. I have added a lot of new pieces to my jeans and casual pants capsules and have been more experimental with the silhouettes (adding boyfriend jeans, cropped flares, full length flares and culottes).

April

Veteran

Eight years in, I would say the biggest change is that I give what I wear a lot more thought than I used to. I used to dread shopping, now I really enjoy it. I have learned *many* useful "rules" (like Perfect Pants Length) and tips and hints from Angie that make getting dressed and putting together outfits easier that it used to be. Now, if something looks wrong, I can usually at least figure out what part of the outfit the wrongness is coming from. I used to be completely clueless -- and really frustrated.

I've learned that I'm not really happy in bright colors. (Sorry, Team Colorful.) I wanted to be, and after hearing people use the phrase "afraid of color" a thousand times, I finally realized there's a difference between preferring neutrals and being "afraid of color."

Anonymous

After reading all the posts, I realized I missed a couple for myself. The comments below are the ones that have been hardest for me to learn and incorporate. That is why they stood out to me.

Like Staysfit, I stopped hoarding my "good" clothes for special occassions and put them front and center where I would wear them everyday. I am also less afraid to make a fashion mistake, even expensive ones. They happen to all of us. It's not the end of the world. I can move on and don't feel overly guilty.

Like El Cee, I too have been inspired to give myself permission to spend more money on my casual at-home wardrobe.

I didn't see this one posted, but I don't make as many impulsive purchases. Everything seems to fit into a plan. La Pedestrienne reminded me that I also stopped buying things that are on deep discount just because they're very cheap.

I continue to grow.

Nishaa

Put money on classics, work wear, get trendy, experimental things cheaper.
Slouchy fits.
Buy what you love at full price. It's worth it.

Brooklyn

Veteran

White jeans! I have tried them out before but they weren't a success for me, for various reasons. I just bought another pair in a different style for the summer. I definitely would not have persisted except that so many people on the forum wear them so well (particularly Angie).

Ginkgo

Veteran

Got a bra fitting (changed from 36B to 34DD), went from 2 pairs of hideous jeans to 8 pairs of fashionable jeans and have a good assortment of jackets and booties and oxfords to wear with them. I also started wearing light makeup and have fallen in love with lipstick. I wear mostly navy and gray and find it much easier to get dressed but everything (color or style) has to look flattering. My goal is to look current, rather than a blast from the past.

anne

Veteran

I wear more white, in particular white bottoms. I have more shoes, and not just those that are black. I wear knee high boots, which I hadn't for years based on one very young co-worker's comments. Like Gingko, I own more jeans.There are probably others, but those are what springs to mind!

Style Fan

Veteran

I joined YLF and retired around the same time. I had time to think about my wardrobe and started to be methodical about my clothing. I enjoyed doing the research on wardrobe management.

Joining YLF helped me realize what worked best for me. I had some intuitive ideas about what worked but I had never taken pictures of my outfits and broken them down.

I also have moved from focusing on my "negative" attributes. For most of my teen and adults years I would look at pictures of myself and think "very large hips". Even when I was much skinnier I thought this.

lyn67

Veteran

Went for bolder contrast all over.

Changed my winter neutrals from denim and browns to black and my summer neutrals from cream to bright white. Added pop of color (esp.coral&citron).

Than slowly added whites to my spring/winter wardrobe, too: jeans, jean skirts, denim jackets, pencil, other jackets(spring coat) and cascade cardis, you name it.

Fluid fits, layering (esp short over long& top tails showing from under some other items-if finding the right proportions).
Oxfords, loafers AND peep toe booties (that pre YLF would have never guessed what they can be used for:-)).

Wanted to say about ankle pants (or cuffing pants) AND scrunching sleeves on jackets, too, but that's NOT TRUE! I DID IT ALL MY LIFE, only do it more conscious and much more confident, now!

Phew!:-)

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