While there are several threads and posts around I hope you don’t mind me starting a separate thread because it’s a sort of my own tradition to round up my YLF year this way and I can also link this thread to my own blog.

This year on YLF was outstanding for so many reasons. Because we’re not chatting only about style, but life as we live it, I must start by real-life observation: I have never before noticed that so many fabbers have moved homes, nor that we’ve welcomed so many new babies as in 2014. It’s a wonderful feeling to share such important events with everyone.

Style-wise, we’ve never had so many interesting challenges happening and watching how everyone interpreted the challenges or embraced the opportunities to fine-tune their own style was as educational as it was fun.

While Angie's blog posts and their comment section remain constant inspiration, we’ve also discussed about style a lot on the forum. There are so many threads I haven’t had time to comment on and I am so sorry because I felt the authors and contributors should at least know how helpful or inspirational the discussions were for me, but there are only so many hours in the day and I am happy I had time to read at least. Hearted to keep returning to them, I won’t mention names because I risk leaving someone out, but you know who you are.

Honorary mention: Inge, you do an outstanding job with your blog posts and I am so looking forward to meet the new bloggers, but one stood out for me especially this year. The title said it all “A Modern Classic with a Skillfully Curated Wardrobe”, but getting to know tall (yes, I am biased and happy to admit that) and fun Ashley better was a real treat. And on my birthday of all days.

(***) Best style moment for me was rabbit’s incredible series of outfits inspired by Commes des Garçon runaway show ( 1 ) ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ). It brought somewhat distant runaway fashion so much closer. To take interesting, alien-like creations and translate them into wearable outfits sums up one of the reasons why I love YLF community so much: real women, real lives, real clothes - and inspiration from everywhere.

(***) One memorable moment was wearing pearl earrings in memory of Jenanded’s beautiful daughter Mardi who passed away suddenly earlier this year. There were other occasions during my YLF years when I felt that the YLF sisterhood was so strong regardless of where we are on the globe, as if there was something different in the air on those days, and this was one such day. Poignant and hopefully just a little comforting to Jenaded, who shared with us her daughter’s view on life “When I feel sad I say don't be sad go and do something awesome…” The words to take away and live by, from someone so young.

Pearl earrings have since then remained my most worn piece of jewellery througouht the rest of the year. They remind me of the fragility of life, wonder and hardship of motherhood, and the gift of friendship, even with people I will never meet but who move me and inspire me daily.

(***) Staying in the emotional sphere, in one of her threads SarahTheWhite mentioned that she wears the jewellery with emotional significance. It was not revelation of any sort nor dramatic realisation either, but I had once again felt very strongly about the level of self/awareness behind such statement and was inspired to pay yet more attention to why it is that some pieces - be it jewellery or clothing item if I wear it with special intention - reflect me, because that’s what I’ve particularly tried to focus on this year.

My Syle Goals

I did not set myself style goals, but had written a post in September analysing where my style journey would take me next. As late in the year as it was, it was actually the right time for me to sum things up, immediately after the move to a new home, when I was at the point of the beginning of a new phase of my life, both actually and methaporicaly.

The main points were:
[1.] I want my outfits to be simple, clean, practical, feminine, flattering and finished. The outcome: I feel I’m there. I’m staying where I am.

[4.] I prefer feeling 100% me at the cost of appearing uninteresting and I want to incorporate into my outfits small details that are of significance to me.

The outcome: check!

[5.] I am perpetually wondering if Modern Classic is enough to describe my style. The outcome: Work in progress.

Reading them right now, what stands out is my desire and need to simplify my wardrobe, and I have achieved that. The positive effects of my wardrobe learnings spill over to other areas of my life. Unsurprisingly, as many other learnings from YLF proved to be useful life lessons in the past too.

This brings me to my favourite outfits of this year.

( 1 ) Adding this one following Sveta's comment below. Worn for my son's birthday in March, his favourite colour is blue so wore is as colour-on-colour, turtleneck and scarf. I did not include it initially because I've been experimenting with limited colour palette (which did not include cobalt blue) as a result of exploring where I want to take my style, but the rich, bold colour, comfortable skirt and altogether unfussy, simple silhouette with my favourite - and practical - accessory continuie to be very much me.

( 2 & 3 ) - The outfit worn to my favourite artist’s concert in April. My thoughts on why I wore such a simple outfit are in the separate thread. The outfit itself was a catalyst to start exploring what it is that makes my style authentic. The concert was memorable evening on many accounts, and I also met the man whose charisma and presence in the moment - as well as authenticity - were truly inspirational.

( 4 ) - Red ruana. Worn on the fresh day in May as the outerwear. Ruana itself is a couple of years old piece, and one that perfectly captures my affection for simple pieces of fabric which - when wrapped around the body - transform into something magical. I feel special every time I wear it.

( 5 ) - The full white linen skirt. Another piece from my wardrobe that stands the test of time and makes everything else I wear with it special. I wore this outfit in July, on the day when we got the keys to our house. It reflects the feminine aspect of my style descriptors and was a deliberate choice as that was the day when the wait for home was over and I was literally the Lady of the House.

( 6 ) - Another summer outfit. From neglected and puzzling piece in my wardrobe, the chambray short became a staple after I gave it a second chance in a challenge I did. This outfit was inspired by one of Day Vies’, classic in reverse, and I am happy to play with a take on classic. Plus, white jeans, need I explain more why this one was repeated over and over again?

( 7 ) - Channeling Greg and Inge’s outfits from SSIF which Coco Lion pointed to in her own thread. Perfect inspiration for a special occasion in October, to celebrate my friend’s PhD. When in doubt… when in doubt, wear B&W. So easy. When each of those individual pieces are much loved is a wonder, when they all work together so well is a magic.

( 8 ) - Something I loved with "irrational intensity", the phrase Adelfa coined around the time when I bought this dress. I saw it on the hanger and was instantly smitten. It was a wild card of sorts - woollen dress and winter item only, totally different from anything I owed and the most expensive piece of clothing I ever purchased. High-risk purchase from May, just before the upheaval and the expenses of the move, I had to wait several months to actually wear it. It feels so fantastic on every level. The moment I saw it I knew I could easily spend the whole winter wearing mostly it, it’s both basic and interesting enough. With its unusual cut, a few cleverly placed seams, cowl neck and long sleeves, all I have to change are hose and footwear or perhaps add a piece of jewellery to make it feel different. It made most of other clothing I was seeing around me unexciting, and pushed me to shift more pieces from my own wardrobe to donation pile, thus liberating me. It’s simply right. It made me think of narrowing down silhouettes to the one - or very few - that would satiate my sartorial needs, where the variety, if I want it, can be achieved with just a few other subtle changes. A game changer for sure.

And that’s my 2014 on YLF . Thanks for reading, thanks for your friendship and have a wonderful New Year with your loved ones.