One year ago today... - YouLookFab Forum

...I started taking outfit photos and posting them, and also challenged myself not to repeat an outfit for a year ("outfit" defined as top+bottom+shoes), and did a DAW challenge but that didn't last the full year. It's been a Very Useful Thing. I've learned a lot about flattering my shape, how to effectively mix/remix clothes, and began to develop my personal style.

At this time last year I was rarely/never:
- layering well or at all
- paying attention to PPL (though I got it right by accident for a long time)
- wearing bottoms other than jeans
- wearing boots
- wearing accessories other than earrings
- doing anything with my hair
- wearing make up
- thinking about my outfits from head to toe
- paying attention to my outerwear
- able to put an outfit together in under 10 minutes

I'd say I've come a long way

Today I wore the dress I wore to start this project off (photo #1), in an outfit more true to my style (photo #2), though certainly a bit fancier; it IS a celebratory day after all! It's been a fun experiment and I plan to continue taking daily photos, though I think I'll allow myself repeats this year. I look forward to what another year of cataloging will bring!

EDIT: The whole year is on my website if you click the link. Clicking individual item links will display all outfits which use that item.

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13 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

You've come a long way, baby! What a huge difference in your style. Your personality really comes through now. LOVE the updated dress pic--you look sassy, edgy and uber stylish! WTG, Aida!

catgirl

Love this idea! Have you seen this gal's year of unbelievably creative photos of remixed outfits? I absolutely love her style, though it isn't mine... I wish I could see your whole series!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/a.....590929767/

ETA: And so glad you are here to inspire me!

Queen Mum

Happy Style anniversary! You have come a long way! I love the new version of the dress that started it all

Aida

Thanks ladies!

Una, if you click my website link in my profile it'll take you to my Weardrobe page where I have been posting my photos since I started. You can also click on an item of clothing's link to see which outfits it was worn in (handy for the whole no-repeats thing!). I hadn't seen that gal's set, it looks so good! She has really great accessories!

EDIT: Aw, glad I can inspire you!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I say KILLER all round, Aida. What a fabulous and disciplined experiment. Congratulations!!!

I love, love outfit #2. It's my favourite *ever* from you. You are fab

That's an amazing feat just to keep track of, in my book! Let alone putting your mind to remixing everything for one full year!! I bow to you I will have to give the website a look-see. I love seeing your posts. Glad it gave you some insight into your own personal style along the way!

Elly

You look amazing Aida! The change is really dramatic, such growth within a year! You even look like you are up to no good/on your way to having WAY too much fun in the second photo ; )

Thanks everyone! My husband is still surprised I've stuck out the daily photos this long, I usually move on to the next exciting thing pretty quickly!

Angie - This is more the type of look I'd like for dressier occasions. I have a hard time working a dress like this into a casual look that fits me, though it may not be possible with the casualness I usually don.

Mo - Even though the forced remixing resulted in the occasional odd looks I think it really helped me see how much I could stretch what I have. It also really helped me determine what my real holes were in the context of looks I was trying to create that fit my style as opposed to the lists of "things every woman should have" which is what I'd kind of relied on prior.

Elly - I wish I was up to no good! I just went to work today, and later to the gym hehe

CocoLion

I like what you said: that the forced remixing helped you see how much you could stretch what you have, and that you came up with a much better list of what you needed.

What is a DAW challenge, something like SYC?

Coco, it was one of my biggest revelations! Especially as a list gal, it's much nicer having lists that actually make sense for my style and wardrobe. DAW is "dress a week," it's Kelly's coining but it's a nice short way of explaining it Last year I was wearing only jeans and wanted to branch out, so I tried to wear non-jeans once a week which was usually in the form of a dress or skirt. I'm back to trying an actual dress/skirt a week along with Kelly now!

I think I need both an SYC and a DAW challenge, LOL! I ONLY wear jeans ever since I moved to a rural area 5 years ago. My big revelation a year ago was to say, since I only wear denim, it should be premium denim so I upgraded my denim wardrobe (is that logical?). I would feel really overdressed in anything but jeans around here. What to do? I guess I'm in the same boat as MOTGs.

Do non-denim pants count? Or just skirts and dresses? How did you ever get out of the jeans only habit? Did you allow yourself a weekly denim ration?

Another question: how can you get dressed in under 10 minutes without resorting to jeans, t-shirt, hoodie/sweater?

Coco, if jeans are most appropriate for your lifestyle (as it is with mine) I would say non-denim should count. At first all I HAD was jeans, and wanted to break out of it, so I picked up leggings to wear with a handful of dresses/skirts. Later on I added a couple pairs of corduroy bootcuts (dark brown, wine, honey), slim/skinny denim in non-blue washes (gray, black), and a pair of olive twill skinnies. All just as casual as my jeans, but the variety of color, material, and cut keeps things interesting while still appropriate for my lifestyle. However, I still wear my blue jeans the most (and only have a couple pairs) because I love jeans, but at least now I don't feel confined to them. So this time around, I'm trying to actually wear a skirt/dress once a week since now that is a bigger challenge for me.

For your other question, I meant that I couldn't come up with a good outfit without spending 30+ minutes thinking about it, trying things on, changing pieces out, testing accessories etc. These days I usually spend just a few minutes coming up with the outfit, but I'm still pretty slow to get ready (about an hour from shower to fully done up, most of that time is non-dressing time). To be fair, I DO mainly wear jeans+tee/sweater+heels but I try to ensure those items are stylish and flattering so that it doesn't look shlumpy (and adding jackets/cardigans helps too, as do various accessories).

Sally

I looked at this post a couple of times and it's just dawned on me that that is the same dress...wow. you really have changed the way you wear it. Like both outfits but in number 2, you really do look very sassy and confident
You have inspired me to 1. wear the clothes I have in different ways to find my true style and 2. to document my outfits more often.

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