1. Angie's Smart Casual formula was my trigger. Such an "ah-ha" moment for me!
Because I'm petite and have always been young looking for my age, I tended to dress up a lot. Never wore jeans, even though I work in high-tech where this is expected. I went through a long awkward stage in which I didn't know what to wear to work, if I couldn't wear a suit to give me authority and help me look my age. fell into a rut of wearing a uniform to work, day after day:
1) Black dress slacks
2) Boring V-neck pullover sweater (short sleeve in summer, long sleeve in winter)... I had these in every color of the rainbow.
3) Black pumps
4) Black handbag
5) Black coat
6) Stud earrings - no necklace.
Presentable, but ohhhh so ... BORING!
Also, I would dread weekends the most, because casual wear made me look like a teeny bopper. Since I didn't wear jeans, it was always khakis. I fell into a rut on the weekends, where my formula was:
1) GAP Khakis (yes, even in winter... I'd freeze)
2) GAP knit scoop neck top - usually black
3) Pullover sweater in the winter
4) black or brown loafers or sandals
BORING!
About 5 years ago, I switched to full-time telecommuting. I rarely have to go in an office. I had a closet full of black dress pants - and NO jeans. Quite impractical for my telecommuting lifestyle. I knew I needed a style transformation. I've always been interested in fashion, watch WNTW, etc. I just never knew how to adapt it to my own self.
I bought my first pair of premium jeans before finding YLF. I was searching the web to find out ideas for how to style them, and came across the Smart Casual formula. The rest is history!
2. Too hard to pick just one item. How about this:
a. Swapping my usual, boring v-neck pullover for a v-neck cardigan - that made a huge difference, as it opened up layering possibilities
b. Swapping a plain, garden-variety tee shirt (such as from the GAP) for a more interesting top - such as a patterned sweet pea top, a dressy/silky top, or a tee with interesting details (graphic/embellished). I now have a whole stable of "statement" tops - and I usually start with "which top do I want to wear today?" and build an outfit from there.
c. Learning to wear a suit jacket with jeans, instead of dress or suit slacks. I have always LOVED the structure and authority a smart jacket provides. I loved the days in the 80s and early 90s when I had to wear a suit every day to work. I love learning that I can still wear my jackets - just paired with jeans. That combo is funky, smart, fashionable - instead of staid, stuffy, out of place and overdressed. Woo-hoo!
d. Swapping my black winter coat for something in a fun color.
e. Breaking out of the "black or brown" rut for shoes and bags. If you want a versatile bag, go for cream. If you want a versatile shoe, go for a metallic. So much more interesting than black or brown!
f. I'm still working on this one, but, following Angie's "rule" that if I buy something in black, it must have texture.
g. I've also learned that it helps to decide if you are a "gold and brown" girl, or a "silver and black" girl first. I can wear either, and I like both, so a result, it's like I have two separate wardrobes. For awhile there, it was frustrating because the two separate wardrobes didn't work together. If you are starting out, choose one or the other to build around initially. Today, my wardrobe is about 75% silver or black. It makes getting dressed a lot easier. Renata, on the other hand, is a gold-and-brown gal, as is Greenglove.
