Simple insight - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Urgent

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Simple insight

Mochi

Veteran

(Whoops, posted from iPhone without checking--this isn't Urgent! Sorry)

Yesterday I posted a WIW http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ls-for-now

It hit all the notes of being weather-appropriate and having a nice springy mood.

And for me it's more pulled together than my previous fashion-depressed MO of just wearing a t-shirt and some drab jeans and sneakers.

But I had this nagging sense that grows more and more clear, that the outfit is totally ok, but not me.

The top is too brightly-colored. Something about it bugs me. Also the neckline. I bought it on eBay for a great price, so I'll wear it this season...but I'm much more sensitized to feeling like "me" in an outfit than I had thought. Particularly when I'm trying.

I'm not even sure I understand the whole range of what "me" is with clothing beyond my standard FFBOs...just that this subtle sense is very relentless when it's not quite there.

Urgent

14 replies

Latest reply was from Sally

Anonymous

That's a shame. It was a great look, I thought. But you have to feel like you when all is said and done. Colors do exert a powerful force on our moods and outlook.

Mochi

Veteran

I'll still wear it, Xtabay! But I'll feel like I'm being lazy, rather than taking time or somehow making the effort to have it be good.

Anonymous

...maybe you'll get used to the top, which is a great shape for you and the colours are very summer-appropriate. It is bright, but my experience is that I'm much more amenable to bright colours in the summer than winter. Perhaps bring it back out of a fine sunny day and see how you feel about it.

rachylou

Veteran

I wouldn't get rid of any of the pieces. I think the thing is, all together, you look very nice. I mean, there's no urban grit in this outfit.

Chris987

Veteran

I totally get what you are saying. You want to give something a good try when it's a new style or color for you, but also be able make a good final decision. I am learning that if I'm trying too hard to like something then I must not really like it. It can take a while for that nagging "no" voice to become the dominant one...

Mochi

Veteran

I think Rachel sums it up. I'm not trying to be Cool Mom (or fight being Cool Mom either, for that matter), but something about this is eh. But darn it, does everything I wear have to be pirate-y? Particularly, warm-weather pirate-y? I have hardly figured anything out yet. That said, most of what I've recently bought I am madly in love with.

Anonymous

Nope, not everything has to be piratey, lol! It's possible the floral print is not you.
It took me a long time to figure out that I don't like any pattern at all in main clothing pieces.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I can relate. Nearly every bright color or patterned item I have purchased seems to end up in the donate pile. Sometimes I think the only things I will wear have to be charcoal, navy or deep olive green in v-neck or button downs (essentially still a v-neck). Some brick red and burgundy are my idea of "color". And not much pattern - or at least very subtle pattern. Most of the other stuff in various colors and styles gets little wear.

I'm trying to accept this for what it is and keep focusing on fit, cut, proportions, shoes, accessories, etc. as for me, I think those are the keys to me feeling the best in my mostly neutral, solid palette.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I would give it a little time. My color palette and overall style shifts a bit with the seasons -- a little lighter, a little more "pretty" in summer -- and I am just going with it for the moment. I thought you looked great in the outfit. But keep paying attention to your instincts.

ETA: It also occurs to me that in the outfit in question, you paired a floral top with light bottoms, and maybe it would feel more *you* to pair it with something darker or more rugged. Is there olive in that top? I could see it working well with olive cargoes or something similar.

Aida

Veteran

One other thing to think about: Just because things look good paired together doesn't mean you have to wear them together! I fight this one often. There are plenty of ways of pairing items that just won't quite jive with the style you're after. And on the flip side it is very much worth trying some of those combos, and even wearing them out, sometimes to keep yourself fresh. I actually see yesterday's outfit as quite in line with where you've said you wanted to be headed. Jacket, jeans, and sandals all have a bit of a tomboy vibe, and only the top is decidedly "pretty". I wonder if your new haircut is affecting things as well?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I missed the outfit, but loved it. Proportionally, it's one of the best outfits that you've posted. Good fits.

I think you're reacting to the floral pattern - it's not really your thing in Spring colours. The jeans might not feel rugged enough either. The look is a lot crisper than what you usually wear, which might be why it felt off (despite it looking good). Had the tones been muddier and the denim a little more RATE, you'd probably have felt more *you*. Add the dandy shirt and Bobs your Uncle.

Mochi

Veteran

Janet, I also thought later about the particular impact of the white jeans with this top. I can't explain why, but it brought in this very conventional vibe for me.

Aida, I totally agree that I am going for more "pretty" in my look, in some way, and that theoretically the top should be doing that. It just seemed garish to me.

I think I really like solid colors, or low-contrast patterns most of the time. Of course, there will always be exceptions.

There's more I would love to discuss, but I'll put it in a separate post. Thanks, everyone!

Mochi

Veteran

Yes, of course, Angie nails it. Thank you. xoxo

Sally

Veteran

I don't think you have to always follow the same style but I guess that it pays to always dress so you feel "yourself" I"m still trying to figure out my style etc and what suits my body type so your reflections are really interesting.

Perhaps you can play around with separate items so it feels more you as some have suggested. I often swap pieces with other people if I feel that something in my wardrobe would suit someone else's style and then they give me something they think might be better for me...that works sometime.