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Tell me about your go-to outfits

Melissa

Only YOU can prevent bad outfit crisis syndrome. Seriously, this morning highlighted that I really must put together a series of go-to outfits and formulas that I can fall back on when one of *those* mornings hits. You know those mornings, right? Ugh. This morning's horrid combo of health issues and lateness (plus snow!) resulted in me wearing something I feel frumpy and unfab in. It also helped me identify a series of wardrobe gaps I need to fill.

So, please tell me about your favorite fall-back outfits that you feel polished and fab in, or the formulas that you rely on in a pinch. I've read Angie's posts on this, but I'd love to hear about, or even see (pictures are great!) the clothes and ideas that you have come to depend on when your self-image is suffering. What do you feel fab in?

Feel free to say as much or as little as you'd like. I'd also love to hear about your workhorse/completer pieces as I am trying to fill in some of my holes in that area.

I am posting today's rumpled mess of an outfit as a reminder to myself that I need to assemble some YLF approved fallback outfits so that I never wear this one ever again.

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Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Louise

Veteran

Have you seen this blog post? http://youlookfab.com/2010/03/.....ck-outfit/
My FFBO is any of my tunics paired with leggings and then throw on boots or shoes x

ETA I should read posts properly before replying I now see you've read this post Doh! x
2nd ETA- piccies x

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Mo

(website)

Veteran

For me in winter or fall, a cropped blazer helps everything feel more put together. Whether I'm wearing heels, tall boots, or flats, skirts, pants or even shorts! - it completes me lol (you had me at hello).

For summer and spring - get back to me. I'm in a mini rut/crisis myself ha ha.

EDIT: oooh piccies, too? Okay! As forementioned - with all types of shoes, all types of bottoms

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Irene

(website)

My outfit on the go is changing with seasons. I am SAHM, so I'm not sure about appropriateness of my recipe for every lifestyle.
At wintertime, I found myself mostly in blue flared cK jeans and beige cashmere V-neck with argyle. Shoes, bags and jewelry interchangeable, and always come one with another.
Summer comes with couple of ivory-off white short sleeve T-shirts made of silk blend, they looks polished and simple, and capri (depends on cleanliness :). Chiffon pleated skirt also do some wonders, because doesn't need ironing.
Autumn and spring - it's my time for wrap-dresses. I have a few, different colors, and the only problem I see with those dresses that I have to have a few pairs of opaque pantyhose. Dress, hosiery and boots make instant impact.

Anonymous

Gee...I usually don't think very hard about it. I'm not sure I have a real *go-to* outfit. I have skirts galore (because I don't wear pants), and I just throw on a top, some jewlery, sandals or flats, grab a bag and go. Most of my things mix and match, so I don't end up in the same outfit very often. Then again, as I've said before, I don't work. I'm a SAHM and I homeschool so home is where I am most of the time. Being a Pastor's wife, though, I do need to look nice when I go out, and I can accomplish that with little effort, because I have the right pieces which allow me to simply grab & go. For church I'll pick a dressy skirt, a blouse and either a jacket or a cardigan, or I'll wear a dress with a cardigan, because many of my dresses are sleeveless. I have many bags in a variety of styles and colors, I'm never matchy-matchy with bags and shoes, so I grab a bag with a bit of contrast most of the time. I have a variety of shoes in various styles: flats, sandals, wedges, heels and boots. I have a good jewelry selection, too. All in all, I can be pulled together in a fairly short period of time without a lot of thought or effort. I now have an eye for what is going to look pulled together, but it took a long time to get here! I think being effortless and stylish at the same time takes a lot of practice and discipline. When I shop for things, I only buy when:

1.)I need it to fill a gap in my wardrobe

2.) I love it

Honestly, I spend much more time showering, doing hair and makeup than I do putting an outfit together. Does that answer your question at all?

MsMary

Veteran

For those really bad days, there's nothing like a dress. Put it on, add some shoes, you're good to go!

Scarlet

Veteran

Honestly, I find having photos of my outfits really helpful. I consider anything that got wide YLF-approval to be an FFBO. Or things I bought specifically to go together. In general the silhouette of slim pants, a tunic and boots is a go-to. Spring/summer is more tricky, but pretty much a dress and flats, I suppose. A good jacket (denim, leather, trench) to throw over it is critical.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Mine is a very casual lifestyle. Here are my fall/winter/spring FFBOs:

1. Boot cut jeans formula. Boot cut jeans, belt, boots, colorful t, blazer or cardi. Pair with neclace(s) or scarf.

2. Skinny jeans formula. Skinny or Straight leg jeans, booties, tunic or long t, blazer or cardi. Long pendant. With this look I may use either a long blazer/cardi or a ...

3. ... Cropped jacket.

These formulas get me through three seasons. I will swap out short sleeved, sleeveless for spring. I will also wear lighter wash jeans in the spring. I like either high contrast brights with neutrals (black, grey, navy) or monochromatic neutrals.

Summer formula -- ??

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chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Tunics or dresses with legging/jegging/jeans (or bare leg in the summer) are really my fall backs. You can add as many or as little accessories as you want.

celia

Veteran

I'm really very lazy on this one. When I know I have to look good but have no clue what to wear I simply wear something that was YLF aproved. Actually since spending more time in the forum I found that I prefer to have a few outfits that I really love and repeat them than to try to remix my items every time in a diferent way.
Have you seen the MOTG formulas?When you have time choose one and try to put together an outfit with the suggestions.So when you need it you know what to pull from your wardrobe.
And, by the way, you are being to hard on yourself.

Jonesy

Veteran

Mine is slim-fitting pants, a tank or other woven top, and a jacket (examples 1-6). Lately I've been mixing it up with slouchier pants, but the basic idea is the same (examples 7-9). Easy, comfortable, and put-together.

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sophiespal

Today was one of those morning for me. I work as a manager in a professional environment so I try to keep it fairly dressy. I put on Mexx grey dress pants, Clarks Indigo pumps, a Mexx short sleeve stretch top that I wear a lot and a new CLEO sweater/light jacket thingy (not sure what you would call it). I find having a top piece like a light jacket or something really makes a big difference for me.

Melissa

This is great! Thank you all so much, your ffbos are wonderful, and very helpful to hear about and look at. Keep 'em coming!

Louise, you have such a fab boot collection, I'm jealous! Mo, you and I can be in the blazer club together--I feel the same way about them being completer pieces. My current problem is that I only have black ones. If only I could figure out how to convince my pocketbook that I really *need* at least four or five other colors...;). Also, your denim jacket is killer!

Irene, I love the idea of a casual formula with denim and cashmere sweaters, especially argyle. Will have to put a fancy sweater on my list for next fall.

Shabbychick, it sounds like your closet is enviably well-curated. I hope to get there someday.

MaryK, your posts are always so inspiring. I love dresses, so that could turn out to be a really good fall-back option for me. And I just got a few new dresses, too.

Scarlet, you're right that outfit photos are important. I definitely need to take the time to do that more. And I'd love to add some more fab jackets to my collection.

CocoLion, I looove your skinny jeans formula. You look great in it.

Khris, I have yet to hop on the leggings train, but I am thinking maybe I can find some clamdiggers or something to adapt your formula with.

Celia, thank you for the kind words.

Jonesy, you have really nailed this look. Your photos are too fab for words. I will definitely be referring to these for inspiration.

Sophiespal, I have been enjoying your WIW posts lately, especially as you seem to frequently dress at a similar level of formality to what I'd like to do.

For those of you who are jacket/blazer folks, how many do you keep in rotation, and what kinds/colors are they? Which are your most used/versatile?

rosee

Veteran

My old (fairly recent) formula was nice t-shirt /top + skirt /trousers /dark denim jeans + casual blazer or cardigan + any of my boots or shoes + maybe a scarf. Colors varied depending on mood but usually more neutral than bright.
I can't fit into these clothes now so I'm trying to repeat this formula with my new bigger-size items but I am not liking my look so far. I just don't like how things are fitting on me now (except for some new thrifted skirts which I really lucked out on). My jackets are all too tight on me now, but I can still fit my cardigans (thank you stretch).
I'm having some major frump issues at my larger size. I should take notes -- especially about jackets!

p.s. you look fine in the pic -- not all days need to be "10" days.

Anonymous

I have a black, long sleeved, very crisp, tailored, fits-perfectly jaket, a khaki, 3/4 sleeve jacket and a denim jacket. I'm much more of a cardi girl and I have those in all colors and sleeve lengths.

Barbara

Veteran

Wow. All these posts with pics are so fabulous, I'm speechless!

My 'permanent' go-to outfit is a pair of killer jeans, a fabulous top, fitted jacket OR a tunic and leggings. With perfect shoes/boots/sandals, leather bag and unique jewelry.

I have only recently started wearing skirts and dresses, which were WAY outside my comfort zone.

bella

(website)

Veteran

I think the trick for those mornings is not to attempt something too ambitious or complicated. Your sweater is gorgeous and I am sure there is a combo in your closet that will put that sweater in the spotlight in the best possible way, but it is a very complicated/high maintenance wardrobe item for mornings like this. I think your best bet is the to keep taking pictures of outfits that you feel fab in and just repeat them on mornings like this.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

My go to is some variation of this outfit -
Taupe boots, skinny's, fitted casual blazer, tank or LS T and scarf.

This ensemble is going to need some updating with the change in seasons.

Love this thread and hearing about everyone's winning formulas!
Thanks for sharing!

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sarah

Veteran

My go-to outfits are really evolving after joining YLF, and depend on whether it's a work/teach day or a casual day.

Casual: tee, jacket/BF cardi/vest, skinnies, boots

Work: silk shell or cami, jacket/BF cardi, slim pants, booties OR wide-leg pants, button down shirt tucked, jacket/cardi

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

First of all, Melissa, it's great to see you back here again! I meant to say so on one of your previous threads, actually -- your sense of humour was missed around here!
Fallback outfits are becoming increasingly dress oriented. I, too, love jackets and find they help me feel polished. But if I can't wear a jacket, it's imperative to have an accessory or two to kick things up. When I pick out an item, I always make sure to mentally slot a necklace, scarf or earrings with it, just in case. Here are some of my fallbacks.

1. Sweater dress, scarf, earrings, tights and boots (hello, Canadian winter)!
2. Print faux-wrap dress, military jacket, chunky pearls
3. This tunic with either skinnies or thick leggings and tall boots (also hoping to wear it with white clams this spring)
4. Black sheath, teal tee layered underneath, long silky scarf
5. Straight-leg jeans, white button-down with exaggerated cuffs, chanel-esque jacket with flower pin (one that I do believe you found for me)!

And of course, my all-time favourite cobalt dress with black tights/heels and white pearls. Which oddly enough I don't think I have a picture of configured just so.

As for jackets, my grey bf blazer is indespensible for last-minute options, even though it didn't make these pics. Cropped jean jackets are great, too, and I recently acquired a turquoise blazer that I envision wearing with everything this spring.

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Refugee

Veteran

For me, it's not so much about go-to outfits as go-to formulas. And my formulas are very weather dependant as we have very extreme weather where I live. In winter, boots are the foundation. My 2 basic winter formulas are skinnies, boots, top, jacket or sweaterdress, leggings/tights boots. In summer a dress with sandals is my absolute go to. Making note of those outifits I feel fab in on good days helped me find my go-tos for those less than fab days.
And if I may . . . The only thing wrong with the outfit you wore is the blouse. Based on the weather you mentioned, I would suggest, a turtleneck (colored or neutral with a hem that extends well past the lowest hem of the jacket) would have made this outfit amazing. The button-down competes too much with the jacket IMO.

Lisa

Veteran

For winter, my go to outfit was: jeans, blazer, scarf, boots. Time and again my outfits consisted of these same pieces. Moving into spring and summer I am currently working on my new formula and my two ideas are: jeans, cardigan, pendant necklace, sandals or a dress and sandals. I reserve my weekends for outfit dress up time. I take one item I struggled with to style and remix it until I either a-find a combination I like or b-put it in the hold or donate pile. As the season progresses, more items move into the hold or donate pile. And by the end of the season I can donate the items that havne't worked for me, by then, I did make it the whole season without the item, so it obviously wasn't needed. For your sweater, I agree with others, a longer length top is all you need, the high collar of the button down competes with the pretty neckline on the sweater. Dolnt' fret, we all have "off" days. And I do find photos helpful, I keep a list on my computer with the pictures to refresh my memory on rush days to get ready.