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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

This is Progress

approprio

(website)

Veteran

For the first time in my life I seem to have gotten my head around dressing to a consistent formula. I’m not sure how this has happened but some of the YLF wisdom must have sunken in. Getting dressed is very easy at the moment and it’s all coming from a relatively small selection but I’m wondering how long it’ll be before I get bored.

Spring Essentials 2016:

Pants: loose fitting, tapered, dropped crotch.
Tops: long sleeved Breton stripe tees, boxy sweatshirts, solid colour turtlenecks;
Statement shoes: creepers, flatforms, platform booties.
Jackets: oversized blazers, bomber/utility style jackets, quilted mid-layers
Accessories: peaked hat, specs, silver rings, oversized gent’s watch.

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Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from harmonica

deb

Veteran

My favorite is #5 but all look good. Yes, you have it down.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

It's working very well for you! I like how you take this formula from sporty to elegant chic and other renditions in-between.

rabbit

Veteran

Great looks. #2 and 3 are super cute in a cheeky tomboy way while the others have a lot of elegance.

I like formulas too, I tend to wear a limited number of items intensely for awhile, but then change and tweak the formula over time as I burn out a little or suddenly remember that I have skirts or something. The nice thing about a formula is that even if I move on to a slightly different look I remember it and can always return to it quickly, it's created a lane in my brain, and that's useful.

Anonymous

I'm all about a formula - and my whole goal in life moving forward is to pare it down to a minimum of STUFF. I want to wear everything I have and wear it all the time . So I get it, and love reading/seeing about others who are currently in the same headspace (at least where clothing goes). I feel so provincial compared to you - and I say that in a fun ,lighthearted way ....knowing comparison is not the game. You dress in such a European, authentically cool looking way - I love it. Even the background in your pictures reminds me how different our worlds are. I do love the coat in the last picture on you - the red and pink together work SO well with your hair . And I agree with what Sharan says above in that this type of uniform pretty much covers all bases - with minor switch ups in shoes, jewellery etc.

Anne-Marie

I love your look. I would chase you down in the street to tell you so, if I saw you. You have a defined, authentic, creative and original point of view and it's carried through to perfection in each outfit.

rachylou

Veteran

I love it. And there's so much variety to be had within the formula!

Anonymous

International style goddess!

skylurker

Veteran

This is Unconventional Beauty.

I love the colour palette, black/white/indigo/silver. A touch of red and shocking pink. Really chic in an urban way.
I even love the proportions. Curiously, I also find boxy sweatshirts, long blazers and "carotte" pants (dunno what you call them : high waisted, volume around hips, tapered) attractive these days. Must be in the air we breathe.

I'm a formula dresser too. Well, I don't have a bag full of tricks, you know, I'm happy if I can find at least one outfit that works. I wear the same formula for months or years then one morning I wake up and stage a revolution. I do the same with food.

Glad you didn't break up with Escada-the-Bad-Boyfriend. You two are a match made in heaven.

Mochi

Veteran

Amazing style going on here. I'm fascinated to see how you push past the boredom stage. If you don't find a way to avert it completely.

Joy

Veteran

You look fabulous in your formula. I think my favorites are the first and fourth outfits as I love the way you are wearing these neutrals to make them exciting.

Momo

Veteran

Your formula is very cool. I love the jacket in 5 too!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your formula dressing is fabulous, Liz. GOOD FOR YOU. Glad you're having an extra easy time pulling together your outfits.

FWIW, remember that wardrobe essentials are not statement pieces! These are your essentials as I see them:

Slouchy trousers
Solid T-necks
Breton striped T-shirts
Cap
Silver rings
Oversized watch

Bijou

Veteran

I hope you don't get bored with this too soon as this formula looks fantastic. I can see the Japanese influence and love how you have made this look your own. Your specs work so perfectly with each and every look.

Bonnie

Veteran

I like all of these outfits but my favorite is #4. You are inspiring me to be braver and not worry about the critics.

Brooklyn

Veteran

It's great to have a formula. Makes life easier to remove one of those little stressors of the day. Your formula is looking great. My fave is no 4. I fantasise about being able to wear metallic trousers like that. And no 5 is a close second. The colours are very becoming on you.
I have only skim read your other (long!) thread but I want to say I think your outfits are very flattering on you. There is more than one way of flattering a body than showing off a waistline and/or bust and hips. You look beautiful.

catgirl

Veteran

Lovity love love this!

Deborah

Veteran

Fantastic to be in that place right? My experience has been similar and getting dressed everyday is simple, easy and so enjoyable. I wonder if I will get bored but I don't seem to. I wear the same things and silhouette over and over and I am SO happy lol

You say "I’m not sure how this has happened but some of the YLF wisdom must have sunken in" and I would suggest that both the practical information and wisdom that Angie shares, along with the acceptance and encouragement of individual style on the forum goes along way to bringing us to a place of confidence and satisfaction in and with our preferred style or aesthetic. I love the way you dress and always feel that you are totally authentic to who you are.

Style Fan

Veteran

Great style. My favourite is #4 but they are all wonderful. I think of statement pieces as the pieces of art for the outfit. Some of your jackets are truly valuable pieces of art. Museum quality.

I don't know if I could have put it into words but I do agree with what Deborah has so eloquently said.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Do you feel like you've essentially created a capsule within your wardrobe? These looks are like a novel --- each day, when you pick it up, there is a new event or plot twist, but it's all a part of the same, unified narrative.

When you get bored --- you'll write a new book, I mean, make a new capsule!

cheryl

Veteran

So cute! I love your style and I want your jacket in #1 and your shoes

approprio

(website)

Veteran

oh you guys *blush* you really are too kind!

I feel like I'm getting closer to what I want to achieve with my style, which I suppose is to express myself more consistently rather than feel like I'm mucking about in a dressing-up box all the time.

rabbit, I love what you said about creating neural pathways, because my holy grail is what they call unconscious competence: that moment when you can just put it together without thinking about it too hard.

And I hear you lisap! It's nice to have a handle on a smaller selection and what you can do with it. I'm not sure I want to pare it all down to a minimum, but I do want it all to work for me, and keep working for years to come. I want things to stay relevant for a long time, like your lovely shearling jacket for instance.

skylurker, Joy: refining the colour palette towards cool high-contrast neutrals with brights has made a huge difference (along with a few key learnings from the whacky Mr Kibbe). And it seems the Bad Boyfriend (the jacket in #5) has graduated from a passionate fling to a committed partner. Who knew!

Angie: that makes a lot of sense. I had trouble distinguishing statement pieces from essentials because the best ones become such workhorses. The slouchy trouser capsule has been a long time in the making (good ones being so very hard to come by) but now that it's in place it feels like a very solid foundation.

oh Deborah, yes! A thousand times yes! The collaborative aspect is very much part of the process. It's led to a much sharper awareness of my own preferences too.

And Beth Ann, I always love your perspective on things and that's an excellent metaphor. You're right, this is one of many capsules, maybe the baseline for all the others.

Anonymous

Stunning. You have such a standout signature look, and every element fits--from your haircut to your accessories, like glasses, purses (I remember your Japan trip purse from a previous post), sock and shoes. I'm swooning over 2, 4, 5...heck, all of these!

I love what Sharan, Bonnie, and Deborah said. This and your previous thread are inspirational. I need a formula, but first I need to figure out my style. Sigh.

Greyscale

Veteran

Love it! So envious. My uniform look sort of changed and I haven't settled into a new look.

I especially love your collection of jackets and shoes.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well this certainly gives a new spin on the idea of a formula. Kind of like personalized medicine. Takes and old idea and makes it positively exciting.
Anyway, I love your look as you may have gathered. I am especially impressed with how you wear the white sneakers, which would not work on so many people. I was interested in your comments about color also - the bad boyfriend is brilliant here!

harmonica

Veteran

Absolutely stunning style! Authentic and effortless and you wear it so well!