Hello everyone! I'm Ria, 20, and currently living in Sydney, Australia. Have come across this site multiple times, but never actually had the courage to sign up and start posting until today.

I'm 5'5, size 14-16, and somewhere between an hourglass and a pear. My main problem areas are my stomach, upper arms, and duck feet - all of which makes shopping for anything a huge pain in the arse. My limited student budget doesn't make things easier either.

I grew up overweight (still am) in China and was raised to be extremely frugal when it comes to clothes, so I dress pretty terribly. (I'm an XL to XXXL there, so it's nearly impossible to find cheap clothes that don't make me look like my grandmother.) The older I became, however, the more I started wanting to dress more fashionably. One thing led to another, and, well - here I am.

I hope to be an active member and get to know many of you in the future. Nice to meet you all!

I live in the deep South with my husband of 25 years, 14 year old daughter, one standard poodle & one cairn terrier. I work full time in a professional management position so I tend to dress frumpy and I want that to change--but due to back problems the shoes must be low/no heel and that is a major challenge in looking fashionable in my mind. I am 5'8 and a size 10/12 -- pear shaped and have always hated by thighs -- looking back they were pretty darn good in my twenties, but I didn't think so at the time--older and wiser now. I'm now 50 years old and first the first time in my life interested in fashion--I think my 14yo dd has something to do with this. I hate to shop and find hours of operation of most stores don't match my schedule. I've enjoyed ordering clothes on line for a number of years as it has been convenient and fast, but I've had trouble putting things together and tend to buy way too much black. Looking forward to learning & getting advice from all the YLF members!

Hi folks - I'm 55 living in Australia and keen to get some fresh fashion ideas into my life. I have several style challenges - broad shoulders, short waist, and I'm not very tall, but I know some things work well, and will be trying to concentrate on extending these items.
Looking forward to interacting with you all.

Welcome Laura, Charla, Ria, tambrohi and Emm and thanks got sharing a little bit about yourselves - this is a great place to be if you are looking at improving your style quotient and everyone is extremely supportive.

Hi, I live in Australia and I am looking at fixing up my winter work wardrobe. It gets pretty cold where I live and my work is diverse in being both outside and inside at times, working with children but needing to look like an executive at the same time. So I've joined up to stop myself procrastinating about figuring this one out. I enjoy wearing modern classic looks and one of my challenges is avoiding looking too young to be in my current role.

Hi there!

I was quite the fashionable young lady in my early 20's, but then after a series of events (bad relationships, transatlantic move, out of work for over a year etc.) by my mid- to late twenties I found myself defaulting to the same gray stretched out hoodie and ill-fitting jeans over and over again. I'm going to turn 30 this year, and I've slowly started coming back to the world of style and fashion, and realizing that I will need all the help I can possibly get!
Hopefully with the help of this community I'll be able to get on the right track quickly enough.

The spring is almost over and the summer is coming, so I bought my first dress for this summer. Am I too eager? Let’s have a look at my dress. It’s White Blue Chiffon Sleeveless Dress with Unique Collar and Belt. Here’s the link -http://www.nextshe.com/dresses-c-1.html

You may say, the new released clothes would be very expensive. Oh, I’m not rich, and I’ll leave it behind if it’s expensive. Actually, the dress is less than 20 dollars. Is it cool?

Hello all! You'll just have to imagine me waving.
I'm Thistle, a 5'5 hourglass with a love of classic and vintage style. I'm the sort of person that get comments when I wear pants, as I'm so often seen in skirts and dresses. And hats! I can easily be picked out of a crowd by my omnipresent hat.
I've lurked around YLF for ages without joining, but today was the day, and I cant wait to get started.
I've got strong tastes and style preferences, but I'm looking to refine my style, and get new inspiration and ideas. I know this is the right place to start on that journey!

The spring is almost over and the summer is coming, so I bought my first dress for this summer. Am I too eager? Let’s have a look at my dress. It’s White Blue Chiffon Sleeveless Dress with Unique Collar and Belt. Here’s the link -http://www.nextshe.com/dresses-c-1.html

You may say, the new released clothes would be very expensive. Oh, I’m not rich, and I’ll leave it behind if it’s expensive. Actually, the dress is less than 20 dollars. Is it cool?

Good morning! Another newbie here. Please be gentle okay? I'm 40plus, full time office manager for a commercial construction company. I.e I could be doing almost anything from staying at my desk all day, to making a delivery, out in the shop area or even worse, out in our storage sheds looking for the needed materials, so dress is not very formal. I try and step it up a notch from just jeans and a hoodie. My place is over run with men, so there's not a lot of attention paid to fashion here. Plus I live in a fairly rural area.....no nordstroms, boutiques or speciality stores.

I'm married to my high school sweetheart for a long, long, long time!! We have two children currently in college....so extra funds are making tuition payments, books and food! The youngest thinks he wants to be a doctor, so I have a feeling we will be broke for a long long time!! Lol

Looking for constructive comments! Everyone strikes me as warm and welcoming so far. I even hopped on a pair of shoes from one of your members Diana, who was extremely patient with me!! Can't wait to see my first purchase!

Greetings all!

I live in SW Florida and work as an attorney in a government law office. The environment is fairly professional but also far more casual than law offices in most other areas of the country. I usually wear skirts and sometimes pants. On casual Fridays, I usually wear jeans. I recently lost about 40 pounds and, though I am still hoping to lose more, I am trying to figure out what my wardrobe should be like now. Most of the clothes I am wearing now are several years old from the last time I was the size I am now. I recently added a pair of skinny jeans and a few blouses to my closet, but I am still trying to figure out what looks good on me and what I want to wear now at this stage in my life. I am in my late 50s and only about 5 feet tall. I am basically an hour glass with a large bust and small shoulders. I am looking forward to picking up some fashion and style tips here!

Hello! I'm Joyce, 26 years old from the Philippines. I used to post OOTDs on lookbook.nu/spitfirex way back few years before I discovere this site. Recently though I've gained a lot of weight and changed work environments so my style is drastically different. I'm style trying to figure out what this new style is, as unlike my old one it isn't quite as clear-cut yet.

I'm a pear with hourglass tendencies. My arms and shoulders give the volume up top

Hi, I am 45 years old SAHM from Canada. I have been reading Youlookfab religiously every single day since 2008. I haven't miss a single post. I am trying to dress stylishly but it is really challenging for me for two reasons. Firstly, I am not a naturally stylish person . Secondly, it is very discouraging to dress up when everyone around you dress down ( yoga pants and sweatshirts if you please:).Anyway, I am trying as hard as I could thanks to wonderful inspiring community of stylish people. Angie, thank you for an inspiration, you are fabulous and beautiful inside and out !!!

Hi everyone! I'm 44 and I'm living in the midwest. I spent most of my life as a tall and skinny rectangle, and had no trouble dressing myself. In the last few years I've gained weight, mostly in my middle, and I'm having a hard time figuring out out to dress this new apple-y body.

Hello!

I'm Ayesha -- I'm 30 and trying to look my best on a grad school budget. I'm all about learning the rules of my new body (I went from a size 0 to a pear shaped 10) so I can push the boundaries.

My style is influenced heavily by menswear's structure, bohemian blouses and a classic sensibility.

Sometimes I'm a bit quiet, but I love meeting new people.

Hi all
I've been reading Angie's posts for quite a while and some things have been a revelation (eg pants' lengths, the half tuck) and now feel ready to contribute to the forum and refine my sense of what works for me and my tall-ish, apple-ish body.

I like a slightly bohemian (although less and less as the years go by) slightly arty style and am about to set off to buy some new pants and tops.

I look forward to participating!

Sarah

Hi Everyone,

I’ve been enjoying this site for several months now so I decided it was time to sign up to participate. I really like the mix of ages and styles and I
especially enjoy the recommendations under ‘Finds’ for quality materials,
shape, etc.

I’ve always enjoyed clothes and, being semi tall and slim, never
had too much trouble with wearing anything.
However, in the last few years my body shape has been changing and I’ve
lost some faith in my instinct about what I like and feel good in. I’m always questioning whether things I like
are age appropriate or body appropriate so I find the information on this site very
helpful in both respects.

I live in eastern Ontario, I’m 55 years old, 5’7”, 160 lbs., and I’m pretty sure I’m an apple and absolutely
certain I have a long torso. As for a
style, I’m undecided; I lean towards Classic and Boho but I tend to like casual
clothing in natural materials best.

Hello, my name is Lisa and I live in Texas. I could have sworn I introduced myself some years back around the time I joined but I can't find the post now. I've been following YLF since at least 2011 and finally decided it was time to start contributing. Not sure I'm ready to post pics but I suppose I'll have to if I expect to get any help

I'm a 50-something mom of two adult children, married for 29 years, and about to return to work after a few years back at home. I've loved fashion for as long as I can remember and what I wore seems to figure prominently in my memories of various life events. Although I lead a pretty casual lifestyle I tend to dress a bit more formally simply because I enjoy doing so.

As far as style is concerned, I enjoy classic pieces (updated, naturally), worn in a current way with current accessories. I'm so pleased that over-sized pieces, which I've worn for years, are finally more widely available. I'm looking forward to talking in the forum about all the wonderful new offerings in fashion this Spring.

Hello, I am in the over 40 category,; which always surprises me to say "out loud". I'm attempting to find a more cohesive style for myself. I find it is a bit hard if you live in different worlds. ie: I work at a very casual office, but I also work in Hollywood where you are expected to be stylish but look like you are not trying : / I also run after my young daughter, and all the social events I attend are a little artsy. Anyway, I feel like my style is fractured and I am working on it.

And, I really love fashion! But am unsure how to work that love into the casual office (where I work mainly with men who wear jeans). I'd love to wear stylish dressy athletic stuff that is in now! Or retro dresses! And how to work all this into my teeny tiny closet. : )

I'm 34 and a single professional working in the Pacific NW. My organization's dress code is very casual, but since I became a manager, I've been trying to dress with a little more polish and style--more business casual than casual.

I'm petite and pear-shaped. My weight has fluctuated a fair bit in the last five years, but I've been losing weight surely and steadily over the last two months. So I'm trying to limit major purchases this spring and summer to things that will still work for a while if that trend continues. My style's generally been classic and tailored, but I'm trying to wear more colors, textures, and patterns.

My favorite thing about YLF is finding ways to style and remix things I own to make sharper outfits.

Welcome to all you lovely ladies - Snow, Cranraspberry, Thistle, Pkk, Dee, Joyce, Polina, Kathleen, Ayesha, Sassy Sarah, Fatac, Glamourpuss Lisa, Zerzura and Jk079.

Hope you enjoy your time on the Forum.

Hi,

Hi SJ you've come to the right place. Check out Angie's ensembles for some great ideas.

Hi ya'll, my name's Audrey. I'm probably one of the youngest people on youlookfab. I'm turning 16 and still trying to figure out my style. Like Lisa, I live in Texas, and when I'm not studying my arse off, I love to crochet, paint, code software, and shop!
I'm 5'3'', size 4, and I believe that I'm an hourglass. I recently went from 125 lbs to 108 lbs (still not quite sure how that happened. Teen hormones?) and realized that my clothes didn't fit anymore. Ya'll know what that means Shopping! This is a really great site, and everyone is so welcoming and nice.

Hi everyone. I have been following Angie for a year after hearing about her from Maria Killam. (Colour me Happy). Have learned so much! I'm 50. 5'4" and I consistently try to marry current with classic.

Hello all!

Hi everyone,

I'm new but have lurked for many years. I'm 36, just had a baby a few months ago and am looking forward to rediscovering my style. I travel overseas quite a bit and may move to a predominantly Muslim country in a few months - but I'd like to maintain my sense of style. I don't know exactly where my style is as my body has changed significantly and I'm breastfeeding.

I'm looking forward to being part of this fun and kind community!

Edited to add: Regarding my style, I like:

- interesting jewelry (ethnic, a little over the top)
- clean lines
- interesting details: seaming, pleats and ‘ethnic’ embroidery

Hello, everyone! I've been following YLF since before one had to join to see everyone's WIW posts! I just realized how much I miss your great ideas, so I'm jumping in.

I live in Portland OR, so I have a lot of freedom in what I wear. People in Portland don't raise an eyebrow over polar fleece at the opera, or nudity on bikes! Sometimes my work requires hiking boots and sometimes heels, kind of extreme even in a city as casual as this one. I have always gravitated to classic and neutrals, structure, line, drape and am all about accessories.

You YLF folks have encouraged me to experiment with color more, expanded my denim repertoire, and given me more usable fashion ideas than any magazine I have ever read! I just couldn't function without Angie's picks, sage advice on pants hems, and seasonal previews. Thank you one and all!

My biggest problem? I was born without the RATE gene and I am so drawn to the look I occasionally make bad buys.

Looking forward to taking a more active role!

Hi,
I,m Shirley,54,living in a wee town in Scotland. I,m UK size 12 on my top half and size 14 on my bottom half, so a very typical pear shape. I've always been fine about dressing for my shape but "rubbish" at putting colours together. I found YLF about 3 years ago and Angie's ideas and tips have been invaluable. Also, I love seeing everyone's outfits,especially those who are similar to my shape. They have given me plenty of "A HA" moments and saved me lots of money (yes that's the Scottish coming out in me !!) when I realize I have similar items that can be put together differently.