Year-end review: my favorite outfits of 2012 and style musings

I am posting these to Angie's Favorite Outfits thread (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-2012-here), but wanted to repost them here as well so I can keep them on my YLF blog.

This was a really big year for me fashion-wise! It was my first full year at YLF--I joined in the Summer of 2011, so I became a Veteran this August. I learned so much from seeing everyone's WIWs and getting feedback on my own WIW's and K/R's.

This year I figured out my style rubric:
Color or contrast
Matchy Matchy
Patterned
Fitted
Flair

All of these outfits fit the above rubric and I felt fab and happy wearing all of them. I know there a bunch of favorite outfits here, but I had to edit heavily just to get down to 30, so that says something about how happy I am with my clothes!

Besides my primary style persona (Demure Bombshell), I also realized I have a shadow persona--I like to dabble in polished UWP looks once in a while as well. My style is very ladylike (I wear mostly skirts and dresses) and I tend to be a bit on the maximal/ALGO side--my favorite quote this year was from MaryK who said about one of my outfits "anything worth doing is worth doing to excess"! This year I am really into pattern and texture mixing as well as hypermatchy looks (like 5, 8, 9, 21, 27 and 29) and I love polka dots, orange, ink blue, and burgundy. And I still love to match my handbag, shoes and accessories to my outfit. I also purged and organized my closet this year which was huge.

But the biggest fashion change this year by far was becoming pregnant and dealing with the anxieties and challenges of re-working my wardrobe to fit my changing body. I had to adapt both my wardrobe and my attitude about maternity dressing, but am happy to report that I've been able to stretch (literally, LOL) my pre-maternity wardrobe and limit new purchases mostly to stretchy non-maternity pieces which can be worn after baby as well. I really have not had to wear my old pre-YLF maternity clothes much and only bought a couple of key new maternity pieces (like a pair of burgundy maternity skinnies, which was one of my best purchases this year). I am amazed that I am still able to wear a lot of my old wardrobe. Because of this, I am sporting more fitted/bodycon silhouettes and am embracing/highlighting the bump. Even while pregnant, I am still feeling fab and am having more fun with fashion than ever before! Looking forward to even more growth and style evolution in 2013!

Thank you to Angie and all of YLF for your help and inspiration! Here's to another stylishly fab year for everyone in 2013!

1-8. Jan-May Pre-pregnancy
9-14. June-Aug First trimester-hiding the bump
15-26. Sept-Nov Second trimester-embracing the bump
27-30. Dec Third trimester-flaunting the bump

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11 years ago

Karie

(website)

Veteran

You have quite an extensive and beautiful wardrobe! My favs are #15, #20, and #21. That half slice orange bag is adorable!
I have only been here on YLF for a few months, and I am still figuring out my style persona. I like your fashion rubric and will have to adapt it for my own use!

cheryle (Dianthus)

Natalie as I was looking through the pics I realized you are a bag lady. Your first group of pics all feature an outstanding bag. You are beautiful in everything and it is very interesting to see the fashion progression of your pregnancy,.

Transcona Shannon

You are probably the most stylish pregnant woman I've ever seen Natalie and I think it's nothing short of brilliant how you've carried your style into your pregnancy.

Not only do al of your clothes fit you perfectly, which I think is a KEY part of your style, but your accessories in terms of handbags, jewelry and footwear make each outfit special. I can tell you put a lot of thought into every outfit.

Looking forward to seeing what you put together in 2013!

Jules

Oh - did you keep the higher contrast polka dot skirt? Yay - love it!
I really admire your style and have enjoyed your WIWs greatly since joining the forum. You really do redefine maternity fashion.

Suz

Natalie, I commented on Angie's thread. Just LOVE your evolving style.

Atlantia

You are a daily reminder that fashion is fun. Thank you!

Sveta

I had to echo Shannon: you are the most stylish and beautiful pregnant lady I have ever seen in my life! WOW!!! It just shows how well you are honed in you style if you are able to translate it for your new body so well.
They all great outfits but #25 literally took my breath away. So beautiful it pains...

lyn*

I love the way you were able to keep your style in your pregnancy, Natalie - I think my favorite looks #22, 26 and 27 are all baby bump pics!

I tried on that Kate Spade dress in #9 the other day - I thought we could be dress twins, but it did nothing for me It looks so great on you though! *jealous*

*hugs* Happy New Year!

TraceyLiz65

I have so envied your style throughout the pregnancy and envied it as I have four children and did not look as stylish as you during my pregnancy... You look wonderful!

Jaime

You are one stylish pregnant lady! It is fun watching you maintain your look as your pregnancy progresses and I am sure it will be just as fun watching you deal with post pregnancy in 2013!

Amy

Natalie, you are stunning! What a beautiful bunch of outfits!

ManidipaM

You used to be the Best-Detailed Demure Bombshell on here, and now you are unquestionably YLF's Pregnancy-Perfect Poster Girl!

Natalie, I adore how wholeheartedly you embrace the fun of fashion and put so much energy and excitement into dressing up, every. single. day.

cheryl

You look amazing in each and every pic! So many awesome outfits.

goldenpig

Thanks Karie, Dianthus, Shannon, Jules, Suz, Atlantia, Sveta, Lyn, Tracey, Shevia, Amy, Manidipa, and Cheryl! Your glowing comments really made my day!

Karie, welcome to YLF! I would love to see you adapt this rubric for yourself! I feel like figuring out my style persona and rubric have really helped me focus on what types of clothes will make me feel fab and happy!

Dianthus, yes, I guess I am a bag lady!

Shannon, thanks for the compliment! I do try to think out my outfits when I can, and when I can do the matchy matchy with the clothes and accessories, that tends to make me happier with my outfits! As for the fit, it's funny you say my clothes fit perfectly, because they're mostly the same clothes from pre-pregnancy. I've just gone from Team Tailored fit to Team Body-con fit and maybe when I lose the baby weight I'll end up batting for Team Oversized fit. LOL!

Jules, I love polka dots so much I decided to keep both skirts!

Atlantia, thanks, I didn't think I would have this much fun during maternity. After a lot of angst at the beginning about how much of my wardrobe I was going to lose, I'm finally at a place where I'm happy with how things have been going!

Sveta, you are so sweet!

Lyn, too bad about the KS dress! What didn't you like about it? That would have been fun to be twins!

Shevia, ack, I am kind of scared of doing postpartum because that's when you still have a big belly but aren't pregnant anymore, so your bump isn't cute anymore! I may have to resort to my first trimester hiding the bump tricks again. It's going to be a challenge for sure!

Hil

Wow Natalie! As a doula, I just love pregnant women's shapes and forms and you and your style are just gorgeous! So inspiring!

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