Our forum is full of ladies successfully traveling through their own personal style journey. The forum members generously inspire and help each other and I’m always impressed with the motivation and end results.

One such forum member is Renata, who lives in Saskatchewan, Canada. Renata is a full time hair stylist, wife and Mum, who came to the forum four months ago feeling drab, frumpy and very uninspired with her daily look. But she got her fashion and style ducks in a row chop-chop and was soon proudly sporting her own creative ensembles and inspiring others by posting them in the forum.

Renata entered a recent forum challenge called The YLF Uniform Project. Participants had to take an LBD (in Renata’s case, a little brown dress) and come up with three different looks for it: “hanging out”, “office style”, and “date night.

Her outfits blew me away. So much so that I seized the opportunity to interview Renata and ask her a few questions about her style journey.

Angie: How did you find YLF?

Renata: I was looking for ideas as to what to wear to my niece’s wedding in August. I stumbled across YLF and have been an active member ever since.

Angie: How would you describe your old sense of style and why were you inspired to change it?

Renata: When I hit my mid forties, I fell into a what I call “the middle-aged invisible women slump”.

I found my old sense of style boring. Working 5-6 days a week, comfort became my first priority, and with it came style that wasn’t standing out. I was wearing plain t-shirts and jeans almost every day. I suppose my inspiration to change was when I learned that I could put together a practical outfit that looked good, without compromising style.

Angie: How did you get started?

Renata: I started out by reading plenty of books and magazines, along with blogs and forums. I did my best to learn which colors and items complement my body, and which don’t.

Angie: What have you learned? How did YLF help you along the way?

Renata: I learned that questioning myself (e.g. Is this outdated? Am I too old? Does this age me? Does this look just plain wrong?) is a very good thing, and if I can’t answer those questions I know I can turn to YLF forum members for help. It’s like having a cheerleading team! Support is there, you just have to ask for it. My first success with YLF was when I read Angie’s blog on how to pick a perfect pair of specs. I couldn’t have done it myself. When I wear them I feel instantly fab!

Angie: Where do you like to shop?

Renata: Honestly, with the limited budget that I have I can say that my favourite place to shop is Winners (Canada’s version of TJ Max). I really enjoy their selection of handbags.

Second hand stores are also great. The lure of cheap prices and one of a kind items is enough for me to brave musty smells and crowded stores. Lately I have been searching for skirts, dresses and jackets. I also love local boutiques.

Angie: You rocked the last YLF forum challenge, which was to showcase the versatility of a LBD (in your case a little brown dress) by wearing it across three different lifestyles. You came up with six fabulous outfits and I’m impressed. What inspired the outfits?

Renata: Oh, that was so much fun! Shortly after forum member Laura posted about mom on the go formula #3, I was on the lookout for a casual dress. I lucked out and found three in one week.

The inspiration for my “hanging out” outfits was Angie’s Mom on the go formula #3. I love that one, it’s so easy to follow! For office wear, I just made it little dressier by adding appropriate jackets and footwear. And date night, I guess that one was all about the right accessories, which I was missing, so I had to go shopping. But without accessories those outfits wouldn’t be fab that is for sure! I would have never guessed that my own creations would send Angie “into ORBIT” but I’m so glad they did. She is a good teacher and I’m a good student! LOL.

Angie: How will you continue to evolve your style?

Renata: I have to stay motivated and continue to tweak and perfect my own style. I intend to visit YLF for my inspiration and information. I call YLF my fashion medication!

Angie: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Renata: I’m so glad that YLF came into my life. It’s highly addictive but in a good way! LOL.

Angie: I’m wow-ed. Thank you for your time, Renata. It has been a pleasure observing your journey, which I see is taking more of an arty and eclectic turn each time you post. You look radiant and happy. Well done.

Unless we have company I wear comfy slippers at home most of the time. The soles of my feet get sore and cold if I go barefoot on our hard wooden floors for any length of time. Plus I’m prone to stubbing my toes. So as soon as I’m inside, I take off my shoes and pop on my slippers.

Soft, boiled wool mule slippers with plenty of structure and a sturdy sole are my preferred style of home footwear. I don’t like fluffy slippers with soft bottoms because they slide around as you walk, plus my feet feel like they’re suffocating in all that fluff. I prefer the warmth and coziness of a slipper as opposed to a proper house shoe like a Birkenstock.

But each to their own. I have plenty of friends and family who prefer to wear a proper house shoe instead of soft slippers. And others that don’t change shoes at all when they arrive home.

What’s your footwear style when you’re at home? Do you like to wear slippers? Or do you prefer house shoes, or going barefoot? Perhaps you wear flip flops, or keep on the shoes that you wore during the day. Let’s hear about your footwear style at home.

The Haflingers on the left have been my number one choice of slipper for years. But I’m road testing the Daniel Greens in the middle because they’re a little cheaper and the colour was impossible to resist. The Birkenstocks on the right are the kind of house shoe a lot of my Euro family and friends wear at home. They’re not for me, but they might be for you.

Almost there! Today we tackle the 8th of my 10 casual outfit formulas for Mums and gals on the go (refresh your memories with formulas #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 #6 and #7). This formula is all about pairing boots with short length pants like walk shorts and clamdiggers. This look is a little more daring and creative, but entirely sweet and arty when the components of the ensemble work in harmony:

Clamdiggers + long sleeved T + scarf + tall boots

I first saw clamdiggers (or shorts) and tall boots worn by funky lasses of all ages in Hong Kong (the photos below were taken in December of 2006). I was immediately inspired and have been sporting the look ever since. I don’t know why, but wearing this formula makes me feel mischievous. Sort of like a naughty schoolgirl. Crazy.

I wear this formula at the start of Autumn when I break out my boots, and at the start of a chilly Spring when I’m still wearing boots. The outfit combination isn’t warm enough for a Seattle Winter, but it’s perfect for mild Winter days. The added advantages are that short length pants double duty in cooler weather, and that tall boots are easier to slip on because it eliminates tucking fuss.

Here are the components in more detail:

• Clamdiggers: You’ll need slim cut denim clamdiggers or winter weight walk shorts, preferably in a tweed , heavy weight twill, denim or wool. The length of the pants should hit somewhere between the top and the bottom of the knee cap. Roll the pants up a little if they’re longer. Showing skin between the top of the boots and the bottom of the shorts is fine and just a different type of look. Go with your aesthetic preference.
• Long-sleeved T: Any top that works with a scarf is good. A solid layering T is a great backdrop for a patterned scarf, but you don’t need to stick to basic T styling either. Banded tunic styles, empire cuts and wrap styles are more interesting alternatives. Button down shirts and crew, turtle and V-neck knitwear will also work. You can even switch the solid and pattern mix around by wearing a patterned top and solid scarf. Think boyfriend blazer, trench coat, cropped coat, biker/plaid/military jacket, or one of the new look, longer length cardigans for the next layer.
• Scarf: Versatile wrap-style scarves are my top pick because they look great both indoors and outdoors. Silky scarves are just as fab, but not as casual. Neckerchieves are harder to wear but look good on long necks. For an instantly flattering look, tie scarves vertically with a loop knot, muffler style, or with the Angie knot.
• Tall boots: Choose knee-high and mid-calf boots that are either flat, wedged or low heeled. Mid-calf boots tend to look better with shorter walk shorts because it balances out proportions. The world is your oyster when it comes to the aesthetic of the boots. From riding boots and slouch styles, to biker boots, cowboy looks and 20 eyelet Doc Martens. Take your pick.

And the accessories:

• Hose: I prefer this look sans hose because it’s cleaner and more sophisticated that way. But hose is not a no-no here so feel free to experiment.
• Handbag: A flat tote or cross body bag will do the trick.
• Other accessories: Your specs and watch are the most important accessories on your body so attend to those first if you wear them. Consider a necklace if you’d prefer it to a scarf, and bangles make a nice change too. Small earrings are a finishing touch but not a necessity.

And now some examples. The first is a neutral modern-classic interpretation, while the second is more trendy and urban. Remember that this is a formula, so you can substitute the items in the visuals for those that that are more to your taste. Note that you can click on the pictures to find details about individual items in Polyvore, but take the specific items I chose with a grain of salt. I selected them purely based on what was easily available and what made the right visual impact.

Neutral Modern Classic:

Trendy & Urban:

So Mums and gals on the go, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this formula. Too daring? Think you’ll give it a bash? You aren’t allowed to say no until you’ve tried it out!

Today’s post is written by fabulous forum member Marianna who hails from San Jose, CA, but lives in Chicago. Marianna is a recent college graduate who works as a part time television production assistant and retail sales assistant at Anthropologie. She wowed us with her flawless style when she won our TJ Maxx competition and continues to impress us with her knowledge, generosity and kindness on the forum. I asked Marianna to impart some of her wisdom and this is what she had to say.

I won’t sugarcoat it: dressing my plus size body is a daily challenge. My weight has been a lifelong struggle and only recently have I started the process of size acceptance. The first step in my size acceptance journey has been coming to terms with the fact that I am indeed plus size, that my clothing options are comparably limited, and that I have to shop in a segregated section of the store. Stepping foot into the small “women’s” department and figuring out what clothes flatter my apple shaped body is a never-ending emotional journey of trial and error.

I have been overweight my entire life and I have always loved fashion. From infancy my elegant plus size mother dressed me in the cutest clothing – she prided herself on having a well-dressed daughter. Naturally, my mom’s love of clothing passed down to me and as I grew up we bonded on frequent shopping trips. My mom has never let her size get in the way of being successful and dressing beautifully. Always immaculately polished, with gorgeous clothes, funky specs, and stunning jewelry, my mom is the epitome of a stylish plus size woman.

Despite having such an amazing role model, as a stubborn teenager and young adult I insisted on wearing what I wanted to wear and what I thought looked good. Prior to stumbling upon YouLookFab I had never truly succumbed to shopping in plus size departments. My weight has fluctuated from fat to fatter, but regardless of weight, I always shopped in straight size stores and squeezed myself into ill-fitting clothes. I had absolutely no idea how clothes were supposed to fit. If it looked pretty on the hanger and fit over my head, I would buy it. I was clearly in complete denial about my weight. My mom would kindly voice her opinions on my less than fab ensembles, but my stubbornness got in the way of listening to her insight. For years my clothes were clearly too tight, showcasing my belly instead of hiding it, and doing absolutely nothing to flatter my shape. I came to YouLookFab feeling frumpy. I knew I had stylish clothes in my closet, but I didn’t understand why I didn’t feel fab. That’s when I discovered the world of proper fit and dressing according to body type.

The absolute first step in overhauling my wardrobe has been realizing that I am apple shaped. It has been a humiliating and humbling experience learning my true size, yet it has also been eye opening to see how much better I look and feel in clothes that actually fit.

It hasn’t happened overnight, but slowly I am figuring out what styles look best on me and what clothes I feel best in. I would label myself as a true modern classic – my style incorporates simple classic garments with updated prints, colors, cuts and fabrications. I also adore statement jewelry and am rarely seen without a statement necklace or long earrings.

I am no fashion pro, but I do feel I have learned some very valuable lessons while overhauling my wardrobe. Here are some of the important ones:

• I can wear everything Angie blogs about, including bright colors, bold patterns, stripes, skinny jeans, leggings, boots over skinnies, and fitted clothes. Just because we’re a little bigger does not mean we have to ignore current styles and trends. We just have to search a little harder for the items, make sure they fit well, and then style them correctly. I wear my skinny jeans all the time – but only with a tunic on top!
• I shouldn’t be afraid to be stylish or draw attention to myself. I wear gigantic statement necklaces that are impossible to miss and I feel fab.
• Plus size items are virtually identical to their straight sized counterparts. They’re just bigger! This is especially true at stores like Nordstrom and Macy’s where you see some of the same items in the plus size department as you see in the straight size sections. The plus size items simply have a little more fabric and are sometimes cut to accommodate a larger bust.
• The size on the tag does not matter. Recently I went shopping in Macy’s women’s department and had to buy one sweater in a 2X while I bought a different style in a 0X. I usually do not wear 2X, but this particular style fit better in the larger size, so I got the larger size. I am not stressing over it.
• There is a large Internet community of “fatshionistas” and “fatshion” bloggers. These women are an incredible source of inspiration.
• The plus size department is not so bad. It may be tucked away into a small corner of the store, and you may be the only one there, but at least you have a peaceful shopping experience and there is less competition for sizes!
• I should follow Angie’s mantra and leave no retail stone unturned! Plus size departments may be small, but they are in almost every department store. I am very loyal to Nordstrom, and Macy’s is great too. Torrid is one of my favorites for trendy pieces. Forever 21’s new plus size line Faith 21 is another fun venue for trendier options. Talbots has an amazing women’s selection and their quality is unbeatable. Lane Bryant has stunned me with their recent collection. JC Penney and Sears have plus size departments with good basics. Target is also great for basics and trendier pieces. The list goes on and on.
• There are a multitude of online plus size shopping resources. When brick and mortar stores are leaving you disappointed, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for online.

Most important of all, there is no rule stating that only thin women are allowed to dress well and enjoy fashion. Plus size women are women too! We are allowed to be as girly and stylish as we want to be!

I am so thankful that YouLookFab came into my life and gave me a much needed reality check. I still have a long road ahead of me with accepting my body and learning to dress it, but now I welcome the challenge with an open mind. I feel empowered knowing that I am plus size and look fantastic.