Today, it’s already two years since we celebrated a decade of YLF. On the one hand I can’t believe we’ve come so far. On the other, I can’t imagine doing anything else. Helping people find their personal style, solving style challenges, suggesting wardrobe management strategies, keeping up with an evolving fashion industry, and lifting people up when they are down about their style, all feels like a calling to me.
Husband Greg suggested I start a blog at the end of 2005. He created and designed our site — and all its frequent updates — as his labour of love to me. Greg is full of fabulous ideas and creating YLF was one of his best. I am forever grateful for his support and belief in me.
We launched on April 5 2006 and a small blog grew into a bustling social community with a very engaged forum and fabulous Finds section. Wonderful Inge joined our team seven years ago and became a very close friend. Precious Yorkies Jasmine and Rosie were our brilliant CEOs until they passed on the torch to sensational Sam. His Lordship is a blog and Instagram star and supports us in that special way that doggies do.
YLF is unique in many respects. First, there is fresh weekday content, and I haven’t missed a day of posting in twelve years. Second and most importantly, YLF is not about me and my style — it’s about YOU and YOUR style. It took me two years to show myself on YLF, and this was the post back in 2008 when it happened.
I’m not an outfit blogger or writer. I’m a fashion stylist who talks about a subject that is both my profession and my passion. I don’t do product reviews, and I don’t accept free wardrobe items from retailers. These days we run an ad-free website, which you can choose to support by becoming a YLF Patron. I work with clients one-to-one in my wardrobe and style consulting business, which gives me a unique perspective. I see up close how fashion looks, fits and feels on a diverse set of people, and I pass that knowledge on to you.
Just for fun, here are some old YLF photos from posts you might remember from 2009 to 2011. It seems like such a long and short time ago.
My first New York Fashion Week in 2010:
My favourite photo on our site is Jasmine photo bombing a shoot for an accessory post, and I didn’t know she was standing right behind me.
Turning 40 eight years ago. I still have the dress but don’t wear it because I’m off sleeveless sheaths. Who knows, maybe I’ll wear it again someday. The Valentino bag in the second outfit was a gift from the YLF community and is a prized possession. I still have and wear my citron trench today.
White Docs and Purple in 2011. I don’t have any of the these items anymore.
This is back when I wore three inch heels to holiday parties and events. The shoes are long gone, and the other items wore out.
Enjoying bootcuts with blazers and vintage Chanel. These days I much prefer my dramatic bell-bottoms that are wider at the hems. But I’m never passing on my Chanel bag.
The Classics that don’t let me down. My love for white and sour brights continue. I still wear the citron peacoat very regularly.
One unique aspect of YLF is the engaged forum, which is in its tenth year. A few years after the forum, we added Finds, which is one of my favourite features on YLF. I love being able to use it to manage my shopping, and having my wardrobe represented digitally has become indispensable to me. I don’t know how I managed before that.
You are what makes YLF exceptional. You graciously share your wit and wisdom in blog comments and forum posts. Your thoughtful, compassionate, intelligent and insightful contributions enrich my life, make me grow as a person, and provide me with daily inspiration. It blows me away when I think that some of you have been participating on YLF since its inception twelve years ago. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU for the support, and for helping me to spread the word that you can have fun with fashion at any age.
