YouLookFab Forum » Topic: 2016 purchases and challenges

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: 2016 purchases and challenges https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-purchases-and-challenges Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 07:48:59 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Anonymous on "2016 purchases and challenges" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-purchases-and-challenges#post-1762930 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 21:02:14 +0000 Anonymous 1762930@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'll try to be more mindful about commenting on people's shoes. The best thing about your trench dress is the waist definition coupled with some looseness. Looks fantastic on you. Here's hoping 2017 is a better shoe year for you. I'll put up with a lot of blistering if the shoe is generally comfortable but other problems I would not. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you GF! Suz on "2016 purchases and challenges" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-purchases-and-challenges#post-1762913 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 18:29:20 +0000 Suz 1762913@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Terrific summary and it sounds as if you have done some useful reflection. I hope you can identify a few brands of footwear that meet your needs more reliably. I don't have super fussy feet as a rule, but for the past year, they have caused me trouble -- a bad case of plantar fasciitis and some toenail bed damage from aggressive hikes mean I need to be extra careful. Plus, my usual issue of a narrow heel combined with a regular width forefoot and higher arch -- that results in lots of fit problems for lower vamp shoes.  Anyway...for my feet, Ecco shoes often offer a good compromise between style and comfort. La Canadienne is another (pricy) option especially for winter wear.  Re arch support -- for me, it is less a question of needing support than needing the arch to be in the correct place. Arches built into shoes are rarely (never?) high enough to hit my actual arch but in the past, at least, that hasn't seemed to matter as long as the arch was not in the wrong place. (I guess my feet are strong enough that they are okay without the support? Though I do generally like a strap or something over the vamp if the underneath support isn't great.) Anyway, if it's in the wrong place, forget it -- that's a sign of a shoe that just plain does not fit me. So I keep trying on different brands to discover which ones have lasts that can at least potentially work. So far for me those are: Ecco, Sam Edelman, Stuart Weitzman, La Canadienne, Aquatalia, Franco Sarto, as well as -- ironically -- Topshop and Zara! (In other words, price is not the deciding factor.)  That got longer than I'd like but maybe it will be useful to you or someone reading!  Bonnie on "2016 purchases and challenges" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-purchases-and-challenges#post-1762896 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 15:35:52 +0000 Bonnie 1762896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great post and I learned something from it that I am going to try. You said, "I returned most of what I purchased because I wait until the initial excitement wears off for me to identify any problems." That is an excellent strategy and I'm going to add that to my 2017 goals. Ledonna N. on "2016 purchases and challenges" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-purchases-and-challenges#post-1762868 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 09:58:33 +0000 Ledonna N. 1762868@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I agree with Joy. I love these post also. Reading your journey and reflection of what worked and did not work. Especially the shoes because to me they are most important. Anonymous on "2016 purchases and challenges" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-purchases-and-challenges#post-1762846 Sat, 24 Dec 2016 04:46:16 +0000 Anonymous 1762846@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love these posts and need to. keep better track of my purchases. 2016 was a year more of culling than buying. I wanted it reduce my wardrobe by a third before moving and am not sue I made it, but came close. Most of the purchases I've made have been replacing items that were well worn and expanding my footwear collection, especially a bit more dressy items and booties. I added a couple of bags when needing something larger. I want to wear what I have and consider what I need/want for a new area and lifestyle. gradfashionista on "2016 purchases and challenges" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2016-purchases-and-challenges#post-1762787 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 20:09:28 +0000 gradfashionista 1762787@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ The recent thread about 2017 goals made me reflect on 2016, which was a year defined by precariousness and commuting. This was reflected in my daily wear, although over the year my style became a bit more dressy. My non-athletic, non-undergarment purchases included: Trousers: Black wool culottes Black skinny jeans Higher rise boyfriend jeans Tops: White slim fit collarless 3/4 blouse White oversized silk 3/4 shirt White poplin puffed-sleeve 3/4 shirt Chambray tie-knot short-sleeve shirt White cotton short-sleeve t-shirt White linen 3/4 sleeve shirt Black silk/cashmere 3/4 sleeve ballerina wrap Outwear: Navy gilet Leather moto jacket Dresses: Silk trench Formalwear: Blue knee-length lace dress Strapless black gown Shoes: Fluevog heeled oxfords (to be consigned) Fluevog heeled boots (to be consigned) Fluevog pointed flats Geox beige sneakers Clarks deconstructed burgundy oxfords Sorel booties I returned most of what I purchased because I wait until the initial excitement of a new garment has worn off for me to identify any problems. For example, I recently posted a fab pair of white denim that looked good and fit almost perfectly, but the slight bunching/extra fabric near the fly area bothered me. Additionally, I decided to consolidate several purchases into one splurge (the silk trench dress) that would give me more joy than the other items combined. Reflections: I don't post WIWs very often unless I feel great about an outfit. The most popular outfit seemed to be my most recent post, which involved wearing footwear that, while stylish, left me with blisters and pain at the end of the day (albeit, fewer blisters and less pain than other contenders). A few major footwear purchases in 2016 and 2015 were sadly epic fails--comfortable in the stores, and horribly painful within 10 minutes of walking outside. Fashionable footwear is the bane of my existence, and it's still really hard for me to look past inappropriate shoes to the remainder of the outfit--indeed, when people post pics here with less-than-ideal footwear, commenters are quick to point it out. I try not to do that, because you don't what kind of factors besides aesthetics go into a person's choice of shoes. It's obvious when someone is wearing bulky New Balance joggers with a fancy outfit, but not obvious when someone has paired something that looks comfortable and casual with something that is dressy. That said, my style in the past year has taken a dressier turn. I absolutely love my new silk dress, and can't recall being that excited about a garment in recent history. In 2017, I'll probably try to sport dressier wear, despite the foot challenges, and clear out many of the garments that are in the holding zone. I'll play any future needs by ear, although a few silk tanks would be useful at this point, as would a more fitted cashmere seater. The perks of commuting have been identifying which of my garments I value most, so I hope to act on that before I finish my current job and resume living with partner in the spring.