https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:59:13 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401681 Wed, 31 Dec 2025 10:49:53 +0000 Minaminu 2401681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congratulations on such an intentional lower-buy year – having nearly everything turn into workhorses is a dream, and it sounds like you've really refined your eye for what works for you.<div>I'm right there with you on the perimenopause challenges. The body changes are one thing, but the sleep and attitude shifts can really throw you for a loop! It's a healthy mindset to allow yourself that good sulk and then moving forward with curiosity about honoring where you are now.&nbsp;</div><div>Your lesson "don't panic-buy for vacations" lesson is one I've had to learn myself too, there's something about an upcoming trip that makes us think we need entirely new wardrobes!</div><div>The autumn of navy blue sounds lovely – it's such a great rediscovery when a color comes back into favor for you. Here's to more workhorses and intentional choices in the year ahead!</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401649 Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:57:54 +0000 JAileen 2401649@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m looking at your mostly muted neutrals, and then BOOM! &nbsp;Bright pink jacket! &nbsp;I hope you’re enjoying it, and all the others, too, including your sardine necklace. &nbsp;Lately my husband has been buying sardines, and making salads, like tuna salad. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401646 Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:31:34 +0000 SarahD8 2401646@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beautifully done. You make restraint look so calm and joyful at once. This may sound odd, but I think a bit of navy blue sounds like a great antidote to menopausal grief. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401629 Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:09:25 +0000 Helena 2401629@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all for the kind and encouraging comments! I appreciate it Sharan, I FEEL like I'm in the North Pole today here in the Toronto area lol! And I agree, I didn't need anything and was just fine with what I already had, in fact I didn't even wear it all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401612 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:52:47 +0000 Star (Lise) 2401612@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love your more muted classic style.&nbsp; Good call to have the pink jacket on hand for when you are in the mood.&nbsp; Not every piece has to be a workhorse. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401610 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:50:42 +0000 Bonnie 2401610@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hope you find more reasons to wear that pink blazer. I bet it looks amazing on you. Wide and deep necklines are not for me either, I know because I tried, glad it works for your daughter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401605 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 17:58:22 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 2401605@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice recap, Helena. Your style is well-defined, and your look is consistently polished yet at ease. These look like good investments. Good save on the sweater! The panic-buying before a vacation is familiar to me. I don't really understand it in my case, because I have enough clothes to pack for any trip I can imagine that I would want to take. (i.e., No North Pole expeditions, haha! Since that's not a trip I'd want to take.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401595 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:50:19 +0000 RobinF 2401595@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm glad the sweater works for DD, at least not a loss :)</p> <p>You always look so nicely dressed and authentic for your style but I guess mistakes are bound to happen sometimes. I love the pink blazer, it'll be worth having for just the right occasion. I also love the striped top, maybe it just needs to work its way into your wardrobe? I have that sometimes where I need to find the right combo and then it works.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401552 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 18:41:16 +0000 slim cat 2401552@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fun read with many "lesson learned" things I went through as well .<br />You always look polished and wonderful!&nbsp;<br />Perimenopouse/menopause is difficult to go through and it takes a couple of years to feel back to semi normal again - at least it was my experience.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401550 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:55:57 +0000 Helena 2401550@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Angie! Xx </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401542 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 15:46:46 +0000 Angie 2401542@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Helena</b>, you have never looked better! You've found your stylish sweet spot. Pretty, classic, minimal, neat, and neutral solids that create your calm. &nbsp;They love you right back! WELL DONE.</p> <p>Learning from shopping mistakes makes us wiser! We have all been there - especially with the panic vacation prep-shop ;)&nbsp;</p> <p>I can't think of a more fun and fab way to have passed on the white sweater with the too wide neck. Brilliant!&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401535 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:38:38 +0000 Helena 2401535@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks all for the meno encouragement ... I really, really appreciate it xoxo</p> <p>Dee, it's a tricky cut! I've made that mistake before but determined to learn my lesson this time! *Crosses fingers* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401531 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:11:26 +0000 pirouette 2401531@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Helena your new additions look so well chosen and fit seamlessly into your wardrobe well done. You are a careful and thoughtful shopper. Wish I had your skills. The menopause is challenging but it’s temporary and things do get better. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401524 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 02:22:33 +0000 Sal 2401524@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well done Helena on navigating this tricky stage with aplomb - or as close to it as you can. It’s a tricky stage - I think I am a few years ahead and I strongly sympathise.</p> <p>Lovely pieces and well done on being picky and also on adding accessories. Something I forget to do. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401521 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 01:20:20 +0000 Dee 2401521@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Always great to see how well the new additions worked out or not. Lots to gain from this analysis and I hear you on the wide, deep V necklines, they are a definite no- go for me too. Glad it ended up suiting your daughter so well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401520 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 01:15:41 +0000 Jaime 2401520@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very judicious purchases, and excellent lesson learned while you could still return those vacation dresses. I found menopause, like so many things, is a matter of getting used to the new normal. I am sure you are on your way. Happy New Year! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401514 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:16:14 +0000 Helena 2401514@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for the encouragement Suz! Agreed about the belt ... I am going to hang on to it as I like the style ... It does work well on a column of black. </p> <p>Lisa, thanks for the kind words! Yeah, I thought this sweater would be an absolute workhorse and it's not ... But I do really like it and when it does work, it's just the thing. Is yours Kit and Ace also? I never purchased from there before but we visited a store when we were in Vancouver this year and I loved it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401512 Sun, 28 Dec 2025 22:50:29 +0000 LJP 2401512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love looking at collections of well-planned and thought-out purchases like yours . You are always well-dressed and have a nice variety of pieces . Funny , I also have a very similar blue -white striped crochet ish sweater that I bought almost 2 yrs ago now ( on sale and out of season ) and have never worn . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401511 Sun, 28 Dec 2025 22:22:20 +0000 Suz 2401511@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like a terrific year for you, <b>Helena</b>, I mean apart from the menopausal grief. Ugh. Many of us have been there. It does get better!&nbsp;</p> <p>How lucky that the sweater that doesn't work for you does work for DD. So it wasn't a waste. The skinny belt may come into favour another time...belts are timeless in a way and we cycle in and out of satisfaction with the various types.&nbsp;</p> <p>You have looked terrific and at ease in your outfits this year. And your purchases have been well-thought out!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-best-worst#post-2401510 Sun, 28 Dec 2025 22:14:17 +0000 Helena 2401510@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi all! I was just updating my Finds for the last couple of months (forensic credit card sleuthing haha!) and considering my year-that-was in terms of shopping.</p> <p>I was surprised that I didn't buy all that much this year, as I was worried the tally would be higher than I wanted. I didn't include gear socks, a pair of flip flops and four new badly-needed bras in the final tally.</p> <p>I purchased <b>roughly 27 items this year</b>, so a little over two a month on average (down from my typical 3 a month, or 36 total). This included clothes and quite a few accessories, including a necklace, two handbags, a belt, sandals, sneakers, and a new winter hat and scarf, and two new workout tees. All in all, a lower-buy year for me I'd say.</p> <p>Overall, I would say it was a decent style year - I had all I needed and more, and was generally fine with everything. Some midlife body changes (and mood/attitude changes ha!) have been giving me some grief, but I've had a good sulk and now am on to exploring how to honor my current body and lifestage best I can.</p> <p><b>Best of the Year:</b><br />- Looking at my purchases, there <b>haven't really been any terrible duds</b> (exceptions detailed in below) - I can say I've barely worn the pink blazer, but it was thrifted and I had no expectation it would get worn more than a couple times a year, when I am feeling bold.<br />- It was the autumn of <b>navy blue</b>, with lots of staples in that shade in the shopping cart. I was kind of off it for a couple years but now am loving it again (and it loves me back, vs. black - which to be fair I also still love!)<br />- Lots of <b>workhorses </b>this year - in fact the pink blazer and blue &amp; white striped sweater, slim belt and white v-neck may be the only four pieces that *haven't* been workhorses.</p> <p><b>Worst of the Year:</b><br />- <b>Middle age menopause grief.</b> Ugh. Moving on!<br />- The white v-neck sweater was a flop - however, it looks AMAZING on DD, worn off one shoulder. So losses have been cut! <b>Lesson learned</b>: wide and deep v-necks do not suit me. Do not kid myself because the drape and sleeves are so good I think I can make it work. Camis cannot fix everything hah!<br />- The skinny belt has made me less happy than expected. I don't know why - I think I just need a slightly wider belt to feel comfortable. Onwards.<br />- Two stupid purchases for our recent trip down south (but both getting returned, so it's okay and I didn't count them as purchases - one dress was too cutesy, the other two puffy and dramatic in shape. <b>Lesson learned</b>:<b></b> don't panic-buy for vacations!</p> <p>Thanks for reading and belated Merry Christmas to all those celebrating, and love to those for whom it's not a happy time xx</p> <p><b>Note</b>: gray sleeveless sweater - mine is black / light gray ankle pants - mine are beige :)&nbsp; </p>