https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:23:26 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2402209 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:32:15 +0000 Nadine 2402209@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am glad to hear things have softened in your life.. It sounds like it was a very difficult year.</p> <p>I appreciated hearing about the trials and errors with your style and outfits. I hope you’ll enjoy the process of figuring things out. The little joys in life that are there to savour… </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2402200 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 13:39:48 +0000 Carol 2402200@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Retro, but with more drape. I sort of understand. Do you like Aubrey Beardsley illustrations? That is what that looks like.&nbsp;</p> <p>I can't remember what else I was going to say. Love the photo you have, #2! Skin glows, and you are selling that skin care program.</p> <p>Oh, I know. Do you look at old Martha Graham photos? Some of her dance outfits are exactly that--drapey, Grecian, but very beat/1950s.</p> <p>Hope all comes to a calm at your house, and hope everyone feels better!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2402195 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 12:47:01 +0000 Janet 2402195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Exactly what Carla said! You’ve been through it, for sure, and I hope the coming year brings more health and peace! </p> <p>You do always look fabulous in your posts, and your sense of style and color fit you so well! Your creativity comes through. You are up there with Brooklyn in your ability to see the potential in items and make them into what works for you. </p> <p>Good for you for jettisoning the toxic mold detritus! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2402112 Sat, 03 Jan 2026 17:07:04 +0000 Ket 2402112@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Suz</b>, oh thank you so much! I shall keep on keeping on, especially knowing you all are here to cheer me on and up! &lt;3 You said it so well with aspirational vs fantasy life. When I had a career it felt easier because I could wear some fantasy dressing to work or even out with friends and my husband. And now.. that just doesn’t quite work. It’s not practical. But being practical and casual has never been my strong suit either. I like artsy and glam — and those aren’t exactly practical and casual ha! Thanks for listening to me ramble.</p> <p><b><br /></b></p> <p><b>Jaime</b>, you are so lovely. Thank you &lt;3 “We were our faces every day after all.” So beautifully said! You are so precious, my Fab friend. &lt;3 I hope 2026 is easier and lighter for you too.</p> <p></p> <p><b>Lise</b>, I was so tickled how he kept insisting I buy the dress. I was having a down day (keeping it to myself) and he was like no — Mom you need this dress. Thank you for your kind wishes &lt;3 I will definitely be remixing some things. I also used an AI service to look over a couple of boards and just name and list all the various elements, accessories, etc. Kind of cheating maybe and not perfect. But it helped me see some common themes, elements, etc. and it was very helpful just as something to let stew in the teapot of my mind while I shop.&nbsp;</p> <p> <br /> <b>Dee</b>, thank you &lt;3 Yes, to ditching the clothes! I honestly felt so much better emotionally just letting them go. Thank you for your kind compliments about my knitting! I will keep building and will share the journey here as ever. </p> <p><b>Helena</b>, I think the next step of overlap with daily practicalities feels hard when I think about it. But I’m hoping as I flow and continue on in the journey, it will all come together. Thanks for such kind wishes. Truly. Xo &lt;3 </p> <p></p> <p><b>Cookie</b>, haha! Thanks for a good laugh! </p> <p><b>Sal</b>, thank you &lt;3 And such a wise reminder! I think I haven’t really found a uniform yet? I love your idea to wear jeans, cardigans, tees, and sneakers. I do think jeans or pants with a top and topper is probably a really good uniform for me to try out more. And dresses. Skirts always feel hit or miss for me, somehow. Not sure why. I have 3 bias cut midi skirts in my drawers and I have hardly worn them even though I like the idea of them. </p> <p></p> <p><b>Carla</b>, I am thankful to be through it, for sure! You made me tear up. I have always felt I was *not* the person who could wear a wash rag (or flour sack) and look good. So thank you so, so much for a lovely compliment. And yes— I plan on continuing cozy, romantic, and boho this year I feel very good about that direction. </p> <p><b>Angie</b>, oh thank you! I totally love and accept that lovely wish for 2026, as well as the compliments Jeans do work! Flared Jeans… I bought 3 back-up pairs ha! I do love them. I am still working on the rock’n roll part, but something about that vibe delights me. And yes! Boho will always keep on stayin’ alive. It is my heart and style home for sure I will keep following the NO’s and the YES’s! I remember you sharing that with me a couple times in 2025, and it really stuck with me. I'm really not disappointed with my style no's in 2025. There is so much out there in the fashion world. Hopefully the next right steps will find me. And a good graphic rocker tee ;)&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401896 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:15:36 +0000 Angie 2401896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Ket</b>, good job weathering a turbulent and dramatic 2025! Your son and kitty are thankfully doing well. May 2026 be uneventful, and full of gloriously un-stressful times!&nbsp;</p> <p>Excellent style epiphanies! It's all very well to love a look and vibe - YET IT HAS TO WORK FOR YOUR LIFE!! (As <b>Suz </b>expressed more poetically in her comment). Add back the practical items. Jeans work, so milk it! Throw in some robust rock 'n roll. Keep boho alive :)</p> <p>One way to achieve excellence is to learn from our mistakes, and follow through with discipline and balance. The 'NO's" make the "YES's" shine. You are dead right to love those new flared jeans! Your face looks beautiful no matter what.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401838 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 18:02:20 +0000 Carla 2401838@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, I don’t think many folks will be marking&nbsp;<b>2025&nbsp;</b>as one of the top 10 best years of their lives. &nbsp;Yours sounds like a doozy, however you’re through it, now! &nbsp;<br /><div><br /></div><div>No matter how your closet is curated, you always look fab,&nbsp;<b>Ket. &nbsp;</b>My mom was known to comment : “she’s so beautiful, you could put a wash rag on her head and she’d look good!” and I find this applies to you. &nbsp;I hope your&nbsp;<b>2026&nbsp;</b>is a wonderful cozy, romantic, boho year!</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401821 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 17:15:56 +0000 Sal 2401821@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Happy New Year Ket! That sounds like a very challenging year indeed. Some of the worst things to face.</p> <p>In terms of clothing and style I love your outfits and looks. I think having uniform or two for busy times can help. One that you can wear on repeat. I recall when my sons were small I wore had a couple of long cardigans, slim jeans, converse sneakers and tees under. It was easy practical and I felt good in it three days a week. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401806 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 15:56:15 +0000 Cookie 2401806@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh my goodness. What a year. </p> <p>Remember how happy we all were to see the back of 2020? We had no idea lol. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401790 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 14:06:28 +0000 Helena 2401790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think Suz nailed it! You've done the hard work of honing your style preferences, shapes, colours, silhouettes, etc. now the next step is finding the overlap with the practicalities of your day to day. All part of the journey and you are doing great!</p> <p>I'm so sorry you had such a difficult year. I hope 2026 brings you healthy, calm and happiness. Xx </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401787 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 13:21:09 +0000 Dee 2401787@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, that was a lot to go through, I certainly hope 2026 will bring you more joy and calm. Glad to hear you ditch those clothes from the toxic moldy times. Pinterest is a good way to sort out your aspirations but its got to suit for how one really lives too. You are a talented knitter and your creations always look wonderful on you, so you just need to build on whats working really well for you now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401784 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:33:01 +0000 Star (Lise) 2401784@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh my I love that dress you bought. Your son has great taste :). So sorry you had a grotty year, putting it mildly, and wishing you a much better 2026. Good what you've figured out about Pinterest examples. Probably you can remix some of the same pieces with older pieces in a way that is authentic to you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401755 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 01:49:57 +0000 Jaime 2401755@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You have faced challenges on so many levels this year, it is amazing you are holding it all together Ket and you have still managed to look great. Good that you found skincare that works - we wear our faces every day after all. I hope you have an easier 2026. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401745 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:31:24 +0000 Suz 2401745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Ket</b>, wow, what a year you've had. Intense!! Drama at every turn. I'm glad you are past the worst of it (especially DS's illness) and hope that the year ahead is an easier one for you.&nbsp;</p> <p>There's a fine line between dressing aspirationally and trying to dress for a fantasy life -- and it can take some time to figure it out, honestly.&nbsp; Try not to be too hard on yourself...you want to look your best to face the world and you dream of a particular style...but at the same time, there are sick cats and kids to deal with, and a kitchen reno, and cleaning, and on and on.&nbsp;</p> <p>You looked terrific all year, no matter what was going on. Brava, and keep on keeping on!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/2025-style-ponderings#post-2401742 Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:39:08 +0000 Ket 2401742@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>2025 was the year of One Thing After Another.<br /> </b><br /> It started with Christmas 2024, when my husband's grandmother passed away. After that, it was one huge event after another. And I mean huge. We nearly lost our kitten Henry twice due to a blocked bladder, and he ended up having very expensive life saving surgery. Our son landed in children's ER with a life-threatening dental infection in June. It was incredibly scary; thankfully he was treated before it spread to his eye or went septic. August through November included incredibly challenging family events too difficult to go into. Things started softening by Thanksgiving, when we spent the holiday with Hub's family out of state and just enjoyed the goodness. Christmas was spent with just us, the flu, and presents. I don't think we've made Christmas Eve service since 2019 due to illness every Christmas. :p</p> <p><div><br /> </div><div>I bring this all up because some of the happenings affected how much time and energy I had to get dressed everyday. Some of this is also due to realizing I need more easy-wear clothing. It also affected how often I posted here. Between all of the craziness, motherhood, homeschooling, and some new commitments, I have been the busiest I've ever been in over 10 years. <br /> <div><br /> </div><div><b>2025 was a year where I figured out some things. </b></div><div><br /> </div><div>My summer wardrobe was both a win and loss. I spent a lot of time planning an Pinterest board based on a 1950s Italy and Greek Isles feel and purchasing an entire wardrobe from it. Parts of it worked but I didn't like it as a whole. What I realized is, I like retro and vintage, but I don't like outfits or silhouettes that are too clean, too pretty, too neat. They have to have some drape, some boho, some roughness, something exotic, or a bit of rock 'n roll to make me feel at home in them.</div><div><br /> </div><div>I also realized I miss atheleisure and easy-wear clothing. I want and need more items in drapey jersey knits and wovens. The majority of what I own right now is very luxe chiffon blouses, level 2 dresses (they require some Spanx and a good bra), and satin bias cut skirts. I am not sure I need or want to dump them, but I do really want and need a softer, easier every-day wardrobe. For example, I want some deeper v-neck tees to pair with jackets and jeans--that sort of thing. Very early 80s Bruce Springsteen -- photo 1. </p> <p>And I figured out that my inspo Pinterest boards are helpful in finding a vibe but cannot be copied verbatim. I end up feeling too boxed in when I’m copying them directly. I do better when I pull a couple pieces from them to mix in with everything else. </p> <p></div><div><br /> </div><div><b>2025 was the year I let go. </p> <p></b><b></b></p> <p></div><div>One major thing I did in November was purge every item of clothing I had worn during all the toxic mold illness and healing. I had 3-4 bags of pajamas, sweats and athletic wear, and my boho rockabilly dresses. I do very much love the dresses and hope to sew something like them. But the exact dresses needed to go. Wearing them only reminded me of the past, and I am moving forward &lt;3 </div><div><br /> <b>2025 was the year I tried something new.</b></p> <p>I tried Platinum Skin Care in November--photo 2. Thank you random lady on Reddit for recommending them! PSC was a leap, but has turned out to be just what I needed. So far, my skin is loving the products. The first 4 weeks, I had tons of old, dead skin sloughing and rolling off. (So nasty, so gratifying!) I'm still 42 years-old, but my skin is starting to glow again.</p> <p></div><div><br /> </div><div><b>Yay, for reaching the end!  </b></p> <p>I know this is lengthy and doesn't have much for outfit examples or fashion/style analysis. Mostly, I think I'm still figuring things out. I did make some purchases this fall, including yet another print dress--photo 3. It was on the clearance rack at Target. My son picked it out and begged me to buy it for myself. I actually wear it with the tie worn around my waist. Empire waist dresses always feel a bit awkward on me and wearing the tie around the waist really works-- I think. I will do a WIW with it soon! I have worn it a couple of times now,  with crimson lipstick, knee high boots, and my handknit cabled cocoon (in Finds below). Even though it's a very dark print, I think the dress might be pretty in spring too. </p> <p></div></div><div><br /> </div><div>I also purchased a flare jeans and  chunky knit long cardigans and dresses. I've been wearing the cardigans a lot with my new flare jeans and various boho blouses. The jeans are my new most favorite purchase ever, I have to say. I've worn them several times now. Loveth them. Only thing is they don't have pockets, and I dislike that. The cut is so incredibly flattering and comfortable, the lack of pockets is a minor irritation at best. </div><div><br /> </div><div>That's it for now. Thanks for reading through all of this. And for being my lovely Fab friends &lt;3 I love being part of this community, despite not posting as frequently as I hoped. xo</div> </p>