https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:46:46 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/3#post-716064 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:43:55 +0000 krishnidoux 716064@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is fantastic Suz! Your insight is inspiring. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/3#post-716055 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:13:26 +0000 JR 716055@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>:o) I so like your way of thinking. I'm headed in a very similar direction, with a slightly wider spread of neutrals though: white, black (although perhaps less on top), grey, and a bit of navy. These aren't yet cemented into place, and I am still working out my relationship with browns and tans. And you are so right: when your core wardrobe is in neutrals, you can throw the occasional colour at it, and it will work.</p> <p>I am also working on basic silhouettes: button-downs, straight tunics, straight and boot-cut pants, pencil skirts, blazers... None of this is meant to be exclusive, but the core. Add-ons are acceptable, but they have to get along nicely with the core.</p> <p>I'm going at this a little more incrementally than you, because I've never been good at major turn-arounds. I start heading in a certain direction and gradually get there, if that makes sense.</p> <p>And I do love that jacket. As a matter of fact, I was drooling over it earlier today myself, in a rather nice coincidence. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715942 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 19:39:06 +0000 fern 715942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I made it in my wardrobe spreadsheet by filling the cells with background color, but I keep everything on there.<br /> It would be just as possible in a paint program, or with colored pencils on an index card for your wallet - hmmm... I might need a wallet version </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715842 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 18:06:50 +0000 Suz 715842@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great idea, Fern! How did you do this? I would like to do something similar as a sort of guideline for myself. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715799 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 17:18:23 +0000 fern 715799@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, you're a beautiful Siamese cat! I love it.<br /> I made a palette to remind myself to limit my colors and not be distracted by all the other pretty things. I don't know if this helps anyone else, but all of my little tricks to help me focus my wardrobe seem to be working for me.<br /> I wear more color than neutrals. The palette represents winter colors on the left column, neutrals, accents and then summer colors. I think the idea of "lightening up" for spring really worked for me this year and I will add those softer colors in linen &amp; cotton, but for Fall I am looking for the deeper colors. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715725 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:32:15 +0000 Jonesy 715725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yay, Suz! Taupe and blues sound lovely, and perfect for you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715719 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:29:23 +0000 Carole 715719@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, what a fabulous thread, Suz! I need to spend more time studying it because I feel I can learn so much from your analytical thought process here. I relate so closely to your frustrations and ponderings! Thank you for taking the time to share our thoughts! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715684 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:45:02 +0000 Suz 715684@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lisanne, THANK you! I should have linked directly to those. I got so excited at your site that I just burrowed in and forgot others might need the direct link. </p> <p>I think I'm an "every little bit helps" person, too...that is why the learning process takes so long. And I am sure I will continue to make mistakes along the way. But at least I feel much more focused now. I know I want to build a "taupe dominated" capsule. I know FOR SURE what my key accent colours will be. I know that it is going to be a process to buy what I need. </p> <p>What was most eye-opening in your approach was simply to give a number to the items we wear every day, several times a week, once a month, etc. </p> <p>BINGO! That explained to me immediately where my gaps are. Why some things that are traditionally thought of as "frills" or extras (in my case, scarves and boots) are really wardrobe staples. And so it is okay to have more than two of those. Etc. </p> <p>Thank you again for being SO SO helpful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715667 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:30:12 +0000 Lisanne 715667@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It is exciting when you realise what is your 'easy to remember' formula for your own style !<br /> The direct link to my wardrobe planning sheets is here :<br /> <a href="http://sewingplums.com/2011/04/29/your-personal-basic-wardrobe-plan/" rel="nofollow">http://sewingplums.com/2011/04.....robe-plan/</a><br /> Some people don't get a big revelation - I'm an 'every little step helps' person !<br /> Best Wishes to all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715617 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 12:56:24 +0000 Preppy Pear 715617@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love the colors, love hearing about your style journey! To me, everything I've seen you wear in the brief time I've been on YLF really suggests that you've already got this fashion thing figured out - I think you already look great, but I love how you are always rethinking and refining. I like your architectural approach to the wardrobe. Do you find it's a balance between sensing what will work and planning carefully, but also letting the pieces just sort of fall together after you've selected them? </p> <p>I'm also thinking that as I try putting together my own capusles, navy is also a no-brainer for me - it's already my dark neutral. I've been very inspired to try to incorporate more light colors - taupe, light gray, cream, etc. (I'm not so great with beige, either). Basically, you might be my muse, Suz! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715592 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 12:09:31 +0000 Nova 715592@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, thanks so much for posting this. I had gone through the same thing in my style journey, but didn't know how to describe it. This has helped me to realize why I am so drawn to higher contrast clothes. With my pale skin, dark blue eyes, and hair I look much more alive in clothes with a higher contrast. Thanks for the epiphany. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715532 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 06:34:53 +0000 Mona 715532@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh Man, my family is planning a trip to Kew Gardens today and here I am reading your post and getting all excited about your breakthrough. This is brilliant. I did not know about the concept of picking one dark and one light neutral to start building my wardrobe. I have to build my wardrobe from ground zero and this concept will help me tremendously as a starting point. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715512 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 05:53:15 +0000 Scarlet 715512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congratulations! And *fist bump* to another low-contrast mushroom lover. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715467 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:50:02 +0000 Elly 715467@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So glad your not driving yourself batty anymore (although it probably led to this gem busting through)! </p> <p>It is a lovely lovely set of observations that I think will serve you well. The points about being able to pick 2 neutrals of any type and also using other neutrals as accents or secondary colors are very good. I need to remember those!</p> <p>Me, I recently realized I shouldn't have written grey off. There is a shade for me, it is just that the blue greys were so popular so long that nothing I tried on in grey looked good on me. Despite being one that should be able to wear brown, browns are tricky, just like tans/beige/taupe and cream/white--- super dark neutrals are no brainers. Black and the super dark colors bring out my constrast and intensity, as do bright, rich colors. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715453 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 03:15:25 +0000 Ariadne 715453@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, this is so interesting and timely! I have all my fall clothes laid out on my bed and am noticing a lot of color overlap (ink blue, other blues, off white, black, grey) with a few outliers (raspberry, mustard, neon pink...). Bitter chocolate brown and cognac show up too (mostly in accessories).</p> <p>I love your color choices and will be following to see where this revelation takes you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715318 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 00:25:58 +0000 Gaylene 715318@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This isn't such a hard thing once the light bulb goes off, is it, Suz. I mean, once I looked in my closet, I could see the beginnings of each seasonal capsule quite clearly; my biggest problem was that each seasonal capsule was only partially completed, making it harder to pull things together.</p> <p>And I had the dawning realization that the colors in each of my seasonal capsules could quite nicely overlap to create a variety of transitional capsules. And that my pops of color in purples, blues, and greens worked with all my seasons, especially if I varied the tones and shades. And that grey and cognac accessories could work just as well as black-- and be quite a bit more interesting. And that a light-grey sweater could work for all my seasons....</p> <p>All of a sudden, I can start to see something really interesting happening. WOW!!! I owe you and Steph a major THANK YOU! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715258 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 00:00:50 +0000 catgirl 715258@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My pinterest board REALLY helps me realize how much I gravitate toward very specific colors. And I like the way it all looks, actually. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715252 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 23:59:02 +0000 Suz 715252@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, Gaylene - that is so clever. A SEASONAL neutrals palette! </p> <p>One thing that used to hang me up was the idea that my neutrals for for my accessories. Where can one find navy shoes? (Well, I know they exist, but usually in old-lady styles, until recently, that is...) </p> <p>Now I realize, no - it's my CLOTHES that start in the neutrals and my accessories can be whatever darn colour I like! (And I like LOTS of colours for those!) Of course i can have neutral accessories, too. </p> <p>Jennifer, lots of great questions and observations. We have much in common. I'm a "cool" summer but there is enough gold in my hair (coloured of course, but I was born a strawberrry blonde) to fool some people and the person who did my colours thought I was a neutral or even an autumn at first! But I'm not...so cools work best on me. However, I do love deep chocolate brown (and can wear it well) and so a few years ago when brown was "in" I wore a lot of it. </p> <p>I'll definitely wear pops of cobalt, fuchsia, etc. I don't rule ANY colour out. I just realized that I need to settle on what my "fundamentals" will be before adding too many more additions. Once the core is in place I'm happy to continue to mix it up. (And of course to replace core pieces as they wear or date.) It will take me a LONG time to build up the core, however. I'm missing lots of stuff. </p> <p>We could definitely have a topic on "what's your red." Mine is definitely a blue-red. Anything from raspberry to cranberry to burgundy. </p> <p>Oh, and for jewelry - I wear it all, but I look best in silver or rose gold. </p> <p>Gingko - thank you - I will check in with Elisabeth! I suspect I might actually know which boutique she's referring to! </p> <p>Thanks again - one and all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715160 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 22:32:14 +0000 Gaylene 715160@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great post, Suz. I kept nodding my head as I was reading your post; you've exactly expressed the dilemma that so many of us have when we are trying to figure out our core colors for our wardrobes. And Steph's statement about variations is one of those concepts that seems so straight-forward when someone says it, but is also an AHA moment for me.</p> <p>Black for winter, navy for spring, white for summer, and cognac for fall. There it is--my core. Thanks so much Steph and Suz!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715127 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:55:11 +0000 catgirl 715127@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Woot! You are the Usain Bolt of fashion breakthroughs, because that was fast! Can't wait to see this play out - now you're through the hard part and back into the fun part. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715017 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:08:17 +0000 Debbie 715017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been watching your journey closely. Seems like you are really getting a handle on what works for you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715013 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:06:53 +0000 RoseandJoan 715013@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is a great breakthrough Suz, it feels like you have refined your colour palette in a way which is not restrictive to you. Good luck plugging those holes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-715002 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 20:02:05 +0000 Anonymous 715002@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz, great conclusion, or maybe start? I loved having my colours done, I think it was more than 50% of my battle with my closet</p> <p>Anyhoo, Cleo's has faux leather jackets, they are rather nice (sleeves too long on me) if you don't absolutely have to have leather </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-714995 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:59:57 +0000 tarzy 714995@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yay! And yay for Steph for breaking it down in such a helpful way! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-714856 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:59:58 +0000 shiny 714856@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah! Nice break through! You are lucky that it is perfectly timed with trends, seeing as how navy is in right now. You can replace and build your wardrobe a lot faster now. What about cobalt? Is that in your palette too, as accent or otherwise? And what color eyes do you have?</p> <p>Taupe: I am never all that clear on what is taupe and what is not. I guess it's one of those "you know it when you see it" colors. But if that leather jacket is taupe, then yes, that is a great color for you and goes well with your hair. </p> <p>I had similar breakthrough myself, years ago, early YLF, when I realized that my closet had two personalities, one was based on browns and warm autumn colors, and the other based on black and cool blue-based tones. I'd go back and forth between the two wardobes... depending on what shades of highlights my hairdresser added. I have a lot of red in my hair, my sister and mom in fact are both redheads.. but on flip side I cannot do ash-toned highlights at all; completely wash me out... according to my hairdresser, I am a "neutral" blonde. Neither cool nor warm. Which may explain why I had such a schizophrenic closet. </p> <p>Anyway, I decided that I was going to stick with cool tones and slowly gravitate away from the browns/warm tones. So in effect I was dong similar to what you are doing here. I suppose I picked black and white as my two neutrals. I do wear a lot of gray as well -- in any shade from dark charcoal to medium charcoal to light gray (that Theory shift is one of my favorite shades of gray to wear). As for white I like anything from optic white to cream all the way to something like this (*drool*):<br /> <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/theory-madigan-juno-crop-leather-jacket/3319766?origin=category&#038;contextualcategoryid=0&#038;fashionColor=&#038;resultback=3747" rel="nofollow">http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/th.....tback=3747</a> </p> <p>I do think navy looks better on me, too but I have a love/hate affair with navy.... I do not really like flat navy's. Or the kind of navy that reads "nautical," if you know what I mean. </p> <p>I love your list of accent colors. I'd suggest not ruling out the rare high contrast, surprise color. I think I look good in high contrast, but like you, I gravitate more towards medium contrast. But every now and then I want BOLD. Like that hot pink skirt. And my cobalt wool coat. Neither one of those colors are colors that I'd collect and consider a "core" accent color for me. One or two items here and there is enough to add a jolt when you want a jolt. </p> <p>On topic of accent colors, it intrigues me you picked cranberry for your red. Everyone has their red, no? We could do a whole post on that topic! When you say cranberry, you mean more of a blue-based red rather than a tomato or "true" (aka lipstick) red, right? </p> <p>Oh! And what about jewelry? I also tend to think it's good to settle on a metal: silver, gold, or bronze. You can still wear any, but for hardware on bags and investment pieces, and if you want a minimal wardrobe, it really helps to pick one or the other. Mine is silver, for sure. I do wear the others but I'm 80/20. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-714816 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:25:56 +0000 cciele 714816@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So happy for you Suz! Your excitement totally comes through in your post. Those colors are going to work so well as your foundation. And I love that you'll have a matching kitty </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-714789 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 17:07:56 +0000 Beth Ann 714789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz -- my ds was up all night long with the flu (sorry) and I literally found myself thinking about your closet issues as I struggled to be a good mama and stay awake. You and I are physical opposites, but both creative types, and I often learn a lot from your posts. I understand the desire to present your arty side without looking drab or whackadoodle, and I so wanted to be of help, but I had no insight to offer. sigh.</p> <p>Imagine how happy I was to hear of your breakthrough! As a musician who often "writes" programs, I so get the agony before the breakthrough! Your plan sounds perfect.</p> <p>Can't wait to see the results. (Now, off to check on ds!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-714777 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:52:52 +0000 Ginkgo 714777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Excellent, Suz! I spent part of yesterday evening googling brown/cream/gray scarves to tie my wardrobe together and came up with good ones. </p> <p>A little off topic here, but I was remembering how you said you would be in Vancouver next month and might squeeze in some shopping, and Elisabeth has mentioned before a favorite boutique where she buys her favorite pieces. You might want to check it out! I bookmarked the shop's website on my home computer (ready for the next Vancouver trip) but I'm not at home now and can't quickly find the name of it in Elisabeth's postings. With you find this particular shop or not, please fit in some shopping time for yourself in Vancouver! Send you husband and daughter off on another activity and take some time for yourself. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-714774 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:50:19 +0000 Angie 714774@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Glad that things are clearer for you, Suz! Steph is your style muse </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/breakthrough-shout-out-to-steph---mrs-eccentric/page/2#post-714771 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:49:27 +0000 Sylvie 714771@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Brilliant wardrobe breakthrough! I frankly wasn't quite sure what you meant by not having a core (because I thought you did) but seeing that your issue was "colour" puts it all together now. Pick two neutrals, even if they're dark. It makes perfect sense! </p>