https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 18 May 2026 11:54:34 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good/page/2#post-1722183 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 20:59:57 +0000 jill58 1722183@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good question. I actually had the opposite experience today--also with a Fossil crossbody bag that I tried at Nordstrom Rack. The color was orange -- a color I never, ever wear, but combined with my otherwise sedate ensemble (black tunic, beige crops, black sandals) it looked kind of great. The thing is, orange is so far outside of my norm that I wasn't sure how it would look with anything else so I left it at the store. I don't need another crossbody at this point anyway, but it did make me think that my normal colors--black, white, beige, grey and burgundy have gotten a bit boring and might be enlivened by a bit of bright color sometimes.<br /><b>Rachy</b>, I know exactly what you mean by a bag seeming "draining." I have felt that with certain black bags, even though I wear black frequently.<br />For what it's worth, I like your new bag and I like what Angie said! </p> <p>ETA--Just looked up the crossbody. I guess it was actually red. &nbsp;Reduced much further at my local Rack.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good/page/2#post-1722147 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 19:16:54 +0000 Barbara Diane 1722147@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For me, some things can stand out and some can be supporting acts. Because I rarely pattern match, and almost always wear a medium size print somewhere, my bags are usually more of a support. So while I &nbsp;am drawn to a fabulous big print on a summer bag, floral or graphic, my purses read neutral. &nbsp;<br />Maybe next summer I'll add a neutral capsule and a big print bag. Something to look forward to.</p> <p>Rachy, it sounds like you didn't like how the plaid bag looked on you. I wouldn't buy it then. But &nbsp;maybe I'd keep an open mind to seeing a similar one in better shades of black and white, or different colors.</p> <p>I do sometimes wear things I like that I don't think look that good on me, usually because they are dated. I wear them in three locations-at home, on a quick walk (we never run into anyone and usually I have a third layer on anyway), or on a long car trip when I want to be cozy in the car. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good/page/2#post-1722082 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 17:11:37 +0000 Anonymous 1722082@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You must ask yourself, "What would Penny do?"&nbsp; Deconstruct the Target bag, perhaps?&nbsp; Spray-paint some graffiti on it?&nbsp; Or maybe use as-is, who knows?&nbsp; I think you'll figure out how to make it "yours." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good/page/2#post-1722054 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 16:20:03 +0000 skylurker 1722054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>"Am hoping the little flowers don't discourage me from actually using it", lol, you're hilarious.</p> <p>Astrid wrote my answer to your question, how convenient. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good/page/2#post-1722052 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 16:14:25 +0000 catgirl 1722052@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haha Mochi! </p> <p>Rachy, no worries - just need to make sure I can return if it doesn't work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good/page/2#post-1721973 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 13:00:42 +0000 Mochi 1721973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Someone should write a children's book titled City Punk, Country Punk. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721971 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 12:43:55 +0000 Suz 1721971@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think floral on black is very country punk.&nbsp;</p> <p>Maybe even the definition of?&nbsp;</p> <p>It also makes me think of 90s Betsy Johnson and for me that is not a bad thing.&nbsp;</p> <p>I aim for both (what I love and what looks good) but of course you do sometimes have to compromise. Sometimes "like" is as strong as it gets for certain items. But the loved ones get more...well...<b>love</b>!!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721936 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 09:40:24 +0000 rachylou 1721936@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>More on the folksy and the prep and the punk. You know, I may have just had a revelation about the importance of folksiness to my style. I'm preppy, but the part that really has its grip on<br /> me is probably the prep in the country part of preppy. I motor around in a station wagon with a fake corgi, and my cousin tells me this is how I am anyways...in search of some sheep and mud. And my byword for my punk side is 'country' punk. My icon is Penny Rimbaud... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721934 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 09:06:31 +0000 Astrid 1721934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I did buy what I liked in the past and ended up with a wardrobe that was a mess. I find buying what looks good (on me and with the rest of my wardrobe) is the better strategy to reach a point where getting dressed in the morning isn't a chore. Sometimes I'm overly cautious I think, but most of the time this works for me. I usually start to appreciate those items more each time I wear them because they simply work, even if they seemd a bit boring to start with compared to the flashier option. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721929 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 08:33:43 +0000 rachylou 1721929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok, well if Angie says I need a floral errand bag... Lol, love for the bag suddenly blooms.</p> <p>The thing about the other bag - I liked looking at it on the rack. But when I put it on and looked at myself in the mirror, I didn't like me with it at all. Maybe it was the nature of the white and the black... the white was bluish and the black not deep enough. And it wasn't jiving with my folksy nature...honestly, good style word for me, Angie...In fact, I tried on another crossbody that had the right functional design and some metal stud detailing that appealed for its punky nature - and I can't tell you how wrong that looked either. Both probably had too much urbanity for me. But I do worry about little flowers being tepid...</p> <p>ps: Una, I have yet to try on either puffy... I have built up this event in my head as being special and not to be rushed... I am terrible... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721904 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 05:10:56 +0000 Gigi 1721904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If I have an immediate *need* (that's not just a want), I will buy what looks best, as long as it doesn't cost big bucks. But over time, if you buy only what is "safe" in this way, you will end up with a wardrobe that doesn't make you as happy as it could. So, once I had a core wardrobe created, I tried to buy only those items that made me really happy *and* would work with my existing wardrobe items. </p> <p>For me to buy something "in isolation" would require me to really, really love the item, and the price tag couldn't be too high. It also depends what "in isolation" means: If something doesn't look good on me because it overwhelms my stature, I won't buy it no matter how much I like it; but if it's just a matter of matching the item with other wardrobe pieces, I may buy it if I can justify the cost. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721903 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 05:10:12 +0000 AJ 1721903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I vote buy both bags! &nbsp;:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721897 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 04:45:14 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1721897@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I buy what I like, because eventually it will usually look good with everything else, too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721853 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 02:35:29 +0000 JAileen 1721853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Both, but I err a lot. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721851 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 02:33:46 +0000 Jaime 1721851@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Both but I err toward what I like. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721796 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:39:50 +0000 Anonymous 1721796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always err on the side of things that match the best, and I think it takes some of the joy out of shopping.<br /> If you love colour and pattern, having everything "go" would be "soul sucking" I would imagine. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721791 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:34:38 +0000 Brooklyn 1721791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ideally both. But these days I am trying to be more practical and find things that I like but that fit with my lots of other things in my wardrobe. I find that I can tire of statement pieces that I initially love, especially if they don't work with lots of outfits. The floral bag is super cute, but I am not sure why the check version would not work for you? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721790 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:31:27 +0000 lpr200 1721790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Both of course is ideal but if you buy what you love , more and more over time I found that things start to go together, because it gets united by your aesthetic </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721787 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:28:55 +0000 Dee 1721787@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ideally both, but sometimes I'll go for one or the other. If I'm trying to change something about my style or fill a wardrobe hole or part of a capsule, I'll go with the piece that does so best. But some of my wild cards are things I love that don't go with other parts of my style - or at least, didn't at the time but might now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721784 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:25:32 +0000 Roxanna 1721784@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm with Mochi. I'm usually drawn to unique wardrobe pieces but I find a way to make them work. Do they work as well as what 'fits' better with my wardrobe? Probably not, but I'm an impulse buyer (something I am trying to change!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721780 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:21:26 +0000 Anonymous 1721780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It has to be both for me, too; but I'm not hard to fit. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I had a hard time with fit. In that case, fit would trump loved unless I could get the item altered to fit--something I do with my pants all the time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721769 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:02:11 +0000 DonnaF 1721769@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, sometimes things I think will go with everything DON'T; and the *odd* things actually do.&nbsp; </p> <p>I'm a sucker for black and white, not to mention plaid. . .Will have to check out Ross tomorrow.&nbsp; Too bad Ross selection varies so much from location to location.&nbsp; Not that I *need* another bag.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721767 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:56:20 +0000 Sally 1721767@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm such a boring dresser...and boring shopper....I never have this problem but I think the odd statement item is good to liven things up a bit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721758 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:09:27 +0000 Mochi 1721758@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For better or worse, I often fall hard for beautiful things in complete isolation and irrelevance to what I already own or would perform a great public wardrobe service.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721757 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:05:48 +0000 Janet 1721757@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Both! If it's only one or the other, it won't get worn.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721736 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 22:27:29 +0000 Diana 1721736@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Both. Because if you don't like it you won't wear it, but ditto for if it doesn't look good/work with your outfits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721723 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 21:50:13 +0000 Angie 1721723@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Our fabulous Folksy Quirky Waif with the green hair needs a floral errand bag. MAXIMAL outfits are the new fashion direction, so don't worry about matching things, Rachy. Clashing to the extent that it creates a harmonious calm is one way to do it.&nbsp;</p> <p>(Wear what you like AND what looks good).&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721705 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 21:19:44 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 1721705@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I struggle with this too.&nbsp; I'm so attracted to colors and&nbsp;prints that I have to be careful not to buy EVERYTHING in a bright color or&nbsp;colorful print.&nbsp; I've found, for instance, that printed shoes and bags don't get worn&nbsp;as much&nbsp;because more often than not I'm wearing a print in my blouse, dress, skirt, jacket, or pants.&nbsp; Not that you can't mix prints, but there has to be some cohesion to it.&nbsp;If I'm looking for a workhorse I have to force myself to go for a solid neutral or near-neutral (still something I love, though).&nbsp; This is why I ended up selling my purple trench coat and replacing it with an olive one.&nbsp; Olive looks a little less crazy with orange or red pants. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721693 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 20:53:25 +0000 Alexandra 1721693@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If I'm spending money, it needs to be both. If I don't love it or it doesn't look good, it's not coming home with me. Same if I'm not spending money too - you couldn't give me something I don't love or that doesn't look good (to my eye). Much like a car with a hole in the roof (I don't care if it has a fancy-schmancy name like moonroof or sunroof. It's a hole in the roof. I don't want it.). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/buy-what-you-like-or-what-looks-good#post-1721673 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 20:21:02 +0000 Aida 1721673@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachy I think a lot of us electrics have this issue. Depends on how cohesive your final look is and your inclination towards actually mixing your style varieties. In answer to your question I do both with a strong tendency to look in isolation. But I do have a very good "overarching" style statement (or three) to help guide me and I do enjoy a hectic mix.</p> <p>FWIW to me a buffalo check bag seems like it would jive with more of your style personas esp. Prep and Punk. </p>