https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:40:14 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541700 Tue, 18 Aug 2015 17:26:17 +0000 Anonymous 1541700@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>"I'm intrigued that I am able to let go of the need to prove something with my clothing. "</p> <p>Ok, this is the single most profound comment I have heard about clothing and the self in ages. &nbsp;I get this ! &nbsp;It resonates and makes absolute sense to me! &nbsp;Wow. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541664 Tue, 18 Aug 2015 16:33:38 +0000 Angie 1541664@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Viv, isn't it wonderful when we grow older <b>comfortably.&nbsp;</b><b></b>Nothing&nbsp;<b></b>to prove, nothing to hide, nothing to compensate for - and simply enjoying <b></b>our style and who we have become. Priceless.&nbsp;<b></b> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541617 Tue, 18 Aug 2015 15:20:50 +0000 viva 1541617@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah, <b>glamine</b>! I love it when I miss the OBVIOUS. Thank you, Una. How perfect! </p> <p>I've really enjoyed reading these comments. Thank you all for responding (and sorry for the delayed response on my part -- had to prepare for another flight). </p> <p>I think it's interesting that others feel they are making a similar transition toward the feminine -- like <b>texstyle, Isabel, Shevia</b> -- and that makes me believe that while age may be part of it, fashion trends may also be at work. Good call, <b>Cheryle</b>. Also, it just might be time for a change (as you said, <b>Deb</b>). I realized that I am coming up on 2 years with YLF! I am definitely a person who moves along decisively (I have been known to repaint rooms every few years) so it should not surprise me that I feel the need for some reinvention.</p> <p><b>Angie</b>, I remember a recent discussion here about the word <b>pretty</b>, and I can't remember what I wrote, but I am sure I did not fully embrace the idea as much as I would today. When I was younger, having some tomboy edge to my fashion was an intentional counterpoint to my honor-roll performance and bookish interests. I'm intrigued that I am able to let go of the need to prove something with my clothing. <b>Ummlila</b>, I love the connection of pretty to boys, too -- glamine, indeed.</p> <p><b>Smittie, E, Diane</b>, <b>Brooklyn, unfrumped, Kiwigal</b>: Thank you all for such wisdom on the color issue! It was a light-bulb moment to read that all the colorful tops don't have to go with one another. Maybe it's Angie's capsule posts or blogger closet images, but I do dream of a wardrobe in all creamy shades of the same neutrals. But that is really quite far from my personality. Even still, when I hung the new yellow and green tops in my closet it felt like a visual revolt. I need to remember the closet has room for all kinds of diversity. I just have to do some work to create the right outfits with these new colors/pieces so they don't become orphans.</p> <p><b>Lisap</b>: you're asking exactly the questions I am right now: What's on the list for fall? What can pull this all together? And frankly, I don't know. I am hoping you will help me with this in Seattle in November. :)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541379 Tue, 18 Aug 2015 02:30:05 +0000 catgirl 1541379@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Glamine! :D. I think there is room for both tomboy and glam gamine in your style. I have found that limiting myself to one focus inevitably leads me to flail, whereas two or three different coherent personas can reside comfortably together. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541293 Tue, 18 Aug 2015 00:25:56 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1541293@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>DD (almost 16) and her friends use "pretty" for boys they like the look of, in as well as for clothes. Pendulum swings indeed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541276 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 23:39:58 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 1541276@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Vivian, could you be responding to a shift in the fashion world or a need for a change rather than it being an age/stage related change? &nbsp;It seems like we went through the loose fits and the "boyfriend" styles so perhaps it is the pendulum swinging back a little towards the "pretty" and feminine. &nbsp;I feel it too.</p> <p>Regardless of the cause, you are looking fab in your new style. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541226 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 22:13:48 +0000 Brooklyn 1541226@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like glam gamine a lot</p> <p>Just on the colour issue,&nbsp;I think colour&nbsp;does tend to expand your wardrobe. &nbsp;I love colour and I have a lot of stuff.&nbsp;I am now on a mission to introduce more neutrals into my wardrobe to pull things together. I agree with&nbsp;Smittie&nbsp;that with lots of colour you tend to end up with more set outfits and&nbsp;fewer mix and match&nbsp;outfits.&nbsp;I personally find that a little frustrating. So it would be a good idea&nbsp;to&nbsp;do a good try on session with each new "colourful" addition, as unfrumped suggests.&nbsp;</p> <p>But please do not get rid of those Frye boots. Frye is forever&nbsp;:)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541174 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 20:37:05 +0000 Angie 1541174@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Coming back to say that I LOVE the word<b> Pretty.&nbsp;</b>I use it ALL THE TIME to describe things around me - wardrobe and non-wardrobe related.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541172 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 20:34:22 +0000 Angie 1541172@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Glam Gamine is a great moniker, Viv. You have the mischief, wide brown eyes, and boyish figure to go with it too. Fabulous.&nbsp;</p> <p>I LOVE that you're embracing the Pretty - (Pretty items are close to my heart - hence my own 2015 moniker "Urban Pretty") - because it pains me greatly when Pretty gets a bad wrap. You can ABSOLUTELY be an &nbsp;assertive, intelligent, strong, powerful and wise women who wears pretty clothing.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541133 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 19:23:29 +0000 unfrumped 1541133@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like your choices! <br />I can relate, I think. I don't know if it's age-related or not, or something about the refinement of more "lady-like" items. Though edgy and androgynous can be refined, too. Or maybe it's an interesting detail.<br />But, I can also tell if I swing too far, things get twee awful fast, too dainty.<br />So some kind of sportiness and vigor is needed to offset.<br />I don't think the colors are a problem, in tops, at least. This is where Angie's advice to do&nbsp;a good try-on with your other items, your neutrals and suits and whatnot. Your tops don't have to go with <u>each other.&nbsp;</p> <p></u> In fact, one problem I have is maybe getting too many similar things so that a superficial glance I look the same,. whereas, a pop of emerald vs sunny yellow really looks different on different days, but can travel in the same suitcase with the same bottoms/toppers/footwear. Like scarves for travel--ideally 2-3 scarves would be&nbsp; most useful if they are very different in color or pattern or whatever effect.</p> <p>Where it gets tricky is if you get a certain color that now just doesn't <u>quite</u>&nbsp;go with your base neutrals, and you start having to create an entire capsule around it. Unless that's the color direction you want to change to. </p> <p>So I have used that to go yay/nay on some items, a color I liked but maybe either the color, or fabrication, was too demanding somehow, and it just didn't set off the other items in any good way. Then I would realize it needed to go back, and wait for the right item. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541126 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 18:53:19 +0000 Sal 1541126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like glam gamine, I think your new colourful pieces are stunning and agree with Smittie the only downside is more set outfits than true mix and match. It is fun to evolve your style!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541123 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 18:32:29 +0000 deb 1541123@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Could it be that you are bored with the more masculine style and the older colors in your closet? I found that when I get tired of wearing the same style is when a shift starts happening. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541122 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 18:19:55 +0000 Anonymous 1541122@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm loving the sound of how your style is changing Viva. I think your recent purchases are lovely and I'm nodding along with the suggestions of dandy possibly, along with glam gamine. I actually think your colours won't be a problem to cope with. You must still have plenty of neutrals to pair with them and you can explore more unusual colour combos which could be great fun! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541120 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 18:00:16 +0000 Suz 1541120@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>On my phone and travelling with intermittent cell service but wanted to say you look gorgeous in your new items and I love "glam gamine" as descriptor. In fact I might have to steal it!!! I have been feeling s yen for more feminine items also. Hence my recent purchase of two rather impractical dresses and two slightly more practical tube skirts. I still wear my boyfriend jeans in the right season for them but I tend to pair with more feminine tops or scarves. And I'm feeling a yen for something new. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541104 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:54:48 +0000 Alassë 1541104@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you looked great in the yellow blouse WIW. And thanks for writing such an interesting analysis for us to read! You came to some fascinating conclusions regarding style shift. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541049 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:19:43 +0000 Anonymous 1541049@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Viva I am finding exactly the same thing! More feminine items that I used to avoid are more appealing now and I do think there's a relationship with my age.</p> <p>But I try not to spend too much time resisting or even analyzing any potentially negative aspects of the inevitable so I'm not going to say anything bad about this development!</p> <p>I think my younger self was set off to advantage by more masculine, sporty items, but now I look and feel more myself as I am now, when I'm wearing more feminine things.</p> <p>And I feel as though a softer style is better received by other people too, and adds a certain glide to my social navigating. Maybe it's a more wide audience, accessible look on an older woman?&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541035 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:53:22 +0000 Anonymous 1541035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dandy is a great descriptor - and just might be a good one in your case , Vivian.</p> <p>I know what you mean about the colour cohesion, or lack thereof, as I'm thinking about the very same thing. While I'll always be drawn to black basics, I decided that this fall will see olive, burgundy or plum, &nbsp;navy and ink as my main colours. &nbsp;I've kind of overdosed on grey, even though it iso a good colour on me. </p> <p>Anyways - do you worry about the wider range of colours creating a big jumble of a closet? &nbsp;I think most if not all of those colours will work together , which is certainly what the runway photos from Fashion Week showed. I think this will work well on you - giving you a more feminine look through colour and slight changes in style &nbsp;without it feeling odd. &nbsp;</p> <p>I have a couple of years on you I think, and I know that I started feeling the urge to look more feminine right about the time you are. &nbsp;It's a tricky move to make though, isn't it? &nbsp;You still want to look fashion conscious and put together without sacrificing your inherent style - or without looking like you're/we're trying too hard to look hip. &nbsp;Maybe I'm projecting here - but .....</p> <p>What's on your hope-to-find list for fall? &nbsp;Or, what do you think is needed to pull the colours all together? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541030 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:48:11 +0000 Jaime 1541030@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am intrigued by your turn toward pretty. I am feeling a bit of that also (and perimenopause is in full swing). I am not ready to give up my oxfords or bf jeans, but am more interested in makeup and other girly touches I had mostly ignored until now.&nbsp;<br />At any rate, your outfits, including the new color additions have been gorgeous so whatever is happening it seems to be having a good effect! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541023 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:35:52 +0000 E 1541023@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Now that I posted my comment I could scroll up and see that not all of your new pieces are blouses. But they all sound glam gamine from their descriptions! As long as the phrase inspires you, I think it's a marvelous one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541022 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:33:25 +0000 E 1541022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't commented on your latest wiw (on phone more lately which is trickier for me to type on) but I absolutely love you in that yellow blouse!!!</p> <p>It was so interesting to hear about your closet shift. My closet has been turning towards the more overtly feminine since I've become active on YLF too (although it started at a more feminine place). In my case I think that's from forum approval giving me more confidence to wear the kinds of traditionally feminine pieces that are sort of belittled in a lot of places though.</p> <p>I do love the word dandy...perhaps you can use that in your new style descriptor? Are you mainly pairing more feminine tops w your usual trousers? That's a very dandy combination, in my view. I like glam gamine too though!</p> <p>As for colour cohesion, as long as you have the neutral pieces to pair with your colour ones, I think you're cohesive! After all, you're not going to wear two blouses together. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541011 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:11:05 +0000 Elly 1541011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't think that sophisticated tomboy is a bad descriptor-- overall I feel like the 70s was a feminine decade-- masculine shapes and items (like suits, pants, button downs) were feminized with curves, softened with colors and prints for BOTH sexes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1541009 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:08:26 +0000 Anonymous 1541009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are definitely not a sophisticated tomboy - I really don't see that.&nbsp;</p> <p>Interesting to hear about your style journey, and how you're evolving. I used to think I was a failure for always switching things up, so I'm glad other people do so. Are you surprised by your shift, or was it sort of a conscious decision?</p> <p>Wearing a lot of different colours isn't a style failure. It's possible you will have to do more set outfits (as opposed to mix-n-match) but there's no downside to that, IMO. I actually have set outfits and my colours are all the same grey/blue/black/white. As long as I have 2 weeks of outfits, it doesn't matter about the mix and matchability.</p> <p>I'm not sure what you look like in woven button downs, but I do like the softer fabrics on you.</p> <p>I'm supporting the OTK boots. I know you say you 'can't do over the knee skirts' but maybe you can think about it?</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1540990 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 13:45:19 +0000 texstyle 1540990@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>viva - I think it is natural to make this type of transition and I think I have been doing the same thing. I live such a casual lifestyle that I don't put budget towards too many delicate or hand wash items, but I have noticed that I am more inclined to look for things that feel feminine in my outfits, even when it's a simple or graphic tee - I don't want a baseball tee for example, where in the past maybe I would. I also tend to wear more feminine jewelry with my simple tees to up the femininity. I don't know that it's age related, or related to perimenopause either.</p> <p>I've noticed a lot of your new purchases and I love them for you. I also love deep olive and burgandy and have always had a place for those colors in my wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-review-style-changes-and-thoughts-on-color-cohesion#post-1540985 Mon, 17 Aug 2015 13:35:04 +0000 viva 1540985@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This weekend I did a closet clean-out and wardrobe review. It didn't take long because I go through my wardrobe every couple of months and weed out the weak links, so there weren't too many decisions to make. I did want to count pieces (excluding outerwear, gear, and the ultra casual -- like graphic tees) to see how things had evolved since the last time I counted, a year ago. And I was interested in understanding shifts in my style. I came away with a few thoughts and some questions. <b>I'd love your thoughts.</b></p> <p><b>1. My closet size is somewhat larger, but not that much -- so I think my wardrobe is the right size for me. </b>Although I don't adhere strictly to a 1-in/1-out philosophy, it has happened somewhat naturally. 13 months ago I counted 86 items; now I have 94. I've added work tops, non-denim bottoms, and a couple of skirts; I've gotten rid of a few unworn dresses. <br /><b>2. My clothing is getting prettier, and the 60s are cohabiting with the 70s. </b>I've gotten rid of some masculine items -- casual button-downs, for example -- and added 70s-influenced feminine items like the Zara ruffle blouse and the Haute Hippie dress. The non-denim bottoms I've added are more feminine (like the drapey wide legs from Anthro). I've decided to consign my Frye Philip booties and buy black chelsea booties; I am getting rid of my old Timberland rugged knee-high boots and am looking for OTK or knee-high black (suede?) boots instead. I'm definitely moving away from tomboy (although I have kept my Gap BF jeans; I cannot part with them yet). I've kept my gray wool shift (which I almost purged last year) and am excited to wear it again.<br /><b>3. I have less color cohesion than in the past. </b>I'm not sure what is happening here. I think I am in an experimental stage, given the recent purchases of deep green and yellow from Zara. Navy/ink and charcoal are becoming the more dominant foundations in my closet over black, and I am looking for some burgundy and more olive. This feels like a lot of color to me, and I don't know what to make of it. I'm trying not to feel like an indecisive failure. :(</p> <p>I wonder if some of this movement toward femininity is age-related at all? As I move into perimenopause, am I trying to reclaim some of my female-ness? (Is that just a ridiculous idea???)</p> <p>And what are the right descriptors for me now? I have been using <b>sophisticated tomboy</b> as my style signpost, but that doesn't feel right anymore. <b>Glam gamine? </b>I don't know. Help!</p> <p> </p>