https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 08:26:04 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have/page/2#post-1874726 Thu, 04 Jan 2018 05:53:55 +0000 Debbie 1874726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Ladies. The second half of this is going to be the photographic evidence. I am going to try and photograph two outfits a week. Maybe we will get a little closer to feeling like ourselves. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have/page/2#post-1874631 Thu, 04 Jan 2018 00:18:10 +0000 gryffin 1874631@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Debbie - When I started working I bought a very professional formal wardrobe which I felt really good in.&nbsp; However, after I had my son, my professional wardrobe felt wrong even at work.&nbsp; I devolved, as you said, to my most casual denominator.&nbsp; I think I spent about 5 yrs in this state frazzled momminess before a very chic and well groomed patient, who I was extremely fond of and who's personal style I greatly admired, asked me why I had given up on dressing nicely?&nbsp; I realized that she was my sartorial and grooming ideal, not to mention charming, interesting and fun.&nbsp; Although she's at least 10 yrs older, she always looked classic but with a major edge, age appropriate but wow.&nbsp; I realized that I wanted to be her!!&nbsp; That's when I truly developed a greater interest in fashion, style and self presentation.&nbsp; She's the standard I hold myself to.&nbsp; Not mimicking her style, (although there was a lot of crossover in our tastes) but wearing a great outfit, edgy hair cut, natural but flattering make up, and the coolest boots/booties my neuroma will tolerate. Now I'm not her, but I feel I'm on the road to looking like the best "me,"&nbsp; inside and out! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have/page/2#post-1874571 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 21:53:09 +0000 Toban 1874571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What an important resolution. I have this issue with dresses. I tried on a stunning dress that was so very flattering, and yet could not think of a single time and place that I could wear it in the next few months. Wishful wardrobing, so reluctantly left it behind. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have/page/2#post-1874568 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 21:48:05 +0000 cindysmith 1874568@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've definitely let my environment influence my style. My job and my home life are hard on clothes, so I've been buying less high-end stuff because I don't want it ruined. It's been suggested I buy clothes for working, but I know I'll never wear stuff like carhartt, so I just keep buying things I really like or even love but don't spend much on them because I don't want to be heartbroken if it gets ruined. </p> <p>It's a conundrum, because some days it just leaves me feeling less than fab. But the alternative is heartbreak, which I don't want either. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have/page/2#post-1874497 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 19:02:55 +0000 texstyle 1874497@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been nodding along with a&nbsp; lot of the comments here Debbie - casual has become such the new normal that it does feel almost strange to dress up - even a little in some areas or environments!&nbsp; That said, I have never wanted to fall into the trap of looking like I didn't care, esp. as I get older. Over the years here on YLF I've learned that the basic things like the fit, material thickness, drape, color palette, silhouette, shoes and of course good grooming can make even the most casual outfit appear more "dressed" in a good way. </p> <p>I feel like I *can* wear a simple v-neck tee with jeans and feel put together as long as the fit is right, nothing is wrinkled, torn or stained, etc.&nbsp; I might cuff up the jeans if needed to avoid a "too long" look, add a belt and semi-tuck the tee, wear a simple pendant necklace, clean shoes (sneakers work fine if they are clean and work with the color of the outfit) and of course pay attention to hair and other grooming. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have/page/2#post-1874488 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:53:31 +0000 chirico (Chiara) 1874488@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good luck with your resolution!<br /> I'll tell you what happened to me: the place I work in used to be very casual. I have never been too casual, and kept wearing skirts dresses and heels when I started working here. Now I notice most of my colleagues have started dressing up more! We always compliment each other on something nice/originale BTW! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have/page/2#post-1874464 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 17:05:18 +0000 Lynn 1874464@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>&nbsp;I can definitively relate to this. Having retired I seem to have devolved to mostly yoga pants and tees. &nbsp;For errands I may switch the yoga pants to jeans and add sneakers. Not a pulled together look at all. &nbsp;I live in an extremely casual city but still I feel sloppy and not good. </p> <p>Thanks to all who have made suggestions. &nbsp;Today I put on booties &nbsp;instead of sneakers with my jeans and already feel a bit more stylish (it's a low bar!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874455 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:43:36 +0000 Cardiff girl 1874455@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think that this is a common “problem”.life in general has become very casual dress wise.Even things that people used to make an effort for before like going to a restaurant,the theatre,church,they don’t seem to bother so much now,so it is easy especially if work doesn’t demand a formal dress code to slip into a casual style rut.I find the hardest thing is to dress smartly but not overly formally.I can do casual .I can do smart but it’s the sweet spot of smart casual that I find so difficult.However like you I am attempting to smarten up my casual lifestyle.Good luck and I look forward to seeing the results! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874454 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:41:39 +0000 Emily K 1874454@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Murph11</b> wrote something that <b>smittie</b>&nbsp;also suggested to me in another context--amp up the topper (or outerwear). &nbsp;I'm still working on trying to make the basics a little less basic, but I definitely see how using a more interesting topper would amp up my style--and when it is so chilly out, it's the thing people will see first, as well, so that makes it a great idea for Winter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874449 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:31:43 +0000 karen13 1874449@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great resolution, and I’m in! I am so guilty of this, and didn’t realize how much lift a slightly more intentional but still casual outfit could give me until I began following YLF. I have been working on foot wear. Comfortable but stylish boots have been flocking to my wardrobe. I’m also finding cashmere sweaters to be an essential for me.</p> <p>Winter will be easier for me than summer, because of the footwear, and sun sensitivity. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874433 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 16:07:37 +0000 Angie 1874433@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>MISS YOU, DEBBIE. Sooo great to see you post again.&nbsp;</p> <p>Love this resolution. Start posting pics again, to make yourself accountable to amping up your style quotient. I know you have the clothes. We support you all the way. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874415 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:38:05 +0000 tanstaafl 1874415@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My office has no dress code, and the range in what people wear is pretty wide.&nbsp; It does tend to correlate somewhat with a person's position in the management structure, but not all that much.&nbsp; It's enough for me to know that how I present myself does matter in how people perceive me and my work.</p> <p>The undefined dress code and casualness of many&nbsp;does make it easy to just put on whatever.&nbsp; That is how I found this site, looking for help in how to dress for the office that is more polished but still both true to me and isn't too far out of the norm.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm&nbsp;still struggling to figure out how to achieve the look that is only vaguely defined in my head, and how to get there without spending a ton of money on a whole new wardrobe.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874409 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:29:05 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 1874409@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting counterpart to the old complaint about office dress codes requiring so much money and effort. If you step up your own game without saying others need to do the same, would anyone mind? </p> <p>I can relate to feeling like I’m in a costume, not being myself, when I’m dressed up, but that feeling in very casual clothes, or feeling like the thing I freely chose is uncomfortably casual, hm, I can’t picture it. There have been many times I was the only one in a dress/skirt, simply because that’s comfortable for me. Sometimes someone will ask “why so dressed up?” But I never considered that to be pressure; it doesn’t take long for people to realize that casual dresses *are* my casual. If you don’t like to be that different, then your solution today—not dressier per se, still in jeans but more pulled together—sounds like a good one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874404 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:26:20 +0000 Christina F. 1874404@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is one of my goals as well. One of my strategies is what <b>Joy</b> mentions, which is using fashion sneakers. I'm also making sure I have a nice collection of flat boots of various kinds, since I can't walk in heels around the city anyway. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874396 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:11:49 +0000 Suz 1874396@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fantastic resolution, Debbie. I hear you loud and clear since my own life is pretty similar in this way... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874395 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:07:46 +0000 LaPed 1874395@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think this struggle is how a lot of us end up here on YLF.&nbsp;I agree with LBD that a little perfume or lip colour or a good piece of jewelry can go a long way without getting in the way. The great thing about a casual office is you can experiment to your heart's content without worrying about being in violation of the dress code. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874385 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:48:22 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1874385@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I seem to go through waves - cycles of being, as Emily K said, "</p> <p>&nbsp;devolved to the most casual me" (this is brilliant, by the way).&nbsp; &nbsp;And cycles of wanting to be well put-together, even in my casual stuff.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>I sometimes complain about the casualization of our world, but then I think of this:&nbsp; I'm not vacuuming with my sharkskin suit + pearls on.&nbsp; &nbsp;I could if I wanted to.&nbsp; &nbsp;Instead, I'm in stretch denim, climbing ladders, hauling costumes down, schlepping gear around, doing my own work, getting my hands dirty, and it feels pretty good!</p> <p>I'm often surprised how much difference a small dab of perfume and some different earrings makes to my entire outfit.&nbsp; &nbsp;Or just wearing some dressier shoes or boots with my casual stuff.</p> <p>I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with your resolution - keep us posted if you can!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874381 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:41:26 +0000 Sara L. 1874381@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Makes sense - I think it's easy in today's casual culture to end up "too casual".&nbsp; I've been working on my weekend casual style since I first found YLF and I think I've finally got it figured out.&nbsp; Like others said, I try to wear interesting shoes and accessories to liven up simple outfits of jeans and tees. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874376 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 14:21:35 +0000 Murph11 1874376@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great resolution, Debbie! I work from home and rarely see clients, so a big part of my amped-up style is my outerwear. I may appear “overdressed” for grocery store runs, but it’s my thing and makes me happy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874372 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 13:48:22 +0000 Sisi 1874372@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One of my 2018 goals is the same as yours !&nbsp;In my case it was not the work environment that influenced me (this did happen many years ago in another workplace) but a sort of laziness. Lately I have slipped into a rut&nbsp;of pullover-jeans-booties. <b>Emily K, Joy </b>and <b>Bijou </b>have&nbsp;<b></b>some great suggestions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874368 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 13:17:31 +0000 Jaime 1874368@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agree that this is a great resolution. It takes people much less time than you might think to get used to a new standard so go for it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874357 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 12:35:40 +0000 unfrumped 1874357@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great resolution!</p> <p>Like many habit issues, I think it helps to find ways to make it easier and not just be fighting with my body of my true self. Comfort and fit are necessary. I have had a couple of pairs of loafers that were super comfortable and some jackets that were also, some with stretch or knit, darkwash jeans which made it easy to slip into those for<br /> errands instead of track shoes and sweatpants.<br /> Having outfits already worked out helps, and being willing to repeat formulas.<br /> I like Emily K’s ideas too— elevating things within categories. I love T shirt style knits and it’s as easy and comfortable for me to wear a “ dressy T” that fits and drapes well and for me these layer well under a jacket, plus I run cold, so fits with adding the 3rd piece for weekend errands or casual dining.<br /> Like Joy I’m having a new focus on grandchild- friendly outfits for several trips per year so want to have washable but stylish capsules and expect that to increase in a few years with retirement. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874355 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 12:30:28 +0000 krishnidoux 1874355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lifelong battle for me... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874351 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 12:10:21 +0000 Aquamarine 1874351@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I am struggling with this too. I work from home most of the time. And when I do go into an office, it seems pretentious to show up dressed nicely since no one else does And this time of year, it’s too darned cold and snowy here to want to go out for fun things, so my nice clothes are not even being worn. It feels kind of useless to dress up to run errands too, since I have to wear a jacket/coat over everything.</p> <p>Because I work from home, I can do house chores at the same time, so it seems silly to dress nicely while cleaning up, cooking, etc in between work calls/etc. </p> <p>I think part of it is the January blues. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874349 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 11:56:09 +0000 kkards 1874349@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>my office went to casual business over the summer--and i'm loving it...BUT...while i love dressing more casually, i've found i'm not putting much thought into my daily outfits....so i'm looking to up my casual outfits into more interesting and complete looks.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874345 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 11:44:53 +0000 Chris987 1874345@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great resolution! I'm thinking along the&nbsp;same lines. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874335 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 11:12:39 +0000 Bijou 1874335@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Debbie, I prefer a dressy style and so even if I am wearing jeans and a t-shirt, I will tend to wear it with some strong accessories (interesting shoes, a statement bag, fashionable sunnies and a scarf or jewellery). It is amazing at how this really helps to pull the look together.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874334 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 11:07:50 +0000 Mainelady 1874334@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yours is a great resolution, Debbie. As you dress to suit yourself, rather than the environment, you will be happier. I am not a fancy dresser, but still find myself more “dressed” than others in certain settings. I am aware of it, but happy with my own choices. If I have ever felt uncomfortable I have put a smile on my face and stepped forward with all the confidence I could muster. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874324 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:35:14 +0000 rachylou 1874324@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’ve felt this pressure, and I resisted, for better or worse, because I was a contractor. I always thought it was important not to... forget myself, if you will... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/elevating-your-style-in-the-life-you-have#post-1874316 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:18:42 +0000 Style Fan 1874316@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love this resolution Debbie and I have been feeling the same way but for different reasons.&nbsp; I tend to 'save' my good clothes (and dishes, table linens, bed linens, you name it) for some imaginary event.&nbsp; And retirement is also impacting my outfits. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp; </p>