https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-id-ed-so-far Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:49:29 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-id-ed-so-far#post-1998024 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 15:17:48 +0000 Column 1998024@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha! Angie, I am starting to see...</p> <p>So, yes, the burgunday flares are quiet and muted. I have two sweaters for them this winter. Essentials checked!</p> <p>By your example, four of my dresses are essentials: three black (one trapeeze to the knee, one printed shift below the knee, one JJill solid flowing 70s sleeveless midi with a ruffle hem) and one chocolate brown knee-length sheath. I wear these most often and can switch them up with various toppers and accessories. The black shift (which has a printed chartreuse front) I also wear as a tunic with cropped and full-length black trousers. Without going to my closet to check, I suspect most others are statements. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-id-ed-so-far#post-1998014 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 15:04:49 +0000 Angie 1998014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b></b><b></b>A very&nbsp;solid&nbsp;start,<b> Column</b>. Well done.&nbsp;</p> <p>Sooooo, are the burgundy flares a quiet and muted burgundy? If so, they can be an essential. Red shorts are statements.</p> <p>As for dresses, I have a lot of dresses too - but none are an essential at this point. They make a statement most of the time - although the simple turtleneck midis might became essentials.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-id-ed-so-far#post-1997988 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 13:26:48 +0000 RobinF 1997988@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very nice way to think this through. I love that pants are your first item, that would probably apply to me too. I struggle with essentials because it seems like it is all essential! I will have to re-read Angie's description and actually look at my closet instead of just trying to think about what I have. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-id-ed-so-far#post-1997979 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 12:19:40 +0000 Column 1997979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Still getting the hang of this, but I find that understanding how items work in my wardrobe by category helps me make better choices/fewer mistakes. So in addition to the “what” of the category (essential, statement, wildcard), the “why” is also important. Here goes:</p> <p>Dark bottoms, higher to high rise, for three seasons:</p> <p>Pants: black in all fabrics and leg shapes (EX: cotton skinnies, lined wool straight legs, blended fabric drapey wide legs). One brown and one dark olive pair entered the rotation this year. Two black crops (Aritzia straight leg blend and JCrew Teddie flairs) are worn mostly early fall/late spring. I have a lovely paperbag waist full-length navy pant, but it is harder to wear because it is blue (not my best color to match on top) and because I can`t have any extra weight or water retention to feel fab in them #agingwhatcanyoudo?</p> <p>Jeans: Same as above. Dark, all leg shapes and fabrics. Rich full cotton wides, stretchy skinnies and straights, blended trouser jeans (really old, more than a decade from JCrew and maybe now just starting to feel dated—although I still wear them a lot). Burgundy NYDJ flares entered rotation this year. I do not like white or light full-length denim on me, period. I have wasted far too much money on these items, including premium denim, and AM. DONE.</p> <p>Pencil skirts: Two VC midi tube skirts, one each in black and dark charcoal, and a denim pencil midi, all from NAS years past, are in heavy rotation.</p> <p>Shorts: I like shorts in all colors—contrary to three-season pants. I have tomato red and bright white narrow legs, as in bermudas and skinny crops. Could this be because proportionally, my thighs are long compared to my calves, so shorts and crops have a lengthening effect by placing attention on the longer part of my leg?</p> <p>I suspect scarves and earrings are essentials for me because they complete outfits (or does that make them “completers?” They are the glue, in Suz`s words, that often pull outfits together). But I wear them in so many colors and shapes that I cannot categorize them more fully. I do love color, and I balance my dark bottoms with plenty of color on my top half and around my face.</p> <p>What to do about dresses? They are my favorite thing to wear in every solid, pattern, shape and length. They are my one-and-done.</p> <p>Footwear: This is the category that has most expanded during my time with YLF; I finally understand the value of appropriate footwear to make an outfit look current and pulled together. In heavy rotation during three seasons are a taupe and black bootie, each with 3” chunky heel, pointy-toe, high hugging ankle, and waterproof exterior. I have added black, navy, and burgundy tall boots with lower 2” heels this season.</p> <p>Tops and toppers I am still figuring out. This is the area where I am presently weakest in my understanding. Generally, my tops are on the shorter or cropped side to help lengthen the leg line—although I do have some tunics that I wear with black leggings. All colors, solids, patterns and fabrics. Many place holders.</p> <p>Understanding wardrobe categories saved me recently from purchasing something for my fantasy life. I loved it (a dress) and really wanted it—then realized I would never wear it. Poof! Like magic, the craving was gone. :)</p> <p>That is the best I can do for now. Thanks for reading; I welcome any and all insights you can muster! </p>