https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:38:29 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786673 Sun, 12 Mar 2017 04:08:39 +0000 Jaime 1786673@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Going out on a limb but I think the vest could be an essential even if it is a statement. Not sure the groups are mutually exclusive if for example the vest would let you wear pretty much any kind of top underneath and still feel like you. I stand to be corrected of course. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786608 Sun, 12 Mar 2017 00:58:39 +0000 DonnaF 1786608@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shedev; I am all about keeping warm. The first three pics are outfits with my pleather vest. The fourth pic is the utility vest I wear when it is warmer. #5 shows the leather fingerless gloves I am rarely without unless I am carrying the ones with gold studs or my old fleece ones. </p> <p>I own a fair amount of what others might consider Essentials and don't want to eliminate those white shirts, chambray shirts, and blue jeans. But truth be told, I have quite a variety of those and other types of shirts and jeans so they don't get worn particularly often and aren't essential for me to get dressed. For the past couple of years I have been moving away from categories that many other women consider essential after figuring out I don't care to wear them so maybe that's a source of my confusion. Plus, I think I am rebelling against a classic style I somehow felt I had to wear for work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786432 Sat, 11 Mar 2017 15:52:09 +0000 kkards 1786432@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i think of essentials as the base....they are a collection of items- for example on Angie's list -trendy jeans instead of a particular pair of jeans. its the things you reach for all the time...<br />as i mentioned on sterling's post. this is how i thought of it. if you had to move to temporary housing for a month and could only pack 1 suitcase, what you need? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786430 Sat, 11 Mar 2017 15:49:24 +0000 shedev 1786430@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This one can be a tough call. I think it could depend on the other outfit components. Can you post or describe an outfit with the vest. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786421 Sat, 11 Mar 2017 15:17:16 +0000 Anonymous 1786421@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am still thinking about my wardrobe essentials and tend to agree with Gigi. I am thinking that mine are plain pieces in neutral colors that create a column of color (neutral) that can support statement pieces and interesting accessories. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786348 Sat, 11 Mar 2017 06:22:40 +0000 Gigi 1786348@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My understanding is like Emily's: essentials are workhorses, but not all workhorses are essentials. For me, essentials are frequently worn but are not statement pieces. They are items that go with lots of other stuff in my closet. For instance, if I buy a new skirt, I know that if I can't find a special top to go with it, one of my black or white tees will do the trick. And likewise, if I buy an amazing top, I know that I can wear it with one of my pairs of black pants or one of my pairs of blue or white jeans. The tees and the jeans are essentials for me, because they allow me to easily wear all of my wardrobe. </p> <p>I often use essentials to set off statement pieces as well, since I want the statement piece to be the center of attention. Essentials are usually pretty basic and so are good for this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786316 Sat, 11 Mar 2017 03:37:53 +0000 Emily K 1786316@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Essentials are workhorses but not all workhorses are essentials? &nbsp;:-) &nbsp;For my purposes, I'm envisioning essentials as uniform components expressed as categories.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786305 Sat, 11 Mar 2017 02:01:46 +0000 JAileen 1786305@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie said it was items that enabled you to get dressed. So for me, bootcut jeans, long sleeve charcoal tees, grey or silver booties, etc. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/essentials-workhorses-vs-statement-pieces#post-1786280 Sat, 11 Mar 2017 01:20:37 +0000 DonnaF 1786280@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm still struggling with this concept with respect to my own wardrobe, including how to identify statement pieces.&nbsp; My sense is that a wardrobe essential is not likely to get "That's a GREAT ___!" even if the fit and fabrication are wonderful, right?&nbsp; (Other than on here, of course.)&nbsp; Whereas statement pieces draw such attention.</p> <p>I have a moto vest similar to the one below only smooth pleather that I wear all.the.time.&nbsp; Total workhorse.&nbsp; But is it an essential or a workhorse?</p> <p>I'm also wondering if I have grown my wardrobe so much that I have almost no essentials (or at least rarely wear what might be essential for others) and lots of statement pieces?&nbsp; I could get rid of whole categories of items like solid pencil skirts and still be able to get dressed. </p>