https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 03 May 2026 13:45:42 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168960 Sat, 30 Jan 2021 23:02:56 +0000 gryffin 2168960@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is great Tanya! Thank you!! I do find it difficult to group these because so much of my wardrobe are solid neutrals. I only wear black, gray, navy, denim and a small amount of white. But I do have luxe texture, fabric, and some pattern. Almost all of my pattern is in my blazers - herringbone, houndstooth, plaid, jacquard, with a few more obvious patterns like snow leopard. But I like the way you’ve clarified the issue visually. That really helps!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168761 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 22:20:11 +0000 Staysfit 2168761@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very helpful.....I am sorting this out for my wardrobe and I see that the difference between essential and completer can be subtle. &nbsp;I have tended towards a statement heavy wardrobe, and I need to rethink whether items I have categorized as essentials should be recategorized as completer’s...... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168632 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:48:30 +0000 Toban 2168632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Tanya. Your post really helped me figure out my essentials and how they differed from my completers. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168613 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:52:16 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2168613@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This was helpful. Thanks for posting it. I wish Angie would kick off a tsunami of completers one of these days. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168600 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 07:38:11 +0000 Bijou 2168600@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A fabulous demonstration of the concepts and WOW, Tanya, you have amazing style. I'm swooning over that sky blue dress!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168575 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 01:34:40 +0000 rachylou 2168575@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lilac is even better! It’s my new love </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168559 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:02:55 +0000 Isabel 2168559@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is FABULOUS Tonya !&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168403 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 04:22:38 +0000 Gigi 2168403@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for posting this. It was very helpful! I love your asymmetric blazer with the draping. Very artistic! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168245 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 17:07:45 +0000 Jenn 2168245@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These are fabulous examples, Tanya. Seeing them all together like this is really useful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168244 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 17:05:14 +0000 Tanya 2168244@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, thank you for the kind words.&nbsp; Glad that you agree with my take on this topic.</p> <p>Slim Cat, Rachy, Shevia, Nemosmom, Chiara, Phoebe and Sterling, glad you enjoyed the post and found it helpful.</p> <p>Rachy, the blazer is actually lilac, but yes, it is definitely a statement ( and so are the asymmetric black one and the plaid purple/green).</p> <p>Slim Cat and Phoebe, the mid-blue blazer is definitely a good example of the personal factor.&nbsp; &nbsp;For me, it functions like a office appropriate version of denim blue jacket, so it is not a statement at all.&nbsp; &nbsp;I can see that it might be considered a statement in other people's wardrobes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168184 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 14:30:04 +0000 Anonymous 2168184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very nice tutorial.&nbsp; Thank you for the visuals.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168167 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 13:13:27 +0000 Anonymous 2168167@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tanya, the mid-blue blazer was exactly what tripped me up when I looked at the categories. </p> <p>Your post emphasized the individual taste factor and I also appreciated that your statement pieces were strong but not "flashy", a descriptor that has made that category seem very unlikely for me in the past. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168166 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 13:07:23 +0000 chirico (Chiara) 2168166@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Loved your whole explanation...&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168162 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 12:56:42 +0000 nemosmom 2168162@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh yes, the visuals are really helpful! Thank you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168103 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 03:42:11 +0000 Jaime 2168103@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice explanation and helpful illustrations. And not the point exactly, but fabulous blazer collection! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168095 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 03:13:31 +0000 rachylou 2168095@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good illustration (altho I’m on my phone and can’t see the rows... I’m guessing the pink blazer is a statement?) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168068 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 01:03:34 +0000 Angie 2168068@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*APPLAUSE*</p> <p>YOU NAILED IT, sweet <b>Tanya</b>. And oh, how I have missed you on the forum. Sooooo good to see you chime in </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168061 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 00:55:57 +0000 slim cat 2168061@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great explanation - thank you for lots of visual pieces ( would steal the blue blazer and make it a statement for me ). <br />Recently icy blue blazer was on my mind but I felt confused as to which category it'll belong in my wardrobe ( of course it was sold out in my size by the time I made my mind - lol ). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168054 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 00:44:29 +0000 Sal 2168054@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haha Carla!!&nbsp; It doesn't feel like a statement to me.....because I wear it tucked in and it is such a simple shape.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168041 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 00:01:14 +0000 Tanya 2168041@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hehe,&nbsp; Runcarla, now we can start a discussion if a statement piece is such as perceived by the person who wears is or by the "audience" or by some combination of both.&nbsp; Very interesting to think about.&nbsp; </p> <p>Style Fan, happy to hear that.</p> <p>Suntiger, yep, fun events are definitely when some people would wear statements more often, tough of course there are people who would resort to their LBD, some with a statement accessory, some without.&nbsp; More food for thought.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168037 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:52:39 +0000 Anonymous 2168037@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wear statements for normal wear too- but thinking fun events like parties or festivals (someday....) would always include at least 1 </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168035 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:50:24 +0000 Tanya 2168035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all very much for your input.</p> <p>Runcarla, glad to hear examples and explanations make sense.</p> <p>Suntiger, how fun that you have a similar dress.&nbsp; I actually think that statements are not limited to special occasion wear only, they can be for any occasion appropriate for the piece.&nbsp; All of my three blazer statements look perfectly appropriate for work wear for my office to me.&nbsp; &nbsp;would wear the lilac and plaid one for any workday, and he black one when I am happy with really getting noticed.</p> <p>Sal, love your examples, too, I think that they are very in line with mine.&nbsp; I also couldn't agree more that the line between statements and completers is pretty personal.&nbsp; Light blue works like pseudo-essential for me, so it is rare that any simple piece in light blue is going to be a statement for me, but for other people that could be very different.</p> <p>Cat2, another excellent example, and I agree with your thoughts that&nbsp; statements fare not limited to special occasion only, as you can see form my reply to Suntiger.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168033 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:48:13 +0000 Style Fan 2168033@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is helpful.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168029 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:44:26 +0000 Carla 2168029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Statements don’t have to be ‘in your face’ but they do draw the eye. &nbsp; </p> <p>@ Sal - I would say the last two tops are statement pieces! ;-)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168020 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:29:12 +0000 cat2 2168020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, I don’t think statements are reserved for party wear. I can imagine three white cotton blouses, one a classic button down, one with an interesting texture, and one of those Bruno Cucinelli confections with all the trim. The classic would be an essential; the textured blouse could make an outfit distinct; and the BC would be a statement piece. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168014 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:20:06 +0000 Sal 2168014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great illustration and lovely pieces.&nbsp; I think that some people do view colours and shapes differently so I can see that the blue sheath could be a statement to someone else.</p> <p>For me the following tops fit the description too.</p> <p>- the white camisole is an essential, and it mixes and matches very easily.</p> <p>- the pink blouse is a completer.&nbsp;&nbsp;I often wear this piece under a blazer or jacket, and find it easy to mix in with lots of colours.</p> <p>- the black patterned blouse is a statement - this is not a workhorse but because it also has ruffles and a strong pattern, I feel it dominates most outfits.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2168001 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 22:45:19 +0000 Anonymous 2168001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's a good explanation! I have a similar dress to your last in pine green Statements to me would be things that could be worn to a party or festival, and completers for daily work or weekend wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2167957 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 21:26:36 +0000 Carla 2167957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Excellent examples, Tanya! &nbsp;Good explanations in the text as well. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/examples-for-essential-vs-completers-vs-statements#post-2167953 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 21:17:34 +0000 Tanya 2167953@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For those who tend to be visual learners, like I am, here is my understanding of the distinction between those three categories.&nbsp; &nbsp;I am using blazers and sheath dresses from my wardrobe as examples, as those items are the ones I wear often to work, and when in neutral colors and simple cuts are essential for me.&nbsp; In the finds, first row are essential blazers, second completer blazers, and third statement blazers; and the subsequent three rows are the same for sheath dresses.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>My essential neutrals are black, navy and white, so 1st and 4th row are my versions of essential blazers and dresses.&nbsp; &nbsp;They are neutral, and the cuts are pretty simple.&nbsp; &nbsp;There may be slight detail, like contrasting buttons on two of the blazers, or modified V-neck on the white sheath dress, but overall the items are still quite simple.&nbsp; &nbsp;These pieces can be supporting actors in many outfits and are not very noticeable.&nbsp;</p> <p>On the opposite end, we have statements, rows 3 and 6, which are still blazers and sheath dresses,&nbsp; but now there is something very noticeable about them, which could be the cut, color, texture or pattern, or combination of those.&nbsp; They are pretty memorable, and the star of every outfit.</p> <p>The middle category, completers, are in between items (rows 2 and 5).&nbsp; They are clearly not essentials, as they are perhaps colored or have a subtle pattern, like glen plaid, but there is nothing very noticeable or statement-y about them either, for my style at least.</p> <p>If you compare the three black blazers, the first one in the first row, essential, is pretty simple overall;&nbsp; the first one in the 2nd row is a moto- jacket/blazer hybrid, so definitely not essential, but there is nothing truly memorable about it for me, thus completer; and the first one in the third row, a dramatic asymmetric cut, is quite a statement.</p> <p>To my eye, the distinction between essentials and statements is very clear,&nbsp; and the distinction between essentials and completers is not as clear, but pretty close.&nbsp; &nbsp;The line between completers and statements is more blurry, and a bit personal, as to some I imagine a light-mid blue blazer or dress might be a statement, but for my own personal style, they are "average", every-day work clothes, that go well with my eyes.&nbsp; If the same items were in bright red or fuchsia, then they would be statements, as those colors are very noticeable, both in general and on the pale me.</p> <p>I am not mentioning basics here, as those are undies, lounge wear, socks etc., so there is no such thing as a basic blazer or a basic sheath dress by these definitions. </p>