https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 12 May 2026 07:27:16 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12286 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:20:09 +0000 Sihaya 12286@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My style defnitely matches my lifestyle - as long as I have a variety to suit the differnet aspects of my life. As an executive coach my style ranges from smarth casual and business casual. Then I have young kids and the first thing I do when I get home is get out of my work clothes and put on mommy clothes that are still stylish but a lot more casual and low maintenance. It would be nice to have a couple more occasions where I can dress up more - maybe once every other month or so. Maybe we need a lookfab party that we can all dress up for I guess virtually with our cameras and internet connections nearby! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12266 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:23:35 +0000 Patience 12266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Angie. I will keep the European example in mind for the future. I will keep buying nice things.</p> <p>Even though we all claim to struggle in this area, I think we're all doing quite well (thanks to this site). All of you who have posted pics, I can definitely testify to it. It just occurred to me that part of style (which we're all shooting for here) is to wear the fashion with poise and confidence. And Tanya's gorgeous wrap dress she posted from this weekend reminds me that while moms may have to go casual to the playground, going shopping or running errands is a super opportunity for smart casual or better. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12075 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:21:35 +0000 Dani 12075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nicole, thanks so much for your perspective. I can already tell I am able to dress a little better than I did before and my youngest is 2. </p> <p>Thanks for everyone else's input too. It's nice to know you're not alone in your struggles.</p> <p>Angie, you're correct that I haven't posted pictures in any dresses. I have had a terrible time finding something I like this year. The big graphic prints aren't really my style and polyester is too hot. I really like cotton dresses but I haven't been able to find anything to suit my tastes. I've only looked at dresses a couple of times on my shopping excursions, but I tried on a ton and didn't really love any of them so I decided I would hold out until the styles in the store seemed to mesh more with my personal style. I'm still open to dresses if I find any I like! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12074 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:44:49 +0000 Angie 12074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hope to be concise because I have much to say about this topic and what’s been discussed so far. Here we go:</p> <p>o Superb topic Patience!<br /> o Julie – can you post a picture? I get you mixed up with Julia who has already posted a picture and I know is Chinese.<br /> o Dani, dresses are the best item to wear in extreme heat. If my recollection is correct, we have not seen you in any. How do you feel about wearing casual dresses?<br /> o Tanya, take pride in being the best dressed person in the room. It gives you joy and gives others joy despite sniggering comments from the peanut gallery. People have come to expect your style quotient and you wouldn’t be you if you let your style standard slip. </p> <p>It is imperative that you dress appropriately for your lifestyle. But what is deemed “appropriate” is highly debatable. This is when it gets interesting. Granted, a tight black dress and stiletto heels on the playground is as ridiculous as wearing polar fleece, old jeans and flip flops to the Opera. </p> <p>Bear in mind that my perspective is from somebody who has lived in Europe, Africa, Asia and America. I cannot help but compare what I see and experience. After living in America for almost 5 years, I have concluded that the notion of “Mummy clothes” is an American phenomenon. In other parts of the world, there is no difference to how you dress once you’ve become a Mum. Women push prams, get onto public transport, weather snow or shine, and walk or ride bicycles with children in tow in casual, smart casual or business casual attire. They seem to enjoy clothing and fashion as much as they did before whether they work after they’ve had babies or not. </p> <p>I do not have children and cannot begin to understand what it’s like raising them, but I dress women who have babies and children of all ages and their concerns are much like yours. They don’t want to get “too” dressed up, don’t want to wear items that require dry cleaning, everyone else is casual and they’ll feel out if they’re too put together. Truer words were never spoken as I quote Nicole:</p> <p> “I think moms get into a routine of wearing kid safe clothes and never recognize when it's time to ramp it up. The longer they wear their mom uniforms, the less they care about how they dress. It can be a vicious cycle. I think that other moms will start to reconsider the way they dress once they see how fab and comfortable you are in your smarter wardrobe” . </p> <p>I get so many referrals on this basis – Mums who’ve I’ve helped get out of their Mummy-clothes-rut because they became an inspiration to other Mothers in Mummy-clothes-ruts. I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t want to look good even when they claim they don’t care. It’s all about breaking habits and preconceived ideas. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12057 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:53:01 +0000 Julie 12057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Nicole for your wisdom. I have about 6 yrs to go until my shoulder is no longer a Kleenex! I agree with you about the shoes and how that can really make an outfit. During the summer I find I really want to wear my wedges, but I find them hard to do with the 2 kids and trying to push a stroller or chase one of them. This summer I'm trying to do nicer thong sandals. </p> <p>Dani - I too have been trying to find tops that are a little more interesting. I actually just got a couple from Anthropologie that are machine washable and are unique. I think I always cared more about what I wore on the bottom, but now I'm seeing the beauty of nice blouses and shirts and how they can really make an outfit. </p> <p>Tanya - you always look so divine. If I were one of your co-workers I would be sitting there taking notes and asking to raid your closet for any of your clothing orphans!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12056 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:40:19 +0000 Anonymous 12056@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have a huge problem with my life style and 'fashion'. I am retired but I am also a fabriholic. I know there are a lot you others out there because sometimes I run around in the sewing class circle and all of us can't stop fondling fabric!! It's a desease!<br /> I've just now, from this thread realized that my delima is the huge gap between what I really need and will wear day to day, and what I just think is irresistable.<br /> This is why I'm meeting with Angie and getting her professional help. I've wasted a lot of money by not being able to merge these aspects of myself. I've almost never met a garment I didn't like, whether it works for me or not is another matter.<br /> I'm the same way with furniture, or any kind of decorating. I don't know if I like it untill I've lived with it for a while. It get's expensive and very frustrating. The result is I always feel and look a mess and so does my home.<br /> I must add though that my daughter, daughter in law, grand daughter, and niece, have been giving me compliments lately, since I started reading this blog. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12035 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:06:01 +0000 Patience 12035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nicole, it's good to have a specific age in mind. That leaves 8+ years for me since I want to have one more ;). It's good to hear everyone's thoughts on this topic. I guess I use my job as an excuse to buy the nicer clothes but I know one day that will go away. I do think that if I did stay at home, I would get in the right mind set and just work on developing a snappy casual style. And just like all of you other moms I want to be and I think I am totally touchable by my kids. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12012 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:38:33 +0000 Anonymous 12012@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is an interesting thread, and everyone's responses were very interesting to read.</p> <p>I'm definitely someone whose lifestyle doesn't exactly match their style. My dilemma is actually quite similar to Tanya's. I really enjoy fashion and dressing myself and I consider it a creative outlet. I like to wear pretty, feminine, colorful things. However, I am a college student and often, a lot of the people around me are walking around in their pajamas or jeans and a hoodie. I am lucky in that a lot of my close friends have a passion for fashion (haha), so I don't feel out of place all the time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12005 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:22:32 +0000 Julia 12005@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't remember my struggles when my daughter was younger (she's ten now) but that's because I didn't care about what I was wearing at that time. </p> <p>My style started to form about a few years ago so it pretty much fits my life style. I love Angie's smart casual formula because I can swap the jeans with dress pants for work and with walk shorts for more casual occasions.</p> <p>I agree with Nicole that once you pick the right shoes and make the rest to go with it, you pretty much have the right outfit for an occasion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-12003 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:08:25 +0000 marianne 12003@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Nicole... so seven more years for me. By that time I'll probably be so out of tune! Hope Angie's site will still be around </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11999 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:42:20 +0000 Nicole 11999@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't remember the exact ages of your kids, Patience, Julie, Marianne and Dani...but I can tell you that there does come a time when you don't need to dress for your kids activities. For me, it was when my youngest turned 8. The interaction you have with your kids as they get older, gets less messy. They can wipe their own noses, they like to play with their friends more than you, if they do something messy, they can pretty much clean themselves up.</p> <p>You just have to pay attention to that shift. Recognize if you are feeling underdressed--or picture yourself at a game or park or whatever it is you do with your kids in something a little smarter. I find the most important factor is being appropriately dressed for my kid's activities are the shoes. You can make the rest of the outfit work if you're footwear is appropriate for the activity. And lastly, don't worry about how the other moms are dressing. I think moms get into a routine of wearing kid safe clothes and never recognize when it's time to ramp it up. The longer they wear their mom uniforms, the less they care about how they dress. It can be a viscious cycle. I think that other moms will start to reconsider the way they dress once they see how fab and comfortable you are in your smarter wardrobe. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11983 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:17:16 +0000 Dani 11983@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tanya, one day when you win the Nobel Prize, you can wear whatever you want Those outfits are very nice and you'd look great in them!</p> <p>What an interesting thread...I struggle with this everyday (like so many of the other moms have mentioned). My personality is definitely dressier than my day to day living requires. I'm trying to bridge that gap and I find I'm dressing more in balance everyday. I have to be very careful with my purchases (definitely no dry clean items for me too :)) I still have my grubbies for when I foresee a big mess with the day's activities, but I pretty much live in walk shorts and my new clamdiggers. I've been looking for more tops with personality but that I can wash easily. I've been out playing with my boys in most of my outfits, but what I'm struggling with now is the heat. I find I'm uncomfortable in a nicer shirt if it's above 90 degrees. I've purchased some sleeveless shirts recently so I'm hoping that will help. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11954 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:33:50 +0000 Tanya 11954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am also one of those whose lifestyle does not match their clothing style. I am a grad student working in a uber-casual lab, tough I dress smart casual most of the time. But I wish to wear silk blouses, pencil skirts and pretty heels on daily basis. I own some pieces along that line, but they rarely see the world outside of my closet. For the weekend activities I tend to dress up ( when else I am going to wear all those pretty items). Either way, I am almost constantly the most dressed-up one no matter what, and that's a cause for snickering comments, but people eventually get used to it and live me alone.</p> <p>This is what I'd wear in the ideal world:</p> <p><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod64110014&#038;parentId=cat17320775&#038;masterId=cat17320774&#038;index=0&#038;cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat000009cat000059cat000061cat17320774cat17320775" rel="nofollow">http://www.neimanmarcus.com/st.....at17320775</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod63640006&#038;parentId=cat12210731&#038;masterId=cat1740734&#038;index=11&#038;cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat000009cat000059cat1740734cat12210731" rel="nofollow">http://www.neimanmarcus.com/st.....at12210731</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod64930120&#038;parentId=cat000069&#038;masterId=cat000059&#038;index=0&#038;cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat000009cat000059cat000069" rel="nofollow">http://www.neimanmarcus.com/st.....9cat000069</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11949 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:30:29 +0000 marianne 11949@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just wanted to add that I am struggling with the same issues. Before kids I used to buy dressier items, and now I have to remind myself constantly that I have to be looking for different kind of clothes. Dress code at my work has relaxed overtime, and ideally I would like to be able to wear the same things at work and around kids. That's why I decided not to purchase any more heels or "dry clean only" items (except for coats and jackets).</p> <p>Playground is definitely a challenge - I have to dress very casually for that. On the other hand, dress up events are a problem too - I don't want to buy anything special for them since they are so infrequent, and I find myself reaching out for the black pants every time! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11948 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:22:53 +0000 Julie 11948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience - it is certainly a struggle for me. Luckily my work is casual enough that what I wear at work I can wear at home. The biggest difference is in my shoe choices. I tend to do more heels at work and ballet flats at home. I know this is awful, but I really try to buy clothes that don't need to be dry cleaned. If I can throw it in the wash I can wear it at home. I buy a lot of clothes through Boden and ATL mostly because most of their stuff is machine washable. I don't want to not paint with my kids or get in the sandbox with them because I have a silk blouse on. </p> <p>I too have had to overhaul my wardrobe because of 2 births - isn't it amazing how much your body changes!! But I have also overhauled because a lot of my preferences have changed. I'm actually finally fitting into some of my stuff I wore before my first child was born, but WOW, what was I thinking!! I think I'm making the best I can out of making my style fit into my lifestyle, but I wish I could wear silk blouses and heels everyday!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11947 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:53:48 +0000 Patience 11947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Julie, I struggle in the same way as you do. I definitely compartmentalize-- I have work clothes and at home clothes. This makes things easier for me because on the one hand I do want to be dressier at work-- it's my chance for myself. On the other hand at home, I never know when I'll get a smudge and my kids are constantly pulling at my clothes. There is a little bit of crossover like jeans and shorts but I definitely am not ready to wear a silk blouse or heels unless I'm going out with my husband on the weekend. And we just don't have that much occasion on the weekends for dressing smarter. The other issue is that over the past 5 years my body has gone through a lot between two births so I've had occasion to overhaul my wardrobe quite a bit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11946 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:25:36 +0000 Julie 11946@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think this is a great question and one I struggle with. I work 2 days a week and the other days I'm home with my 2 young kids. I'm a pretty dressy person, and I live in a casual world. My office is very casual and being home with 2 kids can be very casual. After my youngest was born I struggled because I was nursing and I found it hard to layer and look good and yet still be able to nurse. I felt awful about myself because every day I was in jeans and a t-shirt. After I was done nursing I really tried to make an effort to adapt a more smart casual appearance. I have had some bumps in the road, but honestly through the help of this website I feel so much better about what I wear. </p> <p>I tend to wear a nice shirt, jeans or walking shorts that fit, maybe a jacket or cardigan, accessories, nice shoes and a nice purse. I certainly get looks from other moms and comments that I'm too dressed up, but I get that at work too. I do it because it makes me feel better and I think it teaches my kids the importance of taking care of yourself. The only place I still struggle with how to do smart casual is the playground! If I wear ballet slippers I'm always cleaning sand out of my shoes or I have a nice outfit on and I'm covered in head to toe dirt! </p> <p>I use this website a lot to get ideas. I really like the idea of smart casual and Angie's equation for smart casual and I keep that in the back of my head when I get dressed. I'm probably overdressed for my lifestyle, but I feel so much better about myself that I will take being a little overdressed!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11943 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:01:16 +0000 Nicole 11943@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great question Patience! I think my style suits my lifestyle. I have certain things that I wear to work, then depending on what my after work schedule is, I may change my skirt or slacks into jeans, or just keep on what I'm wearing. Today I wore a denim skirt and the green cap sleeve BR top I just got the other day. My son has a baseball game, my daughter has piano, and today was the last day of school, early dismissal--so I took them and each brought a friend out to lunch. I did not change and do not feel under or over dressed for any of the things I have to do this afternoon. If it were chilly, I'd change my skirt for jeans.</p> <p>Most of the tops I wear to work, I would wear out to dinner. I definitely have yard work clothes and on the weekends, I tend to throw those on because I know once I get out on the patio with my coffee, I'll be jonesing to start pulling some weeds or transplant a shrub. If we have evening plans, I'll shower around 5:00 and put on smart casual outfits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11940 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:54:17 +0000 Antje 11940@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My style mostly fits my lifestyle. I feel good in smart casual, which works for work as well as for most of my evening and weekend activities. I only wish I had a few more occasions to go out to stylish places like bars, trendy restaurants, art show openings, performances, stuff I used to do a lot more before I had a child and that would give me more of a chance to dress up. Some of my dressier clothes, like dresses, sparkly tops, fancy jackets, don't get enough wear. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11933 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:52:41 +0000 shiny 11933@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think my style NOW fits my lifestyle. It didn't used to. About 5 years ago, I switched from working in an office to full-time telecommuting, but my wardrobe didn't make the switch until recently. </p> <p>When I worked in the office, I never, ever wore jeans. Even on casual fridays. I always dressed in dress slacks, pumps, and a sweater or twinset cardigan. That was my "uniform." I had two suits - matchy matchy ones - for days that req'd a suit. Dress-down days (weekends) meant a uniform of khakis, basic tee shirt, and loafers or sandals. (Or cordoroys in the winter). </p> <p>The problem with this is that it is 1) BORING! and 2) often, going out straight after work, I'd be overdressed because everyone else would be in jeans or 3) underdressed because khakis aren't all that dressy. </p> <p>I didn't need a new wardrobe for the work at home part - that is easy. I have lots of petite loungy wear that's not too sloppy looking that I wear around the house. </p> <p>It was the other part of my lifestyle that needed a new wardrobe. The part where we go out to eat, to concerts, to theater, gallery openings, etc. Or simply running errands around town. Or not embarrassing the kids in front of their peers when driving them around. ;-)</p> <p>I needed a smart casual wardrobe based on jeans, one that was versatile enough that I could swap the jeans out for dress slacks for my occasional day in the office or business trip or conference. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/lifestyle-and-style#post-11929 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:21:40 +0000 Patience 11929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In the past we've discussed whether your style agrees with your body type. I'm curious-- does your style fit your lifestyle? In the extreme case, do you prefer casual and are required to dress up for work, or vice versa?</p> <p>I enjoy dressing anywhere from casual to business casual but I think I lean towards smart casual or a bit dressier. Working allows me to buy dressier clothes than I might otherwise buy because I have the opportunity to wear them. I would miss this a lot if I was a SAHM (which I hope to be someday anyway). I also wish I had at least a couple of occasions per year to go super dressy. </p>