https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:48:43 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163850 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 19:24:50 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Firecracker! I really needed that boost. I just need to /can only take a couple steps right now, and today my energy is really flagging. I’m havin a hard time pushing myself to do any of them, so I appreciate you reflecting that enthusiasm back at me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163845 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 19:18:14 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 2163845@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's nice to hear your excitement or happiness about how things are falling into place. What a good spot to be in. Your plans are so well thought out and seem very sound. Nicely done! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163831 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 17:58:21 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ledonna, thanks for your good wishes! </p> <p>Toronto, “ re-assess[ing] the things you didn't get in light of what you did ... is probably worth doing with any purchase or change” is profound beyond fashion. Now you’ve got me thinking about the rest of my life! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163807 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:13:17 +0000 Ledonna N. 2163807@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>Not being able to see your full wardrobe must be a big stumbling block</div><div><br /></div><div>I pray for bigger spaces so that you may be able to see the fullness of what you have.</div><div><br /></div><div>Seems like you have a clear path on what you need vs what you want. <br /></div><div><br /> </div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163802 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 15:44:58 +0000 Helena 2163802@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good job FI - a well-thought out plan for the new year, and I like how you re-assessed the things you didn't get in light of what you did - something that is probably worth doing with any purchase or change, really!</p> <p>Enjoy having more space to sort through your wardrobe - so true that it's much easier when you can actually see what you've got </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163799 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 15:10:08 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163799@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cindysmith, this forum has some real masters of that who we can learn from! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163797 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 14:22:32 +0000 cindysmith 2163797@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wish that I could be this organized and introspective! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163786 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 11:47:24 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163786@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Bijou, I tried rewriting the list that way. Some things do have more reason behind them than others. Many of those items fell into a couple of groups. The rationale behind the groups will be helpful in asking myself “is this the one?”, so I’m not lured by color or pattern into getting another sweater in the same sillouhette I have many times, or decide “just one” pair of chunky heels is ok, when that’s what most of my winter footwear is. That still left some outliers. I’ve had white cotton fisherman’s sweaters in this kind of climate before, find myself looking through my closet for one even though I know I won’t find any. I have jeans in a couple sizes, but just like flares. The plaid pants are because LaPed’s watch plaid pants are cool. But as I mentioned above, I already have a dozen pairs of pants in rotation during the winter. There is no way to rewrite the plaid pants entry as a need. If I don’t get the specific items, it’s not a problem. I think the value of a list in face of such over abundance is in limiting purchases. Thanks for the helpful exercise. Here is my revised “nice to have” list going forward:</p> <p>•Flat shoes I can wear in winter when my feet are tired of boots, best if they are slip-ons because I get sick of the work required to get dressed in winter (could be flat ankle boots, burgundy loafers or Blush oxfords)<br /> •Rain coat with pockets &amp; hood<br /> •Warm coat that reaches somewhere between fingertips &amp; knees. (Probably b/w menswear pattern or plaid—berry, green, blue)<br /> •very versatile summer sandals<br /> •Summer workwear, such as wide-legged summer pants, patterned pants, or vintage dresses<br /> •Plaid winter pants<br /> •Add variety to the shapes of my summer/transitional season toppers, such as pale or blush/cream cropped cardi (lantern sleeves?), kimono, long raspberry/burgundy cardi or blazer<br /> •Red or brown belt<br /> •Pink mock T or T-neck ski sweater?<br /> •Holiday topper<br /> •Lingerie (some, still in progress)<br /> •Ballerina pink tights<br /> •Big white pullover sweater<br /> •Flare jeans (possibly vintage)<br /> •Winter hat that’s slouchy in back (called a Beanie here) &amp;/or striped toboggan (hat) with pompom on top.</p> <p>Rachylou, you made me laugh. I nearly took a pic of another shop window in that neighborhood last night. New, spiffy men’s clothes. The display was bright orange and yellow thigh-length puffy jackets and vest. I believe they were Stanley safety gear, being worn as absolute standout fashion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163778 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 07:00:26 +0000 rachylou 2163778@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wait. Being not too bright, I finally found the pic of the shop window. Haha! LOVE! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163776 Tue, 05 Jan 2021 06:53:19 +0000 Bijou 2163776@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That shop window looks so interesting! Your analysis looks great, going into 2021 you are in a great place.</p> <p>I find it hard to be very specific about what my wardrobe wants are because when I have preconceived ideas, I never find what I am looking for. I am more likely to specify the function, for example "casual summer sandals that can be worn with dresses that I can wear walking about 1km distance comfortably". That way, it can be a sandal / bootie, gladiator, strappy sandal or Birkenstock in a range of colourways that could fill the wardrobe hole. It also means that once I have filled the need, I am not still looking because I found a pink version when I had on my list blue... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163587 Sun, 03 Jan 2021 14:18:55 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163587@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, everybody, for the good wishes on the move! It isn’t a sure thing yet, but things that will allow it to happen finally seem to be falling into place. So fingers crossed, but I’m not going to say any more lest I jinx it. </p> <p>ST, Etsy is a great idea. I shopped there for the first time this Christmas. Thanks for the nudge to use them for myself too. </p> <p>JenniNZ, “nice to have” is a good name for that list. It certainly is not “needs”—I have a dozen pairs of everyday winter pants (counting white and pink skinnies, because I do wear them in winter, even though I intended them for German summers). If that was all I wore every day—no skirts, dresses, shorts, leggings/summer/velvet/dressy pants, never spending a day in loungewear—they’d last a year @ 30 wears each. But that’s not how I dress; everything in my closet is a “sometimes” thing. It would be “nice to have” some patterned pants in the mix, but that is nowhere near necessary. So I’ll peck away at this list for a few years, adding and subtracting as I go. Maybe I’ll eventually get all the items, or maybe some will slip off, like the green Vans seem to be doing. I def wanted them for a while, but my life is not emptier without them. The YLF forum &amp; blog are a great help in figuring out fresh ways to dress without needing to buy dozens of new things every year. </p> <p>Staysfit, you should’ve seen me looking for the black flares I wore with that dress, lol. It started when I added some plain black flare leggings to an order I was already placing. When I tried them on, I remembered I already had some, and the hunt was on! I eventually found them in the 8” of hanging space I have. The new ones and the rest of that order all went back.I appreciate your comment. </p> <p>Suz, I know you are familiar with things being split between various locations near &amp; far. I’ve already started looking for my full-length mirror. Thanks for your good wishes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163525 Sun, 03 Jan 2021 00:30:00 +0000 Anonymous 2163525@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like a great plan to me! I definitely think secondhand or little boutiques is the way to go for kimonos, etc. Or Etsy too- you can search by location. Excited about the sewing project! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163495 Sat, 02 Jan 2021 22:47:28 +0000 Jenni NZ 2163495@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like the shop window too. It reminds me of a menswear store in central Auckland which is called “Strangely Normal”, which comes from how the male owner’s style of dressing was once described, apparently. I love looking in there occasionally but my husband and son are too conservative in their dressing to wear the stuff.<br /> Your list of nice to have looks comprehensive and rather long!<br /> Congratulations on moving to a better place ( and maybe on a new job? ) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163484 Sat, 02 Jan 2021 19:15:16 +0000 Suz 2163484@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the report on Intermissi -- those tops sound great. And I hope you are able to move as you wish! Storage space makes a huge difference and allows you to feel more in control of the things you have.&nbsp;</p> <p>Love that photo of the shop window!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163475 Sat, 02 Jan 2021 17:15:47 +0000 Staysfit 2163475@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fashintern, this is comprehensive and very detailed. &nbsp;I hope your plans to move to a place with more space work out well. &nbsp;I have lots of storage, but I still try to keep most of my wardrobe within the confines of &nbsp;the master bedroom closet. When I store things elsewhere I forget about it! &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163465 Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:53:54 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163465@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Angie! Interesting food for thought about different trends for different folks (different trends for different friends?). Assuming we do get to move, I plan to post asking for ideas on setting up the closet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163461 Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:41:03 +0000 Angie 2163461@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*applause*</p> <p>I'm sure this all feels enormously satisfying! I can see you find your stride with your own style too. WELL DONE.&nbsp;</p> <p>Having your items in one place - visible and easy to access - makes a HUGE difference. I hope your new storage solutions do just that!</p> <p>FWIW, if something is not on trend <i>for you</i> - it can absolutely be on trend for someone else. It's one of the reasons the second hand clothing industry works so well. For example, skinnies, solid black wardrobe items, oversized tops, and bomber jackets are not on trend for me - but when I passed them on, they worked extremely well for the next wearer. This doesn't mean that you<i> have</i> to pass on the items that aren't working for you. You can keep them until you think you might love them again. Or if you currently love them and feel fab in them - but they aren't having a fashion moment - you should wear them anyway!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163310 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 19:16:59 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163310@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks RL! I’ve been irked with myself over not making good on my intention to shop locally-made and second hand, so I tried to get as concrete as possible in that part. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163307 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 19:08:58 +0000 rachylou 2163307@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Excellent specificity, I must say. Concrete. Happy New Year! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163300 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:47:30 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163300@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>LaPed, if you do, please lmk what you think of them. Btw, I also tried the wool ones. They were ok, but just scratchy enough that I sent them back. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163294 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:24:47 +0000 LaPed 2163294@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Those Intimissimi tops sound great! I'd never heard of the brand, but it looks like they are available in the US, and now I'm very tempted to try some of their layering tops.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163288 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:13:48 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163288@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Minaminu! What kind of pjs are you thinking of? I think that’s a smart place to start, because they are intended to be forgiving and not close-tailored. If only I didn’t already have more than I need! Do you wear kimonos? My mom got me one (think it was this one, but it was to be a surprise) a couple years ago, tried to mail it to me, it got returned to sender. I think she tried again in a different box....last time I asked her about it, she said it had been lost in her home. So I’m hoping this will be a more certain as well as more environmentally friendly way to acquire one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163284 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:06:09 +0000 Minaminu 2163284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fingers' crossed for the new and bigger space! It will be great to have space for all storage.</p> <p>Sewing has become a new years' resolution for lots of people! I have been wondering how difficult it would be to sow some pj...</p> <p>Looking forward to see your kimono! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/moving-the-goals-post-long-navel-gazey#post-2163248 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 16:13:39 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2163248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Happy new year! This year will be an interesting one. My first year at YLF was all about planning for a move from sub-tropical Florida to 4-season Berlin. Then came a couple years of holding patterns, in my life and therefore in my wardrobe. No way did I want to dress for the stagnation or make changes around it! Things finally seem to be moving ahead and I’m excited. Having things in place in my life means I can focus on dressing for the life I have, and on shaping my wardrobe towards it. </p> <p>Part of what I think is actually about to fall in place over the next few months is a bigger place to live with storage space for all my clothes in the bedroom—no more running down to the cellar when I can’t find the pants I want to wear, hooray! There is much sorting and assessing of wardrobe to be done. Obviously, this is much easier when everything is visible at once. I expect I’ll continue to be very conservative about permanently moving things out because they aren’t of the moment. If they aren’t on trend for me, why would they be for anyone else, and if I love them, why would I not want to have them available the next time their moment comes around? But still, the whole shape-the-wardrobe thing should be able to happen in a much bigger way this year. </p> <p>This was my <u>shopping list for 2020:</u></p> <p><i>White tennies for athletics and everyday (got these) </i><br /> Green old skoolz (Vans)<br /> Blush oxfords<br /> Rain coat<br /> Warm coat<br /> Wide-legged summer pants<br /> Plaid winter pants<br /> Pale or blush/cream cropped cardi (lantern sleeves?)<br /> Long raspberry/burgundy cardi or blazer<br /> Kimono<br /> Red or brown belt<br /> Pink mock T or T-neck ski sweater<br /> Replacement for pale blue T-neck bodysuit.<br /> “Fancy” (aka patterned) pants<br /> Sandals (metallic with ankle bands) (got slides as placeholder)<br /> Holiday topper<br /> Lingerie (some, still in progress)<br /> Ballerina pink tights<br /> <i>Burgundy tights (got) </i><br /> <i>Otk socks (got) </i><br /> Big white pullover sweater </p> <p>Most of these, besides summer and athletic shoes, were not “must”s. The list is intended more as nudges/places to look for serendipity. Still, wowzer, I did not follow through. Items in italics can be taken off the list because they were purchased. Most of the rest are still pertinent. </p> <p>Here’s <u>what’s changed going into the new year:</u></p> <p>Vans are off the list (unless I happen into a new pair super-discounted) </p> <p>Blush Oxfords: maybe, but burgundy slip-ons for cool weather are higher priority. </p> <p>“Pink mock T or T-neck ski sweater”<br /> And<br /> “Replacement for pale blue T-neck bodysuit”<br /> are both being reconsidered, in light of what I did buy. </p> <p><u>What did I buy?</u> A whole lotta background:<br /> Long underwear tops &amp; bottoms (Uniqlo Heat Tech)<br /> Camis and bodysuits with built-in bras<br /> Intimissimi silk and cotton body-con ls and sleeveless tops. Several, mostly white but also one in navy. I absolutely love how they feel. They are the kind of underlayer La Ped was looking for a while back, that can be worn on their own or absolutely seamlessly, without creating lumps or bumps, under something else. They are not at all compression tops or control tops or whatever in the least, but somehow my lumps &amp; bumps disappear in them. Love them. </p> <p><u>New adds to the list: </u><br /> flat ankle boots, probably black or brown.<br /> Flare jeans (possibly vintage)<br /> Summer dresses (vintage)<br /> Winter hat that’s slouchy in back (called a Beanie here) &amp;/or striped toboggan (hat) with pompom on top.<br /> Slip-on shoes for winter</p> <p><u>Shopping plans:</u></p> <p>Right now we are on a pretty tight lockdown. In mid- to late January, I want to take a few hours to explore a set of shops I’ve had my eye on for a while. I think they have lots of locally-produced inventory. I hope to find a winter coat and will keep my eyes peeled for pants &amp; other items. </p> <p>Also in mid- to late Jan, I want to take some things, including the Western shirt with white standup collar and cuffs, to a secondhand shop in the heart of gay Berlin. They always have a rack of floral and other flamboyantly patterned men’s shirts (pic is their show window) That might be a good place to look for a kimono, jeans, and summer dresses. There are two other curated secondhand shops nearby where I plan to look for those things and holiday toppers, and I also want to hit up a couple Humana shops to see if I like weeding through things (eventually). </p> <p>There are a couple market stands with knitwear that I plan to try once it’s a teensy bit warmer. We looked for a hat for my son at one of them a couple years ago. The merchant/maker told us she’d happily make something to order. I don’t know if I’ll find her again, but market stands in general sound promising for the T-neck ski sweater, hat, and possibly for the white pullover sweater. There are often leather goods stands at the markets, where I can pick a belt and buckle. </p> <p><u>Low on the priority list</u> but something I’m looking forward to is starting to sew. I may look for a simple, inexpensive machine, or might try to find one in some kind of “sharing” arrangement. My first couple projects will be a bog coat like cjh posted about and a loose silk top. I have one that feels lovely, but is too faded to wear in a dressy way and makes me look like a blueberry blob without a topper, and another similarly shaped top with a print I like but the fabric does not have the right content for summer. They will be the models/ sorta patterns for this first sewing project. But this is actually towards the end of a list of other creative priorities. </p> <p>Thanks for reading this! I’d love to hear your comments and suggestions. </p>