https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 13 May 2026 20:58:02 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868731 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:08:34 +0000 Katiepea 868731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just have to say that I am so impressed by your ability to clearly identify your style and what works for you. You inspire me to want to start thinking about *my* uniform! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868677 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 06:13:15 +0000 jayne 868677@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I bet it feels pretty good to have nailed your style and your items that work within it. This will make it much easier to comb through the future temptations for your look. I found the 'mistakes' list to be exspecially fascinating. Knowing why a mistake is a mistake is very helpful to avoid them again. Great thread IK! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868602 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:03:12 +0000 Caro in Oz 868602@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks I like Archetextural, it sounds like a good fit.</p> <p>I love how you've worked out why something isn't working - so important if we don't want to keep making the same mistakes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868581 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:39:10 +0000 Anonymous 868581@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is so great Dana! I am particularly brain dead tonight and weary to my bones, but I'm excited for you. I read a link a week or two about how Michele Obama tends to wear the same silhouettes (almost like a uniform) and I decided that was a brilliant idea. You've found what works and you know what happens when you stray from it. Congrats again on your *new body*! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868559 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:01:24 +0000 ironkurtin 868559@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz - Hm. Two medium piles? Nice things, too, which is why they've been zombie-ing up my closet.</p> <p>I ditched if they were </p> <p>- wrong shape (ex: chainknit hoody sweater in gray with an overlapping tie closure. Wore it once. Three years ago. Turns out I either wear standard cardigans, or gearlike fleece hoodies that zip. Nothing hybrid. Note to self: do not buy hooded cardigans or sweaters that fasten weird.)</p> <p>- wrong color (ex: openknit linen sweater purchased online that looked pale "natural" but which turned out to be the most horrible - on me - yellowy apricot color. Note to self: Brick, rust, and spicy pumpkin work on me. Unripe apricot does not.)</p> <p>- wrong fabric (ex: openknit acrylic sweater purchased at the rack for its amazing texture and color - never worn and discarded in the name of The Uniform. Pat on back: I very very seldom make this mistake. Yay!)</p> <p>- purchase mistakes (ex: Damir Doma cowlfront thin cotton dress which looked fab in pic but which turns out to be huge and shapeless on me. Alas, final sale. I knew going it it might not work, so I was mostly disappointed by its lack of awesome than anything else. Note to self: Do not expect final sale online purchases to be wonderful, so do not spend a lot on them. Further note to self: This happens more than it should, so cut it out.)</p> <p>- extras (ex: Why did I think I needed FIVE Alternative Apparel thermals in various shades, when I only wear the cream and black ones? Note to self: Spend more to get the colors I actually like.)</p> <p>On the other hand, I went to my holding bins and pulled out some other stuff, too, because I want to try wearing them with my new body. We'll see! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868542 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:39:40 +0000 Suz 868542@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I thought I had commented earlier today but evidently I never got to hit send before being called back to work. I think your analysis is spot on to what we've seen of your style and I was wondering how much you jettisoned? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868536 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:35:34 +0000 Angie 868536@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have no doubts that you will, Dana. AND you had fun along the way. So fab :)</p> <p>*happy sigh* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868514 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 02:23:42 +0000 ironkurtin 868514@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Angie! I feel like I finally came to grips with me + Austin. I hope I can keep it up!</p> <p>Caro - Rae named my style Archetextural, which I thought was clever. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868476 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:51:27 +0000 Angie 868476@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*happy dance*</p> <p>*applause*</p> <p>I'm proud of you, Dana! KILLER analysis. You are in touch with your needs and wants and I can see you smiling already </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868278 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:08:49 +0000 Caro in Oz 868278@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A very thoughtful analysis - thanks so much for sharing.</p> <p>Do you have a phrase for your fashion persona? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868201 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:46:13 +0000 rachylou 868201@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love it. You've really analyzed it and gotten it down. It sounds totally you, which is so fab! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868199 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:41:49 +0000 Thistle 868199@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, this is a great analysis. It really does show that you know yourself well! I can see how this will simplify your shopping. if the items does not fall into a wear category, you can admire it from afar knowing ti won't work for you.</p> <p>This is spectacualr! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868195 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:32:49 +0000 ironkurtin 868195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sarah A - well... That's why I like having one big capsule! I'm lucky in that my work only requires very casual dressing, too.</p> <p>Donna F - Angie nailed it when she said I had a very 90s style. There was an issue of Harper's Bazaar in the late 90s that encapsulated everything I wanted to look like - slim and lean layers with slick boots. I still remember the spread almost 20 years later! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868178 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:18:13 +0000 catgirl 868178@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a fascinating analyis and jives perfectly with what we see here to my eye. It shows how well you know yourself and your wardrobe and style. Nice! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868160 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:59:34 +0000 DonnaF 868160@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, this sounds EXACTLY like you, or at least the *you* that you show on YLF. Would you be willing to share how and when you arrived at your personal style? Was it when you were in New York? In high school? College? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868155 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:56:19 +0000 Sarah A 868155@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a really through and thoughtful analysis. I could aspire to a closet like this! I am curious, like everyone else, how this has changed your day-to-day prep time and streamlined your shopping desires.</p> <p>ETA: started comment a while ago but didnt finish it. 5 min in the AM, Nice! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868125 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:35:23 +0000 cciele 868125@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great distillation of your style! I can see how it will help with future shopping ventures. Makes me think on my own uniform... hmm... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868121 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 19:31:54 +0000 ironkurtin 868121@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rae - It's less, but it didn't halve my closet or anything.</p> <p>Kristin - It never takes me more than 5 minutes to get dressed. Mostly what I did was remove things I didn't reach for as much anyway. It took me about an hour? I already knew how everything fit, though.</p> <p>BJ - Yes, I think so, when I need replacements. My most recent purchases have been very classic black and white sweaters. I'm now ready to take a break and see what summer will provide for my uniform ideas. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868075 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:44:10 +0000 bj1111 868075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>how has your hunt for replacements been going with the new shape? setting up the uniform manifesto may make shopping for replacements easier? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868074 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:43:54 +0000 Kristin SF 868074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Amazing job - I love your phrase - capsule of happiness. </p> <p>How has this changed your "getting ready" time in the morning? </p> <p>How has this changed your shopping needs for spring/summer? Is your list shorter?</p> <p>This is the first such analysis that has strongly resonated with me. I almost feel like I could attempt such a closet analysis. If only I had a weekend to myself.... </p> <p>Just curious -- how long did this take you? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868063 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:32:18 +0000 Mo 868063@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you nailed it. You have a very distinct style that I think lends itself toward streamlining this way. Bravo<br /> Curious if you have a lot less than you started with or if you still have similar amounts of things, just more focused in the types you are keeping. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868033 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:16:47 +0000 Kalli 868033@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great analysis. If you break down most uniforms they are pretty simple in basics and long on all the supporting elements. Everything you wrote in your novel above just leads me to think you know your style really well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-uniform#post-868029 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:14:16 +0000 ironkurtin 868029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My goal was to identify and refine my style; have a closet in which everything played nice with everything else; and own nothing that didn't make me super happy. In Angie's terms, I want my entire closet to be one big capsule. Of happiness.</p> <p>I did some analysis on my favorite items - that is, the ones I knew I reached for again and again, not necessarily the ones I admired the most - and made some basic category decisions. Then I went through my closet and removed anything that didn't fall into those categories (well, except for dressy and interview stuff). It's been really fun AND simplified my shopping wants HUGELY.</p> <p>One takeaway is that the foundation of all of my outfits is very plain, classically shaped, and lean. Then I have interesting details in a layer, jewelry, or shoes. But if you strip me down, I am basically wearing a slim, thin tank top and some form of pants, and then building on top of that.</p> <p>Other realizations are that, while I love interesting pieces, I prefer subtle to in-your-eye. Also, some things I love on the hangar but look terrible on me, and I'm just not ever going to wear them so they should go. And I never want to look like an item is wearing me (Look! It's Miyake!) or to get too precious about any one piece of clothing, no matter how expensive.</p> <p>Bottoms:<br /> All in solids, no prints.<br /> - Dark skinny jeans, pants, or leggings<br /> - Dark/Light/colored slouchy pants/boyfriend jeans<br /> - Dark trousercut jeans or pants, cropped or regular length</p> <p>Sweaters:<br /> All in solids, no prints - just texture effects.<br /> - Black and gray cardigans, crewnecks, and vnecks in very classic cuts, in fabulous materials like cashmere or textured cotton knits.<br /> - Classic crewnecks in thin cotton, linen, or cashmere in my current colors, like navy, magenta, plum, and forest green.<br /> - White pullovers in cotton or linen for layering, from very basic to avant garde.<br /> - Sleeveless sweaters and vests in a range of colors and fabrics for layering<br /> - One or two "novelty sweaters" in classic shapes with interesting textures in solid colors (like pumpkin or rust).</p> <p>Shirts:<br /> I have patterns and colors here, but really nowhere else (except in shoes!).<br /> - Fitted classic cotton buttondowns in a range of colors and patterns, from very dark denim to tie prints to florals to white. These can be worn alone or under my solid cardigans and vests.<br /> - Thin, sheerish, long-sleeved, longer-body cotton layering tees in white, black, and a range of grays.<br /> - Long white and black cotton tanks.<br /> - Cotton tanks - white plus a rainbow of colors and patterns.</p> <p>Dresses:<br /> Worn like like long shirts.<br /> - Solid-color cotton, linen, or cashmere tunics or shirtdresses that can be layered over long tees or tanks, or under long cardigans.</p> <p>Skirts:<br /> Let the girl out! Sometimes. I have VERY few skirts as I don't wear them.<br /> - Full, floaty skirts in organic materials, in summery patterns and colors, to pair with simple tanks, denim jacket, and sandals or tall boots</p> <p>Shoes:<br /> Must be comfortable, leather, and easy to get on and off without a lot of interaction.<br /> - Sandals and boots only. (Booties I wear and consider boots. Heels and flats I wear, but consider sandals. No shooties. No sneakeels. The foot is either entirely covered or it's bare.)<br /> - I like shoes that are simple in shape and design, but have at least one interesting thing about them - color, form, toe or heel shape.</p> <p>Jackets, coats, and blazers<br /> I love me some black. Yes I do. Might as well face up to it!<br /> - Cashmere, cotton, leather, and techno fabrics in black (!!!), gray, green, or white (white in summer only) that are either soft *or* resilient - I need to be able to wad them up when traveling - as well as lightweight and breathable, shaped to my body, comfortable across the shoulders, and have good hand pockets<br /> - A trim, masculine 90's-style Helmut Lang look is a big plus in this department for me (good thing as I own many Helmut coats) - the layers underneath will be girly enough and work fine</p> <p>Whew... Guess this was a novel. Thanks for reading! </p>