https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:51:59 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306845 Mon, 06 Feb 2023 19:20:29 +0000 Style Fan 2306845@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beautifully put together, Tanya.&nbsp; I am impressed by the thought and creativity behind your outfits.&nbsp; Lovely. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306726 Mon, 06 Feb 2023 02:41:10 +0000 Debbie 2306726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Each and everyone of these are a standout. You have put them together beautifully. I love you theme and consistency of the outfits. Can’t wait to see more. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306719 Mon, 06 Feb 2023 02:23:39 +0000 Jaime 2306719@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These are fabulous and right on theme! The suit in #7 and the addition of pink in #10 were stand outs but these are all fantastic! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306600 Sun, 05 Feb 2023 13:09:14 +0000 Tanya 2306600@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Kyle! Teal makes me very happy. It is nice to see you more on the forum. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306500 Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:41:28 +0000 Kyle 2306500@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wonderful wardrobe and creativity. And the color palette is stunning. Teal loves you, Tanya. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306497 Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:34:33 +0000 Tanya 2306497@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Jonesy!&nbsp; Yes, I very much like to plan, my wardrobe and anything else.&nbsp; You are correct, that skirt is indeed from Vince.&nbsp; Couldn't agree more on wearing dark florals in the winter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306492 Sat, 04 Feb 2023 18:26:26 +0000 Jonesy 2306492@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, you are an amazing planner--so impressive! I love the analytical skills on display here :). Your outfits are so cohesive and definitely reflect your Dark Romance vibe. My fave is the first look: I recognize that print in the skirt--Vince, right? I have a shirt in the same fabric. I love a dark floral in the winter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306439 Sat, 04 Feb 2023 14:40:08 +0000 Tanya 2306439@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Brooklyn, commission accepted !&nbsp; Jokes aside, teal and dark florals are not easy to find, even if lately more teal is becoming available.&nbsp; Thank you for the kind words and the scarf suggestion - I don't have&nbsp; a velvet one.&nbsp; Dark floral scarves, I olny have flimsier smaller silk versions (which would have still worked), but no warm wool ones.&nbsp; It is a small hole for this theme I was aware of when beginning, but the only ones that appealed to me were Alexander McQueen and thus expensive. So I make do with simple solid or perhaps textured scarves when it is cold.&nbsp; When warm scarf is not needed, I have the skull scarf below.</p> <p>Jessicams, thank you!&nbsp; &nbsp;Loungewear/work from home is the only area I am not sticking to my seasonal theme, as I don't see how it can be realistically done. I do keep the chosen color palette .&nbsp; I am trying to amp up my WFH look , something like more elevated loungewear combined with a dressier piece here and there.&nbsp; I am calling this "power casual" - I saw the term somewhere, and even if my interpretation is more casual, I kept it.&nbsp; I intend to post about this soon, too.&nbsp; For general casual wear, I do stick to my theme, but interpretation is fairly subtle. The outfit&nbsp; in #12/13 is an example.&nbsp; &nbsp;I don't know how outdoorsy it counts, as I live in a pretty urban area and do a lot of walking (don't drive) -&nbsp; so going grocery shopping etc. is as outdoorsy&nbsp; as I get. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306400 Sat, 04 Feb 2023 04:56:59 +0000 Jessikams 2306400@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This will be fun to watch! I am especially curious to see how you interpret this them for casual wear— outdoorsy wear or even lounge wear. That’s usually where my style goals fall apart LOL. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306361 Sat, 04 Feb 2023 01:44:13 +0000 Brooklyn 2306361@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Excellent!!! I am loving these outfits and this theme (of course). Makes me long for cool weather.</p> <p>A velvet or dark floral scarf in 12/13 could be a nice addition. </p> <p>And of course I would steal some of your teal items if I could. I need to commission you to hunt me down teal items in the northern hemisphere. Dark floral too - that’s increasingly hard to find. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306344 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 22:37:28 +0000 Tanya 2306344@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you all so much for your comments!</p> <p>Allora, you are welcome - isn't it fun how a small edgier accessory makes the whole outfit feel completely different?</p> <p>Angie, thank you for the kind words, much appreciated!&nbsp; I am having lots of fun with this theme.</p> <p>Bijou, I think Brooklyn and I would likely love to try each others teal pieces, I always admire hers.&nbsp; &nbsp;I am humbled to hear such posts are inspirational.</p> <p>Dee, you are very sweet, thanks&nbsp; Teal seems to be everyone's favorite.</p> <p>Nikki, much appreciated.&nbsp; &nbsp;A few years ago I realized I seriously dislike most winter hats on me except berets, so went on to build a collection of them.&nbsp; I kept a couple of old beanies for the coldest days, like today.</p> <p>Bijou &amp; Nikki, funny that you both mention Bond Girl/Spy Vibe.&nbsp; A few days ago I read this article,&nbsp; &nbsp;<a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1317386/16-ways-to-go-incognito-with-the-celeb-spy-trend">https://www.eonline.com/news/1.....-spy-trend</a>&nbsp;about Spy Trend, and decided it would make a good base for a nice winter theme.&nbsp; The all black would likely to be too boring on its own, so it would need to be juxtaposed with something fairly different for a nice tension.&nbsp; &nbsp;That led me to thinking about Clark Kent/Supermen duality, so the Bond Girl would need an interesting daytime look for balance.&nbsp; Which brought me to sleek, tailored day outfits Pepper Potts in Ironman wears ( when not in her superhero suit).&nbsp; Thus a new theme was born: Pepper Potts (mostly by day) meets&nbsp; Bond Girl (mostly by night).&nbsp; They both like glamorous evening looks.&nbsp; Sometime in the future winters,&nbsp; I may be inspired to put this into practice, as it is not radically different from the current Dark Romance. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306316 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 19:46:54 +0000 Anonymous 2306316@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Awesome! I’m intrigued by your berets. They provide a great spy vibe to the outfits. I need to add a beret to my hat collection </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306277 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:57:11 +0000 Dee 2306277@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh that’s a great representation of your dark romance theme. I see it all with the darker moody florals, the brocade, the leather, lace and the buckles. Love the addition of the teal, especially outfit #2 and #15</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306273 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:40:58 +0000 Bijou 2306273@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Amazing! Lucky you are a long way from Australia as Brooklyn would be raiding your wardrobe.</p> <p>Thank you for posting, it is so inspiring to understand your thought processes and how you have executed your theme. It feels quite similar to seeing a character outline for a movie, you would make a great Bond Girl. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306266 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 14:56:04 +0000 Angie 2306266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*APPLAUSE*</p> <p>JUST SO STINKING CUTE AND FUN EACH DAY!! WOW!! Coherent, scientifically and artistically put together with themes, and meticulous attention to detail. With lots of positive energy and confidence too. What a treat to peruse :)</p> <p>KILLER all round! And I expected nothing less.&nbsp;</p> <p>Special love for pics: #1, #2, #7, #14 and #15.</p> <p>#15 = KILLER to the Power of KILLER</p> <p>Please carry on!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306248 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:51:21 +0000 Anonymous 2306248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Really like your look and choices! I’m especially loving both of the watches as I like to add a little something with an edge to my outfits, mostly through accessories. Thanks for the inspiration! Looking forward to seeing how you put things together moving forward.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306247 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:32:04 +0000 Tanya 2306247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Indigoprint, MsMaven and Kellygirl.&nbsp;</p> <p>I am glad that the moody feeling is coming through.&nbsp; Teal is my 2nd favorite color after purple, I have tried last year to add more of it.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306203 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 04:46:25 +0000 kellygirl 2306203@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gorgeous moody outfits. The first and last, I think are my faves. Nice mix of textures and silhouettes. Teal coats are just fab on you too. You nailed the theme--perfect execution. You are a visual treat--I would love to see such style in real life! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306200 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 03:45:07 +0000 MsMaven 2306200@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You have some great outfits. I especially like the colors you have chosen and the different ways you put them together.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306198 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 03:26:50 +0000 Indigoprint 2306198@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow such a coherent look. Love your colors. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306197 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 03:20:17 +0000 Tanya 2306197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, and nodding along, Jaime!</p> <p>As promised above, here is a representative set of outfits.&nbsp; I have been doing the theme for 6 weeks now, with a couple of random outfits before that.&nbsp; I have been taking photos of all of them but none of good enough quality to post, so am in the process of retaking them all. As I mentioned above, my interpretations tend to be subtle.</p> <p>Outfit #1 (photos 1-4).&nbsp; This is the first outfit belonging to this theme I wore this season, for a brunch for my birthday, mid October.&nbsp; Thus it is a social occasion outfit based on a skirt, but it would work for my office, too.&nbsp; Midi dark floral asymmetric skirt with some teal in the pattern was combined with black lace top, teal leather blazer, black patent booties, black studded cross-body, and pearl necklace.&nbsp; </p> <p>Outfit #2 (photos 5-6): This a work outfit based on a black sheath dress with dark floral&nbsp; motif that looks like two pieces.&nbsp; &nbsp;The dress was combined with off-white leather moto, black suede booties, black studded leather tote, gunmetal spiked watch and a little choker necklace.</p> <p>Outfit #3 ( photos 7-8): Another work outfit, this one based on suit.&nbsp; The suit is a plaid wool tuxedo with satin lapels, worn over fitted black knit, with double wrapped skinny studded belt and patent booties.&nbsp; For outside, addition of black mixed media coat and black beret.</p> <p>Outfit #4 (photos 9-11): One more work outfit, based on pants.&nbsp; Black faux leather cropped pants, black/mauve (or blush) burnout blouse, rose velvet blazer, studded watch, black suede booties.&nbsp; For outside, black midi puffer (for both juxtaposition and warmth reasons), faux leather black beret.</p> <p>Outfit #5 (photos 12-13):&nbsp; The casual, errand running version.&nbsp; Black faded relaxed straight jeans, "romantic" light teal sweater (pointelle knit, open neckline), studded and textured black flat booties, short teal puffer, studded cross body.</p> <p>Outfit #5 (photos 14-15):&nbsp; Already posted earlier this week, but posting it here again&nbsp; as it is the perfect illustration for smart casual.&nbsp; This was errands in fancy area of the town, but typical of dinner with friends.&nbsp; Same jeans as above, dressed up with floral silk blouse and teal wool coat.&nbsp; Purple heeled booties and crossbody bag, faux leather beret, studded watch. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306188 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 02:46:31 +0000 Jaime 2306188@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Looking forward to the illustration. Thought of steampunk right away before I got to where you said it. Also Helena Bonham Carter as a muse. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/my-winter-2023-theme-dark-romance#post-2306186 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 02:28:54 +0000 Tanya 2306186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>From mid-December through mid-March I am getting dressed based on  a theme called "Dark Romance", original inspiration was something very similar Brooklyn did a couple of years ago: <a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-to-do-%e2%80%9cdark-romance%e2%80%9d">https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....e%e2%80%9d</a>.  More current inspiration came from FW 2022/2023 fashion shows, and two trend reports: one of those trend summary articles and Angie's Fall trend post.   The article author wrote: <br /> " <b>Enchanted:</b> A moody color palette serves as a base for Enchanted, a fairytale-meets-mystical take on gothic fashion. “Dark notions of romance,” Moylan said, translate into special occasion attire in items like cutouts dresses, capes and corset hybrids, while glossy PVC and bodycon silhouettes add a “dominatrix slant.” The dramatic trend is seen in accessories through blackened gemstones, opera-length gloves and bags and handbags with glossy surfaces."<br /> Angie wrote: <br /> "<b>Dark Romance</b>: Head-to-toe black with LOTS of texture and garment interest is a strong nod to the late ‘90s. Think black lace, tulle, sequins, patent leather, faux fur, textured leather, velvet, textured knits, tweedy wovens, satin, chiffon, silk, jacquards, corsetry, and dark nail polish. Interpret the looks minimally or maximally. For example, remix black wool, faux fur, lace, brocade, and patent leather in one outfit."</p> <p>I interpret this broader than just all black in mix of textures, although that is definitely part of the look, more along the lines Brooklyn did.   Basically juxtaposition of "dark/edgy" style and "romantic/softer' items.  The dark component is very much inspired by gothic/moto/rocker/punk, the romantic by both Victorian and modern notions of romantic dressing, and then both by military styles and steampunk.  I have seen similar juxtapositions called "edgy pretty", with classic combo of pairing blush chiffon/silk with black leather.</p> <p>Here are the main characteristic elements for both looks ( starting with edgy components, following with romantic components).</p> <p><strong></strong><b>Colors: </b>L<b></b>ots of black, dark moody colors like eggplant, dark teal, burgundy / white, cream, blush, rose.  Burgundy can actually work both ways.</p> <p><b>Metals:</b> Silver, gunmetal / yellow gold, rose gold </p> <p><strong></strong><b>Fabrics: </b><strong></strong><strong><i></i></strong>Leather (real or faux, smooth or textured)<strong><i></i></strong><strong>, </strong>patent, vinyl, mesh / velvet, satin, lace, silk, chiffon, brocade. </p> <p><b>Details</b>:  Cutouts, studs, spikes, zippers / ruffles, peplums, flounces, embroidery, ruching, draping, bows, rosettes.</p> <p><b>Patterns</b>: Skull motifs, plaid (punk influence) / large moody florals.</p> <p><strong></strong><b>Styles and silhouettes</b>: Moto jackets and vests, military toppers / capes, floaty blouses, swishy midi skirts and dresses, corsets, voluminous sleeves.  After some pondering I concluded slim, fitted, body con styles work for both.  Same thing for tuxedo suits, or tuxedo inspired shapes.<strong></strong></p> <p><strong></strong><b>Denim</b>:<strong> </strong>Denim in all shades of black, coated, burgundy.  </p> <p><b>Accessories: </b>Spiky jewelry, fishnets / pearls, brooches, lace tights.  Chokers go both ways.<b></b></p> <p><strong></strong><b>Footwear: </b>Moto boots, combat boots,<b> </b>ankle booties, sleek and pointy styles, chunky styles / lace-up boots and booties, pretty delicate pumps with almond/pointy toes.<b></b></p> <p>The next part is putting this through the lens of my style persona(s).  My main one is Sleek Urban Princess (SUP), with shadow personas of Edgy and Romantic Bombshell.  The reason this theme appeals to me so much is that it is basically a marriage of both of my shadow personas.  It was my preferred way of dressing outside of work anyway, especially for social situations, where depending on the occasion one or the other of those two shadow personas comes out to play.  It is very suited to evening occasions.  For work it all gets toned down and married with SUP, and interpretations are subtle and sleek.  Often it becomes as simple as classic work shapes like suits and sheath dresses, in colors and textures that fit the theme, with addition  of right accessories.  Casual dressing for activities like running errands is also often subtle: the right jeans, sweater in thematically right color with the right detail, appropriate accessory. I don't stick to the theme for WFH, as it would be pointless ( imagine dark romantic loungewear!), I only keep the color palette.</p> <p>Since the theme is such a good fit for my preferences, there isn't much adjustment needed for the elements; mostly elimination of yellow gold which I don't wear and addition of medium purples and teals for some more color variety. Also no vinyl, no capes, and corset interpretations are very subtle.</p> <p>I will add a representative set of already worn outfits in a reply shortly, trying to illustrate one for every occasion/level of dressiness. </p>