YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Now I'm Thinking About Essentials...

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Now I'm Thinking About Essentials... https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:06:32 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Suzanimal on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886697 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:15:49 +0000 Suzanimal 1886697@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ La Belle I love zip ups. I can't believe I never thought of wearing them in the summer. I'm putting those on my list. Smart move! Sunglasses are definitely an essential. I can't be outside without them. As a matter of fact, I spent more on my everyday sunglasses (around 300.00) than I have anything else in my closet.  Swimsuits made my essential list, too. Along with a cover up.  Mary Beth (formerly LBD) on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886689 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:03:04 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1886689@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ La Pedestrienne:   Huh.   I didn't realize that Angie said that about hats and sunnies.   For me, if I am out in the middle of the day without sunglasses, my eyes water uncontrollably and it just makes life harder to function. For hats, they're like gloves in the winter:  essential to keeping me warm.   For the pool, it is an essential because I sunburn so easily (without sunscreen, in direct sunlight, I can get a mild burn in 15 minutes).   I only take my hat off to swim - I'll actually wear it in the pool,  if we're just floating around, chatting with friends. Suz:  I've left sunglasses behind when travelling, and when I do, that's the first stop I make, just as soon as I can pause - to get more sunglasses.   So to me, they're an essential.  I keep an extra pair in my car, just in case. Rachylou:  I've worn that zip-up at least 1x/week for three years now.   At least!  I've replaced the zipper on it, I've worn it so much.   I'm gonna cry the day it goes!   I try to baby it, with gentle washing, and air-drying.   I have three other zip-ups now, and it's the same thing - I want to keep 'em going  LaPed on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886665 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 17:47:56 +0000 LaPed 1886665@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hmm,when I put hats and sunnies on my list last year, Angie said they were statements, not essentials. This probably depends on the item and the individual in question. I think her point was that you can have a statement item that you wear every single day, but it's still a statement. So now I'm trying to think of sunnies as a *literal* essential, but an opportunity to make a *sartorial* statement. My turquoise raincoat may fall into this category too, come to think of it. rachylou on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886663 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 17:34:39 +0000 rachylou 1886663@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ok, I’m so bad at this, but I recognise your black zip-up! Lol. Suz on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886657 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 17:22:58 +0000 Suz 1886657@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I really love that you put sunnies on your list. I should add them to mine. Another person here on the forum who'd be lost without them is Sal.  Also, it's comprehensive and honest to include swimwear, etc. when you need it so much and wear it so often -- kind of like me including a puffer.  Your descriptions allow me to see your style really clearly and I love the idea that essentials are items that if you were travelling and didn't have them, you'd seriously have trouble making outfits and you'd want to go out and replace them. Mary Beth (formerly LBD) on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886632 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 17:01:08 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1886632@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Jenn,  as I was making my list, I realized that the BF & I spend almost every weekend poolside, weather and schedule permitting.  My conservative estimate is that I spend 25 days in a swimsuit from mid-May to mid-September.   I normally have 3-4 swimsuits in rotation every summer, but I think I could get by with just one, washing it out every day with a gentle soap and rolling it up in a towel to accelerate drying.   And I just realized that hats are essentials for me as well, and I forgot to put those on the list!   And sunglasses.   I wear those every sunny day, year-round.   Editing now. Mary Beth (formerly LBD) on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886622 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:54:26 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1886622@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Suzanimal, I usually hunt down zip-front cardigans on eBay, or in consignment or thrift stores.   I have a couple of representative pictures below. I occasionally buy boleros (aka shrugs) on eBay.  I currently have them in royal blue and white.   My pink one disappeared at a dance studio, and the dryer ate my black one when it got caught on the lint trap.   I originally bought them for flamenco, but found they were really useful worn with shorts or a skirt in the summer. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ladies-women-Long-Sleeve-Bolero-Shrug-Top-Plain-New-Sizes-S-M-M-L-8-26/172443917710?hash=item2826755d8e:m:mU_7QySAbWPmZAl5S6h-7Lg">https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ladie.....-8-26/1724</a>  Jenn on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886619 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:46:31 +0000 Jenn 1886619@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love your list, especially how you've considered things like swimwear and outerwear. It seems like this would be a great resource for packing for trips. Everything fits together so neatly! Suzanimal on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886618 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:32:40 +0000 Suzanimal 1886618@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like to have toppers available during the summer, to complete an outfit, that can withstand A/C in the Deep South, but be cool enough to step outside in. I would love to hear more about your toppers. I'm struggling to find the right thing.  Your list looks great. I like that it's very specific.  Mary Beth (formerly LBD) on "Now I'm Thinking About Essentials..." https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/now-im-thinking-about-essentials#post-1886592 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 16:05:23 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1886592@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think Angie covers this topic every year?   Every few years?   And she always says this... "They are not to be confused with wardrobe basics" But darned if it hasn't taken me until now to kind of figure that out. So I sat down and thought, what are my wardrobe essentials?  and I was kind of surprised to realize it really is just a handful of things, and I can be comfortably dressed year-round. For year-round: <ul> <li>High-rise skinny jeans in dark indigo wash.</li> <li>Black ponte pants or thick black leggings.</li> <li>A black draped or ruched, close-fitting pencil skirt.</li> <li>Black, white, and blush short-sleeve crewneck tees.</li> <li>Black long-sleeve knit tops or tees.   Slash or crew or v-neck.</li> <li>Black leather high-heel pumps.</li> <li>Nude patent leather high-heel pumps.</li> <li>Nude block-heel ballerinas.</li> <li>Pearl stud earrings.</li> <li>Zip up black cardigan. </li> <li>Black cross-body bag.</li> <li>ETA:  sunglasses.   I cannot manage without sunnies.</li> </ul> I wear zip-up black cardigans year-round, with pretty much everything.   They're perfect for layering in cool weather, and for frigid A/C in hot weather. For cold weather: <ul> <li>Non-wool black tights with a high denier.</li> <li>Black OTK boots with a flat or low heel.</li> <li>Black leather gloves.</li> <li>Pashmina or pashmina-feel scarves.</li> <li>Long coat that comes down to the knee.</li> <li>ETA:  wool cadet cap.  </li> </ul> For hot weather: <ul> <li>Lightweight pencil skirt in tan or white.</li> <li>Lightweight knit boleros</li> <li>Shorts in tan or white, with a 3-4" inseam</li> <li>Espadrilles.</li> <li>Wedge Sandals with an ankle cuff.</li> <li>One really good swimsuit with good bra support.</li> <li>ETA:  sun hat for the pool.</li> </ul> <ul> </ul> I like to have toppers available during the summer, to complete an outfit, that can withstand A/C in the Deep South, but be cool enough to step outside in. Obviously there are other things I wear regularly, besides these - but if I have these, I can do anything from going to a dance or fitness class, all the way to going out for drinks + dinner. Having made this list, I realized that 'essentials' for me, are the things I absolutely have to have. If I travelled for more than two weeks, and was missing any of this, I would seriously consider going out and picking up a replacement.