https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:06:03 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-111729 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:58:36 +0000 yublocka 111729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I went through 2 main periods of defining my style. Firstly in my early 20s. I lost about 10kgs (have since put nearly half of that back on) and prior to that had never been too interested or confident in picking out clothes, other than the odd statement piece or bright colour. When the weight loss forced me to buy new clothes, I went from wearing baggy jeans, tshirts and doc martens constantly, to slimmer boot-cut jeans and more fitted t-shirts and tops (maybe not the most drastic of style changes after all hehehe). Back then I was working full-time and never really liked any of the clothes I wore to work. I wore basic pants, shirts, the occasional suit and never really liked any of it.</p> <p>And then in my late 20s when I went back to uni, I basically didn't get many new clothes at all in the 4 year period I was studying. When that drew to a close last year I knew my wardrobe needed updating as some of my clothes were falling apart. Thats what led me to YLF. My non-work wardrobe is still somewhat similar to previous years (meaning it could do with some updating still), however my work-wear is where YLF has helped me the most. I now look forward to getting dressed for work and have fun colours and comfy clothes that get me through 15 hour shifts with no problems. I get comments all the time at work (mainly positive) and it just makes being there more pleasant!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110789 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:19:26 +0000 Angie 110789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow. AMAZING thread! I have so enjoyed reading everyone’s cerebral comments and journeys – and actually seeing it put into action over the past few years on the forum with some of the golden oldies like Maya and Jennifer has been priceless. Louise’s fearlessness is fabulous and queenie blossoms a little more each time she posts an outfit. As for Renata – she got an interview and blog post out of her style transformation! </p> <p>My style is always evolving. In some ways I have become more fearless in my approach to dressing, but in other ways a lot more classic. I can’t wait to see how I’ll dress in my fifth decade of life! </p> <p>As of this year, my love for jeans is dwindling – fast. I am wearing denim a LOT less than I used to and it feels really good. I am very much into wearing dresses and cannot get enough of them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110682 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:37:28 +0000 rute 110682@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Before I was trying to look like all my friends and co-workers, casual and young, but ended up feeling frumpy and bigger. Too many jeans, tops way too tight, no accessories.</p> <p>After, well you have seen my photos, I have accepted my lady-like style, I don't mind to be overdressed in a casual world, I feel good in skirts, heels and don't mind beeing different. I have also accepted my body and use clothes that are flattering for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110665 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:19:27 +0000 Kristine 110665@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1)When did your style really begin to take shape and what was the trigger?</p> <p>A few years ago. I was actually pretty stylish in my late teens and early 20s, but I had fallen into a slump in my 30s. Now that I'm nearing 40 I'm slowly getting the hang of it again. I don't know if there was a trigger in particular, but I started watching What Not to Wear and similar shows. I have a photo of my dad's surprise birthday party which gave me good motivation to change. My sister is in an elegant flowy top and there I am in a cheap, faded sweater and shirt that doesn't suit me at all. I used to cry when I had to get dressed in the morning. </p> <p>2)What was the one piece or few pieces and also accessories that really pulled your wardrobe together?</p> <p>Rediscovering skirts and dresses has helped. I've realized skirts can look edgy and don't have to look prim and proper. Belts are my new thing. Tucking in a shirt or wearing a belt over a long tunic can make an outfit instantly stylish.</p> <p>Paying more attention to colors helped too. I took an introductory class in design and spent some time learning color theory. I had a strange wardrobe of very blah clothing, then random wild colors and huge patterns. I had to learn the middle ground, which is usually more subtle patterns and more interesting basics.</p> <p>I used to get down to threadbare clothes, then shop out of desperation, buying cheap things that would be threadbare the next year. Now I think of it as curating my wardrobe. I work on finding good quality pieces that all work well together. I do throw in a few cheaper things sometimes to mix it up, but I don't build my wardrobe on cheap things anymore. If it's all I can afford, I'd rather buy one decent sweater a year than 3 or 4 cheap ones. And decent doesn't necessarily mean expensive, but I pay more attention to fibers and construction now. No more 100% acrylic sweaters, unless it's a trendy item for one season. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110420 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:27:01 +0000 velvetychocolate 110420@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't answer both of these questions, because I'm just barely getting started. That said, I can answer question #1 - what was the trigger? For me, the trigger is weight loss. I have no clothes! </p> <p>Furthermore, I'm in that rut that shiny desribes so well. As shiny was saying, this is ME to a tee right now:</p> <p>shiny said:</p> <p>-------------------------------</p> <p>1) Black dress slacks<br /> 2) Boring V-neck pullover sweater (short sleeve in summer, long sleeve in winter)... I had these in every color of the rainbow.<br /> 3) Black pumps<br /> 4) Black handbag<br /> 5) Black coat<br /> 6) Stud earrings - no necklace.</p> <p>Presentable, but ohhhh so ... BORING!</p> <p>Also, I would dread weekends the most, because casual wear made me look like a teeny bopper. Since I didn't wear jeans, it was always khakis. I fell into a rut on the weekends, where my formula was:</p> <p>1) GAP Khakis (yes, even in winter... I'd freeze)<br /> 2) GAP knit scoop neck top - usually black<br /> 3) Pullover sweater in the winter<br /> 4) black or brown loafers or sandals</p> <p>BORING!<br /> ------------------------------------------<br /> Yes, this is about where I am, but I'm probably missing some of these most basic pieces. </p> <p>I just bought my very first non-black handbag. Still haven't worn it yet or used it - thinking I might have to take it back! It's *green*. What in the world is a woman who wears Mom jeans, black turtlenecks and black loafers doing with a green purse???</p> <p>And why do I suddenly have all these pearls? A boyfriend blazer? </p> <p>Oh, I feel a separate post coming on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110414 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:24:26 +0000 Kristen 110414@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My style has been evolving for about 3 years now; it started with a change in job from retail to a business office, and a good friend of mine took me out and really showed me how and why things fit on me and what kind of pieces I should look for: skirts, shells over button-downs, etc. The beginning of this year I lost over 50 pounds, and that's when my evolution really took off! I'm not going to lie, a big part of that was because I could shop in more stores and things looked much different on me than they did when I was heavier. </p> <p>The key piece for me was finding my first dress. All of a sudden, I could make that bridge between work and play clothes, in a way that a black pair of pants never could. Plus, since my legs are my best asset, dresses were an easy way to highlight that, and they allowed me to be instantly "dressed up" at work even in a cotton dress. Now i have only a couple of pairs of pants, and dozens of dresses. I love it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110403 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:31:56 +0000 anemone 110403@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have loved reading the responses in this thread! My style evolution has taken place over the last 3 years or so, since I dropped about 20 lbs. That was my trigger--I had to replace practically everything in my wardrobe, which allowed me to start with a mostly clean slate. My previous wardrobe mostly fell into the frumpy suburban mom tees and khakis category.</p> <p>I had promised myself I would finally get rid of the weight I'd gained in my early mommy years before I turned 40, and I did it (and then some). To my surprise, thanks to both regular weight training and age-related shifting of fat distribution, my body shape had changed quite a lot since I was last at my fittest around age 30. Before, I was an extreme version of the pretty pear, with hips at least two sizes bigger than my waist. It was hard to find pants that fit and I didn't know how to create the proper proportions. Suddenly at age 40 my body was more of an hourglass shape, my hips were approx. the same measurement as my bust, my shoulders were more developed and less sloped, and although my waist was slightly thicker than it used to be, it's now easier to find pants that fit both my hips and waist. I could go into stores and try on lots of stuff and most of it looked great on me off the rack. There were even a lot of jeans that fit and looked great. What a great feeling that was! </p> <p>So...I have been having fun with fashion for the first time in my life. I made a few mistakes along the way, but that's part of the learning process. There have been a few key influences for me as I developed my style. At first, it was the show What Not to Wear, which helped me develop a better eye for proportion and fit, reinforced in my brain the importance of fitted jackets and interesting shoes, and introduced concepts like creative layering and color contrast. I plaid special attention to how they dressed and styled the over-35 participants. Now the major influences to my style are fashion blogs like YLF, which have given me the confidence to try all sorts of looks and color combinations I may not have otherwise tried, and I can see how these looks translate on body types that are not like your typical fashion model and see how they look on people in my age group. I've also learned from YLF and other blogs ways to create much better proportions despite my very long torso and short legs.</p> <p>Over the past year my style obsession has been color. It was quite a revelation to realize a year or two ago that my skin tone was actually warm, a realization that I came to after changing my hair color slightly to a different, much more flattering shade of brown and after trying on several L'Oreal TruMatch foundations and seeing clear as day that the warm W2 color blended naturally into my skin and became invisible and the cool C2 just sat there looking unnatural and fake and pink. It turned out that most of the cool colors I was naturally drawn to were not ideal on my skin tone. I think I could pull off those colors a bit better when I was younger, but with aging skin and hair, not so much. With the right hair color shade and makeup colors I looked younger and more vivacious, and it became so obvious which were my best colors and which were not. Now I refuse to buy any clothing that will be near my face in a color that looks less than divine on me, and I'm gradually purging or replacing any remaining items in less ideal colors from my closet. I've finally accepted that black looks bad against my skin and rich browns look fantastic, and the only "cool" colors that look great on me are the blue-greens and deep blue-violets. Now that I've got so much great color in my closet I hate to wear all neutral outfits. I've settled on 3 main color ranges that look really flattering on me, and other than neutrals/denim I try to buy mostly clothes within in those color families, or accessories in colors that complement or contrast well with those color families. if I buy a patterned shirt or scarf, it must work with one or more of those color ranges. That way I have many remixing options and I always have something to wear. In seasons where one of my best colors is very fashionable, I've learned to spend more and stock up on a range of items that serve different functions. I'm sure I learned that tip on a blog.</p> <p>Key pieces that bring my wardrobe together and offer me many wardrobe options are wide belts (which I normally wear a bit above my natural waist when possible to create the illusion of a shorter torso and longer legs), great jeans, cardigans, and fitted jackets. Like shiny, I'm a work at home mom, and my own personal home office dress code fits Angie's definition of "smart casual," which is appropriate for most of my life. </p> <p>I also want to second everything queenie said about taking pictures of outfits and different outfit variations. That has been so important for me in fine-tuning my style and giving me confidence in more creative combinations.</p> <p>I still have a way to go in the footwear style department. I have very finicky feet with a high arch and a need for cushioned footbeds, and I have to choose shoes very, very carefully. Most brands that successfully combine fashion and comfort are pricey, and heels can't be too high or to thin, so it is taking me much longer to build a collection of great shoes, and it involves a lot of trial and error and Zappos returns to find the best brands and styles for my foot. I have some great neutral styles now, but it will be a while before I can locate and afford ca ollection of comfortable, fashionable shoes to suit every situation. </p> <p>Have fun with your style evolution, Jean Gray! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110383 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 10:02:41 +0000 Louise 110383@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love Maya's comment "YLF gave me the confidence to try looks i didn't think would work". I've found this to be true too. In many books/ fashion guidelines there are specific lists of things you can and can't wear. However Angie is a great enabler, offering ways to make a look work for different body types x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110380 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:08:52 +0000 Maya 110380@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, lots of long replies!</p> <p>My style has been evolving since I was probably 19 or 20 (I am 25 now). I am a huge Audrey Hepburn fan and initially modeled my style after hers (back then I could get away with it since I was pretty skinny). I was also watching What Not To Wear and taking copious notes. The reason for this is partially due the fact that I was constantly being mistaken for a 14 year old. Prior to that I was dressing all emo and punky and I just felt like I was over it. I was done being a teenager and ready to grow up.</p> <p>But there came a time when I started feeling kind of suffocated. I saw the girls on campus wearing cute trendy edgy looks and always felt like I had to abstain and stick to classic, flop-proof formulas. Stacey and Clinton also drilled it into my head that I had to spend a lot and I would keep those pieces for years to come. I just couldn't sustain that kind of spending and most of the stuff didn't even fit in a year!</p> <p>Needless to say I started relaxing my rigid rules and began exploring a more artistic-eclectic look. I shopped a lot on vintage stores and little boutiques in Brooklyn. At this point I was still erring on the side of safe though.</p> <p>YLF gave me the confidence to sport looks I previously thought I couldn't or shouldn't wear either because of my age or body type. It amazes me how limiting other style advice can be. 25 or 30 seems to be the cutoff point between "young" and "not young" which is insanity to me. I have only JUST started to feel comfortable with my style and instincts, and they are telling me I need to stop being trendy and cover up?! I love that Angie encourages us to constantly evolve our style. Most other advice only gives general "safe" advice or shows you how to copy celebrity style. Ironically enough a lot of those "timeless" looks from 2000-2005 appear dated now.</p> <p>Anyway, since getting home and not being in close proximity to my array of vintage shops and little boutiques, I have been shopping online a lot as I don't generally enjoy shopping in chain stores or malls. That said, my style is a lot trendier and edgier now than it was when I still lived in Brooklyn. It's just easier for me to find pieces that relate to that aspect of my style. I don't feel comfortable buying vintage online (except accessories).</p> <p>When I first signed up for YLF, I was very timid about what I would and wouldn't try. Now I am pretty fearless. If I refuse to wear something, it's because I don't like it...not because it intimidates me. </p> <p>As for what pulls my wardrobe together: I don't really know how to answer that. I have a very limited budget so I rarely buy anything just because I like it and I never go shopping just for the heck of it. I usually shop and buy pieces for a specific reason. I do have to say jackets are always a welcome addition in my closet. I'm most self conscious about my top half and jackets help to emphasize what I do like and disguise what I don't. Too bad they're so expensive or I'd have a lot more. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110378 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:09:55 +0000 Jean Gray 110378@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for all your input. I think I've read over most of it 2 or 3 times as there is so much to absorb...and I love it!</p> <p>I can see this is going to be an ongoing process for me and it's affirming to hear that it's taken most of you at least a couple years to really begin to "evolve". </p> <p>I've been interested in fashion to some degree since I was in 4th grade and told my mom I wanted to start really choosing my own clothes. And the look I was going for? I told her "wild and crazy"! My mom naturally got a kick out of this and indulged me by taking me to Herbergers to pick out a couple outfits of my choosing: mostly flourescent with a painters hat! Yes, this was the early 80's. </p> <p>Anyway, as much as I've always had an interest in fashion I was also baffled as to how to make it work for me. I think as I continued to grow up I felt the need to separate my identity from my mom (who was always well dressed and even an image consultant for a time) I took the "I don't really care...I'm low maintenance" route. I recall my mom gently encouraging me from time to time " Could you try something other than black and blue, maybe?" I did ask for her help from time to time and the results were always successful to both of us but I didn't know how to sustain it.<br /> Anyway, my trigger now is similar to jwomack's. I realized there is nothing to wear! I got tired of showing up in the same tired outfits. And I have a friend also who inspired me (who had 3 kids btw!) and I have always been impressed with how pulled together she is.<br /> The additional trigger is my Mom. Though she died almost 5 years ago, every year on her birthday (in May)I try to do something "fun" or check out a new shop or place I've been wanting to go because that's something we would have enjoyed together. This year I had plans to get a manicure (she always took great care of her nails) but from scanning the web I found a book called Rescue Your Nails that explained how to take care of your nails on your own. Anyway I'm still trying to improve in that dept. but it was in the spirit of my Mom and looking my best that I have also decided to really take my wardrobe and looking my best more seriously.</p> <p>I do not get to watch the morning programs much but by chance I happened to see Angie on the Today show and checked out YLF and it felt like an answer from Heaven especially when I first saw the "formulas"! It was a few months before I checked out the forum and that has been so much fun and informative as well!</p> <p>So thanks to all of you and I'm happy to be joining you. I'm still happy to hear anyone elses stories! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110358 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 22:44:35 +0000 taylor 110358@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well I have always loved fashion and honestly can tell you my favorite dresses from the first grade and on:)<br /> And I have been in the beauty business since I was 18. I have always felt they went hand in hand. I have however always had a fit problem and spent many years in clothes too big or too young...Jr, sizes fit me better...but they lack in quality fabric and design.</p> <p>My moment came 5 yrs. ago when my daughter was getting married...finding her perfect dress was a joy...Well for me the nighmare had begun when the sales women said...nothing in the mother of the bride selection will fit you...lets look in the jr, dept......Well, I am too old to wear a *prom* dress to my daughters formal evening wedding...the search began for well fitting, high quality clothing...I descovered Ann Taylor's bridal selection in 0 petite and 00's in missy and re-vamped my entire wardrobe....so much so they offered me a part time job....I am living happily ever after...in clothes that fit") </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110339 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:43:14 +0000 shiny 110339@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1. Angie's Smart Casual formula was my trigger. Such an "ah-ha" moment for me!</p> <p>Because I'm petite and have always been young looking for my age, I tended to dress up a lot. Never wore jeans, even though I work in high-tech where this is expected. I went through a long awkward stage in which I didn't know what to wear to work, if I couldn't wear a suit to give me authority and help me look my age. fell into a rut of wearing a uniform to work, day after day:</p> <p>1) Black dress slacks<br /> 2) Boring V-neck pullover sweater (short sleeve in summer, long sleeve in winter)... I had these in every color of the rainbow.<br /> 3) Black pumps<br /> 4) Black handbag<br /> 5) Black coat<br /> 6) Stud earrings - no necklace. </p> <p>Presentable, but ohhhh so ... BORING! </p> <p>Also, I would dread weekends the most, because casual wear made me look like a teeny bopper. Since I didn't wear jeans, it was always khakis. I fell into a rut on the weekends, where my formula was:</p> <p>1) GAP Khakis (yes, even in winter... I'd freeze)<br /> 2) GAP knit scoop neck top - usually black<br /> 3) Pullover sweater in the winter<br /> 4) black or brown loafers or sandals</p> <p>BORING!</p> <p>About 5 years ago, I switched to full-time telecommuting. I rarely have to go in an office. I had a closet full of black dress pants - and NO jeans. Quite impractical for my telecommuting lifestyle. I knew I needed a style transformation. I've always been interested in fashion, watch WNTW, etc. I just never knew how to adapt it to my own self. </p> <p>I bought my first pair of premium jeans before finding YLF. I was searching the web to find out ideas for how to style them, and came across the Smart Casual formula. The rest is history!</p> <p>2. Too hard to pick just one item. How about this: </p> <p>a. Swapping my usual, boring v-neck pullover for a v-neck cardigan - that made a huge difference, as it opened up layering possibilities</p> <p>b. Swapping a plain, garden-variety tee shirt (such as from the GAP) for a more interesting top - such as a patterned sweet pea top, a dressy/silky top, or a tee with interesting details (graphic/embellished). I now have a whole stable of "statement" tops - and I usually start with "which top do I want to wear today?" and build an outfit from there. </p> <p>c. Learning to wear a suit jacket with jeans, instead of dress or suit slacks. I have always LOVED the structure and authority a smart jacket provides. I loved the days in the 80s and early 90s when I had to wear a suit every day to work. I love learning that I can still wear my jackets - just paired with jeans. That combo is funky, smart, fashionable - instead of staid, stuffy, out of place and overdressed. Woo-hoo!</p> <p>d. Swapping my black winter coat for something in a fun color. </p> <p>e. Breaking out of the "black or brown" rut for shoes and bags. If you want a versatile bag, go for cream. If you want a versatile shoe, go for a metallic. So much more interesting than black or brown!</p> <p>f. I'm still working on this one, but, following Angie's "rule" that if I buy something in black, it must have texture. </p> <p>g. I've also learned that it helps to decide if you are a "gold and brown" girl, or a "silver and black" girl first. I can wear either, and I like both, so a result, it's like I have two separate wardrobes. For awhile there, it was frustrating because the two separate wardrobes didn't work together. If you are starting out, choose one or the other to build around initially. Today, my wardrobe is about 75% silver or black. It makes getting dressed a lot easier. Renata, on the other hand, is a gold-and-brown gal, as is Greenglove. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110335 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:37:39 +0000 jwomack 110335@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really had no interest or thoughts about clothes until I hit my late 30's. I had just given birth to my third child and still needed to lose the baby weight. I was wearing jeans and dumpy t-shirts constantly. I went to a party at a friend's house and realized that I really had nothing appropriate to wear. I started to work out and lose weight which motivated me to want to look better with clothing as well. I also became friends with a very stylish woman who had just moved into town. I noticed how she could wear jeans and t-shirts but with jewelry or scarves added -- she suddenly looked very chic. I started to read YLF, other fashion blogs and fashion mags to educate myself. I can tell the transformation has worked because I get lots of compliments on outfits now and I have had several people comment on how I always looked so pulled together.</p> <p>I love shoes and really tried to up my wardrobe with variety to suit each type of pant length I wore -- cute flats, boots and heels/sandals. I also use jewelry and belts to really pull the outfit together. I am slowly getting comfortable with scarves. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110330 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:17:14 +0000 Queen Mum 110330@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I want to add as well that taking pictures of my outfits has proven to be invaluable. There is something about seeing the outfit on the computer screen that allows me to critique it better than in front of the mirror. I'm wondering if it's because I can see the outfit as a whole better in a picture. Occasionally I'll scroll through all of my outfit pictures and something will stand out to me as "fab" or "yikes!" and I can compare and figure out what worked or didn't work about it. It was during one of these picture reviews that I had an aha moment about necklines. </p> <p>Also,if I am debating whether to wear with or without necklace, how to tie the scarf, button or unbuttoned vest, which shoes, I will take pics of the different options and I have the advantage of being able to review the pictures and make an assessment.</p> <p>Now, obviously if you have 4 little ones running around you can't be spending your entire day taking and looking at pictures, but if you quickly snap a picture of each outfit, and then once a week or so, download and scroll through them, you will soon start to see what is working for you and what isn't. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110327 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:06:23 +0000 Dawn 110327@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1) I started my style transformation three summers ago and it was only this summer that I truly felt pulled together. This was mainly because I am a student so I never really had enough money to buy items of clothing which would pull my wardrobe together in the one season. I think that it would be best to think of my style transformation in a number of stages. </p> <p>stage 1- 'You're moving to Poland and it's going to be freezing!'- I has discovered some fashion blogs at this stage but my clothes buying was slightly panicked as I was moving from Ireland to Poland and needed to buy warm clothes for this semester abroad. I ended up buying lots of jeans, warm sweaters and fitted tshirts. I didn't buy many accessories or colourful clothes but I managed to survive the cold weather anyway. I shopped in Poland but this shopping tended to reflect the Polish fashion sense which definitely influenced my style but wasn't truly my style.</p> <p>stage 2- 'You dress like such a grown-up'- I was nineteen when I moved back from Poland to Ireland, and the style change was amazing. I had stopped wearing Converse and other runners, and wore high heels almost everyday. I generally only wore the colour black and grey. However I still wore mini-skirts and tshirts as well so there was a disconnection between my daily styles. </p> <p>stage 3- 'I'm bored/ stressed/ hormonal, lets shop'- when I entered final year of my undergrad, I was so busy that I couldn't go out and party like most college students so I had more money than I normally would have in a college year so I started shopping more frequently. I really expanded my wardrobe in this year and bought boots, decent flat shoes, skinny jeans and so on. I think this year is what actually brought my wardrobe to having some statement items as I wasn't so worried about spending money on something I wouldn't wear. The results didn't show in my wardrobe until the spring and summer as everything just started to come together then. I had accessories, nice clothes, more than two pairs of shoes and of course, support and feedback from YLF. </p> <p>Currently, I've moved past this stage and now I'm at a stage where all my outfits feel like they reflect elements of my current style. My personal style will change but I know that I can adapt for this change with a couple of accessories and shoes, rather than having to buy a new wardrobe of clothes. I have managed to round out the more casual element of my wardrobe as well as add more sophisticated elements to my daily style. </p> <p>2) A number of items have pulled my wardrobe together. These are mainly accessories actually! </p> <p>-A large collection of tights!<br /> -Delicate silver necklace<br /> -variety of shoes and boots suitable for all occasions (one of the problems of my wardrobe before this was never having suitable shoes)<br /> -Belts<br /> -collection of coats<br /> - Two pairs of awesome glasses</p> <p>These are what raise my wardrobe from a collection of nice clothes but a wardrobe with lots of outfit options which can be appropriate for all occasions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110324 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:38:57 +0000 Queen Mum 110324@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1) I don't know that I can say "when" my style started to evolve. I am still in the middle of a huge hit and miss learning curve, but I think that I"m having a lot more hits and less misses these days and I believe that my epiphany came with figuring out my body type. (which was actually about a little more than a year ago) I would always see these fab outfits on mannequins and never know why I couldn't pull them off... I also have a friend whose style I adore and would try to emmulate, but she is a very small busted pretty pear and I am an hourglass of sorts. She can wear all these fun tops with ruching, gathering and other fab detail and I would try things like that and look like amazon boob woman. When I finally realized that I needed to dress according to my body type everything began to fall into place. I can now feel fab whether I am in my gym clothes, jeans and a simple knit shirt or dressed up for a grand event. It's all because everything I buy I look at through the eyes of what works for my body. </p> <p>2) jacket, scarves, jewelry....</p> <p>a jacket (or vest during the summer) can pull together the simplest outfit and take it up 3 notches. (in fact, the other day I had on a basic pair of jeans ($20 at Kohls) and a turtle neck that has really seen it's better days and I threw on my 3 season old black swing jacket and a scarf and my husband commented on how dressed up I was. I really did feel so put together.</p> <p>I almost feel naked without a scarf these days. a scarf wakes up any outfit, adds dimension, texture, color, flair.... in fact I have been feeling that I wear scarves too much so I have to challenge myself to not wear one every once in a while. And, I''m positive that I have never paid more than $20 for a scarf. </p> <p>jewelry- I bought a pair of hammered silver hoop earrings at a jewelry party maybe 2 years ago, mainly out of obligation to buy something and I swear I have worn those earrings more than anything else in my jewelry collection. Something about them makes me feel just a bit edgy. I'm sure I have them down to .05 cents per wear by now. on a hot summer day, a cute pair of earrings is often all I can stand to put on beyond the basic shorts and knit top. I also love necklaces (but they have taken a back seat to scarves these days) a fun necklace can add just the right pop to an otherwise ho-hum outfit. The fun thing about a great necklace is that I buy it for one outfit and then find a gazillon other things to wear it with. And looking back, my workhorse necklaces have been gold or silver tones (without extra color). My jewelry collection has taken quite the step up from the cute teacher necklaces I wore 20 years ago (I shudder at the thought)</p> <p>and, nothing, absolutely nothing services a mom on the go like a great fitting pair of jeans. (and that doesn't have to be a $200 pair of premium denim either) </p> <p>I'm glad you found YLF Jean, it will be fun to watch you put together your new style! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110312 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:40:08 +0000 Louise 110312@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1) Even before ylf i'd always loved clothes. I knew what i liked but didn't have the confidence to wear it out so ended up with many closet orphans. I think the trigger would probably be posting photo's here and getting reassuranse that these things looked good.</p> <p>2) I think skirts and dresses pulled my wardrobe together. I've always loved them but could never get them to work with a few tips and pointers from Angie and the girls i now have more of these than trousers. x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110309 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:31:52 +0000 Misia 110309@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OK, I'm going to answer #2<br /> Shoes, shoes, and shoes they can make or brake the outfit.<br /> I had to go shopping for shoes and they are not cheap, specially if you want good lasting shoes, so I splurge on shoes and find ways to buy other pieces of clothing on sale or second hand stores. Example - those short little booties I'm wearing in my LBD outfit I pay $235, and the jacket I got at the second hand store for $25. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/please-share-how-your-style-evolved#post-110308 Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:06:30 +0000 Jean Gray 110308@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm bursting with questions now that I've finally joined! So please bear with me!<br /> It seems as though the latest "MOTG formulas" and the uniform challenge have inspired some of the best outfits I've seen and I soooo can't wait to get out and shop (All the snow has been a hindrance this week!) Today's post about Renata is inspiring this post as well.</p> <p>Could you share with me 2 things?<br /> 1)When did your style really begin to take shape and what was the trigger?<br /> 2)What was the one piece or few pieces and also accessories that really pulled your wardrobe together?</p> <p>Okay so that's more than 2.<br /> Please indulge me!<br /> Thank you. </p>