https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:04:35 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66886 Fri, 22 May 2009 22:29:13 +0000 Angie 66886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Woohooo!! Hooray! FABULOUS! HAPPY DANCE! Singing with joy! This is music to my ears! LOVE IT! Big feather in your cap everybody! (Can you tell I’m excited?)</p> <p>Now I’m exhausted from all the excitement. Need a cuppa. Be back soon. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66825 Fri, 22 May 2009 18:02:04 +0000 Inge 66825@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good point Sarah! That reminds me of something else (kind of related to what you said): now I try every shop or brand. In the past I would say 'no, they never have anything I like, the clothes don't fit me there'...). Angie keeps reminding us to 'never leave a retail stone unturned', and that's exactly what I have been doing. And I've found some good stuff too!-) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66821 Fri, 22 May 2009 17:57:35 +0000 Sarah 66821@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Aw Patience...*warm fuzzies*<br /> I wanted to add something else...YLF has inspired me to try *anything*. I'd always lived in a box when it came to fashion, and I'm learning that you can't judge a garment or trend until you have it on. Instead of shopping with a negative focus (nope, can't wear that, or that, that would make me look fat, and so on) I can try on anything that catches my attention. This has opened new worlds for me so far. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66817 Fri, 22 May 2009 17:53:23 +0000 Patience 66817@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Since this site is pretty much my sole guide through the fashion world, I think every single thing that people have listed is on my list, but I'll say the biggest things are:</p> <p>o Meeting Sarah and Ana (#1 best thing)<br /> o trying fringe<br /> o long tunics or short dresses over jeans/clams<br /> o colorful shoes </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66791 Fri, 22 May 2009 17:03:43 +0000 Inge 66791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Our lists go on and on, don't they! Angie you are truly amazing!!</p> <p>- colourful shoes &#38; wearing brighter colours<br /> - cream bomber jacket<br /> - ruffled skirt<br /> - waistcoat<br /> - layering to add interest to an outfit<br /> - funky jackets<br /> - silver Dr. Martens<br /> - skinny jeans (only with knee-high boots though;-)<br /> - tailoring possibilities<br /> - premium denim<br /> - the importance of accessories, still struggling with putting this into practice, particularly jewellery</p> <p>In general: just being a bit more adventurous and having fun trying new combinations.</p> <p>Next on my list:<br /> - leggings<br /> - experimenting with belts some more </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66771 Fri, 22 May 2009 15:46:49 +0000 Sarah 66771@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Skinny jeans<br /> Straight jeans<br /> clamdiggers<br /> dresses<br /> skirts<br /> vests<br /> boots over jeans<br /> COLOR!<br /> multiple bags (changed to coordinate with outfit)<br /> watch </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66770 Fri, 22 May 2009 15:44:29 +0000 kimlee 66770@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have only been posting to the forums for a few days now. And in just that short amount of time, I have already tried the following:</p> <p>1) Blousy/Voluminous tops<br /> 2) A-line skirts<br /> 3) Vests (I am wearing one today - pics to come)</p> <p>And I hope to score a pair of skinny jeans and cute clams over the long weekend, so that I can try those out too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66764 Fri, 22 May 2009 14:33:36 +0000 shiny 66764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>GREAT question!</p> <p>I have been a YLF member for 13 months, but I had started my "makeover" before finding YLF, with purchase of my very first premium jeans. Prior to that purchase, i would buy jeans but then rarely wear them, and this was true as far back as I can remember, even in my teens. I just never found them comfortable or flattering, and always felt like a schlumpa-dinka when wearing them. </p> <p>I discovered YLF through googling - the first link I found was the "smart casual formula" and that revolutionized my wardrobe!</p> <p>Since joining, I've learned to embrace:</p> <p>1) cardigans - I did wear twinsets before but YLF taught me to break them up<br /> 2) blazers - with jeans and other than worn as part of a suit<br /> 3) dressy, silky blouses with interesting details like ruffles - prior, I'd only ever wear shells<br /> 4) camis - believe it or not, I only ever wore these to sleep in. It never occurred to me to use them to make a too-low neckline work.<br /> 5) low-vamp shoes<br /> 6) clamdiggers - gone are all the awkward capri length pants!<br /> 7) I only own one single pair of khaki slacks now, and they are dressier ones<br /> 8) white denim<br /> 9) add white to an outfit (year round)<br /> 10) statement necklaces<br /> 11) wearing colorful or metallic shoes that don't necessarily match anything else in the outfit<br /> 12) the pleasures of a cream handbag and a cracked black patent leather handbag</p> <p>I'll add to that: confirmation that it's perfectly fashionable to wear less make-up; I had already given up eye shadow and blush years before but it was good to hear Angie give my minimalist routine (moisturizer, a few dabs of foundation, mascara, and colored lip gloss) the thumb's up. </p> <p>On the pushing the envelope front, if Angie had a quarter for every time I have initially dismissed a certain style for myself, and then turned around and embraced it anyway - or at least managed to pull it off - she'd be rich by now. LOL. </p> <p>I have tried:</p> <p>1) pencil skirts - difficult to find, but I'd like to add more<br /> 2) boyfriend cardigans - I think this is a fun change for the weekends but not something I would wear all the time<br /> 3) belts - another one I don't prefer, but I can pull off occasionally<br /> 4) dress over jeans - my husband says this is weird but my DD16 gives the look two big thumbs up<br /> 5) Skinnies - this is a keeper!<br /> 6) Skinnies tucked into boots - another keeper!<br /> 7) yellow (as a bag - a keeper!<br /> 8) scarves tied the Angie way - a good work look<br /> 9) moto jacket - so far I have learned if I get one of these, it won't be black. It's too tough of a look for me somehow. But something in a softer color will probably work.<br /> 10) crisp white collared shirt - I can do this, it's great for work, it looks good but I still find this to be not very comfortable to wear; I'd rather wear a dressy blouse.<br /> 11) Vests are here to stay.<br /> 12) graphic tee<br /> 13) long necklaces</p> <p>... and as soon as those leggings arrive I'll be trying that look too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66740 Fri, 22 May 2009 07:36:10 +0000 Michelle 66740@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Even in the couple of weeks since I found this blog and joined the forum, I've started making changes. Capri length was a big one for me, as I always felt horribly self-conscious about my legs. Another big one was layering. I never really did it before, but YLF made me see the advantages of doing so and taught me how to do it comfortably. I've also gotten ideas of different colour combos that I never could have visualized and therefore tried before. I boycotted jeans for ages, but YLF has gotten me back into them (and thank god for that). :)I've been inspired to play more with scarves, shoes and handbags, which will no doubt be a work in progress. Also been motivated to try and lose weight to maximize my style options and really make the most of my hourglass shape. The greatest benefit, though, has been the validation I've gotten from this forum. Being reassured that my instincts aren't completely off has done wonders for overall confidence! Thank you Angie and other YLF ladies! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66739 Fri, 22 May 2009 07:31:56 +0000 anne 66739@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh Kari, your list remindered me of<br /> Belts<br /> PPL </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66732 Fri, 22 May 2009 06:46:51 +0000 Kari 66732@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, ever so many things! I've only been active on the forum for a few months, but I've read and been quite influenced by YLF since summer of 2007. That being said, I'm kind of a slow learner fashion-wise, so it took a while for certain concepts to gel. :)</p> <p>* Skinny jeans. I remember seeing them on Japanese exchange students in college just before the trend started to make its way to more fashion-savvy areas in the US (my college town was much later to catch on) but I ignored the trend as something that only stick-thin girls would wear. My ears perked up when I saw Angie's recommendation for skinny jeans that look good on curvy girls. That being said, I've been shy about actually wearing them, but I'm getting better.<br /> * Knee high boots with skirts or skinnies - only adopted this trend this year because I had difficulty finding boots that fit earlier, and only this year did I decide it was worth the trouble.<br /> * Chunky statement jewelry &#38; accessories<br /> * Perfect pants length!<br /> * Moto jackets (another recent one)<br /> * Tunics over skinnies<br /> * ANY belting at the natural waist<br /> * Statement eyeglasses<br /> * Going to a tailor, period<br /> * Wearing bright colors<br /> ADDED: Dresses and skirts for everyday wear, not just for "fancy" events. I used to wear dresses &#38; skirts maybe once every month or two, now I wear them about half of the week!</p> <p>Angie, thanks for so much sound advice and inspiration over the past couple years! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66728 Fri, 22 May 2009 05:11:08 +0000 planetamy 66728@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Haven't been here that long, but before YLF I never would have:</p> <p>1) started looking for white pants/clams/walk shorts (still looking)...i never thought they were appropriate for me (the old saying white=wide)</p> <p>2) considered yellow as a color i could wear</p> <p>3) thought about length of shirts/blouses as "pants" or "skirts" length</p> <p>4) gone to Nordies for a bra fitting</p> <p>5) thought about going to a thrift store as a good thing</p> <p>6) known that the "bad" length of my capris were making my legs look short!</p> <p>7) started looking for a white handbag, white accessories in general, actually.</p> <p>a note about #7 -- I just always thought that white wasn't good for me, since I'm pale. Now I know that I don't look bad in white, as long as I have some color near my face. And i'm looking for white accessories to add to my summer wardrobe so I don't always have to wear white clothes. </p> <p>:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66726 Fri, 22 May 2009 04:59:09 +0000 marianne 66726@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What I wouldn't have tried by myself:<br /> skinny jeans, esp. with boots<br /> wearing red<br /> belts (this is still work in progress)<br /> 20 eyelet docs</p> <p>I still want to try leggings after seeing everyone's pictures, but I don't have an appropriate top/dress.<br /> I got rid of a few brown and beige items - I used to have a ton of those. I also incorporated more contrast, which made a huge difference - I didn't have enough confidence before YLF. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66725 Fri, 22 May 2009 04:20:47 +0000 Christie 66725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've added better color combinations, thanks to everyone's brilliant examples. I'm also wearing accessories and scarves. I now have several ballet flats and find they are very comfortable (gave up my daily Danskos, though I still wear them in the house sometimes). I now dress smarter just for my everyday wear, which includes homeschooling and taking kiddos to their various lessons and activities. I have more confidence too!</p> <p>Though I have a more critical eye and put things back on the rack if its not just right. I'm talking the Goodwill rack, and this can be very difficult to put back a very nice name-brand item that just isn't for me, but I'm saving money being more discerning. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66712 Fri, 22 May 2009 02:09:14 +0000 anne 66712@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Skinny jeans<br /> Straight leg jeans<br /> A waistcoat<br /> cropped-ish cardigan<br /> knitted vests<br /> hemmed a skirt<br /> 2 pairs of knee high boots - one brown flat heeled riding style, one high heeled black </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66709 Fri, 22 May 2009 01:47:40 +0000 Chris 66709@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good question! </p> <p>- Eliminate the long crop pant (I had a few it was hard to part with - may make two into walk shorts?)</p> <p>- Look at accessories closer - adding new ones by season and trend instead of buying new clothing.</p> <p>- banded bottom tops. If the length is right they are fantastic! </p> <p>- looking at fit and colors differently. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66707 Fri, 22 May 2009 01:42:29 +0000 Asha 66707@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Leggings and volume! I am sure there will be more to add to my list as I keep feeling inspired here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66700 Fri, 22 May 2009 01:19:43 +0000 Anonymous 66700@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I got rid of things before I tried to push the envelope. I got rid of my corduroy pants (and feel better for it!), gave away tee shirts and tops that didn't have a strong shoulder line and learned how to discern what "fit" was for my body and lifestyle. I realized how limited my wardrobe was after getting rid of things that didn't fit or work for me, so I built up from there. </p> <p>I have skinnies and straight leg style jeans. I'm looking into premium denim. I wear colors! I used to stick to browns, grays, and navys because they were practical. I've learned how to use neutrals instead of abuse them. I've tried scarves, accessories, and blouses, all of which I had never owned before. I learned how to dress my body and embrace it, and I've learned how to be an encouraging/constructive forum member from others here! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66698 Fri, 22 May 2009 01:16:02 +0000 Kyle 66698@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Scarves<br /> Belts<br /> More color, including green shoes and yellow shoes<br /> More tall boots<br /> Ballet flats (on occasion)<br /> Riskier combos (two animal prints, for example)<br /> Layers<br /> Long necklaces<br /> Vests </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66695 Fri, 22 May 2009 01:11:01 +0000 Laura 66695@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can relate to so much of what everyone has written! I have added these to my wardrobe:<br /> -- ballet flats<br /> -- dresses with flats<br /> -- dresses and tunics with leggings<br /> -- skinny jeans<br /> -- metallic and colorful shoes</p> <p>Like Taylor, I too weeded the brown out of my wardrobe -- it is the wrong shade for me, and I never felt good in it, although I never knew why. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66685 Thu, 21 May 2009 23:38:21 +0000 taylor 66685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great Thread,</p> <p>I too had no idea what the ppl was ...so I tossed some stuff right off the top.</p> <p>Angie's suggestion about tailoring skirts from low on the hip to you NATURAL waist was by far my favorite...changed everything about how my skirts fit. This was huge for me and my wardrobe.</p> <p>I purchased a white watch.</p> <p>I learned creative scarf-ing from others here.</p> <p>I also stopped wearing brown..it just doesn't look good on me.</p> <p>adding MORE color...without giving up black:)</p> <p>Follow my instincts....if it's not working, find the reason why....Now I know what to look for:)</p> <p>Learned that white and red are both a nuetral AND a bright, so much easier to dress with these colors now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66677 Thu, 21 May 2009 22:26:42 +0000 cciele 66677@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't been here that long, but have already instituted some changes:</p> <p>- Took a bunch of dresses to the tailor and had them hemmed to knee length<br /> - Removed cropped pants of awkward length from my wardrobe<br /> - Am trying flats (I'm a boot or sandal kind of girl, so this is a pretty big challenge for me!)<br /> - Am looking for white clams </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66668 Thu, 21 May 2009 21:47:11 +0000 HannahC 66668@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great question!</p> <p>As I said before in that "pushing the envelope vs sticking to the uniform" thread, I personally feel that rather than pushing my envelope, I changed uniforms. Hopefully, my new uniform is more stylish. </p> <p>Before YLF, I mostly wore jeans (and not PPL even), black heeled boots in winter and chunky sandals in summer, and either sweaters or knit tops, depending on the weather.</p> <p>Now I mostly wear dresses and skirts (actually, I recently realized that I rarely wear jeans more than one day a week if at all), wrap tops (and dresses), mary-janes, knee high boots (never wore them before YLF), and acquired a pair of dressier sandals. Oh, and all my jeans (all two pairs ) are PPL.</p> <p>In terms of colors, I stopped wearing brown, because I realized that it is not good for my complexion. In general, I gave a thought to what colors flatter me and am now trying to stick to them, and I significantly reduced the amount of black in my wardrobe (it used to be my default color). In shoes, I branched out from the boring black and brown to other colors and realized that the color of the shoes does not need to match the color of anything else in my outfit!</p> <p>Pushing the envelope - I just bought green flats (both the unusual color, and also, especially, the fact that they are flats)!! Before that, I pushed this particular envelope just a little when I bought black ballet flats a couple of years ago. While they are comfortable, my new green flats are making me much happier!</p> <p>Now I am trying to invent a not-too-frumpy uniform for the playground. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/pushing-your-envelope#post-66665 Thu, 21 May 2009 21:18:45 +0000 Louise 66665@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What new looks have you tried since finding YLF?</p> <p>Mine are<br /> Skinny jeans<br /> Boyfriend cardis<br /> Belts<br /> Skirts<br /> Dresses<br /> x<br /> Edit- and leggings </p>