https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:52:03 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2180649 Fri, 19 Mar 2021 19:37:13 +0000 lyn67 2180649@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can&nbsp; relate to all 3 (each on different levels) BUT we keep trying things because sometimes we'll get them work for us and sothis means evolving our style, isn't it? <br />(I hear you <b>lisa p</b>&nbsp;Converse and proper Docs never worked on me either but you have to try new things to evolve and assimmilate new things which can replace-or even work better than your trusted&nbsp; old ones). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2180280 Thu, 18 Mar 2021 16:42:15 +0000 LaPed 2180280@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>[Tried to reply to everyone individually, but my phone ate my post. Sigh.]</p> <p>It seems like #3 is a nearly universal phenomenon! Between the power of marketing and peer pressure, it's pretty hard to avoid. Although I do try to never say never... Until now, I would've said blush pants are not for me, but here I am wearing these jeans, which have racked up nearly a dozen wears in less than a month. They go with everything. :)&nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you for all the turquoise buffalo skirt sympathy. It was a great piece, and I would wear it now, but there were quite a few intervening years when it would hardly have seen the light of day. I imagine someone else was able to give it a good home, so I'm not too torn up. But I sure would love something similar again someday.&nbsp;</p> <p>The epiphany for me with dark neutrals was noticing that there is no equivalent rule for light neutrals. People swoon over tonal light-neutral outfits (Synne is the queen of these looks!); it's much harder to get a good photograph of a tonal dark-neutral outfit, but I love them IRL. I will always be a sucker for a black-on-blue print like the chambray shirt below (which is how I ended up with those blue leopard pants too!).&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179998 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 23:18:44 +0000 Style Fan 2179998@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, to #1.&nbsp; I kept saying I would stop wearing black because it didn't work with my wardrobe, etc.&nbsp; Well, it does, and black goes with brown and olive.&nbsp; So now I buy black.&nbsp; Dark neutrals are my friend.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />#3.&nbsp; Been there.&nbsp; Many times.&nbsp; And I will probably go there again. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179789 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 08:23:02 +0000 Synne 2179789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes! Great round-up. Re #2, I regret tossing one or two favourite pieces that I rather should have tried to repair, but overall I am happy with my decluttering because 99% of it were BIG style mistakes. It is important to analyze what our style mistakes are though, to avoid continuing the cycle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179780 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 03:38:36 +0000 Jonesy 2179780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really relate to #2--I'm not very sentimental, in general, but there are lots of vintage clothes I wore in college and my early 20s that I wish I would have held onto. I am shedding an empathetic tear over the purged vintage turquoise buffalo plaid midi skirt! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179769 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 02:34:57 +0000 Anonymous 2179769@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It made me feel better about not liking pink or deep teal. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179765 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 02:18:24 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 2179765@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These style mistakes seem so simple to understand and to see, when you describe them, but I know it takes quite a lot of thought and analysis to realize them. Well done! Your #1 resonates with me. I have made various attempts--or half-hearted ones, anyway--at trying to stick with one dark neutral and one light neutral, and to no avail. I have continued to look at it as a personal failing. Now that you've explained your reasoning, I can see myself as craving the variety, too, and let go of that "should" in my head! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179760 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 01:41:01 +0000 nemosmom 2179760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These all resonate for me, too!&nbsp; Especially #1 and #3!&nbsp;&nbsp; I forced myself to buy navy, when I was told black looked terrible on me, and I was "over" dark brown. Why just one? My whole wardrobe is so dark, I wouldn't be able to get dressed without multiple dark neutrals! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179637 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:29:48 +0000 RobinF 2179637@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can relate to all of these! When I narrow down my colors I tend to get bored. And I am definitely guilty of #3, although sometimes I surprise myself and it works - maybe that is why I keep trying :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179610 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:21:02 +0000 Bijou 2179610@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think #3 has my name all over it! I have gradually gotten better at this and now REFUSE to look at those "what every wardrobe needs to have lists".</p> <p>The purging issue is interesting. I come from a family that never discarded clothing. My Mother's wardrobe ended up spilling out into all the spare bedrooms after we left home. I remember going to a fancy dress 1970's party and Mum pulled out the perfect dress for me to wear that was actually from the 1970's. My fault is not purging soon enough. I deliberately schedule in an annual wardrobe revisit to assist with moving things along because whilst I think about editing, it does not happen. I just think about it rather than putting thought into action. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179603 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:06:00 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2179603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachylou, isn’t that trying to make yourself like them? I’m trying to shoehorn you into agreeing with me, in a meta move, haha. Because I came here to riff on Sarah’s response to #3, about finding “the one for you”. I loved pencil skirt looks for a long time, eventually trained myself to lower my gaze when one walked by, because they just weren’t for me, no matter how I lusted after them. But then one day in Nordstrom Rack, there it was, my bright blue, in a cushy, soft fabric, at a length that somehow doesn’t emphasize my knock knees—my pencil skirt. That was in Florida, where the color is perfect, but I never have been able to make it work there. Still, it seems to be the version that works for me. What’s that phrase about when to say never? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179597 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 08:43:03 +0000 rachylou 2179597@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>#1 interests me. I feel that I might have the inverse of this... always buying grey office pants so I can have variety when I don’t really like them... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179590 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:50:18 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2179590@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>#2 pains me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179576 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 04:55:55 +0000 Suz 2179576@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Useful reflections, for sure. I do think it takes a while to distinguish between "loving something on someone else," and "loving something for ourselves."&nbsp;</p> <p>For me, this is mainly an issue to do with cut/ body type modifiers...I love oversize items....on others. I love long-over-lean -- mostly on others. And so on. If it doesn't feel easy/ natural / straightforward on my body, I won't enjoy wearing it, no matter what.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179575 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 04:52:55 +0000 slim cat 2179575@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A little bit of #1, a little bit of #2 .<br />I made my peace with shoes - I ignore a lot of trends/fads and go for comfort ( and some color ). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179548 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 03:03:50 +0000 Jaime 2179548@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes to #3 - I am looking at you high waisted jeans! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179520 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 01:08:42 +0000 JAileen 2179520@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We learn from our mistakes. &nbsp;I don’t care for leopard prints, either. &nbsp;At least on this one all I bought was a thrifted scarf. &nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>One of my mistakes is NOT purging things. &nbsp;Well, you can imagine how things look around here...</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179517 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:55:30 +0000 Sal 2179517@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes I relate to these too, probably 2 and 3 in particular.</p> <p>And yes, I really admire lots of different styles, but I don't have to wear them.&nbsp; But yes to some experimentation too.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179499 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:02:35 +0000 Helena 2179499@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much for sharing your reflections LaPed ... I especially relate to your first two. Onwards as Angie would say! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179481 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 23:11:43 +0000 Anonymous 2179481@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m with you on #’s 2 and 3 . And you let go a vintage turquoise buffalo check anything ??!! Ack ! </p> <p>I buy what I think are my versions of things I’m supposed to like - and it’s a mistake every time . Converse are the perfect example . Even the funky platform ones look like foreign objects on my feet . I don’t like them . End of story , Lisa . Also Docs - I drift too close to thinking I should have some . If you ever catch me even talking about them - stop me immediately as I’m about to waste my money . </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179478 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 23:01:31 +0000 Cardiff girl 2179478@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting reflections.Thank you so much.l am finding these posts both reassuring and helpful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179470 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 22:38:27 +0000 Angie 2179470@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm <i>laughing</i> at #3 &nbsp;HAHAHAHA :)</p> <p>I can't tell you why you ought to like things that you don't, <b>La Ped</b>.....but I bet we can all relate to that feeling to some extent. Especially when others wear the look so well!&nbsp;</p> <p>But we can like a look on others that is not for us. That's stylish in itself. Always be on the side of the wearer and what makes <i>them</i> feel fab. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179466 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 22:27:03 +0000 Anonymous 2179466@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ditto to 1 and 3 especially!<br /> And ha cat2 I got fashion sneakers cause I thought I should...despite having less than a month of transitional weather and 1 day a week that I'd wear casual clothes. PUPY value=4. IF it doesn't rain, which it usually does in the 50ish weather they be comfortable. Plus the "felt like a 12 y/o boy" despite the galaxy print issue... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179460 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 22:17:57 +0000 Anonymous 2179460@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>These are good ones! I especially have trouble with #3 when I’m thrifting, because it’s so cheap that I often talk myself into trying it. But I need to learn to ignore broad categories of items that I know from experience don’t work. Getting compliments on the item can make it even harder to let it go even when it’s not “you” - sometimes I end up second-guessing myself about what is really me if everyone else is reacting positively.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179427 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 20:24:42 +0000 cat2 2179427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can identify on the shoe thing, I feel like a complete idiot in fashion sneakers, but always have a pair... why? I am not sporty, don’t dress casually, don’t like casual juxtaposition, there’s just no reason for me to have wasted money on them. I think I need a shoe No Buy list! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179426 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 20:23:09 +0000 BlueJay 2179426@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for sharing! Numbers 1 and 2 resonate with me as well. I wish I still had a black thigh length v-neck sweater; and a blue and white fair-isle cardigan. They were favourites of mine, but I was bored with them at the time.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179423 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 20:05:55 +0000 SarahD8 2179423@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, #3 sounds familiar to me too. But it also has a flip side: not considering that there might be a version of something on my No list that *does* work for me. (Haha I am lately wondering about chino type pants again after many years of blocking them off en masse.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179419 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 19:49:11 +0000 Sloper 2179419@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for sharing these introspective thoughts!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>#1 and #3 are my tricky points too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179399 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 18:05:53 +0000 Jenn 2179399@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>#3 really resonates with me. That's a place where I still make mistakes. Just because something works really well for other people doesn't mean it will for me. &nbsp;Or just because it's a trend... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/reflecting-on-style-mistakes#post-2179396 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 17:45:15 +0000 LaPed 2179396@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a very useful exercise! I try to be pretty forgiving of mistakes, because usually I can learn something from them. I'd rather err on the side of experimentation than stagnation, even if that means making mistakes along the way. I've tended to think of my mistakes as one-offs, but there are a few notable patterns:<br /><b><br />1. Thinking I had to pick a side between black and brown, as well as black and navy.</b> This old-fashioned style rule tripped me up for a long time, and resulted in a sort of pendulum swing between black and other dark neutrals. When all my black was gone, I missed it! But if I added it back in without maintaining a variety of other dark neutrals on the side, I missed those other colours! Dark neutrals are happy colours for me, and I get bored easily without variety, so it's better to have a smattering of all of them: black, brown, navy and charcoal, along with olive, pine, eggplant, plum and burgundy, are all represented in my current wardrobe. My dark neutral rainbow makes it easier for me to get dressed, not harder.&nbsp;</p> <p><b>2. Purging things when I get bored with them.</b> I don't do this nearly as much as I used to, mostly because I have a larger space for my holding zone. I'm usually pretty good about wearing things into the ground, but I can think of a handful of things I let go of too soon, simply because I didn't feel like wearing them at the time and thought I ought to "make room" for something else. Examples: a sage green cable-knit wool hoodie (much higher quality than most of the knitwear out there now); an asphalt grey tencel-blend midi skirt (thought flowy skirts weren't for me, but this one was so comfortable, and the colour made it feel more minimalist, less boho); a vintage turquoise buffalo-check wool midi skirt (part of the same skirt purge; decided it wasn't versatile enough, but looking back I shouldn't have let it go because it was so unique); a perfectly tailored white/tan pinstriped oxford shirt (thought I didn't like tan and browns -- hah!).&nbsp;</p> <p><b>3. Trying to find "my" version of things I don't really like.</b> The first thing that comes to mind are the leopard print items below. I'm not sure why I get it in my head every now and then that I ought to like things I don't. The challenge of solving a puzzle? A craving for variety? I got a lot of compliments on those leopard print items when I wore them, but even though they looked fine neither piece felt authentic. Other examples are mostly footwear: ballet flats, loafers, Birkenstocks, Stan Smiths, riding boots... I've spent a lot of time trying on shoes that I don't really like even though they looked great on someone else. Usually I manage not to buy them, but not always! </p>