https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1 Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:12:26 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1621328 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 16:45:26 +0000 Maneera 1621328@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shannon, you're so wise. I love how meticulous you are. In fact, I love how everything about your style is moving into the 'sophisticated fun' direction....especially the hair. So fun! </p> <p>Ofcourse you need to replace the black skirt, dress and blazer. Foundation pieces must always be perfect and current, and it's good to know that you know exactly what you want. Good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1621281 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 15:07:56 +0000 Susie 1621281@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shannon, I'm so glad that you are posting again. I love reading your thorough analysis and I think you are being very smart in how you are approaching your refresh.&nbsp;And Sophisticated Fun sounds perfect for you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1621257 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 14:15:20 +0000 Janet 1621257@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nice work! I think that sounds like a really solid strategy. For me, good basics are a must, and I would feel lost without my favorite black jacket and pants. It's so nice to see you here again! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1621255 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 14:10:50 +0000 Transcona Shannon 1621255@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Apologies for not getting back to this sooner...</p> <p>Sounds like I'm on the right track with Sophisticated Fun and my need to replace those few essential items.</p> <p>Aida and Angie are quite right - before I purchase a new black blazer, black skirt and black dress, I need to decide what direction those three items are going to take. I'm not sure I know that for sure yet but I'm leaning towards fairly classic with the blazer and skirt so that there's some longevity there (i.e.&nbsp; not so trendy to be out of style next y ear) and maybe a little retro with the dress. Need to think on this some more and see what's out there.</p> <p>Lisa - good memory! I never did replace my black blazer when I had posted previously about needing to replace it so this is the same one that finally needs to get put to rest. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1621011 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 01:26:41 +0000 Anonymous 1621011@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like a solid plan and well thought-out. &nbsp;I remember your quest for a black blazer in what I thought was in the not-so-distant past? Has it really been that long and you're onto another one? &nbsp;Sigh - how time flies as we age &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620947 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:45:34 +0000 Deborah 1620947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shannon this all sounds very exciting. &nbsp;I love how clearly you have identified these three essentials on your wardrobe. &nbsp;Oh and I am sad that your black EF dress may be on it's last legs, but what a great dress it has been. &nbsp;</p> <p>Love your new moniker, it must be the year of 'sophistication' as I have been playing with the concept of 'modern sophistication' for my possible new style moniker &nbsp;I like that you have included 'fun' in yours. &nbsp;The two words seem very authentic to you. &nbsp; Out of interest, are you craving more variety in your wardrobe? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620942 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:40:09 +0000 Angie 1620942@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>*APPLAUSE*</p> <p>You got an A++ for this homework assignment, Shannon. Great new style moniker! Go Team Sophisticated Fun. &nbsp;</p> <p>OF COURSE you need a new black blazer, skirt and dress. You look really good in black, and these wardrobe essentials are very important. NOW. You need to decide <i>how</i> classic, retro or trendy you want these pieces to be. I have an assortment of classic, retro and trendy wardrobe essentials, so I guess I crave the variety with those items. &nbsp;</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620926 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:18:33 +0000 Aida 1620926@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good idea to update a handful of staple essentials in your wardrobe! That will pack a big punch moving your style in the new direction. You may need to start working on step 2 before deciding what exactly you'll be looking for in your three updated essentials. If you crave a big change you'll need something changier, if you crave a smaller change you can go with something more classic. Like the new moniker; "fun" is a very open-ended sort of thing, looking forward to seeing where you go with it. My hunch is it will mainly be retro and arty, let's see :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620856 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 21:20:30 +0000 Caro in Oz 1620856@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like a plan :)&nbsp;Sophisticated Fun feels just right for you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620850 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 21:17:42 +0000 Tanya 1620850@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Shannon, I think that you are off to a great start.&nbsp; Love your new moniker and I think that it really suits you.<br />Your analysis sounds very good and I think that it is a great start to refresh those three black pieces.&nbsp; They are essentials after all.<br />looking forward to seeing your progress in all the new future posts. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620848 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 21:13:55 +0000 El Cee 1620848@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You are really off to a good start, Shannon. I really admire your tenacity and discipline. I totally understand your desire to replace (and update) those three black pieces. They are workhorses and core items in your wardrobe. (For me, nothing seems quite as versatile as a black dress and skirt suit. I always try to have those elements in my closet at all times.) I love your new moniker and think it suits you well. It also has enough flexibility so as not to restrict your style journey and exploration… as that is really the fun part.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620803 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 20:12:13 +0000 Transcona Shannon 1620803@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Astrid</b> - thank you so much. You are so sweet. Sorry to hear you're fighting bronchitis BTW. Please take care of yourself.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620801 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 20:09:46 +0000 Astrid 1620801@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just wanted to say it's great to have you back here, Shannon! Maybe you'll inspire me to post more often again too. And I love the longer hair on you. "Sophisticated Fun" sounds like a great moniker going forward! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/shannons-spring-refresher-project---step-1#post-1620796 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 20:05:44 +0000 Transcona Shannon 1620796@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm nothing if not a dedicated student, and so I took to Angie's homework assignment in this thread <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/spring-starting-point" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ting-point</a> like a duck to water. I read, I thought, I mused, I read again and then I acted.</p> <p>I started with reviewing what I currently have in my closet and put into a purge pile the items that I no longer love, fit my mood for a style refresher, physically fit my body, or require replacement due to wear and tear. I'm working on preparing a list of the items I will be keeping but still have some work to do in this area - I'll post when complete. Through this process I have identified step #1 in what I'm calling <b>Shannon's Spring Refresher Project</b> (I suspect there will be a number of posts over the next few weeks belonging to this topic).</p> <p>Step #1: Replace black blazer, black pencil skirt and simple black dress.</p> <p>Now I know what you're saying...."Shannon, didn't you say you wanted to move away from black"?....and yes, I do overall. However, these three items are absolute essential staples in my wardrobe to which I can add color when I want through toppers, footwear, handbags, accessories, specs, lipstick. </p> <p>These items can be dressed up or down, worn for the office or my life outside the office, and can be mixed and matched in a myriad of ways. I cannot imagine my wardrobe without these three essential basics. This relates to Angie's suggestion that I think about my internal and external factors. I live in a 4 season climate. With the right choices, these items can cross at least 3 of those seasons. I work in an office but am not always required to dress strictly corporate - when I have a Board of Directors meeting, the full suit is worn, on Casual Friday I can pair the black blazer with jeans and a blouse, etc. The same goes for a simple but well fitting black dress - with a jean jacket, bare legs and booties for a weekend day or with a tweed jacket and pumps for work. The black skirt can be worn with tights and booties during the cold months and bare legged in the summer. My office has freezing AC in the summer months and so a blazer is worn pretty much year round in my world. I'd like as much of my wardrobe to be multi purpose between my work life and home life as possible.</p> <p>My black skirt suit is 3+ years old and is starting to look less than lovely. And my Eileen Fisher drape neck dress has been worn to the point of looking raggedy. </p> <p>Replacing these three items with new and perhaps slightly different and modern sensibilities will give me the building blocks to move forward.</p> <p>Step #2 will be assessing how much of a style change I'm craving and willing to pursue. This will be in another thread at a later date.</p> <p>Angie also suggested I choose my new Style Moniker. I think I've settled on <b>Sophisticated Fun</b>. I want to have an element of timelessness and sophistication to my style - dark wash slim jeans, LBD, my version of a white shirt (these items also address my hint of Parisian Chic) but I want those sophisticated elements combined with fun items - retro chunky jewelry, colorful footwear, unexpected handbag, etc.</p> <p>Anyway...there are my thoughts so far. Much more pondering to do. I have to say that writing down these thoughts and coming back to YLF has already helped enormously with getting my head around a few things. Thank you all so much - especially you Angie :)</p>