https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 10 May 2026 00:15:49 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1726361 Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:14:09 +0000 Traci 1726361@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jenn, you're a genius! I need to come up with a reward for myself for not shopping. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1726359 Mon, 12 Sep 2016 16:06:17 +0000 Anonymous 1726359@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your dress and Kimono are just gorgeous, Jenn and I envy the careful consideration going into your wardrobe. I really need to overhaul my own approach. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1726313 Mon, 12 Sep 2016 14:07:51 +0000 Jenn 1726313@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Traci -&nbsp;</b>I seriously have to force myself to avoid clothing stores/sections. It's so easy to just grab that $20 rayon top and bring it home, which is exactly what happened with the two pieces that didn't really work out for me. At one point, I started putting a twenty into savings every time i made it home from Target or the mall without buying anything. It eventually added up to enough to buy a new couch.</p> <p><b>Barbara Diane -&nbsp;</b>I came away from NAS with nothing this year, except (of course) for the one full-priced item I threw into my order to try. Asking myself <br />a) Is this really an essential for my wardrobe? or <br />b) Is it worth being one of my five?&nbsp;<br />absolutely makes a difference.</p> <p><b>La Pedestrienne -&nbsp;</b>There was an<a rel="nofollow" href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/love-like-bling-bling"> old episode of WNTW</a> where they advised putting an outfit together with something you like (because it fits and flatters), something you love (because it speaks to you), and something with bling (the finishing touch). I think about that a lot, because that basic "something you like" category can be boring, but is absolutely necessary.</p> <p><b>frannieb -&nbsp;</b>I've been on the forum for two years, as well, but it sounds like you're doing way better than I am! I struggle to come to terms with my lifestyle, which does not involve going to an office, ever. Maybe I need to invent some occasions to dress up more.</p> <p><b>Helen11 -&nbsp;</b>I'm glad you found it useful. After posting, I realized this was probably more for my own record-keeping than anything.</p> <p><b>Ledonna -&nbsp;</b>You're about to embark on a whole new phase of life. I hope you'll keep posting, because I'm excited to follow your journey. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1726261 Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:36:53 +0000 Ledonna N. 1726261@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really really liked reading this as I myself am moving towards a capsule wadrobe. </p> <p>I love your statement pieces. That dress and kimono piece. I cannot wait to see how you style them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1726237 Mon, 12 Sep 2016 10:36:24 +0000 Helen11 1726237@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like your choices (and some of the categorisation!) . You're inspiring me think be more intentional about my shopping. Thank you for sharing your process. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1726139 Mon, 12 Sep 2016 02:39:17 +0000 frannieb 1726139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great analysis - I must say when I started YLF two years ago - I had lots of clothes and absolutely no cohesion to my wardrobe. I was a classic I have nothing to wear.&nbsp;</p> <p>Now I love my wardrobe and have so many outfits it is an embarrassment of riches at times.</p> <p>When I look back - I pretty much took the french 5 piece approach to how I did it.</p> <p>I built my full &nbsp;basics in 3 colors - Black, Gray and Navy&nbsp;<br />Partial basic in 1 color - White (white pants, white tops, cream sweaters)<br />I also built a solid denim foundation - which I just finished with a denim jean jacket I love.<br />And Now I am building partial basic with brown (brown pants, tops, shoes)</p> <p>I will tell you getting dressed is so very easy - and it all paid off two years later - I was able to shop and complete my fall/early winter update in one sitting.</p> <p>Now all that is left is&nbsp;something from my favorite designers when their collection arrives at the boutique I shop ( it is two designers)</p> <p>So the system works you just need to have patience and before you know it you will be sitting with a cohesive wardrobe.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1725945 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 19:44:33 +0000 LaPed 1725945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great analysis. Really nice, cohesive summer capsule. Your comment about lacking basics and building blocks really resonates with me. I'm good at identifying the big holes in my wardrobe, but the smaller ones -- solid color tank tops for instance -- I have a much harder time staying on top of. That stuff isn't nearly as fun to shop for as big-ticket items like shoes and coats, and the turnover rate is so much higher on those underpinnings...&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1725934 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 19:20:04 +0000 Barbara Diane 1725934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I really like this idea, and I see how your choices added pop. I'm going to look at adding a few special items, along with maybe some upgraded basics. It also explains some of my NAS angst.&nbsp;</p> <p>With this guideline, I'm finally looking forward to shopping for late fall/winter clothing. I haven't been able to make myself shop since I got carried away/lost my focus at NAS. (Wanting to shop is not usually a problem for me, but when I'm not in the mood and I need to drive a ways to make it work....).<br />Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1725931 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 19:12:33 +0000 Traci 1725931@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a very sensible plan. &nbsp;I like it! &nbsp;My wardrobe has gone a bit off the rails. &nbsp;I need to spend some time ruminating on what I want to do about that. &nbsp;I'm definitely going through a shift to liking higher quality pieces. &nbsp;I need to work on my impulisivity though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1725886 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 15:56:30 +0000 Jenn 1725886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>shedev</b>, it's true that each of my "seasons" is actually two seasons, given the difference in climate between Denver and Paris. I don't really wear spring colors, either, so I'm with you on giving that a skip, especially since we seem to leap right from winter to summer.</p> <p>Next summer will be my third season, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that will work out. Five is a nice number for statements/trends/special pieces. It's feeling right to me.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1725880 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 15:49:49 +0000 shedev 1725880@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like your choices, Jenn. They are very cohesive. My experience was similar to yours. My first season, I didn't buy much less. My five pieces upped my style considerably though. I use three style seasons because I live in a four season climate with three different temperature needs. I don't dress in spring colors so I didn't need that season. By my third season (which was summer) I bought a lot less basics. They were also a lot better thought out. I did buy a lot of summer tops, but they are a high turnover category, still, I'm sure I can do better.<br />Because I just paid tuition and need a roof for my house, I'm not looking to buy a lot for fall. I don't really have any holes, so I'll use my 5 for any trends I might want to try. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ss-2016-retrospective-long#post-1725869 Sun, 11 Sep 2016 15:08:09 +0000 Jenn 1725869@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I said last year that I was going to try the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.whowhatwear.com/how-to-five-piece-french-wardrobe">5-Piece French Wardrobe</a> thing that <b>shedev</b> has been doing. You know, the one that's neither French nor five pieces? It's a fairly sensible wardrobe building plan where you refresh your wardrobe with 5 statement pieces (or pricier than average essentials) a season, whilst maintaining a selection of reasonable building blocks to complement them.</p> <p>This summer, I added these six "statements" (yeah, I was over by one):</p> <ol> <li>straw tassel bag</li> <li>plaid dress</li> <li>leather sandals</li> <li>straw hat</li> <li>silk kimono</li> <li>striped split-sleeve sweater*</li> </ol> <p>Most of these were fairly inexpensive (unlike my fall choices, so far), with the sandals being the only item over what I set as my limit for essentials that aren't part of the five. I put all six of these in Finds.</p> <p>I do feel like I cheated the system a bit by buying a lot of less expensive essentials (or what 5PF calls 'basics') and gear. I'm probably using creative math to count some of the following in that category, but these things are all building blocks, and I was sorely lacking that sort of thing in my summer wardrobe. </p> <ol> <li>black skinnies</li> <li>blue bf crops</li> <li>olive joggers</li> <li>black sleeveless top</li> <li>cream sleeveless top*</li> <li>striped long-sleeve tee</li> <li>graphic tee</li> <li>sneakers</li> <li>swimsuit (gear)</li> <li>swim coverup (sure, let's call it gear)</li> <li>black midi skirt</li> <li>black maxi dress</li> <li>layering tanks x4</li> </ol> <p>The only two purchases I'd consider mistakes were the items marked with a *, both tops, and both for quality reasons. Each was in the $20-30 range and is looking worn after fewer than 10 wears. </p> <p>This represents everything I bought from March-August, and it feels like a lot of buying, still, but I think each season where I add quality essentials, it'll mean I need fewer fast fashion fillers to get me through. I can't afford to upgrade my wardrobe all at once, but I'm learning my lessons about longevity and careful choices. </p>