https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:49:00 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1788364 Thu, 16 Mar 2017 16:16:25 +0000 Angie 1788364@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>*APPLAUSE*</b></p> <p>You are spot with this and how it relates back to your style. I'm impressed.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1788363 Thu, 16 Mar 2017 16:14:49 +0000 Jenn 1788363@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I always love your posts, shedev. I feel a lot like LisaP does: our styles are different, but our wardrobe-building instincts are similar. Shoes are huge in that "someone else's clothes" factor. I also get that when I put on something too preppy or too... island-y?, too polished, too sporty.&nbsp;</p> <p>One thing that can get confusing with the 5-piece and statements/essentials (using YLF terminology here), is that you can use some of your five to purchase upgraded essentials. I probably don't do this as often as I should. Posting my essentials/statements lists made me realize just how much more I wear the essentials. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1788051 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:01:23 +0000 shedev 1788051@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>oops, double posted.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1788050 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:00:13 +0000 shedev 1788050@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Elizabeth P, I had a little bit of a jumpstart on it since I had to figure it out for the 5 piece.<br />Greyscale, that is exactly what I look for.<br />Kiwigal, I totally agree on individuality.<br />Jaileen, thank you<br />Shevia, what they leave room for is a great way to think of it<br />Brooklyn, your shoes would be my more refined end, they work with the flares because they are sort of streamlined at the ankle, I think. I just don't have any like that at the moment. I became obsessed with sneaker booties last year.<br />Unfrumped, the essentials may only be plainer in comparison to an individuals statement<br />Robin F, just to tempt you more, the sandals are outrageously comfy and come in other colors<br />harmonica, I always have that one piece I want to wear, and just come up with the rest of the outfit but it usually starts with the shoes. I didn't really get interested in the released hem crops until I had footwear that worked.<br />Sara L, I feel like your bottoms may have a lot of essentials and the tops add interest.<br />Lynn, I'm glad it is helpful.<br />Rachy, I'm shying away from patterns a bit, except the tartan pants. Does black on black camo count as a pattern?</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1788017 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 19:11:45 +0000 rachylou 1788017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good read. Very clear. I have to ponder. I wear so much pattern on pattern... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787991 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 17:57:29 +0000 Lynn 1787991@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>SheDev- Thanks so much for this post. It has helped me to conceptualize Angie's definitions of essentials vs statements much better. I will have to think more about how it applies to me.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787921 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 13:18:55 +0000 Sara L. 1787921@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been reading all the essentials posts too although I haven't commented much.&nbsp; I feel like this is a concept that I'm still trying to wrap my head around.&nbsp; I understand how your shoes are the glue that holds your outfits together. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787903 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:35:24 +0000 harmonica 1787903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Impressive analyses! Really helpful and interesting. Love how you start with footwear and bottoms. I just start with a random piece I want to wear and take it from there. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787887 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:09:22 +0000 RobinF 1787887@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What an interesting and &nbsp;thorough analysis. A lot of what you said is true for me too, shoes and bottoms make up a huge part of what I would consider my essentials. I love both of the finds you posted, i am so tempted by the sandals. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787877 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:38:51 +0000 unfrumped 1787877@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very helpful sorting!</p> <p>I don't think Essentials have to be boring or extremely plain, so I see some overlap too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787812 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 04:20:25 +0000 Brooklyn 1787812@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey I wear flares and I don't have any dainty shoes OK, I do wear heels.<br />I really enjoyed your analysis. You seem to have things sorted. I also get that "wearing someone else's clothes" feeling. I often get that when I try out a look that I have admired on others. If I go a bit too hard edge. Or if I go a bit too polished and classic. Like you I still really enjoy other people's style, even when it's very different from my own.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787798 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 03:52:49 +0000 Jaime 1787798@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great explanation of how essentials help define personal style. In a way what they leave room for is the key. So your essential jeans leave room for your statement shoes and tops, etc. Totally relate to the interesting essential top in several neutral colors also. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787783 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 02:52:04 +0000 JAileen 1787783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your analysis is excellent. I dress pretty conventionally, but I appreciate your understanding of your own style and how your various pieces work to advance that style. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787781 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 02:30:19 +0000 Sal 1787781@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good read Shedev, and I can see how your style is from the shoes up. &nbsp;And stompy shoes are hard with flares or a full skirt...</p> <p>I also agree, I dress very differently to you, or to Angie, but I love your styles and seeing how you put your oufit together. &nbsp;Individuality is where it is at!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787778 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 02:13:21 +0000 Greyscale 1787778@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think we have fairly compatible styles and everything you wrote resonates with me. I can see why that EF top is an essential. The shape is distinctive enough to make an outfit look like part of your cohesive style. That's what I aim for in my essentials too (with some luck but room for improvement). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787776 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 01:51:27 +0000 Elizabeth P 1787776@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great analysis shedev. I really enjoyed reading it. You have done such a great job defining your style over recent years it's fun to read the psychology behind it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787765 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 00:56:19 +0000 shedev 1787765@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you so much, Liasp. I don't think we all have to dress alike to find common ground, and we all have something that contributes to making YLF unique. It makes me sad when people leave the site, saying that no one relates to them or their style. Iron Kurtain is a good example. <br />A couple years ago, there was a poster, LynnK (Dr. Arthro) whose style was the polar opposite of mine. I really appreciated her consistency within her style. I'm just now coming in to that type of consistency myself. I'm continually happy and honored to play a small part in your style journey. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787762 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 00:50:30 +0000 deb 1787762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I still haven't gotten the hang of this type of analysis. I enjoy reading all those that can, though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787760 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 00:36:44 +0000 Anonymous 1787760@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I , no longer surprisingly to me, relate to pretty well every word you've written here. Our footwear preferences are different, but the rest is all the same. &nbsp;Pants need to work with the footwear, my tops are a mix of statement and essential and probably heavier on statement, outerwear is a similar mix, and I too like the idea of flares but feel weird wearing them. &nbsp;I do love a blazer though &nbsp;and would not be caught dead in a patterned bottom &nbsp; &nbsp;I wish I owned your EF pieces - seriously. &nbsp;But yes, in terms of using this little analysis as a shopping/curating guide, I agree that it's very useful. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/statements-essentials-and-the-backbone-of-my-style#post-1787742 Tue, 14 Mar 2017 23:52:37 +0000 shedev 1787742@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>I'm loving all the essentials posts. I've been reading them all, even if I haven't had time to comment. When I started doing the 5 piece, I struggled with the concept of essentials. Part of the problem was that they use basics as their term. This caused me two issues, I get bored with basic things really easy and that I was telling you all on YLF that I'm well stocked on underthings. Mentally switching to essentials helped me to communicate better and to better conceptualize those items that allow my statements to shine.<br />Statement stompy footwear is the heart and soul of my style. Without it I am wearing someone else's clothes. For the most part, I have been consistent throughout my lifetime with it. Most of my footwear is statement, except for the silver Ecco sandals (these are vacation workhorses) and some winter boots.<br />My bottoms need to work with my footwear. Most of my bottoms are essentials that include skinnies, leggings, and a few straights. Crops that show the sliver of leg work also, but are really hard to find. Too much leg just looks like I threw on shoes in the dark. I don't have anything lower vamped at present. Most of my bottoms are plain, but I have a few patterns. I'm more likely to wear color on my bottoms, including black, grey, navy,&nbsp;various shades of denim, greens including olive, burgundy, teal, and eggplant. <br />My tops are split between statement and essential pieces. Most include some type of interest like asymmetry, texture,&nbsp;or mixed media. The lines between statement and essential are blurred here and that's ok. My ultimate essential is this EF linen top. It goes with everything and I truly cannot get dressed without it. Colors are black, ink, olive, and grey.<br />Most of my toppers are statements, but I need a few essentials to go with the patterned bottoms.<br /></div><div>Coats and jackets are mostly statement with a few basics thrown in.<br />Why does this all matter? Understanding this keeps me from investing in too many wrong pieces that will ultimately become orphaned and purged with very few wears. It serves as the method to the madness that is my postapocolyptic wardrobe. I may like a few items in theory (blazers I'm looking at you), but I just don't reach for them. Ever. I like flares, but I run into that pesky someone else's clothing feeling with the dainty pointy toed heels they are worn with. <br />If you got this far, thank you. All feedback is much appreciated.</div> </p>