https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:02:28 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1976271 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 16:21:40 +0000 nemosmom 1976271@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow! Thank you everyone for taking time to comment! It is helpful to know I am not alone in this struggle. I think when I started my edit in the summer I had this fantasy that anything I felt like wearing (mood dressing) would magically just "work" with any other given item, (tighter palette, check! daily uniform formula, check!), but I am learning it is much more complicated than that. <b>SarahD8</b>, your posts about your wardrobe not "clicking" have been super helpful! </p> <p>Thanks to you all! I am learning so, so much!</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1976182 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 12:19:07 +0000 cindysmith 1976182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm so glad I don't have many dressy events to worry about! (((huhs))) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975948 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 18:50:43 +0000 Gretchen 1975948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We've all been there, and i'm so sorry it happened to you. But it sounds like you have some good ideas for what to do next - good luck! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975934 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 17:53:53 +0000 Chris987 1975934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I totally get you.&nbsp; I had a sort of related experience recently.&nbsp; I went to a Bar Mitzvah too , although I knew months ahead of time. I got a new dress. Outfit creation worked, it was all good. The only problem was that it was really cold at the synagogue, and not much better at the celebration party. I had to keep my coat on in the synagogue (which was ok), but at the party I didn't feel like the coat looked so good over the dress so didn't want to wear it. I had on a cami and pantyhose, but still cold. And I don't like any of my jackets or other indoor toppers with this dress. I had not worn the dress before. My lesson learned is that it's not a good dress for cold-ish settings unless I add some more underlayers like a long sleeved t /full length slip.&nbsp; The most annoying part of the whole thing was that lots of the female guests, the family members in particular, were much less covered up than I was.....they obviously do not run cold like it do!&nbsp;</p> <p>I think the moral of our stories is that something one's clothing choices just do not work out, for a variety of reasons.&nbsp;</p> <p>My solution for my predicament was to start working on a new cold weather "dressy" capsule of warmer items like a moto jacket, sweaters, skirt....from which to make warmer outfits for this type of event. If I do it right the pieces will also work for more casual outfits.&nbsp; I already have a few pieces like this but they are all very old and I'm tired of them.&nbsp;</p> <p>Of course we can help you sort it out, <i><b>do post some outfits :-)&nbsp;</b></i>&nbsp;The hive mind here will give you great suggestions, and a lot of us also learn a lot from these types of postings.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975914 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 16:01:37 +0000 LaPed 1975914@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Event dressing is so tough, and festive-yet-conservative is really a bane for me: how to do it without looking like you just came from a job interview?! And cold weather on top of that? Ugh. I really hope you'll workshop you're winter dressy capsule on the forum. Outfit creation posts are so helpful to me (both writing my own and reading others').&nbsp;</p> <p>I often find I haven't put my dressy pieces through their paces, so things that I imagine will work turn out not to. Last winter, I tried to pair a navy silk top with a pair of wide-leg pants, thinking I would semi-tuck the top for some structure and waist definition. It turned out that between the lowish-for-me rise of the pants, and the slipperiness of the crepe de chine, there was *no way* that shirt was going to stay semi-tucked. I also thought the pants would be perfectly floor-grazing with silver flats, but failed to account for the way pants "settle" after I've worn them for an hour or so and ended up regretting my shoe choice. Now I only wear those pants with a low heel, and the top is in the holding zone for its odd length/inability to stay tucked. Live and learn! I guess the best solution is outfit creation sessions, coupled with a "wear the heck out of it!" approach. I really need to get over the saving-for-good mentality. The less often I wear things, the harder they are to style and wear! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975891 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 14:52:14 +0000 Bijou 1975891@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just like a bad hair day, I think we all have "bad dressing days" - where the combinations just don't come together and the fit is off. I sort of rationalise it that maybe I have those days so that I appreciate it when things do come together easily, but I can definitely relate to your feelings of frustration. Dealing with extreme weather and formal events is indeed difficult. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975864 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:41:24 +0000 kkards 1975864@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>special occasion/dressy events/once a year stuff....all these drive me crazy....i keep stuff, think i'm all set, and then BAM...i go to get dressed and somethings not working....in short i feel your pain </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975863 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:38:50 +0000 Anonymous 1975863@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like a difficult situation, and were not judging for having to buy anything! Ive been thinking the best way to handle the one off events is to shop in capsules/complete outfits, so you know everything works together. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975839 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 09:38:32 +0000 Dreika 1975839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Having to leave for an event and discovering that the topper doesn't work is so frustrating! Been in a similar situation so many times. My usual is to discover that my festive dress that I was planning to wear is too tight or too short for my comfort or actually I don't like it... and having to decide on something different immediately because we're already late. One time I was on a business trip and thought that I have planned my clothes really smart - I always travel with a carryon only since dragging bigger luggage from airport to the hotel is a real pain for me. So I have brought with me coat and a winter blazer since I needed business clothes and it was cold. I bought both of them for the trip. Once at my destination I discovered several unfortunate things: I didn't like how the coat looked when layered over the blazer. I looked with gigantic shoulders and it reminded me too much about the 80's shoulder pads. So I wore only the blazer by the end of the trip and was freezing when had to go outside. Second I found that one of my business dresses was a bit too short and the lining was terribly riding up. I wore it anyway but wasn't comfortable to say the least. Finally my low heeled pumps killed my feet the first day (I didn't listen to Angie's advice to wear only tested shoes on trips this time). In conclusion - half of what I brought with me was a disaster and even though appropriate for the trip it wasn't comfortable to wear. I really thought hard when I had to plan for the next trip - flat dressy shoes!, trying the coat over the blazer and fitting more options in the bag even though it's small. Live and learn as they say... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975838 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 09:29:51 +0000 Sisi 1975838@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha, this is the story of my life! I have had numerous experiences like&nbsp;&nbsp; this. But, thinking of it, &nbsp;special occasions happen once in a while - it can be&nbsp;difficult to put together&nbsp;an outfit that is good&nbsp;for the occasion <b>and</b> the weather. I am working on this. Will let you know if I find some successful strategy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975833 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 08:58:40 +0000 Jessikams 1975833@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Soooo frustrating and this is exactly what I tend to run into with my dressy event attempts. I’ve finally decided to work on it and try to solve some of these problems. Right there with you.</p> <p>(Ahem, it would be easier if you had more than one day to plan the outfit, hello, forgetful family members....) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975780 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 00:37:56 +0000 Jenni NZ 1975780@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh I do feel for you Nemosmom! Conservative yet festive at the same time is not an easy one for anyone. And the invitation being forgotten until the day before wouldn't have helped. My DH missed a wedding invite for my cousin's son when I was away overseas for several weeks without him once, and I found it on the day of the wedding, a few days after I got home. I was horribly embarrassed. It was down country so I may not have gone but I felt so rude not having even declined with regret. Luckily my lovely cousin understood.<br /> I'm a lot older than you and my wardrobe is prepared for most eventualities now, but it has taken years. My worst previous time was when I was 36 and invited to a 40th birthday cocktail party. I had no clue what that meant and we were in a poor phase just having had third child and husband had just bought his business which had fewer clients than promised so was struggling. ( 22 years later it is successful! ) I wore a brightly coloured day outfit and did not look at all right. In the wider scheme of things though, I still had fun. Hope you were warm enough once you got there, and enjoyed the event. xx </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975769 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 23:52:11 +0000 Angie 1975769@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>(((HUGS))) Don't worry. We've all been there! I'll be back to comment later, <b>Nemosmom</b>. Rest assured I've also created outfits in my head that I thought would work - and then they don't layer or mesh like I thought they would and it's too late to change them.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975762 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 23:33:36 +0000 SarahD8 1975762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, <b>nemosmom</b>, I completely understand where you're coming from!</p> <p>That feeling of having completed an edit, loving what's left in your closet, having what seems like a sufficient number of items -- and then not being able to put outfits together. Yes, yes, yes, as I've been whining about all over the forum!</p> <p>And those special occasions seem like such higher stakes. Whenever I struggle to put together a dressy outfit I think: Ugh, I am almost 45 years old and I don't even know how to Adult!</p> <p>Ok, so it sounds like you have a few sparkly/festive sweaters, but they're fairly fitted so you prefer not to pair them with fitted pants. Do you have a pair of wide-leg pants, a skirt, or velvet joggers you could wear with those sweaters?</p> <p>To make the bootcut pants work, could you purchase a topper that would work over your existing blouses, but fit under your coat? I'm imagining a drapey cardi, maybe with a bit of sparkle running through it?</p> <p>I don't mean to suggest that you break your shopping fast -- but something to think about when you are shopping again. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975759 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 23:26:53 +0000 Gigi 1975759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm glad I'm not the only one! This sounds just like me. In all honesty, I think that's why our wardrobes get to be so big--you need one type of blouse for under a blazer, another type to go with slim pants, another one for high-rise pants, and so forth. Items quickly multiply because we need the right iteration for the propotions or silhouette we are trying to create.</p> <p>Although this was a very frustrating experience, it looks like you have some valuable information about which type of items you need to go shopping for. I recently was trying to style my OTK boots, which don't get much wear, and I discovered that I don't wear them because I really need something flowy to balance out the somewhat heavy, slim fit of the boots. So now I know what to look for.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975743 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 22:56:58 +0000 Anonymous 1975743@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I feel your pain. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/syc-my-mid-month-nosedive#post-1975742 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 22:54:29 +0000 nemosmom 1975742@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>November's SYC challenge started off well. We had mild temperatures which helped simplify outfits, and I was able to stick to my usual fall "uniform": jeans, boots, base layer+pullover, scarf. I didn't take any WIW photos, but took photos of the outfits (happy to post if anyone wants to see them). Overall, I was happy with how everything came together. THEN, we got a last-minute invitation to a Bar Mitzvah at a conservative temple. (Well, the invitation came a couple of months ago, but MrNemosmom forgot about it until the day before the event. But, that is another story...)</p> <p>I thought finding an appropriate outfit in my closet would be simple. After all, I had just completed a successful (in my mind) edit and I had MORE than enough clothes to get me through until Spring. I couldn't have been MORE wrong!</p> <p>For the event, the weather was supposed to be cold (30's) and it snowed that morning. I needed an outfit that was modest enough for the service, yet festive enough for the after-party. I opted for black slim fit boot cut trousers and a Nanette Lepore sparkly burgundy sweater with bell sleeves, burgundy suede pump and burgundy wool coat. Well, when I put them together, I discovered the body-con fit of the sweater was too similar to the slim fit of the pant and I felt like a sausage (likely looked like one, too). I went through my blouses and festive-ish sweaters and couldn't find one that was flowy enough to balance out the pants. So, I went through blazers thinking I could widen the look with one. This put me back to square one with tops - turns out, NONE of my pullovers or sparkly sweaters are thin enough to fit under ANY of my blazers, and only two of my blouses go with any of them. (I bought all of my toppers when I was in SF and until now, had only paired them with tshirts and thin tops). I finally found a blouse that worked well enough with the pants (a sheer button up, with a cardi) and one blazer (hey, it's only for one night and I have a coat, right?!) </p> <p>I thought I was settled, until it was time to leave. I put on my coat (which I JUST bought in August) only to discover that it is TOO SMALL to wear over a blazer *facepalm*. I cried a little, cursed a lot and ended up ditching the coat altogether. In my sheer top and blazer, I was freezing en route to the venue and sweating once I got there. Plus, I looked more like I was going to a convention than a celebration. </p> <p>This exercise in outfit creation was very educational, but it left me feeling pretty defeated and doubting a lot of the pieces I held on to during my edit. Yes things fit (I think...), and yes I love them, but what to do with them?? I think I am squared away for my day-to-day uniform, but clearly, my special occasion capsule, (or really any occasion that doesn't permit jeans) still needs a LOT of work. I will try to find the courage to post an outfit lab or two - maybe you can help me sort this out... </p>