https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:35:42 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624886 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:31:47 +0000 Anonymous 1624886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OMG! My cat just sat on my laptop and it hit send!!!!</p> <p>Ooops!! lol!</p> <p>I was about to say I'm so glad your sister found the gown of her dreams.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624883 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:30:20 +0000 Anonymous 1624883@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh my word! That is gorgeous! I'm glad th</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>#</p> <p></p> <p></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624882 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 19:30:19 +0000 Anonymous 1624882@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>She'll always remember how you helped her find this stunning gown.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624806 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 17:27:45 +0000 cobaltblue 1624806@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is an incredibly beautiful gown! I am sure your sister appreciates your support and help in managing the financial side, especially as you navigate this emotional process without your Mum. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624795 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 17:15:44 +0000 rachylou 1624795@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow. So beautiful! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624793 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 17:10:19 +0000 Mary Beth (formerly LBD) 1624793@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, that dress is gorgeous! &nbsp; I'm sighing over those appliques... stuff like that makes me wish wearing beautiful lace garments were an 'everyday' kind of thing.</p> <p>Then I remember I'm a spiller. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624790 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 17:04:27 +0000 rabbit 1624790@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good job! &nbsp; The dress looks lovely </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624787 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:57:12 +0000 Maneera 1624787@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's GORGEOUS! Glad you found the dress! Yay! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624747 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 15:39:04 +0000 Sara L. 1624747@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Beautiful dress!&nbsp; I wish I had more occasions to shop for wedding dresses with friends (most are married off now) because the dresses are just so amazing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624745 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 15:34:36 +0000 Angie 1624745@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OH!!!&nbsp;</p> <p>*tearful*</p> <p>You are the BEST sister, and the wedding frock is killer.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624735 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:47:20 +0000 Anonymous 1624735@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So lovely. You played an important role that will make for a happier wedding day all round. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624727 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 14:12:26 +0000 anne 1624727@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well done Jules! ! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1624720 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 13:55:32 +0000 RoseandJoan 1624720@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I thought I would update you, my sister found her dress, she looked so ethereal and the tears flowed. The dress was over budget (slightly) so I found my role negotiating a deal agreeable to the shop and her fiancé. It was a hard days work! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1614297 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:09:12 +0000 Michelle 1614297@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Such great advice! But Julie, you're a natural at this, and barring some complex sisterly dynamic that we simply aren't privy to, I cannot conceive of any advice coming out of your mouth that isn't positive, constructive or both. Congrats to your sister and have fun! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1614134 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 18:14:51 +0000 kkards 1614134@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>great advice --the only thing i'd add, which works great for my sister and I....if I'm not loving something, but I sense that my sister feels differently, I'll say I like it, but not X dollars worth (or for you, not X pounds), that way it take the pressure off her, me and the dress. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1614098 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 16:51:58 +0000 Angie 1614098@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jules, I'm sure you will represent you and your late Mum in the BEST way. Much love to you.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1614036 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 14:06:42 +0000 RoseandJoan 1614036@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm sorry to J'aileen and Toronto Girl, I missed your comments scrolling on my phone. Thank you for your support. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1614033 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 14:04:27 +0000 RoseandJoan 1614033@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Grand fashionista, thank you for your post, the point you raise about camera v mirror will be important, my sister usually sends pics from the dressing room to ask for opinions on all types of things.</p> <p>Lisa, we have quite different tastes actually, she likes traditional plus sparkle whereas I am more happy to take a risk. We have two one hour appointments booked with lunch in between. I think I have the stamina </p> <p>April, that is great advice, my Sister has arranged a wedding package at the local pub where she first met her fiancé for a very reasonable price. With four children between them I would be concerned if she strayed from her budget.</p> <p>Angie, thanks for the vote of confidence, I feel like I will be representing our Mum so I am sure it will be quite emotional. I am sorry I missed you in June xo</p> <p>Rachylou, (or as my phone keeps correcting each you) I will try to catch the programme, thanks.</p> <p>Aziraphale, yes it is a racket, the price of wedding cake alone is enough to make me dizzy, mind I can feel like that when I see the price of ham in Tesco </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613922 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 05:59:33 +0000 Aziraphale 1613922@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Because you'll have wedding picture of you and your sweetie to treasure forever, and in them all, you'll be wearing a fabulous dress!</p> <p>The wedding business is indeed a bit of a racket, but for many women, the dress selection is the best part -- of the planning process, at least. (Hopefully the actual marriage is the best part!). And a great dress needn't be super expensive. </p> <p>Thumbs up to helping your sister find the perfect dress. You are always supportive, RoseandJoan -- I'm sure you sis will appreciate having you with her xo</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613839 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 01:47:19 +0000 JAileen 1613839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What Gradfashionista said. </p> <p>The wedding business is definitely a racket, though. My own wedding was fairly low cost except for the huge amount of champagne my father bought. As a newlywed, I went back to school and got a job in a bridal shop. Wow! The amount of money these young women spent on dresses, veils, shoes, undergarments, etc., that could have been spent on long lasting things for their lives together. I tell people they should elope and then have a nice party when they get back. Why waste money on a dress you'll wear for a few hours? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613823 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 01:16:57 +0000 rachylou 1613823@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Netflix 'Say Yes to the Dress.' You will totally see what not to do, lol. Support the bride in the best of her choices is what I say. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613805 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 00:23:51 +0000 Angie 1613805@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can't imagine you be anything but supportive, helpful, thoughtful and tactfully truthful, Jules. Be how you always are and ENJOY the bubbly.&nbsp;</p> <p>p.s. Did you know I was in London last June? We had a YLF gathering. So sorry I missed you. I should have PM'ed you to remind you on the off chance that you could have made it. You were there in spirit.&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613793 Tue, 09 Feb 2016 23:47:14 +0000 Helena 1613793@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>April, that is such a great financial guideline. From a purely style perspective, I'm just about with Lisa ... Be genuine of the positives and tactfully quiet on the negatives </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613789 Tue, 09 Feb 2016 23:17:42 +0000 April 1613789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>R and J, because I know that you'll supply excellent feedback regarding how the gown looks, my advice is to gently steer her from any gown that's truly outside her price range.</p> <p>I don't know if this is the case in the UK, but in the states it seems that the trend is for people (either parents or the couple) to go deep into debt for weddings on the scale of Charles and Diana's, and frankly, I find it tasteless and worrisome. &nbsp;</p> <p>I think the long-ago advice of Miss Manners columnist Judith Martin remains very wise: a wedding should reflect the highest level of your normal social life. &nbsp;If you regularly attend black- or white-tie events in your normal social life, or if you actually are Charles and Diana, then by all means have a fancy and expensive wedding if you want one. &nbsp;But if your normal social life is beer and pretzels, don't mortgage your future for a designer gown and a million frills you don't need. &nbsp;</p> <p>Ouch, did that sound like, "Bah, humbug"? &nbsp;Probably. &nbsp;Oh, well. &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613784 Tue, 09 Feb 2016 23:12:12 +0000 Anonymous 1613784@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Having gone through the grad-dress buying performance not too long ago with my daughter, &nbsp;(which in their mind is about the same as buying as wedding dress) , my tack was to pretty much keep quiet. &nbsp;When they ask for help, I'm not sure it really means much more than going along for the ride. Do you share similar tastes? &nbsp; &nbsp;The quickest way to inflame an already emotionally laden time is to not like something they are trying on . &nbsp;I found it best to be enthusiastic when it was sincere, and very non-judgemental. &nbsp;Warning - it can get very tedious and downright boring if it carries on for too long :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613707 Tue, 09 Feb 2016 20:16:30 +0000 Aziraphale 1613707@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gradfashionista's advice is perfect!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613697 Tue, 09 Feb 2016 19:44:09 +0000 gradfashionista 1613697@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've never done bridal boutique shopping, but my advice would be:</p> <p>a) Minimize the champagne, and make sure you've eaten something beforehand. The champagne seems like a nice touch, but alcohol also decreases inhibition, and increases the likelihood of purchasing something that you might not otherwise have done under sober conditions.</p> <p>b) The problem is always with the dress, not her body.</p> <p>c) If you think she think looks terrible and she thinks she looks amazing, take a few photos on your phone and show them to her. Mirrors are cunning, phones less so. If she still feels fab in the gown, reassess your own perspective, and express your preference for other gowns, rather than disapproval of the one she is wearing.</p> <p>d) Watch Bridesmaids before heading out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-art-of-critique#post-1613689 Tue, 09 Feb 2016 19:25:44 +0000 RoseandJoan 1613689@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A little light hearted advice would be much appreciated.</p> <p>My younger Sister is getting married next year and we are off to a bridal boutique on the hunt for the one gown to rule them all shortly.</p> <p>Given this is a fashion forum I would love to know, what are the dos and don'ts of gown critiquing? Is honesty really the best policy? Did you employ your best poker face? Was the champagne a help or a hindrance? </p> <p>Thank you </p>