https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:54:51 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2186126 Mon, 12 Apr 2021 05:16:52 +0000 Sally 2186126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@cjh&nbsp; Yes Paris and Stockholm </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185964 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 23:10:26 +0000 Echo 2185964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My fantasy life involves formal parties regularly and the need to "dress up" daily. It also involves many pairs of gorgeous but highly impractical shoes. In reality, formal parties and impractical shoes? Yeah, not so much. I definitely enjoy edge in my style, as well, so more along the lines of Alexander McQueen or Balenciaga formal wear...</p> <p>I indulge by often wearing dresses. My struggle is finding beautiful, unusual shoes that I can walk in all day and dresses that I love, but aren't weirdly too fancy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185961 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 22:39:33 +0000 rebekahphoto 2185961@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah Carla! Its great to hear someone else also<b><i> loves planning the travel capsule</i></b>! It's so fun to find the "perfect" travel clothes. I have a little subconscious metric that something is perfect if I would want to pack it for a long trip: cozy, walkable shoes, washable, breathable, zip pockets, versatile enough for a long walk or a fancy dinner in Spain--</p> <p>My imaginary life is not that far off my "normal" life--minus the pandemic as I have been wholly teaching and at staying home for the last year. My current life has been working on home projects, wearing tough "work clothes", going to home depot, walking my neighborhood to the beach.</p> <p>Not wearing many of my "cool clothes"...I am hoping ** to return to overseas travel/teaching maybe summer 2022.....</p> <p>In my "Imaginary" Life I would just have <i>more</i> <i>of my favorites</i>--more international travel, more time at cafes, in museums and squares. More time leading students in Rome looking and talking about at art, taking photos at sunset, enjoying lavish gallery openings in a fabulous outfit. More time in historic cities, walking everywhere, riding horses, visiting family, hiking remote beaches, eating at special restaurants, touring the breweries and talking with all the chefs</p> <p>Or for relaxing times, I have an imaginary life spending time in a warm tropical night on a veranda with a cocktail and a caftan, hair flowing the breeze........ </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185928 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 17:23:41 +0000 smittie 2185928@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I too think that we should honour our imaginary lives. I think of these imaginary lives as somewhat real in that the emotions you feel when you think about them are real. Imagining the possibilities brings me a lot of happiness.</p> <p>Anyway, I have a few imaginary lifestyles:</p> <p>A graphics designer lifestyle<br /> An entrepreneurial lifestyle<br /> An artisan lifestyle making pottery or quilts<br /> A matriarch lifestyle where I host family get-togethers<br /> A cottage lifestyle with waterskiing, painting, and fixing sceptic tanks<br /> A boating lifestyle with a 35’ sailboat that we take on jaunts through the gulf islands in WA<br /> A California lifestyle with flip flops, wetsuits and surfing</p> <p>The nice thing is: I’m not too far from any of these lifestyles! </p> <p>But back to clothes:</p> <p>- The thing I notice about these lifestyles is that they don’t require much in the way of clothes. Just really simple ones, and mostly gear.</p> <p>For the graphics designer fantasy, I think a switch to some more vibrant colours in my basic wardrobe, as well as some more creative accessorizing, is all that would be required.</p> <p>PS: I used to have the same jet-set fantasy, RunCarla! But it has fallen a bit in priority. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185890 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 15:00:03 +0000 nemosmom 2185890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>What a fantastic post, Carla!!&nbsp; My fantasy self is more like my former-self - residing (and walking) in San Francisco, taking frequent road trips to Tahoe, or down the coast, and having JUST enough clothing to fit in my teeny-tiny victorian-era closet...&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, real me is stranded in a stepford 'burb of the Midwest, where nothing is within walking distance.&nbsp; Here, my inner minimalist still struggles to calculate the <u>right</u> number of pieces that allows for 4-but-really-2 season weather: snow and hell.&nbsp; Of course, temperatures in stores are usually the polar opposite of temperatures outside, so it makes it difficult to know what kinds of pieces can stay in rotation year-round.&nbsp; Will I look like an idiot wearing a coat at the grocery store in July? Yes... but, it's 62 degrees in there!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My gear-loathing self has to wear footwear that can get muddy, and clothing that can be sacrificed in the name of bug or sun protection.&nbsp; Now with the pandemic lockdowns, we don't go anywhere, and that leaves most jackets and shoes unworn.&nbsp; But, I find old shopping habits hard to break - I will happily add ALL THE JACKETS and suede shoes while I balk at buying even ONE upf-rated top.&nbsp; :D<br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185862 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 13:20:16 +0000 Janet 2185862@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What great musings!</p> <p>My fantasy life is not too far from my pre-pandemic life — some travel, some urban, some fun occasions, but more of it. </p> <p>My fantasy life also involves very little need for a wardrobe that must accommodate temperatures over 90 degrees and high humidity. I’d be happy with moderate temps for most of the year, plus some nice crisp, cold winter conditions with occasional snowfall and a need for cozy gear for exploring and hiking. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185851 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 12:44:26 +0000 cjh 2185851@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sally, is that Paris? </p> <p>Carla, you are right. I need to get out the bog coat now that it’s not wool weather.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185835 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 11:49:53 +0000 Liesbeth 2185835@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Such a fun thread! I thought fantasy lives were always about formal events and holidays but I see great diversity here. Laughing at your fantasy life Carla, because I almost NEVER buy anything specifically for traveling... I hate the idea of losing my luggage so I take discarded and cheap sales items with me: worn in saggy denim (not too flattering but very comfy), cut-offs, years-old shirts and tops that are too casual for my daily life...<br /> Anyway, my fantasy life (disregarding covid - months away from my first shot so trying not to dwell on it) consists of a business casual instead of suburban casual work environment and cocktail parties (instead of casual house parties though at the moment any party would be divine)... I try to bring a bit of my fantasy into real life by being just a bit dressier than the norm and letting other dressy people inspire me to keep doing that. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185815 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 06:57:44 +0000 Sally 2185815@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In some ways, my reality and fantasy are similar.&nbsp; I do live in an urban area but in my fantasy life, I would live in an apartment in some 'cool city', walked and took public transport and stopped at cafes where people randomly dressed like this.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185813 Sat, 10 Apr 2021 05:56:35 +0000 N 2185813@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My fantasy life doesn't include going to parks or running flustered after kids but to be fair, I haven't bought anything I wouldn't wear in a park so I haven't really shopped for my fantasy life. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185725 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 22:27:32 +0000 Carla 2185725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@ cjh - but you have that fantastic ‘Bog’ coat! &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185698 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:46:23 +0000 cjh 2185698@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fun to read the scope and humor of everyone’s imaginary world! If anything could be more different than my current life/wardrobe, I like to imagine I’m much more artsy and quirky than I end up on a daily basis, going to museums, spending days painting and collaging and quilting, visiting cute cafes or wine bars on the side. Fortunately I am able to do some of that on a very amateur level.&nbsp;</p> <p>I love artsy and elevated boho style, big prints, unique color combinations, and fluid fits and fabrics, fun jewelry, style juxtaposition. However, the practical me who does the chores, errands, family socializing, and the me with the purse strings says, jeans, shorts, tops and sweaters, ma’am. &nbsp;(Will the real me please stand up?)</p> <div>Here’s the thing, the interesting stuff isn’t available and certainly not very affordable to me. But that doesn’t mean daydreaming and Pinterest can’t still be a source of entertainment. </p> <p>I really am inspired by the criteria “what would my friends in Paris think to see me in this...” type of outfit evaluation, though! Thanks, SWProf!</p> </div></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185643 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 14:27:11 +0000 Anonymous 2185643@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’m with you in judging items by their travel potential, especially footwear, but, even with both shots done, things are closed because of the virus variants and travel is off because of an aging doggie that needs lots of meds and other attention 24/7. She would have trouble with even a road trip which might be a problem this summer/fall with 4 funerals and a wedding pending.<br /> You are right that those travel clothes are good for retirement wear.<br /> Another fantasy I buy for is a beach vacation, because those catch me off guard and unprepared. This is not something I need. It will probably be used to frolic with grandkids in the sprinkler at home. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185637 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 13:33:44 +0000 Kyle 2185637@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I still haven’t figured out how to dress in retirement, and the pandemic and weight gain have not helped. While I don’t really miss work, I miss the experience of shopping and dressing for work in a creative marketing agency. Today marks two weeks since our second Covid shot, so it means a lot more freedom is coming my way, along with challenges of how to dress in the real world. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185562 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 03:00:50 +0000 Jaime 2185562@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Super fun thread. I have come to realize that I do not have the personality to lead my fantasy life (perhaps some sort of creative life in Italy with an inherited apartment here and there). I do have the fortune to dress however I want for the life I have - mostly at home, occasional travel (in non-covid times), lots of walking, mild to hot climate. My problem "how I want" is a moving target! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185552 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 02:06:44 +0000 Anonymous 2185552@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love reading all of these! My imaginary life is basically my regular life but with 10x as many formal dates, events, and parties. I enjoy dressing up and don’t mind being overdressed, so these occasions do occur, but not nearly as often as I like to pretend when I’m shopping for gorgeous dresses and impractical heels. In my imaginary life nothing is uncomfortable and I’m never too lazy to hand wash everything.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185534 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 00:12:46 +0000 Bonnie 2185534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Travel wardrobes are inspirational for me, too. I've just planned a two week travel wardrobe for a trip that includes hiking and city visits that I think could work for my at home life, too.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185530 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 23:47:31 +0000 Jenn 2185530@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your comment about the women with rolling suitcases on your Pinterest board cracked me up. Imaginary me definitely spends more time in airports than real-life me, but my Pinterest boards are dominated by women in cafés. Imaginary me looooooooves sitting with my laptop in a café. Luckily, real life me loves that, too, just not in the past year. </p> <p>Imaginary me also spends more time in farmers markets and European city squares than real me does, but I can square those fantasies with my urban LA lifestyle much more than I could with my small-town Colorado one. I just have to remember it’s never winter here. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life/page/2#post-2185512 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 22:15:01 +0000 Minaminu 2185512@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My imaginary life is in a lively place with spring and summer whether even during autumn and winter! I find it so much easier to buy for the warm than the cold weather and this is reflected in the holes that I have in my wardrobe! </p> <p>RunCarla, I hope you can use the travel voucher very soon! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185509 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 21:56:59 +0000 Carla 2185509@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@ suntiger - 21degC, sunny, Covid vaccine appointment in 2 weeks (second in August) and an $1800 travel voucher in hand - feeling optimistic as well! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185500 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:58:36 +0000 Roxanna 2185500@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>In third lockdown means basically everything is my imaginary life right now I would love to get back to my luxe, sophisticated urban work style. One day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185494 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:40:19 +0000 Ledonna N. 2185494@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For my imaginary life which is not far from my real life </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185489 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:24:27 +0000 Anonymous 2185489@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd love to travel, but my imaginary life is more of "imaginary climate." :)<br /> My ideal climate would never be below 60, and winter dressing has never been my favorite/ historically neglected. I'm just more true to myself and my style in summer. In winter I pretty much hibernate anyway!<br /> As far as activities, I try to make real life as close to my ideal life as I can. Yes I work 40+ hours a week, take care of family, and do all the chores- but I also do as many fun things as I can find. The pandemic has impacted it of course, but eventually the festivals, plays, jazz concerts, hanging out with friends, etc will happen again.<br /> *feeling optimistic cause its 75 and sunny* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185485 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:18:54 +0000 Jonesy 2185485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a great thread! My imaginary lifestyle involves me working in a creative field (artist! full-time writer! art museum docent!) in a large, diverse city, where I could embrace my love of eccentric, over-the-top, creative, weird fashion without violating any environmental norms. Instead I work in academia in a college town with a boring, run-of-the-mill environmental norm (from my POV), and my sense is that people who "look fashionable" are met with some suspicion: "shouldn't you be doing more research or writing another article instead of shopping?"&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185483 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 20:12:50 +0000 Jenni NZ 2185483@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like Cardiffgirl’s imaginary women! I don’t have P’interest boards, but am certainly most tempted by sort of floaty boho kaftans or dresses with cute strappy sandals, for drinking colourful cocktails on terraces next to sparkling pools. A 2010 holiday in Koh Samui, Thailand, or our 2018 holiday in Bali fitted this fantasy.<br /> I have reined the purchasing of such kaftans or dresses in, but luckily can still wear the sandals all summer in my real life! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185477 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 19:20:40 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2185477@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cat2, I think you’re wise not to toss things out based on what’s happened (or not) over the past year. The ideal of a tidy little wardrobe where all the pieces fit perfectly is often driven by a desire for sustainability, but can result in lots of things being discarded and increased production. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185476 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 19:17:15 +0000 cat2 2185476@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So funny! I was looking at my closet with trepidation, but then started getting ready for our first summer trip and realized there is a reason I have a straw bag with coral trim, and matching coral loafers, which is that I actually wear things like that in the summer when I actually leave the house. So I am not going to judge any purchases until we have been rolling for a year post-pandemic. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185471 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 19:03:48 +0000 Style Fan 2185471@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My imaginary life is much more urban than my real life.&nbsp; My imaginary self wears tailored blazers, graphic tees, cute jeans and nice footwear.&nbsp; I might even carry a handbag if I remember one.&nbsp; Or I wear a shirt that got ironed semi-tucked into cute jeans with cute footwear.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185459 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 18:24:26 +0000 Cardiff girl 2185459@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha!My Pinterest boards are dominated by tanned women in beautiful summer clothes ,usually a white floaty dress,languishing &nbsp;against a sun warmed street corner on the way back from the local market,planning a swim that afternoon and a glass of chilled white wine on the terrace come the evening.Obviously these women are not living in Wales!<div>My summer capsule is much bigger than my winter one as are my wardrobe delusions.</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-imaginary-life#post-2185457 Thu, 08 Apr 2021 18:03:30 +0000 Irina 2185457@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My imaginary life is more European than my real one :)<br />Strolling small, old streets, having a drink in a cafe, visiting a museum or a gallery. I used to live this life for about 10 days every year and hope to return to it. Recreating this life here somehow doesn’t feel authentic.&nbsp;<br />In a way, those trips gave me a push to re-examine my style. I want my clothes to be versatile enough for sipping cava in a cafe in Barcelona and going to the office I buy too corporate and too casual sometimes but in general, my imaginary life serves as good benchmark in terms of style. </p> <p>Great topic,&nbsp;<b>RunCarla</b>!&nbsp;</p>