https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:01:39 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1181288 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 02:06:32 +0000 SarahTheWhite 1181288@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you so much for the support ladies. It was a treat to get home from a loooong day at work to read your kind and insightful comments. It touches me that others understand these feelings. The journey is so much sweeter with the company of friends... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1181251 Sat, 01 Mar 2014 00:57:18 +0000 E 1181251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I loved reading your reflections Sarah &amp; the other responses. I agree that growth and change are an essential&nbsp;part of life, and while it can be disorienting and challenging, it's ultimately more rewarding to embrace that than to cling stubbornly to previously held beliefs. I've changed my mind on so many things over the years, as I learn knew things, or experience a philosophical shift, or develop new interests &amp; priorities! My style is shifting a bit at the moment, as I try out less conventional&nbsp;silhouettes (dresses over trousers, a-line dresses with a-line toppers over them &amp; no waist definition, etc.), but I feel like it's an organic shift vs an abrupt departure.</p> <p>YLF is so supportive &amp; we'll all happily encourage you as you sort yourself out stylewise! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180813 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:49:35 +0000 JulieJohn 1180813@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Excellent post, Sarah. I love how you articulated these complex feelings. And the comments are insightful too, and lovely. </p> <p>Rachylou, you are so funny, thank you.</p> <p>You're right, it's so weird to no longer identify with our "trappings" when we find we have changed. Or to come back to something we thought we had mentally outgrown. Puzzles like this teach me to be less judgemental of myself and others. But I admit, I'm a slow learner. :)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180806 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:41:31 +0000 Gaylene 1180806@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And some of my family wonder why I keep coming back to this site!</p> <p>Sarah, you've actually hit on exactly why YLF has become such an important part of many of our lives--the support, suggestions, ideas, discussions, and occasional "kick in the butt" to help us keep going through that journey of discovery and re-invention. Just when I think I've finally figured out my "style", I find something on YLF that, like Caro says, makes me start laughing at my self-imposed "rules" and makes me want to push the boundaries that I've set for myself. And that is, I think, what having fun with fashion is all about. Not finding deals, not following trends, not shopping in Paris--it's about using fashion as a vehicle to help recognize and re-connect with yourself as you grow and change.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180800 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:37:27 +0000 Anonymous 1180800@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love the analogy about the ocean and a strainer! And I loved reading your post. I agree 100% . I'm starting to feel the subtle shift of style a little myself. Heck I even decided to buy BF's this week... did the sky fall in or something? lol!</p> <p>&nbsp;I'm glad you're appreciating the winding journey you've embarked on Sarah. Looking forward to following you along.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180766 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:59:22 +0000 Suz 1180766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sarah, what a lovely post. I completely agree that style is a process, that we're all in flux --- and sometimes it seems to stand for so much more, doesn't it? As if it is our very identity. Anyway, I couldn't agree more that this is a wonderful place for us to do our exploration.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180384 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 02:30:26 +0000 Sarah A 1180384@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very insightful. I have often felt in a state of flux over the last year and relate to many of the feelings you express. Thank you for sharing this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180340 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 02:03:16 +0000 Jaime 1180340@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wonderful post! I totally agree that style is a means of self discovery and that it is a process that reflects and creates change as we go. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180334 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 01:58:53 +0000 abc 1180334@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love all of the thought provoking posts as of late including this one. Thanks for putting into words what I've been feeling too. That quote about the ocean and a strainer..I get it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180247 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 00:54:47 +0000 Angie 1180247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>And the house is better with YOU in it, Sarah. xo </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180244 Fri, 28 Feb 2014 00:48:00 +0000 SarahTheWhite 1180244@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@ Peri: Of course they have feelings! There are dog people and cat people... We are clothes people! </p> <p>@ Rachylou: You totally cracked me up! Maybe THAT's why I never took over the world... I think that may have been the best comment ever!</p> <p>@Angie: this is the house that YOU built... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180200 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 23:48:43 +0000 Angie 1180200@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am moved. xo </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180197 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 23:40:35 +0000 rachylou 1180197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's complicated, is it not? What <i>does</i> it mean when you change your style? All my frilly girl years, was it all a huge life mistake? Should I have made an effort to be more grown-up? Would I have achieved world domination but for the puff sleeves?</p> <p>You sort of wonder.</p> <p>It's not limited to clothes, either. I've changed neighborhood styles and now I wonder about that too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180182 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 23:16:29 +0000 Peri 1180182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do the same thing...with an added weirdness. I don't want the things I used to love to feel sad that I don't love them anymore! My clothes have feelings.</p> <p>Purging was hard, but I'm so glad I did it. And along with Mo I have embraced longer and looser. And feel very happy about it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1180175 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 23:11:26 +0000 SarahTheWhite 1180175@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Awww, thanks ladies! :-)<br /> @Mo: Interesting... Maybe there is something about 41... And flowy shirts (which has been part of my transition also)<br /> @Caro: Such wise words. Ones that I want to remember!!<br /> @Fuzzylogic: Yes... This site has a way of bringing about all kinds of aha moments. Hugs back! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1179464 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 06:26:43 +0000 fuzzylogic 1179464@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, Caro!!! And as a corollary, emotional and psychological growth is often reflected in the fashion and lifestyle choices that we make!</p> <p>Wow! You've had an epiphany this week, STW! (Waving and hugs!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1179460 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 06:06:46 +0000 Caro in Oz 1179460@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Apart from finding YLF, which helped me to have fun with fashion again,&nbsp;two of&nbsp;the nicest things I've found&nbsp;about getting older are:</p> <ul> <li>the ability to laugh at "rules" especially the ones in my own head.&nbsp;</li> <li>the understanding that life is always in flux &amp; I&nbsp;need change so that I can grow.</li> </ul> Can't wait to see the next leg of your journey :)</p> <p>&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1179448 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 05:37:35 +0000 Mo 1179448@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a big transition around 41 here over the fit of shirts. &nbsp;I was still in the short and tight 90's styles and couldn't grasp looser, and especially longer. &nbsp;Now that I love a drapey tee it's almost comical how hard the move was for me. &nbsp;That was 3 years ago and I'm so glad I did try to think outside my imposed box, with the help of Angie et al. &nbsp;Enjoy your journey, wherever it may take you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-never-ending-journey#post-1179444 Thu, 27 Feb 2014 05:31:58 +0000 SarahTheWhite 1179444@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have been thinking a lot lately about how fluid the journey of style can be. There are, of course, the rare few who instinctively know their style by age 9, and never waiver throughout their whole lives (I know exactly one person like this) but based on what I have gathered from my own pilgrimage, as well as everything I have read on this forum, it truly seems to be a winding path of surprises and adventures. I think that I like that - except when I am questioning everything I own and have ever worn. The hardest thing for me has been how to reconcile a firm belief that certain things were absolutely "me" at one time (even last week) with the fact that they now (often quite suddenly) are not. Changing body sizes, aging, life situations and fluctuating energy levels all seem to mean that defining "my style" often feels like scooping water out of the ocean with a mesh strainer! Just in the past several weeks, I have started questioning EVERYTHING. Simply because I love that, is it right for me now? Just because this has never worked for me before, does it mean that it can't be fabulous on me now? Does the fact that this doesn't fit with where my style is going now mean that it wasn't "me" over the past months/years/lifetime? This unyielding barrage of pointed questions has forced me think outside of my own self inflicted box. The biggest surprise of all was discovering that my confidence in who I am and what "works" for me is the very thing that is holding me hostage from the freedom to change. The fact of the matter is that right now at 41, I don't want to be who I was at 30 or 21. And when I am 61, I sure hope that I won't be stubbornly clinging to a set of self imposed rules that made me feel fantastic in my 40's. That is what I admire so much about the ladies in this forum - you question, experiment, play, laugh, cry, encourage and ultimately embrace your own unique styles... And embrace each other along the way. This is truly a special place to learn and grow in. </p>