YouLookFab Forum » Topic: The Way I Used to Be

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: The Way I Used to Be https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 07 May 2026 20:44:35 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php RoseandJoan on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130582 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:10:19 +0000 RoseandJoan 130582@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I had to wait until my day off today to take the time to read your blog, it was very touching, honest and beautifully written. Sometimes I do get very daunted at the prospect of rebuilding my wardrobe, primarily because my limited budget makes the process so slow, but I am getting there. Thank you for your insight Kristen. Kristen on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130546 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:55:35 +0000 Kristen 130546@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You guys are all too sweet. And LOL, yes the change in my shoe collection is still a source of VAST amusement for my husband and for Shopping Friend. You would not believe how much they both still tease me for my old love of the clunky black loafer that I used to wear with EVERYTHING. :) Chelle and Thunalata, you can definitely get there yourselves, and I think all of us go through a phase where we spend an inordinate amount of time thinking and shopping and obsessing over every detail. But eventually it lessens! :) Dawn, OMG I wish I had these revelations at 18. I am a much slower learner, because it didn't sink in 'til I was twice that age. An on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130545 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:52:46 +0000 An 130545@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You're an inspiration! Thanks for sharing. taylor on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130441 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:57:28 +0000 taylor 130441@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ WOW, I am so impressed that you actually took the time and effort to transform yourself through hard work and personal growth. Very inspirational. You look wonderful. JennyK (NC) on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130432 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:38:57 +0000 JennyK (NC) 130432@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for posting that Kristin. So inspiring and insightful. I was shocked to read you say you didn't know about shoes. I so envy your beautiful shoes! Kristine on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130412 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:44:22 +0000 Kristine 130412@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks Kristen! I can really relate to so much of what you wrote. I would have never guessed you weren't always incredibly stylish! Dawn on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130364 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:09:21 +0000 Dawn 130364@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I read this post yesterday and couldn't help but feel that most of it echoed how I felt around the age of 18. I had absolutely no idea how to dress myself as a young woman and while I could identify a pretty dress or a style I admired, I couldn't mentally bring myself to overstep that mental hurdle from admiring to wearing. Great post, Kristen! Anonymous on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130355 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:01:06 +0000 Anonymous 130355@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Right on Kristen! Sihaya on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130339 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:28:42 +0000 Sihaya 130339@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kristen - you are admirable in so many ways and so many of them have nothing to do with your sense of clothing style. Love those plaid oxfords, btw. How inspiring to read what you wrote and how courageous of you to be so open. Congratulations. You should rightfully be incredibly proud of yourself. chellebrate on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130264 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:22:18 +0000 chellebrate 130264@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am adding another giant thank you. This is vaulable to me as I start this fashion journey. I just posted on a thread of my own about how embarrassing it is to share my outfits. One, I feel quit fat compared to so many of you. (I know I shouldn't compare.) Two, I don't buy designer brands and shop at Nordstroms. So I feel like my outfits are composed of rags. I just don't have a lot of money to spend on clothes anymore. I need to learn how to buy smarter, so I can try better jeans and such. I hope I get to the point to where I feel like "I've solved some secret mystery everyone knows the answer to except me." I feel totally clueless about fit of clothes and even what is fashionable since coming to YLF. JuliaInGermany on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130244 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:17:22 +0000 JuliaInGermany 130244@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Kristen, thank you for sharing this. I am at this point now I think. I feel so disconnected with what is current and trendy and it takes me so long to get used to a new look that it is usually out of fashion again before I adopt it. Sigh. But I know there is hope! Oh, I have to tell you how much I love your shoe collection! I want every pair! (Except I probably couldn't walk on them.) Debora on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130219 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:18:16 +0000 Debora 130219@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for sharing this, Kristen. You are a daily inspiration! Angie on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130216 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:15:48 +0000 Angie 130216@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Compelling. Wow! Isn't growing older and wiser a beautiful thing. You've certainly made up for lost shopping and style time, Kristen. KILLER. Debbie on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130210 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:48:56 +0000 Debbie 130210@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is one of the most inspiring things I've ever read. We can reinvent ourselves for the better with some soul searching and a lot of hard work. You are a truly beautiful person inside and out! Queen Mum on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130195 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:25:22 +0000 Queen Mum 130195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ thanks for sharing Kristen. I laughed at your statement about not recognizing a cute shoe if it poked you in the eye. You have certainly aced the school of killer shoes!!! Polly (thunalata) on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130189 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:17:38 +0000 Polly (thunalata) 130189@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for posting that. It's where I'm at at the moment! And I'm spending hours and hours on here and on websites looking at clothes and wandering around clothes shops (I am no longer scared of going into H&M as I would have been 6 months ago) - I think I'm making up for all the time for the last 20yrs that I never did that. It is very encouraging to read a post like that coming from someone who dresses as stylishly as you. Especially as it means that perhaps, one day, I too will know what a cute shoe looks like... Laura on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130186 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:00:18 +0000 Laura 130186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You've come a long way, baby!! Theresa on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130184 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:48:46 +0000 Theresa 130184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow Kristen - thank you for sharing that... I really enjoyed reading it and could relate to some of your thoughts. Thank You! Kristen on "The Way I Used to Be" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-way-i-used-to-be#post-130182 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:38:48 +0000 Kristen 130182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have been keeping an online journal since 2002, and I've found over time that it pays to go back and look at where I was at certain points in my life, and how my thinking has evolved on various subjects. I unearthed an entry from 2007, back when I had just started working at Forth & Towne and was finally confronted with the fact that maybe it was time to stop wearing old-lady fuddy-duddy clothes and make an effort with my appearance. I posted a chunk of it to my blog last night, and I thought maybe those of you just beginning your style evolution would find some value in seeing that you are not alone. We have all been there, especially me! <a href="http://lowfatdressing.blogspot.com/2010/03/monday-way-i-used-to-be.html" rel="nofollow">http://lowfatdressing.blogspot.....to-be.html</a> (I also dug up a ton of horrific old photos of me sporting the worst kind of fashion faux-pas on earth. I will posting those to the blog as soon as the 'mom jeans and white sneakers' shots are no longer burning my retinas. LOL!)