YouLookFab Forum » Topic: The woman behind the look

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: The woman behind the look https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:55:12 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Carol on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2384285 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:58:55 +0000 Carol 2384285@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie--great observations. I do naturally gravitate towards 90s clothes--probably because I was a teen and remember them so vividly. Of course, my ideas go outside that--for instance--the 80s prep I was talking about. But man, it is true--I really like anything with a story or culture behind it.....from almost any era.  For example...I've had a long-time fixation on WWII-era farm dresses, like in this famous Wyeth painting. Then at the same time, I'll drop everything to see the clothes and dancing on an old clip of In Living Color. Angie on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2384035 Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:07:58 +0000 Angie 2384035@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Carol, you enjoy outfits and items with stories and memories. Milk that :) Also, you mentioned you were an art student or teacher somewhere - milk that too! This is what I see from the fun inspirational pics: #1 - '90s (That's when Jean Paul Gaultier made all of Madonna's outfits for her concerts). #2 - '90s #3 - '60s #4 - '90s #5 - '60s Soooooo, there are your two inspiration eras!  Carol on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2384021 Sat, 12 Apr 2025 21:59:04 +0000 Carol 2384021@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Star and Sal--great tips, thank you!  Sal on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2384020 Sat, 12 Apr 2025 21:04:36 +0000 Sal 2384020@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I look forward to seeing where you go. Mary Beth has a strong signature style and is a performer so you might want to check out her posts. Also Ginger has a wonderful signature style as well. Star (Lise) on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383988 Sat, 12 Apr 2025 06:09:42 +0000 Star (Lise) 2383988@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Even better. You can work with the base you already have and refine it. Amazing to me how important accessories are, they can really make or break a look. Carol on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383985 Sat, 12 Apr 2025 01:29:30 +0000 Carol 2383985@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I also just did the "throw everything on your bed that you wear the most" exercise, and I was surprised to find a decidedly American preppy vein. Almost a St. Elmo's Fire feel: easy floral drop-waist dresses, many cardigans, and pants and jeans of classic cuts.  No wonder I am so fussy about cardigans--it has to have the perfect Mr. Rogers ability to make a statement, and an understatement. I think the reason this style doesn't always come through on me is because I am adding large jewelry and things like that.   Liz Claiborne Gap Old Navy Esprit Calvin Klein  Lands End These are the ones that do that aesthetic. Some of them are defunct, I think. So, you could say I like a vintage preppy look, but that sounds complicated. I will start with "American Preppy" as one of my concepts, and go from there.  Carol on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383983 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 23:42:16 +0000 Carol 2383983@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ket--cigarette pants is right--one of my favorite items. I did not associate it with mod, but it would certainly fit the general vibe. Especially when it is part of a little suit! Like Nico or the Beatles would wear. I do love headbands, but they require extra effort for me. I have a small head that is flat(ter) on the back than most people, so headbands and scarves need to be supported by bobby pins. Thanks for the idea! And I did just notice that that last photo is a tutorial. Maybe I will look that up.  Star--yes, multiples of a single item is a good idea, whether that is a shift dress, Adidas, whatever. Good point. Jaime--good point about accessories. People have pointed some out--headbands, low heels, etc. A good place to start.  Jaime on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383960 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 02:44:28 +0000 Jaime 2383960@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh interesting! Definitely a lot to try out and see what feels right. Agree that you can start with accessories and build from there until you hit your sweet spot. Ket on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383938 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:22:34 +0000 Ket 2383938@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Agree again, about multiples and modfiying/owning the style so it doesn’t feel too costumey Star!! Love it when crossposting happens Star (Lise) on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383934 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:48:24 +0000 Star (Lise) 2383934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ KET we cross posted. I agree, lots of experimenting should be done. Star (Lise) on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383931 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:44:38 +0000 Star (Lise) 2383931@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think that is key when curating a signature style. Not multiple different items but multiples of what is signature IYKWIM. Also wise to not be so rigid as in your example of the green mini not behind strictly mod but the shape being there. That flexibility makes it your own style and not a caricature. Ket on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383929 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:40:53 +0000 Ket 2383929@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I think you're finding terrific direction, Carol!!! Your inspiration photos are giving you lots of insights. I just love Amy Winehouse and the '60s girl vocal groups for you!!<div> </div><div>I am nodding with Star, Dee, and Jenni! I also see a lot of 60s Mod, boho touches. Star is already given you great ideas for implementing this in daily life. Finding silhouettes and pairing them with accessories is key. One accessory the 60s had a lot of was hairbands and hair scarves. Posted a few photos below as inspo.  <div> Another thought for pants: the early 60s had a lot of cigarette style pants on one side (a hold over from the '50s?), and there were also the flares that kicked in (ha!) as the 60s progressed. Mid 60s saw wider legs and palazzo style pants as well, due to the hippies' style and influence.  (If I remember correctly; another fabber may have better historical facts and dating.)  So I don't think you're held to only palazzos. Might be fun to experiment??   I would look to Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Also take a look at Ann-Margret and Connie Francis. These women embodied the1960s really well too.   wait to see what else you find! :D  </div></div> Carol on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383916 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:01:14 +0000 Carol 2383916@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Dee--thank you. That is  a great idea to see what I have already. For instance, I am wearing an a-line mini right now. It is blue linen with a sarong tie, so not quite mod, but the shape is there.  Carol on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383915 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:59:29 +0000 Carol 2383915@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Jenni NZ--that is a great point. I do notice I reach for a lot of styles, and though this might be "true" to me, it is overwhelming when trying to create a personal style. Star--I like your thoughts. I had never realized, also, how much I do love my palazzo pants. I have always been a "one of each" pants kind of person, and not a "what pants do I like?" person. Bijou--thanks! I really do love mod style.  Dee on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383914 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 13:58:27 +0000 Dee 2383914@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh I think you’re onto something here Carol, Star has suggested some great ways to ease into it to see if this is really where you want to take your style. You could probably go to your closet now and sort out what you might already have that would suit this look already. Try putting  some outfits together and see how you feel in them, but you need to keep it real for your lifestyle too.  Jenni NZ on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383904 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:25:12 +0000 Jenni NZ 2383904@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I read some of your old posts and looked at some of your old photos. You certainly have talked about various outfits “reminding you” of past styles. I agree with that being a fun way to look at styles. I think my only caution is to not spread your preferences too wide at first. I think the emphasis on Mod style is a good place to start. You don’t want to be too eclectic like my first persona of Eclectic Matriarch and find it doesn’t help at all because it just means you like lots of styles! Although my Fabber friend Christina did manage to make Fun New York Eclectic work for her. Bijou on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383903 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 08:11:28 +0000 Bijou 2383903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Star is onto something - the general impression of all of these pictures is a 1960's mod aesthetic - which is also something that works well with your personal style.  Star (Lise) on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383901 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 06:57:52 +0000 Star (Lise) 2383901@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I like this! I think the key is using the aspirational pics but toning them down for everyday wear. Taking elements that you can wear every day, like you mentioned a big stack of bangles, a type of earring. Starting with accessories is a good idea. It sounds like you feel good in palazzo pants, so get a few pairs. They will work well with your preferred accessories as you have noticed. It sounds like you are halfway there already to your makeover and moniker. You can go full on like the pics for nights out or weekends. Mod Hippie Chic? Mod Boho Chic? Try to encompass all the elements. The overall style is mod. The wide pants, jewelry and ditsy florals are Hippie/boho, and a certain 'chicness' is necessary to pull it all together. See where I am going? The main focus is mod and the Boho is just elements incorporated into the mod look. Sorry for the novel Carol on "The woman behind the look" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-woman-behind-the-look#post-2383898 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:41:40 +0000 Carol 2383898@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ After putting up my "how to find a style moniker?" post a few days ago, I have been tooling around Pinterest tonight. I am absolutely using the tips you guys gave me--watching the videos, thinking through things--so thank you.  The pictures I pinned have everything to do with aspirational style, and not much to do with my actual style. I started with mod style, which I have always loved. Then quickly got onto photos of Amy Winehouse, The Ronettes, Kendall Jenner and Madonna.  Checking out a few pictures of 1961 West Side Story and Josephine Baker on the way. And I remember also that years ago, my first fashion pins were of Dita von Teese, the burlesque dancer.   All these women are performers or models, and all have a deep flair for the clothes they wear. All can make a look come alive with movement.  I do not dress nearly like them, but I do notice I am comfortable with certain dramatic elements others are not--giant earrings or bangles in the workplace, or palazzo pants at a softball game. Some women use accessories or styling to their advantage. A dramatic beehive or stacked jewelry. A tube of platinum, or sheer black hose in high summer.  I don't know where I would be going in kitten heels and teased hair, but I want to dress like that!  Very aspirational. Very, very. But why not dress like that? Now that the rules have opened up.