https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:13:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749902 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 04:22:31 +0000 rae 749902@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok, that tears it: next year we are adding an extra day! Maybe we can bring a bunch of drugstore mud masks, lotions, potions, scrubs, et al and have a day of total relaxation/recuperation. Facials, deep hair conditioning, and soaking in that hot tub we so callously ignored this time around. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749886 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 03:42:35 +0000 MsLuna 749886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Awww you guys sound like you had so much fun!</p> <p>@Una: "This made me realize that 90% of my orders are just to experiment for fun - or explore, as Janet said - and play dress up. If I could do this more often, I'd probably cut down on most of my actual orders."</p> <p>Sooo with you on that. That is why I try and make time to go out and try clothes on just to see if they work for me! At times (like with jeans), I will end up purchasing them and trying it out for a day then returning if I don't feel good in them.</p> <p>Wow hopefully I can one day come up to one of your meetups! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749883 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 03:39:17 +0000 Nadya 749883@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for sharing the trip reports and learnings. I'm hoping to get up the gumption to go up to Seattle for a meet up and you all give me more reasons to do so. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749879 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 03:31:46 +0000 Anonymous 749879@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a great read. Thank you all for sharing. I hope I can participate in the near future. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749832 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 02:38:11 +0000 Aida 749832@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hah I do have pretty good shopping stamina, I'm ready to keep going! :D</p> <p>Great lessons here! I find shopping in a group immensely rewarding in terms of learning, just like Monchi mentioned. I personally prefer to shop _for myself_ alone, but I LOVE shopping for others in a group. I had a ton of fun helping people find pieces they need, giving feedback and styling ideas, and shooting down every chunky knit sweater MaryK kept trying to convince me was great (we did finally find her one at the end) ;)</p> <p>Overall I think we all did a good job of keeping everyone sticking to PPP, and the honest feedback of what was good and what wasn't was wonderful. Sylvie, I'm definitely one of those people who takes in 50 items and comes out with 1, if that (though I didn't really ask for a lot of feedback). It's tiring, yes, but I found if I rule out too much I get MORE frustrated than when I try a lot of things for some reason.</p> <p>I too found that seeing the same garment, even if not in the same size, on multiple bodies was incredibly useful whether one of those bodies was me or not. It also amused me to no end that several of us are drawn to the SAME pieces, and even WEAR the same pieces, but our styles clearly aren't the same. For example, Mary and I could very well have identical casual closets (probably halfway do, too) since we're drawn to the same things, but our styles are so different.</p> <p>I also very much enjoyed that were all at different points in our wardrobes, style journeys, and shopping comfort levels; each person sees things a little differently, and of course differently than I do, which is so educational. We all have great little tips and tricks that one would only learn by watching someone shop!</p> <p>One thing that I was hoping we'd be able to do that we didn't was to stop by one or two of the high end stores at the big mall. Last year we stopped by Anne Fontaine and it was very educational to study the quality of the lines and fabrics at a store like that. I think it would have been a good learning experience and quality reminder for us.</p> <p>And of course the non-fashion conversation was just wonderful! Una, by the way, has some of the BEST stories. I too feel an extra non-shopping day would be a great addition; I thoroughly enjoyed spending my extra half a day with Isabel, chatting and sipping tea, and not shopping.</p> <p>EDIT: Also, one other thing about group shopping: since we all have different styles it's rewarding to see items I wouldn't normally wear on others; sometimes they make me want to branch and try something new, and sometimes it reaffirms something about my own style for myself. Much better than buying and finding out the hard way! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749827 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 02:35:41 +0000 Caro in Oz 749827@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much for sharing - I too would love to be able to go to one of these meetups. Like clothing people can have more dimensions in real life. My heart feels really full reading this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749810 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 02:22:42 +0000 catgirl 749810@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another piece of learning - photos don't always tell the whole story. Rae's slouchy pants look great in the photos, but you can't imagine how insanely fab they are IRL! Seeing, knowing the texture, and having the movement make all kinds of differences. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749808 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 02:21:02 +0000 Transcona Shannon 749808@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Reading this just makes me want to be part of one of these amazing YLF gatherings! Not only does it sound like so much fun, but what a learning experience. It's always good to have another set of eyes when you're shopping, but to have several sets of YLF eyes....well you KNOW you're gonna come home with something good! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749794 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 02:14:12 +0000 Jaime 749794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Every bit of the posts about this weekend has been fascinating, insightful and just fun. I cannot even imagine how great it was to be there! Keep the epiphanies coming! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749759 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 01:51:41 +0000 MsMary 749759@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I sure don't feel indefatigable! It's taken me two days to even begin to recover! LOL I am a rank amateur compared to Rae, Una and Aida!!</p> <p>I agree, it was an amazing, amazing experience from beginning to end!</p> <p>Nancy, I agree that the non-fashion discussions were just fantastically interesting and rewarding! Whoulda thunk we could have had such a wonderful, friendly, totally upbeat discussion over lunch abut RELIGION and POLITICS?? Amazing! </p> <p>In fact, I agree with everything that's been said so far, and I also have to give a special shout-out to Aida, my style sister who taught me the amazing concept of "size up for slouchiness" and also showed me that a pendant can be fab but a giant pendant can be SUPER fab! Such fun!!!</p> <p>Can't wait to do it again! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749695 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:50:00 +0000 Sylvie 749695@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Mochi, you are so right! Aida, Rae, Una and MaryK are indefatigable! I do *not* have that kind of shopping stamina. And two days was far, far too short. I think next time we need an extra day for workshops.</p> <p>Day 1: Mall shopping.<br /> Day 2: Workshops.<br /> Day 3: Swap meet, boutiques, Rack, Marshalls, ie, nonstandard shops.</p> <p>Una, you are very kind. I appreciate you (literally) letting me try on the shirt off your back in some cases.</p> <p>ETA: I don't think we saw this at TopShop but I have to order and try it on now:</p> <p><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3402951?origin=wishlist" rel="nofollow">http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/34.....n=wishlist</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749686 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:44:05 +0000 catgirl 749686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sylvie, same here on the green jacket. Some other chick will love it. And I loved meeting you! You were not a pest any more than I was, believe me. YouLookPest? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749685 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:40:44 +0000 Sylvie 749685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a great summary! If you don't mind, I'll tag my thoughts/epiphanies onto this as well:</p> <p>It was so helpful to me to shop with people who have really good eyes for clothing. I'd see someone trying on something fab that I hadn't noticed on the rack and then make a pest of myself by insisting on trying it on as well. Everyone was so generous with their finds, passing them around, helping each other find different colors and sizes and offering thoughtful commentary.</p> <p>I also found it very therapeutic that I was the same size (at least in the shoulders) as several of the others there. I felt much better about my body shape and size.</p> <p>In the past year as I've been building my wardrobe, I've mostly stuck to buying from standard retail outlets where I can expect to find every size available. There were killer items to be found at the Rack, Marshalls and the swap meet but one has to work through what's on sale methodically and be very discerning. It's much easier to be patient with the process if you already have a working wardrobe and are just looking to add one or two pieces instead of trying to rebuild from scratch.</p> <p>Also, I had not realized that while some of us *cough*Shannon*cough*Natalie* are able to build their wardrobe and figure out their style simultaneously, for me, it is a two step process. I have a wardrobe that ensures I am always dressed appropriately (step one) and now I know enough to start figuring out my style (step two). Aida mentioned that she initially experimented with many different styles of clothing bought at inexpensive prices before building her wardrobe around her preferred style.</p> <p>I am hyper efficient while shopping and rule out things without even bothering to try them on. By contrast, some of our most hard core shoppers would bring stacks of items into the fitting room, then emerge triumphant with 1 or 2 killer pieces. I need to adopt the same strategy and be more open to the potential of clothes. Under the influence, I got over my fixation on size and willingly sized up to get a better fit instead of rejecting something because my "desired size" didn't fit.</p> <p>I had so much fun and I'm so glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to attend. It was wonderful to meet everyone. Last but not least, that green jacket was very cool but I don't regret passing on it at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749657 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:09:41 +0000 Mochi 749657@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have nothing new to add here, really. (And I will piggyback on Una's thread, since I'm too lazy to start my own.)</p> <p>I agree that seeing everyone grab things for other members of the group and come up with a group consensus (always right) that this or that item fit better on A, B, or C--or occasionally on no one--was priceless. </p> <p>I saw how shopping is WORK! It's still fun, but it is a serious endeavor, and you will do best if you're in the zone. </p> <p>Start out by going to the right places. </p> <p>I also thought about, and had a few discussions with others on, the benefits of shopping with savvy YLF-ers as opposed to going shopping alone. I surely would have spent my time, as a SHOPPER, alone very differently, probably wandering in and out of small boutiques more than parking for an hour at a bigger store. But as an education in clothing fit, it was invaluable to see how working in tandem with friends was so great. And also--focus. I don't have any, and that is one reason I like to wander around. I could see the tenacity of Una and rae, for example. They probably didn't even think of it that way. They're just shopping and having fun! To me it was like every item in the store was being combed over, LOL. Let it be known that I was NOT bored. Exhausted, yes. </p> <p>I'll also say as a complete aside that it was also so nice to have all of our totally non-fashion-related conversations over dinner. This is one whip-smart group of women. And totally hilarious. I have not laughed so much in ages. The stories....OMG some of you have second careers in standup if you ever want it! </p> <p>I also would have liked to have the photo and dye workshops, and didn't need quite as much mall time, but that could have been remedied also by having more time. And it also would have been brilliant to have completely non-shopping downtime during the day--a trip to Disney or even just soaking in the hot tub at the motel. But still, it was a perfect weekend, and I'm totally happy with it. I have the most excellent memories. </p> <p>Whew! It takes a high-energy person like Angie to do this for a living. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749652 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:05:50 +0000 DonnaF 749652@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha, ha, ha. I often order to experiment in the less embarrassing privacy of my home. DD and I are overlapping sizes but very different body types, so it is interesting when we try on the same clothing since the same thing can look so radically different on our respective bodies such that you would never guess that its the same style. A Target dress looked terrible on her and pretty good on me, but I must say, her BR pea coat flatters me at least as much! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749637 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:48:21 +0000 rachylou 749637@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very thoughtful. Your observations on how the same item can really look so different on different people struck home for me. And I am also touched by the YLF generosity, searching out finds for one another... I remember high school how people hoarded style finds, and it's quite rude now that I think about it. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749605 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:07:27 +0000 rae 749605@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love this! I had some of the same realizations - the one about ordering to experiment especially. I'm so glad I did not have to order alllll that Topshop stuff only to find it alllll didn't work. Also? Shopping burns them calories, yo! I was amazed how hungry I got so quickly. The best was having a panel of highly trained fashion judges at hand to give instant feedback... Honestly it makes me want to shop at YLF events exclusively! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749600 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:04:18 +0000 bj1111 749600@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>great thoughts...i'm sure you'll have more.</p> <p>i felt the same way seeing people try on stuff during the chicago ylf. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-and-epiphanies-from-shoptoberfest#post-749589 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:56:18 +0000 catgirl 749589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ETA: By all means anyone who wants to post about meetups, add your 2 cents (or 200 cents)...</p> <p>So much to condense in one post! I'm sure there will be more than one - apologies in advance for that.</p> <p>For two days of shopping, I actually didn't come home with much, and I consider that a triumph of PPP in action. I got a citron jacket from H &amp; M, the army pants from Zara, and a burgundy sweater from Club Monaco (thanks to MaryK's "11 out of 10" rating!). I picked up a fringe leather bag and a triple-hole wide belt at the swap meet for a total of $7. Mochi kindly brought me the right size of the H &amp; M emerald moto. Oh, and I got a silver Nine West clutch with a handle at Marshalls. Not a lot for someone prepared to shop up to her eyeballs.</p> <p>But what I did was LEARN and REALIZE... That's the real benefit of meeting other YLFers!</p> <p>The first thing that struck me was how much satisfaction I got just from browsing and trying things on IRL, and having (for me) an infinite amount of time to do it. This made me realize that 90% of my orders are just to experiment for fun - or explore, as Janet said - and play dress up. If I could do this more often, I'd probably cut down on most of my actual orders. </p> <p>For instance, we went to Zara (a personal goal!) and the only thing I ended up with was the army harem pants I'm wearing today. Those were also something I'd scouted in advance.</p> <p>Getting to try stuff on was also invaluable in educating myself about sizing in different stores and brands. H &amp; M runs crazy small and the quality was all over, though I did get a citron jacket very similar to the Theory jacket there.</p> <p>Seeing certain items on different body types was also super helpful and therapeutic too. Several of us are in a very close size range, yet the same item would llook totally different on each of us. Rae's slouchy checked pants were a good example - both Aida and I tried them also and immediately could see they didn't work. Rae tried them last and it was like the pants were transformed into pure awesomeness! Then there was a sweater at Club Monaco that I picked up and that happened to fit me best out of everyone who tried it. Sylvie and I tried as hard as we could to force each other to buy a studded green pleather jacket in a boutique that worked on both of us (but neither one ended up with it). Body type really does play a huge part in how things look.</p> <p>Aida and I came up with this puzzle: is an hourglass both an IT and a pear? </p> <p>Above all, it was amazing to have a travelng group of friends all knowledgeable, interested, patient, picky, persistent, hilarious and willing to put in time to really weigh in on everything. There was so much of "this doesn't work for me, you try it". Colors, styles, cut, sizing - just getting to observe all the factors in action was like taking a grad level fashion course. And that's not even counting the sheer thrill of meeting people who seem like favorite characters in a book you love to read over and over. </p> <p>We didn't even get to the lessons we'd planned (dye workshop and photography), plus I was hoping to do some body measurements. Two days of non-stop shopping was more exhausting than I thought! If we could do it differently, with infinite time and money, I'd do three days - which would give us the time to do two days of shopping but mix it up with a couple of the workshops and hanging out time. Oh, and I wish I'd crammed in a day at Disney with Kari. </p> <p>I am so so grateful to have been able to go to this meet-up. Anyone else have thoughts about meetup lessons learned?</p> <p>Oh, here's another one: when MaryK starts calling everything "hideous" it's time for a drink. </p>