https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:16:30 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379855 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:10:35 +0000 MsMary 379855@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Marley, that is a GREAT story!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379853 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:08:42 +0000 Marley 379853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This sounds fun - but I have to admit, I also thought of the J. Peterman catalog - and then immediately started remembering the Seinfeld episodes and got distracted by that! </p> <p>Today, I spent the day with my granddaughters (ages 10 and 11) and I wore a black and white polka dot dress with a red belt, my black and white oxfords, and a white with black polka dot headband. I think it perfectly fit the occassion - 2 little girls with their sylish Nana, out to lunch and then manicures! Love that story! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379842 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:58:28 +0000 catgirl 379842@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>bionda, yes, it is like the j. peterman catalog! I remember how it didn't even have pictures, only drawings, and I still got sucked in... Remember all the Seinfeld episodes with Peterman?</p> <p>lyn, it was the shearling jacket that spawned the Earhart story! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379826 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:47:20 +0000 D'Ellen 379826@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When clothes start telling me stories I know I'm in trouble. Those little vignettes running through my head, like something out of a J Peterman catalog, always lead me astray. Before I know it I've bought the perfect sweater to wear while tramping across a Scottish moor on a cool spring morning just after dawn, or for sitting in front of a fire on a secluded beach drinking champagne and basking in the glow of a late autumn sunset. That sweater has no function in my real life, but it's in my closet dreaming its dreams. And on the rare occasions I do wear it, I'm dreaming mine...so maybe it does have a function after all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379791 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:46:21 +0000 san 379791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is such and interesting way to look at items we might consider wearing! You are so creative. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379784 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:30:29 +0000 lyn* 379784@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow ... I want to see a pic of the item that is :"Indian woman morphs into Amelia Earhart"</p> <p>It makes me think of a sari in leather with lamb-fluff. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379779 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:25:59 +0000 Refugee 379779@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do something similar. I look at what I am wearing as a work of art. And then title it as such. Before I get dressed, I am like Aida and ask "who do I want to be today?" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379681 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:14:54 +0000 Kari 379681@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a fun idea! </p> <p>My outfit today doesn't really have a story to go with it, but when I got dressed I decided I was "The Little Mermaid goes to work." I just dyed my hair, and it came out a bit more vibrantly red than I'm used to since my usual dye color was out of stock; plus, I'm wearing a teal dress and a seashell-like silver pendant necklace. Channeling my inner sassy Disney princess, I suppose! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379619 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:34:58 +0000 Aida 379619@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love this, so interesting! I don't come up with a concrete story, but I do mood dress; when I'm getting ready I'm usually thinking in the back of my head, "Who do I want to be today?" and more to the forefront, "What colors/textures am I inspired by today, and how do they relate both to me and other colors/textures?" Of course this is all on some level of cloudiness and just sort of happens to dictate my item choices, usually nothing I can grab onto and verbalize </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379534 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:07:44 +0000 Anonymous 379534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@ Jonesy : I used to to that too. Like when I bought a studded belt to wear when asking for a raise, to make me look: Like a medieval chevalier in his shiny armour. Course I din't wear it. It looked a bit much with the moto jeans.<br /> I have a dear friend who said i like nice clothes, I'll find an occasion to wear it. She falls in love with the cloth and creates the story! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379485 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:15:30 +0000 Jonesy 379485@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I know what you mean, Una. I think my problem sometimes is that I concoct a story about the garment at the store that's maybe a bit romanticized, then I get my new piece home and somehow the story doesn't hold up...Or there are practical concerns with the piece that mar the story I'm trying to create (e.g., too hot, not comfortable, etc.). But I continue to do it! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379450 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:40:54 +0000 catgirl 379450@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Julie, I think it does account for my eclectic tastes - it's my tendency to fall for a good story! Sometimes I like to dress for my moods (tough rocker chick, icy professional, etc...) and this could be sort of an extension of that.</p> <p>Tell me how your version of this idea works!</p> <p>It was fun to see how coming up with a story helped us figure out how to style an item as we'd want to wear it, in order to tell that "story". Once she started thinking of how to set the tone that way (bringing out the Vince sweater's rustic look deliberately, rather than treating it as a modern, cozy but potentially frumpy item), it shed a whole new light. She even thought of an old giant kilt pin she had that would be perfect to keep it closed and give it that medieval look. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379444 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:33:18 +0000 RoseandJoan 379444@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>actually Una, in my stories I'm always me but in a different location, in your stories are you playing a character? It could account for the eclectic wardrobe, this piece is for my warrier days whilst this is my dancer dress! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379441 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:32:06 +0000 Heather 379441@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is my M.O., Una. I'm so on your page. Carry on! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379439 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:29:28 +0000 Lisa 379439@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not big on imagination, as a facts gal, but this is quite interesting. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379428 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:11:36 +0000 RoseandJoan 379428@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yep, I'm guilty of this too but it is usually a colour combo or print that gets me all wistful. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379417 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:54:55 +0000 catgirl 379417@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>yellowgirl, what's interesting is that some clothes either had no story (at least for us) or told a story we didn't like, such as "Eleanor Rigby". There was a Lafayette 148 sleeveless top in a spinach green that we wanted to like, but the color was off and said "out-of-date and meek" to both of us somehow. To someone else, it may say something totally different! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379407 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:46:34 +0000 yellowgirl 379407@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is so interesting! I don't think I've ever done this - I must be much shorter on imagination than all of you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379403 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:44:04 +0000 catgirl 379403@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dashrashi, that is EXACTLY what I'm talking about! And MaryK, I thought of you when this idea came to me - your clothes always tell a story (real estate agent, country club member...) - I'll have to check out today's look! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379394 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:23:11 +0000 Dashrashi 379394@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For the past three or so years, I have been very, very attracted to what I've taken to calling "Early 20th Century Maine mental institution"--to wit, rustic, grandpa-ish, Americana/heritage fabrics/patterns/styles combined with weird structures, unusual shapes, buttons in weird places (I guess like a straitjacket? This is where the mental institution part comes in--one part institutional-issue homespun-ish stuff, one part off-kilter). This includes odd combinations of Americana type stuff (mixing plaids, etc.) and stuff that looks handcrafted (like it was done by a patient/relative for a patient--embroidery, etc.--not that those early 20th century mental institutions were so well-known for their commitment to arts &amp; crafts therapy. Sigh). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379391 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:22:17 +0000 mrseccentric 379391@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great idea, and lots of fun! i name most of my clothes - i just always have. your idea of making up stories is also practical, it can help a person 'tap into' their emotional/creative connection (or not) to a garment, which is a big help in terms of styling and deciding whether a piece will fit into your wardrobe or not. Fun! stpeh </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379381 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:59:25 +0000 Mo 379381@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do something similar in that the BF and I often name outfits or articles of clothing. I have my Nissan shoes because they perfectly match his red Nissan truck with chrome. And when I wore my shift dress with them, it became the NissMo outfit. Now, Nissan's ad motto is *shift* and Nismo is actually an extras package you can get on trucks. Anyway, it's just one in the list of 'toilet paper shirt', 'lettuce legs', 'tree' outfit, etcetera . . .</p> <p>EDIT: I love your idea but since I'm still in the stage of thinking about *where* I am going to wear something before buying it, it's a bit advanced for me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379373 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:47:11 +0000 DressLover 379373@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I LOVE the idea of this. It reminds me of Project Runway when the designers were up there trying to defend their designs and concocted these elaborate stories about who would wear their dress made of car parts and coffee filters. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379369 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:36:45 +0000 MsMary 379369@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>LOVE!! I do this all the time! Today I am "slightly dotty gardening lady!" Heh. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/when-clothes-tell-a-story-your-thoughts#post-379367 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:33:48 +0000 catgirl 379367@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One of the most fun parts of my encounter at Nordie's yesterday was when my new friend tried on a long Vince deep brown wool cardi/wrap with a hood. It looked fabulous on her, but she told me she had misgivings about brown being "low energy". (I told her about YLF's term "soul-sucking beige"!). I explained that this saturated brown was very different, but she was still struggling with how she would style it. And then a story came to me - I said to picture it like a character from 'The Lion In Winter" - it's cold, and you're stalking around an icy castle with your woolens and a big belt and boots, looking rustic and regal. That made us both see the sweater in a completely different light.</p> <p>We went through the rest of our selections to see if they told us a story ("Hip widow time travels to revolutionary France" or "Indian woman morphs into Amelia Earhart") and if the story didn't appeal, we rejected the item. It was actually an incredible way to sort out what we did and didn't love. </p> <p>What do you think of this idea? Do you ever do it? Am I just nuts? I'm going to apply it to my outfits for the next week or so and see if it helps me gain more insight into my own choices. </p>