https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 28 May 2026 11:14:42 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787190 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 21:14:34 +0000 JAileen 1787190@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Diana, your sweater is really lovely. I don't know how you could think it's not making a statement. And if it's making a statement, then it's not an essential. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787156 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 19:26:25 +0000 krishnidoux 1787156@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Your outfit is wonderful and you look radiant in it.<br /> Your question about essentials confusion speaks to me bc it's something i am also guilty of: mistaking a statement for an essential. Because it's there in my closet and presents some elements of the needed essential description ( ex: it's light, it's got long sleeves, it's knit), I neglect to buy the essential in question... Not realizing a statement piece cannot accomplish an essential's job.<br /> But your outfit looks great! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787147 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 19:01:02 +0000 viva 1787147@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That sweater is one glorious statement of beauty. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787084 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:53:21 +0000 Anonymous 1787084@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agree with Angie to keep it simple. "Handknits" are your statement.<br /> I mean, not many people wear handknits at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787076 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:14:48 +0000 Elizabeth P 1787076@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Diana!&nbsp; One of these days I fully intend to pick up my needles again, it's great having your inspiration and help to find patterns I like. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787075 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:13:35 +0000 anchie 1787075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would say that all essentials are workhorses, but not all workhorses are essentials &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787073 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 15:00:01 +0000 Diana 1787073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm glad this was helpful for some of you!</p> <p>Elizabeth, this is the pattern I used, although I modified it a bit:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.yarnspirations.com/patterns/cable-sweater.html">http://www.yarnspirations.com/.....eater.html</a><br />More info here, including some errata:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cable-sweater-16">http://www.ravelry.com/pattern.....sweater-16</a><br />My notes are here, although they're not very extensive:<br /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/akabori/cabled-sweater">http://www.ravelry.com/project.....ed-sweater</a></p> <p>Liz A, see that's what I thought too when I read the original post, but Angie said my categories were too broad.&nbsp; And I think one thing I've realized in this discussion is that you don't HAVE to have essentials in every category.&nbsp; (Like, they can all be statements, as long as there are some workhorses in there.)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787068 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 14:33:06 +0000 Liz A. 1787068@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would think an essential would be a category of items that your wardrobe doesn't function without. &nbsp;So like the black pants you're wearing wouldn't specifically be an essential, but having a well fitting pair of black skinnies is. &nbsp;Same with handknit sweaters in your case. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787028 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 11:49:31 +0000 Elizabeth P 1787028@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was also going to say statement, so I'm glad I would have been right... I'm slowly getting it!&nbsp; No way is this sweater a backdrop to anything, it's a beautiful piece unto itself.</p> <p>Any way you can link to the pattern?&nbsp; I could really use something like this. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1787008 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 09:04:09 +0000 Style Fan 1787008@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That was very helpful.&nbsp; The sweater is a statement.&nbsp; <br />Beautiful outfit.&nbsp; Beautiful sweater. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786998 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 06:54:22 +0000 rachylou 1786998@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ok ok. Essentials don't have to be workhorses... Have to drill that into my head. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786985 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 05:29:48 +0000 Gigi 1786985@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This was a very helpful post. I was going to say that the sweater could be an essential, since it probably goes with almost everything in your wardrobe, and in that sense, it makes your wardrobe "work." So I have definitely learned something. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786983 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 04:59:13 +0000 Firecracker (Sharan) 1786983@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Glad you asked the question, Diana. I have trouble thinking about essentials, sometimes, too. It's becoming clearer. Your discussion here makes me realize I don't sew essentials. I could, but I generally don't. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786959 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 02:56:53 +0000 Angie 1786959@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Then it's settled. ALL your hand knits are statement pieces. EASY!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786954 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 02:41:45 +0000 Diana 1786954@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Heh. I guess I don't really have any essential handknits, Angie. I mean, I have a plain black handknit cashmere sweater (although it has an interesting collar) which I like but it's not really a favorite. </p> <p>Thank you for the clarification. I get it now that I was confusing essentials with workhorses. I think I have lots of workhorses in some categories (like pullovers) but few or no essentials. And that's ok! I guess for me the ideal of highest-happiness-factor item would be a workhorse statement and not an essential at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786924 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 01:44:47 +0000 Angie 1786924@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A fabulous Diana outfit, </p> <p>Like I said in my reply to you in the blog post - you need to separate the essential hand knits from the statements. This is a statement.&nbsp;</p> <p>No. An essential cannot be a statement piece. Muddies the waters. That said, a statement piece can be a workhorse, and frequently worn - like my green specs.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786917 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 01:31:52 +0000 Momo 1786917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am not sure about essential or not .. haven't wrapped my head around this topic yet... but may I say I really love that outfit on you, it is simple and so pretty. Of course the sweater is stunning. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786865 Sun, 12 Mar 2017 22:07:10 +0000 Jenn 1786865@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I suspect the same item can be a statement or an essential, depending on whose wardrobe it's in. I have an off-white cabled sweater that I consider an essential. For me, it's just another weight of ivory top that I can sub in depending on the weather.&nbsp;</p> <p>Your hand knits, on the other hand, are all special and unique to your looks, so I'd call this a statement. I'd love to hear Angie's thoughts, though, because I'm learning from every reply she posts. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wiw-essentials-or#post-1786858 Sun, 12 Mar 2017 21:55:02 +0000 Diana 1786858@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is an often-repeated FFBO that I'm sure you've all seen before but I took a pic of it today because I think it's a good illustration of my confusion about essentials. </p> <p>So, the black skinnies and the black knee high boots are definitely essentials. I don't think anyone would argue about those. But what about the handknit sweater? I wear it like once a week in the winter. It's a neutral color and I can just throw it on and go. But on the other hand it's a one of a kind, handmade piece and heavily cabled, which might make it more of a statement. So I guess my question is: can an essential also be a statement piece so long as it's versatile? Or does it have to be a "background" sort of piece, like the black jeans here?</p> <p>The MZ Wallace crossbody is another one of these confusing possibly-essential items. It's definitely got statement qualities and gets noticed all the time but it goes with everything and is my go-to small bag (when I don't need to carry a lunch and/or laptop). </p>