2020 styling tweaks - YouLookFab Forum

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2020 styling tweaks

Helena

Veteran

Hi everyone,

In line with the theme of sustainability, and also as a result of my personal frustration with myself for buying trends only to wear them once (I don't buy a lot, to be fair ... but it still annoys me when a piece is worn twice and then languishes in the closet), I am thinking about styling tweaks which make classic pieces feel more current. A few things I've been doing to 'update' my pieces:

leaning more on my higher waisted and looser jeans
doing a full tuck more often (still doing a semi-tuck a lot due to my short and straight waist)
layering delicate jewellery (I know this has been around for a while, but it still feels current to me - correct me if I'm wrong?)
hacking jeans to an above-the-ankle "flood" length
straightening or bending my lob haircut (straight is feeling fresh to me again, after a few years of nothing-but-curls, which, to be clear, are still gorgeous!)
wearing a berry-wine lip (a la 90's Revlon "Wine with Everything", who remembers???)

What styling tweaks are you making to freshen up what you already own?

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Helena

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My dear Helena, do items languish in your closet because of the harsh Canadian Winter, or because they are too dressy perhaps? If that's the case - that is soooo okay! You have a small wardrobe that works hard, from what I can see. You can't expect every item to be a workhorse

Your styling tweaks sound great! I almost always see you with straight hair - have I missed the curls, or do I need more tea? It's 7am...

You are a big jeans gal. I vote refresh those with a trendier look, and love the direction you are thinking about.

I'm tweaking my hair and got a new pearl ring....

notsaf

Veteran

Great ideas, Helena!

As spring starts I'm:
- pulling out woven, button-down shirts (worn with camisoles while it's still chilly!)
- wearing high-waisted breezier cropped flare jeans (for now with ankle boots, but soon with bare ankles!)
- enjoying classic jewellery and adding a few new pieces to my collection
- focusing on hair health and embracing my natural color and texture
- and loving all the 90's and 70's vibes in Angie's style summaries!

Marilyn

Veteran

This sounds great, Helena. I've got a similar haircut to yours and my flat iron and I are best friends. I almost always hit the ends with it for a super straight, sleek look. I also sometimes do that wavy technique that you posted a while back.

I also feel fresh in "flood pants" and I feel my most put together with a bold berry lip. LOVE this one in Healthy Lips. It's sheer so gives a nice pop of colour without being too heavy.

https://www.thebay.com/laura-m.....r=CSE_GGLP

nemosmom

Veteran

*Hi-fiving my languishing trendy piece twin*

I've been making a conscious effort to:

- reach for my flare jeans and turtlenecks more often (I think the jeans will be too long to wear with non-boots come spring, so I am trying to enjoy them while I can still wear boots!)

- put extra effort into manicures, as my hands look terrible in winter.

- play with earrings from my box. I have so many that never get worn...

- play with different updos since my last hair cut was a bit of a disaster.

- use up my makeup stash (I tend to hold on to favorites and never wear them, then they get too old and I have to toss them)

Synne

Veteran

Great topic! I'll add: Leaving roll-neck necks (?) up. Deep cuffs on jeans. Tonal dressing. All achiavable with classic items already in our wardrobe.

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Runcarla

Veteran

I’ve been tucking my tops much more in order to highlight the higher waist. Doing a ‘wear everything’ challenge as part of SYC (Style Your Closet) is getting everything into rotation.

Joy

Veteran

I try hardest to keep jeans/ pants and footwear updated. I am having to wear pull on pants rather than jeans. So am thinking wide and cropped and color. My footwear must be flats and cover the foot ( no sandals) so there are limitations. It looks like anything goes right now in fashion which gives me more time to wear out what I have. Boots and booties are my cool/cold weather choices and espadrilles or perforated flats for hot/warm weather.
I need easy on and off ( not tie footwear) as no one wears footwear inside here and I am getting too old for lots of stooping and bending.
I have several pair of pull on pants that can be worn full length in cooler weather or cuffed for a cropped look in warmer weather. These are a straight silhouette. For wider legs I will probably have to commit to a length.
Tops... I am tucking in front and usually popping an indoor topper over the top. Often a scarf gets added on top of that.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

sound like good ideas for getting the most out of your wardrobe.lm trying to think of different combos of clothing that I already own rather than falling back on the same outfits time and again.Different nail polish,makeup and hairstyles help me to feel alittle fresher as well.l think that tucking tops in and wearing belts is definitely in the air at the moment.

rachylou

Veteran

I do feel more fitted, more structure is looking most fresh now for me. So am with you on high waists and full tucking. I’m pretty off my longer tops...

Anonymous

I'm on team pull on pants (and skirts) with Joy for the foreseeable future- so no tucking, belting, or otherwise pain inducing clothing for me! My main update has been magpie makeup- bold in compacts but subtle on me. Also added more asymmetry and the snake booties this winter, and been doing more tonal looks too.
Eta- big yes to wine lipstick, but that's my mlbb color!

smittie

Veteran

For me, it’s a haircut and a keratin straightening treatment. Is that more than a tweak?
Also got a black Fitbit (the skinny one).

Also on my must-buy tweaks are:
- necklace for summer (and I still think the layered necklace look is very current and a good, low-key embellishment).

- scarves for winter.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Those sound like excellent tweaks!

Higher waists and (mostly) looser denim have been my main tweaks so far this year.

Sal

Veteran

I am also into showing my waistband - and tucking tops.

I am darkening my eyebrows a bit too.

I did add some small dainty earrings and I agree layered delicate jewelry is current.

I like the 90s lipsticks but not on me sadly. They barely worked in my 20s let alone my very late 40s.

It is fun to notice the small details that can make a big difference.

Helena

Veteran

Hi all, so sorry I posted and ran - Daddy-daughter day with my Dad today

Love all the suggestions and tweaks! Thanks all for sharing so much; some fab suggestions and ideas here.

Angie, the two trendy-for-me pieces that particularly annoyed me this week - one is a dressy (for my lifestyle) piece from Zara and so I give that one a pass, the other dressy-for-me leopard blouse I am sick of after wearing I think only once?! ... and the other ON cardi isn't even overly trendy, but it was a 'current' styling choice (to wear buttoned up and tucked) and as it is technically perfect for my casual lifestyle, it aggravates me that it's not getting wear. I know why - the fit is too loose and the neck is too low (and the colour is too blah really) - so I know I could purchase better if I chose something similar, but it irks me to make the mistake and then purchase again to fix it!

In any case, I'm not fussing about that too much; it's just what got me down this train of thought ... about how sometimes a styling tweak can take a classic piece into current territory.

Agree on the jeans! Definitely on my spring list; come on nicer weather! And I did purchase a sand beige coatigan which I waiting for from BR and hoping the fit isn't too loosy-goosy.

The hair, yes, true! I think I usually take photos right after I get ready, so my hair is blowdried straight, but not yet curled, which I sneak up to do later in they day once it's had a chance to 'settle' after being blowdried (perks of working from home) ... but yes, I often do the bendy/curly style that Marilyn references. I still love it; it's just that straight now feels current again - whereas in recent years straight has felt rather classic-but-not-fresh iykwim.

Thanks everyone; Marilyn, love that lippie!

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Jaime

(website)

Veteran

My buy nothing tweaks lately are playing around with necklaces to vary my hoop earrings and go look, playing around with makeup to enhance my eyes rather than focus on lip color all the time. Your tweaks sound grand and I want to see a hairstyle comparison series (if you have time and interest of course!).

Anonymous

I'm doing the same things Jaime is: different jewellery looks, trying different makeup , and trying to wear more of my scarves. I have big collections of all 3 of these things. Basically, I'm in keep-my-head-down mode while we persevere through the last 6 weeks of winter and I'm trying not to think about my clothes. Finally, it's warm today after a sold month of cold. Remind me why we think winter is so great again?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Helena, it's okay! We all make mistakes and learn from them. I know I can be VERY off animal print for my own style......it happens. And neck ties can be annoying. Try the buttoned up cardi with WIDER jeans

Helena

Veteran

Lisa, I definitely don't lol - I hate winter! I see it was the tax I pay on living in a great country

Angie, great tip; I'll try it!