A gentle reminder - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

A gentle reminder

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Some recent comments prompted this. Everybody on here is on a different budget. What is affordable to one may be impossible for another. But we are all welcome here, that is what makes this place so special. I would never dream of criticizing someone who exclusively dressed from thrift shops or fast fashion. The same should hold true for those that like higher end and designer items.

General

38 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That's spot on, Anna. It is my wish that we respect all budgets on YLF - both high and low, and everything in-between. Just like we respect all body types, complexions, ages and style personas. That's because we practice style from the inside out. xo

Deborah

Veteran

Totally agree Anna. I tend to think what we spend on clothes is relative to our incomes. I personally love living vicariously through those forum members with larger bugets than my own At least I get to enjoy high end fashion from a distance

Anonymous

Yes, I agree AND I live vicariously thru you and those with higher budgets than mine

Gaylene

Veteran

Good reminder, Anna.

The YLF forum is a very diverse group. Different tastes, budgets, preferences, nationalities, ages, body shapes, shopping habits--I could keep this list going, but you get the drift. But it's this very diversity that makes the forum so addictive.

For example, my style is totally different than yours, Anna, but I'll never leave a YLF session without checking for one of your outfit posts. You have such a fabulous, fun, and fearless approach that I learn something new from every one of your posts. (I'm still trying to figure out how to work a faux mohawk hat into my super conservative, classic style!)

Adelfa

Veteran

What a nice, positive way of dealing with potentially hurtful comments (though I'm sure nobody meant to be hurtful at all). I've been on both ends, from not having a fraction of what my peers had to spend on clothing, to having some around me wish they had my budget. The idea of no judgment either way is so appealing. Anna, I've loved how you put your preferences and your wardrobe out there for us to see, to appreciate, and to give feedback on. It's actually helped me as I attempt to sort through my values around putting clothes on myself!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Here here! I adore looking at the finer things, and also admire the thrift scores. I might have a tinge of envy on occasion (yes I'm human!) but love to see it all.
Diversity thrills me so much more than the same 'it' bag or alternately, office wear look. Bring it!

Krista

Veteran

Agreed! The reminder is always appreciated and you've shared it in a very diplomatic fashion. Thank you!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Love how you dealt with this.

Laura B.

I was just going to comment on the other thread about this. You are one classy lady though and did it much better than I could have.

My favorite part of YLF is the diversity in styles and of course all the love too <3

Marley

Veteran

I'm thinking that I must have missed something - but, whatever comments prompted this - I completely agree with you Anna!

Debbie

Veteran

Agreed Anna. We all have budgets and we should respect that.

jennifer

Veteran

Also some Designers also do budget lines/crossover lines /special lines for a single run at a store (e.g. Issac Mizrahi,Missoni,.for Target..Norma Kamali for Walmart .I'm sure there are others I just don't recall at the moment) So sneering at a budget store is sort of shortsighted.
I've bought a pair of brown Thom McCann loafers at Walmart and then later went to the mall shopping around and I saw the EXACT SAME SHOE.Only difference was the logo on the bottom of the sole .

Oh ..And the price point.(about 3-4 times the budget option!) BTW the loafers were in rotation for about 6 years ,butter soft leather too.Boy do I wish I could find a new pair ..or two or...?

I figure that IF I can find a quality piece that is easy on the budget then $$ can go further and maybe splurge on a big ticket item(s) that cannot be found as easily .
However I do understand that there are some people who are cash wealthy and time poor and so find it better for their life to shop at full retail in a few fell swoops per year.(They are probably also the same people who donate new /nearly new stuff to thrift stores as they don't have the time to return mistakes .Definitely Appreciated!)

always trying

Veteran

I am new here, so don't know what has been going on as far as prior comments, but for me it is all about how something looks on you, how it fits, suits your lifestyle, appropriate for the occasion etc. than cost. Lotsa cute stuff out there at all price ranges.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Amen, Anna. This is not a finance forum, so in my mind judgements on budget choices are not really relevant or called for (unless someone, you know, calls for them explicitly in a post). We all have different incomes, expenses, and loves in life, and we all spend on our different loves - whether they be clothes, food, kids, cats, cars, real estate, or whatever.

Diana

Veteran

Well said, Anna.

minime

Long time lurker here,but this post made me want to post and agree with everything Anna has so diplomatically written.I don't believe that anyone has the right to pass judgement on any body else for how they spend their money,not just in regard to clothes etc,but every thing.I would never do it,and I don't believe others should either.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I agree Anna, but now I am curious...

Lyn D.

Veteran

Oh right, I see!
I think perhaps no malice was intended? A question was asked and answered in perhaps a pretty straightforward and off the cuff way.
A timely reminder though of our glorious differences, that can teach us alot about others and ourselves too

Irene

Veteran

Hi, I don't know where this is coming from but I can sort of guess.

It is true that we all live in very different budgets, lead different sorts of lifestyle and have different priorities. However, that's kind of hard to guess from just a post!

I don't think I've ever told you (or anyone else) anything price-related because I am the first one that understands that you do what you want with your own hard-earned money. However, most of the beautiful garments you and many other members post are far, far, far out of my budget. I believe this happens for two reasons:

- I am young. I don't work atm, but even when I did, my salary was very, very, very humble
- The prices and garments you guys post are American and in USD. I bet your basic salary is much higher than the one you can find in Spain (a Spanish ok salary -you can find a lot of people living with less than that and working 40hr/week- is circa 1300 USD). That means that when you guys post a $400 dress I am astonished because that is really more than 1/4 of an average salary here. An ok apartment near the surroundings of my city can be around $900/month. So, you can imagine how much that sounds like for me.

All this said, I repeat: it's your money, you know your financial situation better than anyone else, period.

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I think maybe something I said may have prompted this and if that was the case, I absolutely and sincerely apologise. My comment was certainly not meant in the slightest bit as judgement or criticism and was purely an off the cuff response. Again - so sorry!

MovingFashionForward

Oh gosh, I am SO SORRY! I fear it may have been my comment that sparked this. Most awfully sorry! I truly did not mean to offend you! Just call me tight -- everyone else does!

Sarah

harmonica

Veteran

Thank you for this post Anna. Well said and what Deborah said

Inge

(website)

*nodding*

jurocha

(website)

Veteran

I'm a newbie here and I haven't read any threads with hurtful comments or anything related to prices of garments that could be considered hurtful. Nonetheless, I would like to add my own thoughts on the subject.

I believe many members and Angie herself made it clear that YLF is a diverse forum - in all aspects: from age and nationality to tastes and budgets - and its members value tolerance and respect these differences. Because others have already said that so well, I don't feel the need to go any further.

As Adelfa, I've been on both sides and I've been better off and worse off when it comes to income. (Change is the only constant in life, don't you all agree?) And as Irene, I believe no one has the right to tell someone else what they should (or should not) do with their own money: you earned it, it's your business (and your business only) what you do with it. That said, what I would like to do is to share my own strategy when I recommend an item for someone in the forum.

I try to pick mid-range priced items indendent of the budget of the person to whom I am recommending a piece. Why? Well, because as a newbie, I don't know much about many users and because I feel that recommendations should be affordable for most of the members who access a thread. I guess if we keep this mid-range in mind we improve our chances of not offending anyone: not offering too cheap items for those who like and can afford designer clothing neither offering too high priced garments for those who can't afford or are satisfied with fast fashion.

Raisin

Veteran

Good point Anna and I agree!

I just read the other thread and I don't think anyone meant to hurt your feelings specifically or call you out on spending whatever amount for an item. I can imagine that some people may have phrased their comments as such, due to your title asking "is this worth it?" That sort of implies is it worth the price? I know that's how I read it and I specifically didn't reply because I can't be the judge of the worth of an item to you, based on its price. I feel like I can offer advice based on your style, which I have some knowledge of, but not based on your finances. But maybe you didn't even mean the question that way, but wasn't sure, so I didn't answer.

But like you said we all have different budgets and we work with our own.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Amen. I like that this group represents such a wide variety of styles and sources of fashion, from thrift shop to high end.

Liz A.

Veteran

I agree 100%, although I admit to some coveting of certain items

I did want to say that in the context of the thread, I didn't find the comment in question offensive, since it was asked whether those pieces were worth it.

Echo

Veteran

Well spoken, Anna.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Thanks, AG. As you know, I get sort of tired of the $ judgments too. Love has no price.

12