I LOVE the challenges. Love. Even though I haven't participated in all of them, when they are going on, they are the first threads that I read when I get on the forum. I think whichever is the easiest for you Angie, is the way to go - and I don't mind at all if you (or anyone else for that matter!) does not participate in the challenge. Afterall, its supposed to be fun - rather than a stressor, an "assignment," or intimidating!

I'm a big fan of challenges, too! Sometimes just the Blog post for the day is enough to get my creative dressing juices going, but have thoroughly enjoyed the more organized threads like MaryK's blogger challenge and Bella's artwork inspired ones.

I love the idea of challenges and that chain challenge sounds so intriguing. I don't see why you should be obligated to participate whether you start it or not. You are providing a service for us and if you want to participate fantastic if not, that should be ok too.

I know I love simple challenges, like wear a certain color or color combination...or wear a button down with a statement necklace, type of challenge. Nothing too complicated.

Looking forward to this.

I like DayVies' suggestion about having the challenges easily accessible so they don't get lost in the forum posts...

Also, I would be happy to help organize as well - I am in need of a creative challenge that is totally different from the challenges I see in my work life!

Angie wrote:
"Years ago we had the BEST challenge on YLF. It was a thread where one person challenged the next with the help of a random generator. There was a completely personally focused challenge for each person - who then stepped up to the challenge when it was her turn. And after that series, the entire forum challenged me and I posted three outfits on the blog."

I fondly remembered that challenge and it was AWESOME. I loved that as a challenger, it gave us the chance to really think about the particular style of the person we were challenging, and think about what might be fun, tricky, interesting, and a good learning curve for them personally. And to have that focused attention myself really propelled my style forward. I remember I was challenged to mix 3 patterns in the same outfit, which I'd never done before - and that got me started on the pattern-mixing road for good, and I've never looked back! It was such fun.

I also liked that this allowed us to space out the challenges, so at least once a week we'd have a new thread to be able to see, and focus on how an individual person responded.

Another fun one - and perhaps my first YLF challenge that I participated in - was the one where each day was themed like a different Clue character, and so we would dress to that theme (or color.)

I love the challenges too! It was one of Bella's picture challenges that spurred me to really start posting WIWs here. Based on my experience, I think the challenges are a really good and fun way for new members to get involved here!

Not sure if it's already been suggested, but maybe it might be a good idea to have a separate tab in the forum for challenges?

And, Angie, I don't mind in the least if you want to suggest challenges and not participate. It's all about being inspired anyway, and you always provide good inspiration! i like the idea of folding a challenge into a blog post, or having one inspired by a post (like an Angie's outfit post, or a Team X Team Y post or something).

ETA: Sometimes I make up my own challenges and I find them quite helpful in assessing my wardrobe. Like Wear All My Jackets, and Wear All My Boots. And didn't Tanya do No Denim For X Days?

The challenges got me to post photos too. I didn't want to miss the fun.

Challenges are great fun! I like these suggestions so far.

This sounds like great fun! Someone start one - quick!

I love but not those challenges that demand an outfit per day (those with inspirational daily photos), as it's difficult to fit that into my busy life.

I would love a forum section for challenges! I think anyone should be able to post a thread with a new challenge--as simple as a one-off outfit challenge (like the Fuchsia Friday) or the whole week (like the Blogger copycat challenge). I don't think we need to limit it to one a month--not everyone is going to want to participate in every challenge and it gets kind of complicated to have everyone vote on what the "official" challenge would be and might hurt people's feelings if their ideas were rejected or the regulars get more votes. AIso wonder if people would be intimidated to contribute ideas or participate if they are Challenges with a capital C rather than just "hey, I had an idea for a new challenge, anyone want to join"? So I vote for spontaneous, but love the idea of having a place to view all the challenges. And I would love to be able to browse through past challenges. Maybe we should start a new thread with links to our favorite past YLF challenges?

Yay for challenges. Also for a forum tab/hot button for them.

And Angie, for my two cents, you should do this with the least pressure you can put on yourself and for the most fun you can have! I know many of us have great fun during these challenges, and we enjoy them even when we aren't participating ourselves --- like watching Rae challenge herself to Manspiration Mondays! --- but it should be FUN for you as well!

If we're spreading the lead around, I think leaving the floor open is a good idea --- or at least semi-open. It's a suggestion that challengers do a quick vote on interest or feasibility in a first 'idea' post before issuing dates and details (that way they know and we know how likely the challenge is to be taken up) --- but it doesn't have to be a 'rule', I guess?

Have just had a quick read of all the replys and if I can find the time (work is starting to come in now) then it sounds a great idea and I would love to try a few. I rather like Natalies idea of some spontaneity, maybe simple themes too. Don't worry Angie about participating, you do enough.

Lots of super ideas here. Thanks for your thoughts, ladies!

I will think about them and get back to you about the formality of the challenges. I love the idea of the more spontaneous ones too. It's all in good fun - and that's the most important thing to remember in all of this. The challenges must bring joy to your day - not stress. No need to participate in all of them.

A couple more thoughts:

--I really liked how Bella always set up a dedicated thread in which to post our challenge outfits. Especially when I was just starting out with WIWs, I thought it was a nice, low-stress way to participate since I didn't have to start my own thread or anything. I also liked being able to see all the challenge outfits together. Of course you can also start your own thread if you want more specific feedback as well. What I did for the longer challenges was wait until the end of the week and post my own Week in Review thread.

--In a similar vein, I think it might be really cool to present the challenge threads in some sort of blog format. Not anything as fancy as the main YLF blog, but maybe something like a shared lookfab blog or something? I like the idea of having a "challenge blog" where you can see all the previous challenges. I prefer the blog format for browsing older threads (for example, if I want to look at some of my old WIW threads, or if I'm looking for a particular outfit from someone else, things like that.) Logistically I'm not sure how this would work though. I guess the challenge administrator would have to have access to the challenge blog to start the thread, and then we could all post our outfits in the replies maybe? (Do photos show up in lookfab blog comments?)

Love the idea of a challenge - I have not participated in challenges in the past, but I am growing more confident of my style and more familiar with the Forum, so I think it's more likely that I will in the future.

All the ideas so far sound terrific. I especially like the idea of having a hot button/ tab for easy browsing through challenges of the past.

This thread really pulls at my heart strings! Thank you for thinking so fondly of the challenges. As Angie said, I really enjoyed doing them, but they weren't my invention, we have a great tradition of organizing them here at YLF. There have already been some excellent suggestions so I am sure that you will create many more interesting challenges. I am really sorry that I haven't been around more to start them (or contribute to the forum in any meaningful way) but the transition to our new life has been brutal. I was just getting used to everything finally and our apartment got burglarized this weekend. I was hoping to start taking outfit photos, but the camera is gone. There is also a lot of material loss (no insurance!) and we are now searching for a new place. So I am not going to be around much for the foreseeable future. I do miss all of you and I am hope you are all doing well. Big smiles!

Bella - so sorry to hear you are dealing with this!! Please know we miss you and will always welcome you back, whenever it's convenient!

OH NO!! Bella!! I am soooo sorry I wish you and hubs lots of luck, and let us know if we can help. Thanks for chiming in though. Know that you will always be our Challenge Queen and that we are here if you need support.

Diana and RC, thanks for the additional thoughts.

Oh Bella, so sorry to hear what happened. Keeping my fingers crossed that things look up and up for you know.

I've always enjoyed the challenges both the easy one's (wear all dresses for a week or no black for a week) and the harder one's (artwork inspiration).

I am up for the challenges, they sound wonderful! Thanks so much to those who have volunteered their time to help!!!

So sorry to hear the terrible news Bella!

I really enjoyed how Bella set up a separate thread for them where everyone posted too. I only ever participated in one although I did love the artwork one.

Oh, Bella, that is one big challenge you're going through, but you've got the stuff to get through it and we'll see you when you are ready! Hugs to you.

I really like all these ideas and am up for the YLF Challenges, because they help me to shop my closet and think outside the box. Bring it on 2013 and thanks to those of you who want to organize, participate or simply observe from the forum sidelines. Every seat in this fashion house is a GOOD one!

The challenge that Kari mentioned sounds like a great revival idea. (It came before my YLF time.)

Like others, I have very fond memories of Bella's challenges! And am so sorry to hear about her getting burglarized.