Soooo... right. Who are you people?

@rachylou:

Lol!!!

Suz - The reason I have not put up a personal avatar is the same reason I did not immediately join the forum and post pictures- privacy issues. People do google me in my profession. I would be extremely uncomfortable to have private photos, whether with friends & family (I don't use social media) or constructive photos like those where I would request feedback or share outfits with you very fab ladies on the forum, appear in the open domain to general comment. I have been so tempted to post. I would really value everyone's opinion and enjoy the comraderie...it's figuring out how to do that while keeping my private life/photos private.

Also curious that you feel anonymity gives me more rather than less power? Why would anyone really care what I thought? I have absolutely no cred with you. I'm still shocked when anyone bothers to read or respond to my posts for the same reasons. Being less visible should make me and what I think much less important, if not insignificant. For me, I lurked and kept coming back because I was impressed with every's opinions, gracious spirit, excellent feedback, and style. Suz - I would hope your opinion would carry much more weight with me - as I admire your style and your discernment and would value your good opinion - than my pratter could have on you!!

But you do have a really important point about those who post outfits feeling vulnerable. I would not comment if my reaction was not postive. But you're right, I have been insensitve, in that those comments, even well intentioned, could be uncomfortable and make people feel more vulnerable. I guess it thought of it like a stranger who comes up to you and tells you in all sincerity that you look great. But I can see now, how a compliment from someone you don't know and can't see, however sincere and well intended, could appear really creepy. I really appreciate you bringing up this point and I will take it to heart.

Sorry above post very late to the party. seems like all is completely sorted out. I missed the whole am discussion so the above is old news!! Sorry, work does get in the way!! So read or ignore it. Claudia - howling!! Great cartoon!!

gryffin, no, no please!!! Please keep commenting on people's posts (well, mine, anyway!) I know your comments are highly, highly valued. I value them, anyway, and I, among others, would feel quite bereft now without your insightful and stimulating questions.

And please forgive me if I have hurt your feelings. That was not my intention at all.

To clarify, I don't actually think that anonymity gives more power. It gives a different power.

It gives no power at all to someone who simply lurks, of course. Because we don't even know that person is there. Which in my opinion is far MORE "creepy" than anything anyone could possibly say on the forum! And which is why, on balance, I'm really, really glad that Greg did what he did to tighten the rules about photo viewing, etc.

I do understand and respect your concerns (and others' concerns) about privacy. I'm in a public line of work so I already have to be "out there" -- which means that this aspect of forum participation is relatively easier for me. I simply try to do as Mary does and conduct myself accordingly. I don't say or show anything publicly that I'd be ashamed to have my boss or my grandmother or my loved ones see.

But I do understand that some people have to present a more ...um...buttoned up image and it is very important to their professional reputations to do so. Others have personal reasons for needing to be very careful of their privacy. I respect that also.

Ultimately, I think what Angie says is the bottom line. As long as people are respectful and gracious here, they can participate in any way that works for them.

And the reason you have credibility with us all, gryffin, is that you have earned it. Of course, your stimulating questions, generous and lively responses, and your hints about your own style have made us curious to know more! But we are absolutely okay with whatever level of participation feels right to you.

Again, my sincere apologies if I have hurt you (or anyone else reading this.)

I just want to know why gryffin is so obsessed with is it 33 or 35 inch blazers.

Claudia, ROFL!!!!!!!

Ana, I almost spit out the water I was drinking. Yes, THAT is the
question. It is the key to the sartorial universe.

Dearest Suz - You are graciousness itself, no one could be hurt by anything you say!! So we must all stop this!! Right now!! Can I be really brazen and hopefully speak for everyone? There are no hurt feelings on any side. We are all trying to respect and understand each other. We are all so polite, defferential and empathetic that we are all overly concerned that we've caused offense. This is not true. We are just trying to see the world through each other's eyes. I think that's not just commendable but totally awesome!!

Anna - I abolutely want to discuss jackets with you!! So here's the scoop on long jackets. I'm 5'3" a rectangle with secondary hourglass tendencies usually a size 4. I have long legs for my height and a flat chest. The 90's styles were so great for me. AT came out with 33" jackets, relatively low stance but three buttons that were skimming, waist defining and flattering and could be worn buttoned or open. Since the jacket was tunic length I could wear it buttoned over the motherships most fabulous ottoman ribbed cuffed leggings with shooties. I used to ride so I was really enjoying this look. My best skirt length is about 19" from natural waist or about 35-36" shoulder to hem. So I could wear this jacket with skirt or sheath underneath, buttoned almost like a short coat dress and with tights and booties playing up my legs, it was a really good choice. Then wearing the jacket open with skirt, open or closed over skinny pants or sheath. Tunic, coat dress, blazer - how many ways can we wear the current crop of jackets? For my body type there is no more versatlie blazer. I like tunic lengh v neck, low stanced, thin, cardigans - same reason, wear them buttoned with a hip belt you've got a short dress or tunic, wear them open you've got a cardi, turn them back to front with or without belt I've got a high neck, v back sexy dress. Plus they good great under the long jacket. It's all about versatility and what works on flat chested rectangles. The jackets that are available now in longer lengths, I'm looking at the Layfette 148 has a low stance but one button - not meant to be worn closed. The Theory Marcela - arm holes are cut high and arms are narrow plus one button, can't layer anything heavy underneath and if you size up it's sloppy. Looks great open but not meant to be worn closed. Goodbye versatility. Plus the old AT fabric, nothing draped like their wool crepe - really elegant and never wrinkled. So now you know why I am crying over my jackets and wishing they would come back into style!! and yes Isabel!! You guessed it!! They are the key to my own personal sartorial universe!!

Spoken like a true fashionista Gryffin- now I can exhale

Hmm, I think being fixated on one look that worked for you, is well the sartorial equivalent of the middle aged ex-jock who constantly relives the one time 20 years ago he threw a game winning hail Mary pass to get the championship. Yeah it's all well and good back then, but time marches on. And I can't believe I just made a sports analogy.

Anna, you see, that Rodarte jersey was absolutely the right purchase!!

LOL ,Suz!

Anna - ROTFL!! Spoken like the queen of fashion that you are!! Plus, now you're going to travel down the dark side, first sports analogies, next we'll have you quoting the bard rather than Chanel!!!

Lyn - so sorry!! Anna did ask, so I yapped!! Well now you know!!

So gryffin, the real question now is how come we, with such similar body types, feel the opposite about long jackets? This keeps me up at night and makes me want to see your photo, gosh darn it!!

I think it is all in the legs, which is why I am super envious of you. I think I look awful in long cardigans, as well. But I kind of keep hoping that you will help me style long jackets and cardigans in a way that could work. After all, Kibbe does say that those of the Dramatic Classic type should aim for a longer jacket because nothing else is sophisticated enough. (I quite warmed to the idea that anyone might consider me "sophisticated, LOL.)

I loved 90s style and LOVE long jackets.

I still own some. I buy them whenever I see them. Happy to meet another 90s soul sistah!

I tend to agree that chasing That Look That Made One Feel So Awesome Back In The Day may not be the very best strategy for looking one's best going forward.

I lost a lot of weight in the mid 90s and bought some beautiful work clothes, including this amazing black sheath dress with bright purple long jacket from Jones New York. I loved it and felt so awesome in it that I kept it for almost 20 years, even after I gained all the weight back.

Then when I finally lost the weight a few years ago, my beloved black dress and purple jacket fit my body again, but no way did they fit my style or my personality. It was easy to see because there'd been a lapse in time... but I wonder. If it had fit my body all this time, might I still be wearing it because I was used to it and had such great memories of it? And might it have kept me from moving on? I dunno. But I passed it on and was happy to do so!

Dark side ? What dark side ? I have only been on the skinny jeans in earnest for a year and I am trying to get away from so much black on me.

MaryK, AMEN !!!!!! It is like the square toe boots that I was "saving" because I just adoringly swooned over them for 3 years. Now I look at them and I think,

Isabel - sonnet 147!! A Dark Lady one no less!! You wild child!!

Desire is death, which physic did except.
Past cure I am, now reason is past care,
And frantic mad with evermore unrest;
My thoughts and my discourse as madmen's are,
At random from the truth vainly expressed:

I wrote my these on Shakespeare!! PS I like the new line!! Will would approve!! Between Shakespeare and Blake's Proverbs of Hell - a quote for every ocassion!!

Ik - we need to have a support group!! Definitely a shopping expedition!!

Suz - do I remember correctly that you feel your longer through the torso than then leg? I have long calves and long legs for my height. Although I, my measurements don't seem to measure short waisted, I feel like I am. That's why I have no interest in mom jeans. I feel most proportioned with a midrise jean and a black belt to match the black top (surprise) to elongate my torso. I also like short skirts to give me the illusion of height. Suz the secret to this look is you need leggings or skinnies or short fitted skirts. I can't make that length work unless the bottom layer is really fitted. To me this look is all about silhouette and line. So it's black tights and booties all the way!!

MK - am I right in thinking, you think I want to wear the same piece in the same way? I don't. I would love updates to this look and choice in syles/stances, fabrics, detailing. But it would be like telling me I have to get over sheath dresses, tuxedo jackets, leggings, booties. It would be like telling you pencil skirts are dated. A particular skirt or jacket might read that way but every silhouette can read as modern...some are just more or less available at the present time. There were some long jackets on the runways, so I breathless wait to see what filters down. My favorite dress is a sheath, so versatile. I just bought the Vince knit (he calls it shift) but it's a sheath. It's high neck, simple column of midi. I thought I was going to have to shorten it, but it's perfect like it is - same but entirely new! Sheaths are my favorite style and flattering to my body and guess what I'll be wearing it with a cropped tuxedo jacket. I think the great thing Angie, YLF and all of you have taught me is that my style can evolve without giving up what I love..the old evolution not revolution!!

Oooh -- I loved the look of that sheath if it's the one on the Nordstrom's site. I love sheaths, too, and they are best for me.

I hear you on the column of neutral, slim bottoms, etc. with a long jacket. If they come back into favour I will try.

Gryffin, I am short in the calf. This is the cause of more dressing woes to me than another other supposed figure "flaw." I couldn't care less that I am flat chested! But short calves make it hard to find flattering tall boots, and make booties less than flattering also (unless the same colour as pants and hose). I always thought I was short legged overall but it seems that if that is true it is only barely true. I did Imogen's proportions exercise and the clearest bit of news was that I have a big head, LOL. (There are a few here who could have told me that but they were too polite!)

I am also (to my utter shock) slightly short waisted. But long in the rise (where I make up my torso length) and a little longer in thigh, also. All in all, it does help explain why a long jacket might make me look a bit disproportioned. The length is exactly where I have too much length, perhaps drawing attention to that. But I would think that a heel could help with this.

Love all this quoting of Shakespeare, and Isabel, you have made me laugh so hard today I can hardly stand it.

Suz - it is the one on Nordies site!! Let me know what you think if you try it. I have to laugh we are similar but opposite. I have a little head and small features. I'm short through the rise and I feel like my neck is a bit short. So you can wear those gorgeous turtlenecks with aplomb and I look like a turtle in them!! Totally agree love me my flat chest!! I do think it's do much easier to dress although it's tough to find bras.

OK, I want to go back to the 90's long jacket, also. Gryffin, you are right, they worked with everything and I was 5'7'' back then!

Oh Deb!! I am so glad you like them too!! Hope does spring eternal!!

But back to the earlier sections of this thread. I was hoping when the huge influx of people when the privacy settings were changed that there would be at least a couple of people like me. Unfortunately the influx made me feel more alienated. But for some perverse reason of innate stubbornness I'm still here.

ETA Basically appreciate those that are here and now and contribute in any form. Because they may not be here tomorrow.

Anna, you bring such deliciousness and courage into your dressing that their CANNOT be another like you. The alternative would be more like me.....and this site would crumble.

Now for my admission, I am giving away the beloved square toe boots that have betrayed me slowly and inconspicuously with time but I have a long jacket. I to it two years ago in a lightweight wool in light grey. It is awesome with skinniest and straight leg pants. I regret not gotten the navy. It was a boyfriend jacket .

Griffin, that is so coincidental ! I love Shakespeare and will now tell everyone that I have added a line and that Shakespeare's proxy approved. OK , I gotta go so that I can start editing text books.

Anna - the most original walk alone. Have you ever been to the rijksmuseum in Amsterdam? They are known fir their Rembrants. There is a room filled with lesser Dutch masters that you must pass through to reach "The night watch". You can't appreciate the shock of that transition. To see the conventional and work of that time juxtapose against the leap of brilliance in style and tone plus it's huge! To experience that is to feel. god's power of creation, to see the hand of the Divine. All true originals, by definition, are driven to push past the limits of convention in search of a personal vision. I'm sure that feels lonely At times Anna, but do you really want to be like everyone else? "No bird soars too high, who soars with her own wings"!!

Wow, go away for a weekend and you miss a lot! One thing I always find a bit funny is that most people come out and delurk precisely to see the pictures. Otherwise, they could have happily stayed lurking. So obviously the seeing of pictures is an important aspect. I would argue that if we all decided we were not going to share pics, there would be none to see for anyone. That is all.
Of course, everyone is free to participate how they see fit. I find sharing pics both helps everyone know where I'm coming from, and contributes to the forum experience as a whole. That said, I'm not as wordy with replies, so maybe I make up for the lack of typing with pic sharing lol.
(and regarding privacy, I used to cut off my head, but I work in public jobs where anyone can walk right in and up to the bar and see me at any time, whether I want them to or not so I realize I can't really stay 'secret'.)

I'm late to all this, but wow, gryffin said it sooo well!

I too am always on the hunt of some 31-33" blazers. Am 5'6" tall, but have a long torso, and I never choose a dressier outfit starting with pants because don't like showing off my tush in all those shorter toppers-I simply don't find it to be proffesional enough for my liking, so:-Plonkkk! Is that the reason I'm nowadays all only in skirts and dresses for work???? OMG, it never downed it on me that I may have prolems not only with my flat rear, extremely long rise and apple tendecies(which is the body I love, of course))- but aditionally with the lack of longer blazers (which is rather the wrong clothes:-)).

BTW I can completely relate to the points of all those (not only the 2 G's) who decide not to show theirselves in wiw's-and don't want to push them change their mind if they feel like never showing themselves for us. It's good to have their comments and thoughts all -for me at least without faces, too.

As little and insignifficant beeing I trully am, I was also the one who didn't want to show my face for so long here. I started posting my rights reserved "vertigo" picties taken in the mirror, with the flash turned on intentionally where my face was for preserving my privacy. But then, got so many kind advises on how to better turn off the flash for a right view of my outfits....LOL:-).

Still, the YLF comunity was so kind and appealing that I soonly warmed up, and decided it worth the risk of my employees finding me paradeing in my daily outfits and rather out of my proffesion related topics here-so finally (plus ever since) showed off my (pretty Komodo dragon:-)) face! (LOL Claudia)

I also grew to understand that facial expression it's somehow always part of the outfit, and is a true accessory:-).

(...and Mo has a such a right point, too! If no pictie from anyone on YLF, I'm surely this forum wouldn't be what it really and in it's own unique whole is....)

This is the best thread ever! Sports analogies from Anna. Sartorial jacket length. Shakespeare. My head's spinning. Love it.