Caught in the act - YouLookFab Forum

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Caught in the act

Kari

Veteran

My eight-by-eight foot balcony is the only place inside my apartment where I can catch any true natural light for outfit photographs in the summer and spring, and it's not very private as it's visible by the balconies of other adjacent units as well as the driveway and path of the building just uphill. Occasionally (such as this morning) I'm caught in the act of setting up my camera and tripod, or posing for photos, which is embarrassing. I wonder what my neighbors are thinking! I usually try to play all nonchalant. Everybody takes photos of themselves by tripod in the morning, right?
How I envy those of you with well-lit homes that get indoor natural light all year round, or private backyards.
Have any of you been "caught"? How do you react?

Two casual outfits which I wore to work:

1-2: Nine West scribble print dress, aqua pumps, burgundy and turquoise specs. I love how this dress totally transforms what is truly a simple outfit!

3-4: Navy and emerald chevron striped hi-low knit dress, denim jacket, yellow slingback pumps, silver pendant necklace, bronze and green titanium specs.

It's supposed to be a gorgeous, sunny week so I'm using my mustard handbag in celebration. Hooray!

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38 replies

Latest reply was from Kari

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

I so love those 2 dresses. I was looking for the green dress online and it's no longer available. You look great. I've have great luck with Nine West dresses too.

Tanya

Veteran

You look stunning in both of those dresses Kari! Love navy/green stripes!

marianna

Veteran

Ooh ooh! I just ordered that Olivia Moon chevron dress and it's on the truck for delivery today! I hope it looks as good on me... love it on you!

Fabulous as ever!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I just adore that scribble dress on you Kari! and the punch of colour with the handbag and shoes is so summery and fresh. Of course, the chevron dress looks fab too!

Have I ever been caught "in the act"? I take my pictures for the most part in my dining room. It's not great light but it's convenient. One time I was taking a series of pics for a keep/return post right after supper and my son came bounding in the back door with two of his friends (they are all 16 year olds) just as I was "striking a pose" - my poor son looked somewhat embarrased and one of his friends loudly said "what the heck is your mom doing"....I just laughed and asked if any of them cared to join me in a picture! It totally lightened the mood, everybody kinda laughed and that was it. Now they're used to it.

ManidipaM

Veteran

That Nine West dress is truly magical! WONDERFUL is what you look like, Kari. And I love how you spiced up the aquatic chevrons with mustard. Those specs are so very fab, too!

I confess I say something strange and stupid, far more than necessary, when caught in the act --- like I don't have a mirror in the house and really needed to see how I look!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Kari, I'll bet your neighbours just assume you are some kind of celebrity! You look so great. I especially love the scribble dress on you.

I'm sure my neighbours see me all the time when we do pics in the backyard. We have a high fence, but the building beside ours is a low rise apartment building!

I just pretend they can't see me and carry on.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I have horrible light, even on my balcony! You are lucky you *can* be caught on it, lol. And you can't mind being caught photographing those lovely outfits, can you? That emerald green color is so fab on you - love it in this dress as well as the green MK one you have.

Kari

Veteran

You are all so kind. I suspect most neighbors probably think I'm either incredibly vain or crazy, especially those that have caught me multiple times. The lighting actually isn't amazing even on the balcony because it's cornered overhead and shaded by the building (it's an East-facing unit) but I make do, and I'm happy to get some sunshine. I have also been caught while putting on my makeup outside on the porch to get good lighting, and I just smile and wave.

Meredith1953

Veteran

Both dresses are lovely on you but that green chevron is one of my favorite ones you have posted! Looks so terrific with your denim jacket too!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

You are just stunning in these dresses! I still feel like a cheap pretender when I see you in the Nine West scribble dress. It is so flattering on your figure and for your coloring. The green dress is the bomb too. You have sizzling style. Does your man know how lucky he is?

Jjsloane

Veteran

You wear both of these so well. I love that chevron dress! I stick to my horrible inside light and am only caught by the kids and the cat so far.

Kari

Veteran

City Girl, you might check stores for the green dress, but the other cord are lovely too.

Marianna, hope it works as well for you as it has me. It's so comfortable!

Kari

Veteran

Modgrl, you make me blush. B. does not share my interest in style but I think he appreciates the way I dress - but he's baffled by the whole "taking photos of what I wore" process. Once in a blue moon I coax him out onto the balcony with me!

Kari

Veteran

Shannon, I love your story! How cute. I hid my blogging and YLF posting from my family for a long time, but eventually "came out of the YLF closet".

deedee1221

hello just joined this site after lookin for a year or so, glad i decided to join just so i could comment! u look great in both dresses! i didnt even know nine west sold dresses! also if u dont mind me asking what would u consider your body type to be? im at a lost in that category

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Kari, you look amazing in both of these dresses. I love chevron stripes and you look especially divine in that one. That yellow bag is magic--it goes with all your outfits, it seems!

I don't know if anyone I know IRL knows about my YLF "obsession"--I don't know if I would be brave enough to admit it! I still feel rather sensitive about DH's digs about my vanity.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I'm up on a hill thank goodness. So people have to actively look up to see me taking photos. My father thinks it's completely bizarre.

nancylee

Veteran

So that's your "secret" photo location! I've always enjoyed your outdoor photos, Kari, and suspected they were taken on your balcony. How funny that you were finally caught in the act. My son (home from college) caught me snapping photos a week or two ago and just shook his head. Ha!

Love these looks for you. The denim jacket over the dress is such a great formula, and I covet your mustard bag.

Kari

Veteran

deedee1221, thank you! I actually didn't know that Nine West sold clothing, period, until Angie posted this dress (and another Nine West a year or so prior) on her blog. Keep an eye out every once in a while for her dress round-up posts, because they are fabulous and many of my favorite pieces have been from Angie's finds!

My body type is a full-framed, short-waisted, large-busted hourglass. (You can see my hourglass shape pretty clearly in this figure-hugging dress: http://pencilskirtlife.lookfab.....le-fashion)

If you aren't sure, it's very helpful to post pictures to the forum of yourself straight-on wearing very fitted clothing, arms straight down to the side, as there are some forum members (Angie included) who are very adept at helping you to identify your body type. These posts are quite helpful too as you're getting started: http://youlookfab.com/2009/03/.....body-type/
http://youlookfab.com/2007/12/.....ody-types/

Kari

Veteran

Natalie - it is indeed the magic bag, and so versatile. I'm SO glad that I bought it!

I "stayed in the YLF closet" until after my first in-real-life meetup, where I mentioned that I'd met some friends that I knew online. Bit by bit I unveiled the whole story to my immediate family, close friends, and B. My immediate family actually loves What Not To Wear (dad included - he used to call it "While You Were Badly Dressed", as he was mixing up the name with another TLC show that used to be on around the same time) so when I explained the concept as having your very own "Clinton and Stacy", only more supportive/open minded, online, and with others who were going through their own style journeys at the same time, they got it. The various meetups I've attended and friendships that I've formed over the years have really helped my loved ones grasp why this "hobby" is meaningful to me, and after a year and a half of being active on the forum, when my personal style started to really gel, I started getting a TON of unsolicited compliments from my family and friends on how my style had developed and become much more refined.

Deborah

Veteran

Kari these are pretty smart 'casual' outfits. I adore both of these dresses on you and I really like the addition of the denim jacket.

I take most of my outfit pics in my house but I do have large windows and there is a new house being built to the side of us so I do always check there are no tradesmen on the roof of the new house before I start 'posing'....

Kari

Veteran

Deborah, I suppose if there was a tradesman on the roof you could always play it off like you were REALLY pointing the camera at THEM...

christieanne

Veteran

I always wonder about bloggers who are on city streets or in parks taking pictures - how do they do that without everyone staring and oogling them? Then I read on a blog that the very thing you mentioned happened to the blogger and she posted about it. Guess it's natural!

LOVE the chevron dress and jean jacket. Just fantastic!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I hereby crown you our second Queen Dress.

Kari

Veteran

Christieanne, it seems like it would be a little less unnatural if someone else was taking the photos of me. I don't think I'd have the courage to trudge along with my tripod in the street... never mind that I have to have something in the background to focus on, since my camera doesn't function with remote controls.

Angie, thank you! Remind me, who is our other Queen(s) Dress? I think Tanya shares that title, but I may be mistaken.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Laura - our first Queen Dress

Beth Ann

Veteran

If you meet a neighbor's eye, just say, "I'm participating in an experiment of the effects of daily photo taking upon mood. You should try it, really!

It's only the stretching the truth, actually. A little YLF is good for the self-concept, after all!

Kari

Veteran

Ah, Laura, of course! Laura is definitely our dress pioneer too - she's willing to be the dress trendsetter. I'm more of a follower in that vein, so perhaps I'm more a lady-in-waiting. I've bought more than one dress after Laura modeled them so gorgeously on the forum. Either way, I'm flattered to be in such royal company.

Beth Ann, I don't know my neighbors well, but if someone asks I'll keep that in mind as I like the way you worded it. Right now I usually just smile and wave, like "oh, don't mind me! I'm just doing something totally ordinary before I leave for work. Ta ta!"

marianna

Veteran

Kari -- just received my dress in the mail. I got the navy/black color way. Love it! The fit is nice and I looove the midi length. I wish the high/low hem was a bit more exaggerated but it's okay. I think it's a keeper! Will be great for work. Yay for twins.

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