I don't have anything new to add, Suz, such great advice and insights from the other ladies. Just wanted to say that I too have been nothing but impressed (floored actually) with all your outfits. You are a gorgeous woman, in super shape, with oodles of style and flair!
And yes, a suit was the first thing that came to mind too. So versatile, chic and elegant!!
(I have been planning to get one for two years now, so should get on this asap myself;-)

I just have two things to say:

1. I cannot imagine what you are smoking that makes you feel unstylish or unfab in any way. You are one of the bright style lights in the YLF firmament!

and

2. I am finding that leaving the country for the holidays is a great cure for every single kind of holiday stress! (I know... not practical for most people! But I am loving it! *waving at everyone from Cambodia*)

What texstyle (what a great play on words!) said. And Gaylene--except, I am back to where I need to re-accumulate said capsule.

And the kind of glorified specialness we place on certain holidays that makes it easy to get overwrought, as though it matters a whole lot, and we have to achieve some kind of high level of something--instead of being glad we're vertical and with friends and family.

If you feel unfab in your outfits, I'm going back to smash my face into my SAD lamp...

The holidays are a stressful time and I suspect you are turning stress inward. You are gorgeous.

I think textstyle hit the nail on the head for me.

And wow, you would ROCK a suit : )

Oh my.

I come back here after my long day and what do I get?

Tears of gratitude and happiness. YLF is the BEST!!!

I am sorry, first of all, for all the typos in my earlier posts...typing on the phone while a passenger in the car.

And I am equally sorry I did not come back here to respond.

Thank you all SOOOO much.

So many words of wisdom. You have ALL hit it on the head, and tomorrow I will post to explain exactly how and why.

In brief, though --- I wore a version of one of the outfits I showed you to the reading. (Pics to follow soon). It went well. I felt fine. Felt fine also at the supper with friends afterwards in the completely different locale.

But...confession time...part of the reason I felt fine was that between car ride and reading I did a little retail therapy.

BIG epiphany as a result.

Anna...style dysmorphia is it. Or rather....it's like I am just *almost* there....you know? Not QUITE able to figure out how to dress to my aspirational style...and so not happy even if what I put on looks good. I am pretty sure you will understand what I am saying.

But I liked what I bought so much. And then when I came back and saw Julie's and Angie's and Inge's advice to buy a suit, I just had to smile.

No...I didn't buy one yet. But honestly, I have been thinking of it for the past year...and when you see what I did buy, you'll see how well it fits.

AJ, I will say it again, but you have the PRETTIEST toenail polish and shoes in the holiday stratosphere. Wow, so lovely. You really do look festive, just with a bit of paint and sparkle!!

Gaylene and all those who counselled capsule shopping vs. outfit. shopping, gosh, it takes me a heck of a long time to internalize Angie's great advice. But it was while I was shopping today that I FINALLY got it sorted in my mind what that might mean, and Gaylene, you express it so articulately - this idea that it is a whole "area" with various possible just finally went DING in my head this afternoon. Too late for this year...but NOT too late for next year, and by golly, I will be prepared then!!

Mary - can't believe you signed in from Cambodia!!

You are all true friends. Amazing how that can happen over the internet!

More soon.

Suz - you are a terrible tease not letting us see or know what it is you bought!
I'm looking forward to seeing your item(s) and hearing more about your epiphany.

No kidding! Spill, pretty lady!

hehehehe.....

I will, I promise....but don't you want PICs, too???/

You will laugh when you see what I bought. But it was one of those corner-turning purchases, you know?

Oh Suz, I'm sorry you've been feeling like you're in the doldrums style-wise. I know I've had periods like that over the last few months where I was really upset about the state of my wardrobe. But I can assure you your appearance is quite the opposite...always stylish and inspirational to me! Sometimes it does take a new item to pick you right back up where you left off (for me it was the burgundy maternity skinnies)! I can't wait to see your new purchase on you! And I agree with the others, you'd be stunning in a cream suit.

Suz, I have just read your post (but not the responses yet) having come from a day of shopping and feeling totally unfab! The holidays for me fall in our hottest season. I don't like hot weather, and I don't enjoy summer clothing as much as winter. So today we had 39 degrees and I have "nothing" to wear in this weather if I'm not at work (my work wardrobe is fine). I know what I need, but cannot find what I need. It's harder to hide body flaws in summer clothing...so wryly I decided today that I will just wear the one dress works over and over lol! I have the month of January off work, it will be hot, and I do not know what I will wear!! Keeping cool and looking stylish while on holidays in the heat is a constant challenge... Hopefully I will feel more positive I the morning after a good nights sleep:). There ends my whinge. BTW despite how you feel, you ALWAYS look totally fab to me x

Suz, I can understand the not hitting the aspirational nail on the head with every outfit, and the frustration from that. You look GREAT; but you probably feel you should look... different (of course, still great)? It's not an unfabness issue; it is a direction issue.

BUT... I will *not* agree that you don't HAVE a style. You do, it's visible loud and clear. Maybe you just need help from Angie and others to *articulate* it enough to figure out what elements it needs. I guess Angie and Jules already know you well enough to say 'suit'!

As for holiday unfabness, I think Linda (milehighstyle) hits the nail on the head for me. For those with a more casual lifestyle and style preferences, it's a big switch to holiday dressy---especially if kitsch and cliche come off the table, like Rachy said in her everyday holiday dressing thread. Even those of us with more RATE than polished styles want to look 'special' --- hence, by definition, different --- for the festive season without resorting to snowmen and holly berries at every turn. And it does mean leaving our comfort zone, which ups the ante on the seasonal stress anyway.

I know I run into this same quandary a few months earlier in the year (our festive season in India). I'll buy something special-ish and find it refuses to integrate with the rest of my closet, leaving me feeling 'costumed' rather than 'well-dressed'. And then I'll beat myself up over the waste of my budget on something not to be worn that often---too blingy? too fussy? too kitschy? It's hard to hit the middle stride. And this is even before the season of SAD! :-p

I know it's not a solution for everyone, but I've had partial success by trying to bridge the gap my pulling from both directions --- sort of like zipping up a snug dress. Pull the everyday into a higher order of specialness, so that the festive is not as much of a shocking, confidence-foundering departure. At the same time, tone *down* the festive to less 'out there'. Angie's subtly gleaming new pants are a case in point --- they shine and shimmer, but without looking sequiny and tacky; I can see them being worn by day without reaching for sunglasses or suffering diurnal dysmorphia.

As Angie keeps advocating, garments that can be dressed up OR down work best for those of us who aren't super-polished and formal in the everyday, and don't have a regular diet of 'occasions' to wear something 'occasional'.