As a new blogger who just completed her first three months, I have to say that I indeed have become a more maximal dresser than ever before. I don't regret this and in fact embrace it tremendously. What I am talking about here is the addition of many accessories. I have expanded my belts, my purses, scarves, jewelry and shoes. I have always loved the accessory category and wished I had more, so for me this was a natural growth. As a mother with two children in college, one a junior in high school and a twelve year old, I can see my responsibilities changing and the natural order was for me to take better care of myself along with the weight loss getting my wardrobe in order seems like a part of this new stage in life....I am finally creating my dream wardrobe and look forward to slowing down the purchases and remixing things more...

I agree with this sentiment, most stylists are expected to look glamorous and unique (and sometimes sophisticated) and the easiest way to do that is to wear high impact clothing and accessories. It's the look that appeals to a certain age group. Personally I believe less is more, and that's why I'm comfortable reading your style ideas and appreciating how you dress. It's a lot more wearable for an everyday lifestyle, is cleaner and sophisticated and inculcating these style ideas into my large maximal wardrobe makes me feel like I'm dressing to project myself and not being an ad for what's trending now.

Oh Angie, I just wanted to add that I viewed your comment in relation to WIW bloggers.

I regard YLF as much more than a fashion blog, it is more like an encyclopedia of style which highlights your style to reinforce a principle.

YLF is empowering and inclusive for all women on all budgets.

Such interesting thoughts! WOW.

Rachy and Zap, what's the difference between intense and maximal?

Gaylene, I think your comment touches on context - as did Rachy & Zap. Minimalist style requires a different set of priorities - perhaps context is one of them?

Many thanks for the kind words June Bug, Joy and Jules.

Elisabeth, I agree with your definition of maximal.

I think you are right Angie. Several months ago when I was looking for inspiration with my wardrobe I looked at a lot of blogs & for ME they mostly fall into the:

Too young & too much stuff.

Let's do the French chic thing. Which is fine; but it was the spoken or unspoken & anyone who doesn't is wrong that I couldn't come to terms with.

There are others of course but the ones I saw weren't inspirational for me.

I don't follow any other blogs apart from Style Odyssey (already mentioned by Janet).

I do think the unique thing about YLF is that it does have such a diverse group of people & I mean diverse in style, age, lifestyle & fashion aspirations.

I do agree with this sentiment and I think therein lies the reason I'm not particularly drawn to fashion blogs overall. I find them pretty to look at, but I don't usually connect with the individual. But I'm very far from a maximalist in my approach to dressing. While I do enjoy the style for others, I don't think layering flatters my body type (and I run super hot), nor am I one for a lot of accessories.

Angie, this is why both your blog and your style resonate strongly with me. Your style is impeccable, yet achievable. Your focus on fit, outfit composition and individual details, really make you shine. Most importantly though, your ability to articulate your thoughts on fashion, and your caring for the people in the YLF community. Sets you apart.

I'd agree most fashion bloggers are maximal. Most of the ones *I* follow are not, though. For example (besides YLF):
http://aintnomomjeans.com
http://ahistoryofarchitecture.blogspot.ca/
http://www.seaofghosts.com/
http://looksgoodfromtheback.blogspot.ca/
the aforementioned Style Odyssey
etc.

I do follow and enjoy maximal bloggers, too, but in a different way. I rarely try to translate their looks for myself. When I try it it I feel like I'm wearing a costume.

I think that it's more difficult to excel at minimal style. Each individual item has to be that much more perfect, because you can't tweak or hide imperfections of fit, fabrication, and so on with artful layering, piling on accessories, etc. And we all know how hard it is to PPP and put in the legwork to find that "just right" item. Maybe that's partly why there are fewer minimal than maximal style bloggers?

I would agree with your statement, Angie. To me, many bloggers seem to be primarily concerned with "fashion," not style, which perhaps encourages that spirit of experimentation and maximalism?

That's why I am a loyal FLF fan. Here, it always comes back to style, with fashion as a means to an end. (Does that make sense?)

Angie, maximal to me is that style where one seems as if is throwing everything in, with no sense of restraint, with no rhyme or reason. Intense is more common, those who leave me with the question of "where is she going with that?" or "Is it just for the picture"?

This is just my interpretation, which is probably semantically incorrect.

Angie, I was wondering this myself recently. I have about 15 blogs (other than YLF) that I have shortcuts for on my Ipad and I check in regularly. It's usually a quick look and they do not hold my attention in the same way YLF does I am probably repeating some of the above comments but I do feel that many of these bloggers (who I think are fab) are 20 something and a maximal look works on them. It possibly works well with their lifestyle, jobs, social life etc. Thought sometimes I do look at a blogger outfit and wonder if they entered a competition to see who could wear the most fab pieces at once

I quite like a really minimal look with one statement piece... does that make it maximal??

The other thing I have noticed is that some bloggers lack consistency in their style. Perhaps a result of being given clothes and accessories to show off on their blog.

And because Tina B expressed my thoughs so well, Im stealing her words... thanks Tina:)

"Angie, this is why both your blog and your style resonate strongly with me. Your style is impeccable, yet achievable. Your focus on fit, outfit composition and individual details, really make you shine. Most importantly though, your ability to articulate your thoughts on fashion, and your caring for the people in the YLF community. Sets you apart."

For me to continually return to a blog and spend time there I need all the qualities that Tina has mentioned. Hence YLF is the only one where I choose to spend hours of my valuable time

Your definitions are really interesting, Zap. You have thought about this and I enjoyed the analogies. Thanks for chiming back in. My version of maximal is your version of intense - I think.

Ariadne, agreed. As always your wisdom is wonderful.

Debs, Tara, and Tina, many thanks for your kind words. (I am blown away, actually).

Debs, to answer your question, that would depend on the support act.

I actually don't follow bloggers unless they wear what I like, so I don't really agree. Maybe I need to follow more bloggers?

Now there's an interesting question - do you follow bloggers because you like what they wear or what they say or what they show - or all of the above.

I agree, most fashion bloggers look maximal to me. Atlantic-Pacific is a prime example. I enjoy both maximal and minimal styles, but am more likely to dress in the minimal style, although still with trendy pieces. I try to avoid head-to-toe trendy which is not only maximal to me but also ... lacking in the independence I strive for.

There are a few bloggers whose style is more minimal and I really like what they do.

Taylor from EatSleepDenim (picture 1).

Sabrina Meijer (she is Dutch) pictures 2 and 3. from afterDRK. These women are both much younger than I am, but I feel their style can be translated to someone older.

Angie, I follow fashion bloggers if I find what they have to say interesting and I agree with their general style. Otherwise I get bored and stop reading.

I am also turned off by bloggers who are living some sort of fantasy lifestyle ("It's just the most fun to redecorate your entire home with real Eames furniture refinished by blind Belgian nuns!" or "My husband just loves to spend money on me, silly boy! I had to stop him from buying me YET ANOTHER cashmere coat!") as I find it annoying.

I am also a strongly visual blog-reader and very interested by craft and design, so I tend to gravitate towards those sorts of blogs.

YLF is the only fashion blog that I have found that is educational. The others do not explain what makes their style work for them Or anyone else, for that matter. I do follow several garden and home blogs and there seems to more of them that are educational. For example, this site explains why a path was created in a particular place, http://taradillard.blogspot.com/. And this one, http://niagaranovice.blogspot.com/, which explains why a purchase was made in context to its surroundings. YLF does this same thing with clothing fashion. The pictures have an explaination not just a list of sources. I view the other sites as more for marketing items, pictures of things. This makes me wonder if this is part of the inexperience of the younger bloggers. And 20 years from now they will have the knowledge and experience to define their own style AND explain it.

Those are excellent examples of minimal style, Denise. And I agree 100% with your comment.

Dana, you had me in stitches. Yes! What captures your blog attention makes sense.

Debs, some fashion blogs are 100% visual. They do not require explanation because they "lead by example" so to speak. Allow the outfit to do the talking and nothing else. There is an audience for that type of blog - like Atlantic Pacific for example.

I think most fashion bloggers are in their 20s and 30s, and that to me is young. When I was those ages I was more maximal, so I equate their age with their maximalism and it seems logical. Maybe I am wrong, but I find a connection.

Another great point, Laura. I used to have a more maximal style when I was younger.

I agree with Laura. I don't follow any blogs regularly (except YLF!), but it does seem most bloggers are quite young (in their 20's and 30's) so they tend to be very experimental and maximal. It's fun to look at their style, but for practical help, and an intelligent discussion of fashion trends and how to interpret them, I rely on YLF.

There are some minimalist bloggers out there, but I have to admit they're quite boring to follow (I won't name any names!). Some of them are so incredibly rigid about what is acceptable and what isn't that they take all of the fun out of fashion.

So, too maximal, too minimal....and then there's YLF, the Goldilocks of fashion blogs, which is just right.

I agree with Laura. As I age I find myself drawn to a more minimal style. When I was younger I would pile on the accessories for example, whereas now I don't. I also think when we are younger we perhaps experiment a little more (as we search for 'our' style) and have a lesser sense of a defined style. In my 40's I pretty much know how I want to look and present to the world, in my 20's I didn't really think about that.

Angie, in answer to your question, aside from YLF I would say I follow other blogs for what they wear. I am very visual and love the visual inspiration I glean from some blogs. However, I don't read their text. I think the only other blogs I take the time to read would be Audi @ Fashion for Nerds because she often explains the process of her outfits and That's Not My Age because she is funny and makes me laugh as wel as features interesting thoughts.

YLF offers both, not only do I love what you wear, but I receive SO much inspiration from the other Fabbers AND you have something of real value to say.. thank you.

Like Zap, I think maximal to me is throwing everything in, piling it on. Intense is coming on strong.

By way of example, maximal is foundation and eyeshadow and blush and mascara. Intense is lipstick in oxblood.

Maximal may always be intense, but intense is not always maximal. You could be very intense in a very minimalistic outfit, if the lines are very very sharp or contrasts are high.

I may have to ruminate more. I don't know what I'm saying... ;>

Denise, thanks for those images--I love their looks and have added the blogs to my reader.

Angie, I follow blogs for all the reasons you mentioned. Some help me move towards my own aspirational style. Some are eye candy--I love looking at them but wouldn't copy the looks or even necessarily take inspiration from them. Many lie somewhere in between. The challenge of purposely discriminating between those possibilities is a good exercise for me as I try to hone my style. And some blogs, like Vivienne Files, I follow solely for what they say, because the clothes and outfits themselves are not to my taste but the advice is excellent.

YLF will always be my "home base" because it covers all three things in one fell swoop! No other site even comes close. And all you lovely, wonderful ladies are--I was going to say the icing on the cake, but that's not right, it's something more essential--the baking powder that makes the whole thing rise? LOL. Not the most elegant image but hopefully you get my meaning!

I cannot list all the helpful and interesting thoughts I just read on this thread but there were many! I do think there is a subset of young bloggers that are into a minimalist look, but they tend to be the French chic, spend years searching for the ideal (and very expensive) piece types. I do occasionally look at them but not regularly. There are also the maximalist older women on Advanced Style. I love them, although that is not my way of dressing. In terms of actual outfit inspiration nothing beats YLF, because I see such a variety of woman and styles I can always find something that resonates with me. And of course, Angie is worth her weight (well more than that) in gold for minimal inspiration.

Very interesting discussion! I had to go back and look at some of my favorite blogs to try to get better impressions of the bloggers style.
There are only a few I check in with (typically once a week or so) and my favorite does not even post often - go figure that she is a minimalist!
http://www.lesantimodernes.com/
In a blog these days, I am looking for everyday inspiration and insightful commentary - not necessarily eye candy. I am turned off by obvious shilling and over the top expensive accessorizing (when you see handbags appear and disappear and constantly replaced by the newest trends...I am all for spending on something you love but realistically would you not carry for years, even in rotation?).

Funny that I prefer minimalism in fashion blogs but my home decor style is all out maximal. I try to read and get into minimal home styles but it isn't "me".

many of my thoughts have already been stated. i did want to make a distinction between maximalist style and maximal closet. to me, maximalist style is algo. minimalist style is low contrast, striking, architectural. both styles can have maximal closets...lots of stuff to create the look.

i follow blogs intermittently. i also admire certain blogs though i don't follow them. some of the reasons why i like the blogs that i do are as follows...

style odyssey...i LOVE her style and would probably dress like her if i didn't have a more formal workplace and if the unrelieved black would wear even on me. i would probably wear a color (navy, ink, burgundy) 1-2 days every 2 weeks just for a change of pace. i would include dead fleurette in this category. kingdom of style may be in here as well but i consider her style too immature for me.

atlantic pacific...i really like how she remixes much of her wardrobe and shows how it is possible to have a (relatively) minimal closet with what i consider a maximalist style. i would include viviennefiles in this category. both are intellectually inspiring and help with my own problem solving.

susie bubble...i like the quirk and LOADS of fashion critique and introduction to new designers. i learn so much about the theory of fashion from her, beyond the principles of dressing well/flatteringly. obviously, she acknowledges that figure flattery is not a guiding principle for her.

those are the major categories / reasons why i follow the wiw bloggers that i do.

What a great discussion, I hope to come back to it when I have time to read all not just half replies!

Gut reaction - This statement makes perfect sense. I need to let it sink a bit more, but what it made me think of instantly is my personal "issue" with many of the blogs or bloggers: Where do these bloggers actually wear these outfits, or they simply create them *only* for the blog posts?

Please don't understand this as criticism, I understand that such blogs/bloggers/outfits have their space just as much as fashion mags do, but I prefer more down-to-Earth and wearable outfits as they are what inspires me. So, another point for YLF blog (Angie) and YLF forum (you all) for having maximal impact in the sphere of wearable clothes and showcasing you don't need to go whacky or OTT to make a statement.