Eating my words, and unexpected gear crossover - YouLookFab Forum

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Eating my words, and unexpected gear crossover

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So, you know that velvet shirt I wasn't too sure about last week?

Um...I have worn it no fewer than FOUR times this week already!

Who knew I needed a cozy-luxe shirt? Apparently, I really did.

Meanwhile, these BR pants, beloved beloved beloved but starting to show a bit of wear (mainly because I had to have a zipper replaced on them and the seamstress did not do an impeccable job, in my view) have suddenly become my new best friends -- for my bike rides!! Yes! Stretchy, warm, easy to layer over tights, and if not windproof, then darn close!

Not only can you wear gear as fashion, you can now wear fashion as gear!

ALSO: Full length mirror!!! YAY!!!

On another, less happy note -- I have reinjured my meniscus simply by doing my physio. So recovery is set back. SO frustrated with this!! I was doing so well, but one of the exercises she suggested aggravated things and it is almost back to square one. She does say this is common with meniscus injuries and just keep (carefully) plugging on with what I can do. So....

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Classic-fit shirt in drapey velvet

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6

Banana Republic

Sloan Skinny-Fit Tartan Plaid Side-Zip Pant

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15

29 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Anonymous

That shirt is scrumptious, and looks fantastic on you! Great with the pants.

So sorry about your knee, Suz, that sounds pretty painful.

Irina

Veteran

Sorry to hear about your setback in recovery process, Suz!

On a positive note, you look gorgeous in that shirt.

Runcarla

Veteran

Yay! Team wear!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

FASHION AS GEAR

*launched into orbit*

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*back on the ground*

Sorry about the blasted setback with your injury. How awfully annoying. Hang in there....

LOVE that you're biking and looking chic! What a beautiful and PRACTICAL shirt

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am so happy that shirt is such a useful piece! I wore my black velvet shirt in a similar style a ton a few years ago and then it sort of slipped out of my radar. I’ll need to resurrect it. It’s luxe casual for sure!

I admire people who can do fashion as gear — I don’t know what is wrong with me (do I sweat too much? ride or walk too hard to too fast? am I too klutzy?) but it always goes wrong. I’ll stick to gear as gear!

ETA: Sorry about your injury! I’m taking it a little easy on my knee because something is not quite right — when I squat down low, it hurts in the back of my knee when I go to stand back up, and I’ve always been able to pop up and down with no issues. But it doesn’t hurt while walking or running (cycling does seem to irritate it if I don’t take it easy). Sigh! I hope you’re feeling better quickly.

Rocker Velvet Shirt

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Anonymous

Well - who knew? I did - about the velvet shirt And even though I WANT ONE - I don't need it.

Chuckling over here at the plaid pants for bike riding - you and I would make a hilarious pair on our bikes. But - it makes total sense: stretch, warmth and aesthetically pleasing. Pretty good use of less than pristine pants .

Lastly - so sorry to hear about your knee: this makes mine ache just thinking about it. Fingers crossed for you, and keep persevering .

unfrumped

Veteran

So sorry about the knee!

I love the "re-purposing" story and am finding some similar situations in my own wardrobe. And agree that it can be bi-directional--something meant for exercise wear can be perfect for streetwear (IMO)--often in my case it is based on some element of perfect cut or fit so that it overlaps, or somehow successfully competes, with traditional tailored garments or gives a similar silhouette.

Then your example of going the other direction--I have some cargo-type pants that were meant to be "real" (though casual) and actuallly they work quite well for true outdoors hiking, needing the pocket space and the heavy cotton fabric better for our transitional weather than some technical fabrics. Also, I had been considering some Icebreaker merino underlayers but recently work a burgundy merino top I got some years ago at TJMaxx--of course I have other merino sweaters but have kept this one for layering under blazers, which I'm not doing much of these days, so voila, winter base layer accomplished.

These are fun and interesting discoveries not just to reduce buying new but finding that hmm, there WAS a reason I liked a garment in the first place. And trying not to hoard things when I've got a good way to use them currently. Buy something else later.

Anonymous

Hilarious pair in that I'm a bit of a schlub on my bike You'd be the fancy one and I'd be the scruffy second cousin .

kkards

Veteran

Thank goodness the velvet shirt is sold out in blue,,,because you really make me want it, but i do not need it, and i would not wear it as gear...
YLF

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I love velvet in the winter and that’s a great shirt.Sorry to hear about your knee,set backs are always frustrating but perseverance has its own rewards and you will appreciate the return to full function all the more when it comes.

slim cat

Veteran

Sorry about the injury- hope all will heal soon.
You look fantastic! Congrats on having a full size mirror!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Sorry you aren’t feeling as great as you look. PT is tricky to get right—I’ve been pushing my physical therapists to push me harder, have just switched to the guy my son used to see. He promises not to treat me like an old lady who can’t lift heavy “ You can choose the difficulty level from medium to torture and we’ll work on that” so i think we will be just fine.

Your “gear” choices make lots of sense to me—cozy, cushy velvet is so nice in winter, and I see people dressed in office attire riding bikes every day here.

Happy healing!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Happy about mirror, bummed about injury. But you look fab !

Cee

Veteran

Break a leg, Suz... Oh, my God... What am I saying !?

Bijou

Veteran

I love this look - absolutely gorgeous, so glad you decided to keep that fabulous shirt. Casual luxe items are just so versatile. I find it hard to identify items that casual enough to wear often but when I do get it right those items become complete workhorses.

I hope your knees heal quickly, as someone who has had issues with my knees since I was 19 years old, getting the strength back can be a frustratingly slow process. Does taping your knee help? I find strapping my kneecaps in the right position helps when exercising to strengthen my knees rather than damage them and has been a real gamechanger for me.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh no! But hey, you look fab!

Minaminu

Veteran

that shirt is so lush and perfect for the winter season! you look great on it!

Wishing you a speedy recovery!!!

Brooklyn

Veteran

Excellent. I love the idea of cycling in plaid pants. So French, so chic.

I also have a knee injury at the moment. A dog ran into me full throttle at the dog park. I’m still exercising carefully and it is improving. You might check out Bob and Brad on YouTube. I find their advice very helpful.

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lyn67

Veteran

Those are great pants and love the ideea (fashion as gear!!:-). Velvet shirt is killer-did you really wear this one on the bike rides, too???

So many knee injuries at the moment:-(, I feel a bit of mine's, too- no desire to visit a doc during pandemy, so decided to endure some more...(till Spring??)

Liesbeth

Veteran

I'm so sorry about the setback. Glad to hear you can remain positive and enjoy things like riding your bike in stylish plaid :). This reminds of the time when my Dutch sister-in-law commented (in reply to my observation that midi skirts may be cumbersome for cycling) that to the Dutch there's no such thing as inappropriate cycling clothes ;).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ha, Liesbeth, my ex-husband is from the Netherlands, so I come by it via family!

But no, I didn't wear the velvet shirt on the bike! Just the pants. It was a quick switchout, though, when I got home!

Brooklyn, ouch!! That has happened to me, too -- and dogs are heavy creatures when they are going full force! Thanks for the suggestion -- I will check it out. I have specific physio exercises I am supposed to do, and alas, it was doing them that led to reinjury. Ooops!! She may have to dial things back for me.

Thanks, everyone, for the good wishes and the fashion comments. I'll keep you posted.

anchie

Veteran

You look great but I am sorry about your PT setback. I also had some PT setbacks with my back injury so I understand how frustrating it is.
Regarding cycling (or biking - is there a difference? ) in pants, I never owned any cycling gear except helmet, so this is very normal to me.

Joyce B

Veteran

That is a really great outfit on you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

HAHAHA Liesbeth and Suz, the Dutch bike in ANY ATTIRE. Bridal parties bike too.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

OH, hahaha! I thought it would be wearing gear as clothing! clever Suz!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ok, I just have to come back here to say that Bob and Brad are HILARIOUS. .They are the car-talk of physiotherapists. I laughed myself silly watching them. And they did have some good advice in fact!!!

Thank you, Brooklyn!

nemosmom

Veteran

Wow, what a great shirt for you! Fashion as gear?! Whodathunkit??

Such a bummer about the knee, though. I tore my medial meniscus a few years ago and was advised to wear a brace around-the-clock, except while showering. I gradually was able to remove it, but was not allowed to do PT without it for months. Maybe having more stabilization will help?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Nemosmom. I wonder about that, too, but my PT said it wasn't necessary and I really shouldn't bother. Strange, right? The thing is, it was doing the exercises that irritated it again! So...maybe she's not so great? Although honestly, she seems incredibly knowledgeable and trustworthy. I guess when I see her again this week, we'll discuss further. Thank you for your experience -- I can ask with that in mind!