Essentials Take 2 - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Essentials Take 2

rachylou

Veteran

Ok. This is my second take on my essentials:

- Long Puffy (current is black, but could be white, navy or brown)
- Black combat boots
- Black sneakers
- White jumpers
- Brown (includes tan) and grey leggings
—————————-
- Black knee length skirt
- Black or Navy miniskirt
- Black trousers (cropped and long)
- Black leggings
- Skinny jeans dark and light blue

But the kicker is I only wear what’s above the line with any regularity. I’m a maximalist dresser.

What do y’all say to that?

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Jessikams

Anonymous

Wear those white jumpers with your black bottoms, blue skinny jeans too. Get some maximal accessories to wear with the lot. How about heavy black framed round sunglasses with rhinestones?

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I say, go maximalist dresser! Could we see a pic of those orange mini skirts you wear at the bakery?

rachylou

Veteran

Lol. You wanna see my Ol’ Orange Miniskirts? I’ll have to see what I can do.

I’ve got a lot of patterned leggings and colour jeggings and other skirts, which I wear most of the time. And lots of tops.

I had some fab black Marc Jacobs sunglasses like that... but alas, the quality wasn’t there and the shiny bits fell off

Cee

Veteran

Orange miniskirts, you say !?

...*Cranks up Age of Aquarius soundtrack*

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I agree, would love to see pics of your “everyday” maximal outfits!

Helena

Veteran

Looks perfect Rachy ... A perfect essential list to be the glue for maximalist style ... Could it be the as a maximalist you have a LOT of completers in your wardrobe ...?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*APPLAUSE*

Make the essentials what is ABOVE the line, if that's more accurate. You nailed it, Rachy. Very nicely done.

Bonnie

Veteran

Your list sounds great. Without your fabulous statements, it would make a great minimalist wardrobe. But statements are the fun part, aren't they?

rachylou

Veteran

Angie, I think I’ve finally gotten it: workhorses aren’t necessarily essentials.

I *do* think I have more completers than anything else...

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Go team maximalism!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Exactly. Essentials CAN be workhorses, but not necessarily - and definitely not throughout the year.

Column

Veteran

I wish I understood maximalism better, Rachylou (and essentials, for that matter), so that I could comment. I will keep on reading as a primer. Thanks for educating me!

rachylou

Veteran

It’s real funny, Column. I was thinking, what are my go-to skirts? Example, pic 2. I could not get dressed without that skirt. It’s ‘essential’, right? But no, it’s only essential to me. The first pic, that’s my look - skirt and leggings - but plain black skirt and plain black leggings, that’s a rare look. I’m definitely a much louder dresser most of the time, like in pic 2.

However, those plain things are skirt and leggings ‘boiled down to their essence.’ They’re essential in that way. And when they’re needed, they’re needed (!)

1
2

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Isn't the point of this exercise to identify your own essentials? How often do the black leggings and skirt show up with other items?

rachylou

Veteran

Yes, the point is to identify one’s own essentials... not to be confused with workhorses or core elements of your style. Which I’ve been doing.

So I wear an orange miniskirt practically every day - it’s a workhorse and core to my style. But it’s not an essential when I thought it was. Too bright. Too much a statement.

SarahD8

Veteran

"But when they're needed, they're needed" -- maybe that's a good way to think of essentials for you.
I think your maximalism works really well. A good illustration that having few essentials isn't necessarily a problem -- as long as it's deliberate.

rachylou

Veteran

ETA: when I said the ruffled skirt is ‘essential to me’, maybe I should have said it’s a ‘core’ piece. It’s completely lacking in neutrality...

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Both great outfits, whatever they should be called!