How to become style savvy

Sarah

This blog and forum have really sparked my interest in dressing stylishly. It’s great to know that you don’t have to replace your whole wardrobe every season to look fab. I can’t afford that! I guess that’s why I had previously given up on fashion. So now I’d like to know if there are other ways I can become more knowledgeable about fashion and style. I know people who are always up on the latest trends and I’m not sure how they know it all. Is there a particular magazine or book you recommend?

18 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from Tanya

HannahMichelle

Active Member

A couple of books I have found very, very helpful in becoming style conscious are -

The Pocket Stylist, by Kendall Farr

The Lucky Shopping Manual, by Kim France

For the scoop on latest trends I just come to Angie's blog. I love how she gives practical tips on incorporating them into your basic look.

18 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

I don't really find most fashion magazines helpful. They are too out there. My mother had a copy of Vogue on her kitchen table the other day (My nephew was in an article so she was showing it off to everyone who entered her house.) I was flipping thru it, and thought...'Who the heck wears this stuff?" It was just silly.

18 years ago

Sarah

Active Member

Thanks for the tip Hannah. I'll have to check those books out. You're right Nicole; I find fashion magazines a waste of money.

18 years ago

Anonymous

I am learning a great deal about style from Angie's blog and these discussions. I had a long, long way to go to begin to feel stylish. I knew I didn't want to dress like the models in the magazines but didn't know how to adapt that to my everyday living. I used to think that people didn't really care one way or another how I presented myself so why bother. Since I have been reading this blog I am having a blast with style and feeling great about myself. The compliments are rolling in at family functions so it looks like others do get a good feeling from seeing someone present themself in a fun and functional manner.
It made my day when Angie told me on this blog that my shy reserved way is indeed a style and that is called neutral and understated.
It could be that learning what style is not, helps us to get a start on what our style is. For instance it is not stylish to wear your yoga gear as casual wear, and that T-shirts usually look frumpy, and many other such jewels discussed on this blog.

18 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

And you have just made my day San. Thank you for sharing your style journey with us and well done to you. Sounds like you have increased your style quotient and are loving it. Fabulous!

18 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

I also think that since getting involved in this blog/forum, I've really started to notice how other women dress and have garnered information on good ideas and bad ideas. I have never been one to copy someone else's style, but I think you can learn alot about fashion and style by looking at other people.

It'll be intersesting to hear what YLF has taught each of us. My biggest lessons have been learning about my true body shape and learning how to look at the items I already own in a new light. (like putting new colors together, or wearing a piece of jewlery in a new way). I am so exicted about putting new outfits together, that I actually lay awake in bed thinking of new combinations!

18 years ago

AnaElizabeth

Active Member

This website is a fantastic source of knowledge for me. I'm still new here, but going over old posts and comments I feel that I've learned a TON about my body shape and how to dress it in the most flattering way. While I never went around in sweats and sneakers, I realized I was buying clothing because I was attracted to the color or shape without taking into consideration whether it "worked" for me or not (in most cases, not). So I would get dressed most days and wonder why I looked so heavy, or why my legs just seemed so short. I really think about what I buy now, and take a lot of factors into consideration before I purchase anything.

I've also appreciated being able to post on this forum and get really useful advice from other women who are struggling with the same sorts of issues I am.

18 years ago

judy

Veteran

I'm noticing that feeling stylish has a lot to do with fit...and getting educated about body type recommendations has made a huge difference in that for me. Paying attention to what colors and trends are in the stores are fun too, but I have to factor in the wisdom to know if they are the right cut and color for me, as well as appropriate for my lifestyle and age. I've been helped by Angie's blog...and before that with taking tips from shows like What Not to Wear. For books, I liked Dress Your Best by Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, because they focus on body type AND height...and have pictures...even for men too!

18 years ago

Sarah

Active Member

Since I started this discussion I thought I'd jump back in.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I'll have to save up for those books, and watching WNTW occasionally would be good too.

It looks like YLF is the most helpful for all of us in learning to increase our style quotient. I'm not alone then. I've only been reading since late December, but I've enjoyed going through the archives (although I still have several more months of reading to catch up on) and I've learned so much. I'm still learning every day.

Here are just a few of the things I’ve learned since December.
1) Most of my pants are too big and too short.
2) I don't need breast implants or any other reconstructive surgeries to look fab. I can make the most of the body God gave me by emphasizing the things I like and balancing my silhouette with the right clothes.
3) I don’t need to hide in tons of excess fabric.
4) Knee length shirks are more flattering on short girls like me than most ankle length skirts.
5) The right bra can make all the difference in the world.
6) I’ve learned how to care for my clothes and keep them looking nice.
7) I can wear yellow! In fact, anybody can wear just about any color; we just have to find the right shade.
8) Looking stylish doesn’t mean buying a new wardrobe 4 times a year like I used to think; it’s a balance of timeless and of-the-moment.
9) I don’t need a lot of clothes, just a small functional wardrobe with pieces I love.
10) There is such a thing as casual jewelry.
11) There is such a thing as chunky delicate jewelry that small people like me can wear.
12) There are so many amazing stores out there that I need to start shopping at.
13) I don’t have to be a trendy fashionista to be stylish.
14) I’d never heard about the retail cycle before; that explains why clothes in the stores don’t match the current season.

Thanks again Angie!

17 years ago

christie

Active Member

Angie has been a life saver to me. I discovered this blog in the summer of 06, when I realized that I needed to be more stylish but wasn't sure how. I came across it after a google search, and it is practically the only fashion source I go to (with one exception I'll explain later).

I first approached Angie with a question about how to dress as a work-from-homer. And her advice helped tremendously. Now I work from home part time and from an office part time, so I have even more of a need for selection.

From Angie, I learned that I actually do have my own style. Learning and discovering that was a wonderful relief. When I first came here, I wanted to know everything that Angie did--perhaps too much Single White Female (joking)--because I wanted to be stylish. But over time I realized that her style is not mine. I have discovered a new appreciation for all styles and I notice and respect others' styles more. I love the urban/punky look on some people; the uber-trendy look on others. But none of those are me, and I am comfortable with my look.

At first, I tried to ape JCrew style. But now I am more comfortable traveling elsewhere to shop and finding pieces that suit me. I trust myself and my instinct more. My biggest difficulty, though, is still figuring out when casual is appropriate and when I should go smart casual. Generally, I am now almost always smart casual.

I cannot say enough how much I am indebted to this site or to Angie for all of her fine advice and time.

Now, about other sources. I normally eschew fashion magazines. I have a test for all media: if I feel dumber after 5 minutes, then it isn't for me. Most fashion magazines fit the bill on that one. I hate how you flip through a mag and see one article telling you how you should love your body and accept it the way it is, and the next page you learn how to get rid of your belly or whatever.

I have discovered (somewhat through Angie's advice) Lucky magazine. I have a subscription now. I really like it because there are no articles, just tips and product reviews. It helps boil everything down. The items they choose are pretty trendy and expensive, but with the help of Angie's site, I feel like I have a more discerning eye and can figure out what I like and what works best for me. The combo of the two is just right.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You have made my day Christie. Thank you. I'm thrilled and humbled to have assisted with your style quotient!

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I only discovered YLF about two or three months ago. Four years ago, I made the shift from office worker to telecommuter. When I used to work in an office, I was always the overdressed one. I loved wearing suits and high heels and looking sharp. When I was home, I'd simply wear sweats. I had no real in-between.

Shifting to telecommuting was a big challenge, because I didn't even own jeans. I hated jeans with a passion - finding them unflattering and uncomfortable. Also I always viewed jeans as only one step above sweats!

I finally got tired of schlepping around in sweat pants and knew I needed to figure out this whole "smart casual" thing once and for all, and need to incorporte snappy-looking jeans.

So I now own jeans: dark wash, premium jeans. And Angie's smart casual uniform advice - layering an interesting blouse with a jacket or cardigan - was key advice for me. I used to always keep tops simple and basic and... boring. Finding tops that fit was too much of a hassle. Now I am finding tops all the time and I have a well-rounded wardrobe of tops and jackets and cardigans. And I'm getting a lot of compliments!

As for other resources that have helped me, I'll echo watching WNTW, the Pocket Stylist, and the Lucky Shopping Manual. I also LOVE the WNTW book, with Trinny and Susannah. It was a real eye-opener to see the two (different figure types) swap clothing!!!

Lucky magazine is good, but sometimes they don't follow body type advice. What I do like is the feature where they show how you can get a month's worth of outfits out of a handful of key pieces.

Online, in addition to YLF, I am a devoted follower of Kasmira's WhatIwore2day site. I also like fabsugar - it's not just for younger people - I have a lookbook posted there if anyone wants to check it out (nearly all my looks revolve around "what to wear with jeans"). And the Sartorialist. There's also http://www.wardrobe911.com which has a blog.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

I like this blog the best by far. I own pretty much all the books Angie has listed on her site ( and quite a few more), some of them I like quite a bit, but nothing beats this. I also watch WNTW, am suscribed to few magazines, and even used to visit some other fashion forums.
I am most comfortable here, love the community and get the best advice.

17 years ago

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