I didn't realize I needed FFBO's - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

I didn't realize I needed FFBO's

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Until recently. Normally I only need real clothes for my off days and have the luxury of time to figure out what to wear. Last weekend, after hiking I only had a scant few minutes to shower and meet up for the movie. Thursday, I went out after work and was too tired to think about it. Today, I was walking home from the gym and my friend wanted to meet up for brunch. I showered and changed into my Improvd drapey white tank, black silk shorts, and LD Tuttle black sandals.
What are your strategies for developing fast fall back options?

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from

Jjsloane

Veteran

Limited time and energy are my motivators. My strategies are to hang items together in my closet so if I need to grab an outfit I have pieces in the same area (often on same hanger)

Deborah

Veteran

Im not sure I have a strategy as such, but for something to qualify as a FFBO it has to be comfortable, easy to wear and is something I KNOW looks good on me. Hence I tend to reach for (say in Winter) slim line pants, ankle boots and oversized topper. And I can dress it up or down For casual I can pop on my wedge heel sneakers, no jewellery and add a bulky scarf, for dressy it would be nice ankle boots, statement earring or necklace etc.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Copying something I wore that I liked.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I usually start with the shoes/boots/sandals I feel like wearing & work from there. I have a limited number of silhouettes though.

Sarah A

Veteran

I rewear favorite combinations (although not as much as I thought it did after 3 or 4 outings I am usually done with a particular mix) and I also try for maximum versatility (which may not work given your lovely and extensive collection). I dont like spending more than 5 or so minutes deciding what to wear so most everything works with everything else and the exceptions are few enough for me to remember easily. I also have a winter "uniform" (jeans/button down/blazer) and a summer "uniform" (dress/jean jacket) that get a lot of play. Sounds like a fun, if frantic, week!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I wear my favourite pieces over and over again, but make sure they are occassion and weather appropriate. Like Debs, a FFBO has to be comfy , available and make me feel fabulous. They are my wardrobe workhorses.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Don't laugh, but I have whole outfits hanging on a hanger in my closet, right down to accessories/belts/scarves and the like. These are for emergencies (supposedly) and they really come in handy. I'm not so organized that I have any actual capsules, but I *do* have a few 'outfits' that are all ready to go.

I do this because sometimes I get thrown for a real curveball (at the last minute) and need to come up with something immediately for some unforeseen event. After several crazed 'trying on sessions' at the very last minute, I was determined not to put myself through that again, and hence the few 'outfits' hanging in my closet, at the ready.

bj1111

Veteran

I wear the last outfit i felt fab in. Change out the shoes to make it occasion appropriate.

Anonymous

I rewear outfits that I've liked and have gotten good comments on the forum. I also try on new-to-me pieces with everything I have in the closet for that season that might work with it and keep a notebook of what I think works, then comment later on what did work. it's been a valuable tool. I've also sometimes hung a few outfits together with accessories to grab.

AJ

Veteran

In the summer, my quick FFBO is a dress, sandals, and statement earrings.

I also like Jill's, from Good Life, way of breaking down her fail-safe outfits: casual, neutral, and dressy.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I keep track of my WIWs on iPhoto and use the star rating system there to rate them. If I need something fast, I look at my 5-star outfits and duplicate one of those.

Diana

Veteran

Well, I have really simple formulas that I've used for ages (like jeans+black tee+sandals) for days when I really have like 5 seconds to put on something and get out the door, and then for days when I have a little longer but can't muster the brainpower to put together an outfit, I usually copy a previous WIW that I liked. Taking WIW photos has been really helpful for that.

Adelfa

Veteran

I hang outfits together when they occur to me. I also lay out an outfit the night before. Sometimes in the morning I don't want to wear the outfit I picket out the night before. I then require myself to say why I don't want to wear it.... "Because it's cold and I'd rather wear pants.... because I feel like accessorizing with gold rather than silver.... because it's a little too body con for the planned activities today..." Once I say why I don't like it, it's pretty fast work to pick an alternative. If I skip this step, I can dither for 20 minutes.

But I'm not sure I have a class of FFBO. Not in summer, anyway.

Scarlet

Veteran

I keep in mind outfits that got positive feedback here or where I just felt good. Having pictures available to quickly browse helps when a lot of time has gone by, like due to a new season.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

My FFBOs almost always involve simple, foolproof neutral colors (black, white and grey). And I also start with footwear. The other thing I do is repeat a successful outfit.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Angie said.

Pictures have been helpful to me, too, but not so much WIW pics as what-I-MIGHT-wear pics. Whenever I've bought something new lately, I've been doing that thing that Angie says she does with her clients: trying it in outfit combos with any likely candidates in the closet -- and then taking pics. (I sometimes post these here and sometimes don't.)

From looking at these pics, I can find "fallback" possibilities for lots of different occasions, and they have the benefit of being new-to-me combinations, so not only will I feel comfortable and appropriate to whatever's going on, but I'll also get the pleasure of wearing one of my newer items.

Anonymous

Like Denise, I dress from the bottom up. Once I've decided which shoes I want to wear, I grab a bottom that looks good with them and the rest is pretty easy as most of my tops go with everything.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I repeat outfits I like. Also, I'm a bit of a uniform dresser -- i.e. I basically have three uniforms, or formulas, that I feel comfortable in and are reliable.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Since my closet is one big capsule it's really easy to grab and go. Also, pack.

I think this is why I also have a lot of churn. If something no longer delights me, it goes, because I don't want to have to fuss to be fabulous.

Anonymous

I have been hearing a lot about FFBO's lately and I'm not altogether sure what mine are yet. As the others have said I guess it has to be something comfortable that instantly makes me feel good and put together. I love VV's idea of complete outfits on a hanger! Looking back at WIW's is a good idea as is Suz's idea of photographing combo's when she's bought something new.
Your FFBO sounds good Anna.