If you plan to wear a FFBO, is it still a FFBO? - YouLookFab Forum

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If you plan to wear a FFBO, is it still a FFBO?

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Today is Pants Day. I had picked out the pants, and 3 or 4 tops I hadn't worn yet. I ended up throwing on a scarf, mainly to cover the slight wrinkles I noticed near the top of the shirt (separate topic, how to store knit wear so it doesn't wrinkle when you don't have enough hanging space?)

Later this morning after I got to work, I realized that I unknowingly put together something I would consider a FFBO for me: comfortable trousers, cute but comfy sweater top, and often a scarf. So if I planned to wear it, is it still a FFBO? If I notice wearing FFBOs more often, does that mean I'm finding a key element of my personal style? Or am I just being lazy?

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Dressing

22 replies

Latest reply was from trekkiegirl

celia

Veteran

Great philosophical question. Yes. No.
A FFBO is something tested and true, so to a certain point is something you plan.
On the other hand, if you plan it you miss that last minute appeal that a FFBO has.
But you didn't put everything together on purpose so I guess it is still a FFBO.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, that's deep. I may have to take a walk to think about it

But this outfit is gorgeous. Well-edited, flattering, and it's got edge - and all from only three pieces. Pretty brilliant.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

It is a difficult question isn't it?? I feel like it should be one or the other...

Thanks rachylou, I'm curious - where do you see the edge in this? I don't see it. And I guess that begs the question what is "edge" to you anyway?

Anonymous

Not rachylou, but I think the fact that it fits so well gives it edge. It looks sleek and (for lack of a better word) expensive -- intentional. Just the big scarf with no other accessories (that I can see) works too. The outfit doesn't at all veer into "comfy pants" territory, even though it may feel that way to you.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Thank you Gauche, for that input. I do like that the top is actually just a teensy bit loose, so it alludes to my waist without being obvious. And I like your description! I should probably have gotten the bottom of the pants in the picture with the block heel ankle boots, they are a slim bootcut I think. Not quite straight, but definitely not flared. They are from Express now that I think about it, that is one of the few brands I tend to remember when I see the tag on my thrifted items lol

rachylou

Veteran

I see the edge in the black and tan in this sleek fit, as gauche says, with the animal print scarf and the hairstyle. It's the combination. Black pants and say a tan, open handkerchief cardigan that drapes, this would be more 'ordinary.' Take away the animal print scarf, also a more 'ordinary.' Curling iron ringlets, also more ordinary. No doubt pretty though.

jackiec

Veteran

Love your outfit. I think it's still a FFBO even if you plan to wear it. You know it works.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Fascinating.

But is it a FFBO? Lol

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

It's a great outfit on you! I can see why this is a fall-back formula for you. I think by definition, a fall-back is something you go to when something else doesn't work or you can't think of something new. So I guess it can be planned and a fall-back, if you deliberately decide not to try something new.

unfrumped

Veteran

If the cookie is on the floor for less than 5 seconds, can you still eat it?
Yes, depending on the floor.

My answer: Yes!
Now, if you'd laid everything out a week ago, maybe not....then there would have been plenty of time to re-think or iron this or wash that.

But FFBO I think is not defined by being put on while you are actually walking out to your car. The night before is fine. Of course like anything, we can have fun with definitions such as, "Most Extreme FFBO" .
I would also say, the more you hone your outfits and have mostly or only items that work well together or can remember what goes together, the more blurred the line between FFBO and just getting dressed.
So, I also agree with rachy--don't go too deep!

For me what tends to define FFBO is a simpler outfit, not too many moving parts even though for other people it might involve knowing exactly what accessories to grab, so could be fully accessorized but in a very "safe" way. Also it often errs on the side of comfort, coverage and action-worthiness. It might be something or some items I wore the same week or last week--the basic black pants or the gray sweater that goes with everything or more advanced to an outfit that is just repeated full-on without tinkering.

anne

Veteran

I go with what unfrumped said!
I wear the same outfits almost all the time (as you could probably tell from my recent work thread) so the line between regular outfit and FFBO is pretty blurred for me.
Here's how it could work
The same outfit could be planned one day (day 1), and then later in the week (Day 2), when you realise that the top you had planned to wear that day was in the wash/ weather was different/you needed to walk more than will be comfortable in t those shoes etc you realise no-one is going see you who saw you on Day 1 and it is all still clean - then wear it for Day 2 as a FFBO!

anne

Veteran

Oh I didn't get to this question
"If I notice wearing FFBOs more often, does that mean I'm finding a key element of my personal style? Or am I just being lazy?"

It could definitely be the first. As to the second, I don't think we HAVE to make an effort if we are comfy with the looks that are produced! But if you feel that you'd like to wear something different more often, then your "wearing things in turn" idea can come in to play.

unfrumped

Veteran

anne, that is it exactly!

What I like about FFBO is that I never heard of it before YLF and I was probably doing some, but realized how great and necessary a category (FFBP capsule? ) it was.
I have a couple of tops I was tempted to toss because I thought oh, they're too plain and I ought to update them, until I realized they are perfect for FFBO because are more forgiving and a little longer and also kind of middle-wieght, could be fall or could be layered for winter.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Maybe it is just a FBO (FFBO minus the fast)? It is a terrific look, definitely bears repeating and really that is the important part!

rachylou

Veteran

Ok, I've decided: An FFBO is an FFBO even if you plan to wear it. I have decided this because I believe an FFBO is, by nature, planned and to be available when you need it. If you know you'll need it in advance, this is all the better. And really, you always sort of know you'll need it in advance, which is how it came to be planned out.

Ok. This has been my Sheldon Cooper moment. Thank you

Beth Ann

Veteran

I think the sophisticated color in the top, and the strong pattern of the scarf have good impact, making the outfit look intentional and updated.

I always think of a FFBO as a specific combination of wardrobe items always worn the same way. I also use formulas on busy mornings -- they're more of a mix-n-match concept, like black skinnies + sleeveless drapey top + statement cardi.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I think the FFBO itself can be planned... after all, it's the easy to grab outfit, so it's probably been worn before. It's the no brainer. However WHEN you wear the FFBO shouldn't be planned... because then by definition it's not a fast fall back, it's a planned fall back. Or a planned fall forward. Or something.

But it's all good!

As is your outfit

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Oh rachy I seriously love you haha!! I am Sheldon Cooper in female form at least half my waking moments. But yes, it is true that it is planned in the sense that the components of the outfit are known in advance.

Anne, unfrumped (love your moniker btw) and Beth ann - I think your descriptions of what a FFBO is are very helpful. I guess I just sometimes worry that I might fall into a rut again and then be unhappy with the lack of variety I'm wearing or worse that my favorite pieces will get worn out. Which, now that I really think about it, the second factor might be the bigger one as I learn to be happy with more closely edited styles I know I like. And of course that stems from years of not having enough clothes, or having a lot of clothes but because they were mostly hand me down not being things I liked, and not being able to choose and buy my own clothes. Now none of that really applies, but of course the years of mental emotional and psychological conditioning is so ingrained that I fall back into that perspective easily.

rachylou

Veteran

And... am still Sheldon Cooper this morning! Let's have a math moment:

I say the "when" is more generous than one might assume at first. Or to put it another way, "fast" can be considered relative. It doesn't have to be a stuck-the-morning-of kind of situation. It could also be don't-have-time-before-the-event and so forth.

Also, I can see certain outfits being so great as a regularly scheduled outfit, they're an FFBO and vice versa... and ok now, this is the math moment part... which reminds me of limit theory and pre-calc and the whole calculation of curves thingy (calculus), which is about infinitesimals... which is connected to adequality, i.e., approximate equality... and the matter of differences being so small, we treat them as the same thing and build a bridge that will stand up.

Right. And people say fashion is shallow and air heady. Fermat probably came up with all his stuff choosing what socks to wear.

Staysfit

Veteran

I just learned a new acronym! FFBO Fast Fall-Back Outfit? It took me reading 2/3 of the above. So, now I can agree with everyone and say this doesn't look like an FFBO, although what's to say that you can't have an awesome looking, quick, comfortable, easy to wear in a flash if needed outfit that is an FFBO but no one can tell! :-). Am I missing something here?

Karie

(website)

Veteran

A new acronym has been formed! FPFBO - Favorite Planned Fall Back Outfit!

trekkiegirl

Veteran

YES!! love it