Now that I think is interesting, Anna, that the big house stuff hasn't drawn you in so much. I'm not sure what that says about what fashion is and is not.

Fashion with the big F is always something I watched and absorbed with interest until the last five years. Maybe it is my own growing cynicism with Big Fashion and how it seems to be so over hyped. Maybe I got bored. Or too busy.
I AM more interested now in how the Big F is interpreted in small doses on the street level and how mass fashion can be applied to personal style. Since apparel retailing is my chose field of work, I have seen high to low end and my heart belongs with helping people find their own way with their style.
The two questions you raised do apply to the average person who just wants to Dress. The pastel trend will always resurface in limited runs and slight variations. The sheer thing - bah! - will remain my personal pet peeve as I fear it will linger.
I look at YLF and other fashion blogs in the same way I look at restaurants: one restaurant may be a dependable, comfortable favorite but I can't eat only there or I wouldn't appreciate it for very long. I don't have the time to post often or even do daily pics, etc. but love the sound, common sense and stylish nature of this place. Just like I love my favorite restaurant

I enjoy seeing what catches your attention, Anna! It's quite fun "knowing" an early adopter.

I like Fashion as viewable art, and occasionally like to wear it too But I'm also constrained budget-wise to indulge in the capital F Fashion. I wait until trends trickle down from the runway -- but by then, I know the fashionistas will have already moved on to the next cool thing

I do like to support local fashion designers, so when I feel indulgent I will buy those types of designer pieces - Alexandria Von Bromssen, Amy Fink, Katherine van der Spek, Miranda Caroligne, etc.

See I acutally think that fashion comes from the street it seems that as each decade repeats itself with a modern twist. I remember when African print were all of the rage and the " Fashion Forward" started wearing these prints but from my heritage we have been wearing these prints in modern ways. Remember the punk movement from the late 70's to the early 80's again from the street. So even if your not into F Fashion I think when you put your own spin onto the clothing that is when it becomes fashion/style.

You remind me a lot of myself, Anna - the part about not having other expenses and funneling most of them into clothes, especially. I have no car payment, and we're DINK (dual income, no kids)... I often feel I have to announce this "disclaimer" when I buy something new and show it off at work where people haven't known me as long as YLFers. Even in a "Fashion" environment, it is very tough when any assumptions are made. I can see how that could feel alienating, although I still do think YLF does much better at not judging people than other forums I've encountered... from place to place, I never joined up feeling that I either didn't spend *enough* or that I was too old or had too average a body or had too pedestrian a camera situation.

You know the phrase it's lonely at the top? I think that applies to you as a very trend-forward, early-adopter of fashion, too. People in general are not as brave about trying new things, and so many people of the world aren't even out there scouring designers until they feel in a rut. I see you as a fashion leader - and there are always fewer leaders than followers. I know I have been exposed to many brands because of you. Maybe you could embrace that role and feel special instead of alienated?

I would like to think that I love Fashion! It's art in a cultural context. My other sources of fashion inspiration are mostly magazines and watching reruns of "Ugly Betty". I kind of like that I live in a community which is not particularly fashionable so one doesn't have to work very hard to be a fashionista. Also, most people around here wouldn't even know if my handbag is from Rebecca Minkoff or Jessica Simpson, so usually it is like a secret pleasure that only I can truly appreciate.

Whilst I am too tight-fisted to spend a lot of money on others' designs, I am passionately interested in fashion and watch all the shows and peruse the collections endlessly. Even more exciting is finding new designers I love, like, for example, Ximon Lee's graduate menswear collection, "Children of Leningradsky" and others whose work seems to me creative and beautiful. I am interested in the philosophy of fashion, the psychology of fashion, and how fashion affects the evolution of ideas about dressing and style. In general I find shopping-based fashion blogs and standard dressing fashion blogs boring -- I tend to follow blogs that feature outfits that seem to me creative and fashion-forward despite being mainly composed of clothes from charity shops (though don't get me wrong -- I applaud you and others who are willing to do what I am not, and put your money where your interest lies -- if everyone interested in fashion were like me the industry would go out of business, and that would be bad!). I like fashion editorials, such as on visualoptimism. I come to YLF (when time permits) always in the hope of finding interesting threads on interesting questions (including yours!), and of course I also very much enjoy Angie's analytical posts.

Re plastic pastels, Susie's post reminds me of happy outfits one sees in Harajuku. I would adopt them in small doses as opposed to big ones, because plastic doesn't seem comfortable to me, and because although I absolutely love the clear plastic collar neckwear piece filled with little pastel coloured sweets (candy) I saw on trendhunter.com recently, it really would look ridiculous on me, with my 50-year-old face. But if I were 16...

Re sheer, hasn't it already been in for some years now? I am still very much into it myself anyway.

Re designers, I tend to find that the moment I make a blanket statement that I like such-and-such a designer, they bring out a collection I dislike, but if I had to pick some anyway I'd say Alexander McQueen (both when he was alive and now), Gareth Pugh, Comme des Garcons, Rick Owens, Thom Browne. But at the moment I am obsessing over a few looks from Bottega Veneta's Pre-Spring/Resort 2015 collection. This dress is perfection in my eyes: http://www.style.com/fashion-s.....eneta_001_

Looking forward to more fashion-related discussion with you, Anna!

Sarah

Anna, a lot of my interest in capital F Fashion was kindled by being here and seeing contributors like you pushing the style envelope to include capital F Fashion.

Way back when I was first here, I was just trying to get dressed every day. I was perhaps the only person in America who had never seen Project Runway because (I told myself) I had "no interest in runway shows -- give me something I can use." Now I'm interested in both, and a lot of that is because of YLcapitalF members such as yourself.

I think that Dana nailed it - this site is mostly about Dressing. Not so much cutting edge fashion, or imo Personal Style as an obsession and discipline. I realize that as much as i like to obsess about various wardrobe theories and such thrilling topics as "what is the optimum shape/color/sheen/size palette from which you choose your buttons - enumerate and discuss", most people don't have the inclination. My clothing interests lay in developing a strong, very coherent and unique personal style while completely accommodating my practical considerations (lifestyle, comfort, durability). I enjoy the discipline involved in developing a tightly defined style vocabulary which speaks to me so truthfully that i can wear it day in and day out with joy.

But most people want to keep up on trends, look good, have some fun getting dressed while not blowing their budgets, spending hours shopping, or having to live at the dry cleaners. They don't want to iron for hours a week or handstitch yards and yards of facings. Fortunately, there are a few places on the web where people share those obsessions of mine, and we can get it out of our system

Meanwhile, here at YLF, i get a taste of everything - including up to the minute fashion on you, Anna! I also have to say that this forum is brilliant for many discussions on fashion/clothing/style as it relates to society, literature, psychology, and etc. People here are smart, great writers, dress to die for, and all is overseen by Angie's tender hearted guidance. No drama, no sniping. It's a special place, and i hope Anna you can still enjoy it (and keep on posting your awesome WIW's). Have fun! stpeh

Speaking of sheer, these are so cool, if I had the nerve to wear them: numbers 4&5
http://www.bcbg.com/Runway-Gab.....ay-bottoms
Both pants from BCBG Runway.

Meanwhile, my daughter has been dying her hair in different shades of pastel for years now! SHE would wear those pants. Look at how she mixes her prints. I never was good at that. Somehow it all works on her.

So, Anna, I really like the pastel trend, especially in hair, and the plastic too, for younger people(20's and 30's). Or any age person who has the chutzpah!
Also love the designer Saccai. In fact, walking through the designer sections of some stores is more like visiting an inspiring art gallery for me