Lesson Number 1 from 30 x 30 Challenge: Being a Lemming is a Good Thing - YouLookFab Forum

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Lesson Number 1 from 30 x 30 Challenge: Being a Lemming is a Good Thing

Anonymous

I have had the opportunity to view so many WIWs during this past week. I am in awe of the style our Forum exudes. This should not have surprised me and it doesn't. What surprises me is just how different we all are. How individual. YAY us.

Style and fashion really is a way to present yourself to the world and communicate nonverbally. I love fashion even more today.

What I learned is that YLF Recommendations and NAS items are Best Buys among Forum Members. I read the same posts. I either failed to act or I acted too late. Now I sit here regretting that I didn't buy some of those items.

I commend the Forum Members that act fast and/or can see into the future and make the decision a piece will work for them so fabulously. I will be acting a lot faster in 2018.

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from Katerina

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Sterling, don’t beat yourself up for having a different shopping style than some of the other forum members. I for one have never been much of a b&m shopper, I get tired, frustrated, overwhelmed.... and until recently (thanks to hanging out here) didn’t feel I knew what I was doing. In the past I had 2-3 stores I went to and if they didn’t have anything I liked, I didn’t shop for the season. Having others help with what items are current, good quality etc is so valuable to me. I’ve also found forum members that tend to fit clothes similarly, so narrowing down items and getting sizing help is easy. I also dont have a lot of B&m choices here, so it opens up a new world, which I am very grateful for.

So yeah, being a lemming works for me. But you do need to develop that sense of what will work, and what you may need. I don’t tend to get a lot at NAS because I can’t deal with fall clothes when summer has just arrived. But if a piece resonates...

I agree totally on your comments about the wonderful variety of style here. Isn’t it great! And all with support not judgement. Yay Angie!

delurked

Veteran

Sterling - it’s a double edged sword sometimes. I gear myself to not shop, and then I have to (want to) try on something I get excited seeing on the forum. I’ve lemminged a lot of things here that I really love. That’s why I often decide to order and return as needed.

Off the top of my head, some of my favorites are:

Slim jeans and olive utility WHBM pants (Angie lemming) - always shocked when I can wear the same thing as Angie, as our body types are so different. Those jeans are so comfortable and I liked the pants so much I bought in both colors. Perfect for my summer.

Black workout capris (Beth Ann lemming). I also wear these casually sometimes if I’m traveling by car in summer. I found them super cheap on clearance in store. Liked the first one so much I bought two more.

Free People navy tunic (Jenn lemming) - I feel so nice in this top. I almost didn’t keep it at first because it was a different silhouette than I was used to. Now I select it when I really want to feel confident and special.

David Tate London Chelsea bootie (BC lemming, I believe). Super comfortable for me. Black bootie that I can walk quite a distance in. Works into a travel shoe, so you know it’s comy.

ETA - just thinking makes me remember others
Naot Kayla sandal (JAileen)
Ecco flash sandal
Linen athleta pants and Loft chill out pants (Texstyle)

NAS lemmings
Blondo moto Boot
R&B Dre

I’m seeing a pattern of bottoms and shoes. Good to keep in mind the majority of what works for future.

delurked

Veteran

I know there are also people who’ve lemming’d me as well. I’m personally glad I can spread the word about something I’ve liked. It really helps to see it on other real bodies, not just a model. And be able to ask them fit questions. Like the EF ponte pants I got (and almost returned). They’re a complete hit for my winter.

delurked

Veteran

Wow Sterling, I must have a lot to say on this topic. I’m back again. I was just thinking about what I wrote above and how I have so much success with bottoms and shoes, but low percentage lemming wins with dresses and tops. I think in some ways it should give me permission to follow the crowd on the categories that are easier online successes for me. It can also be a reminder that tops and dresses may be better left to finding in B&M stores. Most of my favorites came from my searching and searching last spring. Thankfully some of those remain for this year. The bummer of a hot climate is how quickly tops can wear out and need replacing.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Funny, I was just thinking that the lemming sweater I bought during NAS hasn't really been an all-star for me. I feel kind of drab in it, to be honest. Seeing clothes I own on other forum members does encourage me to keep trying/experimenting, though, so that's a plus. Also, Angie's experience dressing so many different people is nothing to sniff at. If she says something will probably work, it's definitely worth a shot.

Eileen Fisher Asymmetrical Merino Wool Pullover

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15

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

The longer I hang around here, the more I appreciate Angie’s skill at knowing what works for what kind of figure, and what could work for everybody. Have you lemminged non-Angie pieces from anyone who’s built differently than you?

Anonymous

Oh Jenn -- I am so sorry that sweater has not been a hit for you. Do you think it is the grey? Can you spice it up with a scarf?

Delurked -- I was so impressed that you could name names!! You really pay attention to the details. It is interesting that you have had better luck with bottoms and shoes than with tops and dresses.

Hi Elizabeth -- I wasn't beating myself up. I was just noticing how much some Forum Members raved about certain garments. It reminded me that I really act faster if I have any interest whatsoever. I'm not sure why it takes me several months of thinking about something before I finally decide to try it. I have always been a few months behind the YLF curve. I want to remedy that in 2018. It might suit me well. It might prove that I am a slower adopter of new ideas.

Anonymous

Good question, Fashintern. Unlike Delurked, I am far less able to recount what I bought, when I bought it, or who specifically I lemminged. I do know that I have a great appreciation for WIWs. In fact, I have always loved looking at them ... for a variety of reasons. I love the individuality. Ideas abound and teach me so much.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Sterling, it's mostly the neckline, I think. Scarves do help, but they also take away from the architectural integrity.

Toban

Veteran

It's nice to see that those items are often Best Buys. Like you, I also struggle with jumping on them, especially NAS. In the DC area, I don't really start to wear fall clothes until mid-October, so I find it hard to buy fall items in late July. It's hard enough to start buying them in late August, early September when the fall season peaks in the stores but I do find that Angie's advice to buy at the beginning of the season is very helpful, especially as the stock in the larger petite sizes is usually small.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sterling, first of all, thank you for managing the 30x30 challenge. You are positive, engaged, supportive, and thorough. You rock.

Second, YES. Personal style is PERSONAL. The best part of all.

Third, some people are better at shopping for winners than others, but we all make mistakes AND there is some luck involved. There is always something else Killer around the corner at some point.

Liz

Veteran

sterling, I think it's worth remembering, as you watch what people are choosing, that the very fact of a 30x30 challenge means many people are pulling the favorites and winners from their closet. Therefore, the raves. You probably don't want to entirely change your shopping strategy based on the inherently limited sample that the 30x30 collections are giving you.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Sterling, as long as I am around, you will never be the last to the party! I'm pretty slow to jump on new trends and a "find" will have to be shared often before I get interested in actually trying it.

Style Fan

Veteran

This is a very interesting post Sterling. My 30 x 30 capsule is all about survival. However, I do have some lemmings in my wardrobe. I do not know how I would shop without YLF now that I live in the middle of nowhere. I use to live in an urban centre and saw more of what was going on in the fashion world. So thank you YLF and Angie!

Off the top of my head here are my lemmings:
Forum Members
Free People Out Of Africa Cardigan - I saw this on Firecracker and I had to have it. I fell in love with it. But how was I going to get it? As I mentioned I live in the middle of nowhere. There is one boutique in my area. ONE!!!!! I never go in because I never see anything I like. I went in to look and looked on the sale rack that was 60% off and there was the cardigan!!!!! This never happens to me. Well, it did happen to me.

Angie Picks
Jen 7 Eggplant Jeans - from the NAS 2016 - I have had a hard time warming up to these jeans. I really should have ordered the olive green ones. I have realized that I am very loyal to certain things and my wardrobe colours are one of those things.
Sanctuary Camo Peace Trooper Utility Pants - Best Buy - I wear these pants all summer and they are coming to Florida with me. They have my name written all over them.

'Peace Trooper' Camo Print Utility Pants

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Jen7 Stretch Sateen Slim Straight Leg Pants

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Free People 'Sweater Out of Africa' Long Cardigan

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Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think this forum is especially helpful when we get to see the same item on different people. It does take a bit of practice to translate that to our own selves, but it is so valuable.

Joy

Veteran

There are good reasons for lemming purchases. They are usually well made and have passed the criteria others have. I've often thought I would stalk something only to have it sell out, especially in my size. But there is always something new that comes along. The hard part is to practice Angie's PPP principle and now settle for something similar, but inferior.
It is fun to see the same item on different people, worn in their style. I will continue to be a lemming and learn to act more quickly. As you said, it's a good thing.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’m still undecided about pants from a collection Angie posted about. If I get them, they will be almost entirely for the future, as temps will be back over 70 in a day or two.

White House Black Market

Curvy Rose-Print Jacquard Slim Ankle Pants

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7

Joy

Veteran

Fashintern, don't do it. By the time you may be able to wear them, you may want something else. Save the money for the future, unless you really love them and would be sorry to miss out.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Joy, that “unless” clause is the part I’m hung up on. I do love interesting textures, those are good colors for me, and they have a little stretch so might be more comfortable than my other jeans. The last time I bought jeans it was those bootcuts, eight years ago.

Katerina

Veteran

Sterling, what a great post!

It is so interesting and exciting too see the variety of gorgeous personal styles and aesthetics. This is what I love so much about YLF. I felt also enlightened when I saw the variety of approaches and individual rules and strategies and decided to adopt some of them. For example to try to add a happiness piece to every outfit and to rate how an outfit make me feel and try to figure out why etc. And yes, being a lemming is a good thing. What I have to figure out is how the shipping from the various retailers work to Europe or in Europe. On the whole, I am quite new here and it is a lot to take in, but great experience and so much fun!