new persona - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Inspiration

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

new persona

Sally

Veteran

I found a great book in the library. Its a bit old (2013) but I love the concept. Its called "Style and the Successful girl" by Greta Monahan.

She divides style up into four different types....weekend girl, girly girl, solphisticated girl and sexy girl. Yeah really simplistic I know and certainly wouldn't suit everyone.

The category 'weekend girl' just resonated with me because it describes "everyday is a weekend even at work". It gives some examples of how to stick to casual but maintain "the weekend feel"

As Vix said I need to find a way of going to work but still feeling myself" So my task for my holidays is to fill the holes in my wardrobe so I feel "weekendy" but look appropriate. My goal for the year was to look polished but I somehow need to do it around my style persona....so my first rule of thumb is not to wear flip flops outside unless its just to check the mail and put the rubbish out...so I'm going to get some nice slip on sneakers.

My next rule is not to wear skinny jeans to work (unless they are formal black ) and get myself some new ponte or knit trousers that replace them. I think I can work on this now I have this persona to work with. Some inspiration pictures and descriptions from the book attached.

Can anyone think of any other rules I should follow?

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

20 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Anonymous

That weekend girl advice sounds like it was written for me. I do things like wear ponte trousers to work so I'll feel comfortable and appropriately dressed at the same time. I bought a few drapey knit jackets that are dressier than cardigans but more comfortable than Blazers. I love my cropped soft white vest that goes with so many things, so I just ordered a cropped dark wash denim vest. I could go on, but I think you get the point. I strive to look professional in an office that has a business casual dress code and still feel like I'm wearing my comfortable weekend clothes.

Anonymous

Make sure your underthings are ship-shape. The right size and style of bra can make all the difference in how you look, and it's amazing how many people are wearing the wrong size. And no raggedy panties! The psychological effect of having on nice underwear is immeasurable.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

The only rule you should follow is there is no rules. Wear what makes you feel and look your best. Sometimes we are so ridge with rules and structure we forget that Fashion and style are supposed to be an expression of who we are or who we want to become. Good luck on your fashion journey.

Anonymous

That's exactly right, and the advice about lingerie is spot on. Have fun in your fashion journey!

El Cee

Veteran

Ledonna is right -- do not get bogged down with too many ridged rules. This journey should be fun, first and foremost. I try to create flexible goals for myself instead of hard and fast rules. This allows me to enjoy the process a lot more.

Dee

Veteran

That describes me pretty well. I always want to be the sophisticated girl, but I'm drawn to drape, unstructured garments, and soft knits, and overall a more comfort in my daily life. Nice sneakers or oxfords, knit motos, and statement necklaces work well for me at work and on the weekend.

Sally

Veteran

BC and Dee...its nice to know there are others out there like me. Yes I want to be the polished girl or solphisticated one but I don't put in the effort and usually my hair is too fly away or messy to pull that off. I turned up to a wedding last week and realized that I hadn't done my nails. Oh well they were clean.

Ledonna I think you are right about not being too rigid. I have lots of fun with clothes. As I told a friend this morning, some people bake to unwind, I like to sort out my wardrobe. I find it quite therapeutic to have a capsule going where I know what I 'm wearing and I play with some rules...so I have fun with the rules. Then I change my capsule often...hence the thrift shopping.

Xtabay I always get my bra fitted so I'm wearing the right size. Its probably something I spend a fair amount of money on. I'm quite weekendy in the style though...I generally look for sports bras..

El Cee I'm not taking the rules too seriously ...its fun to have some guidelines though.

BrieN

Veteran

I *love* a knit blazer with stretch. All the comfort with the addition of just a bit of structure. H&M has a few right now that I'm considering although maybe a bit long for my body.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Sally --

I hope you share your discoveries along the way...I always think it's so interesting to see the different interpretations!

The only thing I can think to add is to try to figure out if you're more sporty, organic etc -- of course those can combine, so maybe figure out a few key words to play around with!

I already told you I'm envious that you find casual easy. I live in a casual/sporty place and try to stay active but I've learned that I often prefer casual skirts and like my activewear ruched/seamed and my hats wide-brimmed vs baseball.

Funny how it's the little details that can make an item feel like us instead of a costume or covering!

Sally

Veteran

BrieN- a knit blazer sounds good. I must check them out. I often wear roomy blazers.

Vix - I looked through pinterest for some looks that I liked. I don't do baseball hats and while I'm active I don't really do sporty though I do a lot of walking and I am hanging out in the house in tracksuit pants at the moment. I put together my favourite clothes that make me feel happy including work wear and a few inspiration pictures and came up with the words - weekend girl, minimalistic, RATE, simplistic. I think I'm starting to see a pattern of what I like. I just need to fine tune it and make the outfits work more...find the holes in my wardrobe etc..

I can't believe I've spent a day thinking about this.....

This post has 9 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

It's great to hear you're inspired by this book. I think part of developing a style that feels right is finding inspiration that helps us to envision something new for ourselves. Now you can look at a piece of clothing, try it on, and ask,"does it give me the feeling of the 'weekend girl' I'm envisioning?"
"Weekend girl" resonates with me, too, btw. A couple of years ago, I realized I wanted to get more sophistication into my style, though. I just started looking at new purchases with an eye toward whether I would feel "sophisticated" in them (or "grown up" is another way I thought of it) or could wear them in a way that would feel sophisticated. I think accessories and footwear can go a long way toward lending a certain stylish cast to a wardrobe that is foremost all about comfort.

Chris987

Veteran

I'm working on changing my persona too, just with a different goal than yours. I'm going to look for that book at the library, thanks for recommendation.

Here are some more ideas for being weekend girl at work: go with more substantial knits, not the paper-thin ones. Smaller scale prints in mid-dark colors seem a little less casual to me than larger scale ones...so in your examples #2 is a wider/lighter stripe = more casual and #3 is smaller stripe/darker = less casual. Both would be equally comfortable. I also think there is something about necklines that can be divided up this way but I'm not really sure what it is....that larger V-neck in # looks more casual for example. I also think more structure in the torso/shoulder area is a little less casual as opposed to large/flowy, but that might be just me thinking of my body type. Knit jackets are a great idea as others have said but try them on and look at them carefully. There is a huge variety in fit and quality so think about what you want.

As far as spending a whole day thinking about this - you go girl! I have spent far more time than that and not going to feel a bit guilty about it It does take time, you can't make this type of change in one fell swoop, it takes time to get used to the "new". And most of all HAVE FUN WITH IT!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

A few years ago a number of us adopted, coined, or borrowed "style personae" here on the forum. Did you see the big threads on this?

Here's one thread, with links that will take you back to other relevant posts:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....incess-uwp

And another: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ritor-here

Angie also has some great blog posts:

http://youlookfab.com/2006/06/.....n-persona/
http://youlookfab.com/2007/01/.....n-persona/

I found that choosing a persona was more helpful to me than style descriptors at first. I would ask myself when I went shopping if this was something an "urban prince" would wear.

My style persona has changed since then, but I still find it helpful to think in terms of a fashion persona, and I'll bet it will be helpful to you as well!

Chris987

Veteran

Thanks Suz for reposting those! As a newbie I probably saw them in my first pass through the archives but will definitely go back and re-read them now.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

They can be pretty helpful. There is also an "elements of love" questionnaire by Aida (forum member) that is helpful to some people.

You definitely look like a "weekend girl" to me in a good way. I see casual modern classic. Although you say "not sporty" the nautical stripes are a bit sporty or preppy. (I say that as someone who owns 3 nautical striped tops and just sadly parted with another that I'd worn out...)

I wouldn't call myself a "weekend girl" exactly (I tend to like more structure than that description seems to encompass and more dressiness), but I definitely have the "casual" side of it and the extremely practical bent. I really need to dress for the life I lead. So I'm in jeans most of the time. I like to add a jacket and great footwear/ bag to kick things up a notch.

Sally

Veteran

Thanks everyone for your tips.

Firecracker - I understand what you mean by trying to be more grownup. A lot of the pictures on blogs have really young people and I don't want to look like I"m trying to be that young. I tried to be more solphisticated but find it really hard with my lifestyle so I end up looking dressed up or just slack...hence running around in leggings and flip flops. So I'm approaching it with how can I add more thought to this weekend girl look and give it a bit of intention. I admire the way you put your jean outfits together so you are really on the right track.

Chris987 I think you might right about the different tops marking casual or more professional. I am going to look for some better quality tops to wear for work. I probably don't need that many. I think I'll separate those considered more work appropriate from the others. I may have a different shape from you as I don't like things to be fitted around the torso...that's where I carry any extra weight and I"m really short waisted. I like it fitted at top/ shoulders etc and flaring out a bit around the middle.

Suz - thanks for all the information. I read it a few times to digest it. I really liked the post about the urban prince. I do have elements of some of those pieces in my wardrobe and could evoke my urban prince when I'm wanting to be more "badass" I'd really like to find Aida's quiz...where would I look? I think factors do change your style. The biggest for me how active I am etc and this recent weight loss has made me go back to my original more sporty look as I am doing a lot of incidental exercise which means I need to be prepared. I am a teacher but its in a poorer part of town and I have to do duty outside etc so can't be running around in heels. I was wearing wedges one day and had to go and take them off because I was finding it too uncomfortable. I found some reasonably cheap slip on sneakers and thought they would be easier instead of wearing flip flops to do chores. So I'm trying to add a bit of style to my sporty or weekend look.

harmonica

Veteran

Glad you find inspiration in that book. It seems like you are on a good path and adding dressier pants is a great start for dressing more «grown up» or sophisticated. I love reading your posts and follow your style journey.

Summer

Veteran

This sounds really useful for pin-pointing your style, Sally. Your outfits seem to fit the "Weekend Girl" persona very well, and you look lovely in them. I see a really cohesive style coming through.

Actually, you have pointed me in a good direction for my own style, too. I'd like to take my smart casual wardrobe up a notch, so that my clothes are versatile enough to take me just about anywhere, rather than having too many capsules, some of which might be rarely worn. I'm thinking in terms of nicer quality fabrics, sophisticated colours and interesting footwear for starters - much in line with Firecracker's comments. Also, although her style is quite different from mine, Deborah achieves this brilliantly with her own beautiful and highly- versatile wardrobe. Plenty of food for thought here.

Staysfit

Veteran

Sally, I'm glad to see you making progress. The book you read sounds so helpful. My style is clearly more casual than you can be at work because I actually wear jeans, but I hope you continue to share your thought process as you go forward. Your pictures are great!

Suz, thanks for all the helpful links, which lead to even more links! I always wondered exactly what UWP meant!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Based upon your pics, I'd say you're well on your way to your goal! I think the Firecracker had a great suggestion to begin playing with some accessories and footwear as you move forward, particularly as the outfit formulas and proportions seem to be taking shape very nicely. You're looking great, and your combinations, while casual, do look intentional and fab.

I'm guessing that you might find a lot of accessories kind of fussy, but I could see an occasional scarf, or -- and I like this best of all for you -- a bold cuff bracelet or strong, updated watch. I could also see a simple slice of color in bag or shoes. For footwear, slip on sneaks sound perfect, as would oxfords or a dressier slide sandal (not the athletic sort so popular among college students).