New trends and magazines - YouLookFab Forum

I never read fashion magazines, only occasionally would leaf through them at a hair salon or at a friend's house, but I could never translate what I saw into something I could use in my daily life. So mostly I was blissfully unaware of current trends. I would buy things that caught my eye, but always veering toward classic look. Or I would notice new fashions on the street, but I never used magazines as a source of information.
After I started reading YLF, I began to recognize things that Angie talks about in magazines or catalogs. For example, I just received the new Nordstrom catalog, and it's full of things like belted cardigans, watercolor prints, etc - things that I wouldn't have noticed or identified as trends before YLF. I never really aspired to be fashion-forward, but why I was so oblivious? I feel like I was (and still am) missing a skill to process the information in magazines. Is it something you develop? I'd love to hear about your experience.
P.S. Maybe it just takes someone like Angie to get it into my brain.

16 years ago

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I feel the same way! It's as if, by reading Angie, you can finally crack the code. Now I get that there's a volume trend ... love it ... and can pick up on hot colors and the like. I'm much more conscious and intentional about shopping now.

But I know what you mean about cluelessness in the past. Glad those days are over!

Antje

What an interesting observation, Marianne. And it applies to me, too - I've only started to regularly read fashion magazines a couple years ago, just around the time I started my style journey with Angie. I now really enjoy reading InStyle, Lucky, and a couple other magazines, for inspiration. I used to be almost intimated by them!

BlondeAmbition

Active Member

I agree, it's almost like a Catch 22. Before I was aware of trends I felt blissfully comfortable in what I was wearing. But when I look back and see pictures I think "oh my goodness, what was I thinking wearing that pant length!" It's still difficult for my eye to adjust to it so I set myself up on exercises. Walking around the city and on the subway I look at all women's pantlengths and analyze the appropriateness of the hem. It's starting to become second nature.

I know it feels overwhelming to look at magazines but that's only because you didn't know what to look at really. By visiting here and staying aware of trends you will eventually be able to translate over the top advertisements into how it can work for you. We're all in this together so good luck to you too!

marianne

Thank you ladies, I am glad you can relate, and I am not the only one who missed the bus! That's true, I used to be overwhelmed by magazines, and also annoyed by all the ads and product pushing. My shopping is now much more informed and focused, but it's funny catching myself having these "aha" moments.

Laura, speaking of voluminous trend, I was at Zara in BC and it was full of voluminous tunics, and I wasn't quite sure how to tackle them.

Inge

Moderator

I think I know exactly what you mean Marianne. I just wasn't able to 'translate' what I saw into something that would work for me. YLF, Angie's visuals and all the outfits you lovely ladies post are a tremendous help for me.

Admittedly, I still have troube sometimes coming up with 'my version with an Inge twist'. Maybe the whole image-to-brain/processing-it-into-that's it! outfits-and-please-remember-the-accessories-this-time!!!-thing just works a little slower with me;-)

tarzy

I have dismissed most of what I see in magazines for years because those styles are usually for a completely different body type than mine. Even when I was younger, I didn't have that type of body - I just can't wear most of the styles that look good on those young/thin/tall models.

Recently though I have started to pay attention to things like color trends and shoes (although I can't really wear anything over 2 1/2" inches). And there are a few more articles now aimed at dressing a body that's over 40 (although they seem to assume that you automatically have tons of money if you're over 40, and can spend $350 on a pair of pants, which certainly isn't true for me.)

I find much more usable fashion information on the internet nowadays!

Marianne, I'm haven't tried the volume trend in a tunic (but I bet you could). I'll have to check out Zara! But I do have one of those banded waist blouses that I actually purchased last fall (blissfully unaware of the trend, as usual!). And I have a cotton woven Gap shirt that is very blousy, but has an elastic band at the waist. So I guess that I am doing volume on top, but ending at the waist. I find that easy to wear, and although definiing the waist is probably more flattering in a classic way, it's fun to try this for a change.

At least I am now aware that's it's a trend!!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

You lot crack me up, but you make perfect sense. Nice thread, Marianne.

The intangible way in which magazines offer fashion and dressing information was one of the reasons I wanted to blog about what’s in my head. It’s always been part of my job as a fashion buyer and stylist to INTERPRET fashion trends, which means different things for different people. YLF was a way in which I could interpret trends and break them down into manageable bite size pieces FOR YOU. So that you could in turn apply trends to suit your specific needs and actually make sense of what’s happening in fashion magazines. It sounds like we have a win-win situation :0)

Angie, your approach is extremely effective if it works for people like me! I have yet to come across anything even 10% as helpful as YLF. I find myself being able to analyze all these images, and it's like I learned a new language. And yes, the visuals here are of tremendous help for me as well.

Laura, those tunics at Zara looked really big, so I couldn't quite picture how they are supposed to work. I was looking for tops and dresses but wasn't tempted by anything, which is rather unusual and unfortunate, because it's not often that I can get to the store. Actually, now that I saw your boho thread, they looked kind of boho-ish... hmm

medusa

This is one of the things I want to get better at. I'm definitely learning, but I'm not there yet.

Steffi

I have a confession, I've been looking at fashion magazine since I was a teenager or before then. I have always loved to look at fashion and take what works for me and leave the rest behind. I also started watching Bobbi Brown when she first started out. Now I pretty much use all her great makeup and her ideals. I feel at times that I went into the wrong industry, but this will help my love of fashion. My two favorite magazines are allure and more. I will say that if something is "in" but doesn't look flattering on me I won't look at it twice. Thank you Angie for giving me a chance to be a part of this

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