Mmm...! Angie, you have no idea how much I love this thread. It's an Year in Retrospect, Best of the Best, What You Missed (While You Were Sleeping) and readymade inspiration board all rolled into one.
I'm seeing favourites I loved the first time (Shannon's #1, Anna's green jumpsuit, Suz's fuchsia suit remodelled, Lyn's #3 in layers, and oh so many others) and still adore. I'm also getting a round-up of the best that I might not have seen otherwise. This is SUCH a brilliant, rollicking good idea, Angie.
And it's great for accountability, isn't it? :-p When in doubt next year, members can refer back to *this* thread and ask: 'Does my comfort and enjoyment right now stand up to these stellar outfits I wore last year? If not, maybe I need to reconsider... because wow, can I do better?!'
What a lot of FABULOUSly happy looks. Not only is the YLF-ness beyond words here, the sheer overload of happiness factor is rendering me speechless.
My favourites from 2012 (the only year I've been posting!) are those that took me a step further in confidence and/or experimentation...
#1 -- first attempt at wildly bright 'not for me!' colours
#2 -- successful comfy-in-formals (for a change!), cautious first step in pattern mixing
#3 -- discovering a soft belt
#4 -- daring to dolman
#5-6 -- ODing on favourite colours and textures
#7 -- learning to bridge the gap with leggings in a new silhouette, more emphatic pattern mixing
#8 -- acquiring another silhouette (which felt good, even though these pieces aren't individually the most comfortable --- but together, they pointed me in an interesting direction I'd like to explore further)
#9 -- a favourite from Bella's art challenge: rediscovering a traditional silhouette and discovering the cami as more than undergarment
#10 -- also from Bella's challenge (boy, do I owe her!): throwing together Indian and Western, formal and casual... and feeling quite okay at that.
#11 -- daring to bare arms after very many years (this was a trial run, but unfortunately I didn't get a shot of actually wearing the outfit out and about)
#12 -- embracing the crumple: if I can't be comfy with polished, I'm going to make the most of the rumple! Bonus: another new silhouette
#13 -- And a traditional variation that didn't feel too frumpy or fussy. Plus: New hair
#14 -- shout-out to Sona: The 'old slippers' that made me smile every time, no matter what I wore them with (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....d-slippers), and I'm still grinning
#15 -- rather retro and casual, and belted too, with boho beads that didn't feel too costume-y like this
#16 -- dress pants and button down, but relaxed; in a ?difficult palette
#17 -- my first skinnies; my first RED (or any bright colour) pants; my first non-T-shirt knit top (all became staples)
#18 -- a favourite old silhouette freshened up (maxi skirt, but topped and belted) and favourite pattern mix of the year
#19 -- another new silhouette, which became a staple
#20 -- a large splash of colour, for the festival of colours, to 'dress up' the plainest, most casual outfit possible (white T-shirt, distressed blue jeans)... and feeling that was good enough!
#21 -- simple and neutral, but with texture and a fun bag, not feeling too drab!
#22 -- rediscovering a girlhood favourite
#23 -- rescuing two orphans, finally
#24 -- first attempt at tucking and belting with pants and a button-down that doesn't feel too 'office'
#25 -- harem pants, yet again! another silhouette
#26 -- favourite maternity make-do (with hubby's pants and kaftan, also a new silhouette)
#27 -- next-best and 'happy accident' maternity outfit
#28 -- maternity jeans at last, and boyfriends to boot!
#29 -- comfy as pajamas, though a shocker of a colour and silhouette for me
#30 -- last Christmas: layering in solstice colours and roomy shapes
Sorry about the deluge! I didn't realize I was as 'happy' as all that with my wardrobe, given I had far more failures than successes and lots of frustrating, un-fab days too. But I guess it has been a GREAT learning curve of a year. Thanks to Angie and all!
Hope to do better --- and have a tighter selection of favourites, corresponding to a higher bar --- this year!