Disclosure: I'm just thinking aloud here and being pretty pleased with myself this morning, I thought I might share my wisdom with my fellow fashion lovers who just might get it. Here are some seemingly -random points that will all connect in the end, I promise:

1. I like to have a plan ,or an idea in mind now when I shop. This is different than how I used to do it - which was more akin to a drive-by shooting than anything - and I have YLF and my own emotional maturity finally kicking in to thank for that. I love it when an idea crystallizes and I know exactly what I want = my new olive bomber jacket being the perfect example. I can then ignore 90% of what I pass by in a store and narrow in on the piece I am looking for.

2. I've been a bit distressed about what the heck I am going to wear this summer. This is for three reasons: I am determined to break out of my jeans-for-everything rut that I fell into over the winter; and, my changing/foreign-to-me body is rendering a lot of my older clothes unwearable now. I want to dress professionally and flatteringly, and most of all, in a fashion forward manner. And - nothing I had been seeing so far was really leaping out at me !

3. I like to dress in a pretty simple way, and don't like flourish, most pattern, most colour or anything body con. In winter, it is long-over-lean, with two colours in my wardrobe and variety coming from texture and fabric. Luxe is the goal . In summer, that's harder to achieve that goal - long over lean doesn't work and fabrics aren't as luxe. The other day, someone ...I think it was Aida, made one of those comments that literally stopped me in my tracks . She remarked on someone else's post (MsMary's I think) about how she had her look down pat, but with such good range. I'm paraphrasing here, but you get the idea, I hope. I have no range. My look is pretty established, but I have little range. I don't have a ton of clothes because I don't want a ton of clothes. I hate having a bunch of things I rarely wear, and prefer to keep things organized and under control. So the question became: how do I get this range without going crazy with a bunch of stuff I don't want that will clutter up my closet? Aida has this knack for writing things that will often knock me over the head. Smart girl, that Aida :)

4. Inspiration comes from all kinds of sources . It took me two looks at an outfit that Maneera posted the other day : the striped t and the simple a-line skirt ,for a grain of a thought to take hold: a knee-length or just-above simple slightly crisp a-line skirt is a very good summer look, and in certain fabrics, can look luxe and polished . I grew up wearing golf skirts - literally. It was my daily summer uniform from when I was about 12 to at least 18 or 19 ....and they were perfect in so many ways...and never mind flattering ! So , if i was going to make a tennis or golf/athletic skirt part of my summer casual look instead of shorts all the time, why can't I wear an a-line style dressier golf-skirt-look for work days? I love this look. So classic, simple, with sporty integrity , and easy to wear .....and , pockets!! I have often had a cargo or utility skirt in my wardrobe for summer, but they've all been pretty casual . Here's the chance to ramp up the style quotient and broaden my range.

5. this morning , I came upon this post (see photo attached ) , and that did it. I am going to dress like this this summer. And here's where YLF comes back in to help : although US resources are foolish financially for us Canadians right now , Nordstrom does have a wealth of collectible images to store for inspiration and future reference (although they really need to use different models - ugh) . I'm collecting some ideas in finds, hoping to actually find one or two of them at a Canadian Nordstrom later this spring/summer, and I'm also considering breaking out my sewing machines for the first time in years- thanks to Sharan and Diane - because this is a very easy skirt to sew and fit.

So to wrap up this ridiculous essay: thanks to YLF - members, resources, postings, pictures, blogs,hobbies, finds.....you as an entity have a mysterious way of pulling things together for this often frustrated fashion lover. I now know what I'm wearing this summer: drapey Old Navy t's , (thanks Una ) and a-line skirts. And clogs, slides,and block heeled sandals (thanks Angie) .