Scarf epiphany - YouLookFab Forum

Another modern world aha moment, rather than achieving World Peace.
I don't like wearing scarves at work with my lab coat! Wow! Finally. It sinks into my tiny mind.
I DO like wearing scarves ( at times) in almost all other situations. Of course there are the outerwear scarf/ muffler thing with a real outerwear coat. always good in winter. And medium scarves with lighter jackets and blazers. Scarves with just a pullover and pants outfits actually work for me as well as a " 3rd piece" in mild weather and with roomier sweaters. I also have some dresses that I like with a few scarves that are more like jewelry.
But when I swap blazer or cardigan for lab coat, I'm never as happy, even though the scarf may be great for face color or tie things together. Instead , the neckline and other elements seem all off, too much going on, and I feel " stuffy" ( as in affected) or something. This is even when the workday is scarf- friendly. But I kept doing it. Partly because I dress to go out the door, and then change coats.

So no more! But I will still wear them with regular outfits and going to and from car, errands after work.
I still like necklaces a lot with work outfits so will continue those and Will feel free to wear scarf over it for going to and fro. It would be simpler to seldom wear scarves at all but I do really like specific looks with them, so will focus on those, but not eliminate.

How about you- not scarves only, but something you kept doing until the lightbulb went off?

8 years ago

Anonymous

Good insights. I don't really like scarves unless it's deep winter and needed to keep warm. I finally gave myself permission to realize they are never going to be my main accessory of choice.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Great analysis and question.

I was wearing dress socks with dressy flats. I was raised that way. Its been automatic.

It was a lightbulb moment when i realized i did not need to.

Well I suppose mine was when I was nursing and could not afford an expensive nursing bra...hey, I don't need to wear a bra! So freeing. I do wear them now but would not need to, especially as I almost always wear a cami under my top.

Vix

Hi Unfrumped --

The only thing better than realizing why we like something is realizing why we hate something -- as we can stop trying ("to make fetch happen"!)

Happy Non-Scarf-With-Labcoating!

Inge

(website)

Moderator

That is a brilliant realization, unfrumped, and one that will help you be a more targeted shopper in the future;-) Here's to making necklaces part of your work outfits more regularly!

Jenni NZ

Well I've never liked scarves much at all, Unfrumped, but have mused on your thread for a day and possibly realised one of the many causes of my over shopping problem! It's matchy-matchyness and getting over-excited about new things I see that would really match something in my wardrobe.
I am going to think about this some more and you may have just done me a HUGE service. So thank you!

Alexandra

That's a great epiphany! I had a similar one a couple of years ago - I like to wear scarves and collars but usually not together. And because I like scarves more than collars, I started focusing on collarless tops and toppers to help make scarves my signature.

unfrumped

I'm enjoying learning about other epiphanies!
I think the fun thing for me was to remember not to "throw the baby out with the bath water". I like scarves in certain situations.
And , Jenni NZ, your comment is so relevant. For instance I make use of the trick of wearing a happy face- color scarf with a JFE color top. That still works, but I need to not rely on it for workday, and not overbuy scarves that would mainly serve that purpose.
I have used colors and metals in necklaces very successfully that way, but to me they are harder to find, ones that tick all my boxes, anyway-- yet there's just so much scarf availability!

It's funny how these small things are so hard to figure out. Sometimes things just don't go in.
It took me ages and tons of feedback from this forum to figure out I needed to wear higher necklines.

The Cat

I am a scarf lover, but I understand what you mean. In some cases, we keep wearing things a certain way until we finally realize that it would be better for us to dress otherwise.

A few years ago, I realized that I look and feel better if I wear:
- tops that are a little longer and are untucked
- a non-neutral item near my face
- a necklace or scarf, unless other details of the outfit make this unnecessary

cindysmith

My biggest one was when I finally realized that those "must-have" lists were just not for me, for more reasons than I'm going to go into here.

I also recently had one about tops. I have lots of mid-weight tops with long sleeves, and they don't get worn very often. Really, they're perfect for Texas winter's because we have such mild winter. But I stay cold, so I reach for heavier sweaters in what passes for cold weather. I need to stop buying mid weight long sleeve tops. I also don't have very many short sleeve tops. I have lots of sleeveless tops, which are very handy in our brutal summers. But I have so few short sleeves, and I could use them. They're perfect for the weather we have this time of year. Hugh 70s through the upper 80s aren't quite hit enough for me to want my sleeveless, low back tops. I also need to quit wearing my loose/voluminous tops to work. I love the loose/voluminous tops, but at work there are too many things for them to get caught on and I don't want my favorite tops ruined so I need to stop. When it comes to tops, my closet is a mess but now I think I know where to focus.

Also, I've tried to wear scarves forever, and unless they are infinity scarves or oversized then I won't be emotionally comfortable in them.

Archer

I imagine the lab coat and scarf makes you feel you're sporting a 'Vera' kind of look regardless of whether its an ultra modern design or not. I have that sense with scarves regularly. You have to be careful what the coat looks like:)

Bijou

I go through phases with soft silk scarves. For a while I like them and then all of a sudden, they feel too fussy and they are off my radar for a few months (or years).
Winter scarves tend to be more my thing. I do appreciate the warmth they provide and love the look of a co-ordinating coat and scarf combination for outerwear.

Scarlet

Just chiming in to say that when I was wearing a lab coat often, I wore scarves to and from work and to go outside for lunch or something, but not with my lab coat. Makes perfect sense to me.

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