Some ideas needed for inspiration - 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

Some ideas needed for inspiration

jenanded

Veteran

I thought I was all over wardrobing until I came across YLF a few weeks ago... I now feel like my coordinated black and grey basics are, after all, quite ummm... So I have been sloping off to work this week feeling far less than fab. So weekend challenge is to make up some outfits that are fab... For some reason I feel a bit bewildered about where to start. Should I start with my photos and notes from mags and your ideas? Or with my base pieces and how I might go from there... How interesting even that my pondering feels ok to share with the forum...

14 replies

Latest reply was from jenanded

Fruitful

Veteran

It's amazing, isn't it, to be able to share minute thoughts that other people would find completely tedious and crazy to be contemplating

There's nothing wrong with coordinating black and grey - it can be very sophisticated (which was my impression from the couple of pics I've seen of you).

Do you know specifically what you want, or is it just a vague "be more fab"?

Fruitful

Veteran

I don't think forcing it is fun. But 2 things that are fun are:

1) experimentation - try on everything in every permutation you can, take photos and see what you come up with that excites you

2) start an inspiration folder (digital or paper). When you see something that makes your heart beat faster, or that simply is different and intriguing, or that you want to try, file the image/notes in the folder. Then when you're wondering what to do you, you'll have a ready reference, or even have it in your mind because you reinforced it earlier (ah, yes, belting over a scarf might look good, or bookending my hair with my shoes, or combining blue and orange etc)

Fruitful

Veteran

So I see you already have an inspiration folder of sorts (your mags, ideas from YLF etc). Great idea to utilise this. So look through your mags/blogs but just note what takes your fancy; it's not about having to do anything or not being fab enough, yk?

Then go play in your wardrobe. The inspiration will inform the experimentation.

Or if you feel like it, experimentation alone works too.

jenanded

Veteran

Ok, will start... And that might be my first question to answer - what do I want to achieve... I think I have put together things that really are a bit frumpy... It is still stinky hot here and possibly it means there are only a few things that feel fab. I actually think that I just need a few tweaks to what I am doing day to day... Thanks Fruitful Wish i remembered what I said about quality lol!

Fruitful

Veteran

Lol Jen, it's ok not to be fab fab fab all the time It's fun to feel killer but I can wear something boring and still feel good and have people feel good around me -

*sweating here in bare feet, no makeup and a slightly shrunken dress from an Asian fast fashion shop with a popped button loop that I am too lazy to fix yet again*

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Gee, I am impressed that you are putting so much thought into it.

I agree with you, it is *so* hard to know where to start and I struggle with it continuously on a weekly basis. I find it even harder to look stylish and pulled together in the summer when I feel so hot and sticky and my main priority is to be cool and comfortable. (I'm in QLD, so a big wave from one Aussie to another! :-))

The biggest thing I learnt when I started out is that how I thought I looked in the mirror was not how I looked on film (and I assume to others). I got quite obsessive for a while, taking photos of my outfit every morning to check and see whether my outfit looked balanced. These days I don't tend to bother, unless it is for a special occasion, or I am concerned about whether a look "works" or not. (Such as right now - I seriously don't care how I look - I am sitting here in my sweaty and smelly exercise gear, and I must confess I'm not particularly bothered about doing anything other than having a shower and putting on my pj's!)

I've also learnt that sometimes the thing that takes an outfit from OK, to great is actually the attention to detail - such as the choice of shoes, jewellery, belt, handbags etc, rather than each particular item of clothing. That was a real eye-opener for me. So, for instance, if you have a lot of grey and black, you might consider a bright red necklace to "lift" the outfit. Or if the outfit is mostly grey, you might consider teeming it with yellow and white. (This is one of my favourite colour combos!)

I promise you that yes, a small detail such as this really can make a very big difference. The best thing is that it can be cheap and it is practical, no matter what your life-stage or the time of year. It has now become second nature that when I put on an outfit to just pay a moment to consider the accessory/ies I think will complete the look. You can do this even when it is really hot.

As I know the members here are so very supportive, I propose you consider having a little "play" with your clothes and accessories and come up with a couple of outfit combos. Then be brave and submit a request for feedback and suggestions. I have seen other members do this in the past (and I have done this myself) and have found it so very useful and helpful to receive the insights and advice from other members.

Have a fun and creative weekend exploring!

jenanded

Veteran

Katie, as you say I might start with my own things... its not as if I have never thought about this before lol .... I suspect the heat is getting to me as you know (yep Im a brizzie girl), all those lovely new colours etc are coming into the stories that all look so much more glamourous than the 'rags' at my place (more lol!!), and the heat is keeping me in less than glam shoes. I think the accessories might be the go - some lovely yellows etc as you suggest as I have 'new' blonde hair (now maybe that is why my work clothes look off)... you ARE inspiring me already!

Jilly

I think katiepea and fruitful both have great suggestions: experimentation and how much accessories can make an outfit. I'm pretty new to ylf, so what I did a few weeks ago was take pictures of myself in a bunch of outfits that I already had. As I started trying things on, I came up with some new ideas of how to coordinate what I thought were tired outfits. I think once you get started with this, you'll really have fun. Although I feel for you in the heat. I live about 30 minutes north of Houston, and it's hot and sticky at least half of the year. Good luck!

Isabel

Veteran

I think that you could start with some ideas from mags and notes and here. One thing that is very helpful to me is to add a sticky note to a mag pic ( or to simply ) list pieces that I have that are similar to the ones in the pic. I have an example below. The pics are off the web, the notes are mine referring to specific pieces that I have. ( Don't forget to add accessories if you like them ! )

Also, if you look through http://www.theviviennefiles.com, she has wardrobes built on those color schemes for some ideas.

Good Luck !!!!

This post has 2 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.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Jen: I'm at the stage where I'm playing in my closet, experimenting, often just 30 minutes at a shot, since my family doesn't need a dress-up doll, but rather a mom (LOL). I'm also, for the time being, taking a photo of everything I decide to actually wear. This was horrifying at first, but now I'm learning to view myself with a little more patience and kindness, and I'm finding I have a lot more interesting combinations than I thought I did. In my case, I'm also trying to come out of what I call my "black hole," as in too much black! I've taken Angie's suggestion to wear more woven tops and soft jackets instead of knits, and that's making a difference, too.

I suggest you approach your closet with the mindset of a playful researcher. "Hmmmm...what happens if I add this to that?" Fortunately, with clothing, unlike a chemistry lab, there will no explosions or destruction! No one will see your failed experiments and you can just laugh and go on! Also, I've seen your posts before and you have some great basics. I've found the feedback I've gotten to be invaluable, particularly when I've asked a specific question in my WIW.

rae

(website)

Veteran

If I could do it over again, I'd start with a few pics that are representative of where you are, and a few pics that show where you'd like to be. Then you (or we, if you so choose) can navigate from one to the other and decide what to add/update/toss. Your mag photos and notes are a GREAT start - you have alredy done half the work!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Sounds like you're in good hands here, with the previous responses.

Just wanted to add that there is nothing wrong with gray and black! They make up half my wardrobe. You can have totally fab outfits, with lots of textural interest and good proportions even if you wear black exclusively (I know I've seen a blog somewhere of a woman who does this....can't remember her name).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Such great suggestions! I'm just chiming in to say good luck, and to make sure that you're recently had a professional bra fitting.

I have an extremely stylish friend in HK who is my age and Chinese. She ONLY ever wears black and grey and a pop of taupe. FWIW

jenanded

Veteran

Morning from Oz everyone... I woke up racing to see your comments. Fruitful, Katie, Jilly, Rae, Elisabeth, Beth, Isabel, Angie - I will put your suggestions into play and hope to post at least one or two in the next few day. Beth - my fam likewise are both pleased and dismayed that I have found you all letting them off the hook a bit for when I say "What do you think of this outfit???" lol!