Statements, essentials and sorting it all out - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

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

Statements, essentials and sorting it all out

catgirl

Veteran

It occurred to me that I would love it if in our WIW threads, people could post as to whether in their opinion the outfit contains statements, essentials or both, and why. I am going to try to do this for now as I think it would be a really helpful learning experience! Those of you who have grasped this concept are amazing. I on the other hand learn visually and slowly.

Just a suggestion, of course, since this is a current theme on the forum! Xoxo

Dressing

33 replies

Latest reply was from Peri

deb

Veteran

I agree, Una.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

A lovely idea. And I replied to you on my thread, so check back.

catgirl

Veteran

Angie, I've actually sorted it out a but by dividing my work wardrobe into the "comfort, mixed, and dressy days". Comfort is all easy essentials, mixed is one of each, and dressy days are more about statement pieces. Not necessarily work formal dressy but things that I want to be SEEN and take time to style. Hmmm...

See what happens when I get some sleep? I'm at the gym with four boys playing basketball so I even have time to chat!

Tanya

Veteran

Great idea Una! I will do that in my next WIW post.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES. That's sweet music to my ears, Una. I like the way you've divided up your work wardrobe because it sounds like a method that you can put into practice effectively. Hallelujah. xo

catgirl

Veteran

Angie you are such a sweetheart for sticking it out with me!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

We share a brain today, Una: I just put up a WIW post and flagged my statement shoes right in the subject *before* I saw your thread. I like this practice and will adopt it. Thanks for the suggestion!

Carole

Veteran

Great idea! That would really help me figure out the differences!

carter

Veteran

Excellent idea!

bj1111

Veteran

my difficulty isn't being able to differentiate between essentials and statements. my difficulty is choosing to buy essentials in sufficient quality. i really need warm winter boots which i do not have--ideally something like sorels.

i need a pair of dressy knee high flat boots preferably waterproof but am too cheap buy the aquatalias or even the blondos
instead i have ridiculous apron 100mm stiletto pumps and my most recent purchase was a suede (!) 80mm stiletto bootie.

i need an angie bossy-ms-bossy intervention.

SOREL 'Slimpack' Riding Boot

View Info

Top Pick

1

SOREL 'Joan of Arctic' Waterproof Snow Boot

View Info

Top Pick

1

SOREL 'Tofino' Boot

View Info

Top Pick

4

Blondo 'Elenor' Waterproof Riding Boot (Women)

View Info

Top Pick

0

Aquatalia By Marvin K. Aquatalia by Marvin K 'Oralie' Boot (Women)

View Info

Top Pick

0

Aquatalia By Marvin K. 'Urope' Weatherproof Boot (Women)

$595.00 $299.97

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

3

Jimmy Choo 'Heath' Pointy Toe Leather Pump (Women)

$895.00 $626.49

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

0

Windchime

Veteran

I analyzed my outfit this morning; it was fun. I've already changed into gear so won't post it, but the elements were:

Black pencil skirt (essential)
Dressy blouse (I decided it functioned as an essential AND statement piece
in the outfit.)
Black ankle boots (I would have said essential, but I think Angie wrote that
she sees all ankle boots as statement.)

Then I did a bit of post-work shopping at the Rack. I tried on:

Grey wool trousers (essential)
Black replacement ballet flats (essential)
The same grey knit pullover vest Angie recently wore from NAS (statement;
very sadly, the only available size was too small for me.)
Navy blue pencil skirt (essential)

And I came home with the same amount of money and clothing as I started with. But it's interesting to classify items as statements, essentials, and basics.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fab idea, Una!

Debbie

Veteran

I am not sure I always get the difference but I am going to try it

Meow

Veteran

You inspired me to post a WIW with what I think are all essentials. I was really happy to read Angie's comment that an outfit of all essentials can make a statement. I wasn't going to post that outfit but with both of your comments I thought it was good timing. I would love your feedback!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I am in!
Ruth, I cannot imagine you do not have winter boots in Michigan! How do you survive?!!!

Style Fan

Veteran

I will try this. I missed the thread where Angie said all Ankle booties are statement! I actually have statement pieces. bj1111 I feel your pain. I live in mid Ontario where the winters are very harsh. My Sorels are falling apart. I need new ones. I want to buy something else. Sigh.

Neel

Veteran

Ha! This is your brain child ... Should have guessed! Brilliant idea and I am in too

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks for playing, y'all. And I'm also noticing that my Finds are mostly Statements, again confirming that for me, needs tend to be Essentials, while wants tend to be Statements.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's a pleasure, Una. Thanks for working at your wardrobe to make it function better for YOU.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Bj1111, purchasing a high-end Burberry coat is okay with you. Why is buying a pair of Aquatalias - which is hundreds of dollars cheaper, just as well made and super stylish - harder for you ?

Isabel

Veteran

AWESOME !

bj1111

Veteran

Frankly, Angie, I have no idea other than I am emotionally attached to that coat and perceive its value consistent with its price.

I see the aquatalias and think "boy, I can get a new pair of manolos instead!" Trust me, my priorities are not quite aligned and need some work.

@Sveta, I have a pair of fryes that I use. I dash to the car (3meters) dash to the office door (3meters) then reverse. I just don't walk outside in the dead of winter. I need to rethink this tho, because fryes with my office armor is RIDIC!

catgirl

Veteran

Ruth, I totally get it. Wants vs needs. That's why even my essentials (black sweaters) need some statement-ish quality - zipper, asymmetry, leather elbow patches.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Then start with Blondo boots if the fit is good for you. They are really good for the price and handle our snowy winter extremely well.
I find it easier to splurge on footwear than on any other piece of clothing - maybe because finding footwear in my size is a pain? Honestly I would rather buy a perfectly fitting Aquatalia boots than a Burberry coat (if I had to choose). Alas, Aquatalias were too narrow for my feet

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Aha. These feelings are not uncommon, bj1111. You've attached emotion and status to the high-end purchase. Yet ironically, the value you'll get in terms of comfort, style and quality from a pair of Aquatalais or La Canadiennes far outweighs that of the Burberry coat (and Manalos) for your climate and lifestyle. Food for thought.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I find this so interesting....I had no trouble splurging on La Canadienne boots last winter. But would find it really tough to splurge like that on heels (which, admittedly, I would rarely wear) or even on a Burberry coat (which I'm sure I would also wear and adore.)

bj1111

Veteran

@Angie, respectfully, I disagree about the utility I would get re aquatalias vs my manolo pumps. Here is my reasoning...work clothing is armor and serves to frame what I want to accomplish. Those manolos make me feel powerful and invincible when I go to war...I mean work. I got the same feeling from a pair of $50 hooker boots that I got in Vegas in 2002.

I have the same visceral reaction to that coat that happens to be a Burberry. I just don't have the same "I can conquer all" feeling with those aquatalias (which I would get for work), no matter how appropriate for my weather. It just a different definition of utility and value.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That makes complete sense, bj1111. I strongly advocate that we MUST listen to how we feel in wardrobe items - especially once we road test them in our day to day settings. You are 100% right to listen to those feelings. Please don't think that I want to rob you of your Manolos. My suggestion is to fork out the money for the Aquatalias, and change into your Manalos when you're back in a heated and dry hospital setting - preparing for war. A bash at the best of both worlds perhaps.

Peri

Veteran

I'm thinking this is all interesting, and makes sense, and yet I'm missing the real importance of it. I don't see the reason to identify something as a statement vs an essential. I mean, I know what I need, I look for it, and I try to fill that need with something that I like.

I can't live without black pants, but just because they are essential doesn't mean I don't also want to love the pairs I end up with, and to consider them special and exactly right for me. And a gorgeous sweater or scarf or necklace may obviously be a statement piece that I choose with my heart, but that doesn't mean I don't care if it is useful or not. It seems to me as if the lines are blurry, so why do I need to debate what category something falls in?

I didn't join in the other discussions because of this doubt. What am I missing?Why do I care which label something gets?

12