I just wanted to add one note about the 'comfortable shoe' thing that Peri's comment got me thinking about. From where I'm standing I see very few women out and about in pointy-toed heels. This includes in offices, in shops, in the city center. I see a lot of women wearing comfortable shoes. Often European and expensive, sometimes colorful, brands that they carry at Footwise and local boutiques. They look great and they fit their environment. The shoes pair well with their outfits. When I look around me at women whose personal style I appreciate, I notice them, and they look grounded and happy. When I notice heels on someone crossing the street, that's not always the case.

I'm not knocking pointy heels, as members who rock them here really do wear them with panache and grace, I'm just saying any hint of discomfort or awkwardness in movement and that is the first thing observers will notice, not how 'on trend' someone is.

I love what I've seen of your style Peri, including the choices you have made for comfort.

I'm also nodding at what unfrumped and krishnidoux said. If a trend doesn't flatter you, it's not likely to be one you want to hold onto even if you do test drive it, unless the comfort and fun factor is really high.

I really do think Mom jeans are very fringe, so if you don't feel they will work for you, it doesn't mean you are behind the trends of 2014. I just had to get that out of the way.

I tend to be very trend embracing, which is getting more and more challenging as I age. However, I do not embrace every trend. The D'Orsay flat or loafers, for example. Or wedge sneakers. Leather bottoms. Neoprene. Lace. Full midi skirts. Usually they are trends that don't fit (my feet fall out of flats and loafers even). Or are unsuited to my lifestyle (leather bottoms, lace, full midi skirts). Or price range (leather bottoms).

I still revert back to many of my tried and true 2011 formulas and don't feel dated, I feel classic in them. I still love my skinny jeans and Newbury boots combo, because I feel sexy in them.

"I'm not knocking pointy heels, as members who rock them here really do wear them with panache and grace, I'm just saying any hint of discomfort or awkwardness in movement and that is the first thing observers will notice, not how 'on trend' someone is."

Oh wow, this post is the perfect articulation of how I feel. I always notice when I am squirming, unbalanced, tugging, rearranging -- and on some level, that comes across to others. Tottering in heels and pulling at my sweater undermines a confident hum I project when my clothes align with my movement, no matter how many "flattering" boxes I've supposedly checked. Happy, grounded people with a spring in their step look the most stylish to me. Their clothes *flow* on them (even if they're not specifically flowy garments).

TBH, the never-ending wheel of trendy isn't something I pursue. What I admire is the evolution of personal style and clothing as a form of creative self-expression. If the latest hem or or color or sleeve in the department store supports that, great. But running out to Buy The Latest Thing doesn't create style -- and style is always current.

Not meaning to hijack, but Rabbit, thanks for your kind comments. I have struggled with how to balance health and fashion...flip flopped between giving up and trying to do the best I could. A lot of days I still flip flop.

But you are right about something. I met with a group of women the other day. All were dressed well and 7 out of 8 were in gym shoes. Not fashion comfort shoes, actual Brooks, Asics, etc. Granted, at 54 I'm the "young" one of the group, but still...if some company could find a way to dress up actual running shoes they would make millions. (Not the Cole Hahn Nike Air gimmick, I mean the real thing!)

I am in between basketball game and birthday parties (feeling like Natalie - MOTGGG!) but I had to check in to say thank you to all who posted replies and tell you how VERY MUCH BETTER this thread has made me feel. Truly, I can't express it enough. It's a world of reassurance and reminders that I need to revisit whenever I get to this point.

I'm realizing part of my issue is that it's still winter here while so many of you are onto spring looks. Wondering if I should keep a style journal to chronicle my ups and downs and see if my style crises tend to coincide with transition or other significant times.

There is so much wisdom and kindness here, and I appreciate the gentleness. I will reassess, do some closet culling and rearranging, and hold off on purchases until I sort myself out a bit and start having fun again.

If only the pajama jeans would get here already! They are scheduled to arrive while I am gone next week - arrgh!

FWIW, Una, I still consider you a style inspiration. I have always viewed your style as well-honed and all your own. So you incorporate trends, but you aren't ruled by them. I, too, wonder if style crises occur more often during times of transition in either one's life or in seasons. What I can tell you is that from the outside, you have nothing to worry about regarding your style!

I was having a bit of trouble with 2014 trends, or so I thought I was. But Angie pointed out a few of my recent outfits are very 2014.
For me I decided that I'm going to focus on sporty things for now. Sneakers, sweatshirts, etc.

One of the benefits of being our age is that we get to pick and choose which trends we adopt. Hip to be square would just look like a hot frumpy mess on me. I don't think there is a whole lot to appeal to UWP personas at times and it can be easy to feel left behind.

Aaargh! Created a big long response, and lost it!

Essentially, marked up your fashion angst to career change and experimentation with more classic/ trad clothing (theory suit, etc.) vs your RATE/UWP style. (Head vs heart? Are you being authentic to who you are?) and this overlong winter delaying the fun that is inherent in warm weather fashion.

Rabbit loved your post about the shoes! So get it!

I need to bottle all the wisdom on this thread and drink it. YLF is wonderful but our way of seeing things is way out of the context of everyday life for most people. You have great style and probably have had too much winter already.

You write: < Wondering if I should keep a style journal to chronicle my ups and downs and see if my style crises tend to coincide with transition or other significant times.>

I say: yes, absolutely, do! It just so happens I did this very thing myself, starting last year in a notebook, and recently leafing through it I had an epiphany: I noticed that every year around mid-march, as winter is taking its sweet time to exit, I feel particularly blah and confused stylewise. I feel nothing quite fits. Analyzing this, I came to the conclusion that it must be the slow intrusion of whites and summer colors as well as lighter fabrics into an otherwise darker, heavier wardrobe. I want to wear a different palette, yet am stuck having to still put on my (darker) boots whenever I go out. This time of spring tends to also be messy, with the snow melting, and the dirty slush all around, so white jeans or jackets are still out of question.

I have been trying to circumvent this by wearing lighter garments with a warm(er) cami underneath and nylons, for extra insulation. It works for some, but not all items. For example, all the blue, white and red "marine" summer styles transition well at this stage, because items tend to be sturdier and thicker; however thin flimsy florals and pastels do not. This year, pastels happen to be huge.

This year, I had gotten myself a very simple, classic wool pea coat - something that one can't wear in the dead of winter, but that is perfect for now. It has helped tremendously. Mine is in navy blue, (not ink, but really navy almost royal). The cheery colour meshes well with more summery garments.