Summer accessory idea - 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

Summer accessory idea

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’m gonna start a trend.

It’s hot in NYC. 85 degrees and humid. I don’t do hot and humid well. We’ve walked almost 7 miles already today, despite the heat, and we are in a restaurant/bar having a drink and a snack. Over at the bar there is a woman with a pretty floral folding fan (pic below), and I’m like “WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?” I have a small collection of fans at home — from Cuba, Africa, antique ones from Japan, etc. I am totally going to start carrying one in my purse for these hot days.

Who’s with me?!

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.

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Eliza

bj1111

Veteran

I saw a woman walking in downtown chicago with vintage Chanel pumps, a severe black skirt suit and a fab Japanese-y fan that she was using to block the sun as she sauntered down the mag mile

Just stellar. I think you’d rock it

I grew up with doñas who would sit back a sip an iced guava juice and fan themselves while gossiping about the help. That is a whole ‘nother “trend”

Runcarla

Veteran

Brilliant! Oh! Please do a NY fashion report!

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Brilliant idea!

Anonymous

*starts hunting fans on Etsy*

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I’ve been known to carry them. I had a couple of paper ones I got free from the fair, etc., and they sell gaudy plastic and fabric ones at Dollar Tree, which my church friends have been giving to me for years.

My current solution is to stick an old greeting card in my bag. Fun to review birthday greetings from friends while cooling down.

I like the pictures you shared.

kellygirl

Veteran

Lol! I used to have a bunch of these. Coincidentally, I saw a woman at the store yesterday fanning herself with one and thought it was brilliant! Thanks for the reminder!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Yes! Excellent idea!

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I wonder if I still have my fans!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Yes! Since living in Japan almost 15 years ago, my eyes were opened to this possibility of using FANS. In a non precious way of course: they can be made of paper or plastic or rattan, and could have cartoon characters printed on, or whatever! A blessing on a hot Tokyo day. I still use tuck them in my purse on days when I remember.

Joy

Veteran

Great idea! I am seeing them being used and wished I had one. Cjh, I love the greeting card idea.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thumbs up!

LJP

Veteran

There's a David Beckham reel where he's sitting with his daughter in a restaurant (?) and pops open a fan to cool himself. She suggests he's showing off. I just can't .

Ginger

Veteran

I've been doing this for a couple years! It came in really handy on Sunday: Unexpectedly, the A/C went out at church. Instead of wearing a cardigan, I was using the fan. And then afterward I went to an estate sale, which was in an older house with insufficient A/C even without a bunch of people inside. I love these folding fans.

Lots of royals use them, too. Pictures: The Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Letizia of Spain, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. It just makes sense!

This post has 6 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.

Jules

Veteran

They’re so appealing to kids which I find interesting too. We tried to unload one at the neighbourhood street sale last weekend which still had the price tag from when one of my kids bought it probably from the same sale years ago… one little girl was quite entranced with it but in the end I don’t think mom wanted the clutter It’s a little big for me to carry around but I love the idea! And will also drink guava juice at every opportunity

BlueJay

Veteran

A great aunt of the family, who in her 80s had waist long grey hair, always wore heels, and for nearly every outfit she wore signature red, used fans. After she passed away, I kept some of her fans as they were amazing. I had actually forgotten about them, but I will dig them out and use them again.

To your point Jules...my first experience with a fan was coincidentally in NYC, with my parents when I was about 7 years old. We took a tour of Chinatown and for souvenirs, my sister and I each chose a paper folding fan. It was the same trip where we stayed right in Manhattan and the pool was on the roof. We went out to eat at some fancy restaurant and we were brought to the back to see the kitchen! It was a great trip!

Thanks for the inspiration, Janet!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I’m a yay. My mum is into fans. A couple of years ago she asked me to buy her a new fan for her birthday. They were surprisingly hard to find! Eventually I found her a nice floral one. I see lots of potential for pattern mixing…

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Fans are the one piece of 'practical decor' we have that reflect both of our heritages - was actually thinking of incorporating them into future wedding ceremonies for this reason

DH has a concertina folding fan (similar to the style many of you have linked above) whereas I have a handheld 'pankha' (typical of South Asia). This is an old exhibition but I thought it illustrates the concept well, for anyone who is unfamiliar with it: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.u.....-hand-fans

TL;DR We use both Chinese & Pakistani fans in the summer, but leave them hanging as decor in the winter instead haha!

Staysfit

Veteran

OMG! I love accordion style fans! They remind me of my lovely grandmother. She used one in the summer. I wanted one. My mom told me they were useless and that the action of waving a fan would make me warmer instead of cooling me off….(no fun mom!). My grandmother gave me a fan anyway, and I defiantly used it in front of my mom all the time! I wish I still had that fan! I also recall the small purse sized battery operated electric fans my friends and I used as teenagers in the summer…..not as stylish but very popular…

RobinF

Veteran

Good idea - go for it! I am terrible about having what I need on hand, for example I never have my sunglasses or an umbrella when I need them. Adding one thing to my list might be too much but then again, if it is hot enough I might remember!

In general heat doesn't bother me too much, although this week here in Michigan it has been 95 and very humid. That has been a bit much.

The Cat

Veteran

Great idea!
I only have one--purple--, but would like to have some in other colours, too, to match my outfits.

Eliza

Veteran

Smart, attractive and especially practical with the popularity of outside dining. Works for me.