The Challenge is Part of the Fun - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

The Challenge is Part of the Fun

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm quoting what Marlene said in this week's link love post:

After reading this post on Five Challenging Fall Trends, Marlene asks: “Is a trend worth it if it requires a step-by-step work-around just to make it wearable?”

Not every trend is worth the effort and the investment in the rest of its support act to make it work. My goodness. Not by a long shot. But the few trends that DO tickle your fancy, and that you'd like to include into your style are worth the effort. The change - and challenge - are part of what make fashion fun. Learning in fun! If fashion didn't change, the process and art of having and evolving a style would not be as compelling, and we'd all be quite bored. I've found that there is satisfaction in making new-to-you trends work when you love them - especially when fashion is a hobby and you relax into the whole process.

And what I like best of all is that there is no pressure to make new trends work if you don't want to go to the effort or expense. Fashion is there for you. It should never boss you around. You have the control to filter through the trends and be as picky as your heart desires - or try as many as you want. Either way, it's all good.

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from Marlene

cheryl

Veteran

Fantastic advice. I like to try new trends, but not all of them and I usually do it in small inexpensive ways to make sure it will work for me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are wise, Cheryl. And how fabulous is it to see your sweet smiling face back on the forum. I hope that you are doing okay. You've had a rough time. Much love to you.

Aida

Veteran

That's just the key isn't it, to work at the trends we're truly loving! Otherwise it could certainly feel draining or worthless. I think it's most challenging when we're trying to do a much bigger sweeping change style-wise. It always feels risky, especially if incorporating an element or few that's particularly trendy. I personally enjoy the challenge!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Me too, Aida. You are a GREAT example of how to relax into the whole thing and don't let fashion boss you around. Yet you try LOTS of new tends, and your enthusiasm jumps off the computer screen. It's a pleasure to behold.

I love helping my clients with new trends. It's SO much fun, and they enjoy it too - despite the frustrations along the way. It IS a rewarding process.

Aida

Veteran

Aw thanks Angie <3 I do love trying new trends! Working on being pickier about what to let in to represent those trends, though I know that sometimes I've just got to play with what I find if a particular trend hasn't manifested at retail. Knowing when to hold out and when to just go can be challenging, too!

EDIT: I'm grateful that trends are sticking around so much longer now. So we can actually spend time seeking out our perfect items and still enjoy the trends once we do.

Stephanie

This is such good advice! Fashion is ever changing and keeping up can be exhausting. It's much more fun to find a classic style that works for you and then pick and choose trends as you go to keep things feeling fresh and current. I need to get better at branching out and trying more trends - sometimes I feel stuck in my skinny pants + flowy blouse or skirt + blouse comfort zone.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What a great reminder, Angie. And, what Aida said in her second paragraph. What a relief that many trends have a bit of staying power these days, so we have time to figure them out.

I think it's especially fun and worthwhile to experiment with trends that suit lifestyle, body type, weather. I am so eager to try the cropped jeans/ higher shaft bootie trend, for instance, even though I know it will be tricky for me due to body type (shorter legs). I will aim for a column of colour if I can (or similar tones, anyway). I haven't yet been able to shop in person and try things on so it will be a while before I figure this one out, but I don't see it as a drain or a pain -- I look forward to the opportunity to try a silhouette that could offer me much needed winter variety. Those don't come around very often!!

I still have not found *my* culottes, either -- and haven't ruled those out.

And those sleeveless turtlenecks that are supposed to be so tricky? I want one.

Anonymous

As soon as it becomes a challenge to dip into a new trend, the fun is lost on me. I experienced this in vivid detail this fall while trying to put together the cropped kick flare pant/jean with higher shaft bootie look. It started taking over my headspace and time to a degree I didnt' like, and the longer I searched for these mythic pieces, the more frustrated I got.

As long as I can find the trendier pieces ""organically" (i.e. without hunting and searching obsessively) , I am far more successful with creating a grouping that works. It's those pieces I find accidentally or unexpectedly and buy for myself that garner the most comment, compliments, and more importantly....wear and use in my wardrobe. All of a sudden I'll have amassed a few pieces in a new colour that look terrific together, and I haven't really noticed or tried too hard. That's the fun part for me.

I have to admit I've never quite understood the concept of fashion as a hobby unless we're talking about designing and sewing. I love clothes and fashion more than the average woman, but I have never considered it "fun" necessarily, or a hobby. Lots of food for thought here.

kkards

Veteran

i love that we are at a time and a place where each of us can pick and choose which trends we want to try and/or how much of a challenge we are filling to take. personally, i find everyday challenging, as i'm constantly trying to negotiate business casual.

Elly

Veteran

I tend to come into clothes very slowly-- this is my 4th season looking for cognac shoes, I found ponte pants after 3 seasons, etc. You can't do things that slowly with trendy items (even in today's fashion world). I often stick to trends that are "easy" for me because of that (bootcut jeans and pants, higher shaft booties-- add a belt and soft blouse or striped tee and I'm done). I'm hoping more brick and mortar options will speed me up a bit, because I have a long list of trendy items I'd like to try.

Anonymous

Being a slave to trends is exhausting, expensive, and just no fun at all. The trends are fun to watch, but for me it's best to pick and choose very judiciously so I don't end up looking like a fashion victim. So, good advice, Angie!

unfrumped

Veteran

So true!
The take-home message for me turned out to be to first be able to separate "tried and true" (and good, too--that is key) from new (outfit, silhouette, "hard to wear item")--I had to be more intentional about understanding the dependable things and getting those in good shape--easy to find in closet, enough variety for the season--make sure the foundation is strong--before I could be just as intentional about what is new and might need some experimenting, fixing, tweaking.

Then, I had to be more selective than I had been at first--I realized that to get a good result witn a new style, I would need some time and effort, even though might not be much it would be more, and if I tried too much, it wouldn't be fun any more.

And a final thing is more reminders to SYC for some of these changes, since SYC is automatically a form of "outfit creation' and at the same time can overlap with edit and review, whereas shopping might not result in any of those.

Peri

Veteran

That's good advice for me because I do get overwhelmed quite easily and don't really enjoy the challenge! So I will take it as a reminder to do only what I want, not to feel anything is a "have to".

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Great advice, Angie. For me, the biggest challenge is to find the perfect balance between What Works For My Body AND What Appeals To My Aesthetic Sense. I'm conservative; I'm the first person to admit that I'm not bold with fashion. But I do love it very much. It's given me so so much more confidence, as I have evolved a sense of style that makes me look and feel good

For me, I want to try trends that fit well with my personality as well as my body. That's the conservative part of the story - my everlasting love for figure flattery. But since I joined YLF, I have learnt of ways to let the rules relax a bit....to lean towards a more casual style that is a better match for my real lifestyle...and many trends have just 'fit' in without me trying hard.

The fact that classic, feminine and retro styles are back in trend surely help ALOT!

I've fallen in love with many old silhouettes styled in new & fresh ways, and I'm much more open to trying new silhouettes too. What I mean to say is this - fashion SHOULD be fun. Not everything will always work for you. But whatever does, will sure brighten up your life and liven up your wardrobe for that season. Cheers to having fun with fashion!

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

I wanted to add - trying new trends feels rewarding ONLY when you know that trend works for you on a LOT OF LEVELS.

My love for fashion has played a huge huge role in my life. I don't know how to really explain it, but I'll try....People notice me more now because of the way I dress.....but it's ME they actually see....not my clothes, because they aren't louder than my actual personality. Does that make any sense to you?

But the minute I try a trend that feels like it's too much effort, I feel like ME-the person - disappears behind the clothes...even if what I'm wearing flatters my body very much.

Runcarla

Veteran

Having joined in fashion fun late in life, I do like playing with the occaisional trend. Angie, you sum it up perfectly...'the challenge is part of the fun'. I don't mind a fashion challenge that makes me think or work out a problem.

After your outfit post with the orange-red crop top, I was inspired to try the trend with an olive cropped short sleeved sweater and a string coloured cable knit. My short waist meant no major midriff baring, and the proportions were pleasing to my eye. Cooler weather now, but the tops are in rotation - over a neutral tank (tucked in) of over a longer shirt untucked.

Stylish and classic clothing are always attractive, but a touch of trendiness helps elevate a look and signals a certain 'engagement' with the world. As an older fashionista, I appreciate the guidance and examples provided by Angie and the early adopting YLFabbers.

rachylou

Veteran

Because I have such trendy tendencies, I've created a lot of one-off outfits in my life... I'd forget what I was about with them. Test driving trends on the cheap can be helpful and also mindfully considering them in light of one's own style... as opposed to just how good you can make yourself look...

Greyscale

Veteran

Great points. I have a lot of fun trying to take new trends and figure out how they could be adapted for my look - it's part of the fun I get out of having fairly tight constraints on what I wear. And the constraint itself (all black) is a fun game too.

Of course, not all trends appeal to me, but one of the great things about YLF is the chance to see what trends people are making work for themselves. It gives me a lot of inspiration.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

For me it's not about the work-arounds needed to pull off a trend. I agree Angie that's the fun part -- figuring out how to make it work on my body type, combining the trend with my existing wardrobe, and shopping for new pieces to complete the look.

For me the barrier to trends is whether or not it's lifestyle and weather appropriate. So while the blogger feels ponchos are a pain, they work beautifully for my lifestyle and climate. But, the sleeveless jacket is too dressy for my needs, so it's a pass. And I'm with Suz. The sleeveless bulky turtleneck, totally impractical, but I want one too!

Beth Ann

Veteran

I'm doing a lot of "life re-engineering" at the moment, and it may be good, but it's still hard. When I'm feeling a bit distracted, or my mind has dissolved to stew, spending a few moments in my closet putting together new silhouettes, or searching for a perfect pair of booties online for a price my budget will allow, is a form of creative play that is relaxing and rewarding. Outfit creation and exercise are a kind of "cross-training" for the creative work I do in my musical life, and the stakes are much lower, so I don't fear failure. If it weren't for fashion, I'd be baking....... a whole lot.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I wanted to add that my current fashion challenge is honing a greater sense of personal style, and fitting the trends into that mindset. This is proving difficult, probably because it's related to the reinvention that is underway in other areas of my life. That's OK. I'll just go slow and enjoy the ride!

catgirl

Veteran

Yes. I don't need any more stress or frustration in my life these days, least of all from my closet. I've stuck with trying the culottes but I'm not sure that's going to work, and every one of the other trends listed is just not sensible for me. Except for ponchos which I've always loved and worn. It's only fun till it's not fun!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Good reminder. In the past I have been guilty of chasing trends a bit too much, trying to make them work to the point where I lose sight of the larger picture: my style, my body, and my life, and how a trend might work within that context.

I enjoy a little bit of a challenge, stylewise, but once trying a trend means purchasing additional pieces to make it work, or waiting for a rare occasion-appropriate day to brave a new look, I often realize I'm chasing my tail. Up to that point, though, I can find it very fun! Once it becomes some sort of task or chore to try to make something work with my body or my existing wardrobe, the joy is lost. So I agree that there are degrees of challenge -- I'll save bigger challenges for my creative work pursuits, and keep my style challenges on a smaller scale.

Carole

Veteran

Such a good reminder, Angie. For someone that is not much of a trend seeker (love of classic pieces and workhorses), it does take a little more work and willingness to go outside comfort zones. Picking and choosing wisely the trends to try is great advice...after all, it can get a Little boring wearing FFBO's 24-7!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Great advice (as always) Angie. To me the challenge of incorporating a new trend into my wardrobe is part of the fun of it all. Like Denise it's my casual lifestyle & climate that rule out a lot of trends.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

For me fashion is a super fun hobby, but following trends (or not) is something I do for my personal amusement as very few people I see on a regular basis are tuned into fashion at all. I can imagine it would be more stressful if I felt external pressure to look a certain way.

Sal

Veteran

I remember trying too hard in the past (some of the past being not all that distant). And now I can identify a few trends that are too hard for me to make work for my climate/lifestyle/budget and shape!!

Cropped pants I will try hard to make work.
Cropped tops I suspect I will leave to others.

sarah

Veteran

Angie, I think this is one of the best bits of wisdom you've ever posted.

thank you.

skylurker

Veteran

Thanks, it's helpful.

It always takes me by surprise when - in capsule or "style goals" posts - you ask what trends we plan to incorporate this season?
I never plan to incorporate trends. I end up trying and buying them anyway. Which make me feel brainwashed and bossed around.

I don't think trendy people are fashion victims - they're engaged and passionate about fashion and they know what they're doing - it's people like me - who end up buying the notorious cerulean sweater without knowing why - that are fashion victims.

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