The Learning Curve, December - YouLookFab Forum

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The Learning Curve, December

Karie

(website)

Veteran

What a month! Frankenboot and Frankie Jr. had long worn out their welcome, but I only had to wear them until the 13th. And from all that uneven walking, my back was (and still is) hurting, so heels have been out of the question.
What did I learn? Well...
Photo #1 - Look at the outfit photo before leaving the house! A necklace that circles my boobies just isn't a good look for me.
Photo #2 - I LOVE boots and shoes. With my long legs, I think just about any style works. Easy peasy.
Photos #3, #4, and #5 - My favorites. DH got me the moto and the boots for Christmas, and he was so happy with them he wanted to take outfit photos! The pullover top is beige with gold sparkles and has zippers at the neckline. Festive for Christmas! The buckles on the boots make them a tad ALGO, but they can be removed when I want a little less bling.
Photos #6 and #7 - I think the orangish red of #6 and the brownish red of #3-#5 work, but the red in #7? Not so much. That was also Frankenboot's last day, hence my happy dance.

Fast forward to photos #12 and #13 - I need to do a good closet purge, and stop trying to wear something just because it's in good shape or only a few years old. #12 is a pretty sweater, but I think it looks too matronly, and #13, well, I don't know, maybe it's the harsh black near my face or something.

And last of all, my closet. Yep, it really is that small, and it's the only closet I use (our house is a 1960's ranch). I re-did the closet myself - there are three tiers of hanging racks, one shelving unit on the left, and behind the top hanging rack are three upper shelves where I store my sweaters and purses (some purses are also hanging by hooks along the side). Shoes are stored on shoe racks in an alcove behind the bedroom door. Undies, pj's, jeans, socks, hosiery, and slips are in dresser drawers. I keep a rack in the spare room with five outfits ironed and ready to go for the upcoming week at work. That's one of Angie's fashion mantras taped to the closet door

Well, it's 11:59 p.m. eastern time, so Happy New Year!

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

deb

Veteran

Happy New Year my boot twin! I am still adjusting to life without the "boot". Some night its hurts like hell and then others it feels almost normal. I hop yours is doing better.

carter

Veteran

Wow. Great use of closet space! I think I'd need a taller stool to reach sweaters and purses. Great outfits. The boob-circling necklace is hysterical. My long necklaces fall in the valley...equally frustrating.

Sharon

Veteran

OMG, how have I never seen you in that moto? It is fantastic on you! The other thing I really noticed is your hair - the short, messy style in #5 makes you look about 18 (in a REALLY GOOD way!) I love #10 too. I can see a real transition in your style to a more vibrant, youthful look that I suspect is a truer reflection of your personality, given the expressions in #1 and #7.

Deborah

Veteran

Awesome photos Karie. And a fab set of outfits. #10 is my favourite here. So Fab!

April

Veteran

Mmm...closet photos... I love you have an Angie mantra taped to the door (which one, if I may ask?)

As for the red in #7, the photos actually reflect two different reds, maybe with and without flash? One is a cooler red and one is a warmer orangey tone -- which one is the real color?

Karie

(website)

Veteran

April, yes, the photos in #7 are both without flash, but the first one is color corrected, the second isn't. The truer tone is the one on the left, the cooler red.
The mantra is from about a year ago, it's about accessing the success of an outfit, and it reflecting your true personality.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Your husband bought the moto!? Lucky woman! You look wonderful in all of these, but that moto is spectacular and you glow in it. And I have the necklace/boobie problem all the time, you are not alone!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Your long legs don't just suit boots they suit plaids wonderfully. Fantastic moto from DH too!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Sharon said (well, except I did see you in the moto already!) But seriously, these monthly recaps show that you are learning at a fast and furious pace and your style is evolving to match! Love the direction you seem headed.

shedev

Veteran

You have some seriously great boots.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Sharon, I also like my hair better when the style looks "messy."
Suz, every month when I look at my pics I usually say, "I didn't learn anything this month!" But then I break them down into what I liked best and what I didn't, and I usually see a common thread. This month, what occurred to me is that I like an element of fun/funky/unexpected in my outfits, whether it's in texture, an interesting necklace, a fun print. And ALL of the outfits I did't like involved clothing I am "trying to make work" when what I really need to do is give those items the heave ho.
Deb, I am so very glad to be rid of the boot, but I am also adjusting to life without it. My foot doesn't hurt that much, but my back, now that's another story.

karymk

Veteran

Karie you look so good in your new moto, is it Danier? You know I am on the hunt...It looks PERF!

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Hey Kary (is it Karen - we share the same first name!), the moto is Calvin Klein. It's actually faux, but good quality faux. I'm no expert, but I had to look at the label as I couldn't tell the difference.
I am also on the hunt for a real leather jacket in beige, actually my preferred color would be more of a butternut squash shade (I had a faux jacket in this shade years ago and loved it). I've been looking at Danier jackets too. I think they have a store in Kingston, ON, and DH and I vacation on the U.S. side of Lake Ontario every summer, not far from the border. We ventured over the border to Kingston a few years ago and I think we will plan to do so again in 2014. To Danier we will go! If you haven't found something before then, I can pick something up for you and ship it to you, if that is cheaper than having Danier ship it to you.

karymk

Veteran

Karie is the jacket an xs? Fits you so well. Found it on Zappos. They have a nude color too. I don't really care if I get real leather or not. How does it look hanging open? Do the lapels stay open? K

pil

Veteran

You have had a productive December! My favorite outfits are anything with the moto and 10 & 11.

Lisa

Veteran

Great closet organization here and yay for no more Frank-en boots. The new moto and boots look great.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Kary, the size is small. I wear a 4 - 6 in tops. I liked it so much that I ordered the nude color but it had a spot on the arm so I sent it back. I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to re-order as it is more tan than nude, and I wanted either that butternut squash color or off-white. The lapels stay open pretty well as long as you don't zip it more than half way.

UPS delivered another package from Zappos today, and DH went out to get it from him as our driveway is buried under a foot of snow. Mr. Smarty-Pants UPS guy said, "You sure do get a lot of packages from Zappos!" DH had a slightly worried look when he gave me the box. Thanks Mr. Smarty-Pants UPS guy. Thanks a lot.

karymk

Veteran

Ok that helps Karie. I believe I would take the xs. The tan looks like a cool shade of tan, is it stone? taupe? I love the knit panels in the sleeves.

Man, a snappy delivery man? I'd be so mortified if the UPS guy commented on my Jcrew orders. Or anything else I ordered for that matter. That's like the cleaners telling you about your own dirty laundry!

I think I will order both colors (saw it in a blue too btw) and decided how I like them when they arrive. I like the gold zipper on the merlot colored one a lot.

I can't believe how you work such a small closet. That's amazing. I'm inspired to minimize. I have an office closet where I can keep my clothes that are out of service. It's a purgatory in there. Most of the time when I revisit the office closet I don't like what's in there.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Kary, I always think of taupe as having a little gray in it, and this didn't so I would say it is more of a medium stone color. Definitely darker than what the pics showed, though. I also saw the blue and liked that one, too!
I know, isn't that the smallest clothes closet ever? We renovated the rest of the house, and plan on knocking down a wall and merging two bedrooms which will then give us a bigger closet...but that project will have to wait, what with all those Zappos deliveries and all...LOL
I think I made good use of space with the closet, though - since I couldn't go out, I went up - the racks and shelves go all the way to the ceiling!

karymk

Veteran

Karie, plus I'm sure you have other closets in the house for "spillover". This seems the perfect size for a working wardrobe. Kind of dorm room sized. Now that I think of it, how did i EVER use a closet so small all through college? Maybe since there were so many clothes to share between friends, one never needed a huge inventory for her own use.

Beth Ann

Veteran

My favorites are the looks with the red moto. Amazing! As for the last 2 sweaters, I'd let the poncho go (but then, I've never been very warm to the idea of ponchos, so consider the source). I think the sweater in #12 is a classic, and would do well juxtaposed with more modern elements. If that's more trouble than it's worth, and we all have to decide how much we love something to work hard to style it, it can go to a new home.

Love the efficient design of your closet. You've made the most of every inch!