Two quick questions - YouLookFab Forum

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Two quick questions

Synne

Veteran

I haven't gotten into the swing of posting WIW's yet this year, but I am thoroughly enjoying following the forum! Two quick questions:

(For Greg?) I can't seem to access the Off Topic section (or any other than the Main really) by phone. Can something be done by this?

Angie mentioned that the vast majority of the forum participants are actually silent. This is intriguing (simultaneously both a platitude and a wake-up call regarding to what I/we write and share). It would be fun if some of the silent ones would say hello Out of curiosity, what do you get out of reading the forum?

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Runcarla

rachylou

Veteran

Can you see the categories tab on your phone, Synne? The link to Off Topic is there. I’ve bookmarked it, which I find easier.

Synne

Veteran

Ah, yes! There it is indeed! Thanks Rachylou!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

On my phone, I scroll past what looks like the end of the page, with the key & whatnot, to get to off topics.

I can’t see ever being quiet, lol. My guess is that the lurkers could give great answers to my question about how to benefit from looking at someone else’s fashion blog, how to transfer it to yourself.

kkards

Veteran

Synne, obviously i'm not a silent participant, but i know that it was quite a few weeks between when i found the forum and when i responded in a post, and months before i posted a WIW. really it was a feeling that i might be trying to get into a group that might not be welcoming, learned that was SO not the case, or that i might not have anything of value to offer, also learned that was not the case.

April

Veteran

As kk has noted, I think a lot of us lurked for quite a while before we actually posted. Sounds like that's still the case.

For me, this forum was the first time I saw anyone posting outfit photos on the internet. I thought it was the oddest thing. (The first one I ever saw was YLF veteran Patience in a fitting room, photographing herself in two sizes of a leather jacket to get feedback.)

If anyone is lurking who'd rather jump in, please do!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I posted a pic as soon as possible, because I was looking for help figuring out what to wear for an upcoming wedding.

Anonymous

I lurked for a long time too, decided it was a thoughtful/respectful bunch, with minimal trolls, and jumped in!
It's great having this community since there's only so much patience DH and other family and friends have for talking about fashion

Anonymous

Another reader -before-poster here . I read the blog , and the dove into the forum for awhile before posting pictures or asking questions /broaching subjects . I had a good idea of what had already been discussed at length and what the typical conversations were like before posting myself . It was also the first time I had ever taken a pic of myself - something I’m still not good at !

While we are on the subject , and this is something I’ve been thinking about lately : because there are people with different intellectual and social development skills/abilities/ issues ( which aren’t easily identified online) I think we have to be compassionate toward everyone here , regardless of how odd their posts may seem . Repeated asking of the same questions , pictures that might not seem quite “right” , posts that seem written by a bot or troll ( odd punctuation and grammar , capitalizing words mid sentence etc) ....who knows what’s really going on . I so wish everyone identified themselves for who and what they are all about . It would make things so much easier . I’m an open book here and have nothing to hide .

Anonymous

Ok, I'll bite. Hello -- frequent lurker, rare poster, here. To answer your second question, Synne, I think I'm silent here because I'm often silent in so many other areas of my life. I even mostly lurk on FB, and I know all of my friends there IRL. At social gatherings, I'm the one just taking it all in and observing. (Dyed-in-the-wool introvert, for sure). What do I get out of reading along? New ways of looking at the world, new ways of looking at style/fashion... then I go about doing my own thing, anyway. Though I will say I've learned a lot from this blog and forum, so thank you all for that.

The past few years in my life have been extraordinarily stressful, and I've experienced an enormous amount of change. Online places like this have been a nice break (escape?) from what's going on.

You all are a lovely bunch, and perhaps I'll get up the courage to post a bit more this year, but for now I'm happy to be in the background. (For a bit I've been worried that it's weird to lurk, but when Angie said that most are silent, it made me feel better. No weirdness intended, certainly.)

Anonymous

Welcome silver I think many of us come here as a respite from the bad stuff happening in the world!

taylor

Veteran

I lurked for months before I responded to a post and a very long time before I posted a photo. I still remove my photos after the post leaves the front page because, well, I’m weird that way

nemosmom

Veteran

I lurked for a while before I posted the first time, too. I still feel weird sometimes posting photos that include my face, but that's me in my profile pic so I feel like I have at least been seen. Or something...

AnnieF

I'm a lurker, I'd say for three reasons:

1. The introvert thing - somewhat. I'm not like super shy, but as silver described, I'm definitely the person who loves to be on the edges of the gathering, observing.

2. I don't feel like I quite fit in here. Not in a "poor pitiful me" kind of way, but because it seems like the active members here take a much more mindful approach to style/fashion/clothing than I do. It would never occur to me to seek out words to describe my style, or choose a term/color for the year, or have clothing/fashion goals. I kinda just buy stuff I like. I enjoy reading those discussions, but I can't really participate.

3. I haven't quite gotten the hang of some of the technical aspects of the board (though admittedly, I haven't tried very hard). There seem to be some established practices around posting pictures + links to items and I'm just not sure how to do all of that.

To directly answer Synne's question of what I get out of the site: I love looking at people's clothes and styling, enjoy Angie's blog, and was introduced to my new favorite store (COS) through this site, so this has become a regular stop for me. I appreciate the positivity here and the range of ages, lifestyles, etc. I don't follow any (other) fashion bloggers so this is where I can get a glimpse of new trends, new items, and how people - some of whom look more like me - are wearing them.

slim cat

Veteran

I've been reading blog and forum for three plus years before I've joined it. It's a great mix of many fashion-lifestyle-problem solving ideas for everyone. It helped me to find my way in current fashion after hitting "certain age" and changing location from Seattle to SoCa. I recommended YLF to a few people but I don't know if it became a regular read or just occasional curiosity.

kkards

Veteran

AnnieF, if it makes you feel any better, i've been a member for 7.5 years, actively posting for a little over 7, i was here over 5 years before i came up with a style moniker

Irina

Veteran

I comment sometimes but rarely post pictures. I don’t have a good place in my house for selfies and I usually don’t take photos of my outfits. I do have a photo studio in the basement though, my husband’s I just don’t think my outfits would be of much interest since I’m mostly into oversized clothes. I find posts on this forum educational. I lean about new retailers or styles, common issues among different women. Some posts are thought provoking, like Kari’s about larger bodies. Others sometimes inspirational.

Eirlys

I lurked for a while before posting but when I did pluck up the courage to ask for help everyone was so kind. I confess that I have also used the Forum to unburden, something I find easier with strangers than with friends.

I have learnt a lot from reading Angie's "blogs" and from seeing what other people like, and wear. Constructive criticism seems to be what the Forum posts are all about.

We seem to be all ages here and that's a good thing also!

Synne

Veteran

So nice to hear from some of the lurkers I also did this for quite a while. But getting feedback from others on my outfits was brand new to me and oh so tempting. I had a wonderful problem solving session (from among others Rachylou) on my first WIW. Very valuable to me on my style journey!

Dagmar O

Synne,
I am also somewhat of a shy person and not much of a 'joiner'. Very established social groups are hard for me to penetrate ( despite being very rewarding when I do!). I have commented or asked a few questions on topics that particularly resonate with me ( skincare for problem skin) but as I have not done the wardrobe analysis that so many of you have, it would seem presumptuous to me just to jump in. Additionally, the last few years of heightened sensitivities stemming arising from overall anxiety levels due to global stress factors make me fearful of not always phrasing my thoughts the right way and subsequently being attacked online. I have seen this happen to others on several platforms that I follow and it is really upsetting. There is something very limiting about how the written word can fail to convey intention or sincerity and to LisaP's point, I wish people would go back to the days when we automatically gave someone the benefit of the doubt before questioning them. All of this is not to say that the YLF community is part of this trend, but rather, just to give some personal background on why I am reticent to jump in.
However, I do find YLF extremely interesting from a fashion analysis perspective and thoroughly enjoy both the blog and forum topics. I look forward to catching up on a regular basis and do feel a significant amount of guilt at benefitting without contributing.
My last reason for not participating is that I am just not organized enough to take pictures and post in a timely fashion and that I am a technological Luddite. My days can run from household chores to social activities, elder care, corporate activities and black ties. I am often travelling in support of my spouse's business and when not, catching up on what has fallen through the cracks. Everyone is busy, but some are just better organized than I am!
No excuses though....I find you all to be a lovely and generous community and I would love to organize myself enough to jump in with both feet. My word for the year is 'pro-active'. I will try to see if I can be more pro-active and be a contributing member instead of a lurker

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Glad you asked the question Synne and very nice to hear from some lurkers. I started following Angie's blog long before there was a forum, or we ever even saw Angie. Then when the forum started I think it took me over a year to join and then probably some time to first post. I felt it was a matter of reciprocity and also a personal challenge for me at the time. I continue to participate all these years later (and this is the only forum I participate in) because it has enriched my life in so many ways and is such a lovely escape when I need it.

Kari

Veteran

I’ve been around here for a long time but not always active. Sometimes that was due to waning interest, or lack of time to post (but could read on the bus to quickly catch up), or a frustrating chunk of time when my phone logged me out of this site only every time I tried to post. It’s catching up with friends and with a hobby, for lack of better words, that I enjoy.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

For me the forum is good for several reasons, I love fashion and seeing everyones outfits and discussions of what is working and what is not! so insightful. I rarely post WIW as I typically don't have much time or a decent place to take photos, even though ironically I am looking at/taking/discussing photos every day!

I also find the blog incredibly helpful for the finds! Item suggestions especially for my fussy feet/body type/quality items. it can be frustrating to navigate stores --and even online there is just so much out there to weed through that I don't have the patience or success with, recommendations from others that have similar styles or body types is amazing and I so appreciate!!

The blog has helped me to find clothing that lasts longer, especially online purchases the quality can be deceiving!

and lastly, the conversations can sometimes be so thought provoking, (sustainable style/body image, etc) and the weekly links to other articles online is always a go-to for me when I need a work break distraction.

Anonymous

I really like the forum to see how people wear new trends that I haven't tried. It's so much more encouraging to see someone manage the nuances of hem lines and fit and style in a way I don't see in advertisements. I'm not on social media so I don't follow any "bloggers" or "influencers" to get inspiration, and I like seeing the range of styles and preferences in people's looks here!

Runcarla

Veteran

I was a lurker for 2-3 months before I jumped in. I’m quite visual, as you can see from my posts, and also my responses. I use a lot of images to illustrate what I’m trying to say in my posts. I DO lurk on some other forums. Blogs take the place of (now defunct) favourite fashion and style magazines. They are where I learn what is on trend, get fashion inspiration, and ideas on how I might style myself.

I’ve figured how to manoeuvre around the site, but my biggest problem/regret is that I can’t seem to do FINDS on my iPad.