What brought you to YLF? - YouLookFab Forum

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About: Eighteen Years!

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What brought you to YLF?

April

Veteran

I'll start.

A little over 15 years ago, I was transitioning from grad student and mom to full-time working single parent in a professional job. Getting dressed in something work-appropriate five days per week was daunting. My resources and budget were extremely limited then and somehow the items I owned were just not coming together in a way that made me feel confident.

I don't recall exactly how I found YLF but I did, read the blog for a while, then went onto the forum. My first surprise was seeing Patience, a long-ago Fabber, posting pics (in those days you had to link to a separate photo site) of herself in a leather jacket from NAS. What was this, I wondered? Selfies from a fitting room? It was all new to me, and so helpful and delightful.

I've been here - at varying levels of involvement - ever since. Fun fact: Mr. A used to be known on the forum as "SO" (Significant Other) until we got married in 2012. He has always been my biggest YLF cheerleader, no doubt relieved that I finally had a non-embarrassing wardrobe.

How about you?

General

51 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Kathie

Veteran

I first learned about YLF from a 2011 article in the Seattle Times. I had just changed careers and was on a limited budget so had put together a wardrobe from some judicious shopping at the Bellevue Goodwill. About a year later, I started lurking on the site, and then I lurked for 5 years until NAS 2017, when I finally decided to start an account so that I could see the photos in the forum and get advice on my own NAS shopping.

cat2

Veteran

I found YLF via Corporette. We had gone from business to business casual to just casual at work in a relatively short time frame and I was feeling quite overwhelmed with what to do with my existing wardrobe. And then WFH hit….

Dee

Veteran

I found YLF back in 2009 when I wanted to know about what shoes to wear with skinny jeans and I have been faithfully following it through all its various transformations ever since.

It was just so engaging a fashion resource with advice and blog photo spreads of Angie’s fab outfits and then eventually readers were able to post photos of their own outfits and ask for advice. I had wanted to sign up many times over the years but I always felt a little hesitant doing so until about a year and a half ago when I finally took the plunge, and have been happily participating even since.

Column

Veteran

What brought me? Parenting, putting myself last, and looking ridiculous. I wanted the instant respect again that comes from first impressions—the signal that you’re “with it” that you confirm afterward with words and deeds. YLF is really intelligent women’s dressing—the science of fabrics, shapes and styles without dogma or enslavement to fads. Angie and you all, dear fabbers, give advice that makes sense!

Irina

Veteran

Years ago I was researching tall boots for slim calves and found Angie’s post on YLF. I followed the site and joined but it took me long time to post on Forum.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

My twin daughters were almost 2, my son 4 (now 19 and 21) and and we had just moved into the home we still live in today. I was a bit delirious from childcare but my husband very gently suggested it was perhaps time to stop wearing sweatshirts and jeans every single day. That led me to a research project, and I found this site - in those days just a blog. It took me a bit of time to get comfortable with the idea of the forum, but I evolved along with it. Cannot begin to describe how much this daily dose of civility has meant to me over the years.

LaPed

Veteran

I first dipped a toe into the style blog world around 2014-2015. I had recently made a cross-country move after spending a couple of years wearing nothing but gear (backpacker life). I had an infant, none of my clothes fit, and when I finally looked up trends weren’t aligned with my style! I’m fairly sure I stumbled here via the now defunct blog Already Pretty. I was so intrigued by the conversations happening in the YLF forum, but couldn’t see the photos without an account, so I signed up!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I found YLF through Recovering Shopaholic in 2016. I had got to that site by Googling “What is a normal sized wardrobe?”! Angie was mentioned there so I looked it up. Like others I found the forum discussions interesting but after a few months got tired of not being able to see photos, so I signed up 7 years ago!
I think we could almost say I’m a Recovered Shopaholic now

rachylou

Veteran

I’d become a type 1 diabetic and had lost so much weight, my entire wardrobe was rendered useless. My clothes literally would slide off. My mother had to go to Target to buy me something to wear so I could leave the house to buy clothes! Then I just shopped like mad until I had nothing to wear again! That’s where I was when I found YLF. Angie’s outfit formulas nabbed me!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love these stories so much. Thanks for starting this thread, April! It's a great way to celebrate YLF's 18th birthday. (If YLJ were a person, they could vote!)

Around 2009/2010 I joined a fitness program and lost a lot of weight. I'd always loved fashion in my 20s but a lack of money and opportunities for shopping had put fashion on the backburner for me through my thirties and early 40s. But there I was, following weight loss, with literally nothing to wear!

I think I found YLF through some kind of search for jeans for women over 40 or something like that. I started reading the blog archives. I loved Angie's helpful and informative mini-essays.

The forum, on the other hand, confused and slightly intimidated me. I couldn't quite figure it out. Who were these women? (They seemed to be from all over the world, which was very cool, and they were different ages and seemed to have different style preferences and shopping strategies -- also cool!) Still, what was this forum about?

But then one day I saw a post by a woman who was asking for assistance in planning a capsule for a trip, and she was clearly a bit nervous about it, because the trip was to be taken with some relatives who weren't always accepting or kind, and she really wanted to look her best.

I read the comments from the forum members and they were all so sensible and concrete, and they referred to specific items in the woman's closet and talked about how she might style those together. And as I read, I came to understand -- the original poster was blind (it was Michelle, long time forum member, and brilliant journalist and editor -- as I later learned). And people knew her closet well enough to give detailed, thoughtful advice!

I was so impressed by the generosity of all participants in this conversation -- Michelle, who made herself vulnerable and showed how she trusted this community, and then the community members (and Angie, of course!) who weighed in so thoughtfully. I knew this was a group I wanted to belong to. So I signed on -- this must have been early 2011 -- and I've been here ever since.

anchie

Veteran

Oh, can’t remember the year exactly, maybe 2010? My kids were around 3 and 13, I was super busy with them while working full time. After my daughter was born I never had time to go to stores but had to build my wardrobe from scratch after pregnancy.
So I discovered online shopping but didn’t really have any plan, was mostly buying random items on sale. I was missing essentials, was shopping for my fantasy life, had tons of orphans but I didn’t realise any of it at that time. I just knew that I shop a lot but I was struggling to get dressed and make outfits. So I googled ‘how to build functional wardrobe’ and that search brought me here. I was lurking for quite a while and eventually signed up in 2012.

Joy

Veteran

Fly lady.

Anonymous

The two posts about toe cleavage. The posts about toe cleavage confirmed what I always felt about it, it doesn’t matter to me either way. I then took the time to read the other posts, and I found that I wasn’t alone with ballet flats and pumps constantly slipping and falling off my heels. Although I don’t mind “baring my soles”, I always thought that I was one of the small group of gals that have to deal this issue. Reading the other posts with sound advice about fashion and style sold me on this site.

JAileen

Veteran

I had just gone grey and didn’t know what to do. I sensed I needed to make changes. I found some blogs about dealing specifically with grey hair which were helpful, but not about the overall look. YLF really helped me with some formulas. I loved the Mom On The Go. I also learned about proportions and fit. Angie and the other very kind people really helped me.

LJP

Veteran

Not sure when it was - maybe 10 years ago?- I saw a photo of Angie on line, and I was immediately drawn to her hair , lol. At the time it was a super-blonde pixie and I loved it Then one click led to another, and I discovered the blog and forum. Like many others, I didn't post on the forum for quite awhile, but read everything (including Angie's "backlist" voraciously) . I still read the blog and occasional forum post, but don't have the same desire to focus on my wardrobe that I once did. Happy Birthday YLF!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I stumbled upon YLF when I started taking a renewed interest in style in 2010-2011, and discovered the whole world of style blogs, since it was the heyday for that kind of content, which now has mostly moved on to IG, YT and TikTok. I went down the rabbit hole a bit. The only blog I still follow is YLF, and online forums are a rare breed these days.

I was going through a lot of change — I had lost my mom a year before, had started running, started renting a studio space downtown to dedicate more time to my art work, took on a radio show for a while… and I started paying more attention to how I was putting myself together, and not just defaulting to a uniform of bootcut jeans and tees. I experimented with a lot of styles, many of which didn’t really take, but in the long run it helped me return to my roots and hone the style I (mostly) want to maintain now. I’m very grateful for what I’ve learned and the friends I’ve made through YLF!

kellygirl

Veteran

I can't remember how I found YLF but I remember struggling how to dress as a stay at home mom. My work clothes weren't cutting it and velour track suits weren't my thing--so it was finding something in between. It was a lot of trial and error especially since I didn't want to spend a lot thinking it was a temporary gig. Turned into 13 years...but I finally figured out casual with polish. Thankfully, I didn't have the same learning curve when I went back to the office! Participating in the forum, seeing WIWs, has taught me a lot--so grateful to Angie!

Roberta

Veteran

I can't remember exactly when or how I found YLF, but I do know that although I was fairly confident in what I wore and how I chose my outfits, I was looking for a COMMUNITY of fashion. I followed multiple individual blogs that I really enjoyed, but I wanted a place where a lot of people could express their opinion, discuss their issues, and comment on what each other were wearing.

REAL people, with no offense meant to influencers and stylists, who were generous enought to show me their shoes and bags and bedroom mirrors and pets. There really is nothing else like YLF on the internet!

slim cat

Veteran

I moved from Seattle to San Jose, CA and had somewhat difficult time figuring out how to dress for different weather on top of being not sure how to change my dressing after hitting 46 years old. I googled "dressing after 45" and eventually stumbled on YLF. It took some time before I started to participating in forum - 4 years I think .
I did remember seeing Angie working with the client while I was a SA at Banana Republic in Seattle - probably in 2011/2012.

pirouette

I looked for advice on what is suitable for a very short person to wear. . I got such a warm response I stayed. I’ll admit to still being nervous posting comments and occasional pictures but I have always got very positive feedback so I’m not sure why it makes me nervous. Maybe it’s lack of confidence which I have in many areas of my life.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thank you for sharing your stories, and for making me smile! I'm gobbling them up, and remember most of them. SO MUCH YLF LOYALTY! Your kind words are touching.

Thank you, April, for thoughtfully starting this thread. My YLF heart is full.

In 2006, we were coming back from NYC, when hubs and tech guru extraordinaire Greg said - Angie, you should start a blog. To which I replied - okay! What's a blog?

Bonnie

Veteran

After I retired from teaching, my husband and I sold our home and took off for adventure. We had a great time exploring the USA and Canada but after nine years of this, we decided to get back in the housing market and purchase a house but keep the MH and travel during the summer months. We moved into a brand new retirement community with lots of new retirees who were eager to make friends and have a social life. I joined a bridge group, a maj jongg group, a discussion group, and we became ticket holders for the symphony. I needed a wardrobe and had to start from scratch because our adventurous life wardrobe consisted of one nice Armani suit and lots of hiking gear. I looked up fashion blogs and devoured them and somehow found YLF which quickly became my favorite. I really appreciate all of the help Angie has given me, not only from her fabulous posts but also personal feedback. The Blog and Forum has been a part of my morning routine ever since the day I found it. Thank you, Angie, for keeping YLF going. Greg had a great idea!

Joy

Veteran

Flylady

MsMary

Veteran

I had lost of lot of weight and was finally able to find clothes that fit me, and somehow I came to YLF via some web search or other that is now lost in the mists of history. That was in the summer of 2011, For the longest time I was SUPER into posting daily WIWs and never repeated an outfit -- this was when I was working and had to dress up every day.

YLF has seen me through so many changes -- I was married to somebody who traveled a lot for work and was gone more than he was home, and we ended up splitting in 2013 and YLF was there to support me. And then when I married my current wonderful husband, there was a You Look Fab table at our wedding!

April

Veteran

These are great stories - some I remember, some I never knew before. (Joy, I had no idea FL knew about YLF!)

Things from memory lane:

As I already mentioned, long ago the forum had no ability to post photos. YLF is where I learned about Photobucket.

It used to be, there could only be one forum member with the same username. When that changed, it felt momentous and unsettling: more than one Angie? But how will we know if it's The Real Angie?

I don't think you had to log in, way back when (am I misremembering?) I got assigned a randomly-generated password and have just kept the same one all these years.

The first post with photos of Angie in it was, I think, from a trip to buy one of the exquisite white shirts at Anne Fontaine. Before that, there was just an artist rendering of Angie with Rosie and Jasmine on leashes. https://youlookfab.com/2008/06.....xperience/

ChristelJ

Veteran

Wonderful to read these stories.

I found YLF on the Already Pretty blog. I lurked for several years before joining the forum 5 years ago. Most of my friends have zero interest in style, but my interest is lifelong. The fun and inspiring conversations on the forum drew me in. I'm always looking for a way to be a bit more creative or stylish, and I also just love seeing what a variety of other women wear in their everyday lives, and how they support each other.

Four years ago, I posted about being separated from my wardrobe during a family medical emergency, and the kind support I received blew me away. I am still spending many months a year separated from my wardrobe for these kinds of emergencies, and although I am not always able to participate, I read YLF daily and get my fix. You all are fantastic, and a huge bright spot in my day! I hope to be more active here soon.

Je Ne Sais Pas

Through another blog, inside out style by Imogen Lamport. She used a pic of Angie as an example of color blocking, and that image wowed me!

ETA: I just joined YLF recently, I have been just a blog reader for a long time

kkards

Veteran

Gosh what a great post. I love learning what brought us all here. And realizing what brought us is a unique as each of us, but what kept us is each other (and Of course Angie)

I 1st found this space looking for how a 50ish women could wear skinny pants ! Yup that’s how long ago it was. Then I lost the blog-and then found it again aboa year later. In the beginning the forum intimated me. All the posters seem to know each so well (the was an annual meetup scheduled shortly after I started posting) and I wondered if i would be welcomed, plus I felt my knowledge on how to do this fashion thing was so weak and outdated. But eventually I jumped in. And was welcomed and over time learned and strengthened my fashion muscle. And I’m still learning and I hope that YLF is as welcoming now as I felt it was then

Sal

Veteran

I can’t quite recall how I found the blog - but I did and read a lot of the archives and about a month later signed up. I was working from home and wanting to dress better - it was early 2010s and the tunics, layering, waterfall cardigans and leggings did not really suit me. I have enjoyed learning off Angie and the forum - YLF is a regular part of my week - and at times of stress I have found it very comforting.

Thanks April for the thread!

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