I look forward to reading over the rest of the comments, but I think the most revelatory for me was the concept of bookending.

Roxanna- I am chiming in again to thank you and the other FYI Friends for this thread and all the wonderful responses. It certainly gives us newbies direction in going back over archives. It’s also a learning experience finding out which of ANGIE’s tips strike the heart of fabbers most.

The most important thing I’ve learned is not so much advice as fact. That my size isn’t the only one that’s hard to find in stores. That I’m not the only one with fit problems. That finding clothes that fit isn’t easier for everyone else. I found it eye opening and also comforting.

Angie’s kindness sticks out for me, and is reflected in this space by the kindness and openness and willingness of the members,

Only one piece of advice? My head spins and spins.

What a delightful thread! Soooo many good tips.

For me it's the whole approach to style that Angie advocates -- one that results in something authentic, practical and appropriate per person -- at a pace and budget that works for each of us. The openness with which she shares her wealth of knowledge is amazing and her voice is always with me when I'm shopping ^^ Leave No Retail Stone Unturned and the benefits of being Patient, Picky, and Persistent come in close next. Being a part of the forum has been incredibly helpful as well, both my own outfit posts and looking at others'; I particularly love seeing the same items worn across a range of bodies and styles.

(Roxanna high five on not really being into bookending! We are definitely not in the norm )

Juniper Green, you ROCK light colours. Glad you added them to your style.

YLF has helped me to understand the different roles that shows can play in an outfit. Before I just thought they should “match.” But now I realize they can bookend (matching to your hair or to another accessory at your neck), they can be nude to elongate leg, or they can contribute to your outfit’s column of color. OR they can add a fun pop of color, print or embellishment. I find it helps me a lot to be specific about what I’m trying to do with my shoes!

Never say never. . .

For troubleshooting an outfit: Color, Texture, Pattern, Shine.

Pattern mixing and color mixing in combos that I never would have previously considered.

And of course everything that has been mentioned previously.

Oh yes! Different roles in an outfit and colour, texture, pattern, shine! Both are good ones that I need to remember. @angie is such a wealth of information!

1. The value of FFBO
2. The power of a rubric (form with flow is mine)
3. Dress for your body right now
4. Skin is structure in an outfit.

Such a great thread --- I could only skim the responses, but they reminded me of some great Angie-wisdom!

The tip that was the biggest “aha” moment for me, and one that’s not been mentioned in this thread yet: that CLASSICS ALSO DATE. It just answered about a hundred questions as to why so many combinations of my outfits seemed really “off” when I thought I had the right elements there. The answer was that I was trying to marry a dated classic with current piece/s, and the whole silhouette just wouldn’t work.

And then it’s corollary, that IT’S ALL ABOUT THE RIGHT PROPORTIONS. So in any one fashion season, the change of one important element brings about the change of others, so the whole silhouette works. For example, skinny trousers brought with it fluid tops. Cropped trousers needed higher shoes to close the gap. For me, this explained why, in the years that I hadn’t been following fashion at all, it was so difficult to replace a single worn piece. This was because there was usually a whole new silhouette, a change that tended to pass me by, and the single piece of the old silhouette ( that I was trying to replace to go with all my other older things) was no longer sold in retail.

Only one? In that case - clothes for your real life, not your fantasy life. Though others have phrased it differently above, this is how I remember it.
It's so lovely to read all the responses, and to see how well Angie knows everyone! Angie, you are a star.

I am late to the conversation but have to chime in with my favorite Angie quote, which I don’t see mentioned in any of the comments yet. She has said to me several times, “If not now, when?”
I have not had a cohesive wardrobe since before my children were born (my oldest is 30!) and I always have lots of good excuses for this. I am waiting to lose weight, I can’t find anything that fits my body properly, I don’t want to spend time or the money, etc. Well, I am 55 years old, so if not now, when? Thank you Angie, for inspiring me to create a style that is my own, And for teaching me how to do it!

You're all lovely, ladies. What a treat to hear how helpful YLF has been. That's the point.

With Angie I find when something works it's always because of something she taught me. The latest is tailoring. I had a dress tailored and couldn't believe the difference. I needed a jacket to go with it and couldn't find anything but a piece that was too casual. In comes the tailor and with a bit of this and that it became the perfect accompaniment. They ;now look like they were made to go together.

That proper fit is important! And that alterations are a thing you should invest in, if they are necessary to get your clothes to fit properly.

What a great thread idea, Roxanna! I'm going to read every response but thought I'd add mine before doing so in order to avoid being unduly influenced.
For me it was probably the tip that black wardrobe items from tops to bags look better if they have some texture. Black works for me and is easy to find in my size bracket, but it's also very easy to feel flat and frumpy while wearing. This rule about texture was a bit of a lightbulb moment, possibly because it made so, so much sense to someone like me with a tactile relationship to fashion and style. And, not surprisingly, the tip works! I get tons of complements when my black clothing items are sheer or shiny or lacy or velvety or sueded, and particularly when those textures are combined in some way! Added bonus: that tip saves money by eliminating a number of mediocre potential purchases right out of the gate simply by virtue of their lack of texture.

I know these tips have already been mentioned but I will mention the top five tips that have resonated with me the most:
1. Have FUN with fashion. No matter what I'm going through in life, fashion should be fun, and this has helped me work through feelings of guilt. The FUN attitude also gives me confidence to pull off trends, even at my age.
2. The Shoe-Bag-Belt complement. If my shoes and bag match, in particular, I will feel instantly pulled together! Also you can add a scarf to this concept.
3. Shop for the body you have right now.
4. Stay away from colors that don't make me feel fab (hello gray).
5. Try not to have too much of a poison eye.

ETA -- Angie bring this thread to a publisher.

Thanks for introducing this wonderful thread Roxanna. I enjoyed reading the responses and agree with all of them. It's hard to choose one thing, but I'm going with "column of color" which has had a big impact on the way I dress. I'm not willowy - more of a bush - so this advice is really relevant.

"Style is beyond size, age or body type."

Mic drop....