Hello! I'm Kate. Just stumbled across this site looking for advice on whether I should style my hair before going for a haircut and the forums were very helpful! I'm a busy grad student and I have a small social circle, so I don't always have a group of ladyfriends at the ready to consult about such things. I'm very excited to join the forum and have some new online pals to share advice with!

Hi, I'm a newly active member and really enjoying reading the great discussions and the thoughts of so many crazy smart people on this site.

I'm a 31 year old new mum, who was previously working from home - so my work wardrobe translated pretty well into my full-time parenting wardrobe. I am a small sort of a rectangle, with maybe a little bit of inverted triangle going on. My style challenges include a very limited budget (see: full-time mum with no income at present), and a lifestyle where dressing up nice doesn't often make sense. (Why put on a dress just to sit around on the living room floor making raspberry noises all day?)

Nonetheless, I love thinking about clothes and outfits, and I am looking forward to talking and learning about fashion, style, beauty, gender and culture with all the interesting ladies on this site.

Hello,
Just found your site last week and have already followed some advice, trying to step out of my fashion rut.
I'll be 60 in a few days (oh, Lord, that sounds so old!) and like to stay on the classic/elegant side of clothing. In the past few years, tho, I've felt my "classic" slid into "boring." I want to spice it up.
I'm 5'2", 130 lbs, blue eyes, blonde (thanks to my hairdresser) hair. Right now my hair is topping my shoulders but I'm growing it longer so I can pull it back. I'm throwing out all that advice about older women not wearing longer hair. If I want it, I can do it.
I spend too much money on shoes, and clothes in general, especially considering the fact that I work at home. No one but the cats see me. And my husband, but he's stuck with me!
I'm a writer and have been for many years. I sold romantic suspense stories to Harlequin years ago, but now I'm going to self-pub. I want to be free of the constraints a traditional publisher demands and write the kind of books I want to write. At the moment, I'm working on a paranormal suspense and I love how the story is going.
I have no children but two Bengals cats who act like children. Extremely disruptive and aggravating children. They're kittens, tho.

Hello - I've been reading YLF for a while but I'm brand new to the forum. I am late 20's / early 30's. I work in a fairly conservative office environment and recently realized I'm dressing way older than my age. I'm looking forward to learning from others' style and injecting some personality into my every day black suit uniform. Cheers!

I love Angie's blog and am excited to be joining the forum. I too work in a conservative office, but am also the mom of a toddler with another on the way. I'm excited to share pics and get ideas.

My name is Janet & I live in the Midwest. Will turn 40 in a few months. I work in healthcare. Married with 4 kids, 2 still at home. Came across this site while researching fashion ideas & shopping for a trip I took to Seattle last month. Such a great site! I'm an inverted triangle - broad shoulders, big bust, no waist, and long legs, considering I'm 5'2". I weigh about 153 lbs, which for me is a size 8-10. I've got to a flat stomach but pretty literally no waist. Because of my large bust, my husband says I look like a "P" in profile (& he's right). In the short time that I've been lurking here, it's really helped me consolidate my fashion persona.

Hi YLF'ers. In my ongoing efforts to unlurk here, I thought I'd post on this topic too to give the regulars an idea of the face behind the name.

I'm a writer, translator and occasonal teacher based in London. I live on a boat and work from home, so my style veers between cosy loungewear appropriate to an outdoorsy lifestyle and my dressier, more flamboyant style persona. I never leave the house without a hat and am most inspired by menswear and Victoriana.

I mainly wear neutrals (blacks, greys, browns and creams) with some oxblood and other jewel tones making an occasional appearance (although in summer, I'm much more colourful and love aquamarine and electric colours that pop). My "style uniform" at the moment is a kind of "boys' boarding school" look with shorts, a blouse or jumper and blazer, brogues and a fedora or bowler. I used to be team dress all the way, but I feel much better these days going to events in tailored trousers and a killer suit jacket.

My favourite designers are Yamamoto, Issey Miyake, Comme Des Garçons and others who do similar, interesting things with deconstructed items and fantastical shapes. All Saints Spittalfields is the one high-street brand that just "gets" me; I've found good basics at Massimo Dutti, Mango, and the like but most of my favourite statement pieces are second-hand designer. My style prompt for this winter is "channeling Sherlock".

Enclosing pictorial evidence. The first photo is a couple years old (pre-short hair!), but I still mourn having had to retire that coat. The second is me meditating in Devon last Christmas. Magpie feathers in my knitted hat + grey shearling coat = <3

Hello everyone,

My name is Simone, I'm 35 years old, I'm a parttime sahm and parttime corporate auditor, as well as working on a PhD. My body has not quite recovered from my last pregnancy yet (even though it was 3 years ago), but I am slowly getting used to it.

I want to move toward a capsulized wardrobe of durable items. Over the last few years I didn't really have time to shop and just bought random items that seemed appropriate (and some really awesome shoes). When I was a fulltime corporate "worker" my shopping budget was a lot higher, so I am looking to shop my own wardrobe and see what's missing, rather than starting completely from scratch.

I am also completely baffled by what my fellow students are wearing (and the make me feel soooooo old), so in that area I am looking for some major inspiration...

Also, English is not my native language, so please excuse the occasional strange phrases;-)

Hello! I'm Christine I have two kids: a 3 year old and a 17 month old and heard about this site through a mothers' group forum and am so glad I checked it out! I'm loving the "mom-on-the-go" posts and they are inspiring me to try a little harder to actually put myself together--occasionally!

Hi Forum!
I first discovered YLF during the process of losing 20 pounds and realizing how I had been hiding beneath frumpy clothes. For the first time in my life I happily embraced more fitted styles, and used thrift-shopping to experiment with different shapes and silhouettes. Now I'm trying out more relaxed fits, trying to find that balance between comfort, flattery, and style.

The values that impact my style decisions include sustainability, social responsibility, budget, and practicality. (I live in rural New England (US), so to me, what is practical includes clothing and footwear that can hold up to humidity, sweat, dirt/mud, and winter salt/snow!) My current challenges are to pare down my wardrobe to pieces that are versatile, durable, well-fitting, and practical. I'm currently between jobs, so I'm trying to limit spending…my biggest weakness is TJ Maxx - I'm a sucker for the high quality-low price "value" argument.

Hi everyone!
I discovered YLF last week via another fashion blog, and fell in love immediately! As a fellow writer, I appreciate well-crafted content.
A couple of years ago, I moved from a tropical climate to freezing England, which at least opens up my wardrobe options! I spend quite a bit of time checking out fashion blogs, and I do own some nice clothes, but half the time – please don't judge! – I'm too lazy to make an effort. Like many of you, I'm a bargain hunter. That's it for now!

Hi all! Like many of you, I discovered YLF after embarking on the path of slowly rebuilding my wardrobe and figuring out my style after giving birth to my daughter almost five years ago. I'm 40, married, live in the SF Bay Area, and am a journalist, editing an association magazine. I am 5' 3" and a curvy hourglass, usually a size 8 on top and bottom. Petites are usually better on me, but not always. I don't know how to describe my style. Maybe modern tomboy professor chic? I am drawn to vests and tweed! But also love a good, sleek ponte dress! My daily outfit challenge is figuring out something stylish to wear in which I can also ride a bike, because I cycle to and from work. I could pack clothes in a backpack and change at work, but that's not as satisfying as stepping out the door fully dressed, for some reason. And a little daunting, too, because I am afraid I would forget some element of the outfit. I have a huge collection of shoes in my office, though, to change into when I arrive. I've learned so much from YLF and other fashion blogs, and recently embraced belts, skinny jeans, and leopard print! I think at this point I've got most of the basics covered, and would be willing as time goes on to upgrade and invest in better brands and materials. For now, my closet is filled with BR, Gap, a little Anthropologie, and AT/Loft. My prized wardrobe possessions are four vintage coats from the 1960s that I inherited from the mom of one of my (male) best friends. I happened to be the same size as her! There's a mohair Jackie O 3/4 sleeve cocoon coat, a pumpkin wool shawl-collared wrap coat, a brown western swing coat, and a khaki trench. Hopefully will post photos one day. Glad to meet you all!

Hello, nice to join Angie's with all of you. I'm Sarrey and I come from boston. Now I live in Chicago with my husband. I work as a dress designer. I often spend a lot of time checking out fashion blogs for my work. I think it's really the source of my inspiration for my work. So Angie's are a good choice I think. And I'm sure I'll have fun here!

Hello! I've been a reader of this blog for probably about a year, and have finally taken the plunge in signing up for membership.

I'm 43 and live smack in the middle of the US where we have a full 4 seasons, sometimes to extremes. I live a very casual lifestyle, though I wish I had more occasions to wear dresses (lovely, simple, tailored sheaths, that is).

I'm drawn to classic styles, and while I'm rarely interested in following trends, I do appreciate blogs like this one where I can at least become aware of what's out there and whether or not it suits me (and why). I feel that I've learned so much from reading this and other blogs just in the last year -- finally, some gaps in my understanding of fashion and style have been filled! Looking forward to more exploration in this positive & supportive community!

Hi all, I'm Ellen, a 44-year-old government drone living in the Washington DC (U.S.) suburbs. I read style blogs a lot to get ideas of how to dress for work. We have a fairly weird "code" here where the upper level administrator types are in suits every day, while the worker bees like me are in everything from suits to business casual to sweats and sneakers (*shudder* I actually saw an HR specialist dressed like this today). I tend towards the dressier side for work-- dressing for the job I want. I've only been in an office job for about 8 years though-- prior to that, I worked in a lab and wore jeans and Birkenstocks every day.

I really like YLF for the variety of topics it covers, and am looking forward to seeing everyone else's style ideas once I can look at the pics.

I'll start by saying I'm pleased to see someone of a similar age to me here. I'm 56 next month, plus sized and feeling frumpy (due to all the weight I've packed on over the past two years). I need to reassess my style and rebuild my wardrobe and feel YLF is a great place for info, ideas and conversation.

Hi guys. I'm kind of new to all this. Fashion was never on my priority list, until recently. I'm in my mid-30s and I'm a physician in New England. I'm hoping to learn a lot from you all.

I am 33 and a mother of 5 children
(ages 11, 9, 9, 5 and 3) and I babysit two more (ages 4 and 1) full time. I currently live in very rural Kansas and rarely get to town more than once a week. My style tends to be casual, comfortable, feminine (never frilly) and low profile. I love dark neutrals, jeans and converses.

My biggest fashion challenges are time, budget, and an inability to gain weight. I tend to find myself pushing a stroller through the clearance section of the junior department while promising my crowd children it will only be a minute more!

I have been following Angie’s blog for over a year now and have enjoyed her sweet spirit and helpful advice. I finally decided it was time to join the group.

I'm 24 and a pursuing a master's degree in economics. I am American, but I am married, and I live with my husband here in Germany. I have always liked fashion and style. I heard about this community on a random forum and so I wanted to check it out.

Hi Fellow Forum Members!
I am looking to restyle myself starting with some basic pieces. I have a closet full of things I don't wear, don't flatter, or are just uncomfortable. I am quite frankly, tired of "my look".
I recently had bunion surgery on both feet and I am very anxiously awaiting my new shoe size. I am very excited at the prospect of new shoes that fit and are comfortable for a change.
I am 60 years old with dark eyes and medium length brown highlighted hair. I'm not ready for the grey yet although I am seriously considering making the transition as I'm getting tired of the upkeep.
My figure is heavier than I would like on my 5'5" frame. Getting tired of that also! Maybe the "lose some weight fairy" will visit me this Christmas.
I'm looking forward to deciding what figure type I am and learning more about what styles work best for me. I am ready for a re-invention!
Happy Shopping Everyone!

P.S. Can't wait till my membership is active so I can look at the pictures!!

Hi! Another new member here; I will take the time to read through everyone's intros and the forums properly!
I'm another of the petite clan at 5'2", but curvy with it! Currently on a mission to get a lot healthier and lose weight (it's going well so far, but don't hold me to it!) I absolutely adore fashion and can often be found perusing shops (I benefit from living in a city centre in the UK!) and helping friends' to put together outfits. I love a bargain, but will also spend on a piece I fall in love with.
I don't particularly have a style; I just enjoy putting together different outfits. I love bold statement pieces and mixing patterns. I am hopeless with a needle and thread, but would love to start making my own capsule pieces if I ever get more confident.
I live in England, but have travelled a lot. I work in customer services; which pays well enough to feed my shopping passion! I love going to gigs and am often found at little venues supporting local musicians. The amount of time I spent on my feet has bred a love of trainers (specifically Nike Airs!) and I don't do heels (I'm too much of a clutz!); although I am a fan of chunky heeled platform boots.
I stumbled upon this site when looking for advise. Excited to get to know you all and share ideas!

Hi everybody. I used to come here a couple of years ago and always enjoyed everyone's ideas and photos. I had forgotten about it until doing a search on fashion blogs for fun tonight. I'm looking forward to it again!

I live in Tucson which is a very casual place and fits me perfectly. I'm currently wearing my scarves and boots like crazy because the window of opportunity is small, lol.

Hi everyone! I've been reading YLF for years, but finally decided to take the plunge and join up as a member.

I am 38 with two two young kiddos (3 and 1), I live in Toronto and I work in Marketing for a Not-for-Profit. I love to dress up, experiment with colour and pattern and proportion. I like classic mixed with modern, luxe fabrications and finishes, streamlined looks and texture.

I am petite (5'3"), slim and curvy, trending to pear shaped when I put on a few pounds (My mom is pear shaped and my grandma is more like a butternut squash, so we all know where this is heading )

I have tons of fashion questions about quality, fabrications, fit, proportion...can't wait to get started!

Hi there! I'm Heather, in Chicago. I found this site a few weeks ago after starting a new job while searching for ways to wear blazers. I instantly found some great info on structuring and shapes, so that was awesome.

My personal style is sort of all over the place. I love vintage, especially the 50s and some 60s things, but I also love modern fashion and while I don't jump on every trend, there are a few that I've found I really like so I'll incorporate those into my wardrobe when I can. I have a husband and 2 kids, and I don't prioritize shopping for myself, but when I do shop for trendy things I try to get more for my money as opposed to buying higher quality unless I know it will be a staple piece. For those cheaper things I really like stores like Rainbow and Rue21 (I'm sure I'll get yelled at for that lol). I am also a huge thrifter. My favorite thrift store has 3/$1 Sundays once a month!

At my previous job, a marketing/advertising company, dress code was business casual leaning heavily on the "casual" end. I could wear miniskirts with leggings, jeans and a tshirt, etc. I did like to dress up, but anytime I did someone would inevitably ask "Are you going on an interview?? Why are you so dressed up?"

With the company I just started with a little over a month ago, the atmosphere is still somewhat casual, but because I am in a position with more responsibility and it is a much larger company, I now get to dress up all the time. I love it!!

I have a schedule to help me maximize my closet and not wear the same 5 (favorite) outfits over and over.
Mondays: dress
Tuesdays: pants
Wednesdays: blazer
Thursdays: skirt
Fridays: personality day!

I also have a color chart that I use to make sure I'm not wearing all black all the time... as that is sort of my lazy go to.

I'm really looking forward to sharing outfits, getting feedback, and giving my input here.

Hi,

I'm early 30s and looking to de-frumpify with not much clue about how to do that, hence looking for as much advice as I can get.

Pretty broke at the moment as stay at home mum, but about to get back into the world of work, and seriously need to update my whole wardrobe plus actually decide on some sort of image. Looking forward to doing my 'revision' here!

Hello Everyone -
I have been "lurking" for some time but have decided to introduce myself. I live in Nevada and have just recently started a job that requires more professional wear. I love fashion - but am trying to learn to make better choices so that my closet makes "sense". I just started the purging process, at least for the first time through.

I'm looking to learn how to be "me" in a fashionable way, while dressing appropriately for my position and age, all with a wardrobe that doesn't take over my life!

I've learned tons here already, and look forward to being more active.

Hi there!
So, I stumbled on this blog earlier today, and thought I'd join up because yay fashion advice (something I'm quite clueless about and want to rectify).

I'm 30, but apparently look five years younger, genderfluid (so my identity flips back and forth between male & female, which is as confusing as it sounds), so some of my photos are going to look quite different to others

Basically I'm on here to learn more about fashion, and get advice on what looks good on/suits me without regard to gender bias.

Hello everyone,

I am Isabelle, I live in Montreal, Canada an I am 43 years old. So glad to see a blog and forum that is not only about logos and high-end designer handbags! English is my second language, I mostly speak French although I often work in English and live with a wonderful English-speaking man! I have an almost-9-year-old son and I am a social anthropologist by training. I've been interested in style and fashion since I'm a teenager and my Ph.D. thesis was about fashion designers who use recycled materials.

I am 5'7" and about 135-140lbs, inverted triangle shape, small-ish bust, long torso and (relatively) short legs. I am a skirt and dress person at work and a skinny jeans and refined sweatshirt person during the weekend. I work in a conservative environment, where I manage a team of 10 people. I would define my style as classic, polished and modern although I'd like it to be edgier. My signature pieces are statement necklaces, dresses and cardigans. I never wear suits. I don't like wearing pants, they need to be high-waisted and straight to fit me well, and this style is hard to find. I don't like shopping for shoes as I wear a size 9.5 and don't like wearing heels...

I love shopping and buying clothes too much. I definitely own too much clothes as well... I hope this forum will help me define my style more. Not sure I will be super active in posting but I'll definitely use this site as a source of inspiration!

Hi, I've read Angie's blog for quite awhile but am finally attempting to be an 'active' member. I'm in my late 40's with two growing kids and full-time work in the casual software industry. I enjoy casual and like to dress well but comfortable and casual. I haven't personally identified my style but this year I'm interested in trying out the capsule wardrobe idea to simplify my choices on workday mornings. I hope in doing this I might have more of sense of what I like and what looks well on me.