So I noticed my status has changed to veteran! I still feel like a newbie beginner, but I guess I've been actively participating for a year now. Here are a few lessons I've learned (or re-learned) from my time on YLF.

I AM NOT A MINIMALIST. While I am deeply attracted to a minimalist closet and aesthetic, it just doesn't work for me. I like to have a variety of colors, silhouettes, and fabrications - way too many for a small closet, and I am too much of a jewelry/scarf hound for the minimal aesthetic that is so popular right now.

OTOH, I'm not as boho or maximalist as I thought I was. In my mind, I'm Stevie Nicks, swanning about in long tiered skirts, granny boots, a huge fringed scarf, feathered hair, and about eight metric tons of jewelry. In real life, I'll wear one or two of those elements, and then feel conspicuous.

I do like clean straight lines. One of my favorite posters is Deborah with her black and blue architectural wardrobe. However, I always want to take one of her outfits, put it on, and then add some fab jewelry.

Perhaps most surprising: I am a grown up gamine at heart. I credit this discovery to E, whose outfits I adore - but this confused me, because E is small, blonde, and young, and her outfits would look frankly ridiculous on me. So I started to think about why I'm so drawn to her outfits, and realized that I have always been drawn to and worn very boyish clothing,
no/minimal makeup, and been very outdoorsy and active, but also quite bookish and whimsical (don't get me started on fairy tales). Now in my late
40s I'm still drawn to very gentlemanly clothing (especially shoes),
wear almost no makeup, and am still a bookish playful outdoorswoman. Part of why it's taken me so long to realize this gamine influence is because even at my youngest and thinnest I was never an Audrey Hepburnish sprite; Ive always been sturdy, earthy, fleshy.

Moving forward, I think my second year of YLF will see me exploring this gentlemanly side of my personality more. I am also transitioning from a graduate student to a full time professional office worker, so I expect a fair bit of sartorial experimentation as I settle into my new role, and I as I figure out more and more what not only looks good on me, but what I love to wear.

Well that was a bit of a novel, thanks for reading (if you did), and I look forward to the next portion of my sartorial journey with you. I can't tell you how much I enjoy participating on this board, and how much I've learned.