goldenpig

I've been happily wearing my Bailey 44 tiered stripe dress and other stretchy clothes and dresses from my pre-maternity wardrobe, but several of you are saying that you ruined some of your clothes by doing this and that they permanently stretched out. How do you know which ones will do this? So far the clothes I've worn seem to look exactly the same after I take them off (ie they don't look bagged out) and I don't hear any ripping sounds when I put them on. I was hoping to wear some of these clothes into third trimester, but should I stop wearing all my non-maternity clothes now? I think the B44 dresses are rayon and spandex, and I have other jersey type dresses that I've been wearing as well. I don't want to get a whole new wardrobe just for the next few months, but I don't want to ruin my wardrobe either!

All these posts about small streamlined mix-and-match wardrobes, minimalism, and purchasing items that work in capsules or investment pieces etc. are so inspiring, and yet I can't help feeling a little guilty that I can't seem to achieve this with my own wardrobe. It feels like a lofty goal that would never work for me no matter how hard I try. Everything I own does fit in my closet and one dresser, but I feel like my wardrobe is too big compared to others and I don't feel like it's a cohesive wardrobe. I mean, it's definitely cohesive in the sense that everything in it fits within my personal style and I have lots of outfits that make me feel fab, but I can't seem to think in terms of capsule dressing or a true mix and match wardrobe.

The problem is I really love patterns (I don't feel like myself unless I have at least one pattern on) and bright colors (including many different colors from autumn shades to sorbet brights to ink blue, black/white and red). I do wear a lot of neutrals like cream, black, grey, navy, and cognac too, but more as supporting pieces. I think if I had to wear solid neutrals that all mixed and matched (like those Vivienne files) I would feel kinda sad and bored. I also love statement pieces and they don't always play well with each other (kind of like divas!). With patterns, I do like to do some pattern mixing, but there's a limit to what you can do with that before it turns tacky. And my style tends to run a little ALGO as well which seems to be at odds with minimalism. And then I really like to wear dresses, which are kind of like stand alone outfits and don't remix well (I wear dresses with jackets on top rather than layer shirts under my dresses). I like variety, but because my clothes are so distinctive and disparate, I tend to get my variety by wearing many different complete outfits in my favorite combinations, rather than remixing a small number of clothes in endless permutations. I'd rather come up with the perfect iteration of an outfit and wear it that way every time, rather than trying to come up with new combinations just for the heck of it (even though I tend to change things up anyways, so you guys don't get bored with my WIW's if you've seen it before).

I know lots and lots of people here definitely rock the streamlined neutral mix and match capsule wardrobe and I really admire their style, so I know it's definitely acheivable, but I don't seem to have the talent to think in those higher planes. When I started YLF I was definitely learning about fit and evaluating individual items, and now I've been getting the hang of creating finished outfits with accessories and pattern mixing and layering, but I still can't wrap my head around capsules yet. I did dabble in travel capsules the last couple of trips, but the thought of trying to make my whole bloated wardrobe fit into a set of capsules overwhelms me.

I think I may be forced by external health factors into trying to be more minimalist though, because if I continue to gain weight I am going to not fit into a lot of my clothes anymore, and I won't have the ability to spend as much money and time as I did creating my original wardrobe (not to mention lack of space in my closet!).

So maybe that will be my next challenge for this coming year, to learn more about wardrobe remixing and capsule dressing! I'm kind of scared and don't know if I can really do it though! Can an ALGO, pattern/color/statement piece loving girl really have a minimalist wardrobe and still be happy with it? I need help and advice from all you fab capsule dressers! Thanks for putting up with my closet angst!

Quick question here--does anybody know how to remove scents from clothing? I got some fabulous items from the swap party but a few of them smell like perfume. It's not a "bad" smell, just a light fragrance. Unfortunately I've always been very sensitive to smells and right now any type of strong odor (good or bad) makes me queasy. I never wear perfume and always use unscented laundry detergent and deodorant and soaps, no fabric softener, etc. I've already tried machine washing and drying these items twice now with my usual unscented detergent and Oxi Clean but it hasn't helped at all. I think even Febreze or Dryel would be too strong for me (since they are scented products). I haven't tried dry cleaning them yet because I'm not sure that would actually remove the scent (the items are clean). Am I out of luck or is there some other remedy I should try? I really want to wear them! I am worried my sensitivity is going to limit my ability to swap/thrift/eBay (unless it's new with tags, but even then sometimes it still smells like someone's else's house) in the future! I've even returned new online items before to Anthro that smell like someone tried it on previously while wearing perfume. Thanks for any suggestions!

I have an idea for a super fun challenge! Let's play a game of guess the YLF'er! How well do you know your fellow Fabbers' styles? Could you identify them by their outfits, even if they were headless?

If you want to play, PM me and I'll send you my email address so you can send me a pic. Or you could even just send me a link to one of your WIW's. Try to take/pick a picture that is one of your signature looks and is very representative of your style. Headless and generic background is best, but not a requirement (I think I can try to crop heads out of the photos).

Then when I've collected all the responses (say by next Friday?), I will compile and post the challenge thread with all the pictures and a list of names, and everyone will have to guess who the fabbers are in each picture! The one who gets the most correct wins YLF supersleuth bragging rights!

1-6. A very me outfit because of the ladylike ALGO hyper-matchiness--I love doing themes to excess! I'm besotted with dots--everything in this outfit has dots! I've probably posted this outfit before, but I don't remember exactly the last time I wore this suit, so here it is again!
(ETA: Here was the last time, in February):
http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....-bow-pumps)
White House Black Market polka dot skirt suit with ruffled collar
WHBM cream silk shell
WHBM spectator belt with polka dot trim
WHBM pearl necklace (kind of like more dots!)
Marc by Marc Jacobs Dotty snake bag
All Black fish bow pumps with dots on the toe box (a match made in heaven with Dotty!)

7-10. Navy and white always reminds me of Parisian chic! Especially with the navy peacoat and straw handbag. Wearing my summer formula of blousy tunic, white jeans and nude sandals. It's kind of cold here in the summers, hence the peacoat for the foggy mornings.
WHBM blue and white floral blouse
Paige white Hidden Hills jeans
Clarks Woodward Willows nude wedge sandals
WHBM silver and diamond bracelet
Jason Wu for Target straw handbag with navy trim

Thanks for looking and commenting!

Just for fun...another style persona question. This one is simple...or hard, depending on how you look at it! Describe your style in one word. And for extra credit, post a pic of an example of your style!

I'll go first:

Ladylike

(of course!)

My daughter is starting kindergarten at a new school this fall. She is doing a camp this summer at the school to get to know the other incoming kindergarteners. Most of the time I have to work and our nanny is doing drop off and pickup, but when I can I try to take her there or pick her up if my schedule allows so that I can meet some of the other parents. So this morning I was wearing my floral pants outfit below, and after I dropped her off a few of the moms were talking outside. One of them I had met before and she was dressed in scrubs (she's a nurse). The other two I hadn't met before--one mom was older and I don't remember what she was wearing, something like a plain white shirt and black trousers, and another mom was wearing yoga or athletic pants and a turquoise athletic jacket (like Athleta or Lululemon type gear). We all chatted for about five or ten minutes. As we were walking back to our cars, scrubs mom said to me that she really liked my pants and matching shoes and said to yoga pants mom, "Isn't she cute? She's always dressed so nicely!" Then yoga pants mom said something like, "Oh yes, but I never try to dress up or look so snazzy myself. Snazzy is overrated." OK...I'm trying to give her the benefit of the doubt...I guess that could be taken as a somewhat backhanded compliment, but I sort of felt like she was making a dig at me and my outfit. I'd never met her before. Was she intimidated by how I was dressed or was she just expressing her own personal taste and stating that she isn't interested in fashion? Why would she say that?

I wouldn't have been dressed so "snazzily", but I was on my way to work so I wasn't wearing MOTG clothes. Even so, I don't have any of these popular/ubiquitous athletic wear outfits (because I'm too lazy to go to the gym or work out, LOL!). I really want to make friends with the parents so that my daughters will have friends to play with (because often times if the parents click then they'll make play dates for their kids). I'm just wondering if my fashion style is turning people off and/or intimidating them? Should I try harder to tone things down and blend in? I'm normally pretty shy and quiet so that's already kind of a social handicap for me. I try to smile and be friendly and most of the parents so far are really nice. I could see how dressing a certain way as some moms around here do (stepping out of their Range Rover, hair perfectly coiffed, full makeup and mani/pedi, designer logos head to toe) might give off a certain impression, but am I now lumped into this category because I show up in my $15 floral H&M pants?

Earlier this year when I was trying to set up a playdate to meet other moms from my online mommy board, several people said they didn't think they should come because they didn't have anything fashionable enough to wear (I post in the mommy fashion section on that board too so I'm sort of known as a fashionista there). I never said that was a requirement. I don't know if they were joking, but it ended up being only one mom that I met with. I don't want fashion to make me seem unapproachable or intimidating!

I know we've talked about this issue before--blending in with the environmental norm esp. when entering a new social group, whether at work or socially. Should I try to dress more "normally" or continue to follow my own personal style? I don't want to make this harder on myself socially! What do you do? Do you try to conform in new situations?

BTW Did I mention how much I hate the word snazzy? It seems like a putdown rather than a compliment. Definitely not one of my style aspirations!

In light of Amy's recent post looking for new style inspirations (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nspiration), I thought I'd turn it around to the group...what new style challenge would you like to tackle next? Something you've always loved but never got a chance to try? A new silhouette? Revisiting a different time period? Style moving in a new direction? Secret persona?

For me, I'm having fun exploring the flowy tunic/waist surrender camp. Having been firmly in the sheath dress/pencil skirt waist-defining bombshell team before, it's a whole new world for me. And I have to admit, it's sooo comfy! As long as it doesn't make me look too wide!

Would love to see what's next on your style horizon!

...before moving into a new style direction, what would be on your list of current faves? What new thing would you like to try in the coming months?

For me, pencil skirts and sheath dresses. I love waist definition. They make me feel so feminine. I don't want to stop wearing them! However, I am interested in exploring voluminous tops over skinny legs more (I bought a couple of ponchos last year but would like to try some dolman tops like the one Kari posted and the drapey black sweater that Deborah posted).

I know this is going to vary a lot based on people's personalities and size of wardrobe and how much you like to remix vs. wear repeat outfits. But I'm just trying to get a sense of how often you feel you need to wear something in order to justify keeping it in your closet. I'm not counting special occasion wear like evening dresses or ski parkas or things that might only get used once a year or so. Do you purge it if you haven't worn it at least once a month? Once a season? Once a year? What's the longest you've ever kept something without wearing it?

The things I like the most I tend to wear at least twice a month, sometimes even up to once or twice a week (especially shoes and handbags). Some of my closet items have only been worn 2-3 times in the last year but I'm waiting till fall comes around again to see if I still like them. I have been pretty good about purging old stuff, but I do admit I have a few things in my closet that haven't been worn yet or haven't been worn in over a year that I really should re-evaluate.

What about you? How aggressive are you about purging lesser-worn items?