Sequin Whimsy

49 Comments

• kimlee replied 11 years ago

  Cheryl - I have felt like this before and went several months with out posting a photo. But I have learned that everyone's style is different. YLF is a place of acceptance, so I would encourage you to post your casual pics, everyday looks, and even those outfits that you think are not so fab. Perhaps the ladies here can offer suggestions to take things to the next level.

• Isabel replied 11 years ago

  NO, I feel that way too ! Coincidentally, I was thinking of this yesterday. I find it a shame that people leave or take breaks from the forum because they are no longer adding to their wardrobe. I don't look at this as a shopping forum but one on how to dress.

  I would love to see that. I am guilty though and don't post. So I need to not be hypocritical about this

• ironkurtin replied 11 years ago

  Man, I post some of the most boring outfits in creation - Jeans! Jackets! Boots! - and get really great feedback. I say go for it! It's not about the new, it's about the mix.

• modgrl replied 11 years ago

  Hi Cheryl, Good point! I always wonder what people are wearing at home when they aren't going to work or going out. Do they look this fab ALL The time? I usually don't post my worm digging/puppy chasing outfits. Basically I have 3 levels of outfits: Work/going out, MOTG and Lounge. I might post 50% of my work outfits, 10% of my MOTG ... no one would ever want to see my lounge outfits. I loved that Jonesy posted her Mrs. Roper Caftan. I had just bought one from Target but returned it because I'm afraid of my husband teasing me too much about wearing a house dress.

• Tanya replied 11 years ago

  I try to post pretty much every outfit I wear, regardless of the dressiness level and whether I think it is a good one or just meh. It helps me keep myself in check and I value the input from the others.

  I am all for posting everyday casual outfits, especially since casual is something I do most of the time. I also think that it is much more difficult to come up with a stunning casual outfit than a dressy one, so it is good to keep working on it.

• Angie replied 11 years ago

  Cheryl, you are a very sweet lady with a big heart. I love your forum participation! And your smile and blog post comments always put me in a good mood :)

  There are lots of casual and smart casual looks on this forum - more so than any other look in my opinion. Very few business formal and formal looks. The point of all of this is to look and feel fab regardless of dress code, age, lifestyle or budget. We also celebrate all style personas.

  So the goal here is to receive support, feedback and encouragement for all sorts of outfits. Of course, members will give their 2 cents on outfits that they do not perceive as fab - which is par for the course.

  Members can post as often or as seldom as they wish. The only rule here is that you have fun in the process :)

• Meredith1953 replied 11 years ago

  I feel much the same as Tanya. I try to post most of what I wear whether at work or at home or going out. This is a learning process for me on how to develop my eye for what works for me. I get such great feedback and suggestions that it's really helping me feel more confident in perfecting my style which seems to be casual, classic and playful (well...I'm working on the playful part). For me, posting my outfits is always fun!

• Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

  Because I work full time and tend to spend more time at work than anywhere else (sad, isn't it?) I post my work outfits every day (or try to). I've recently started to post my casual weekend looks as well although this is more sporadic because my weekends tend to be CRAZY! Now that gardening season has arrived, my off work hours will mostly be spent in shorts, tanks, rubber boots and gardening gloves - no one will see THIS look!

  For the casual weekend looks I've posted, I've really enjoyed the feedback. I struggle with casual dressing so have found comments/suggestions very help.

  Work attire, casual attire, formal attire - post all and any!

• Marie replied 11 years ago

  Due to my casual lifestyle, I draw more inspiration from the casual WIW's & would love to see more also but can't really ask for more because I don't post my outfits - I am sure I'm not the only one and really admire those that do - especially the posters asking for advice.

  There is so much more to this website than WIW - good articles, blogs, community & fun!

• rachylou replied 11 years ago

  Oh, I agree. Give me all y'all's "boring" outfits too!

• christieanne replied 11 years ago

  I know I am trying to step up my super casual outfits and they do seem too boring to discuss but let's try!

• cheryl replied 11 years ago

  Thanks everyone., I appreciate all the comments and feedback. I understand its not a requirement to be in really nice stuff, i just think those of us who are very casual feel our stuff is too boring or isn't worthy of posting, but I would like to see more of it and hope we all make an effort to post more. Shannon, I would love to see you in rubber boots and gardening gloves :) I know you would look adorable. I am really happy with my style as simple and casual as it is.

• Kirti replied 11 years ago

  I am not a big shopper so I think everyone on the forum has seen almost all of my clothes and a lot of my outfits are very similar - t shirt, jeans, jacket. Still, I don't miss an opportunity to post my not so spectacular outfits here since everyone is so friendly and accepting and generous with feedback. Please post your outfits too, we would all love to see them :-)

• Sara L. replied 11 years ago

  Personally, I don't post my more boring outfits because I feel like I don't get a lot of feedback from the forum on them. Maybe it's just because I'm not an especially prolific poster, I don't know.

• Amy replied 11 years ago

  I'd love to see more casual outfits posted on the forum. Like Shannon, I spend more time at work than anywhere else, so I spend more time trying to get work outfits right, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in seeing outfits for casual at-home days and the like.

  I DARE everyone to post a picture of themselves in gardening clothes, PJs, lounge clothes :)

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• Jonesy replied 11 years ago

  I think that YLF is welcoming toward all sorts of styles, so I say go for it! I do try to post more casual looks (thanks for the shout out on the caftan, Rita :), especially in the summertime when I practically live in denim cut-offs.

  I would love to see some casual gardening, yard work, worm-catching clothes around here this summer--it would be fun!

• Mo replied 11 years ago

  I like to think I'm an anchor of team casual around here. To be blunt, I haven't worked since joining this forum, but when I do it's a uniform anyway, so those would not be post worthy.
  I have, more than once, posted a 'here it is - the boring truth' type of outfit. And by and large, I don't get condemned for it lol. I sometimes preface such a post with saying that I feel sometimes only the 'star' outfits in people's lives are posted up. For me, the day to day outfits - making them interesting, occasion appropriate, etc - is a challenge. Dressing up I find kind of easy, really. The nice fabrications and cuts do most the work for me.
  Anyway, all this to say I agree - more casual running around looks would be most welcome by me! Have I mentioned I miss Queen Mum? ;)

• replied 11 years ago

  @Amy, you are so cute!

  Well, I for one haven't been posting outfits for several days because it has gotten really hot and my outfits just aren't that exciting. I am happy with them, but several of my practical, cool, *at home* tops got the "you can do better" response when I first posted them. The fact is, for the amount of money I have to spend and the amount of washable, breathable tops I need, I really can't do any better right now.

  Maybe there is a way we can post these outfits with a disclaimer like "I wore this to wash the car, and it's about 1000% better than what my neighbor wears to wash the car." Or 1000% better than what I was wearing this time last year, etc.

• Kate replied 11 years ago

  LOL Amy. I could post WIW gardening photos that would scare the lot of you, me included (I know, I've seen some that my DH snapped of me when I was unaware). Maybe that's where I should start.

• rae replied 11 years ago

  Although I don't spend as much time in my casual clothes, I feel like it's most important for me to post those outfits! I feel it's so much harder for me to look fab in a tee and shorts, so the feedback is super helpful. I don't *think* I bore anyone, but if I do I'll still post for my own selfish needs. ;)

  And casual CAN still be interesting, btw - Cheryl, in fact your punchy color combinations wouldn't ever pass for boring in my book!

• Jjsloane replied 11 years ago

  I think everyone has summed up that it's ok to post any outfit and you will be accepted and/or critiqued if you want.

  Amy - we need a new thread (maybe a challenge) to show our gardening and loungewear.
  I did post my loungewear once for fun
  http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....nd-reality
  My gardening looks are not nearly as glamorous as yours. Think Bill Murray in Caddyshack (pic below)

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• Aida replied 11 years ago

  Cheryl I always enjoy when you post your outfits, you have such a fun colorful style! I'm another member of Team Casual, though I do veer towards the dressy end; I try to post both my work looks (I essentially work from home) and my weekend looks. Basically I take photos every day I wear something that's not lounge clothing. And I really enjoy seeing everyone's outfits, regardless of where they fall on the casual-dressy spectrum!

  I don't have any gardening photos, but I'll get one next time I'm in the garden! So in the meantime here's a photo of me out with friends dirt biking (I didn't bike that day), and one in gear from a hike this past weekend. Both are outfits I'd post in my weekly recaps :)

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• Mo replied 11 years ago

  Okay, here I am letting it all hang out at the beach last week. BF shorts and loose deep v tee over a swimsuit :)

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• Mochi replied 11 years ago

  Cheryl, I've been feeling exactly the same way...partly it's getting warmer and I'm getting more active/into an outdoorsy, physical lifestyle and partly because I'm feeling overwhelmed, too busy to shop and not in a shopping mood, as well as guilty about spending time online...suddenly I've been moving forward on a number of projects. I haven't even been on here recently, and haven't posted a WIW in quite some time...there's nothing inspiring in what I'm wearing these days (and I kind of don't mind!) I just figure that I'll raise my standards again in the fall, LOL.

• Kari replied 11 years ago

  I definitely have days of "just okay" outfits, or where I did a literal repeat of something I wore exactly before, that I don't photograph. Or where my hair looks horrible, or I'm not feeling good.

  But I don't feel that my "casual" clothes are inherently blah, and I definitely don't feel that way when looking at other people's posts. If anything, since I bat for Team Dressy and business casual wear is a breeze at this point, I struggle more with creating interesting casual outfits and I love to glean inspiration from other YLF members for how I can spice up casual wear. I don't think I would have worn bootcuts and turtlenecks, items that I would have assumed were totally boring two years ago, at all if I hadn't seen so many fabulous YLF members and other bloggers featuring them in really inspiring casual outfits.

  So please, Cheryl and others, bring on the casual outfits, because I love seeing them!

• celia replied 11 years ago

  For me dressing casual and not being Fab are two diferent things.Although I like to dress up a tiny bit my outfits are mostly casual.I like to see cute skirts with tank tops and draw inspiration from everyone's outfit.
  I will be happy to see your outfits.

• velvetychocolate replied 11 years ago

  Just wanted to say that I appreciate you bringing this up - I also struggle with casual wear too, and would love to see more casual looks or even just 'ideas' on how to put casual outfits together.

• cheryl replied 11 years ago

  Thanks so much everyone for your insightful comments. I appreicate all of the photos too. Amy, you are too cute. Jjsloane, i love your loungewear! Aida, I don't think its possible for you to ever look bad. I always love your choices. Mo, i like this fun, in motion pic. YOu call yourself casual but to me you always look kind of dressy, lol. Isn't it funny how people have such different perceptions?

• anne replied 11 years ago

  I don't take pics much as I have logistical hassles at the moment, but if you want to know what I ACTUALLY wear most of the time around the house atm, look no further than pic 3 in this thread from last year
  http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ped-blazer

  I LOVE this jacket - so warm, does right up to the neck, adequately covers up (if I don't want to get the underneath layer messy). I'd like to add another "home"jacket to the mix but haven't found one yet. It does go out to the gym, as a pre-race coverup etc.

  I can quickly change to boots and a coat for school pickup.

• Kiwichik replied 11 years ago

  I think it would be hilarious to create a challenge for what I wore when no one was looking - showing your pjs and gardening clothes. For what it's worth I'm posting what I wear 7 days a week but having said that it is what I wear when I am out and about not necessarily what I wear to clean the house or play sports. Having said that I have posted a couple of yoga pants photos.

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• goldenpig replied 11 years ago

  Well, like MaryK, I post almost all my outfits, casual and work. The only thing is my casual wardrobe is much less developed than my work wardrobe so I wonder if people are tired of seeing the same Jason Wu for Target pieces over and over! :) I will post outfits even if they are repeats, because unless you're a blogger or ultra rich, who wears stuff only once? And I like to repeat my favorite combinations rather than always changing the outfits just for the sake of remixing.

  I've even posted K/R's on my loungewear, but I am a YLF nut and even loungewear has to go up for YLF approval, LOL! If people are tired of me posting repeats or me posting casual outfits, they haven't told me yet, so until people say they're tired of me, I'll keep posting!

  I for one would love to see more casual outfits, because I feel like I need to develop that aspect of my own wardrobe (casual MOTG) so I would love the inspiration! Cheryl, I think you're really sweet, I love your smile and your kind comments so I would love to see more of your WIW's! I will go search for them now.

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• cheryl replied 11 years ago

  Anne, thanks for the link, i love that jacket, it looks so cozy. Kiwichik and goldenpig, thanks so much for posting pics. I love these casual photos because these are things I would wear. Don't get me wrong, I also love the dressy pics everyone posts but i'm just not likely to ever dress like that, so these casual ones, speak to me :)

• ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

  Cheryl, like you, I'd love to see more of people's casual clothes, both everyday about-life style as well as loungewear and activewear if it doesn't feel too 'private' to show.

  Like Claire, I have to confess I'm in no position to actually chuck out some of the clothes and accessories that YLFers advised me to replace or avoid --- not for a few years. So though I can't do a photo just now of me as I am (I'm in the middle of moving house and just got back from work at 7.30pm, just changed, with stuff to unload from the car and then shopping for dinner that has to be cooked --- hehe, am poster girl for crummy casual living today!), I'll just tell you it is a short, bright pink babydoll-ish A-line frock with puffed sleeves ;-)

  I envy people who can make casual look cool and chic, even their pajamas look stylish and they look collected and calm even with 4 pots on the burner, 2 roasts in the oven and assorted other things going on in the kitchen while children ask for snacks and playmates. I relate more to the flustered cook whose hair is going every which way in spite of her clips, who's got tomato sauce splashed on her shoe, and is red in the face and sweaty, all make-up melted away... Make of that what you will! I'd quite like to look at examples of both.

• Polly (thunalata) replied 11 years ago

  Haha, I have only posted 2 WIWs recently and they were both definitely 'out of the ordinary' ones!

  I think I don't post every day ones because:
  - I make quite a meal of taking the pictures and posting them
  - if I'm posting something I'd like it to be thought through rather than flung on (which happens particularly if life is busy or stressful
  - I often wear the same or similar outfits
  - I don't want to take up too much WIW space when I don't have much time to post on other people's threads AND don't always have much to say.

  Threads like this make me feel more inclined to post so thank you Cheryl!

• cheryl replied 11 years ago

  ManidipaM, I would love to see your pink babydoll frock and i'm right there with you on the crazy hair and makeup melted off, lol. Good luck with the move.

  thunlata, I do understand that it can be very time consuming. I do hope you post more though. I love the pretties and fancies but I can't afford many of those things and they would be for a life that is not like mine.

  I am not complaining, I am very happy with my casual life. I can't imagine having to dress up everyday, it would not feel comfortable to me, but those of you who do, look amazing and I admire you.

• Mander replied 11 years ago

  I rarely post anything because in reality I'm wearing almost exactly the same thing every day! Since it's been so chilly here and I'm at home most of the time, I've been wearing one of two pairs of patched up jeans, some sort of long sleeved tee, and a selection of faded but warm cardigans or sweatshirts.

  Perhaps I should try harder with the casual stuff. I love seeing other peoples' examples -- it is the area I struggle with the most, really. Which is a problem because my life is 98% casual right now!

• MsMary replied 11 years ago

  I have a pretty dressy life and I do post everything that leaves the house, other than gym clothes. I generally don't post my stay-at-home clothes but i would totally be up for a "post what you wore, no matter what" challenge! LOL

• Chrizzle replied 11 years ago

  You want Not So Fab? You've got it! I'm at home sick today, and so is my 10-year-old. I am still in my pajamas at noon. I have my hair pulled back with a stretchy headband, and no makeup on. I have an old pink fleece on because I have chills. I'm also wearing my comfy but geriatric quilted mauve house shoes, which I rather adore.

  In true fashion blogger style, here's where my oh-so-enviable loungewear came from:
  Tank: Lands' End
  Pajama bottoms: Target
  Jacket: Columbia
  House shoes: Foamtreads Waltz

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• Mo replied 11 years ago

  LOL Chrizzle!! Actually, it is pretty fab for loungewear! Good proportions, nice color. Hope you feel better soon.

• goldenpig replied 11 years ago

  Chrizzle, you look great even when you're sick! That lavender really suits you. And you matched your fleece to your slippers and have a headband on? Way more effort than I put in when I'm not feeling well! And LOL about the source of your loungewear--love it! Hope you and your son get better soon!

• cheryl replied 11 years ago

  Chrizzle, you look adorable in your comfy clothes. I hope you both feel better asap! :)

• Chrizzle replied 11 years ago

  Goldenpig, my 10-year-old is a girl and an aspiring fashion designer, so she's fascinated by the You Look Fab community, and was mortified that I wouldn't put on something nicer for these photos. She was going to refuse to take the last 3 pictures until I assured her that nobody would make fun of me in my jammies.

  The slippers/house shoes were only available in my size in the purple/mauve when I bought them (http://www.zappos.com/foamtreads-waltz-purple), and I was amused to discover that they match my favorite at-home fleece! Not intentional at all. Also, I sleep in a headband or scarf to keep my dreads off my face at night, so no effort there either. All I've done is put on a bra and brush my teeth!

  My loungewear/sleepwear is a little better than it used to be because we are a host family for international students so I don't wear anything too revealing or ratty in the house anymore. The 19-year-old Saudi student who is currently living with us is a little shocked by the way I dress ( though I'm very modest by American standards!), so I'm extra careful to be more covered up when he's around.

• cheryl replied 11 years ago

  Chrizzle, that is so funny that your daughter didn't want to finish taking your pics. Gotta love kids :)

• ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

  Minor derailing to say to Chrizzle --- you ROCK for opening your home to international students! Lots of my friends studying abroad have benefitted from host(esse)s like you, and I know some of them would have given up and gone home if not for that hospitality.

  And yeah, you look way more put together than most people I know (myself included) do when lounging at home in the very pink of health, never mind while under the weather!

• goldenpig replied 11 years ago

  I agree with Manidipa, my loungewear is nowhere near your standards. I don't even have cute slippers, I just wear socks, no bra, and often fall asleep before brushing my teeth. So you're way ahead of the game!

  So cute that your daughter was critiquing your loungewear outfit! My daughter has started commenting on my clothes too and I'm sure it will only get more frequent as she gets older! Your daughter is an aspiring fashion designer--how cool! Does she know how to sew yet?

  Cheryl, I liked your recent WIW and can't wait to see more from you!

• Chrizzle replied 11 years ago

  I decided to get cute slippers because walking barefoot is painful for me. I'd been wearing Crocs around the house and I wanted something cozier but not too fluffy. And no way do I sleep in a bra! I put an old comfy one on after I woke up because I wanted to be semi-decent for our student guest.

  My daughter is learning to sew. I got her an inexpensive but sturdy sewing machine a couple of years ago, and she takes the occasional lesson from a friend who teaches classes for kids. She loves to draw designs, and she enjoys making doll clothes and remaking existing doll clothes so they're "edgier". She comes up with amazing stuff for her Barbies, American Girl Dolls, and Harumikas (http://www.amazon.com/Harumika.....038;sr=8-2).

• cheryl replied 11 years ago

  Thank you goldenpig :)

  Chrizzle, that is wonderful that your daughter has such an interest in fashion and that you encourage her. My grandmother was such a good sewer and quilter and I wish I had followed in her footsteps. Its a great skill to have.

• Chrizzle replied 11 years ago

  I can just barely sew a straight seam, but I've been getting better as I learn along with DD. Luckily she can get help from my sister, my sister's MIL, my sewing-teacher friend, and my best friend, all of whom range from competent to expert seamstresses. I think knowing how to make clothes is such a valuable skill, even if you only ever make the occasional skirt or nightgown, like my mother used to do.

  Right now DD excels at math and science, and enthusiastically participates in a program for kids with advanced aptitude in math, technology, and science. We strongly encourage that interest too. We've told her that designing and making clothes that fit well and look good on all kinds of bodies is a form of engineering. My sewing-teacher friend plans to teach her how to draft and re-size patterns, and says that understanding geometry and being good at arithmetic makes that task a lot easier, and more likely to have good results. DD now firmly believes that working hard at math and science are in line with her plans to take the fashion world by storm someday.

• cheryl replied 11 years ago

  That is so wonderful. She is surrounded by talented, intelligent mentors and role models.