YouLookFab

Off to Europe

Angie — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:09:58 +0000

Greg and I are at the airport waiting to board our flight. We’re taking a two week trip to Europe to visit family and friends, and do a little work on the side. My precious Papa lives in Arnhem in the Netherlands so we’ll be going there first. Then off to Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp, Zurich and Milan.

We’ll reduce the frequency of posts while we’re away, but there will be at least one a day. If things go really well I will write some thoughts along the way. Failing that we’ll do a series when we return. Either way, I’m excited to share Spring 2010’s Euro trends with you so stay tuned.

Not-so-light packing

Angie — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:18:16 +0000

I might be in the absolute minority with this opinion but here it is: I do not believe in packing light for airplane travel! By packing light, I mean only packing a carry-on for a week’s trip or longer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m vehemently against paying any kind of overweight and have so far never paid for extra poundage at the baggage check-in counter. And like you, I loathe traipsing around overly heavy suitcases. But I’m not one to only pack a carry-on unless it’s an overnight or weekend stay and I’m travelling alone. I have a baggage allowance and I like to use it.

I travel abroad frequently and I have my own packing system that works well for me. For a trip that’s 4 days or longer, I’ll pack up to ten pounds below my baggage allowance that goes into the hold (the allowance is usually 50 pounds), and carry a virtually empty carry-all plus a large handbag for the flight.

For the suitcase that goes into the hold, I meticulously plan an outfit for each day of the trip, mixing and matching as far as possible, with one or two spare options. I also plan a few going-out-at-night outfits and rotate them as necessary. I try to get by with minimum pairs of shoes but pack lots of accessories and one extra handbag, so that I have two handbags on my trip, and possibly a clutch too (can’t help it handbags are my thing). I carry small bottles of my toiletries and sometimes pack slippers as well. In summary, I like to wear clean clothes on most days of the trip, do a little bit of laundry along the way and still have options.

I also like to bring back things from our trip which means that I need the extra space. Packing a full carry-on on the way there doesn’t allow for the extra space to do this.

I fully understand the advantages of packing light too. You don’t wait at baggage claim, and lugging around a smaller lighter suitcase is infinitely easier than lugging around a larger heavier one. You also have less to pack and unpack at your destination. But I really don’t mind waiting at baggage claim and I’m very used to dragging what I pack, using public transport to get to the hotel in most instances. I’m also fine with unpacking and packing it all in our hotel room. The assurance that I have all that I need with options far outweighs the advantages of packing light.

So I’m not a heavy packer, but I’m not a light packer either. How and what I pack really works for me. Of course, things might be different if my trips had me spending less than a few days in each destination. Greg went through a stage of doing business trips that covered 5 countries in a week and in that situation traveling with one over-nighter makes a lot of sense. What’s your packing strategy? Do you like to travel light, not so light, or are you a heavy traveler? What would you like to change about your packing strategy?

FFBO: the fast fall back outfit

Angie — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:22:07 +0000

Often the time that we budget for getting ready in the morning is cut short. So unless we already had a good idea of what we were going to wear that day, we need what I call a “fast fall back outfit” (FFBO). The FFBO is a no-brainer, tried and tested outfit combination that you feel great wearing, AND takes you two secs to put together.

Fast fall back outfits will vary and you may have more than one. I have two generic FFBO combinations:

Dress and boots, or ballet flats depending on the season
Skinny jeans tucked into flat boots with turtle neck and jacket

As much as I love skirts and wear them regularly, they take the longest to style. I also very rarely wear slacks or walk shorts, so if I’m not in jeans, I’m either in a dress or skirt.

It might be worthwhile to create several FFBOs if you don’t have them already. You could even go so far as to plan the exact outfit combinations in advance. For example, the following ensemble is a more specific interpretation of my first generic FFBO:

Charcoal sheath dress
Dove grey cascading cardigan
Textured hose
Chestnut slouch boots
Gold accessories
Blue handbag

I know this outfit is a winner. I can grab it and feel fabulous in no time at all. Just what the doctor ordered when you only have a minute to decide what to wear.

Do you have fast fall back outfits? If so, what are they? If not, do you think they’re worth the effort?

Blue handbags are fab for Spring and Summer

Angie — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:37:59 +0000

Turquoise is one of the “it” colours this season, so if you fancy a turquoise handbag, stock up in the next six months. But turquoise is not the only option in blue handbags. Think cobalt, teal, ink blue and royal blue as well. Dark blue bags look great with jeans because they pick up the colour of denim. Bright turquoise bags look fabulous with white, apple green, yellow, rich purple, coral and tomato red. Teal bags look amazing with muted reds, chartreuse, dark purple and earth tones.

I have a three year old, dark cobalt blue patent snake skin handbag which I like to wear with black, white and turquoise ensembles. But really, as long as I wear dark blue jeans or a denim jacket, my blue bag works with the outfit. It took me a little while to get used to pairing a dark blue bag with outfits, but as soon as I got my head around it I was smitten with the look. In many instances, my dark blue handbag has become my “black” bag.

The addition of a new handbag makes existing outfits look and feel new. The power of accessories knows no bounds. So who’s liking the idea of a blue hued handbag?

Denim care and tumble driers

Angie — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:14:38 +0000

I’m more conservative than the wash care labels in jeans suggest, because I’m convinced that caring for my jeans keeps them looking better for longer. At premium denim prices you want those jeans to last forever, so it’s worth the extra bit of effort.

So I am absolutely religious about how I care for our jeans! I turn them inside out and wash them in cold water with mild detergent. I take them out of the washing machine and turn them back out. While damp, I clip the waistbands onto clip hangers and hang them in an empty wardrobe in the guest room to air dry. (We live in a small house that doesn’t have a laundry room, which is why our laundry ends up drying on hangers in the guest room cupboard).

I NEVER put wet or damp jeans in the tumble drier, even though washing instructions insist that you can tumble dry them on low heat for any length of time. Even with as little as 1% stretch, tumble dryers have unfavourable effects on denim. The heat first causes the lycra to contract (which is why our jeans feel tight after we’ve tumble dried them), and then subsequently to lose its elasticity completely (causing our jeans to “grow”). In my experience, if you tumble-dry your jeans, their fit will never be the same again.

It takes a day or two for jeans to air dry, leaving them crunchy, hard and wrinkled. The ideal solution is to iron them back to their original soft and smooth state. But like most people, I loathe ironing and avoid it all costs. I’ve found that if I put clean, air-dried jeans into the dryer on low heat for two minutes, they come out soft, wrinkle free and don’t bag out when we wear them. I shake them out, fold them neatly onto a hanger and put them back into our wardrobe. No ironing and no harmful tumble drying effects.

I’ve been caring for jeans in this way for years and years and am very satisfied with how our old jeans (6 years plus) have weathered the effects of this laundry process. How do you care for your jeans ?

YLF gathering: Back in the City

Maya — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:08:04 +0000

Arty and eloquent New Jersey native and ex-Manhattan resident Maya is going to tell you all about her festive YLF birthday gathering in NYC last week. Maya has been reading YLF since 2006, which makes her one of our longest supporters. This is her third guest post and I’m sure there will be many more! Maya, thanks for your loyal support, and I’m glad that you had a special birthday celebration.

After a brutal winter, signs of spring are finally popping up in New York. Ice cream trucks are back on the street, store windows are full of florals and light hues, crowds are flooding Washington Square, and shop owners are leaving their doors open. This usually doesn’t happen until later in the season, but lucky for me, it happened just in time for my 26th birthday, when YLF forum members Shana April, Medusa, and Debora joined me for a celebration. Medusa’s boyfriend and Debora’s daughter accompanied us and the day was a resounding success!

We began the day with brunch at a French cafe, fueling our bodies for the shopping that lay ahead. It took no time at all for everyone to relax and enjoy getting to know more about each other. We chatted about everything from the forum to our families and friends, jobs, and so much more. There was not a dull or awkward moment to speak of, much like on the forum.

After the check had been paid and I was about to put on my coat, Debora pulled out a tiny black and white gift bag from under the table and handed it to me, explaining that everyone pitched in to get me a birthday present. As silly as it may sound, I was actually surprised to get a gift for my birthday! I just assumed the gathering itself was my birthday gift. Needless to say, I hadn’t done any speculating as to what they might get for me. Looking at the size of the bag, I couldn’t imagine what was inside. A necklace? Oh no, it’s not a belt is it?

I removed the tissue paper to find a card (that appropriately acknowledged my love of cats), and inside the card was another card: more specifically, a Zappos gift card! Few people outside of YLF could appreciate what this means to me. I have extremely fussy feet and comfortable, stylish shoes are the hardest thing for me to shop for on my budget. To me, this gift card was so much more than just its cash value. It truly represented the generous, considerate, and helpful nature of the YLF community.

After I thanked everyone a hundred times and we bid our goodbyes to April, who had to get back to her son, we grabbed the next train to Soho to hit the shops. The beautiful weather meant that the shopping crowds were even more intense than usual, but we persevered.

The stores we saw were dominated by the pale spring color palette, which didn’t particularly enthuse any of us, but we managed to find some treasures anyway. Medusa found a nautical striped top at Zara, Shana and I both scored denim leggings at Uniqlo, I finally bought a pleather moto jacket I had been eyeing at H&M, and Medusa’s boyfriend found a bigger haul than all of us girls combined! It will probably be the first and last time that I witness a single man out-shop five women. At Banana Republic, Medusa and I tried on the Martin skinny pant, which would work perfectly as part of my creative business casual wardrobe, but the $90 price tag forced me to look away. Happily, Shana shared a 40% coupon with me, so hopefully soon they will be mine!

As the crowds grew more intense, we decided it was time to sit and relax. Debora’s daughter led us to a tiny and cozy cafe where we concluded the day with brownies, pudding, tea, and great conversation. By the day’s end, I felt as though I had just finished meeting with friends who I had known my whole life. I had such a blast spending the day with all of you, and couldn’t have asked for a better birthday celebration! I look forward to many more New York YLF gatherings in the future!

In case you’re wondering, the Zappos card went towards a pair of Pikolinos that I have been drooling over for months. Every time I wear them and look down at my toes, I smile. Thank you for giving them a place in my closet, ladies, and thank you Angie and Greg for creating such a loving community!

Winner: Outfit Additions $100 gift voucher

Angie — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:11:34 +0000

Congratulations Eve from Boston! The random number generator chose you as the winner of the $100 accessory gift coupon from Outfit Additions. Please contact me to arrange the receipt of your voucher. Enjoy your new goodies!

Cargo pocket pants: yay or nay

Angie — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:52:06 +0000

As part of this season’s 90’s fashion revival, utilitarian cargo pocket pants are trending for Spring. I have mixed feelings about cargo pocket pants so I vote both yay and nay. Some cargo pocket pant styles look very unflattering to my eye. Yet I adore the look of others.

I like knee length cargo pocket pants best, particularly in silk blends and worn with heels as shown in the pictures above. I also like this style in casual fabrications worn with flats, which is a look we discussed last season. So for me, cargo pocket pants are a yay when they’re short and I like them even more with a dressy touch. Ironic, since they’re supposed to be casual bottoms.

I don’t like the look of long cargo pocket pants worn casually, like those below, nearly as much. It’s especially unflattering when you carry a little extra in the hip and thigh area. Pear shaped body types stay away!

Needless to say, the cropped lengths that end just above the ankle and below the calf with wide hems that are worn with flats give me heart failure. Extra long and slim legs relative to the rest of the body are prerequisites for the silhouette. So if you’re a tall-ish inverted triangle, you’ve definitely got a head start on making this look work.

I wore long khaki cargo pocket pants 15 years ago along with the rest of the world. They didn’t feel right then and they don’t feel right now. But I’m still after a smarter silk pair in clamdigger length so I might give the top styles a go. What’s your perspective on cargo pocket pants? Yes, no, or maybe?

Denim on denim: shirt and jeans in the same wash

Angie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:40:21 +0000

I don’t need (or want) to sport every fashion trend every season. But I have a trendy fashion persona and I do like to sport the trends that tickle my fancy, especially if they’re a little more daring and controversial. Wearing the same wash of denim both on top and on the bottom is an example of one of these trends. I was excited to give it a bash – my way.

When I first started seeing this trend pop up on Spring Fashion Week catwalks last September, I didn’t like it at all. But after seeing more and more creative ensemble combinations interpreting the trend, my eyes started to adjust. I began to appreciate how these outfits can work when the right amount of textural interest is added back into the look.

For this particular outfit I first added in a white camisole to break up the expanse of denim. I then added knee-high boots and a black boyfriend blazer to break it up even further. By covering large portions of the denim and making the shirt function more like a layering piece, I feel that I can successfully sport the trend. I’m also happy swapping out the boots for shoes, thereby exposing more of the jeans. But I wouldn’t be happy omitting my blazer and wearing the outfit with shoes alone. That would be too much of the same denim in one outfit even for my liking.

I am not wearing any accessories here other than my usual watch, wedding ring, handbag and specs. I have started to enjoy wearing fewer accessories per outfit, just because it pushes my fashion envelope.

Revealing more skin with this trend is another good way to go as it reduces the amount of denim coverage on the body. Swapping out the jeans for a denim skirt and the jacket for a cardigan are great also substitutes. Throwing in a scarf will work too.

You either like the advanced denim on denim trend, or you don’t. I warmed up to the look fairly quickly and enjoyed the challenge of making it work for me.

Denim on denim: denim shirt with white jeans

Angie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:34:18 +0000

Wearing denim on denim is no longer a fashion faux pas. In fact, it’s one of the hottest trends this season. For hardcore trendy fashionistas that means wearing a blue denim shirt with jeans in a similar wash.

I totally get that wearing the same denim wash both on top and on bottom is hard to swallow. So for starters, try a different denim wash or colour for on the bottom. The obvious choice is to mix in black denim jeans (or skirt) with the denim shirt. I wore this Levis combination to death in the 90’s so I think I’ve had my fill of that look. In Spring and Summer though, white becomes my black, so the obvious pairing for my style was white jeans. White looks pretty with some of the lighter denim shirt washes and picks up the sparkle of pearlized snaps well.

I finished off the ensemble with turquoise and yellow accessories because I fancy fresh colours with white as temperatures begin to rise (you might recognize the turquoise belt from last Spring).

You can substitute white bootcut pants or jeans, clamdiggers, walk shorts or a skirt. Adding coral or fuschia into the mix would be right on trend too. I also like the idea of a matching a denim shirt and white jeans with a weathered brown belt, cognac shoes and wooden accessories for a more earthy vibe.

Alternatively, you can swap out the white completely and opt for dark blue washes, red or or grey jeans (or a skirt in one of these colours). Forum members Laura, Tam and Julie have been experimenting with their own denim on denim looks and look fab. Be sure to take a look at their outfits too.

In these pictures I am wearing my denim shirt from the Gap and a new extra-long glass beaded necklace from Nordstrom.