View Full Version : Keeping up with fashion
Is it me or does the world seem to be choosing the strangest things?
Fashion, for one, seems to be driving peculiar choices but maybe this is not that unusual. Men wore high heels long before women started wearing them and leotards.
A friend said that she was looking for a turtleneck but couldn't find any as they were no longer in fashion. The fact that they keep one warm is apparently not important.
Another friend asked if I was concerned about not having the skinny style of legs on long pants as they are the fashion. (I didn't buy any stovepipe when they had their moment in the sun and my modest cords will do me just fine.) The skinny style certainly is not kind to those with some extra weight but that is what is available.
I like berets as winter headgear. If I need to cover my ears with the hearing aids, berets work wonderfully well and one could colour match. There are no berets anywhere so I knit myself one. People have been wearing berets for years. What put them out of fashion?
I see teens and younger wearing jeans where they seem to be badly torn and have little holding them together. A friend advised me that these type of jeans are the most costly.
I look at little girls clothes and they are so skimpy today.
If you check out dining sets, the chairs have no crossbars to stabilize the feet so the joints quickly get loose with use. I see them in the thrift shops now as people discard and replace. People are buying them because there are few alternatives.
What odd things are you seeing?
Those ridiculous ripped jeans--it almost goes without saying. They were laugh-worthy the first time around twenty years ago.
If you think ripped jeans are hot, rip your own, and save.
That's why I like thrift stores--you can find "unfashionable" (read classic) clothes while saving money.
I like straight leg ("mom") jeans--I always have. No one really looks good in "skinny" jeans, which at best look like you're all butt.
My DD tries to keep me on track, but usually to no avail. She was shocked when I was wearing a fashionable pair of Banana Republic casual pants last summer--she even remarked to my son, "Mom's pants fit her so well!" meaning I usually wear pants that are too baggy or too clingy.
I had seen the pants at a deep discount while on a business trip, and tried them on. I HATE buying pants because they never fit right, so when these did, I bought three pair. So I sure hope they stay in style for at least another year, and if the pants are still wearable in 3 years, I'll be out of style again.
I wear turtlenecks all winter. I had no idea they weren't in fashion. But I have swapped out my little sweater sets with buttoned cardigans to the shawl-like beneath the butt type of sweater, which I like. I hope they're in style.
Both my DDIL and DD depend heavily on black leggings and/or tights, and they wear dresses, not pants, and clunky shoes. I have to say, they always look good.
My mother was very stylish, and her saying was "If you wore it once, you can't wear it again." Which means my daughter can get away with wearing a Mary Quant dress, or a gauzy blouse with macrame ties, but I'm not allowed because I've been there/done that.
Teacher Terry
1-4-19, 5:13pm
My mom was fashionable but I don’t really care.
This is one area where I am happy I am clueless. I keep wearing mostly the same basic lines/styles- the ones that look good on me. I can keep getting them at Lands End or LL Bean or consignment stores, so I'm good. I agree that skinny jeans don't look good on most. and certainly not on me (thighs too proportionally large). I am very curvy, so I don't wear tunics. They just look like a bag on me, but on a thinner person they look good. I wear mostly fitted tops and just below the navel jeans with straight legs. In the summer when I wear skirts/skorts, they are just above the knee. That's me, dowdy and unfashionable- but comfortable and as attractive as possible with my shape and height.
Doesn't seem to me like there is any particular style anymore. Skinny pants, tunics, leggings and athletic wear seem to be prevailing. I am not comfortable in that sort of clothing - makes me feel like Peter Pan - though I get the comfort factor. Now that I am retired, I peruse thrift stores for quality mock/turtlenecks (LL Bean, etc) and a particular style of Levis that disappeared long ago (straight leg) for winter wear since I layer a lot to keep warm. I agree about furniture quality. Trying to find a wood bench for the entry way now and many of the new ones just have four stick legs and no cross bars so once again, looking for an older used one.
iris lilies
1-4-19, 7:35pm
Funny you should say that, I am out of town at a family funeral and I was thinking it’s too bad that I am so unfashionable my pants are not skinny and they’re not even straight leg, it is really at unfortunate!
I just wear kilts, nice sweaters, and sensible lingerie.
Timeless.
I just wear kilts, nice sweaters, and sensible lingerie.
I thought kilts were to be worn without lingerie.
I don't know many people who would take fashion advice from me, but i do get a few compliments. I focus on colors that look good on me, fits that are flattering, and not super trendy. If the color and fit are good you do tend to look good.
And i threw away every turtleneck when i moved away from Michigan. Hate things touching my neck
ApatheticNoMore
1-5-19, 12:07am
I care mostly about looking nice for work, call it "spending money you don't have, on things you don't need, to impress people you don't like, because your survival may depend on it". It would be less important otherwise but I guess I also like to look nice in general (and do, never a head-turner mind you). I wear colors that look good on me (I'm Fall colors). I don't care about what is in fashion though.
thinkgreen
1-5-19, 12:29am
I didn't know turtlenecks were out. What about boot cut jeans?
Most people at work look like clones of each other in usually black leggings. Per the dress code you can't wear nice dark wash jeans but people can wear these tight leggings that let every bulge show. I am wearing my out of style loose pants and don't care. I am going to wear them until they wear out because I never wear dress pants on my own time. I bought them for the stupid dress code and I am going to get my money's worth out of them.
I dislike shopping but really hate clothes shopping! I don't have the patience for it. Fortunately, I work in a building that is part offices and part warehouse. I never know if I'll be called to work in the warehouse or not, so my clothing is pretty "casual" to say the least. I'm dressed up if I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
iris lilies
1-5-19, 10:03am
Ugh, hate turtlenecks. Just strangle me whydoncha! Haha. Cowl necks are pretty but out of fashion now and I can stand those.
My favorite neckline is V-neck. My favorite t shirt is a V-neck stretchy cotton 3/4 sleeve piece. Hard to find such specificity at the thrift stores.
I dont buy my core basic peices at the thrift store, jeans are Ross or TJMaxx. Plain knit shirts are Target when they have sales. I also do v neck knit shirts, most comfortable and easy for the chest size. My last job i could wear jeans all the time but no writing at all on shirts ( i agreed with that after seeing what choices my colleagues made). Now i need nicer pants, i found my size at target and bought 3 in different colors. Since i am active with the kids there are no scarves or fancy shoes. Mostly lace up boots or converse.
What is this thing you speak of?:D Don't care don't look. So easy when one HATES to shop. Walked through the closest thrift store yesterday looking for a NEW winter top to wear with my 1 pair of jeans. Great deep red sweater for $6. Me HAPPY!
Boot leg jeans were very in and are now fading out. I'm wearing a pair right now. My teen daughter was shocked to learn that much of her stylish wardrobe was in style when I was a teen. I spent hours tearing my jeans up to get the perfect look. I had the same color Converse high tops that she has now. I'm kind of sad yet proud that she raids my closet when her school has retro dress up days. I still have a lot of my concert shirts, a leather motorcycle jacket, and a pair of shoes that I just can't throw away. I never thought of them as vintage, but they are ancient to my daughter and her friends. I really think that when they see pictures of me actually wearing the concert shirts, they expect them to be in black and white.
If Kohls sells it, it is fashionable enough for me. I usually wear a plain shirt and jeans. My most fashionable item is an autographed Blackhawks jersey, but it is probably considered out of fashion considering their record this year.
Chicken lady
1-5-19, 2:28pm
My school had an 80s day. The other art teacher dressed as Madonna. She looked at me and said (surprised) “you didn’t dress up!” To which I replied “these are actual clothes that I actually wore in college in the 80s.” She paused a second and then said “you shouldn’t have done that.”
what I would like to be able to buy is a plain white shirt with long sleeves that actually reach my wrists, a front that buttons up past my breasts, a cut that allows me to move my arms freely, a simple collar, and no pockets, made of a fabric that is not semi- or fully transparent. Preferably cotton. It would be really nice if I could tuck it in. If I ever find one, I will buy ten of them.
My school had an 80s day. The other art teacher dressed as Madonna. She looked at me and said (surprised) “you didn’t dress up!” To which I replied “these are actual clothes that I actually wore in college in the 80s.” She paused a second and then said “you shouldn’t have done that.”
what I would like to be able to buy is a plain white shirt with long sleeves that actually reach my wrists, a front that buttons up past my breasts, a cut that allows me to move my arms freely, a simple collar, and no pockets, made of a fabric that is not semi- or fully transparent. Preferably cotton. It would be really nice if I could tuck it in. If I ever find one, I will buy ten of them.
Have you tried Duluth Trading? I am a little too short for their clothes, but the reviews for their ladies shirts all say that they have finally found sleeves that go to their wrists, etc. The fabrics are really nice quality.
My daughter's school had an 80's themed mother/daughter dance and I was the only one that sported a double popped collar. The other ladies were envious, but then I realized that I was probably the only mother that was old enough to remember the 80's.
Chicken lady
1-5-19, 2:45pm
I have seen their catalog before - just checked their site again - “white” isn’t even a search option for color.
Could you have one made? Either locally or on-line where you submit a bunch of measurements?
I've been collecting white shirts at the thrifts.
Chicken lady
1-5-19, 3:15pm
I have contemplated it. Dd2’s best friend is actually an amazingly talented seamstress. I have found a source for good quality linen and have vague intentions of having her make me a dress I can never find dresses I like (again, with the long arms and hating 3/4 sleeves) and a skirt (because basically it would be the bottom half of the dress) once I reach two milestones : holding my weight within 5 lbs for a year, and doing a thorough clean out of my clothes.
I am in awe of people who can sew from complicated patterns, and/or make garments that don't look as of they were created "by loving hands at home." I had a work friend who would come in on Mondays in a blazer and slacks she had made over the weekend, and the outfit would be stunning.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say we probably don't have too many slaves to fashion on the SLF!
My goal at work was always to look well groomed and professional. I mostly dressed from Talbot's, which I find to be fashionable enough in a conservative way, but never cutting edge, which suits me just fine. Now that I am a retiree/dog walker/misc, I am much more relaxed about how I dress. I like to be aware enough of fashion so that I don't look hopelessly out of touch, but I mostly wear jeans, sweaters or t-shirts, and hoodies. I am more LL Bean than Talbot's now, and I think that's appropriate for my activities. Of course, there is still plenty of Talbot's in my closet.
I do think some things like turtlenecks are totally classic and would never be a fashion no-no, although they may wax and wane in popularity. I'm with Iris Lily on them myself, though! I would say the same for berets and white blouses. I struggle with pant legs, though. I know skinny jeans and leggings are hot now, but they look good on almost nobody. So I go more moderate and have shifted from bootleg to straight leg, and that's probably as far as I'll go.
I bought a short sleeve hoodie because I liked the color and I could wash dishes without hiking the sleeve's up. But the length was long (like a short dress) so I only wear it in the house. I've seen all kinds of men's fashions I want nothing to do with, and my choices get smaller and smaller. I almost think I should buy in bulk and save for the day I can no longer find items a 52 year old man should wear. PS my standard dress is nice jeans or khakis and a solid polo, with a pocket if at all possible. For warmth/ comfort at home, I can't beat a basic hoodie.
[QUOTE=Chicken lady;31834once I reach two milestones : holding my weight within 5 lbs for a year, and doing a thorough clean out of my clothes.[/QUOTE]
i am right now not getting too attached to my clothes since I am losing weight and not sure where i will land. My goal is another 5 to 10 lbs to be really comfortable. So my last Ross trip I got pink skinny jeans! If you all knew me in person you would know that a non-dark color is different, actually a non black clothing item is noticeable.
I love fashion from a distance--European fashion magazines are a particular favorite. Fashion done well is an art form. Done badly, it's supremely silly.
Style is what I'd be aiming for as I'm not built remotely like a mannequin. That said, I like jackets, tees, and the aforementioned mom jeans most of the time. With fab accessories, of course. I think leggings are fine when they're part of a layered ensemble--tunics, dresses, and the like, and they've stood the test of time.
I bet you can still find turtlenecks where you buy ski clothes. I've thrifted numerous mock turtles, and donated many actual ones, which I'm also not built for.
I have successfully avoided wearing jeans for the past few weeks! It is all about various leggings with thrift store skirts and dresses. I don't end up looking "dressy" but I think I actually have a my own personal style going on here. All dresses and skirts are paired with either my black lace-up Chipewa combat-style boots or my ancient brown harness motorcycle boots. Well, actually, when I am in the gallery I just wear my slippers behind the counter. I have also been wearing scarves and headbands to hold my dreads back out of my face, and making a point of wearing all my various jewelry, whether I made it or not.
Recently my boyfriend's son, who is a professional photographer, took some informal portraits of me (before all the snow hit) and he just sent them ~ for the first time in my life I actually feel like I look quite attractive in these photos. He is so good in getting people to look their natural selves with genuine smiles; they are THE BEST photos anyone has ever taken of me. I can also honestly say that I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin - it only took 57 years to feel that way. I am 10 lbs. heavier than when I moved here, but considering all I have been through lately I really don't care about it and I also think I look pretty good with just a touch of extra weight. I guess I finally don't mind looking like a mature woman. If I can figure it out I will replace my profile picture here with the new one.
I didn't know turtlenecks were out. What about boot cut jeans?
Just yesterday on NPR I heard boot cut jeans were back in style. I was down to one pair of jeans and pretty much wear them daily so went shopping this last week with some Christmas money. Came home with 2 pair of straight,
1 skinny-ish (for when I wear tall boots), and bootcut-ish (for when I wear western boots). None to the extreme of any of the styles and I finally found jeans that didn't have too much fabric around the thigh area or wrinkly around the knees. Must of tried on 300 pair over the course of 6 days. I'm counting that workout as exercise!
I heard the same program...skinny jeans are out and boot cut are back. I certainly hope so. I've thought that skinny jeans look silly, uncomfortable, and ill fitting for all but the youngest. I am waiting for the day when yoga pants are out.
ApatheticNoMore
1-8-19, 11:37am
I haven't worn jeans since I don't know age 25, I learned to dress for work (which was never more than business casual) even on weekends. The closest I have is chinos in light colors, that's somewhat jean-like.
iris lilies
1-8-19, 11:42am
DH’s family has a couple of young women who are super pretty. They are super skinny. They wear skinny jeans and all it does is exagerate how skinny they are. Dressed in a classic waynthey could hold their own in NYc or L.A.
So, some of us might be fashion-neutral ourselves, but I actually LOVE to watch the awards shows--for the display of fashion. I do think fashion is a fun form of self-expression and also extremely interesting in a historical/cultural context. I wanted to be a costume designer at one point in my life, and one of my best history term papers ever was on the history of fashion, highlighting the political/social dynamics that influenced fashion at the time.
Anyway, here is a link to some of the stuff you might have seen if you watched the Golden Globes the other night. Any thoughts?
http://www.livingly.com/The+Most+Daring+Dresses+At+The+2019+Golden+Globe+A wards/articles/fb9YgAvazAI/Most+Daring+Dresses+2019+Golden+Globes+Red
So, some of us might be fashion-neutral ourselves, but I actually LOVE to watch the awards shows--for the display of fashion. I do think fashion is a fun form of self-expression and also extremely interesting in a historical/cultural context. I wanted to be a costume designer at one point in my life, and one of my best history term papers ever was on the history of fashion, highlighting the political/social dynamics that influenced fashion at the time.
Anyway, here is a link to some of the stuff you might have seen if you watched the Golden Globes the other night. Any thoughts?
http://www.livingly.com/The+Most+Daring+Dresses+At+The+2019+Golden+Globe+A wards/articles/fb9YgAvazAI/Most+Daring+Dresses+2019+Golden+Globes+Red
I love looking to see what creativity can devise. My favourite dresses were # 12 and 33. I am not a fan of mustard yellow no matter how well designed.
These women do look stunning at all ages and in healthy physical shape as well.
I did a major paper at university on fashion in the Romantic period. I had fallen in love with my Royal Doulton figurines, Autumn Breezes and Top of the Hill, as a 16 year old. I loved everything about that time - art, sculpture, fashion, interior decorating... When I visited London UK, I spent some wonderful hours exploring the Victoria and Albert Museum. Hmmmm, just thinking about it is a joy.
iris lilies
1-8-19, 8:42pm
I did not watch The Golden Globes but I did check out the winners and the fashions.
The only god awful dress was Kate Mara’s. Some other dresses that were on the bad lists were actually not bad. I think my favorite as far as fashion forward was that see-through blue number with a black bra thing that was beautiful but risque.
The two things I didn’t like that I saw several of war
1) Way too much fabric in a dress Like Lady Gaga.
2) Deep V-neck that displays skinny bony torso and flat boobs, no one looks good in that. Tara J Henson is an example, her dress was OK and she looked OK but she didn’t look great. Keri Russell another example.
Thandie Newton looked fantastic. She was probably my favorite. So many looked like the dresses were wearing them, rather than the other way around.
And I'm waiting for the long straight hair with center part trend to be over. It is not a flattering look on a lot of women. Except for very young women, who look good no matter what. :)
The only jeans I've found to fit me are the True Shape ones from LL Bean. Now, instead of boot-cut legs, they have a "kick boot" leg, which is just a bit of a flair, perfect for going over boots.
My style is now very boring and classic and bought in thrift stores. Lots of light/khaki pants, polos in summer and turtlenecks under sweaters in winter. BTW, I LOVE turtlenecks but am told when my hot flashes happen in the winter I'll rip them off my body. My style is very comfortable and always neat and dressier than jeans and Ts.
Skinny jeans, yoga pants outside a yoga studio, ripped jeans and pajama bottoms out in public----all must go!
Yoga pants are too comfortable to give up!!! :) Here where I live everybody wears them - even college professors during lecture. During warm weather I live in shorts with tees and tank tops, and cold weather is yoga pants with long cotton tops and a sweater if needed. When I wear jeans they feel very uncomfortable and heavy. If I ever give up yoga pants I would probably do linen pants, those are comfortable.
The only way I keep up with fashion is to incorporate a couple of new colors or items for the season.
Maybe a new (to me) handbag. I love Goodwill and consignment shopping. A little like a treasure hunt?
The only way I keep up with fashion is to incorporate a couple of new colors or items for the season.
Maybe a new (to me) handbag. I love Goodwill and consignment shopping. A little like a treasure hunt?
A lot like a treasure hunt! I depend on thrift shopping to supply me with garments in colors that aren't currently popular. Chartreuse, anyone?
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