View Full Version : Who I am in clothing
iris lilies
6-28-20, 9:05pm
I thought this might be fun to show who we are as represented by clothes.
This is me...how I dress, I mean. Black pants. colored t-shirt. Tennis shoes. That’s my uniform. Or summer is khaki short, t shirt.
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But this is who I am in my imagination. These are the clothes
I wish I could/would wear.
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My clothes make me a New England preppie wannabe. I've followed Muffy Aldrich's blog (now called Saltwater New England) for many years and my motto is "If Muffy would/wouldn't wear it, so/neither should I". My clothes give the appearance that I have money; in fact, 90% of my clothes are from thrift stores. But better brands, such as LL Bean, Ralph Lauren, Lands End, etc.
My look is pretty boring but neat, doesn't stand out, a bit androgynous, hopefully giving off the old money horsey set. In my wannabe way.
I'm having most of my hair buzzed off tomorrow, so that will throw off my entire look.
iris lilies
6-28-20, 10:33pm
More clothes I wish I could/would wear:
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Simplemind
6-28-20, 11:12pm
Athleisure for me. Unless I'm working then it's Athleisure with their branded polo shirt. I own a lot of Eddie Bauer. Although I don't own any anymore, I used to love beautiful dress shoes. I probably will never be in another dress until I'm being rolled into the retort. 3302
I like scrubs. That’s what I wear at work in spite of being a boss. I like cotton. I like pajamas. I like quality tennis shoes. I hate anything stiff or scratchy or rough or tight or fussy. No jewelry. No belts.
Especially with a pandemic, I can let my practicality shine through. People seem to appreciate that in these times.
But even when they didn’t, that’s how I dressed. And I promoted 3 times in 10 years with this approach. Healthcare is sort of like IT - your work speaks louder than your wardrobe.
We are going back to dress code today - ugh. In this weather I will be wearing lots of non-denim Capris, tops, flat shoes. Lately I have been liking sliders. I also have a shirt or cardigan as some days the A/C is blasting.
At home it is T shirts, flip flops or sliders, sneakers if I will do extensive walking, and pants that evolve over the course of the day from sweats or jeans to shorts as it warms up. I should wear a hat for sun protection but rarely do.
I am transitioning to cooler colors which go better with gray hair.
How far I have fallen. When I used to work in an office, it was expensive, tailored clothing (Ann Taylor, Talbots etc) with matching jewelry, or a silk scarf and stylish leather shoes. At one point also included makeup and nail polish. These days getting out of stretched out sweatpants and a ratty T shirt into jeans and a non mud stained tee shirt to go to the store is getting dressed up.
How far I have fallen. When I used to work in an office, it was expensive, tailored clothing (Ann Taylor, Talbots etc) with matching jewelry, or a silk scarf and stylish leather shoes. At one point also included makeup and nail polish. These days getting out of stretched out sweatpants and a ratty T shirt into jeans and a non mud stained tee shirt to go to the store is getting dressed up.
That mirrors me almost to a T. Ann Taylor is my work go-to, but now with COVID, I'm not traveling on any business trips, so my black blazer has been sitting in the closet for months. So here is my typical type of clothing. Definitely the Athleisure meets Green Acres look.
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Iris Lily posted so I don't have to. My daily wear is jeans or stretchy pants, tees, and overshirts, jackets, sweaters.
In the life in my head, I wear layers of oversized, colorful, arty garb.
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catherine
6-29-20, 10:28am
Iris Lily posted so I don't have to. My daily wear is jeans or stretchy pants, tees, and overshirts, jackets, sweaters.
In the life in my head, I wear layers of oversized, colorful, arty garb.
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I wish I had the courage to wear the colorful, arty garb. I once bought something like that, but never wore it. I'm afraid my Catholic upbringing with the nuns had too strong an influence on my wardrobe--I basically wear black and white "habits"
My mother, after lengthy exposure to nuns in school, refused to wear black shoes because she said she was forever looking down at them while being chastened. She always wore colorful clothes.
I love color and pattern and am not intimidated by either, but would feel way overdressed sitting around the house in Boho wear.
happystuff
6-29-20, 11:00am
Unemployed summer look is shorts and t-shirt with sneakers or flip-flops depending on what I'm doing and/or where I'm going. I definitely rarely "dress to impress".
Ahhhh, yes. I remember the old office days. Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic. Good times. And before that, The Limited. At one point Bebe. Lots of tailored outfits and blazers. In fuschia and chartreuse, and peacock blue... some black to rest the eyes once in a while. :~)
Now, it's this. I've always loved color.
https://images.dresshead.com/images/top/Red%20Tops/5970065/large/2.jpg
https://www1.assets-gap.com/webcontent/0018/583/018/cn18583018.jpg
The super fit and tanned model is the aspirational part! :laff:
iris lilies
6-29-20, 12:56pm
My mother, after lengthy exposure to nuns in school, refused to wear black shoes because she said she was forever looking down at them while being chastened. She always wore colorful clothes.
I love color and pattern and am not intimidated by either, but would feel way overdressed sitting around the house in Boho wear.
Jane,
I just got this piece of art to wear in from the Czech Republic. See image. I think it’s a fun piece but yeah I don’t know where I’m going to wear it.
I lost some pounds, and every time that happens I feel like dressing like a clown. My inner clown comes out.
But when it comes down to it, these colorful clothes all get in the way of movement. Everything swings and sways—Earrings, necklaces, hair, skirts. I will say that garden club ladies and garden club events provide a place to wear these kind of clown/BoHo clothes. Many garden club ladies fancy themselves artsy fartsy.
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Are the sleeves part of it? Is that patchwork or print? Love fashion as art.
You make a good point; I would probably choose more pared-back looks if I were actually going to wear them.
IL and jane - you might enjoy La Contessa: https://www.instagram.com/antiquegoddess/
I just noticed that while you guys like lots of color in one outfit, I like colorful outfits but normally prefer one color at a time. I once owned a Banana Republic outfit in chartreuse and I LOVED it. Sadly, one day I was in a rush and literally threw myself into my car and ripped the pants on the seat. It was a very, very sad day. A chocolate brown look from head to toe is wonderful too. The only time I like multiple colors is in small prints or stripes and it has to be the garment in the same fabric.
ApatheticNoMore
6-29-20, 2:18pm
Flats, slacks, patterned often flowery "romantic" shirts or light sweaters. Mistaken often for a teacher, once an artist (really don't think I'm that interesting), sometimes a therapist, once a commune hippy (don't think I'm that hippy looking either). At home sometimes shorts and of course barefoot.
Belts eh well I can gain small amounts of weight easily and lose them well frankly not quite as easily haha, but still sometimes without even thinking about it just I end up exercising more etc., the belt is for the latter.
Since full-time work at home started for me with the pandemic, sweatpants and a t-shirt.
When I was still going to the office, it was khaki or drab slacks, a shirt with a collar, and brown shoes.
I've long maintained I'd be perfectly happy if everybody wore a uniform. I'm baffled by fashion, most of which seems ridiculous to me.
iris lilies
6-29-20, 3:25pm
Are the sleeves part of it? Is that patchwork or print? Love fashion as art.
You make a good point; I would probably choose more pared-back looks if I were actually going to wear them.
The sleeves are part of it, added in upscaling artistry effort. This jacket started out life as a plain vanilla linen jacket. The patchy-work stuff hangs off it adding dimension as well as color.
iris lilies
6-29-20, 3:30pm
IL and jane - you might enjoy La Contessa: https://www.instagram.com/antiquegoddess/
I just noticed that while you guys like lots of color in one outfit, I like colorful outfits but normally prefer one color at a time. I once owned a Banana Republic outfit in chartreuse and I LOVED it. Sadly, one day I was in a rush and literally threw myself into my car and ripped the pants on the seat. It was a very, very sad day. A chocolate brown look from head to toe is wonderful too. The only time I like multiple colors is in small prints or stripes and it has to be the garment in the same fabric.
oh yes, La Contessa’s images are nice. Love some of her outfits. Love that bedroom!. And that is another thing I would like to have in a fantasy life: a fabric covered bedroom. But because I have animals that generate animal hair and animal dander, my bedrooms need to be spare and easy to clean.
I fantasize about making one of the our bedrooms in our Hermann house an explosion of fabric— walls, ceiling, bed etc. and keeping all animals out at all times.
I adore this tunic:
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Chartreuse is one of my favorite colors; I always pick it up when I see it at the thrifts.
In my real life, I wear lots of solid colors; I only own a few prints. I make up for it when I quilt, and in the wardrobe in my head. :~)
rosarugosa
6-29-20, 7:02pm
I was Little Ms Talbot's for so many years. I was recently looking at one of their catalogs and saying "no more Charming Cardis for me again, ever!" Now I might occasionally pick up a t-shirt or something from them. I got some cute casual stuff for good prices at their outlet store in Niagara last September.
I am now all about the LL Bean Vista Camp Pants, and now they have a somewhat more polished version with slimmer legs and without the cargo pockets - perfect for wakes and weddings! :laff: I am hoping that these and jeans will carry me through much of the rest of my life. On top I wear mostly hoodies and t-shirts, some cuter and more fashionable than others. (Yes, I have what I consider to be my "dress hoodies.")
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As far as the wardrobe for my fantasy life, I like the long "hippie" dresses from places like Mexicali Blues or Soft Surroundings. I actually have this dress from SS in more of a turquoise color:
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I tend not to wear this stuff out in public very often; it's more for a hot summer evening in the gazebo with a glass of wine or two. In fact, I've noticed that many of the pictures in the SS catalogs feature women with glasses of wine in their hands. I am definitely in their target demographic! Unfortunately, a lot of their stuff runs kind of big for me. Although maybe that is just as well; I seem to be doing a better job of buying my clothes for my real life instead of my fantasy life and I think that's a good thing.
What a fun thread! I have no pictures to post but my fantasy wardrobe is to have the body I used to have and dress like Ali McGraw in Goodbye, columbus, with sleeveless shirt and bermuda shorts and sneakers.
Rosa, I actually stopped in Mexicali Blues in October and bought a table cloth. I was so excited to finally get there.
In my fantasy world, I'd be a copy of Jean Seberg in Breathless.
https://www.google.com/search?q=jean+seberg+breathless&client=opera&hs=DW8&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQvpD-sajqAhUyTt8KHQBFCiwQ_AUoAXoECCUQAw&biw=1024&bih=538
iris lilies
6-29-20, 10:09pm
I adore this tunic:
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Chartreuse is one of my favorite colors; I always pick it up when I see it at the thrifts.
In my real life, I wear lots of solid colors; I only own a few prints. I make up for it when I quilt, and in the wardrobe in my head. :~)
yes that tunic is da bomb!
I think that is the Auntie Mame effect, to begin to wear colorful tunics. I am going in the other direction in my fantasy dress.
Easy care athleisure sounds about right for me with colours red, blue, white and pink/rose preferred.
rosarugosa
6-30-20, 6:38pm
Gray has become my favorite color for clothing.
In real life I wear dark jeans or slacks and t-shirts or turtlenecks (usually) or shirts (when I run out of everything else) in black, dark blue, gray or white colour.
In my fantasy life I would wear long skirts or dresses but every time I buy one reality is quick to remind me that those are just absolutely not practical for my everyday life.
I have also learned that all of the colours, prints and patterns I like on other women's clothes should remain on someone else's clothes. It's ok to admire that from a distance and accept that it's not for me at all. Somehow every time I put on something colourful I don't feel comfortable with the image I see in the mirror no matter how many compliments I get from other people.
Not the Auntie Mame effect here--I've always admired Boho wear. It's more like the ego/alter ego effect. My outer self doesn't quite match my inner self. Also, it isn't really riotous colors, it's more the length and layering.
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Not the Auntie Mame effect here--I've always admired Boho wear. It's more like the ego/alter ego effect. My outer self doesn't quite match my inner self. Also, it isn't really riotous colors, it's more the length and layering.
I totally agree.. Also, I think I'm too short for long tunics and lots of layers.
We have many South Asian people living in our NJ neighborhood, and I have always admired the saris. They are so beautiful! The silks, and the embroidery, etc. I happened to mention to DH how much I loved how the Indian women looked in the saris, so for my birthday, he bought me one!!! Talk about not matching my identity! He didn't understand that a WASP wearing a sari would be totally inapprorpriate--like wearing a Halloween costume. But he meant well.
I'm a lurker on a FB upcycling group, and people are doing wonderful things with sari fabric. Their creations pretty much obviate cultural appropriation--you could repurpose the fabric into something lovely.
Whenever I see wedding photos of Indian women in the traditional dress I think how drab the white dress tradition is by comparison. The brides look like goddesses.
iris lilies
7-1-20, 11:13am
Not the Auntie Mame effect here--I've always admired Boho wear. It's more like the ego/alter ego effect. My outer self doesn't quite match my inner self. Also, it isn't really riotous colors, it's more the length and layering.
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Yes the subdued colors in many layers is a great look too and much younger.
I actually thought Auntie Mame was kind of inspirational. I just was commenting I seem to be regressing rather than embracing my inner Auntie Mame, if that makes sense.
I think it also depends on what flatters your complexion. I love gray but it has always really washed me out. Same with black. I need some saturated color near my face otherwise my face looks really dingy.
happystuff
7-1-20, 11:35am
Whenever I see wedding photos of Indian women in the traditional dress I think how drab the white dress tradition is by comparison. The brides look like goddesses.
I feel the same way about Korean wedding hanboks!. So beautiful!!!
happystuff
7-1-20, 11:39am
In my fantasy life I would wear long skirts or dresses but every time I buy one reality is quick to remind me that those are just absolutely not practical for my everyday life.
This is exactly how I feel, too! I think it's a comfort thing as well as a practical thing. I love seeing beautiful patterned dresses and skirts, but the minute I wear one, I'm counting down the minutes until I can change into shorts or jeans. LOL.
I feel the same way about Korean wedding hanboks!. So beautiful!!!
Wow, they are beautiful!
For comfy this is very nice:
Wow, they are beautiful!
For comfy this is very nice:
Very nice and relaxing.
I'm embarrassed to admit I've only heard of Auntie Mame. In my imagination she's loud in all ways.
Oh, no, she's quite wonderful--see trailer with Rosalind Russell:
https://youtu.be/2gsRMtl70aQ
Oh, no, she's quite wonderful--see trailer with Rosalind Russell:
https://youtu.be/2gsRMtl70aQ
I agree.. And Angela Lansbury on Broadway was great as Mame, too!
I’ve just been contemplating changing my wardrobe to being more minimalist. A smock and leggings, say. No buttons or zippers. Maybe no collar. Definitely keep the leggings. Haven’t resolved the need for something to replace the jeans in winter. But now? It’s pants or leggings and tees. In the winter I use tank tops and leggings under turtlenecks and jeans.
I’m thinking about buying a linen pullover smock...
I’ve just been contemplating changing my wardrobe to being more minimalist. A smock and leggings, say. No buttons or zippers. Maybe no collar. Definitely keep the leggings. Haven’t resolved the need for something to replace the jeans in winter. But now? It’s pants or leggings and tees. In the winter I use tank tops and leggings under turtlenecks and jeans.
I’m thinking about buying a linen pullover smock...
How about a Japanese smock?
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happystuff
7-13-20, 8:49am
How about a Japanese smock?
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I'm not one for fashion and such, but I like this! Especially the big pockets.
I like that too and I’d looked at them. The smock I might buy is about $25 more than I’d budgeted. But what I ordered won’t do in winter... so next month maybe? The smock has kangaroo pockets, so they’re huge.
Where is the Japanese smock from?
thanks!!!
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