Fashion Police (Sort of)

[retsuko]

In preparation for the all-terrible, all-shallow Job Hunt, I've been trying to spruce up my wardrobe. Even with the teaching job in the recent past, I still feel like my closet is mired in what I would choose to identify as "college casual". My biggest source of annoyance is the navy cloth hobo bag I'm using as my purse on a day-to-day basis. I was taught that you weren't supposed to mix black and navy, and invariably, when I come out to grab my purse, I've got black somewhere in my outfit. (I despise switching handbags to suit my outfit--too fussy!) And I started thinking, is this an outmoded fashion rule? And do other people ignore certain fashion rules that I've pretty much written off?

[Poll #1158279]

I don't understand the no-white-shoes-after-Labor-Day rule. Maybe it's because I'm a relaxed Californian who wears bright colors all year 'round, but why put away your snazzy white sandals just because summer's over?

Comments

[ashears.livejournal.com]

Um. MOstly I just have developed a sense of what I like & don't like, what looks good on me and what doesn't, what I care about & what I don't. I think it comes from years of trying stuff, some in-fashion, some not. I mostly throw clothes on, especially now that I have a "work" shirt, but for special stuff, I have a sense of appropriateness for certain situations. Most of fashion is total bollocks. :)

Today, I wore jeans from Wal-mart that have designs on the pockets & flare out a bit at the bottom, a red & black baby doll T with a white cat that says "bad girl," finished off with an obnoxiously blue-yellow-white plaid jacket from the thrift store over it and my black patched-with-plaid Chuck Taylors. (I was in a Ska-Core mood.)

You probably shouldn't listen to a damn thing I have to say on fashion.

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's how I feel most of the time, although I did learn a lot from "What Not to Wear" about flattering your figure.

Your outfit sounds like quintessential Angie! :D

[apintrix.livejournal.com]

I learned most about fashion from my friends in high school & college.

And I think patterns can be mixed if one is very cautious and is going for a very particular eclectic look, particularly if there is a solid layer in between; but that polka dots and stripes are an example of two patterns that should pretty much NEVER be mixed.

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

You're right--I think a solid color can break up prints nicely.

Polka dots and stripes are risky--hell, I think certain kinds of stripes are risky at all times! I stay far away from vertical ones at all times. :p

[apintrix.livejournal.com]

heh... I love stripes (particularly on socks), and I avoid polka dots like the plague.

They're so... Doris Day.

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

*is wearing polka dotted socks*

Every now and then, a little Doris Day is good, right? ;)

[apintrix.livejournal.com]

Hey, I got no problems with it, so long as I'm not the one wearing it! ;)

(I'm too tall for polka dots to look cute on me, so they just look very retro. I bet I could get away with polka dot socks, though.)

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Ditto!

[jtaylor2.livejournal.com]

I'm no fashion mavin. I don't even really care what I look like most of the time. I make sure my hair is washed, my clothes are clean, and that I'm presentable.

I make sure to wear less than 3 colors, and that my socks match- isn't that enough?

Oh, and I wear socks with my Crocs, because otherwise, it's just gross. :P

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

I think wearing less than three colors and matching socks is fabulous. :D

I've heard that Crocs are uber-comfy, is it true?

[jtaylor2.livejournal.com]

I <3 my Crocs, even though Dane rolls his eyes when I wear white sport socks with them (they're the healthiest kind of socks to wear!), because they're the 'original' style complete with "let the water leak out" holes. old sk00l.

I got used to wearing them when I worked at the vet clinic- it kind of went well with the funky scrubs I had. And well, I'm just the Queen of Cool. :)

They're *super* comfy, but I wouldn't wear them regularly if you a) are hiking or b) need decent support/arches. They give my wide feet room, they're lightweight, and they breathe 'cause of the gaping holes. :P

[kyrielle]

I have no idea where I picked up most of my 'fashion' knowledge, I just deal. One of my favorite outfits involves black and brown - black pants with a tan/brown/black checked shirt. Looks great. Of course, with that shirt, I have brown/black even if I wear pink pants. (Boy, would that look odd!)

[lyras.livejournal.com]

I have horrible memories of being a child in the early 80s and being dragged around department stores by my increasingly frustrated mum, and failing to find any clothes that I liked. I always thought I must just have been a fussy child (well, okay, I am fussy when it comes to clothes), but no, these 80s fashions have returned and they are a NIGHTMARE. HATE! I hate all these horrible pastel shades and disgusting tasteless colours that are in fashion at the moment. I hate that the only skirts you can buy don't suit anyone with hips and thighs. I hate all the tops that make you look pregnant. It's all SO UGLY.

Ahem. *stops ranting*

Which is to say that I have my own sense of style, and fashion rules can go to hell :). I do kind of like What Not To Wear (the UK version, at least), because it concentrates on what suits you, not what's in fashion.

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

OMG, 80s fashion... yeah, I have memories like that, too. My favorite one is me wanting to have the braid on top of my head, with a scrunchie, and realizing how utterly stupid it looked when I finally got all my hair on top of my head. ;p

Yeah, What Not to Wear is great for not focussing too hard on trends and looking instead to things that suit the wearer. I'm glad to know the American version mirrors the original in this way.

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

I wear unusual color combinations a lot, and I do know how to mix prints though I don't actually own many. I'm still on the fence about the black/navy thing- i think the presence of much black makes navy look extra ugly, but i don't really like navy in the first place. I wear navy and brown a LOT, which is how I get out of that fix.

Oh, and in the parts of the country that actually get a winter, white shoes really do look kinda dumb after Labor Day. But I believe that rule is supposed to be suspended for hot climates where you can wear your summer clothes year round anyway.

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

FRIENDS. (Why is this not an option!)

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

I never had friends who were into fashion at all, but yeah, it would have been a good option. ^-^;;

From Lisa

[(Anonymous)]

The best advice I can give is to know your likes and dislikes, know your styles, pick your colors, pick your priorities, and stay with them. 80-95% of the time. That way 80-95% of your wardrobe matches. Then with the other 5-20%, be daring.

For me, I mostly stick to the colors of black, white, grey/silver, gold/beige, red, turquoise, and purple. Certain motiffs and styles.

One thing I've had fun with lately is clashing color blocking: two different reds...clash. Three, four, five, eight, different reds, with threads of gold and purple, are quite resplendant.

On bags, I've found it's good to have the "base bag" that goes with everything. Mine is the purple faux suede faux Tods slouch. Then, I have a few "second tier" ones that I keep out on rotation, for different occasions: varying by size, color, design scheme.

I know that most people's work range is much narrower than mine. (Lucky youse.) But, that kind of precision also allows a luxury of refinement. I think it would be great fun to fill a closet with power suits - but the grass is always greener!