Do you really care what people think of your clothing choices?

[Broadband]

Just been reading a couple of threads in the Style board. It seems that there are people out there who really care what people think of their clothing/style choices, and also lots of people (me included) who wear what they like and really couldn’t care less if their clothing is deemed unstylish, inappropriate or otherwise tasteless.

For context, I’m a skinny 70 year old with charity shop tastes and budget, who lives a very outdoor type of life (rural home, dog, horse, garden) so a lifestyle where practicality and function trump elegance and style. But I do enjoy dressing up for social occasions - even if that means my choices are a bit eclectic 😀

I’m very much in the “if I love it, I don’t care what you think” camp, but fully accept that to other people their choices are much more considered.

So which camp are you in?

I'm quite "alternative" in style. A bit Goth, a bit Victorian/Dark Academia/Cottagecore sort if thing (I bloody love Pinterest for ideas).I love long dresses and corsets, poofy sleeves, so on and so forth. Other days it'll be leggings and a tunic. I don't really care what anyone else thinks. I do like clothes, but I don't dress/buy clothes for attention - I just like a certain look and it suits me! Same as how I decorate really. It's just things that I (and DH, thankfully!) both like in the house.

There is an element of theatre/performance. I might start from one item (a recent example would be tortoiseshell cat earrings DD gave me) and design an outfit to go with them. The outfit has to be a) work appropriate, b) slightly dressed down as it was a Friday, c) not too hot because the office is baking and d) composed only from my existing wardrobe. What I ended up in wasn’t very exciting to anyone else, but I loved it because I knew it was tailored to my exact requirements and a combo I hadn’t worn before. To anyone else it was black trousers, white vest and a brown cashmere jumper, which all toned perfectly with my brown, white and black earrings. See what I mean? It’s all in my head. I spent all that day happy because I felt utterly right in my clothes. Literally no one else would have noticed.

On other days I will start with a much more flamboyant item of clothing that I just want to wear, eg my pink satin Western shirt with massive sleeves. Then I try to make it work-appropriate (or whatever the occasion is. Sadly mostly work these days).

I enjoy putting together an outfit and like to be thought of as stylish, but I don't worry about it. As long as I think I look good, I don't care if someone thinks my skinny jeans are unfashionable etc. I wouldn't think to ask others "should I buy this jacket or that one" or "what should I wear to this wedding".

I totally get that! It's the joy of creative expression, on a very small scale!

Everyone cares, at least a bit.

I love clothes and I acknowledge looking good cheers people up. Not necessarily me. Equally I’m vigorously into sustainability so yes, these days, it’s fun doing it that way.

I get secretly offended by people who look really dour. There’s something about hordes of black clad workers pouring out of the tube that’s just soul-sucking for us all.

It's pleasant to receive a compliment, but I don't dress for other people. I'm often in dog-walking or gardening clothes so love an occasion to dress up. I guide at a museum so pull out the stops bit then, and have noticed other guides do too.
I shop at an on online clothes makers so the stuff is a bit more individual. Also some judicious charity shop shopping.

I love and use brooches and hats.

I’ve just googled ‘bag lady chic’ and it’s basically Helena Bonham Carter after being dragged through a hedge. She looks absolutely fabulous, and I want to dress like her.

Couldn’t give one, I personally care about colour co ordination.. (trauma from how I was dressed as a kid) but that’s not to please any one else only my self. I’m a typical tomboy, despise women’s clothes.

I do know which clothes are appropriate and what looks nice but I ignore all the rules and wear whatever is clean and will keep me warm/cool or comfy. I really don't give a shit what anyone thinks.
For example, this morning I went out shopping with my DD. She literally, begged me not to go out wearing a cardi that was longer than my coat. I knew it wasn't a good look I also knew I'd be warm and dry.
Literally no one looked at me.

No, not really.

I'm always clean and tidy, and I dress for me. My clothes are all comfortable, well cut, and I think suit me. Whether they are this season's colours or not is pretty irrelevant.

I really couldn't care less what other people think of my clothing choices.

For the most part, no. I tend towards very drab, boring clothing or very bold eclectic choices.

I will admit that when someone random compliments me on one of my bolder choices, it does tend to make me smile. Enough that I try to do the same when I legitimately admire someone else’s choice. I don’t think the styles that catch my eye are very mainstream.

I care very much about what I wear and love my clothes. I have got to the age of 66 and know exactly what suits me, and I wear what I want when I want. I wear lots of very bright colours and love a very certain type of floral print. I hate man made fabrics and most of my clothes are cotton, linen, silk, or wool. I wouldn't really say that I've got any particular style but my favourite clothes retailer is Sahara.

I have only ever dressed to please myself, and don't give a toss whether what I like is considered to be fashionable or not - if I like something I will wear it.

I dress purely for me, if you don’t like what I’m wearing then it’s a you problem

Oh she’s amazing isn’t she! I think of her and instantly pair her with Vivienne Westwood. I love anyone’s style who you can see dresses for themselves, go for it @aliasname join me in being a bag lady!

I dress for me, with the idea in mind of what is current. Plus other women.

Men don't give a toss what you wear!

I love being complimented by women on my choices. Which is essentially tops and cashmere jumpers from COS and wide leg trousers/jeans and trainers. Am nearly 50.

I wear what is comfortable, suitable and appropriate for what I'm doing that day, is clean (-ish, I have a dog so hair is inevitable!) and just 'normal' iyswim.

I'm in my 50s and friends and I were recently organising a Christmas lunch get together. One friend said we should wear sparkly tops (I don't have any), a Christmas jumper (I don't have one) then she, in desperation suggested a feather boa, flashing rudolph antler headband, Christmas earrings. I don't have those either and enquired after her wardrobe. She said I'd be surprised what she has in there.

We're all different and should wear what we're happy in. But a cut out bra and crotchless knickers is probably not a good look when popping into Tesco!

I like to look nice but I suppose my clothing choices are a little on the safe/conservative side. I never make any bold fashion statements or wear clothes that are "out there" I can't imagine anyone would have an issue with my clothes therefore I never even think about what others think.

Yes! Me too. I have a big old streak of the theatrical and often base an outfit around one garment/accessory.

I like to have fun with my clothes, knowing my look won’t be to everyone’s taste. I’m not someone who can pull off “well groomed” no matter what I do, so I don’t try! I just wear clothes that make me happy. I don’t care about impressing men or women.

I like interesting patterns/shapes/cuts etc. I don’t follow fashion. But surely anything you buy is “in fashion” at the time, to a degree or it wouldn’t be on sale!

Men don't give a toss what you wear!

I'm not sure that this is true. I used to think that men didn't notice what I wore unless it was something revealing/sexy, but over the past few years, I've had a number of complements from different men on what I'm wearing, and have had men telling me that I dress well. Each time it's taken me completely by surprise as my outfits are definitely not the revealing/sexy type that I thought men would notice!

@MidnightMeltdown ok so yes I've also had compliments on a particular pair of non sexy trousers that both men and women seem to find striking.

But, in general they are oblivious to the actual garments worn. Yes something can be sexy but I bet if you ask them to name what the item of clothing was a week later (say a silk blouse), they will only think about how it made them feel, not what it was. Whereas women I find can talk for ages about the relative merits of a silk versus satin versus cotton blouse.

And I look at other womens clothes, absolutely not in a judgemental way but I appreciate when they make certain combinations of items. DD and I play a game where we people watch in cafes on holiday in Europe and find as many positiv things to say about what people are wearing. No negative comments would be allowed.

So OMG, that girl is rocking those shoes with that top
Or
Wow, that jacket is beautifully cut and really shows off her hair.

We don't bother with the men unless we are in Italy 😂

I do care, it's just that I don't think anyone else would believe it. I wear scrubs at work and a lot of second hand stuff otherwise (i have a proper old school dress agency nearby and i love their stuff), and my favourite thing is when a 'new' second hand thing fits into my wardrobe. So a couple of weeks ago Id managed to travel without a smart top, and I got a charity shop blouse from an Aussie label that is supposed to promote indigenous design (Buburra? Bunarra?) and the colours happen to do good things for me and it fits my shoulders, and with my usual black trousers I suddenly looked a ton more put together. But I tend to ignore some basic stuff, eg I've got a badly fitting bra on today and I'm conscious that the t-shirt I'm wearing makes that a bit obvious in a bad way. Plus I had to sew up a hole in these Ebay jeans and I'm not sure I did a great job. As i said, I don't think anyone would imagine that i do care, as surely I'd fix this stuff if I did?

I think the voice in my head I'm trying to look.good for is my sister. She really is stylish.

I like to look stylish and that’s just something I want for myself, I don’t care what other people look like really. I dress for my shape, not trends however am pleased that skinnies are coming back - I have good legs.