What makes you look dated (rather than vintage!)

[ilovecherries]

I've lost a lot of weight recently and brought down a large trunk of clothes from the loft that I hoped would do me in transition (because I've still got 2 stone to go, but I'm 3 sizes smaller than I was). Everything has been irredeemably 'last century' but to be honest I'm not sure what I'm seeing that makes it so. If I could pinpoint what's wrong with it, it still might be worth me getting some of the better stuff remodelled, but all I can come up with is 'it's all a bit frumpy' - and I know it wasn't at the time I bought it. They are perfectly innocuous trousers, shirts, dresses and jackets, but somehow not right.

Ktown, I think you'll find boobs are back in (finally): www.the-pool.com/news-views/fashion-news/2017/31/so-its-time-to-take-your-boobs-out-of-storage

Brilliant boobs are back. Another thing I have to sort out!?!
Seriously isn't the naff court heal and pencil skirt dead? It feel reminiscent of the 'office' or a bad estate agent look from the 80s?
I am not fashionable at all though.

90s fashion is back now.

I am reviving boot cut jeans whether anyone else is or not. I've been wearing skinnies for years trying to pretend they don't make me look like I need a special escort down the motorway. Enough!

I feel (hope?) there are some things which are timeless - especially if they suit you.

I am an hourglass with a flattish stomach and little looks better on me than a high-waisted pencil skirt (that ends below the knees - my knees are truly dreadful!) and heels (to help with the cankles). So I will continue to wear those for work and play 😊 with a silk blouse or similar tucked in.

Genuinely don't think it looks dated but that may be wishful thinking!

Oh, and skinny jeans make my legs look like carrots, so it's straight or bootcut (J Brand's are excellent!) for me.

Gah81 what kind of heels do you wear all the time that you find comfortable?

Courts from LK Bennett, which are super comfortable. Or from Geox with a sturdier heel. Only in the office/at meetings though. Otherwise I wear brogues: not a brilliant look with pencil skirts but very comfy :)

Interesting thread.

One thing I really notice with the pre-children clothes I recently pulled out of storage was how short all of the tops are - I much prefer them longer as is the fashion now.

I think pencil skirts have evolved. The modern ones are cut differently (stretchier fabric and much narrower) so you can spot the difference but I still think the old ones look good because the fabric's so much nicer.

I agree shoes can bring the whole thing crashing down but it works both ways - if your shoes are modern, I think you can get away with a lot more.

I agree, it's really subtle. I've been surprised by how dated some of my things looks when they're only a few years old.

Skinny jeans, for example. If I look at my pairs going back over the last ten years, the fit and cut have changed a lot, although only subtly from year to year. My early ones were much much longer, slightly flared around the ankle, and cut lower on the waist. More recently, they are skinnier, stop at the ankle bone and have a much higher waistline (even though they're not officially mid or high rise jeans).

Little things like that make things look dated.

It's why I'm never sure I agree with the "spend a lot of money on classic items". Even a plain white shirt can look very dated after a few years, because fit, body length, sleeve length, collar cut and thickness, etc all change subtly from season to season.

There are a few things you could do to get more wear out of things. For example, instead of binning my dated long length jeans, I hacked the ends off them to make them shorter and left them unhemmed as that was quite fashionable at the time. I'll probably bin them when that look passes.

One tip is to search for an item on Pinterest and see how they're currently being styled, for example "black tapered trousers" and have a look at the differences (or similarities) between your pair and the outfits in the picture, and see if there's anything you can do to update.

I agree, Flo, accessories can make all the difference. I have a lot of 1950s pencil skirts but never wear vintage head to toe, so accessories with modern shoes (also, I find vintage shoes deeply uncomfortable! ) bag, blouse or shirt.

Definitely it's the subtle differences. Was thinking about this thread yesterday as was shopping and tried on one of those Johanna Ortiz copy blouses that Zara is doing atm: very now (blousy, ruffled sleeves) but I couldn't see myself wearing it in 12 months' time and that is £30 I could put towards something else.

I do this. I keep ''smart work clothes'' but if I ever had a job where i needed to dress like I did in my job pre 2003 (i've had jobs since but not in the City) then I would need new clothes because dressing like a mum-returner in boot cut principles suit with long long jacket would not give me the confidence I'd require!