What happened to S&B?

[janlevinson]

I used to browse this topic regularly several years ago and I enjoyed the recommendations of Ash high tops, Net A Porter sale items and high end make up, amongst other things. Loved reading what LetThemEatCake had been buying.
I've been having migrating over to here again recently after a long time away and it's all Roman Originals, granny sandals and things that "wash well".
WTF happened?
~lighthearted~

Stylish to me is more personal - it's about choosing a look which flatters the individual

You see, I don't think stylishness necessarily accords with flattering the body of the wearer - for me it's about experimenting with one's relationship to a new look / proportion / idea about femininity (say). That might mean wearing something that totally obscures the body (like my new, oversized dress). The screen printed fabric is gloriously pretty, but the exaggerated proportions flatter my mind, not my waist. I don't care if I appear slightly silly in it - I think I look cool. (Or whatever they 21st c translation of cool is.)

With you all the way @MayIDestroyYou. Flattering is a word that makes me shudder. I choose clothes because they make me happy, I’m not remotely interested in whether they’re flattering or not. What does it even mean?

Forgot the point I wanted to make - which was that I never have made a connection between beautiful, fashionable clothes and a perfect body. That's not what the best clothes, traditionally, have been intended for. They're meant to give the wearer presence - through luxurious fabric, daring, experimental cuts, colour and proportion and suitability, or not, for the occasion. One only needs to visit an art gallery to comprehend this. It's surely only recently that women (and I wonder who persuaded them thus) have decided that only the very young and thin are allowed to celebrate their existence through clothing.

@Blossomtoes

With you all the way *@MayIDestroyYou*. Flattering is a word that makes me shudder. I choose clothes because they make me happy, I’m not remotely interested in whether they’re flattering or not. What does it even mean?

Clothes that flatter me make me happy.

Clothes that flatter me make me happy.

Yes, me too. The cut and how an item of clothing hangs is important to me, I would feel deeply uncomfortable wearing clothes that didn't fit well, regardless of how beautiful the print was or what was behind the motivation of the designer.
But in some ways I guess it is liberating to wear something just because it pleases you, regardless of whether it is flattering. We are all different.

How do you define what is on trend?
There is another thread about not relinquishing skinny jeans. Given that most jeans wearers where I live are still wearing skinny jeans (all age groups) how can you say that they aren't on trend?

Who decides what is "in" and "out"?

Isn't it the old 'form versus function' tension? Clothes - particularly the clothes such as shoes and raincoats - have to do a job, otherwise they're not fit for purpose. To me 'stylish' simply means there has been at least as much thought given to how it looks as to its function.

I've been rewatching some classic movies during lockdown and when I think of style, the first people I think of are Miss Marple and Cary Grant. It doesn't mean you have to like how they look and I'm another who doesn't think think stylish has to mean flattering. I think the idea of what's flattering is in itself subject to fashion and it's a word I'm trying to use less and less.

I've not worn heels in years and I'm fond of a flat, fugly shoe. But I'm also quite certain heels will come back into fashion at some point and I think the louder we disapprove, the quicker it'll happen.

Who decides what is "in" and "out"?

It trickles down from the designers and catwalks.
They showcase new designs, flamboyant and impractical and we wear a very toned down, cotton version of the look.

Style and fashion aren't automatically the same thing. You can be stylish without being fashionable and vise versa.

I'm another who doesn't think think stylish has to mean flattering. I think the idea of what's flattering is in itself subject to fashion and it's a word I'm trying to use less and less.

Interesting. I see flattering as something I feel suits and fits me, something that hangs and wears well. Something I feel confident in. And yes, it's shallow, but I wouldn't feel a garment that emphasises an unliked feature of my body was flattering. I wouldn't however say it's related to fashion.

I see flattering as something I feel suits and fits me, something that hangs and wears well. Something I feel confident in. And yes, it's shallow, but I wouldn't feel a garment that emphasises an unliked feature of my body was flattering. I wouldn't however say it's related to fashion.

Nothing wrong with shallow But as for it not being related to fashion - I think I've already talked about high waisted trousers on this thread but no matter (scroll down if you're bored): When they're in fashion, I think they make my legs look longer and my waist look smaller. When they're out of fashion, I think they make my arse look huge. Which is true? All of it; it's my eye that adjusts, and it adjusts depending on what's in or out of fashion.

Clothes that flatter me make me happy.

Of course. Me too. They don’t have to flatter me to make me happy though.

@OverTheRubicon

Totally agree! Lots of threads killed by people shouting that anyone of any age can wear anything and comfort matters most. Or people who read a thread by some poor soul looking for a genuinely on-trend or at least near trend look, and then recommend Fat Face / White Stuff / Sea Salt etc, or 'skinnies and ankle boots'... Which can all be lovely quality and flattering etc but are not even near on trend.

I go on Instagram instead, but do think there's a missing gap for advice and clothes chat people in their 30s who don't suit the crop top bonanza online right now, want a mostly casual and family friendly wardrobe, but also aren't ready for Hush let alone Hotter. Used to be here, but not any more!

I’m working my way through this thread but was caught here, because I don’t understand this space where you want to look casual and family friendly but aren’t ready for hush. I think this is the spot I have been trying with no success to understand, tell me more

I think I've already talked about high waisted trousers on this thread but no matter (scroll down if you're bored): When they're in fashion, I think they make my legs look longer and my waist look smaller. When they're out of fashion, I think they make my arse look huge. Which is true? All of it; it's my eye that adjusts, and it adjusts depending on what's in or out of fashion.

Funnily enough I hate the current trend of high waisted jeans as I feel they make my arse look huge. There's no adjusting of arse or eye regardless of trends

Give them a few more years and I bet you a John Lewis voucher they'll look normal! I've seen them come in an out of fashion a few times now and it absolutely fascinates me how my eye changes. Which is something else I've probably already talked about on here.

@MayIDestroyYou

Forgot the point I wanted to make - which was that I never have made a connection between beautiful, fashionable clothes and a perfect body. That's not what the best clothes, traditionally, have been intended for. They're meant to give the wearer presence - through luxurious fabric, daring, experimental cuts, colour and proportion and suitability, or not, for the occasion. One only needs to visit an art gallery to comprehend this. It's surely only recently that women (and I wonder who persuaded them thus) have decided that only the very young and thin are allowed to celebrate their existence through clothing.

I love this. I feel slightly like I’m letting myself down keeping things I know don’t especially suit me and aren’t fashionable but I LIKE them. Clothes make me happy, although like everyone else I can’t be bothered/don’t have time/need to feel comfortable or professional, but even my knitted stripe leggings I slouch around in at home make me happy. I look on s&b to find things and ideas that feel right and to admire shapes and patterns and fabrics and combinations that make me happy.

MayIDestroyYou I really like that you wear what you love and that what you love isn't necessarily related to how it looks on your body. I think you are quite rare though and that most people aren't viewing their clothes as art and wouldn't feel comfortable/confident in clothes chosen purely because they have an amazing print, but don't suit their wearer's figure.
Maybe what you are describing is a style, or personal style whereas style ish is the more generic clothes that 'flatter' while still having something about them which isn't bland. I don't know. Fashion, certainly at the catwalk end, is something I don't really 'get'. But I do enjoy coming here and looking at what other people like and value and I would be sorry to see a separation of the board.

Catwalk designers might need to take some responsibility for the fact that only the young and thin are deemed worthy. They aren't making clothes for the majority of us

@LuckyMcDucky

I'm perfectly calm thanks love!

I just think your op and subsequent posts make you sound like an outdated mean girl and think people are being too kind letting you carry on with your "I'm too trendy for all of you and it's painful for me" schtick.

this thread is fascinating but your posts are are quite aggressive, sorry.

Maybe what you are describing is a style, or personal style whereas style ish is the more generic clothes that 'flatter' while still having something about them which isn't bland

Sorry I disagree. I think @MayIDestroyYou is describing the absolute essence of stylishness. Look at Iris Apfel. There’s absolutely nothing flattering about the way she dresses and I really don’t want to emulate her look but she’s stylish to her fingertips.

Yes, that's true. I think I might just want stylish lite

Maybe I want stylish lite as well
I wear deeply unflattering clothes at home, but when I go out I want to wear clothes that make me feel good, so nothing that clings to my bumps, nothing in lime green or orange (I'm a jewel winter) and nothing low cut.

I think the main problem with deeming some items fashionable or stylish is that it largely depends on who is wearing them. Those Chanel dad sandals posted above are absolutely minging imo, but a beautiful model with pretty feet and a great outfit could get away with them. But a chunky, middle aged lady would not look stylish in those. A lot of what is fashionable can be really ugly on real, normal looking people.

I don't necessarily agree, my mum is in her 60s & slim but not particularly so & she wears a version of. I think people can wear things that look weird or ugly but carry it off in ways I can't.

A lot of unfashionable clothes can look ugly too.

I go on Instagram instead, but do think there's a missing gap for advice and clothes chat people in their 30s who don't suit the crop top bonanza online right now, want a mostly casual and family friendly wardrobe, but also aren't ready for Hush let alone Hotter. Used to be here, but not any more

I'm missing this, I don't really know where to shop now, well I do but can't regularly afford it. I don't want crop tops & cut out string dresses but I'm not ready for the safety of Hush.

Sorry I disagree. I think @MayIDestroyYou is describing the absolute essence of stylishness. Look at Iris Apfel. There’s absolutely nothing flattering about the way she dresses and I really don’t want to emulate her look but she’s stylish to her fingertips.

Completely agree.

Given that most jeans wearers where I live are still wearing skinny jeans (all age groups) how can you say that they aren't on trend?

Skinny jeans might remain popular in your area but they are not “on trend”. If you look at fashion magazines and bloggers they are all ( that I have seen ) promoting wider leg styles. The question just remains how quickly new styles will be adopted and to what extent. Some trends remain niche but some like Skinny jeans and white trainers were adopted fairly universally eventually. I would say in my smallish market town the split is about 50 / 50 on the jeans question. This I think is mainly down to our proximity to London where new fashions are adopted early, a steady influx of people moving in from London with a cosmopolitan attitude ( commuter town) and a fashion / art school based here. Fashion students are obviously cutting edge and once you’ve seen fearless dressing up close the prospect of a new jeans style seems quite a modest change. In my home town which is a similar size there is only a small minority of individuals who’ve made the switch already. The town is not close to a major city and doesn’t have many incomers. Creative organisations are few and far between. ( hairdressers ??). New, major fashions do get adopted but at a much slower rate than other places.