How to look more modern

[Nightmarenextdoor]

I went to a trade event at the weekend (creative industry) and was really aware of feeling not quite right. Maybe it was the heat, maybe the weight I’ve put on over lockdown or maybe I’m dressing like I did 18 months/2 years ago and everyone else has moved on.

I like simple comfy clothes but with a bit of an edge - thinking maybe I’ve lost the edge!

Any ideas how to update myself a bit?

Cowbells maybe it was just for travelling? I’m a die hard heel wearer (office and going out) but never on trains. If travelling for work I have either trainers or flip flops if hot, in my bag and change in the taxi or reception loo before the office.

I like jumpsuits and boilersuits from the front but hate the rear view. They make even the peachiest bum look long and flat, so heaven help us already flat arsers. Plus there’s the issue with going to the loo, I really hate having to strip off to go for a wee, especially in a public (shop/pub etc) loo.

I agree about the rear view. I wear lose dungaree style ones and you can slip them on and off without undoing them.
The ones that are semi-fitted are more flattering usually

I have a black linen Monsoon jumpsuit that just slips off the shoulders so no struggle to get in and out of. I also have a Monsoon navy linen jumpsuit but its a weird shape.

Im happy to sacrifice a shapely bum for comfort.

I have a boilersuit and lots of baggy dungarees. I haven't checked my rear view in any of them. I'm not sure how many I have.

About 11?
1 boilersuit
1 jumpsuit
1 loose jumpsuit (ebay buy that I've never worn)
3 short dungarees
2 dungarees
3 L&Y type dungarees

gosh.

@Flyinggeese1

Cowbells maybe it was just for travelling? I’m a die hard heel wearer (office and going out) but never on trains. If travelling for work I have either trainers or flip flops if hot, in my bag and change in the taxi or reception loo before the office.

Maybe. But everyone? I'd definitely never noticed it before.

I'm not back in the office yet but have just come home from a (local) night out, wearing this jumpsuit from Cos and Birkenstocks (truly, my feet may never touch heels again). I do find a good jumpsuit is a shortcut to feeling a bit more pulled-together/ current. Make a point of not looking at my rear view whilst wearing them, it's not worth the angst.

This is a very interesting thread. What intrigues me is how fashion seems to have moved on despite none of us seeing each other in outward-facing mode for the last 16 months, or whatever it's been. I used to take a lot of inspiration from women I saw on the commute (work in central London), have really missed that.

I was looking at Cos and a few other similar sites a few evenings ago - it struck me how really anti feminine many of them are - almost like stuff from the Handmaid's Tale ..not a hint of a bum, waist or boobs in them.
You then get to the other end of the spectrum with people mad about Lucy and Yak dungarees and Popsy dresses 😬 There's some very odd stuff floating about currently .

There's some very odd stuff floating about currently .

I thought this yesterday on the school run. Fashion has gone a bit bonkers. Nobody would have been seen dead in some of those little house on the prairie dresses a couple of years ago, but they're everywhere now. And everything is oversized, tiered, puff sleeved, frilly... It's the sort of stuff I'd expect to see on the catwalk but not so much in "real life" but people seem to have embraced it!

@Divebar2021

Trays Lounge on Instagram definitely has a modern edge without being to “try hard”. I saw her in Covent Garden recently in a blue and white striped oversized shirt and shorts… she looked good. I don’t think commuters are changing into heels… they used to but they’re not really now. I was out in Soho recently and no-one was really wearing high heels… I saw one woman in a very high pair but that was it.

I've not seen Trayslounge before, her Instagram feed is ace, she has great style!

Nobody would have been seen dead in some of those little house on the prairie dresses a couple of years ago, but they're everywhere now

Yeah they’re not for me that’s for sure but that’s fine… lots of things are not to my taste. In some cases what I can do is a “quasi” version of a trend. So I have long midi dresses which I love but it will have soft gathers on the sleeve rather than huge gathers and it will be more fitted on the waist. If you pair it with shoes and a bag that are current you still look modern without being such a slave to a particular trend. I suppose giving a nod to it. I certainly am not wearing knee length skirts or dresses at the moment.

Regarding Cos - they have always been consistent with their styling - they’ve always had a looser aesthetic with many of their pieces. I disagree about it looking feminine though, I think it can be exceptionally feminine. I don’t particularly look good in everything they stock because I look better with a waist but you can still find waisted items too. I do find their pieces don’t really date in the same way other brands do. They won’t have that best selling dress like the black n white spotty one from Zara but you will be pulling theirs out to wear for much longer. The silk jumpsuit I wore of theirs this week is probably 7/8 years old at least.

That Zara Dress was at least a couple of summers ago though - before the pandemic, and people were wearing it with trainers. So it was already a thing, just not as extreme and frilly, and not the only trend around, although I can't remember what the others were now.

What intrigues me is how fashion seems to have moved on despite none of us seeing each other in outward-facing mode for the last 16 months, or whatever it's been. I used to take a lot of inspiration from women I saw on the commute (work in central London), have really missed that.
It's bizarre isn't it. Like many of us, I've not been out much or seen many people for 18 months, and I'm not a big Instagram fan, and yet when I put on that jacket that I mentioned upthread, that I used to wear loads, it instantly felt a bit dated.

@Floisme

I’m keeping hold of my more fitted blazers… I think they may work with slouchy leg trousers (otherwise I’ll take a view in a year or two). My point about the Zara dress was that it was quite fleeting… I’ve seen one woman wearing it this year. I don’t know that these Prairie dresses will be around longer. I hope to be wearing my Cos dresses for longer than that.

I’m not generally a fan of River Island but I read about their Studio collection and ended up buying these pleated trousers. They did them in a pink too.

The boyfriend blazer thing is a bit of a blow for me, I really don't suit unfitted blazers at all, have broad shoulders and need waist definition (I've been French tucking since the 90s, though it didn't have a name then!). Am on board with slouchy trousers, but still feel that look needs balance, on me at least. Or is that itself un-modern?!

I liked this Guardian article about the slouchy trouser thing a few weeks ago.

Oh I'll definitely be hanging onto it Divebar. I've got rid of so much good stuff over the years (including at least 2 boyfriend blazers) that I'm now a hardened hoarder and I have enough space to play the long game and put things away for years n' years.

What I meant about The Zara dress was that I see it as a forerunner of the current look. It wasn't the same - for one thing, I liked it! - but without it, I don't think the prairie dresses would have taken such a hold.

I'm not a fan of the frocks but I do love a relaxed, slouchy trouser look so there's plenty for me to like at the moment.

But back to the op - did you find the event on Instagram and see what they were wearing?

I've noticed a change in fashion moving away from the objectification of women. Now it's about what they find comfortable and pretty patterns and details. It's totally not about showing off bodies.

@Zinnia

The boyfriend blazer thing is a bit of a blow for me, I really don't suit unfitted blazers at all, have broad shoulders and need waist definition (I've been French tucking since the 90s, though it didn't have a name then!). Am on board with slouchy trousers, but still feel that look needs balance, on me at least. Or is that itself un-modern?!

I liked this Guardian article about the slouchy trouser thing a few weeks ago.

@Zinnia, those trousers would do nothing for me. I am not of the same proportions as Kate DoC and Christy T.

If the fashion is about not showing off why is everyone around here wearing crop tops or bikini tops or leggings?

@AmberIsACertainty

I've noticed a change in fashion moving away from the objectification of women. Now it's about what they find comfortable and pretty patterns and details. It's totally not about showing off bodies.

I think once you are out of your twenties I would sort of agree with this statement but I’m not so sure younger women would agree if the young women on Love Island are a good representation of their generation, it’s definitely less is more on the frock front with very high heels. I also think there is a geographic divide where fashion is concerned, what someone would wear in London could be very different to another area of the country. I just don’t think it’s a case anymore of what is in and out of fashion, there are so many variables to consider, age, area you live, the people you mix with etc.

Heels indeed seem to be out - I bought my Mum a stack of fashion magazines - Vogue, Harpers that sort of thing, and a Vanity Fair - all the high end brand ads had models in flat shoes. Hurray! I loved a heel years ago, but can't even imagine wearing them now. Not a fan of the huge flowery dresses though, I have big boobs so end up looking like an 80s Laura Ashley sofa.

Do Love Island people even wear clothes?

I don’t think the contestants on Love Island are representative of people in their 20’s - they are representative of some people in that age range. And yes I agree there are regional differences and most certainly age differences. But even if I accept that young people define fashion ( which I don’t ) they’re actually not representative of what we’re seeing on the High Street at the moment. They’re a sub category entitled “ sexy sexy”. Even the girls in bra tops and cycle shorts are probably not teetering around in heels… it’s become a bit of a minority look. ( around my neck of the woods)

Interesting points, I agree you don’t see ‘sexy’ on the high street but I’ve no idea what’s worn in night clubs by the young and beautiful as I am not that demographic so I have no idea if Love Island is representative of fashion for that generation, it probably varies from city to city I guess. I would definitely agree fashion for the 30 plus woman is more relaxed these days, it does seem to be trainers with everything which I am a bit guilty of, but I do feel a bit ubiquitous as everyone is wearing floaty dresses and trainers and I’m a bit tired of seeing it everywhere, very comfy though.

@Nightmarenextdoor Don’t know your age but check out Clubfortyclaire on Instagram. I’m way older than forty but have picked up fab ideas

I hear you. I went in White Stuff the other day, which used to be my favourite shop, abd I thought "What was I thinking? I'm in my 40s, not my 70s."

I'm keen to reinvent myself with a bit more confidence after lockdown.

One thing I’m really noticing at the moment is a massive generation gap in fashion. Obviously that has been a thing since teenagers were invented- they wouldn’t be seen dead in their mother’s clothes, and the mothers were horrified by theirs- but it’s different now. I see women in their 30s and up wearing the look discussed on this thread- long, loose, floaty flouncy dresses with flats or trainers- but the teenagers and 20-somethings I see are all in bodycon, miniskirts and crop tops- none of which I’ve seen being pushed by retailers or the media as “this season’s fashion”.