How Do You Know?

[citycitycity]

A question for all the people on here who just seem to know what the latest fashion is, what is stylish, what is dated, etc... how do you know?

Do you read fashion magazines, blogs, insta, etc?

I want to know too - please tell me how!

Background, mid 40's, losing weight but feeling Mum frumpy - I really love clothes but can never seem to get it right on myself... still wearing skinny jeans!

@EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia, exactly that. Not quite old, I spend time and thought on how I am going to look, and what I have already, and after that I am happy to buy the odd piece to link it all up, which tends to be shoes to make everything old look fashionable.

@XingMing

DameMaureen how did you conclude that I don't wear the clothes I keep? I don't think I said that. I wear jeans and tops all the time, I wear the basic items out, and I replace with similar styles and colours, with the usual nod to fashion. Like I tell my hairdresser, more of the same please, just more "now" than the last cut. It's constantly tweaking a style that suits me and my life.

because you said I wear really REALLY boring clothes. Jeans and sweaters in winter; jeans and shirts in summer ?

I see your other post - confused now as it sounds like you like buy really boring clothes to replace the really boring clothes that wear out ?

[quote XingMing]@EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia, exactly that. Not quite old, I spend time and thought on how I am going to look, and what I have already, and after that I am happy to buy the odd piece to link it all up, which tends to be shoes to make everything old look fashionable.[/quote]
You spend time and thought to wear really boring clothes ? Again your words ?

@DameMaureen, when I say I wear jeans and tops everyday, that's not where it stops. I need a coat, what shape, how warm, how waterproof? And I choose. Or a jacket... how formal? I might have a suit jacket from work days that ticks the box, even if I don't wear the skirt often. I have, over the years, acquired/inherited a lot of boots and bags, in different colours and styles and shapes. I have lots of costume jewellery, but not much real, because I prefer costume's fashion/style without serious value.

Follow Lydiajanetomlinson. She has great ideas and shows how to wear certain clothes in trendy way and match them with other items. I feel the same and fashion does not come easy to me. I need to study for it... good luck

Well apparently the fashion here is high waisted, skinny at the top, baggy cropped leg trousers, with multiple different shades and layers of beige . I'm not keen.

I wear jeans and tops everyday; they work for my life. Anyone who is not interested in clothes, will see just that: basics. Anyone who likes clothes will see that the jeans fit immaculately, the shirts are tailored and tweaked, the accessories are chosen. I aim to look effortless, but I spend (quite a lot of) time to look artlessly unthought out.

I don’t set out to be particularly fashionable but I do aim for stylish. And that usually seems to involve having a nod to the trends whilst not losing my own ‘look’. The only thing I follow on SM is colour analysis accounts and Trinny for her Closet Confessions. I think she is a good example of someone who stays modern without following trends or trying to look like her teenage daughter.

I always take an interest in what people are wearing and put a lot of thought into my own outfits (way more than it looks!). I work in a university in London so get lots of chance for people watching (not just the students, one of my colleagues was wearing an enormous Victorian/Handmaids Tale coat the other day). It just changes your eye, how you see garments, eg skinny jeans feel less modern. The more you see baggier styles or people very casual for evening wear, the more it feels ‘right’ to emulate.

I also live very close to a top fashion college which gives me even more to gawp at. The men (not sure if they identify as such) especially actually.

@XingMing

I wear jeans and tops everyday; they work for my life. Anyone who is not interested in clothes, will see just that: basics. Anyone who likes clothes will see that the jeans fit immaculately, the shirts are tailored and tweaked, the accessories are chosen. I aim to look effortless, but I spend (quite a lot of) time to look artlessly unthought out.

I think this is where I go wrong - I just put stuff on rather than think about it and style it, so we could be wearing the same outfit - jeans and t-shirt - but you would look much better than me.

@XingMing

I wear jeans and tops everyday; they work for my life. Anyone who is not interested in clothes, will see just that: basics. Anyone who likes clothes will see that the jeans fit immaculately, the shirts are tailored and tweaked, the accessories are chosen. I aim to look effortless, but I spend (quite a lot of) time to look artlessly unthought out.

Do you really think that people observe others in such detail ?

I’m 40 and by no means a fashionista but I like to look reasonably current

There’s a couple of trendy shops in town so I take note of the window displays.

I people watch and if I see someone who I think looks great (or not so great) I try to analyse what it is about their outfit / look that I like / dislike

I pay attention to what trends younger women are wearing, although I don’t just blindly copy them as some of them would look awful on me (eg crop tops)

I never read fashion magazines and rarely browse online shops but that’s another source of potential inspiration

I follow a couple of stylists on Insta but only half-heartedly

Do you really think that people observe others in such detail ?

I do, and said so, in my post earlier on this thread. I often look at a person's outfit and mentally deconstruct it, or look for the details which "elevate" (ugh) it. It's something anyone who enjoyed clothes and fashion might do.

I watch lots of YouTube videos, try on hauls and look books but mostly I dress to fit my body and wear what looks good on me. The flowery dresses and 90s vibe that's everywhere atm are god awful trends imo so I avoid them.

Catwalk shows, fashion magazines and recommendations from SAs who know me and my style well. I have zero interest in high street trends or what supposed 'influencers' are wearing.

Do you really think people observe others in such detail?

No, I don't -- but I do, and I enjoy doing it for myself. And every now and again, someone says "You always look nice but you're just wearing everyday stuff". DS's maths teacher (and a friend) told DS, not me: your mum is the most stylish person I know. He loves clothes (art student) and told me knowing that I would cherish the compliment. I do it for my own pleasure though.

To some people, details are really important. I'm a bit of a geek. I notice how a hem is finished, if there's an extra button somewhere, and I turn most things inside out to see how they are constructed and what they are made of before I buy them!!

To PP who was saying about 'outfits' rather than just 'clothes' - I do this a lot. So before I get dressed I put everything on the bed (out of habit really) to make sure that the colours and textures work together - including shoes, bag and coat most of the time too. And then once everything is on I check that it's comfortable. Sometimes a particular tshirt doesn't quite work with a particular jumper, or the shoes aren't quite right. It's very rare also that I don't add a belt, or pick out some specific earrings, or do a bit of something with my hair.

And you know what, I don't have a massive clothing budget at all. In fact it's been non existent at times in the last couple of years. But I have always done these things.

Me too @VerveClique

I love putting outfits together the night before work or a few days before an event. I love clothes and aim for stylish rather than trendy.

But I that having time to put together "outfits" as a pp said and looking at hemlines, statement pieces and shoes etc are a reflection of the phase of life that one is in. Such time and concentration can't be served when the children are very much under your feet, hanging off your breasts or needing your every breath. Sometimes that one addition (necklace, scarf, lipstick) might be the one thing that you can grab in order to feel like you have looked after yourself that day. The said item may not look complimentary or 'put together' but it allows for you to be more than just mum.

@citycitycity I think I might have a Whistles dress just like that (2 in fact, one black and one navy, I loved it so).

For lunch and then drinks, nowadays I would consider a pair of trainers - possibly platform if the silhouette looks right. Or maybe a brogue (again platform for variation) if you prefer a smarter shoe.

Have you a coat of similar length to the dress?

Style is such a personal thing. For me, it's a fine balance between what pleases my eye and what is available to buy (current trends).

The older I get, the less bothered I've become about wearing clothes that "flatter" because I don't believe that flattering = showing your best physical assets. I'm far more interested in wearing clothes that I find beautiful, shapes and textures that I like or find interesting, than always highlighting my shapely legs or good bust (!!)

The older I get, the less bothered I've become about wearing clothes that "flatter" because I don't believe that flattering = showing your best physical assets. I'm far more interested in wearing clothes that I find beautiful, shapes and textures that I like or find interesting, than always highlighting my shapely legs or good bust (!!)
Yes - I was trying to say something similar on another thread recently but I think you've expressed it better than I did.

I follow Kat Farmer in Instagram, plus quite a few others. I also go into the shops a lot, just to see what they have. If they are selling wide leg trousers, for example, it means those are in fashion. Otherwise they would not bother. I am lucky that I live 5 minutes walk from a large shopping mall, so I can go in anytime I want. Then, once a month more or less, I go into London and spend the day round King's Road, trying on anything I like. I don't necessarily buy much, but it is easy to see what suits you once you see it on

Do you really think people observe others in such detail?

I definitely do. I observe people in cafes, airports, wherever and take note of styles I'd like to copy. I also notice if something is not right, like last week when I was on a plane flying back to UK and I notice the stewardess skirt hem had come undone. It reminded me to check my hems when I got home. Clothes are my passion. I like wearing them, buying them and even making them. I am in my 50s now, and my style has changed a bit, but that doesn't mean I am not just as interested as I ever was.

Do you really think people observe others in such detail?

Yes, guilty! I will often observe someone on the tube, say, and think to myself "those boots are dated, oh dear, skinny jeans (sorry, OP!), would look better with a longer jacket" etc etc. And I certainly notice where someone has got it just right, and looks great, and then I realise I have a top like that, I could recreate her look.....I have a very stylish friend, and I often think "what would E wear?".

I also follow lots of people on Insta, look at catalogues and magazines, mannequins in store....absorb all the fashions going on around me. Pick out the trends that are "me" and ignore the ones that I can live without.

There's no wrong or right way to dress, but with all this observing you do get a feel as to where fashion is moving. For example, I've lived in midi length dresses/skirts for the last couple of years, but am seeing signs of shorter hemlines, in the shops, in the press......so am buying a few mini/smock dresses and shorter skirts. That's not to say midi dresses will disappear tomorrow (see also skinny jeans) but I like to stay current if I can. And "everyday stuff" (jeans and tops, or whatever) can look perfectly on trend - doesn't have to be fancy.

@CointreauVersial I have packed the skinny jeans away!