What does 'timeless' mean to you?

[WeirdArchitecture]

I've been wondering about this, looking for some tall boots. I wear skirts, usually longish, so am considering some, but they would have to last me a long time, and not have any trendy quirks.

A timeless boot, to me, doesn't have a stand-out style that ties in with a current trend. So perhaps a riding style boot?

I also have a long tweed coat that feels timeless, kind of Withnail and I, so I seem to like things that 'feel' expensive but are a bit boho, and it fits the bill nicely!

But on the other hand, would anyone say these boots (pictured) are timeless? The cleated chunky sole is having a moment, so i wonder how quickly i would tire of them (they are from celtic&co), and for £199, they'd have to pay their way...

What does it mean to you? I am presuming we are all different. Some so-called timeless items do tend to date, no matter how many Parisian experts tell us they won't!

My mum had some that looked pretty much identical to those in the 1970's.

Timeless to me means that it is a staple item that isn't 'in' fashion. If it isn't in fashion it can't go out of fashion. Like plain black court shoes.

They are beautiful, but the chunky sole is a fashion thing at moment and won’t last forever. Although will come around again 😀Depends if you care…. I wouldn’t and would wear them regardless

I had some chunky soled boots like these in the 90's too!

I will always have a soft spot for the chunky cleated sole, being a 90’s kid, so I’m not sure I would ever go off them! But I wouldn’t describe them as timeless. Something timeless would be a more classic style I think. Like a smooth black leather with a slim-ish heel and a slightly pointed toe.

I think of it as not being fixed to a certain period.
Those look fairly classic, maybe the soles might date but the uppers won't but the main thing is do you love them?

I don’t think there is such a thing as a timeless boot. If I want to look more up to date, new footwear is the easiest way to achieve that, I find. So that to me implies that footwear trends change quite often. Even classic trainer styles go in and out of fashion. Even DMs do - I remember when only “alternative” people wore them, but the last few years they have been more trendy in general.

If I had to say what would be the most timeless boot style, I’d pick black ankle height Chelsea boots with an almond toe. Never particularly on trend but not glaringly dated either.

I have ones that I consider timeless
They are never on trend

these

I like that they have no zip

@BlairWaldorfLovesShopping

I don’t think there is such a thing as a timeless boot. If I want to look more up to date, new footwear is the easiest way to achieve that, I find. So that to me implies that footwear trends change quite often. Even classic trainer styles go in and out of fashion. Even DMs do - I remember when only “alternative” people wore them, but the last few years they have been more trendy in general.

If I had to say what would be the most timeless boot style, I’d pick black ankle height Chelsea boots with an almond toe. Never particularly on trend but not glaringly dated either.

That's quite interesting, i think i agree, although I hadn't previously looked at it quite like that. I always wore docs, although the rest of me wasn't terribly alternative, and chelsea boots are my faves!

I remember when i was 19 I had a knee high pair of boots that laced up (no handy zipper like most have now) with a 2 cm heel. I also had some giant, clumpy lace up brogues with a platform heel:)

It's really difficult imo to find true classic clothing these days. Everything has a little twist to make it more of the moment, which you don't want when you're buying an investment type item.

I think the advice which I've seen on here and I'm trying to follow, is to try to find your own style which isn't in fashion / out of fashion.

That's really hard too though!

I go for plain designs @BreadBreadBread.
My midi skirt is a classic kilt in a not particularly striking tartan.
Jeans are usually dark and straight
Overcoat I've had about 27 years.
Party dress a little black dress etc

I wear wild prints but in things like oversized dungarees

I think the advice which I've seen on here and I'm trying to follow, is to try to find your own style which isn't in fashion / out of fashion

ah, now i find second hand and vintage helps with this. I was searching for things that only existed in my mind's eye, my dream style, etc. Have slowly built a decent (if modest) collection of wonderful, good quality stuff from ebay.
It is slow going and most high street brands wont carry what you are looking for, but neither is it terribly unusual or dated. It does take determination though!

@WeirdArchitecture,
Yes, your own style.

I buy decent brands not all expensive, choose colours and styles that suit me. I'm not particularly stylish but I know what I like.
The charity shops where I live are wonderful - full of tat but went this afternoon and came home with fly london ankle boots that just needed a polish (£2) and a liberty wool shawl in very good condition (£2)

The kilt was a fairly recent purchase, still had tags on, and tartan is popular every winter . At the weekend I got a denim shirt dress (tu - £2) and a north face puffer that needs a few minor repairs but will be good (£3). I have a few liberty shirts (yep £2 each) etc

Jeans are from charity shops - I like gap, levi's and 7 for all mankind, diesel. Rarely pay more than £3
Other clothes are from ebay.

Anything that doesn't work for me I give to a charity shop or sell it

My overcoat was £££ but from an outlet, so half price and I just knew I would always love it

For an item to be truly timeless it needs to be barely noticeable in its blandness. Anything that has anything about it risks going out of fashion. If tweed costs became highly fashionable one year, your tweed would look dated a year or so after. The sole on your boot stops it looking bland enough to be timeless.

You mix your clothes to make them up to date, @5128gap

Bland coat (expensive) with bland boots (expensive) with bright cheerful up to date less expensive clothes/accessories nails it

A classic will come round again and again

=

Also fashion is intended to date quickly but style endures

@KirstenBlest

You mix your clothes to make them up to date, *@5128gap*

Bland coat (expensive) with bland boots (expensive) with bright cheerful up to date less expensive clothes/accessories nails it

A classic will come round again and again

=

Exactly!

I agree with Blair - I don't think any clothes are timeless. Even on a so called classic like a white shirt, the fit or the collar or the sleeves will be of it's time. It's tricky because it can be hard to avoid those details, and in any case you may not want to because they're often what makes a garment interesting.

So classic for me isn't something that never goes out of fashion, it's something that comes around regularly and, when it does, you think it's never been away. Polo necks are a good example - what could be more timeless, and yet you didn't see them in the shops for years.

Anyway those boots - that riding boot style definitely comes around regularly but yes, next time around it might well be without the cleaty sole. If it was me, I think I'd probably try and look for a plain sole, but I bet there aren't any to be found right now Like I say, it's tricky!

@Floisme

I agree with Blair - I don't think any clothes are timeless. Even on a so called classic like a white shirt, the fit or the collar or the sleeves will be of it's time. It's tricky because it can be hard to avoid those details, and in any case you may not want to because they're often what makes a garment interesting.

So classic for me isn't something that never goes out of fashion, it's something that comes around regularly and, when it does, you think it's never been away. Polo necks are a good example - what could be more timeless, and yet you didn't see them in the shops for years.

Anyway those boots - that riding boot style definitely comes around regularly but yes, next time around it might well be without the cleaty sole. If it was me, I think I'd probably try and look for a plain sole, but I bet there aren't any to be found right now Like I say, it's tricky!

So true, and many things that i love are never in the shops. I often search for a particular type of silk blouse without a masculine/shirt style collar but can never find it. I also don't like shirts being long in the body but can't locate anything anywhere...

I had been looking for a shorter wool skirt with pleats, lined, and with a proper zipped, flat waistband. It had to be in very dark tartan of a navy/green mix. After years of keeping my eye open it turned up in the perfect size in good condition on ebay. No way would this level of quality have turned up in any of the contemporary brands, even Brora styles are somewhat 'fashiony' and conform to trends.

Everything eventually sails back in again though, doesn't it?
Except for quality, Flo, that never comes back, sadly :(

I don't think that riding boot is timeless because the heel is too clunky. A classic would have a much lower heel, and be more like an actual riding boots. But yes I think riding boots can be timeless, but many iterations are not.

Basically you wouid be looking for things that are true to origin and have the minimum of embellishments and ideally no detailing at all

It's interesting. You can probably only stay within a range of day fifty - sixty years.

Like if anyone wore Victorian Georgian or Edwardian clothes, you'd straight up look odd / cosplay / whatever. It could be a cool look but not timeless.

But there are probably some items we could wear now that have been worn since the 1950s, 1960s without it looking jarring / or like historical dress up (like jeans, plain chinos, white t, white shirt, polo necks, plain style jumpers).

And of course it's culturally specific.

@BlairWaldorfLovesShopping

I don’t think there is such a thing as a timeless boot. If I want to look more up to date, new footwear is the easiest way to achieve that, I find. So that to me implies that footwear trends change quite often. Even classic trainer styles go in and out of fashion. Even DMs do - I remember when only “alternative” people wore them, but the last few years they have been more trendy in general.

If I had to say what would be the most timeless boot style, I’d pick black ankle height Chelsea boots with an almond toe. Never particularly on trend but not glaringly dated either.

I bought DMs 4 years ago and they were dead cheap. Half the price they are now.

Op, I like those boots. They also look 70s to me and that's a good thing. So I think they will always look a bit retro in a good way.

@EdithWeston

I don't think that riding boot is timeless because the heel is too clunky. A classic would have a much lower heel, and be more like an actual riding boots. But yes I think riding boots can be timeless, but many iterations are not.

Basically you wouid be looking for things that are true to origin and have the minimum of embellishments and ideally no detailing at all

I have a couple of pairs of classic riding boots and they look really boring though. Would much prefer they had something about them like these.