How do you dress? What is your 'style'?

[beatrixpotterspencil]

I've often been confused about my own, and wonder how common this is.

Lived in a place with harsh weather for many years and lived in hiking leggings and north face, base layers, waterproofs, etc. Never had to think much about it but to be honest I din't like the 'style' of it. I hate tight clothes and most of it was clingy and blockish looking because it was more practical than pretty, iyswim?

In recent years I have moved, and live somewhere less demanding. I can dress how I like now. But finding what I want is often tricky. I love skirts, natural fibres, wool knits, but still wear my docs as I do adore boots.

But I sometimes get it really wrong, and I wonder if my clothes suit me (DP and friends always compliment my stuff but surely they would haha!). I don't like run of the mill so don't do jeans or leggings, and feel comfy and happy in skirts/dresses/tights and a lovely, long tweed coat.....but I don't really know what truly suits me. How can I tell?
I am very slim, decent hair (blond) and average height, so people might simply say I can wear what I like but it don't think such 'attributes' mean much at the end of the day. I am confident enough but just bizarrely confused, i think.
I am torn between thinking I ought to just wear practical (leggings and a nice top, boring anorak) things that don't excite me but just do their job - and wanting things that I love but often get wrong (online shopping, uuurgh).

Every few years I scrap my style and try something else, but always go back. I certainly can overthink it, which is mostly enjoyable, but often irritating.

How do you people feel about your 'style', and what is it that determines how you dress? Is it mostly for practical reasons or do you have particular interest in certain types of stuff?
Are you happy with how you dress, and how would you describe it?

Apologies for long, whiny, first world problem type post!

Well i had a look at colours online and i dont think i suit hardly any of the 'summer' shades.
I suit the spring shades BUT my hair, eyes and skin are in the summer category.

Maybe i am a changeling?

Echobelly I was alternative back in the 90's too - more on the cheesecloth hippy skirt side. Ah, still love a swishy skirt with lace up boots and stuff with elephants woven on

@Youcunnyfunt

I thin the element of "surprise" and contrast can be overlooked in style, to be honest.

Something that contrasts or clashes slightly can still look put together if there is a general theme (whether it 's the cuts, colours, or fabric).

Totally agree with this! Style is always about contrasts. I also think being “a little imperfect l is important . Over grooming looks boring too.

My style is quite a rock/biker chick style. It took me until mid-late thirties to establish a firm 'style' really. I'm 45 now; 5ft 4, size 6-8

I love ripped denim, black clothes, leather leggings, leather biker jackets, biker boots etc.

I don't dress my age and never plan to

I don’t know much about the HOC stuff but I do remember that deep summer is very close to Spring palette- take a look?
From your photo you posted you look warm to me. I think the colours are based on skin tone rather than hair colour. The hair colour comes into play when looking at contrast. You are low contrast so will be either a spring (warm) or summer (cool). That’s probably too simplistic as there are varieties of spring and summer but it’s the way I remember it!
Have a look at the spring and summer palettes and see which ones you’re drawn to maybe?

@LucySullivanIsGettingMarried

My style is quite a rock/biker chick style. It took me until mid-late thirties to establish a firm 'style' really. I'm 45 now; 5ft 4, size 6-8

I love ripped denim, black clothes, leather leggings, leather biker jackets, biker boots etc.

I don't dress my age and never plan to

What do you prefer to use as a coat in winter weather, say rain or bad gales? I always find leather to be cold, but then I suppose it would be about layering? I like that you seem to know what you love, a kind of certainty. I wish I could cultivate this!

@JMAngel1

I don’t know much about the HOC stuff but I do remember that deep summer is very close to Spring palette- take a look? From your photo you posted you look warm to me. I think the colours are based on skin tone rather than hair colour. The hair colour comes into play when looking at contrast. You are low contrast so will be either a spring (warm) or summer (cool). That’s probably too simplistic as there are varieties of spring and summer but it’s the way I remember it! Have a look at the spring and summer palettes and see which ones you’re drawn to maybe?

Im more confused now than when i started

I suit elements of both spring and summer, but have always been told i am cool toned (skin and hair). I use a bobbi brown concealer that is for cool toned skin (cant recall my undertone...maybe blue or pink).
I also have highlights in my hair, a very pale cool ash (the colour it was when i was in my 20's - it is now naturally a darker ashy blond).

Weirdly i suit gold jewellery. I am perhaps straddling both cool and warm in different ways.

I have enjoyed reading everyone's input, even if I have skimmed quickly. For me, and I am aged compared to some here, it is colour and texture and shape/cut. I wear neutral colours of sludge, because they suit my skin tone, but always try to tone in some shine or reflection or surface texture.

My life is fairly rural and rarely glamorous, so I spend most on the best versions I can find of everyday: jeans and sweaters. And I tinker with accessories, so a huge sparkly multi-colour striped cotton scarf, with red tassels, I bought 40 (gulp) years ago for a black tie dinner is an instant lift to a denim or black outfit -- even when I walk the dog. I wear gloves, in winter, but inexpensive knitted ones, but I have a pair to match every coat I own, and a few more to clash. And hats because they suit me.... mostly knitted beanies for cold weather, but rolled tight into a watch cap (current) or slouchy (last year according to art student DS). It's all about practical made flattering and chic by very careful selection and editing. (And having a lot of clothes bought over 40 or 50 years, without changing size or shape very much.) It is dressy clothes that I get wrong, because I seldom wear smart stuff any more.

@LucySullivanIsGettingMarried, I love your certainty about your look now and I bet you look terrific. Without wanting to undermine you, you might want to start to consider how you will negotiate your route through life and body changes, as you age. I would have said the same as you at 45, but hey-ho, now I am 65. I feel the cold a little sharper, the flesh has softened and flabbed slightly, the turkey neck upsets me; comfort matters more if you have health issues. Menopause forces you into a new set of style choices. My colouring has changed, so pastel colours just make me look ill now.

@XingMing

I have enjoyed reading everyone's input, even if I have skimmed quickly. For me, and I am aged compared to some here, it is colour and texture and shape/cut. I wear neutral colours of sludge, because they suit my skin tone, but always try to tone in some shine or reflection or surface texture.

My life is fairly rural and rarely glamorous, so I spend most on the best versions I can find of everyday: jeans and sweaters. And I tinker with accessories, so a huge sparkly multi-colour striped cotton scarf, with red tassels, I bought 40 (gulp) years ago for a black tie dinner is an instant lift to a denim or black outfit -- even when I walk the dog. I wear gloves, in winter, but inexpensive knitted ones, but I have a pair to match every coat I own, and a few more to clash. And hats because they suit me.... mostly knitted beanies for cold weather, but rolled tight into a watch cap (current) or slouchy (last year according to art student DS). It's all about practical made flattering and chic by very careful selection and editing. (And having a lot of clothes bought over 40 or 50 years, without changing size or shape very much.) It is dressy clothes that I get wrong, because I seldom wear smart stuff any more.

Aaaah, envy! What a wonderful description of your approach to dressing. I would so love to be able to make my ideas manifest, for it seems that whatever I choose does not work so well in reality. After wearing hiking gear for so many years, my new and carefully built wardrobe has turned into a disappointment, although I have found some wonderful staples that ought to last me many years to come (tweed coat, ebay).

Fit is an issue with me. I choose carefully and check measurements before purchasing, but the waist of skirts often swamp me even if I purchase a 6 (and that's if they even sell a 6). I have no idea why as my waist measurement is 25ish.This then makes my knits and tops look bulky and out of shape as the excess fabric from the skirt bunches beneath them. If i tuck in, the skirt hangs off my waist lopsided...
I am not underweight, perhaps have a narrow frame, I dont know.
Have better luck with dresses, i ought to stop buying skirts.

Your 40 yr old scarf sounds wonderful. I love these touches that last and last for us.

I really want to know what 'rolled into a watch cap' means though!
I have a slouchy cashmere hat that makes me look silly. No matter what i spend i always seem to make mistakes.

@beatrixpotterspencil At the moment I've got a very padded knee length puffer coat by Calvin Klein in black, and a white faux fur coat. I also sometimes wear a leopard print faux fur coat

[quote LucySullivanIsGettingMarried]@beatrixpotterspencil At the moment I've got a very padded knee length puffer coat by Calvin Klein in black, and a white faux fur coat. I also sometimes wear a leopard print faux fur coat[/quote]
I have a long black puffer! So warm and easy to wear. I imagine this will go really well with your existing style, too. Good choice!

@beatrixpotterspencil I love puffer coats. They're just so warm and cosy aren't they? I hate winter and hate being cold so love going out in what is, effectively, a sleeping bag

1950s or 1940s style dresses or upmarket boho, very tailored, very dressy.

I don't own any trousers, jeans, trainers, leggings, hoodies, puffa type jackets etc

@JMAngel1

I don’t know much about the HOC stuff but I do remember that deep summer is very close to Spring palette- take a look? From your photo you posted you look warm to me. I think the colours are based on skin tone rather than hair colour. The hair colour comes into play when looking at contrast. You are low contrast so will be either a spring (warm) or summer (cool). That’s probably too simplistic as there are varieties of spring and summer but it’s the way I remember it! Have a look at the spring and summer palettes and see which ones you’re drawn to maybe?

I don’t she’s a cool summer because that’s what I am. I suit blues, grey, cold reds and green - all the colours she says she doesn’t suit. And I look terrible in cream beige and yellow which she says are great on her.

I have superficially very similar colouring to the @beatrixpotterspencil - dark blond hair and blue eyes. But my skin is defo yellow undertones , not pink or blue.

Most foundations look too pink on me . So I look on MN to see which ones people complain are too yellow and I know that’s the one to buy.

So I’m pretty sure she’s a warm season , so she must be spring or autumn. And I think autumns can wear darker and more contrasting warm colours, but @beatrixpotterspencil says she suits pastels.

Well that’s my logic anyway. It might be complete nonsense of course 😬

Like these colours

My favourite style is close to what they call dark academia. I like vintage and androgyny, plus a little bit of drama, like a balloon sleeve or a waistcoat. A bit of military... a bit of principal boy... bit of 80s. I like interesting textures like tweed, wool, fake leather, sateen, and slightly edgy additions such as biker boots or punky jewellery. I probably look like I've rummaged in a dressing up box

I've really enjoyed reading what other people like to wear! Thank you for the interesting thread, OP.

@ShakeItLikeAPolaroidPicture

My favourite style is close to what they call dark academia. I like vintage and androgyny, plus a little bit of drama, like a balloon sleeve or a waistcoat. A bit of military... a bit of principal boy... bit of 80s. I like interesting textures like tweed, wool, fake leather, sateen, and slightly edgy additions such as biker boots or punky jewellery. I probably look like I've rummaged in a dressing up box

I've really enjoyed reading what other people like to wear! Thank you for the interesting thread, OP.

I'm a bit like that too.

Looking at that picture the grey is killing you. The colours of the brown on the door and the beigey stones of the wall are much better.

Most foundations look too pink on me . So I look on MN to see which ones people complain are too yellow and I know that’s the one to buy.

Oh please share!

@ShakeItLikeAPolaroidPicture

My favourite style is close to what they call dark academia. I like vintage and androgyny, plus a little bit of drama, like a balloon sleeve or a waistcoat. A bit of military... a bit of principal boy... bit of 80s. I like interesting textures like tweed, wool, fake leather, sateen, and slightly edgy additions such as biker boots or punky jewellery. I probably look like I've rummaged in a dressing up box

I've really enjoyed reading what other people like to wear! Thank you for the interesting thread, OP.

And hats? Proper formed felt hats not beanies. I have around a dozen hats from this hat shop which I wear as regular cold weather headgear.

www.fabhatrix.com/women/formed-felt

There is a thread on here for posting your outfits daily. Might give some folk inspiration? I realised I was not a devotee of mumsnet style re the zillion Boden/stripey tee,jeans threads. Frumpy is so not my style.

My style is ultra feminine - think floaty floral dresses with nude heels. I love matching colours and give no shits about looking matchy-matchy. My colleagues seem to think it's amusing so I just own it.

I mainly suit styles that help to give me more of a waist, so A-line skirts, skater style dresses. I pretty much ignore what's in fashion and just pick things that work for my body shape and that I like. I figure it's better to embrace a style with confidence and just own it, than to try and keep up with fashion and end up wearing things that don't really suit me or that I don't feel comfortable in.

@ShakeItLikeAPolaroidPicture

My favourite style is close to what they call dark academia. I like vintage and androgyny, plus a little bit of drama, like a balloon sleeve or a waistcoat. A bit of military... a bit of principal boy... bit of 80s. I like interesting textures like tweed, wool, fake leather, sateen, and slightly edgy additions such as biker boots or punky jewellery. I probably look like I've rummaged in a dressing up box

I've really enjoyed reading what other people like to wear! Thank you for the interesting thread, OP.

You have managed to describe my imagination, we have a lot in common, i just can t seem to find what works for me and make it happen! I love dark academia too, also what a pp described as upmarket boho, although so many things swamp me, it's depressing.

Your style sounds like a truly wonderful mix.

@ShineySparkleyChrissmassy

Looking at that picture the grey is killing you. The colours of the brown on the door and the beigey stones of the wall are much better.

Now that has surprised me! I thought that lovey shade of sultry gunmetal was so flattering

But the Rab is business, it does a very good job so i can live with it for now, for those Tesco trip days when i cant be bothered thinking past leggings. Or if i go back to the hills.

Now i have no bloody idea whatsoever what season i might be. I have looked at the warmer ones and cant relate.

I tan moderately but never burn.
Eyes pale blue, cheeks pink, and suit cool berry toned lipstick.
Not much in the way of freckles.
I was once told i looked like a casper the ghost at a music festival, but he may have been tripping.

I have tonight discovered, waving fabrics around my face, that i really suit a cool bluey-purple, pale oatmeal/beige and very much yellow/gold.
I suit gentian and dusky blue, but not navy, royal or pale.

I absolutely dont look good with any type of grey now. A lot of my clothes are in too dark or insipid colours, im quite devastated tbh. My fave charcoal cashmere makes me look like death warmed up.
Lessons learned!

OP I can't work you out. From your latest posts it seems pretty obvious that you have some instincts for what suits you, from dresses fitting better than skirts on your body, to knowing what colours work for you. I mean, ok, so you could be wrong and think X colour looks great when it doesn't, but ain't nobody gonna shoot you for picking wrong 😜 so if you're happy that's all that matters.

Why aren't you using your knowledge and trusting your instinct? Is this some kind of displacement thing? Like is the rest of your life is fucked up so you've lost faith in your ability to dress yourself, deciding to fixate on that to avoid addressing the real issues, or what? No need to actually answer tha, I'm not prying, it's a question for yourself.

I'd definitely do a wardrobe cull. All the things that don't fit, either alter them to fit or ditch them. They're making you feel bad. All the hiking wear you're sick of, ditch that too. If you don't have your comfort blanket to fall back on you'll be forced to do something about the mess that is your wardrobe. You know what colours are definitely wrong so ditch anything in those colours. I don't care if you've only got one outfit left, or pyjamas. Put the clothes in the relevant piles, even if you don't dispose of them just yet due to nothing to wear. Keep them in those piles, don't let the crappy stuff infiltrate your wardrobe again, they can live on the floor where they belong.

Gather up all the colours that do work (not just clothes, anything) and start playing around with which combinations look good. What are the common denominators or similarities? Then when you go round the shops you'll know what to look out for colours-wise.

I know nothing about "official fashion/person colour coding" like others are talking about, but I know what works for me. Do you need a label? Why? What's wrong with being "OP who looks good in ABC colours, in #1#2#3 shapes of clothing and with a preference for XYZ fabrics"?

Are you trying to find a formula? Because fashion is art IMO and the best artists don't paint-by-numbers. Do you not want to figure it out? Is it giving you a headache? In that case why not pay someone else to figure it out and follow the formula they give you, perhaps adding your own tweeks?

Making mistakes is fine so long as you learn from them. Unless you're rich you're not at the buying expensive stuff stage yet, you sound too confused and also frustrated at the purchases that don't work (which is totally understandable if they cost a bomb). What's your reasons for keeping the skirts that didn't fit, was there no option to return them? You trying to will them into fitting you, or something? I'm sure you have superb brain powers but willing things to happen, especially when it involves an inanimate object physically altering itself, isn't the best strategy to solely rely on.