So what are we wearing instead of floral midi dress and white trainers this Spring?

[KrabiBeach]

Like many 35-55yo women I've been wearing a floral midi dress with trainers every Spring/Summer for the past few years. I always buy dresses with pockets and love the comfort, practicality and coolness (temperature-wise) on a sunny day. Easy to layer under a denim jacket, biker or blazer and wear with any white trainers or converse etc.

It was inevitable that such an easy outfit would become so ubiquitous that the fashion world declared it "dead".

I'm gutted but I am a follower of style. So yes, I know it's shallow but this is the Style board so.... What other outfits fit the brief?

One journalist in the Sunday papers suggested trouser suits are the new floral midi dress and trainers. But I don't think a trouser suit would work in a hot day like a flowery dress would, no matter how much you keep it casual with a t-shirt and trainers - it's still too hot surely?

If you're a follower of trends, what will you be wearing instead of floral midi from now on?

(Article for reference: amp.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/feb/10/john-lewis-declares-death-of-the-floral-midi-dress)

Gosh my thread pushed a few buttons!
It could be worse OP, you could have asked what people would recommend for a nice handbag purchase.

Those threads also attract people with no interest in the topic declaring their £8 bag from Tesco is as good and as stylish and as well made as any designer bag.

A SUMMARY - thus far.....

for those still following the original 🧵 thread!!!!!!!!!!!!

More up-to-date ideas to replace the floral midi, white trainers and denim / biker jacket:

• stick with the floral midi but wear with Dad trainers, colourful sports sneakers or chunky sandals. Add an oversized blazer in linen or otherwise

• stick with the white trainers but wear with your wide leg trousers, t-shirt and cropped jacket

• or wide leg trousers and white tank

• Wide leg trousers and shirt tucked in / half tuck with those white trainers, Dad trainers or with chunky sandals

• plain or abstract printed dress with colourful sports trainers or chunky sandals

• t-shirt dress with colourful basketball high tops

• linen or demon maxi skirt with chunky sandals and t-shirt

• bias cut silky skirt or dresses with colourful sports trainers or chunky sandals

(Unfortunately I won't be wearing bias cut as I have a serious mum tum and- don't feel they flatter me, but I love the look).

• save denim or biker jacket to wear with wide leg trousers, not over dresses. Ensure denim or biker jackets are either oversized or cropped.

• invest in linen or other oversized blazer (possibly as part of trouser suit). Can be mixed and matched as above.

Completely agree. I'm in Paris and I can't see trainers going anywhere - everyone here walks everywhere so it's a no-brainer. I don't think my daughter and her friends have ever worn uncomfortable shoes in their lives. I'm just delighted that now I've reached the age of wanting comfortable shoes, trainers have become acceptable (and so is my 86-year-old mum!). The floral dress feels like a summer staple (an alternative to the Breton striped top) and the shops are full of them. It's not high fashion - it's what you wear when it's hot (and summers are definitely getting much hotter for longer).

Haha denim, not demon!!!

Am wearing trainers till I die since I walk everywhere too.

@Floisme I completely agree, if fashion never moved on we'd still be wearing crinolines and corsets.

That's the beauty of fashion that you can choose to wear what you like and how you like, some find a cut or shape that was once the height of fashion and stick to it and others like to change as things change or come back into focus. People can do as they wish.

All parts of life are subject to this and always have been: interior design, hair, cars, pets etc. People sneering about those who are interested in changing or adapting their style or wardrobe are not compelled to contribute to a board that they clearly don't share an interest in.

And I don't know what joy is to be had by
making people feel frivolous or ridiculous for enjoying fashion and hijacking every OP so it ends up in the same discussion.

It really is starting to bloody irritate me.

There's been an element of sneeriness for a long time, as handbag lovers in particular can testify, but it seems to have ramped up lately.

But don't pretend it's something it's not.

I think you're rather more invested than this as I am! As I former buyer with plenty of friends still in the industry I would think it unusual if a denim brand or NAP, Asos etc didn't offer skinny cuts. From a business perspective there is still very much a demand for them. That would be why I see them as more classic now but I guess it depends on what you class as classic, what are the rules?

I don't think my opinion is that wild! 😆

"Lorna Hall, WGSN’s retail director, said the sheer success of skinny jeans meant they had moved beyond being a trend: “Something as big as the skinny jeans is not a trend, it’s a wardrobe staple. It will still exist in our wardrobes, but there are now a lot of people buying into other styles.”"

I'm not invested in skinny jeans at all...

I've never worn the buggers.

I'm interested in what people claim to be classic whilst not understanding that they are part of an ever-moving churn.

I don't believe in 'classic' clothing items. They don't exist. I think when people talk about classics they hone in on a woman who has a wonderful and distinctive style and declare it classic

The clothing isn't classic, the woman is classic.

It's not that deep, I just think something classic is something that is around a long time, is popular across different ages & sells a lot of units! I'm not interested myself in dressing in classics eg white shirt, trench as I like fashion & for it to be fun.

I'm interested in what people claim to be classic whilst not understanding that they are part of an ever-moving churn.

That's my point! skinny jeans have been huge in retail sales terms for years. I think it's interesting that the churn of fashion cycles sometimes doesn't churn or takes decades 😆

Hi I thought I might wear pleated skirts and trainers but is this look also out? Thought I would do a white t-shirt as not as trendy as pic. (No idea of fashion here!)

*And I don't know what joy is to be had by
making people feel frivolous or ridiculous for enjoying fashion and hijacking every OP so it ends up in the same discussion.

It really is starting to bloody irritate me.*

Yes.

I am also irritated by the idea that by pinpointing what is current, contemporary or fashionable you are somehow sneering or judgemental at people who have no interest or not wearing that. It always crops up. It has on here. 🙄

"I'll wear what I want etc"
Of course you can !

‘Classic’ is a subjective term.

Which means that everyone has the freedom to decide what they decide is classic in their own eyes for them.

It’s all personal taste and choice.

If someone asks another for their subjective opinion then that’s fine and you don’t have to agree with it - thank goodness.

Snowwhite83
To me the outfit is a nice outfit, except for the white trainers, but then I've not been on board with the chunky white trainers look.
Personally I think that outfit would look better with some vans, converse or toms.

Ok I'll bite. I don't know what the rules say but my personal definition of 'classic' is something that comes around regularly and, when it does, you feel like it's never been away. I think polo necks and trench coats are good examples - they might fall off the radar completely for a while but you know it's only a matter of time before they come back. Heels are another example - yes of course they'll be back at some point <runs and hides> Or those Chanel-ish looking jackets - back in the shops after an absence.

There's a sting in the tail because sometimes, when it comes back, it doesn't look quite the same as last time or it's not worn in quite the same way. But often it's just a case of a few tweaks or teaming it with something different.

If your definition of 'classic' means an item that's been around pretty much all our lives then yeah that would make jeans, trainers, and flowery dresses all classic, but the actual styles come, go and come back around again.

But whatever your definition, I'd say an item can be classic and still subject to trends.

That was a rollercoaster of a thread, but thanks to the poster who answered the question as lots of useful ideas.

For those that ignored the question and high jacked the thread, maybe for your own sanity you should stay off S&B

I'm not sure @Floisme, I have 10 black polonecks in different iterations.

They are absolutely a stalwart of my wardrobe. Something I build lots of outfits around.

I love, love, love black polo-necks.

They certainly are classic to me.

Stone-cold classic?

No. Only if they work for you.

I don’t either.

to me, skinny jeans are a trend that has gone on too long, rather than being a classic.

I really dislike the look of them, and hate “tight” clothes anyway so have never worn them. I suppose they might be comfy? especially “jeggings” style with lots of elasticity and no waistband/zip.

i prefer “classic” jeans such as (men’s) 501’s. Not “trendy”, but can still look stylish.

I suppose my interpretation is influenced by my career. I worked at Topshop for years & every knitwear season we would have a few polo necks & every spring the jacket dept would have a few trenches. Churn was very much the name of the game but there would always be core/basics/classics whatever you want to call them in order to cater for as big a market as possible.

ProstituteHair Yeah, agree black polo necks are a staple for some people (although not for me) but wasn't there a spell when you rarely saw them in shops and presumably had to seek them out if you wanted one? I can remember seeing photos of Steve Jobs and thinking 'Oh yes, I'd forgotten all about them!' And then I tried one (cos I never learn) and got that strangled feeling all over again and remembered why I'd never got into them.

Lastnamedidntstick
Jeggings are one thing I'm glad to see the back of, and I like skinnies.

As a skinny jeans fan, I found there is a big difference between a heavier denim, even heavier stretch denim, skinny jeans that are well fitting, have a waistband in the right place and a flattering rise, and the spray on type skinny jeans and jeggings that are thin, flimsy, show every lump and bump, don't fit well and are generally unflattering.

I got rid of all mine that were in the second camp, but have kept a couple of pairs of high rise mid wash and high waisted faded black/grey. Not saying I win any points in the trendsetter camp, but there's definitely a difference in comfort levels and how different skinnies look when styled.

Ooh.. the black broderie River Island dress is lovely! Although the V is probably a tad low cut for me, being small of bust..
It’s still pretty chilly where I am, so lots of cosy jumpers still (definitely looser fitting than was the norm a couple of years ago). When I’ve needed something for spring like I’ve gone for loose fitting shirts (not quite oversized but almost) with jeans or leggings. I also bought a lovely pink blazer.
I really like the pleated skirt / tshirt look above.. I’ll still be wearing it, but either with my black new balance or some kind of non white converse.

A white tshirt is classic, a white shirt is classic,a black tshirt is classic. A black jumper whether v neck or roll neck is classic. Even a black cardigan is classic. A pencil skirt is classic. These are things you can put with anything. You can put your white tshirt with your pencil skirt and cardigan and you have an outfit swap the tshirt with the shirt and you have a smarter look.

A classic spans the test lf time. It's timeless and a style staple.

Ahh @Floisme I'm always on the hunt for THE PERFECT black polo.

I've got my eye on one from The Row, it's £1,500, but it may just be 'the one'.