Trendproof clothes?

[michaelmacrae]

My maxi dress thread got me thinking - which styles/cuts are completely trendproof?

Would be good to know, as I get older, I don't want to follow fashion any more but find my personal style - but I don't want to be very dated either! I'd like to buy clothes that I can still wear in 5 years time (or more!) and not worry that the 'cut' is wrong etc. Any suggestions?

I don't own anything on that list.

I've got some t-shirts

Honest to god that sounds so utterly boring

As do these , dull as dishwasher

Much much better!

Why 'cashmere' jumper and not regular jumper to be classic? I have a plain black one and it doesn't look radically different from my other, ordinary wool one!

I have a charcoal grey alpaca grey jumper.

Buy the jumper you like, in the fibre you like, with the neckline you like.

I think that you need to choose clothes that you see as fitting your core personal style which you have been staying true to in the clothes you’ve chosen in say the last five years and beyond, the clothes you buy now and the clothes you see yourself wearing in the next five or more years. Whilst I think a trench coat is classic, at the end of the day, if you are not going to wear it then what’s the point? If you stay true to your personal style then I think with the use of accessories etc then you can try and keep it you whilst incorporating trends.

I'm into dressmaking and there are now 100's of independent pattern designers who sort of follow trends to some extent but there is also a really interesting parallel universe of styles. Also because you can make or adapt a pattern whenever you want, it's not tied to a shop selling it in one season.

Merchant and Mills, Closet Core Patterns, The Assembly Line for example.

There's a longevity about well made clothes that fit just right.

It's the same with knitting. There is a long running trend for Jennifer Steinglass jumpers with detailed circular yokes, there were a few copies briefly in the shops but if you made one of those you'd keep it for life.

Lol - feel like I’ve passed some sort of test! I’ve been wearing those things (amongst others less enduring) since about 1987! 😂

Actually on second thoughts I don't think they do need to be cashmere. I've merino wool jumpers that are older than my 9 year old in my "dull as dishwater" wardrobe! They just need to keep their shape.

LOL, just realised my wardrobe is actually "as dull as dishwasher". The poor dishwashers!

Meh, dull to some. Classic to others.

I have a lot of merino too. I don't have cashmere as I tend to ruin it.

Agree with the pp that the problem is committing to staying the same size! I fluctuate a bit depending on what I'm doing, how much time I have for exercise etc

The original phrase is ‘dull as ditch water’, because the water in ditches ( small drainage channels which line a road or field) was slow flowing and muddy, so not clear and sparkling.

An interesting example of changing metaphor ( although personally I love my dishwasher and the fact that it saves me from washing up is anything but dull).

I’d rather have merino than cashmere.

I assumed it was a typo for ditch water, not a deliberate use.

In the case of the friend I referred to upthread, because she prefers how is feels, and how warm it is.

I didn't say jumpers had to be cashmere to be classic. I just said that she wore lambswool jumpers when she was younger/skinter.

I also prefer merino. Much less of a drama Queen.

This works for me as I'm very much a classic dresser, with a bit of bohemian styling. I can see that it wouldn't work for others. For example biker jackets for some reason look terrible on me but I can see they're now modern classics.
It's very tricky to future proof your clothing.I kept some old Maxmara jackets from over 20 years ago and they definitely dated.

Well it is dull - because if you want something to not scream “I bought this 6 years ago” it needs to be plain and nondescript enough that it could be a basic you bought this week.

The idea that your whole outfit can be 10 years old without looking dated is hard to pull off and still look interesting and fashionable (assuming what is in fashion now won’t suddenly be having a high fashion moment again in a decade). But bits of your outfit that you put with more up to date pieces to make the whole look more interesting is an option. Or dressing in a stylish but boring way.

it’s a bit like the “how to look expensive” threads that happen every year or so, generally the advice is all very neutral, and someone jumps on and says “but this is boring, I wouldn’t want to dress like that!” well it’s not a “how to look interesting /high fashion” thread, it’s a how to look like you are wealthy. (Then someone else will join to say “real” posh people wear old clothes with holes in, and won’t have it those are titled but poor, not rich people)

I think it can differ according to body shape and colouring but generally in my opinion I think straight cut high waist jeans with a slightly oversized t-shirt or shirts tucked in always looks amazing. Generally avoid anything with large prints but smaller print and paisley are usually ok. No bright colours or pastels. White tops are good but generally sort of darker tones like navy are more classic. Raglan tops and jumpers, cigarette trousers. Well fitting leather and denim jackets.

I think they do. I've got fitted blazers that look completely wrong atm as the trend is more oversized or at least not fitted. Same with white shirts. Different times I've worn fitted, boxy, man style, feminine etc. jeans are a classic but the style of jean changes. The rise. The shape of the leg. The wash. A grey cashmere jumper May be a classic but again the style is. not. It might be thin and tight, shorter and boxy or oversized and baggy. Sticking to one style is what leaves people looking dated as they age. They wear what they bought when it was in trend and then think it's a 'classic'.

Hmm. I think the answer to all this is to go completely quirky! Instead of bland choose pieces that are completely unique and individual and beyond 'trends' that most people wouldn't wear. That way it's all 'you' and no one can say you're either out of date or trendy. You're just unquestionably You.

Something like the way Helena BC dresses off duty. I love it, but not sure if I can pull this off! She could have had some of these items for years and years.

I think the answer to all this is to go completely quirky! Instead of bland choose pieces that are completely unique and individual and beyond 'trends' that most people wouldn't wear.

I expect Vivienne Westwood staff could tell which year my midi length draped figure of 8 dress was made. I doubt many others could.

I obviously don't wear Vivienne Westwood all day, every day but I doubt most people could date the year of any of my jackets, skirts or dresses from Pauw Amsterdam or Lilith, Paris. Or my Laura Ashley coat- which someone stopped me in the street last year to tell me was beautiful.

Definitely the more quirky the more timeless, if that's what you want... Gudrun Sjöden for example brings out basically the same items in different variations every year. I have a friend who dresses in "lagenlook" style and the items could have been bought 10 years ago or yesterday and would look the same.

I do see how quirky is harder to date. But I saw a secondhand VW dress recently which managed to look dated. I used to have one of her bags which I wouldn't say dated though (but it did get destroyed 😢)