Right so we should stop wearing...

[Fashionotista]

...floral midi/maxi dress with white trainers because it’s ubiquitous, a ‘middle aged women’s summer uniform’ (can’t forget the cropped denim jacket)

Beige, cream, camels any neutrals because it’s dull and bland.

Skinny jeans are out, they are not trendy.

What else should we stop wearing?

On a thread about the fashion industry telling us what we should and shouldn't wear I actually think it's very helpful to say 'ignore them - they have clothes to sell, and it's in their interest to tell you what's in and what's not this season. Instead, wear what you want - whether you're someone who ignores trends and rocks their own style , or whether you just dress for the weather, if you feel good in something that's all that matters'.

Valid points and a reductive roll call of " just wear what you want " misses those points.

Much more interesting to find out what it is that drives fashion choices. Even if it's not 'them' ( whoever 'they' are)

See it time and again on threads that go near any discussion of 'trends'.

That's why I'm asking - not specially if you but if this thread in general - if it's possible to hold a discussion about trends on this board without offence?

I don't think you can.

I definitely wear what I want. Why buy fast fashion if whatever you have suits you!

Is the idea of 'fashion' itself a sordid concept? Better left to youngsters who are often used as examples.

Or as someone pointed out, almost a badge of honour?

You'd think so from some comments.

I must be very shallow then because last year my skinny jeans just looked wrong. I had to have wide legged cropped or nothing! By winter I wanted dark flares and boot cuts. This week I put on a pair of old worn out skinnies that I’d kept for gardening and I just thought I looked fab in them. I think it’s called the zeitgeist isn’t it? You don’t know why tastes move from one thing to another but they do. It’s not just advertising I think (some of us) crave novelty and the ability to reinvent ourselves.
I don’t chuck out the clothes I don’t wear. I keep them and I will wear them when they feel right again.

Offence? This is MN, people take offence at anything - you’ve been around these boards long enough to know that! S&B isn’t exempt.

You don’t know why tastes move from one thing to another but they do. It’s not just advertising I think (some of us) crave novelty and the ability to reinvent ourselves.
I agree, I think there's something in human nature that's forever seeking a) change but also b) to fit in, and that this reflected in how we dress.
Of course the fashion industry exploits those impulses but I believe they existed before fashion.

It's something I really enjoy chewing over, and I'm getting increasingly ticked off that, however carefully I might choose my words (and trust me, I know words matter), it's becoming close to impossible to do this on here.

I must be very shallow then because last year my skinny jeans just looked wrong. I had to have wide legged cropped or nothing!

Lol. That feeling when suddenly things look wrong.

Offence? This is MN, people take offence at anything - you’ve been around these boards long enough to know that! S&B isn’t exempt.
I don't think that's very helpful. I'm trying to establish what's acceptable on this board - the board as a whole, not to some individual who wants to behave like an arse or who's got out of bed feeling grumpy. Whether some kind of resolution is possible or whether I should just give up.

Offence? This is MN, people take offence at anything - you’ve been around these boards long enough to know that! S&B isn’t exempt.

I think most people are up for disagreement but this is more like a closing down. As if it's wrong that it's discussed in the first place.

I think most people are up for disagreement but this is more like a closing down. As if it's wrong that it's discussed in the first place.
Yes thanks, that expresses it better than I did.

I thoroughly enjoy a good argument but that isn't what's been happening.

What is more like a closing down?

I'd never heard of the phrase before reading this thread and now it's everywhere!

I've been on so many threads lately where any attempt to talk about fashion and trends (not the people wearing them) have been interrupted and derailed by complaints and shouts of 'Who cares' and yes, 'Wear what you like' etc etc. Eventually you give up.

It probably started around the time of the pandemic and at first I put it down to high levels of anxiety. But it's continued. There have been other discussions about it.

@Floisme Of course they’re going to be interrupted - it’s a public forum and so you’ll get all manner of responses. It’s frustrating but it’s just one of those things.

At risk of repeating myself, I do think part of the problem is that the board is Style and Beauty, not Fashion and Beauty - but so much of what I see on here is focused on what’s in/out as dictated by the fashion industry/media. I’ve seen posters torn to shreds for their choice of outfits for a wedding or other event for example , with suggestions for alternatives posted that bear no resemblance whatsoever to what the OP is looking for but it’s deemed be on trend and therefore should be worn. There’s a vast middle ground between the sneering fashionistas and wear what you want brigade, and I think that’s where most of S&B inhabits.

Sirchenjin, as you have said yourself, I've been on this board long enough to know the difference between bog standard arguments or people being generally arsey and what's been happening more recently.

We’ll have to agree to disagree @Floisme

And I don't think where the majority sit is quite the point. I've said this somewhere before (cos this isn't a new discussion) but it's not like this is a magazine with limited space, it's an Internet forum - there ought to be plenty of room for any kind of discussion, as long as there enough people interested in taking part.

I don't think it's interruptions. I think it's the fundamental idea that being interested in fashion or fashion trends is a negative.

You can read back through this thread and see it.

tbh I see more sneering anti fashion-ites than 'sneering fashionistas'.

I definitely wear what I want.

I don't know why people even post this. Surely we all wear what we want, within the confines of money, lifestyle and time. It doesn't mean we can't discuss it and ask for advice or new ideas. I go on holiday where I want too - I still like to read articles etc about new holiday destinations for inspiration.

If you read my post @sunglassesonthetable the sneering comes from the fashionistas and the other brigade. I didn’t differentiate.

I think there’s plenty of discussion - some extremes and lots in the middle just trying to find their style. If you’re looking for a serious discussion on fashion and/or style then there are probably better boards than S&B on MN.

No didn't get that.

I don't think there is a better board to discuss fashion myself.

I couldn't agree more, @notwavingbutdrowning1 ! We all wear what we want and make those choices within confines. As if women wearing floral dresses or skinny jeans are doing so against their will.
I love clothes, am interested in style and want to look good. I like to discuss it on here and I like to get different ideas.
A person with no interest in fashion is not morally superior to me because of this.

I wear what I want/I don't care about fashion- great, but some of us do want advice. I found the thread about what to wear if you are fed up or don't look nice in the ubiquitous dress, denim jacket and trainers really helpful- just ways to freshen it all up, bought a couple of jackets/linen shirts off Vinted, a couple of long denim skirts, kept the same trainers, really helpful.

If you’re looking for a serious discussion on fashion and/or style then there are probably better boards than S&B on MN.

If we can't discuss fashion seriously on a style board then I really don't think there's any point trying elsewhere.