What little updates are you adopting to stay current?

[Maising]

I'm trying to make a few changes to keep looking current; I thought it might be helpful for others to add theirs too. I have found it's very easy to suddenly take a look around and find that things have moved on without me noticing 😁, especially as I'm working with ever increasing younger colleagues.

Disclaimer- these are just observations, I am not saying they are all correct or that anyone has to do them.

• wide leg trousers instead of slim/skinny for work
• flat shoes for work
• sports socks instead of trainer socks
• less eyeshadow

the (pre-alpha meaning) preppy rich American aesthetic didn’t start with mui mui deciding that tennis skirts were cute for last year. It started with 20 year olds discovering Gossip Girl and filling the cool bars with thrifted 00’s sport-chic pleats and plaid.

It was the Barbie movie that drove this aesthetic

That is my approach too @FindingMeno I only incorporate trends that I like while ignoring others. For instance, I have never worn skinny jeans, not even when they were the height of fashion. They just don't suit me at all. Similarly, I won't buy extremely wide legged jeans, especially not the sort that drag on the ground. For jeans, I prefer straight legs or boyfriend style.

But I have recently bought some wider legged trousers with a shape that works for me: not overly wide, not too high on the waist. I really like them. Other tweaks I've made: some longer skirts and dresses, new trainers (Nike dunk low, I also have my eye on a New Balance pair). I'm also going for a more monochromatic look. I'm sure I don't look massively trendy, but for me it's fun to add some new styles to my regular wardrobe.

I've started wearing wide leg trousers with tucked in tops and trainers (usually platform ones). I still have black skinnies to go with DMs/leather jacket and I'm wearing them to some gigs this month but suddenly they feel a bit like a costume!

I can't change stuff like my parting easily. I have massive curly hair.

I quite liked the puff sleeve trend but I’ve worn a couple of puff sleeve dresses recently and just felt awkward. I think that trend must be over. I sold the dresses straight away on Vinted though so some people clearly still like the look!

I wish I had kept more. But I do have a pair of wide legged jeans that I easily could of bought today they look so similar.
Also a few maxi skirts that wont look out of place!

As for the trainer issue Im pretty sure that Adidas Sambas and Gazelles have entered Converse territory....they are now a classic that probably wont ever go out of style. (Im a Rocket Dog fan though....they suit my giant flippers best!).

The sock thing I find strange though. Ive always worn my socks fairly high on my calves, ever since I was a kid. Having my ankles out at this point (in trainers anyways) would be like flashing a bum cheek!!LOL
but now apparently I have to worry that I am trying to look trendy because kids appropriated my socks!?🙄

I think it’s fascinating how this happens. I saw a lady yesterday wearing a lovely floaty floral skirt with high top trainers, visible socks and an oversized sweatshirt and I thought how nice her outfit was. A few years ago I’m sure I would have thought it looked terrible!

I only incorporate trends that I like while ignoring others.

Same here.
I really dislike clumpy shoes with thick soles. I don't need the height and don't like the look of them.

I also need my clothes to be practical and have only just started wearing my wide leg linen trousers again because it has been too wet until now.

I don't live in a "fashionable" part of the country and my going out is just a meal, a drink in a local pub or dinner at a friend's house. I WFH and go into the office one day a week. The dress code for work is very casual and most people wear jeans.

So, I get my fashion advice from here as I appear to live in a fashion free bubble.
Although a lot of the fashion tips just don't fit with my lifestyle. For example on how to look groomed threads it is always suggested to get a trench coat and wear a camel coat in winter. I drive to work and dislike using umbrellas and often walk on muddy paths, so a parka is more useful to me. It rains a lot where I live and the last few times I wore my smart (black) coat was to funerals, and camel does not suit me at all.

And as for the parting debate- I can't say that I have ever noticed where women part their hair. None of my friends have hair longer than shoulder length, and mine is short and wavy and getting too thin to have a parting.

The teenager thing- I assumed we were talking 16-19 range, not 13-15 when they can still be wearing children’s ranges.

The big thing with older teenagers, they have grown. A 16 year olds wardrobe might be at most 12 months old. There might be one or two items from when they were 14 that still fit, but it’s unlikely for the majority of what they wear. By the very nature of having to buy new clothes, and most likely have a bodyshape that can carry off whatever is in fashion, they are most likely to be early adopters.

most are only just getting their adult feet size, so they are getting new trainers every 6 months not just every 2-3 years.

Teenagers are getting used to wearing makeup, not just putting on the same shades and doing it in the same way as 10 years ago.

They literally can’t wear clothes they bought 5 years ago, so they are a good way to see how high street shops have taken designer trends into mass market trends. (Whilst accepting I ain’t ever buying s dress/top I can’t wear a bra with, the days of allowing the norks freedom out the house have long since passed)

most are only just getting their adult feet size, so they are getting new trainers every 6 months not just every 2-3 years.

Really? My feet stopped growing at 15, I was massively into fashion at that age but there was no way I was getting £100 trainers every 6 months.

To person who asked about oversized top and bottom I never do both. A lot of the cargo trousers I have bought are still quite fitted around the bum.

@Emeraldsrock totally agree. If I’m wearing cargo trousers (mine are also quite fitted around the bum) it has to be with a fitted top. I can’t do two lots of baggy! However it’s the completely reverse shape/silhouette to skinny jeans with a longer, looser top and it takes some getting used to.

Ermm don't we all adopt the trends we like and ignore the rest?
Admittedly I probably like more of the current trends than some of you do.

I've only skimmed the thread op but I've not seen specs mentioned. If you wear them I think a change of frame can be a quick (although not cheap) way of perking up your whole look. I recently switched to a bigger, rounder but less chunky frame and it was the best fashion money I'd spent all year.

Regarding jeans, I'm seeing lots of flares at the moment.

Apologies if they've both been covered.

I'm off now because I don't think I can bear another skinnies argument or drive-by telling off.

@Pollipops1 - ha could just be the 16/17 year olds I know who’s parents are still having to buy new shoes because they’ve been outgrown not worn out. Most said it’s changed by year 13 but start of year 12 things rarely fit by end of year 12. (It was parents of older ones advising those doing GCSEs now and talking about what to wear/buy once uniform ends not to spend too much in the first half of the year)

This may be nostalgia talking but I don’t think there is the same strong youth culture that there was in the past which heavily influenced fashion. There aren’t the same high street shops eg Topshop with an in-house design team that set trends, the markets are full of similar stuff now etc.

I really like Abigail Ahern’s style. She manages to look current whilst dressing for her age. Her instagram is beautiful too - obviously mostly interior stuff but love seeing her outfits that are achievable. She said on one post her combats are Zara.

Genius! Just off to find some safety pins. As another poster commented, it’s hard to get the right length. An inch in either direction can spoil the look, and if I’m wearing very flat summer sandals my cargo trousers sit differently to when I’m wearing my Air Force Ones. However a touch too long does look better than a touch too short.

I call this look 'bag lady chic'.😄
Very comfy though, I feel like todays twenty somethings are much less likely to sacrifice comfort for fashion then back in my day.
Although I think you have to be very skinny to pull off the baggy/baggy look and not look like a lump.

(Im doing baggy cargos and a baggy tee today but I will still tuck it in so my waist doesnt disappear!).

@Floisme re specs. I have a small head and an expensive and complicated prescription. It limits the frames I can wear considerably, so I am just happy to find a pair that fits, suits my small face and can take varifocal lenses. At over £500 a pair I don't change my glasses very often (I also have astigmatism and need my lenses thinning).

My current specs also have magnetic "clip on" sunglasses and they are a game changer.

I totally agree with this.

I have under 25s ( and my age) tell me all the time how they like my style, and it’s usually followed by “do you work in fashion?”

I don’t follow trends as such, I like looking different and wearing what I know suits me rather than what’s in. For example I noticed the puff ball skirt is making a reappearance, that is one trend I will not be reliving and if I did I feel like I would have to add the over knee black and white stripes socks that I wore in the 80s 😅, but the shoulder pads is my dream because I like to wear SOME 80s vintage pieces anyway.

I recently found an 80s real silk dress for something silly like £10 but it needed new shoulder pads and a couple buttons so i decided to channel my inner “Alexis Colby” and went all out big shoulder pads, now I’m just waiting for the sodding weather to improve to be able to wear it!

I suppose I have days I dress quite similar to Carrie from SATC, so I mix vintage with current ( or just vintage), heels with ankle socks ( not the sports ones but say lace or silk ones, lol) casual and smart together. I’m also not afraid of bright colours or metallics, but then you also have to get the accessories right, have the right hairstyle and make up ( I am black with a ash/silver blonde buzz cut) and these small things make all the difference to be able to pull it off.

It also helps that I live in a part of London where literally anything goes, for example yesterday was a man at the bus stop in a bright pink PVC mini skirt and corset, with pink Fishnet suspenders and pink stripper shoes, all the while hobbling on his crutches. I absolutely loved it and his don’t give a fu*k attitude, but you kinda see that sort of thing daily anyway so my look is pretty boring in the grand scheme 🤣

Now that Matches is going and in particular Raey I don’t think I will know what to wear going forward as that was my main shop 😭😭

I have a an astigmatism too and have to get mine thinned down, also doesn’t help that I have to have yearly checkups 😩 but I have found Lensology to be a lifesaver as there is no way I’m going to purchase new sets of glasses every year.

Their lenses are so cheap but also good quality so now i just reglaze my older frames because like you ( although i don’t have a small head) there are so few frames I like or that I feel suit me so i may buy frames that cost £350 but I assure you those buggers are getting reglazed for at least 4 years before I change them and the reglaze with all the bells and whistles I need is only about £100.

@hoxtonbabe do you wear varifocals? It is the varifocal part that bumps the price up. I also won't buy online because getting the fit right is crucial. I wear my glasses all the time I am awake so while they cost £££ the cost per wear will be pennies.

I always catch my big toe in the bottom of the opposite leg with those type of leggings, when doing yoga barefoot or walking upstairs. They are very flattering, but falling on my front like a starfish isn't.

@crowsatemyslugpellets 😊

@MorvernBlack I know what you mean. I wear this type, can’t have anything near the foot!

https://www.yogamatters.com/collections/womens-joggers-pants/products/urban-goddess-ojas-pants-urban-black

I also need mine all the time, ( even under the care of moorfields eye at one point so my eyes aren’t standard fare) everything super blurred when I take them off and even need prescription swimming goggles. I do need both reading and distance but I don’t like varifocals so I just swap between my two glasses. But even with varifocals it’s still considerably cheaper at Lensology than your Specsavers, boots, Vision express, etc. I had some glasses I wanted from boots, all in would have cost me over £600 which I was not wanting to part with, so I purchased the frames separately, went to Lensology and I ended up paying £300 all in.

I too am very sensitive to anything being “off” if the tilt of the lens is a smidge off, it will be a nightmare for me, I suppose when I was mentioning Lensology I assume everyone is in or around London ( I know we are all over the world on here but my brain wasn’t engaging at the time of typing this, lol) so I actually go to their showroom to get them fitted but i guess that makes no sense if you don’t live within reasonable distance to their shop 😅