Comments on: Sophisticated Style

By: Nikki

Nikki — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:36:25 +0000

Ladies:
I think the real problem is that every situation now has become too casual. I’d rather be overdressed than underdressed. I think you should wear what you like, what makes you feel good about yourself. I think people who make comments are incredibly rude and ill mannered. I hope this is the beginning of the end of casual Friday’s and work casual looks. I think people behave better when they are dressed more formally. I personally don’t want to see people in their pajamas at the grocery store of coffee shop. I don’t think having pride in your appearance is a bad thing. I wish others would dress appropriately when they leave their homes. I love how ladies dressed in the 40’s, 50’s and early 60’s. They looked feminine and lady like, sophisticated and polished. They were most definitely respected more and that has a lot to do with appearance. Bring back Sophisticated Style everyday!

By: Ellen

Ellen — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:00:03 +0000

Laura, I have been in that situation and it is NOT fun. In the past month there have even been a couple times that I have been dressed nicely and then taken the outfit off and gone more casual because I knew I’d get those “overdressed” looks… and I was wearing trouser jeans! I am working on owning my oufits and being thoroughly comfortable with what I’m wearing.

Classic sophisticated is the style I love and go for and I have always said that Jennifer Aniston is my style icon. I just love how perfectly polished she looks without drawing attention and she rarely used colour, just perfect neutrals, which is my norm.

That being said, there are exceptions for me:

Sports events or casually hanging out with my husband – he is a talented hockey player and loves seeing me in sporty outfits, so often I go with that. Sometimes I combine: today I was in Montreal with family and wore dark wash jeans, grey Converse, and a cream turtleneck with a graphic tee layered over top. He loved it.

Youth group – I work with high school kids one night a week and, quite frankly, my classier outfits do not fit it. While I still sometimes go the smart casual route, I do tend to go for what Angie calls “gear” on occasion. It fits right in with what the teens are wearing and my time with them is more about dealing with life issues than making a fashion statement.

Busy SAHM mornings – I still make a point to wear well-fitted jeans and tops, but often do grab tees. I accessorize, though, and if I’m going out I will grab a cardi or blazer and a great bag to pump things up a level.

By: Anita

Anita — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:56:25 +0000

Sophistication is as sophistication does. Sounds rather Gumpie but as with any style, the look is only part of the equation. How you carry it off is really what creates ‘that style’.
Being a mood dresser and an options girl, If the mood sways me towards sophistication…I’m certain to dive in and do it…and yes, less is definitely more in the sophisticated stakes.
As for over dressing, I’ve learned that particularly here in Australia, almost anything goes.It really gets down to how comfortable you feel wearing it and if your heart is in it, you’ll pull it off. So, if you want to wear those pearls with thongs/flip flops and jeans at playgroup they yes, you absolutely must because….it’s YOU!

By: Kyla

Kyla — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:31:10 +0000

I love the sophisticated look, but I have trouble achieving it. I feel like I often end up dressing “old”. By “old” I don’t mean objectively old, just older than my actual age. At 23, I feel like I can wear things that later on in life will be “too young”, so I should wear them now, if that makes any sense. Unfortunately, most clothes I can afford on a student budget are either these more mature looks, or fit more into the “funky” streetwear category, which I’m frankly just not stylish enough to pull off regularly.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:09:07 +0000

Wow, everybody has made such good comments already that I hardly feel I have anything to add. Like Antje, I’m not sure that I completely understand the sophisticated look. I guess I try to avoid outfits that completely fall into the “sophisticated” category, because that’s how I was forced to dress in high school. Artsy outfits express me much better, and that’s when I feel fabulous. On the other hand, I can feel fab in a sophisticated outfit that has some sort of element of my personality added to it. For the most part though, I dress more classic/sophisticated when I don’t feel like thinking about my outfit much. *sigh* That seems backwards, but it’s true. As someone else said, confidence seems more important to me than sophistication.

By: Angie

Angie — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:48:30 +0000

Laura, the lasses have come to your rescue and I will too. Never apologize, or feel bad about looking well pulled together. Inspire others! (You might find the forum thread about this topic interesting. It was discussed at length).

Yes Antje, I would call Anne Hathaway’s style sophisticated. But a sophisticated style does not need to be “very classic”. Sophisticated styles can be super modern and trendy. In fact, that’s when I personally like them best. Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman always look sophisticated, but they push the fashion envelope. But Jennifer Aniston has more of a classic sophisticated style. Does that help you understand the concept of sophisticated style?

Sophisticated styles in my opinion are extremely eye-catching. Possibly the most eye-catching style. A sophisticated style always turns heads.

A well deserved compliment, Julia!

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:42:44 +0000

Angie thank you so much for the compliments! *blushing*

By: Kyle

Kyle — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:08:17 +0000

Laura, you hit the nail on the head when you said it was more about the other mom than about you. Hold your head high. I’ll bet the other moms start upping their style quotients before long. You have absolutely nothing to feel bad about, and please don’t allow small minded people to bring you down.

By: Laura

Laura — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:14:20 +0000

Thank you Antje! That’s just what I needed to hear.

By: Antje

Antje — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:27:59 +0000

Oh, and Laura, I so empathize with your playground experience. It’s “the compliment that isn’t”. We had a thread on this a while ago, discussing snarky remarks that other women sometimes make commenting on your outfit this way – sort of saying you look stylish but in a way that makes you feel bad in the end. I looked for the thread but can’t find it anymore. Anyhow, just wanted to let you know that I’ve experienced this, too, and I encourage you to just let it rub off you. It really is an expression about your friend feeling insecure about her own style, and not about you. Go girl and continue showing the world that a mom on the playground does not need to look frumpy!