Aaaaaigh everyone looks the SAME! - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Aaaaaigh everyone looks the SAME!

ironkurtin

Veteran

I was at an Austin outdoor mall today and suddenly realized that everyone was dressed the same. Skinnies, boots, and tunic or top with a jacket. And so was I. I felt a wave of pure horror. I hate being one of the herd. It didn't matter that the little details were different on everyone - EVERYONE was wearing the same basic outfit. Ayyyyy yi yiiii!!!

Dressing

72 replies

Latest reply was from mrseccentric

kellygirl

Veteran

Hehe! I noticed something very similar at a recent soccer tourney. All the moms were decked out in skinnies and tall boots. I think I need some fleece lined tights and Docs to wear with a dress.

ETA: Moo!

Claudia

Veteran

I feel the same way. It happened to me in the grocery store yesterday. I looked around and had the same feeling. Bring on the boot cuts, wide leg jeans and more dresses/skirts.

Maybe this is why Angie is showing us the glitter harem pants and sequined pants!!!

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

lol@ Claudia - I think glitter hammer pants might be the way to go at the grocery store. lol!!!

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Everyone here is just so excited to be out of shorts and sandals!
That reminds me, we need to plan an Austin get together after the holidays.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I hear you Sarah! But here is not very fashion forward so I'm not seeing skinnies and tall boots. More like mom jeans and windbreakers on the retirees and biker chic for some of the 40-50 crowd!

Now, in Tampa the other weekend, it was a sea of dark designer denim and tall leather boots as you mention, IK. I was in a bright print skirt and cobalt blue top lol.

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Ha - at least it's a step up from the schleppy and gangsta styles I've seen at the nearest mall lately! I would be impressed if I saw more 'chic uniform' peeps than haggard or vile ones (oops, no offence, but too much is an eyesore) on a daily basis. I know what you mean about originality, though...but then if that was the norm, the flattering on-trend modern classic outfits would become 'unique'. Matter of perspective. In general, though, I find many people don't pay very close attention to fashion for varying reasons - lack of aesthetic interest, time, money, know-how, work, safety (as in work dress code), personality, etc, so the jeans/top combo is a no-brainer!

mamaKate

Veteran

Why didn't I take the blue pill?

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Because the blue pill looked too much like Viagra.

PS: I wore jeans yesterday and felt too "herded" - dress time.

DeniseP

Can't believe this post! I was going to make one today about the very same thing!

Yesterday while at an Atlanta mall, I noticed that almost EVERYONE had skinny jeans, tall boots tucked in, and a scarf!
Those coordinates must be everyone's "go to" wardrobe.
No doubt about it -- it does look sharp, but common.
Reminds me of a cookie cutter process.

Just for the record, I didn't have my tall boots on, but I did have on a cordoroy blazer from several years back, and it did look different.

I do NOT like being part of the status quo, and that's why the new book about vintage dressing mentioned on this website interests me. Vintage can help a wardrobe be set apart from the norm.

rachylou

Veteran

LOL.

Well, it's coast-to-coast. I was driving around here in cali last night, and I thought to myself, *everyone is wearing knee boots! If I see another girl in knee boots, I'm gonna be sick!*

Haha! I have to hide my boots.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Oh thank you, I am not alone. I *love* my knee boots -- all of my boots - and I have been wearing them, although with skirts and under pants, for years. Suddenly I discover it's OK to wear them *over* my pants, because pants are finally skinny enough, and I look like everyone else! Aiigh!

Anonymous

So sad....we all want to fit in and we all want to stand out. The insanity of it : )

For the record, I really really don't like looking like everyone else either but I am glad it's skinny jeans tucked into boots and not leggings with dresses and skirts ( no offense to anyone but I just want leggings to go away),

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Fortunately for me, the uniform around here lately seems to be control-top pantyhose, Ugg knock-offs, and super short cutoffs. There is no way that I would ever wear that combo, so I'm safe.

rachylou

Veteran

@ Mander - LOL. Ohmigosh, I may have been blinded just reading the description.

Sylvie

Veteran

I wear bootcut jeans most days and feel a little dowdy sometimes next to everyone else wearing boots over skinnies. But if I wear boots over skinnies more often, then I am part of the herd.

It's very tricky to be current but also maintain a unique style. There are many members of this forum who have managed to do so, but it appears to be the cumulative result of a lot of time and experimentation.

tarzy

Veteran

I love my boot cuts and continue to wear them, even though the trend has moved on to skinnies. I've never been on trend in my whole life!

Does that make me "in" for being unique, or "out" for being off trend? Ah, who cares ... I wear what looks good on my body!

Aida

Veteran

This is an interesting thread. I also don't like to be part of the herd, but... People have to be clothed

We all/mostly have those items in our closet, I think it's just an easy formula. Set yourself apart by the individual items. Someone wearing a tee, plaid scarf, canvas jacket, medium wash skinnies, and flat riding boots is going to look completely different than someone in a printed blouse, bright cashmere scarf, moto jacket, dark wash skinnies, and heeled tall boots. Wear unusual colors. Wear rich texture combinations. Wear stuff that fits you to a tee. Just because there are other members of the herd who dress similarly, and even follow the same outfit formulas, doesn't mean you can't stand out.

nancylee

Veteran

Funny observation...but, dang, I just jumped on the skinnies with boots train so I aim to ride it for a while.

ironkurtin

Veteran

See, Aida, I disagree. When the basic silhouette is the same, the colors and textures aren't enough to make really dstinct looks.

Aida

Veteran

Mmm you think? If everyone wore that silhouette in neutrals (which I see most people doing), wouldn't someone that had brights/unusual colors on in the same silhouette stand out as different?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I liken it to men's wear - for the most part it is pants, shirt, belt, shoes. Maybe a jacket or sweater in colder climes. Same parts, but the sum of those parts can be VERY different. Perhaps because we have so many options as ladies, we get more aware of when similar formulas are popular?

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

IK - I agree with you...it's odd how the skinnies + boots stands out so much as a uniform...I didn't feel the same way when bootcuts were more popular. Odd.

Jonesy

Veteran

I think that's probably contributing to my current interest in slouchy tapered pants with booties!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love what Tracina said - absolutely brilliant:

"So sad....we all want to fit in and we all want to stand out. The insanity of it : )"

That really puts things into perspective, don't you think?

I am 100% with Aida's comments. Fashion unites us, but style sets us apart. It's that simple.

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Diversity in fashion in my experience comes from different cultures within one city - you can see it all where I live: burkas, saris, hijabs, caftans, etc...which are then appropriated by people of other cultures who are intertwined, which are then copied by the 'hipsters', and on and on with the permutations. So it's all one big happy family where immigration is concerned!!!

rae

(website)

Veteran

I just got home from a quick dinner, to which I wore skinnies, tall boots, tunic, and a vest. I should be mooing along with the herd, but I guess I don't really ever feel like anyone's dressed just like me. Maybe it's because I don't wear skinnies that often? Or because at least half of any given casual outfit is something noticeably off-trend?

ironkurtin

Veteran

I totally agree that style sets us apart, but seriously, it was clonesville skinnies and boots out there. Not one woman was wearing the exact same outfit. All of them looked the same. Maybe that's because it's not cold enough to have more layers to play with and alter the silhouette with sweaters, jackets, trenches, scarves... But if one of these ladies had knocked me down and stolen my bag, I swear I couldn't pick her out of a lineup. "She was in skinny jeans and boots, officer..."

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I am really most concerned about looking the best *me* every day. I am happy as long as my clothes fit, are well proportioned, at least somewhat on trend, don't accentuate my apple and don't make me look shorter than I am. Being avant garde or groundbreaking is really beyond me at this point. I just want to look good every day.

If others around me are looking sharp- no PPL violations, leggings as pants, shearling slippers as shoes, velour track suits or obnoxious obvious branding - then I am a happy camper too.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if it's because it's a strong visual trend - in the sense that boots over skinnies make a strong impression, as opposed to bootcuts with shoes, which can look more like trousers or more like jeans depending on the precise cut and the fabric and the shoes you're wearing.

I think we're all sort of doing this balancing act, to look moderately current and aware of the world, sensitive to our own preferences and figure, but not like a 'fashion victim'. But there's always a silhouette that's emblematic of a certain time period in fashion - that's why it's fashion, because it changes. What was it that Oscar Wilde said, fashion is a form of art so bizarre that it has to change every 6 months?

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