Ask Angie & Others -- How to know when to sit out a trend - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Ask Angie & Others -- How to know when to sit out a trend

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I refer to your trend teaser post (orange, denim shirt, loafers, printed pants): http://youlookfab.com/2012/01/.....ring-2012/

When do you say, "I'll pass on this one?"

Here I am, trying the trends. Denim shirt, not so flattering (picture 1). Orange, why yes! Even though I might go back and get the size medium, this is a misses large. (#2)

Besides the shirt color being dark and more aging than the coral top, I have no idea how to style a denim shirt in new, modern 2012 ways. So I'm thinking of passing on this one.

Or should one keep trying, even in the face of unflattering evidence?

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

Sharon

Veteran

CocoLion, I wonder if you might like the denim shirt better if it were a lighter colour-more a chambray? My approach to trends is to immediately exclude the ones that I recognize as "so not me!", adopt the ones that immediately feel right, and maybe try on a few different versions of the rest to see if they might work for me.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Cocolion, you are so beautiful! Personally I don't find the denim shirt ageing at all on you.
About trends: for me it's very intuitive. I adopt the ones that match my style and forego those that I find do not match my lifestyle, my personality and what I am trying to achieve with my clothes. I try them though, just to see what it looks on me. Some store will sell a cheap version, the item may look horrid; another, with a better cut, finer material, will sell a similar item... I try it on and fall in love with the trend in question.

Sometimes I think So Not Me! Then try on a quality item of the trend and turn my opinion around 180 degrees.

Mochi

Veteran

Agree with krishnidoux. Lovely body for clothes, too! I will take a wild guess and say that you think the dark blue shirt looks a bit masculine? IF that's the case, there are probably ways to counter that. Or if it's simply too dark, or whatever issue you have. However, if you just don't like this shirt, or any trend, there's no reason you have to climb on board. There are some trends at the moment, including some YLF-ers have taken up, that I really don't like. For myself...even for others! To each her own.

My own question for Angie is kind of the opposite: What do you do when the trend is over, and you're still in love with it? Let's say, for example, Breton stripes, sometime next season. Do you wear it, but with less frequency? Or just as much? Or stop wearing altogether? Sorry to hijack your question. I will have to post it separately sometime.

Anonymous

Denise, I LOVE that soft orange on you! THAT trend you should be all over! IKWYM about the denim shirts. I tried on half a dozen and found the fading and distressing to be very aging on my face as well. I love the *color* of faded denim, but for some reason the weathered finishes can draw attention to my weathered face, lol! I finally found a chambray shirt that is a darker, uniform wash that I love.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I love that orange shirt on you!

I think denim shirts can be tricky. I had to find just the right one -- I wanted a mid-wash color, fitted shape, and with some substance (not too thin, floppy or wrinkly). I found it at Levi's.

I think I like my denim shirt best layered -- under a jacket for some contrast in color and style, for instance. I also like the look of it with colored skinnies. It can even work worn more like a jacket, open and layered over a tee shirt.

I don't think this shirt looks bad on you at all, but play with the styling and see if you can find the versatility in it. It looks like it fits you well. Or you may find that a lighter wash suits you more. I liked that mine wasn't too light or too dark -- it plays well with my dark wash jeans, and I think it would look great with white jeans too!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The denim shirt is great! It's just not working tucked into those skinnies. Perhaps you'll want a lighter denim too? Whats the white part by the button stand? If it's a facing, I vote return. Those details are not versatile.

You look KILLER in coral

To answer your questions: if you like the look of a trend - TRY IT. Then you have to make it yours but finding the right version for you and your style. If you can't, onto the next thing. Fashion must stay fun.

By pass trends that you don't fancy: For example, I never touched maxi dresses and skirts, and will never wear leg shortening cropped trousers. I will bypass these looks completely.

Does that help?

Isabel

Veteran

I like the denim shirt, but I don't like it tucked in with those pants. Maybe a lighter color and a lighter weight denim/chamray ?

The second outfit is nothing but fab !

It's hard for me to answer the trend question because I am not very trendy. For me, if a season comes around where things I like are trendy, I will buy a few things. Otherwise, I don't think that I am good at updating or incorporating. Sorry !

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Have you tried the Levi's denim shirt?

http://us.levi.com/product/ind.....13.3146915

It is amazing! I'm sad it didn't fit me.

ETA: Oh no's!! It's Levi's but it is Imported! Why move an iconic American brand to another country!?

cheryl

Veteran

You rock the orange, fantastic, but i agree that you would probably like a lighter chambray much more than the darker denim shirt.

morethanbeige

Veteran

The coral shirt is amazing on you. Can I ask what it is?

I think the denim shirt looks great too, just that maybe this is not the right one for you. Love the one modgrl linked to. Maybe you can try some different shirts/washes before you decide if it is for you...

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I only wear my denim/chambray shirt as a layer, under a cardigan or jacket. But yeah, you can do better. I think the orange looks good on you.

Scarlet

Veteran

Try a lighter denim shirt. I just got one from j crew with tabs/military sleeves that I am really happy with. The coral really suits you.

Carole

Veteran

First of all, you look fantastic in that top!!!!! I can understand your trouble styling the denim, shirt. I have one that fits nicely, but rarely wear. But I like mine best with a jacket over. I have also worn mine under a sleeveless dress and really like that look too.

Some trends I have loved on others but know right away it's not for me. The example that comes to mind is the fur vest. I would look like Big Foot in one so have never even tried one on!

Anonymous

Wow, you look gorgeous in orange!

I really like chambray shirts instead of thicker denim and find them easier to wear. There's so many available right now that there's a lot of styles to choose from.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Like everyone has pointed out, that coral colour is DIVINE on you Denise! And I love the shape/drape of this top - absolutely fab.

Don't give up on the denim shirt just yet - if you're not feeling it, maybe try and slightly different cut or a lighter colour and I wouldn't try tucking. I personally think because of the weight of the fabric, denim shirts don't tuck well.

As for trends, I know there are ones to pass on due to my body shape and personal style (you will never catch me in slouchy trousers although I absolutely adore the style on others), but otherwise I think it's a matter of tweaking the trend to work for you.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Many thanks for the replies and explanations Ladies!

The consensus seems to be to try a lighter shirt. Which brings me to the question, denim vs. chambray. Chambray is softer and a more lightweight fabric, am I correct? Does the denim shirt trend include chambray shirts or is this a trend towards stiffer shirts?

I will keep looking, won't give up yet as this trend is VERY suited to my ranch lifestyle. I hadn't thought about that part of trend adoption, just whether it might look good on me or not.

The shirt I am modeling is a Jr's shirt. It does not have a lining, that is the tag I'm trying to hide. I tend to try new trends first by spending very little. If I like it I will upgrade to better quality. Case in point colored denim. My first pairs were from UO and Domino, then I upgraded to 7FAM and Rag and Bone.

ETA: the coral top is from TJ Maxx, I think the brand is Logix. It is *not* USA made. Regrettably the only kind of USA made knitwear I can find is cotton, modal, rayon or poly knit tops. Anything knit more like a sweater is 98% made in China, with another 1% from Bangladesh and another 1% from Italy. (Not real statistics, but my observations!)

Parsley

Veteran

Denise, Here's a chambray shirt I really think you would like. I didn't think this was a trend for me at all, but I LOVE this shirt. I want to wear it all the time!
I think it would be perfect for you.

J Crew Chambray Shirt

The coral/ orange looks beautiful on you.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I think sadly few things are made in the USA these days, or other countries which they are associated with. I'm proud of my Doc Martens, for example, because I've had them long enough that they were actually made in England rather than China.

But I digress.

The denim thing seems to be hard to pull off without looking totally 80s in a bad way, but I think this one is cute. I saw Rupert Grint on TV the other day wearing an acid-wash chambray shirt that was straight out of 1987, though, and it was not a great look.

I'm no style maven but I generally ignore trends and just buy stuff that I like. It's frustrating when all the styles in the shops are horribly unflattering on me and I want new clothes, but like others I tend to stock up when stuff that I do like is in style.