Hey! I like the banker look!

I have in my mind a picture of what is boring to me, but I find it hard to put into words. There's simple and minimalist and then there's boring... A boring outfit to me is unfinished. Or maybe a way to put it is that there's no focal point, it's all backdrop.

I don't know much about clothing construction - what makes one plain white button down back drop and another able to hold center stage - but, well, there you have it. Some can and some can't.

Angie, I saw your response to my comment on the more "conservative" (my word) feel to the twinset concept, and I do appreciate and understand it. I don't necessarily equate "conservative" and "boring" either.

It's true of art and design, and it's true of creating an outfit: Sometimes the most "simple" things are the hardest to achieve beautifully and successfully. I think there's a fine line between a simple look done well and a simple look looking... well, simple. Contrasts in texture and quality of fabric and workmanship go a long way to making the simple look elegant rather than thoughtless. I think there's a risk in the twinset of looking like one just picked up the cardigan and the shirt together in the store because they were shown together on the mannequin -- the interior design equivalent would be buying an entire living room set exactly as its shown in the store showroom.

I think the looks you posted in the forum post on twinsets were lovely, but I'm not excited by them. I'm going to take another look when I have a moment and try to figure out why. I do know that even the word "twinset" evokes a not-entirely-positive reaction from me. It makes me think of conservative, preppy looks, which I don't connect with very well, so I know I have a bias from the word go!

This is all coming from the girl who's wearing moto boots, a black leather jacket, and a Desigual skirt today, so consider the source.

Great point with a great thread!

I've been on team simple since I was young, but I was also on team boring and team unfab at the same time. When I found YLF I tried to move away from how I had previously dressed, and threw my baby (simple) out with the bathwater (boring and unfab). It took some time, and trial and error, to realize that I'm on team minimal, and that I can be simple AND fab AND not boring all at once! I don't have to overload myself with accessories and details and patterns to be fab!

Somewhat related was realizing that I don't have to have a ton of accessories, shoes, and bags to be fab. Oodles of fashionable women have massive collections, but it's not a requirement.

I like strong and simple, too. It seems that it doesn't take too much to go from boring to blast-off with just the right accessories. A great scarf, pair of shoes, belt and bangles can make an outfit.

As I continue on my style journey, I feel like I'm coming back to where I started but with more confidence, better quality and a desire to make my wardrobe all work together.

i agree completely with dresslover.

Sorry Rachylou...are you a banker? No offense! I could have said "lawyer look" but my vision of that is skewed by MaryK!

Hmm one other thing that I think of on this topic: If you took a "simple" look that's constructed of non-tailored-to-fit-perfectly pieces and compared that same look to one where the items HAVE been tailored to fit perfectly you would likely find the second look much more high impact. A white button-up shirt + jeans that fit "ok" can be instantly taken up many notches when those items fit you perfectly. So for many people, if they started "simple" but without altering, then improved the fit of their garments overall, and then went back and tried one of those "simple" looks again it would make much more of a statement.

It depends on your overall look, too, doesn't it? If I, being overweight and needing a new haircut and not always the most graceful person, wear a Angie-type 'twinset', it's going to look very different on me than it will on Angie, who is both polished and edgy, and has a great figure.

I don't mean that it's always about weight, but people tend to see you in a particular way - if you are petite you have to try hard not to look cutesy, if you are bosomy you have to work not to be seen as overtly sexual, etc. And I think that this "simple and strong" vibe only works for certain kinds of people - on the rest of us it either looks classic (if we're lucky) or boring, like we haven't updated our wardrobe since the 80s.

Laura makes a good point, I think. It is TRUE that certain body types or a person's age in itself might tend to lead people towards certain judgements; maybe the twin set sends a different message when worn by a 6 ft tall, rangy, 20 year old model vs. someone who is 5' 2", somewhat overweight, and 60 years old.

On the other hand, that's true of clothes that aren't strong and simple, too. A complicated layered look will fall just as flat if the person wearing it is trying to look like a 20 year old model rather than celebrating her own unique beauty and dressing for the body she has.

I'm enjoying this conversation and can really relate to what Ornelia said about initially feeling shame about her "boring" style. My style is naturally simple and minimalistic, and posting photos was a worry for me at first because I feared being perceived as "boring." Thanks to everyone's encouragement, I'm learning to embrace my style and dress with the same kind of intention Ornelia has developed.

I also agree that perfect fit and quality really enhance a simple, strong look (like many of you noted). Rachylou's comment about a boring look not being "finished" really resonated with me, too. I think this is connected to the whole idea of dressing simply with intention vs. just throwing on clothes without thinking about it.

Wow! I can always count on wise and wonderful responses from our forum members. You all make excellent points and I ate up your comments. Thanks for responding.

Natalie, great outfit example.

Janet, thanks for chiming back in. Loved your analogy with interior design. Yes! The source of your comment was very important I've had the pleasure of shopping with you you and you do not gravitate towards items with simple, clean lines. You gravitate towards more complex items with design detail.

Ironkurtain, great succinct comment. It was strong and simple

Ornella, you really understand clean and crisp style!

I 100% agree that simple, strong and crisp outfits (think minimal) are harder to achieve than maximal ones. Fit, colour and fabrication are key.

Strong, simple and elegant has become my style mantra, and I don't think it's boring. Was Jackie O boring? Hepburn? If an outfit is intentional and authentic it is anything but boring. Simplicity can be dramatic. It can be compelling. And, yes, it can be boring. But it does not have to be.

This is such an interesting topic and gives much food for thought. I love a simple strong look, especially if the fabric is wonderful and, as Adia points out, every piece fits well. I think footwear is important too.
I see lots of jeans and tee shirt outfits on people at the mall. A great white shirt with premium denim jeans and cute flats or boots is simple and strong. Even the same pieces with Nikes can be boring.

Is simple and strong synonymous with "classic"?

I agree with Laura that a person's looks influence other people's perception of their style. Angie and Kyle look fantastic in simple dark outfits, but their blonde hair makes a bright contrasting accent, it's like an accessory in itself. My hair is brown, which is nice but nothing exciting, and sort of half wavy and fine -- it doesn't handle a dramatic cut. And no high cheekbones, so I'm afraid in simple, strong clothing with no accessories I might just look all the more forgettable.

Guess I'm associating the clean, strong look as referring to a black or black/white color scheme and therefore not suitable for everyone. Will have to remember quality and fit also!