How Not to Look Grungy! LOL! - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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How Not to Look Grungy! LOL!

ErinL

(website)

Okay, I will really appreciate some ideas here. I've been living on my farm with my horses for three years now. I love the life! Really! I work with my horses just about daily, (horses = dirt!) and I'm constantly in and out of the house running from household duties to farm duties. I really tend toward a classic style and if I still had a desk job as a magazine editor, my solid-colored, tailored, button-down blouses would be perfect. But it just isn't the case. I'm so tired of looking grungy in stained tee-shirts all the time. But there's no point in changing clothes umpteen times a day, and they do quickly get past plain ol' dirty and become permanently stained. I totally love pink (a terrible color to wear when you're dirty a lot) and have a couple great pink tee-shirts I wear when I'm not going to get very dirty, but still need something less restrictive and prone to permanent damage than my button-downs.

What I'm asking suggestions for is: What can I do with my wardrobe, in my situation to not feel so grungy and fashion-less (how interesting are dirty jeans and tee-shirts every day, and how can one possibly express who they are with that kind of wardrobe?) I feel like burning just about all the clothes in my daily wardrobe. I pop out the crisp, clean, tailored stuff I love when I get the chance, which isn't very often b/c we are *sooo* far out in a rural community. But I love to look great and to actually have a fashion style! Anyone have any ideas? What do you do when you know you'll be getting grungy but still want to look and feel great?

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from Vix

Kristine

Veteran

I feel your pain. My first thought was Ralph Lauren style, riding breeches or leggings, tall boots, denim or plaid shirts.

How about looking for cute knit shirts with cap sleeves or detailing that hold up just as well as t-shirts? If you like patterns, they may even help hide the grunge. Or how about polo shirts, they'll give you some of the structure of button downs but still let you move.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

My husband has similar issues with his work clothes. He's a geologist, and as a good portion of his time is spent in the filed he does get dirty- but he also has to be presentable for meetings and clients. What we finally figured out was that he needed proper gear from an outdoor clothing company. He can get away with styles that look like a regular button down shirt and pants, but are made specifically to stand up to outdoor conditions. I would imagine that there are similar versions for women available.

AJ

Veteran

Wow, this is a tough one! Is there some kind of lightweight vest you can wear to keep your shirts from getting stained? Something that can act as a kind of apron while you are working?

I've recently decided that while I'm at home, I'll just keep my apron on and that way I can go about my SAHM stuff and not worry about messing up my outfit.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Welcome to the forum!

Are you looking for a style for when you're actually working with your horses, or when you are at the farm but not working with your horses.

ErinL

(website)

Thanks, Angie! Thanks for all your interesting style advice!

I live at the farm and am in and out all day. I work with the horses 3-4 times on the average day, 5-7 days a week. I usually only ride and train once a day, so the rest is grooming, feeding, mucking, cleaning the barn, etc... With all that in and out, changing outfits during the day really isn't an option. My last time down at the barn is just a couple hours before bedtime! So this really is a working wardrobe. My dissatisfaction is because I am nearly always needing to wear clothes that will get dirty and I just feel frumpy and very uninteresting in jeans and tee-shirts. I don't hate the jeans but do hate the jean/tee combination. I can swap out shoes when I'm in the house, or take off a layer, though it's often downright too hot to wear more than one layer in this warm weather. I have definitely worn aprons for grooming, but I'm sure you know an apron can just be in the way doing certain "horsey" things. And in colder weather I just put a barn coat on over my clothes, so I can usually wear cute sweaters and things and not worry about it.

I wouldn't even care if I had kind of personal "dress code" or just a basic outfit I wore every day (i.e. five or six of the same general shirt) - I guess I already do! LOL! - if I could just figure out something that doesn't look fashion-less but that won't get ruined quickly by dirt. Obviously my jeans get pretty clean in the washer, but the tee-shirts are the only thing I'm comfortable wearing so far from the dirt perspective. If they get stained I can toss them and replace them inexpensively. But, ewww. I'm so tired of tee-shirts!

I had tried a favorite princess-seam polo of mine, but it got stained and ruined pretty quickly and I haven't been able to find any with a princess seam like that since then. It may be that I am unfamiliar with fabrics that will hold up to the dirt. Maybe that's the trick to finding polos or some other style that are more resistant than the polo I tried. Polos seem to cost more than tees, too, anyway. But if I could find something that would last a little longer, look great on my rectangular shape, and have some element of fashion, that would be so great! (Some polos really don't look very great on me b/c they accentuate my straight waistline and make me look thick.)

BTW, I found a great, long-sleeve, tailored button-down at LL Bean in a blue print that I can wear without fear. It's mostly cotton with a little spandex in it. But it's for cooler weather, and I have never seen a short-sleeve button down I thought looked stylish (I maybe don't know where to look?) or seen a lightweight 3/4 sleeve with a print that I thought would hide the dirt any and not get ruined.

So that's kind of what I've tried. Any thoughts?

Vix

Veteran

I think Chewyspaghetti's idea of looking for outdoor wear/gear is a GREAT one...lots of companies have gotten on board with more feminine fits and details, and their products are intended to hold up to heavy -- or at least heavier -- use.

Downside is that prices will be higher than for standard Ts, but you could start adding new stuff in gradually and keep your eyes open for online sales. Once you get to know fits you can check for non-returnable clearance items.

REI has their own brand as well as lots of others (North Face, Columbia, Royal Robbins):

http://rei.com and http://www.rei.com/outlet

Sierra Trading Post (an online outlet): http://www.sierratradingpost.com/

Title 9 Sports: http://www.titlenine.com/

Athleta: http://www.athleta.com/

I think you'll have to accept that you get dirty, or start wearing the equivalent of an apron (like a sleeveless artist's smock when it's warm?!) when you are in the barn. Something that slips over your head or has snaps shouldn't be that big of a pain to take off/on multiple times during the day.

ps Re the long-sleeved LL Bean button-down you like: buy extra, and have someone who sews/a tailor shorten the sleeves, or turn the top into a sleeveless one!

Christie

I understand what you're saying ... your lifestyle and activities dictate that you get dirty but you want to feel better during the day. Its kind of like a MOTG formula, just messier!

Do you have cute barn boots? Something that makes you smile or makes you feel great even when messy? Good fitting jeans are a must. They don't have to be fancy or expensive, just not old and saggy, not ones you've worn for 10 years, not "mom jeans". Wear your oldest, ill-fitting jeans for the messiest of chore days. As for tops, maybe color or pattern will be your solution even if they are still t-shirts. However, a better cut t-shirt is always an option. So many inexpensive tees have ruffles or details right now (I'm thinking ones from Old Navy, Target, WalMart). Yes, they'll get dirty but you will feel better wearing them, right?

I think you said you are in a very rural area. Is there a bigger city that you sometimes visit? I would try to find their Goodwill and thrift some tops just to see what you might end up liking.

Louise

Veteran

I'd start with a fab pair of wellies perhaps Hunter's The glossy ones are fab. I love Kristines idea of jodhurs, jeggings, skinnies tucked into a cute pair of riding boots x

ErinL

(website)

I'll keep looking at the sports-type stores and investigate some different styles of tees. I do shop at Cabelas, LL Bean, Columbia, etc... but I'm not usually terribly impressed with the styles. I do have cute boots that I love, and I'm religious about my jeans. Always dark blue, boot cut jeans that really look good on me. I save the pairs with holes in the knees for really sloppy jobs. As for the boots, the cowboy ropers (Justin Gypsy's with pink calf and brown toe) are great to stand up to the dust and muck, but I've never seen them worn other than with the jeans on the outside, so they're not really interesting. Anyone else seen them worn where you can see the calves? I have tall boots for English that I'd feel pretty cool changing into when I come in the house or run to town (when it's not 90-degrees! LOL). That seems a good way to put a little fashion stamp on things. Especially if I can find some shirts I don't hate! LOL!

I like the idea of the sleeveless button-down, too, Vix. My arms are a little heavier than I'd like. I probably have 10-15 extra pounds on a 5'3" frame. Does that preclude sleeveless? I'm usually a bit self-conscious without sleeves during the day, though I don't think twice about it when I put my running tanks on.

I can also definitely think about a sleeveless artist's smock for hot weather. Esp. if it can be tied or semi-fitted to not get caught on things. I think I'd be more likely to slip that off than I am with an apron. "Dirty apron" isn't any better than dirty tee shirt, and I tend to forget about my aprons.

So far I've loved suggestions from everybody! Keep them coming, my hope is starting to rise! <grin>

tarzy

Veteran

My active imagination is running wild, and I'm seeing you all sorts of vaguely English/Ralph Lauren inspired outfits. Probably not practical at all!

I understand your reluctance to go sleeveless - I was the exact same way. But I wore my first sleeveless blouse IN PUBLIC yesterday, and no one pointed and laughed. Little children did not flee in terror. In fact, no one seemed bothered by my arms in the least! It felt really good, because it's a bit warm now, and I wasn't sweating like I usually am.

In addition to the great sports store suggestions, Eddie Bauer has a lot of sporty-type tops on "end of season" sale now. How about the sleeveless polos in some great colors? At those prices, you could probably get a few and not worry too much about them.
http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/W...../index.cat

I can't wait to hear other suggestions and see what you come up with!

Scarlet

Veteran

What about trying out some denim on denim looks?

Lisa

Veteran

I agree with the idea of gear wear. I find hiking clothes aren't too frumpy and can handle dirt and sweat well due to the materials they use. I wouldn't ride with hiking pants though, too slippery in the saddle.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Okay! I used to own horses and ride all the time so I get it.

Now. When you don't ride - jeans, Fryes, button down shirts and fun jackets. Try cowboy boots too. Turtle necks for when it gets colder and 100% check out Ralph Lauren and Brooks Brothers.

Beth

Veteran

Erin, you've already gotten great advice, so I don't have anything to add other than to say welcome! I also live on a small farm and completely understand where're you're coming from. It's tough to be fashionable when you're covered in dust at the end of the day, picking hay out of your bra (how it gets there is a complete mystery to me)

Kate

Veteran

Could you try skinny jeans that you tuck into your boots? It seems like alternating between skinnies and boot cut jeans would be an easy way to change your silhouette up a bit and add some variety while still wearing durable and washable jeans.

Also what about a collection of scarves, hats, gloves, etc for the winter that add some color, patterns, and variety (especially if you're wearing the same barn coat everyday)?

ErinL

(website)

You guys have given me some great places to start. I'm really looking forward to trying some new ideas! What a great community! Thanks to everyone who commented!

Vix

Veteran

Glad you are feeling inspired...you've got no shortage of ideas to try!

Re your sleeveless self-consciousness: I'm with Tarzy. Body image things that are a big deal to us are often *only* a big deal to us. You could do some test runs and see how you feel.

However, I'm also pro-covering what one wants to cover, so if you feel better in short-sleeves vs sleeveless when you're not exercising, then go that way. I don't think there's anything contradictory about that...maybe because I do that sort of thing too, ha? To me, wearing Item A for function is different from feeling put together/my best in Item A.