Ok, what is a statement?

rachylou

So if all my crazy leggings are Essentials (because they are leggings or because of my crazy personality, hehe)... what is a statement? What could I possibly wear that could stand out against them?

That is, Essentials don't have to be neutral... in the way that leopard can be a neutral... is that right?

7 years ago

General

45 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Jane

Veteran

Good question. I'm following these threads with interest and I've just read Angies response to Diana.

I think there are statements and essentials and both or neither can be workhorses. So may be the leggings are statement workhouses?

7 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Even with all of the explanations I still don't get it. Maybe I never will but it is a good question.

7 years ago

Elizabeth P

Veteran

If they are "crazy" and you can't think of what would stand out against them, then I think they are statements. Statements that you probably wear an essential top with, one that DOESN'T stand out against them, because they stand out on their own. Essential leggings are the ones you wear crazy tops with.

IMHO. I'm still figuring this out too.

7 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Hi Rachy, I think things that make a statement are likely to not be essentials. For example, I wear dresses a lot (probably 4 out of 7 days) - but these are not essentials, because usually they make the statement in my outfit.
My essentials include navy and black blazers, because these are the support act to my statement dresses.
However, some items can be essentials (black and tan boots for me) and then I will also have statement boots - so if I wear floral boots, then I will tend to keep the rest of the outfit more basic and let the boots do the talking.

7 years ago

Ginger

Veteran

I agree with Bijou, and for similar reasons. Usually my dresses are the statements. Sometimes the shoes are essentials, or sometimes they're also statements, if I have a combination I really like. But usually shoes and legwear are essentials for me. If you feel that your crazy leggings are the dominant feature, then that's not an essential. Probably everything else you're wearing to be decently clad is the essential.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

It's possible, tho, right, to have an outfit that has no statement piece?

That is, an essential can't become a statement simply by being relatively more interesting...

7 years ago

Ginger

Veteran

I think that's what Angie said in her article! You CAN have outfits that are all essentials, for you.

That's the key. What more minimal Fabbers consider statements would be essentials to me. So to an extent, you make up the definitions for your own wardrobe and style. Everyone has the categories (basic, essential, statement); but the exact same item could fall into different categories for each of us. A lot of my essential skirts would be someone else's statement piece; but for me, they're just essential so I can wear those great tops or show off some shoes. Statement pieces tend to be relatively more interesting than essential pieces in the same wardrobe. And even that alone doesn't automatically make them statement pieces. It's the role they tend to play in different outfits. (Angie, do correct me if I'm off in left field here!)

7 years ago

harmonica

Veteran

Rachy - great question!
Ginger - I think you explained it very well. The hard part is to translate it to my wardrobe.

7 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I think the statement is the seasoning in a meal. You don't need it, but it's better with it.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Ok, so I'm thinking my crazy pattern leggings are Essentials for me, even tho they are not plain and neutral, is because I'm 'essentially' a loud dresser. And because leggings are a) not proper clothes (hehe) and b) pretty basic.

It explains why I can feel pretty boring, i.e. not 'dressed up,' from day to day. Which, don't get me wrong, makes me happy. I don't necessarily want to stand out; I just don't want to look like I've been sickly (which is how I might feel in an all neutral all essential outfit.

But it does make me wonder what makes for a statement piece for me. My duster is a bit of a statement, as Angie points out (albeit I chose it in olive to tone it down). But that's only for summer.

Also, I wonder how I manage to be so loud in all Essentials. Seems contrary to purpose... but then again, not for me...

7 years ago

Irina

Veteran

I was thinking about the "statement " items, too. Came to conclusion that I don't have them.
Here is an example - I bought last summer a silk track pants from Club Monaco in black. It might of been a statement piece for me since all my pants are rather classic shape and these pants were a novelty but this season I see similar pants on every website. So, they are common. Moreover, I bought recently a pair of cargo silk pants with an elastic band on the bottom. So, it is now a regular casual part of my wardrobe. And not a "statement " of any kind even for me
Also, that is the statement when one wears a "statement " item, I wonder. How a regular purse is different from a "statement " purse? Unusual shape or a vivid color?
I came from a culture where "a statement " equals expensive, brand name item. And I like most of us despise the display of wealth. May be this is why it is hard for me to grasp the concept.

7 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I think of a "statement" item as the one people remember. As in, did you see that woman in the long turquoise dress? She's not described in any way other than wearing that dress. Because the dress was much more memorable than she was. Which probably explains why I resist the whole idea of wearing statement pieces. I want people to see and remember me, not the clothes I wear.

I wear mostly solid colors, top and bottom. With that, there's always a scarf and a substantial bracelet. No one item makes a statement, but the outfit as a whole is harmonious, coordinated, and very me.

7 years ago

Joy

Veteran

If you wear a purple metallic tulle tutu with your crazy leggings, I suspect the tutu is a statement piece. A beanie covered with silk daffodils might be a statement. A jumper with oversized faux fur patch pockets could be a statement piece among jumpers.

7 years ago

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I think the statement piece is the one that is special. It can be a pair of black pants in an interesting pattern or cut. It can be bell sleeves. It can be something patterned. It can be an interesting piece of jewelry.

I don't think you have to stand out tremendously in your statement item.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

So a statement has to be extraordinary in some way, not merely noticeable?

Does that sound right?

7 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I'm not sure on the last point. It is my shoes that most people notice. They are not all "extraordinary", but many are noticeable. I'm thinking of some shiny green sandals I bought last November. The style is quite boring, a bit like the Roman sandals we had to wear for high school school uniform. But people noticed the colour and shine. So are they still a statement?

7 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Another can of worms! Relative statements - so what would be a statement on one person might not on another. But noticeable seems to imply a bit unexpected or out of the ordinary and isn't that the essence of a statement? Probably my essential haremesque shorts would be a statement on some.

7 years ago

Anonymous

At the risk of being provocative, what are people hoping to achieve from this exercise? It seems like there's a lot of confusion and even angst around putting a label on the clothes that are already in our closets. So you decide your khakis are essentials and your scarves are statements, then what?

7 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

catty, it's a good question. I'm going to quote you in a new thread and see if I can hazard an answer.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

If it's not an essential, is it a statement?

I am feeling today that this is not so. I'm feeling statement is a strong word. I'm feeling more like you can have more and less interesting Essentials... neutral and non neutral Essentials.

(and I'm too lazy to fix the spellcheck capitalisation of Essentials... )

7 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

"If it's not an essential, is it a statement?"

Not necessarily. It can be a completely boring, forgettable garment that is not essential in one's closet. Maybe the kind people end up purging in the next closet edit. Which begs the question: should one's wardrobe only contain essentials and statements? Or is there room for something else?

7 years ago

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Rachylou--I'm all tangled up on this one also. Because I feel like, if someone ALWAYS wears a jacket and the jacket is always super colorful and weird and arty (totally a statement for most anybody) but it's a necessary, everyday wardrobe element for this hypothetical individual, then it should be an essentials category for this person. Maybe this person would have other wardrobe elements that she would consider to be more statement items (dramatic jewelry, a big hat, etc.) and she'd select carefully from these other items as desired, for effect. IDK

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Yes, I feel there has to be room for something else - I think Angie mentioned not so essential essentials on one thread. And it seems to me that a decent number of folks have pretty interesting essentials, enough do that they don't necessarily wear a statement piece in every outfit.

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Ok and one more question before I turn in ... or two:

What do the Essentials of a Maximalist look like?

What do the Statements of a Maximalist look like?

I've been looking at all the ways Iris Apfel (sp?) wears her giant grey beads...

7 years ago

Archer

Veteran

Rachy - you are way too smart to be exercising your insecurities on this blog.

7 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

The whole idea is they vary from person to person, isn't it? So a maximalist's statements and a minimalist's statements would necessarily be different. I haven't found the whole essentials/statements idea that useful so far, although appreciating Suz's thread. I've had an interesting time trying to shop today. I broke my shopping fast 2 days ago on 2 pairs of shoes mainly for next summer, one a direct replacement for a dying pair. I'm holidaying in a very fashion-oriented resort town in Australia and spent 2.5 HOURS trying to shop for autumn this morning. Came away empty handed. I had my list and could not get the full length non-denim navy or olive pants I want. Or replace my dying red sandals. But there were a couple of shops I went in I could see right away were not my style- all very drapey, loose, long, flowing linen stuff. It could be essentials or statements for some of you, but I stayed in there about 30 seconds and turned on my heel. I felt kind of pleased I could immediately tell it was all wrong for me...

7 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

That's interesting, Jenni. Just not your style!

Archer - my mum's guru said we didn't need to work on my confidence, lol. I need to make sure my head doesn't get too big and develop insecurities

7 years ago

Ginger

Veteran

Rachy, as one more on the maximal side myself, I'm okay with the concept of "interesting essentials." I'm pretty sure that most true minimalists would not go for my essentials as such. All my flats have interesting detailing. My "basic" skirts would never show up on a blogger's list of basics (well, maybe Forever Amber). And these are the essentials for me. Among them, there are those that have even more detail, like my patterned tights, or quilted circle skirt with red stitching, or white piqué skirt with giant patch pockets. Yet because they never play the statement role for me in an outfit, they are essentials.

7 years ago

Archer

Veteran

Got it

7 years ago

Category