What do you wear that is divisive? - YouLookFab Forum

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What do you wear that is divisive?

Sal

Veteran

I am interested in what other people wear despite popular opinion being against it, despite "rules" re age or time of year, and despite figure flattery or fashion trends!

I can't quite give up my love for body con dresses- they make me feel great even though they are not highly fashionable. And I also love a maxi dress- they make me feel summery and on holiday and "chilled". I find these looks flattering from a conventional perspective, but probably not fashionable. Not really divisive, but not to some tastes.

I am also a stayer with some Mary Jane black heels. I posted them here and there were some general tactful suggestions to pass them on. I kind of agree - but when it came to budget considerations I decided heels were not the priority this summer. So I kept them, and I keep pulling them out. I know they are a little dated but I love how they stay on my feet!! Again not really divisive but definitely not high fashion.

One of the things I love about the forum is seeing different people's takes on fashion and clothes. I admire so many of your clothes and senses of style-and sometimes appreciating a look on others is enough for looks that will not work for me and my lifestyle.

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58 replies

Latest reply was from thimblelina

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Wearing what feels good inside is the way to go, Kiwigal. Then only are we truly stylish because what we wear is authentic. And I never get rid of comfy shoes until I have a replacement for them. I can't afford that luxury with my fussy feet.

As a Warm Spring, every image consultant and colour expert will tell me NOT to wear black. It's too harsh, unflattering and dull. But I do, in small doses with lots of forethought, and love it. I wear black with ink, and with shades of white all the time. I feel that my strong brow line helps carry the harshness of the black, and my bright green specs help to soften the effect. Plus, if I want to make Greg happy - I wear a fitted or fluid black turtleneck. That's extra motivation for me too.

Dimity

I love mary janes! I fear they may look frumpy on me, but you're right, they stay on your feet so well that they are keepers. I also never wear heels. I've had people tell me I should, but why should I? They're horribly uncomfortable and I can't walk in them. I also love cardigans. Sounds very frumpy!

I don't wear truly divisive things because I tend toward classic dressing, although I'm tempted to get a t shirt that says something like "I didn't vote for Tony Abbott" (our Prime Minister).

Sal

Veteran

Ha ha Dimity, that made me laugh. I love Australia and Australians but you do seem to attract some unusual PMs? Not sure why - you must have a better pool than us given our size.

Go the Mary Jane!!

Angie, I think black suits you very well, and this to me shows why colour analysis only goes so far. It suits you so well from a style perspective and highlights your lovely bone structure.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

My long boho broomstick skirts.. Not giving those up and I always feel like me when sporting one...Love my classic round toe ballet flats as well, although I do have pointed ones that I feel the same about...

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Flat shoes with dresses, even mid-calf pencil skirts. I have short calves, and heels should be the way to go, but that option is far too painful. I'm used to the look on myself, so I didn't think it stumpifies more than what my body proportions offer. I also wear a lot of black, which can be draining because I'm low contrast pale, but I like the formality of the colour.

gryffin

Veteran

Short skirts and long jackets - I am the "Cake" song. Plus black, black and more black. It makes me happy and I feel great - that's all that's important! Kiwigal, I also love a flattering bodycon dress as much as a comfy shift!

shedev

Veteran

The R13 crossover jeans. I kept them and I wear them.

A pair of black Harley Davidson boots I bought on vacation in the earley 2000s. Even I know that their square toe is dated, but they are extremely comfy despite a high heel.

For Hedev, it's the RB sweats. He's completely baffled by why I want to wear sweats that look like old dirty jeans.

Marley

Veteran

I also have a body-con dress Kiwigal that makes me feel great - and always solicits a lot of compliments when I wear it. I think that it is because it is midi-length and I wear more current shoes/accessories with it so it works for me. I also love distressed jeans - oh how I love them - even though I know they are not really considered appropriate for women of my age! And - black. Yes, I still wear it sometimes - always trying to lighten it up with a necklace or earrings or scarf. I have consciously tried to not buy anymore black items, but once in awhile a black item sneaks into my wardrobe - it's hard to resist!

Low Rise Skinny Denim (Slim Fit) Light Wash - Mossimo

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Runcarla

Veteran

Body con tops (clingy thick cotton, and cotton or wool knit turtlenecks). I like clothes that are soft and 'hug' me. (I struggle with 'crisp' and button downs.)

Also, bikinis for when I'm on vacation. (I'm 54.)

Joy

Veteran

Jeans in colors and patterns that no one I know anywhere near my age wears. I feel better in neon citron skinny jeans than in staid classic glen plaid wide trousers, although I own some of those too.

Staysfit

Veteran

I love my body con dress collection, and even though i don't fill them out, I love wearing wrap dresses. They are easy and comfortable. I think my skinny jeans and my favorite straight leg jeans are starting to look dated, but I have no plans to stop wearing them. They go with my fitted turtlenecks and cowl neck sweaters. I plan to keep wearing those also.

Peri

Veteran

I wouldn't call it divisive, because I don't think it is something people argue about, but I know there are those who don't wear jewelry, or wear very little, and I wear as much as I can get away with!

And scarves are past trending and a lot of people think they are fussy but I still love mine.

E

Veteran

Um, now that trends are swinging towards oversized looks, I suspect much of my closet is potentially divisive. I love my body con long sleeve tees & jumpers for tucking into full skirts and my body con skinnies for wearing with waist surrendering blouses; I doubt I'll be giving them up any time soon. My curves are small enough that they tend to disappear in other fits, and I like having the option of appearing curvier or straighter. Luckily my style goals don't include following trends or being on the cutting edge.

I also wear a lot of leg shortening looks despite being 5'3" w a long torso. Almost always I'm in a clunky flat shoe, and I regularly roll my trousers or layer socks or do something else to break up the line even more. I wear my skirts & dresses at the knee or longer, despite traditional petite advice for shorter skirts (I don't think I've seen Angie suggest petites should always wear hemlines above the knee though). And I embrace 'cute' and 'pretty' clothes, which is the opposite of almost everyone else on the forum! hehe Whenever I post an outfit that involves a bow I know it's going to be divisive. Oh and I like my sleeves at a length most of the forum describes as 'too long.' I completely see what they're talking about, but I suppose I must have short arms, because I've worn overly long sleeves for so much of my life that the truly appropriate length feels skimpy.

With all of that, everyone on the forum is so welcoming & supportive; I've never received anything but acceptance and helpful, kindly-phrased advice when I ask for it. In fact, after a year of active participation, I feel so much more empowered in my romantic/storybook leanings! Yay for Angie and all of the YLF community.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a feeling there is a contingent that thinks my cowboy boot affinity is ridiculous but is too kind to say so. I wore them long before I started spending so much time on a ranch, and I didn't care then, and I certainly don't care now. I don't know why I love them but I do.

I also wear mid-thigh shorts in the summer despite my highly imperfect, middle-aged, cellulite and spider-vein-ridden legs. It's just too darn hot for me to care sometimes.

If there is anything else I love and wear that raises eyebrows, I suppose everyone is too tactful to say anything. Just be aware, I can take it.

Sal

Veteran

I think that people admire other people's style, as a projection of their personality.

When I see other people rocking their style I admire it. I adore E's WIW, but as a tall, hourglass in her 40s who does not suit muted colours, it would be a challenge for me to wear. I have to get my fix of whimsical style elsewhere and I prefer seeing WIW than store catalogues.

Go the bodycon dress too!! I also like mine below the knee. It is partly vanity as I do get compliments in them, but partly me thinking "I have boobs, I have curves, this is a look I really can nail:)".

Suja

Veteran

Bright colors even though we seem to be in a neutral season. Also, I love bodycon dresses.

Helena

Veteran

What a great question - nothing original to add; fitted tops (not quite bodycon, but close, I'd say), and black, of course - that's even divisive in my own brain, as I can see it is not as flattering as it once was ... but I love the simplicity of it, so it stays.

It's those unique pieces that some of you mentioned that I am SURE make you look fantastic - I hope everyone keeps rocking their divisive favorites!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great question, Kiwigal!! And I am with you on the bodycon dresses. Here I am, 50-something, and I still have three of them and I love them all and have no plans to give them up. In my case, I have so few curves that it is nice to highlight what's there at least occasionally.

I also wear distressed jeans, which a woman of my age is not "supposed" to do. (High five, Marley!)

Boyish and androgynous looks. I never feel "too masculine" in my trousers and shirts, even if other people think I look it. I guess even short hair is somewhat divisive. Men tend to dislike it. (But not my fab husband, who loves it.)

Suits appear to be divisive on the forum. I love them and think they are cool; others see them as corporate, per se. Ditto for outfits involving pencil skirts.

Anonymous

Coming back to this thread to see others's comments and see my reply not here. Hope it was not deleted for being inappropriate ?

Deborah

Veteran

Well I initially thought nothing I wear is 'divisive' but maybe it is

Wear all black, harem pants, unusual proportions could all be divisive.

Adelfa

Veteran

lisap, sometimes replies just don't save. What did you say?

I don't think anything I wear is divisive (how sad!), although since I found ylf my DDs have raised an eyebrow a time or two. I think they're used to me now, though.

Anonymous

Combat boots, that and other shall we say less-than-feminine attire that tends to connote something I am not, nor am I trying to convey. Which is neither here nor there, but I know doesn't appeal to many men, including DH. I love military wear - can't help it Perhaps if I were young uni student it would be just fine, but on a middle aged woman, it;s perhaps unusual. But I like my boots

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Clothes that don't make me look as thin as possible and grey hair to name two!

Laurinda

Veteran

My bar for 'just flattering enough' is very low, especially when it comes to comfort and my happy colors

Gigi

Veteran

Bodycon dresses will always be in style as long as there are men on the planet.

I love myself a good maxi skirt. Those aren't very fashionable at the moment. Not only that, but I am quite short, so it's a double whammy because long skirts are supposed to automatically make a short person frumpy. I do have to be extremely careful in the kind of maxi I buy so that I don't look stumpy, but when I find a good one, I feel ultrafeminine. My boho side gets to come out.

I also like wearing the opposite end of the spectrum: miniskirts. Those are another item that doesn't receive much love on YLF. But I wear them anyway.

Echo

Veteran

Ugg boots, stompy shoes, ugly shoes in general; black with brown (at least whiskey or cognac, not chocolate); lots of black.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

I don't know about divisive exactly, but I'm clinging to a few pairs of out dated shoes simply out of sheer love. I don't wear them often, but I'm thinking one pair may make an appearance at my office Christmas party... I am also deeply in love with leggings (don't worry, not worn as pants) and other skinny jeans/pants and will probably still be wearing them in 20 years. They may have crossed over into signature style territory. I'm trying to find ways of continually updating the tops and dresses that go with them, but those skinnies are here to stay.

Diana

Veteran

I like my long sleeves to be extra long. Like, covering half my hand when it's down by my side. Basically I like it when I can lift up my arms and my sleeves are STILL full length. Some people love it, others tell me to get to a tailor ASAP. =P

Gaylene

Veteran

Black leather moto jackets worn with slim jeans and my Fluevog lace-up boots. At 65, those are all supposedly off limits, but I couldn't care less. I'll be sporting that look when I'm in a care home pushing my walker.

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