What does it mean to be conservative?

In Mo's thread about the suit for her BF, ISIS asked what it means to be conservative and more specifically is it old-fashioned.

I have always considered myself to be fairly conservative in my choices but hadn't ever equated it with old-fashioned or boring. I always thought conservative was more along the lines of classic.

This got me to thinking about how others perceive the description of conservative. What do you think of when someone describes a look as conservative?

12 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from Sveta

Anonymous

Conservative to me would be someone that does not want to be "too" anything.
too trendy
too sexy
too busy
too matchy
Etc...

12 years ago

Anonymous

For me it means resistant to change. Staying with the tried and true. Cautious about jumping on an emerging trend right away. I'm conservative and I don't think it's boring at all,--or even old-fashioned-- but I understand how non-conservative people are bored with the status-quo and hankering for the next exciting look.

12 years ago

nicoleb

(website)

Veteran

I think a conservative dresser can be a lot of different things...someone who doesn't like to dress to flashy, someone who prefers neutrals to bright colors, someone not prone to take fashion risks, someone who prefers to cover up rather than show more skin etc.

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Like nicoleb, I think there can be a lot of different types of conservative. On any day I might run into Mennonite-conservative, banker-conservative, grandma-conservative, farmer-conservative, etc. They would all have REALLY different styles, though.

12 years ago

Isis

Veteran

Yeah, I think of "classic" as old-fashioned without the negative connotations of being fuddy-duddy.

Interesting question!

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Mm, no, I wouldn't say conservative and old fashioned are the same thing. With conservative anything, there's always something being held in reserve for the future. So when it comes to conservative dress, the emphasis is on functionality and durability... and also modesty (you certainly shouldn't be throw-away!). Conservative can be classic, but can also come out boring if you're not only reserved but timid.

Old fashioned I don't think has any of those connotations. It's making ice cream in a bucket with a crank handle v. making soy-fruit ice milks in your cuisinart.

12 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

For me, conservative=restrained. The opposite would be someting "reaching" - sometihng that is out on the edge, braving a new frontier - the frontier could be a new way of thinking about how much/little a body should be covered, how much symmetry garments should have, which body proportions are most attractive...

Still, even though conservative looks aren't "new," they can still be current. I don't think they are inherently boring - just like edgy looks aren't inherently awesome. They're just different looks.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great question, and such interesting responses! I don't have anything intelligent to add but wanted to say I will be reading along.

12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I n my head, conservative means restrained, and like tracina said, no " too ". I think that it can be very modern and elegant and sophisticated. It CAN be boring just like boho, too me, can cross over to chaotic if one allows it.........

I think that Jennifer Aniston is very conservative in her dressing, she is ANYTHING but boring !

12 years ago

HelenInCanada

Veteran

According to Google, "conservative" means: Holding to traditional attitudes and values, and cautious about change or innovation, typically in politics or religion.

In terms of style...my feeling is that when something is considered conservative, it isn't super trendy or wild or overly sexy. It tends to be modest, "classic", even elegant (as others have mentioned) pieces like buttoned-up shirts on women, loosely-fitting blazers and matching pants/knee-length skirt, twinsets, darker, more muted colours. It's a style that won't necessarily go "out of style" at all. Some are more comfortable and "themselves' when dressed conservatively; so just as someone feels great in bold and/or daring, this should be respected.

12 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

For me conservative means to stick with tried and true instead of experimenting with new things. I think it goes with a personality hand in hand. My hubby is a conservative dresser(no experiments here) and he also likes a routine. I on the other hand hate any kind of routine and strive on the change - and I think it shows in a way I dress too.

12 years ago

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