What makes an item or outfit "sophisticated"? - YouLookFab Forum

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What makes an item or outfit "sophisticated"?

Chris987

Veteran

I've been trying to figure out how to put together more sophisticated outfits and/or buy more sophisticated items, but I'm having real trouble defining exactly what "sophisticated" means. It's one of those "know it when you see it" things but I really want to nail it down a bit better. I realize it may mean slightly different things to different people.

My "benchmark" of sophistication is a photo I remember seeing of Jackie O. She was pushing one of Caroline's kids in a stroller down 5th avenue (NYC) and was wearing a slim black coat, black slacks, black tie shoes, her signature large sunglasses, and "done" hair. That woman was sophisticated in her sleep, I'm sure

I found this definition in merriam-webster online, but it's one of those "self defining" definitions that is not helpful...-

- having or showing a lot of experience and knowledge about the world and about culture, art, literature, etc, attractive to fashionable or sophisticated people, highly developed and complex

How do you define sophisticated in terms of fashion and style? What are the characteristics of sophisticated wardrobe items and outfits?

would love to hear your thoughts.

Dressing

51 replies

Latest reply was from jill58

Liz

Veteran

My first thoughts went to art in how the outfit is put together -- but that could be done with almost any kind of style. It sounds like you're describing an outfit that is sleek, understated, and polished.

Could you post a bunch of photos of outfits that match your view of sophisticated? Then we could help you find descriptors.

Muffin

Veteran

I agree with Liz-sleek, understated, polished. Monochromatic, lush fabrics (or crisp ones), few details, maybe a stand out accessory. I do think it's all in how it's put together- it's not haphazard, very deliberate. I don't think I'm helping describe at all--but you know it when you see it. I would be very curious to know who younger people would name as a 'sophisticate'. There seems to be fewer examples.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Hmmm...this might be one of those things that is easier to define by what it isn't. If the outfit makes you look like a modern urbanite with a professional job and a good sense of style, it's probably sophisticated. If it makes you look like you rustle cattle for a living (no disrespect to cowboys), it's likely not.

It's also possible that what seems sophisticated is a matter of perception, and thus might vary from person to person. Here are a few things that, to my eye at least, help an outfit look sophisticated:

- It doesn't have ditsy floral prints on it
- It doesn't have blue denim on top and bottom
- In general, it doesn't over-reveal erogenous zones (with the exception of some gorgeous but daring gowns you see on the red carpet) -- i.e. no hoochie-mama outfits!
- It's more likely to involve understated colours, although there are lots of exceptions to this (Angie wears vibrant colours all the time, and always looks sophisticated, but she's also a style expert. I've seen lots of people mess it up).
- it doesn't involve a seriously dated hairstyle, like a beehive or 80s feather queen hair

- it doesn't make you look like a fortune teller or a computer programmer

- It's not athleisure wear; to me, yoga stuff looks cute and comfy, but never sophisticated
- it fits correctly -- this doesn't apply only to tailored, fitted clothes, but also to items that are meant to have drape. The clothes should fit like they are supposed to, and not be way too loose or tight.
- on that note, no camel toe
- it could be a bit avant-garde or trendy, but not necessarily; but it shows that the wearer is aware of current trends
- if you can't picture Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren or Kate Middleton (pick your age group!) wearing it, it's probably not sophisticated

I'll probably think of more things as the day goes on, but does this help?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Liz. If you can pull together some photos that encapsulate your idea, we'll be able to offer more help, since, as you say, what's sophisticated looking to one person may not be to another. "Effortless" and "elegant" are two other words that get used in this way and can mean different things to different people.

The image you describe sounds sleek, understated, and polished, as Liz suggests. It's also quite practical, and it's representative of Jackie O's distinctive personal style and even her signature style.

One feature of what I would consider a sophisticated style is that the wearer knows herself and this is evident in the clothes. She knows what works for her, both in terms of flattery and in terms of her practical needs. In this case -- the black works for Jackie's high contrast colouring, for example. The shoes work for her actual life. And so on.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and Aziriphale speaks sense, too. There are certain items that are probably inherently unsophisticated....

Anonymous

I wish I knew. I know it when I see it. I can't define what "it" is.

Olen

Interesting! I was thinking of starting a similar thread; only that my word was "timeless" and it was meant to put an accent on age appropriate, but I think "sophisticated" covers it all!
First, I agree with Aziraphale that some items may never be seen as "sophisticated". For me, the list includes faded denim, anything too tight or oversized, anything that can be perceived as "cute", anything too obviously trendy or obviously dated.
Now, it's harder to define what it is.. A sophisticated style should express/match the personality, first of all. The person shouldn't feel self-conscious wearing something (I believe, Coco Chanel said something like "luxury cannot be uncomfortable"). Then, for me there is a whole bunch of "this" or "that" appropriate: situation-appropriate, weather-appropriate, and yes, age-appropriate. This last one is tricky, as now the lines between age groups are blurred in dressing, so it's up to the individual woman to draw the line, if she wishes to do so.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I think perfect fit plays a big part. I'll be following this thread though as this is an interesting question.

Sal

Veteran

I think of fit and grooming and elegance and polish as all going along with a sophisticated look. I think you can be casual or edgy or alluring with s sophisticated look, feminine or masculine.

Women whom I think who dress with sophistication include Cate Blanchett. Helen Mirren, Lorde, Michelle Obama.

I am also trying to add this to my looks through more polish, good accessories and a mix of bold and understated pieces.

rachylou

Veteran

I will be back I'm sure. This is a question with chew. My first thought was 'a pencil skirt.' My second was 'Grace Jones.' My third is...sophisticated is looking like you'll eat people alive and hold your knife and fork properly while doing so. That is, you know quite well about things on the other side of the tracks and can handle them - but you don't live there. (So country, suburban, urbane, punk and ghetto are not sophisticated.)

JAileen

Veteran

I wish I knew! I'm pretty sure I'm not sophisticated.

What I think might be sophisticated: perfect fit, quality, monochromatic or low contrast, timeless.

Anonymous

I couldn't resist chiming in here - this is a favourite descriptor of mine, and a look I absolutely and unashamedly want to achieve. I nodded my head at Aziraphale's list of what sophistication is not, and agree with everyone else here that it is entirely personal and in the eye of the beholder. Everything from your posture to your nail polish - it all adds up to the sophistication quotient. One thing that has been striking me recently is that relying on trends for your look , or wearing too many trendy pieces at once - does not = a sophisticated look. Just a thought.....

Suz

(website)

Veteran

JAileen, you looked sophisticated in your outfit that you wore to the memorial, in my opinion....

JAileen

Veteran

Suz, thank you!

Muffin

Veteran

Everything Aziraphale said! Chuckling at fortune teller & computer programmer.

skylurker

Veteran

I used that word a few hours ago to describe Joy's last capsule.
I understand it as your quote states : developed and complex.
An outfit a step above or lateral, the obvious and mundane. It takes knowledge to archieve that result, to combine subtle colours, or play with proportions.

rachylou

Veteran

Buying chicken treats at the pet store now...high low is sophisticated. Developed and complex is a good way to put it, I feel. Sophisticated is broad of experience. Opera AND rock. Etc etc.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sophisticated looks are grown-up.

Details like: there has to be an element of tailoring, a good dose of on trend items - and to my eye, lots of polish and good posture. I'll also throw in good hair, bag and footwear. I don't think one colour palette is more sophisticated over another. ALL colours can look sophisticated when the elements of the outfit and wearer make it so.

Thanks for the kind words, Elisabeth.

kkards

Veteran

nodding along with angie, sally, and suz....

but most important is that you are wearing the clothes and not the other way around.....

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I re-read and laughed at Elisabeth's descriptions. Totally agree that athleisure is not sophisticated. It can look super cute, though.

That brings me to another point. A sophisticated style is stylish, but you don't need to look sophistocated to look stylish.

I definitely don't think sophistocated outfits need to be monochromatic or neutral. An outfit with mega bells and whistles tends to lack sophistication, but that doesn't mean it's unstylish. Not at all.

And last, a sophisticated outfit is not wrapped up in a size or body type either. I have plenty of tall and thin clients and friends who do not look sophistocated. I have plus size and petite clients who look plenty sophistocated. It's a package deal.

Aziraphale

Veteran

@Angie: "That brings me to another point. A sophisticated style is stylish, but you don't need to look sophistocated to look stylish."

Yes! I'm glad that got mentioned. Since "sophisticated" is definitely a positive adjective, one might think that if an outfit isn't sophisticated, then by extension it is somehow bad or undesirable. I don't think that's the case. I've seen plenty of great outfits that aren't sophisticated at all (see: cowboy). I do think that what great outfits (sophisticated or not) have in common, however, is a situation-appropriateness.

Sally, Cate Blanchett and Helen Mirren were on my list, too.

Chris987, Jackie O for sure -- the epitome of sophistication! -- although I have no desire to dress like her.

Suz, your new hairstyle looks sophisticated to me!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ah, thank you Elisabeth. In my better moments I think it is sophisticated. In my worse moments I think it is a bit post-chemo or concentration camp survivor...oy!!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Lol you DO NOT look like a concentration camp survivor Give it three weeks -- it'll have grown out a titch, plus you'll have gotten used to it.

Chris987

Veteran

wow so much great stuff here, I'm going to have to catch up with it all tomorrow.

Anonymous

Timeless
Clean lines
Polished
Not exaggerated

rachylou

Veteran

Waiting to start my bday festivities...me me me! ...oh and just had the thought that my idea of sophisticated really does involve knowledge of the world. Classic to me is a different ballgame. Although, I think peeps with another style can have touches of sophistication. Am I a tyrant? Blame it on my mum. She's very particular about how she doles out this word.

rabbit

Veteran

Sophisticated looks are grown-up.

A sophisticated style is stylish, but you don't need to look sophisticated to look stylish.

Reading through the comments and nodding my head. What strikes me is that sophisticated isn't associated with fun. Not that it can't be enjoyable to dress in a sophisticated manner, but for me it's fundamentally about being serious --- taking oneself seriously, and being taken seriously by others. So maybe the elements of fun, and play and humor, and cheekiness can be part of style, but not really part of a sophisticated outfit or presentation.

Vildy

Veteran

I think sophisticated is knowing. And then you can choose what to do about what you know.

Traci

Veteran

Yes to "grown up"! That's the first thought for me.

I asked my 18 year old daughter what it means to her and she said it is similar to "hoity toity" but without the negative implications. This makes sense to me because there are clothes we would describe as too sophisticated for her because of age or lifestyle.

Also, yes to Rachy's notion of "knowledge of the world". I think that summarizes a piece to sophistication that goes beyond the polish and tailoring that also comprise sophistication.

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