Link Love: The Hunt for Well-Cut Clothes

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Inge is senior editor and a regular contributor at YLF.

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Link Love: The Hunt for Well-Cut Clothes

— by Inge

on June 8, 2017

Recently I’ve been enjoying the opinion pieces over at British website The Pool. These three in particular resonated with me:

Sali Hughes writes an open letter to British retailers about how hard it has become to find good-quality clothes for ‘grown-ups’ on the high street.

In this follow-up post, Stacey Duguids shares ideas on where to shop when you feel lost.

This third article discusses what happened when TV presenter Nadia Sawalha wore the same shirt eight days in a row.

Fab Links from Our Members

Joy liked Janice’s post over at the Vivienne Files on ways to improve your closet.

Lisa W enjoyed this long read about the casualization of clothing: “The author goes beyond being irritated with casual dressing and makes a connection to our care of others. I’m not sure I agree with him and am curious about what forum members think.”

After reading Angie’s post about dresses over pants and jeans, Lisa thought this article showed some nice ideas. The floral dress over the kick flares (#1) was her favourite.

Krishnidoux would like to share this video on how to style bell sleeves. She adds: “About five years ago the bell sleeves had a moment, and I had bought such a shirt, but donated it last year after seldom wearing it. I found the sleeves too impractical. But I regret it now! The style is pretty and fun to wear.”

Angie likes the way Sally suggests defining our fantastic bodies in a more enlightened way.

Link Love

15 comments · Add a comment

Isabel

Veteran

Great links…AGAIN ! I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this feature.

June 8, 2017 at 3:04 pm

Isabel

Veteran

I really enjoyed the article on the “casualization” of clothing really being the loss of a public self. The private vs public selves were very big as I was growing up in this country. Not because of our new country but because of our old one. How you dressed for outside the home was a really big deal. My mom felt that one always had to look as if one made an effort out of decency and respect to those that would see us.

I feel the same way to a certain extent. The big difference is that I don’t equate certain clothing with “not caring” as much as some people might. For example, I really don’t like leggings and yoga pants as pants. I just don’t. I used to feel the same way about the Juicy Couture sweatsuit craze…yeah, they were velvet and expensive…but they were still sweats to me. BUT people like them and felt fashionable and appropriate. That is enough for me.

Where this becomes a bit of a problem for me, meaning I get “judgy” is when it is just inappropriate. For example, wearing short shorts to Church or a bustier. Another example, I recently went to a choral performance and one of the young women showed up in a men’s white underwear tank and those really tight shorts that dancers where and really bright red lipstick. She’s 14. It was distracting and I felt disrespectful ( though this slides toward parenting…but her parents had no problem with her look ).

June 8, 2017 at 3:13 pm

HardCoreMom

Active Member

I freely admit to skimming the casualization article more than reading it, but have a few thoughts:
1. Men still have basic uniforms for dress, just not as formal as the dark suit, white shirt combo. Think the legendary pairing of khakis and a polo shirt. Are they really that confused about what to wear?
2. Equating traditional dress with being more caring about “the down and out” is just plain ridiculous.
3. I do feel that it’s important to consider the context in which you’ll be wearing clothes. Be respectful of the occasion, and of others in attendance.
4. As the author himself points out, clothing styles change constantly, and what is considered to be fashionable is continually in flux. That being the case, what’s the point of being all judgy about what people are wearing now?

June 8, 2017 at 3:45 pm

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the introduction to the Pool. I know Sally Hughes from The Guardian but this is a new read for me. Great links Inge!

June 8, 2017 at 7:50 pm

Inge

(website)

Moderator

That’s so wonderful to hear, Isabel, thank you! And what you wrote about continuing to make the same clothing distinctions after moving to a different country makes so much sense.
HardCoreMom – I agree that it’s not necessary to judge people by their clothing, but I did find it interesting to read about how style keeps evolving.
Shevia – You are welcome. I knew Sali from The Guardian as well, and am really enjoying the content being published on the Pool website.

June 9, 2017 at 4:43 am

Jenni NZ

Veteran

That first article was so wonderful Inge! So true! I am an instant fan of this Sali Hughes. I also liked the follow-up about how the woman bought the dress from Debenhams, a store she wouldn’t usually go into. In our country I feel we are a bit better served as we don’t have such a concept of “high street”, more malls.
The casualization article I am afraid annoyed me intensely as it seemed like a man hankering for the old days when women were not as apparent in the workforce and were just there for men to tip their hats to. Rampaging feminist alter-ego rose up in me like The Incredible Hulk!

June 9, 2017 at 1:56 pm

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Fab that you enjoyed those articles too, Jenni. They really struck a chord with me.
And I know what you mean re your last remark!!

June 10, 2017 at 4:18 am

Joy

Veteran

I am enjoying The Pool and the links so much. I learned a new word: smasual (smart casual); and now have a craving for a pair of tassel earrings :). Thank you!6

June 10, 2017 at 10:42 am

Joy

Veteran

Not sure how that 6 snuck in there.

June 10, 2017 at 10:43 am

Inge

(website)

Moderator

No worries, Joy;-) And yes, smasual was new to me too. Also, tassel earrings would look gorgeous on you!

June 11, 2017 at 3:31 am

Joy

Veteran

Thanks, Inge. I will have to look for tassel earrings. They were not on my radar when I saw them in shops last year.

June 11, 2017 at 11:52 am

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I hear you, Joy

June 12, 2017 at 3:56 am

Mel

Active Member

Very interesting links, thank you!

I thought the “casualization” article was very enlightening. It’s nice to hear someone put their finger on it and try to explain a bit of the history. It is definitely a strong American trend that has spread to other parts of the world. I was disappointed this past Easter in a European country when nearly everyone in the church showed up in jeans, t-shirts, and casual shoes. Gone are the lovely Easter dresses and suits and ties. Rather sad, I think. More than one psychologist has told me that dress is a form of communication, whether towards others or towards yourself, and I don’t think we are always unjustified in making an initial judgment of others by the way they dress.

As for the “cultural appropriation” of the cowboy outfit, I’m surprised the cowboys haven’t complained about it yet!

June 12, 2017 at 1:27 pm

Inge

(website)

Moderator