https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:13:26 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405629 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:51:34 +0000 Jonesy 405629@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a fascinating read! Thanks for sharing these retrospectives. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405572 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:19:42 +0000 Anonymous 405572@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wore what I was given to wear but remember from when I was about 5 or 6 having a white rabbit fur muff that kept my hands warmer than any mittens. Loved it and the feel of fur but wouldn't wear fur now. Somehow faux fur seems a young look...too young for an over 60.<br /> About 10 or 11 I wore a handed-down pale gold cotton blouse of my mother's with a huge collar and batwing sleeves. It got lots of compliments but it must have overwhelmed me. The first piece of clothing that I picked out for myself was a bright yellow wrap-around skirt that I loved but my mother hated. This was early highschool. Maybe I need more yellow. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405564 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:04:44 +0000 Suz 405564@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@GirlX - yes, you put them in the bathtub to "shrink to fit" - you'd put them on wet and wear them and they would (theoretically) mold to your body's curves. Hmmmm. </p> <p>Thank god for spandex, is all I have to say! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405522 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:41:51 +0000 rute 405522@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>eh eh good work..<br /> until 15.. whatever my mother gave me!<br /> 16 to 22 - black from head to toe!<br /> 23 to 39 a ultra classic phase due to an ultra classic job<br /> now - learned to incorporate new trends but still job appropriate! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405504 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:33:33 +0000 CocoLion 405504@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've moved between phases of being interested in fashion, and un-interested. When un-interested, I tend to wear more conservative predictable clothing. I would create an easy uniform of sorts for myself, usually classic and what people might describe as preppy. But subtle preppy, not loud fashion-y preppy.</p> <p>I have gone from preppy to trend-oriented and back again many times, if the truth be told. I think it's all about what I am feeling about myself at the time: do I want to project a conservative image of myself, or do I want to express my creativity.</p> <p>I will also admit I went through one brief phase where I felt like emphasizing my feminine sexuality. I think my hormones were making me do this... and I had male attention galore. Very different from my conservative phases when I didn't have a date for 2 years, although still only in my 20s. I was VERY career focused back then. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405407 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:33:47 +0000 Mo 405407@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have much of a retrospective to recount, but I sure do remember soaking the jeans sitting in the tub to get them to shrink to fit, as Levi's 501's used to be sold. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405366 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:42:21 +0000 Girl X 405366@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Suz - soaking your jeans in the bathtub? To stretch them? Shrink them? Get them on/off? Did you wear wet jeans all day? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405132 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:17:44 +0000 Suz 405132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think it's a neat idea to look to favourite items in our past for clues as to what might be the fundamental elements of our style. </p> <p>At 3, I was wild over a turquoise corduroy dressing gown my mum made me; it had an "ermine" (rabbit fur) collar and princess lines. </p> <p>At 5, I was all about my bright red "tapping" shoes. </p> <p>At 7, I loved my midnight blue velvet dress with the sash at the waist. </p> <p>At 9, I favoured crisp white shirts or blouses tucked into a grey or plaid pleated or plain skirt—in a school that did not require uniforms I was the only kid who wore a "uniform." Topped with a cardi, preferably red. </p> <p>At 11, I had a pair of bright yellow slingback sandals. Oooh! </p> <p>At 12, I had a wardrobe of burgundy, grey, navy, and pink, with bright jewel toned accents. </p> <p>At 13, I got my first jeans, so tight I could hardly get them on...those who are old enough, remember soaking jeans in the bathtub? </p> <p>At 16, I had a pair of Frye boots that I adored. </p> <p>What I can glean from all this, I am not sure! But let me attempt an analysis: </p> <p>I should invest in more footwear; the right shoes give me disproportionate pleasure! And I should ALWAYS keep a red pair in my closet. </p> <p>I do well to invent my own "uniform" for work. </p> <p>I need a really good white shirt. </p> <p>I should not neglect the fit of my jeans. </p> <p>Textures are important; the feel of something affects my enjoyment. </p> <p>Princess lines, waist definition, and burgundy, navy, grey and some pinks are all flattering to me! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405116 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:49:08 +0000 Kelly 405116@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would totally wear a grown-up version of my 6th grade outfit, sans the white tights I guess I should put a raspberry-colored sweater on my fall/winter shopping list!</p> <p>Actually, earlier this summer I saw a floral dress on WHBM that reminded me so much of the strawberry dress I had as a kid. </p> <p>I suppose I could try to find some grown up Wonder Woman underwear and go out and fight crime. I'll just let my friend the police chief know I'm helping him out </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-405046 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:42:08 +0000 Girl X 405046@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kelly - that's awesome, you remember a lot too You should totally try a grown up version of that 6th grade favourite!</p> <p>By the way, I think the rule is that you can wear your underwear out on the town, so long as you're fighting crime. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-404823 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:28:20 +0000 Kelly 404823@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow. I can't believe you remember all of that! I remember bits and pieces of things here and there, but nowhere near that much! </p> <p>When I was 4 or 5 I had a white dress with strawberries on it and a red cardigan that went with it. I loved it. My mom hated it for some reason. Also, my Wonder Woman underpants and undershirt were a big favorite. I didn't understand why WW could wear the outfit out of the house but I could not.</p> <p>In sixth grade, I had an outfit I wore a lot that I loved: black a-line/fullish skirt, black and raspberry striped sweater, white tights, and black ankle boots. </p> <p>In high school, I had a navy blue, short sleeved dress with a a-line/fullish skirt with a scoopneck. I felt so pretty in that dress. I also had my very first ever leather jacket that I wore to death, even when it was too cold to wear it. I still have it, for sentimental reasons. It actually had a paisley design in suede on the back.</p> <p>In my twenties, I wore a lot of jeans, but nothing is too memorable for me. Well, except my wedding dress. It was a sheath with a short train and the back was a lacey/crochet type design. </p> <p>Now I like pencil skirts, sheath dresses, cardigans, HIGH heels, and basically being more dressed up than I actually need to be. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/an-accidental-style-retrospective#post-404786 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 03:05:39 +0000 Girl X 404786@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was writing this as a reply to Devon7's post: <a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/how-has-your-style-evolved" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....le-evolved</a> and then realised that the question was 'how has your style evolved in the last 2 years?' and not 'how has your style evolved?' So I'm just posting as a new topic rather than a reply that totally went off the rails!</p> <p>------------</p> <p>Age 3 – 6:<br /> I liked dresses with white, pink, or red polka dots. I loved Mary Jane shoes (I had pairs in brown leather, black cloth, red cloth, and red with white polka dots). I liked white ankle socks with ruffles – especially when worn with my Mary Janes. Favourite outfit: White button up short sleeve shirt (slight ruffle on the collar and sleeve if I remember correctly), tucked into a pair of pastel yellow cropped pants, brown leather Mary Jane shoes with white ruffle ankle socks, and a small red purse (which usually contained candy and stickers).</p> <p>Age 7 – 9:<br /> Loose top/snug skirt sweater dresses. Shirts featuring pictures of fruit or other clothing items. And anything I was allowed to tie-dye. Oh – and since I didn’t have my ears pierced, I used to make big earrings out of construction paper (or candy wrappers!) and double sided tape.</p> <p>Age 9 – 11:<br /> Slouch socks, acid wash jeans safety pinned to fit like skinnies, jean jackets. </p> <p>Age 11 – 13:<br /> As punk as I could understand/was allowed to leave the house in. I had a pair of red jeans that I cut a handprint out of on the right butt cheek and sewed material under. They sound kind of horrifying now, but they were awesome. I had a couple pairs of jeans that I’d added a second band and belt loops to, and then would wear two belts. A lot of bracelets (all at once). Brooches! I don’t know how I figured them for punk, but they worked somehow. From the ages of about 10 onward I was desperate for a pair of 10 hole Docs, but was never allowed to have them, then by the time I could just buy them myself I didn’t want them anymore.</p> <p>Age 14 – 18:<br /> I don’t think I wore a single skirt/dress throughout high school. Possibly because I wore a kilt as part of my school uniform, but who knows? I also didn’t own any T-shirts, except for the ones for gym class/sports. I had a lot of green in my wardrobe, and a bunch of vintage clothing ‘borrowed’ from my parents. Now they’re called ‘boyfriend wear’ but 20 years ago they were just ‘Dad’s old clothes.’ Favourite items: my dad’s corduroy jackets, my mom’s velvet blazers, my first ever black leather motorcycle jacket, and a green hooded silk blouse. </p> <p>Age 19 – 22:<br /> Boots! Snug, low rise, boot cut jeans. Favourite accessory: my (now long gone) ridiculously amazing abs. </p> <p>Age 23 – 26:<br /> Lots of slim fitting above the knee dresses, solids, anything but pastels, high heels, high neck blousey halter tops, wide leg pants, skinny jeans and boot cuts, hats, a lot of leather. No – A LOT of leather. Favourite items: my black leather pencil skirts.</p> <p>Age 27 – 28:<br /> Whatever fit! (Ulcerative colitis – I lost a LOT of weight!)</p> <p>Age 29 – 31:<br /> This was the most boring fashion phase for me. Everything was worn to minimise any body changes that might be going on, so I’d never look too thin or too pouffed. I think I looked pretty good, but I can’t say I was actively choosing a style here. Boot cut jeans and turtleneck sweaters were heavily involved. I probably bought about half my current shoe collection during this time, some were cheapo shoes, but a lot were way not cheapo shoes – which means that during the time that I wore almost nothing, I spent the most I’ve ever spent on my wardrobe.</p> <p>Age 32 - present:<br /> Loose dresses, snug skirts, button up shirts and ties, playful shoes, earrings, edgy/quirky jewellery, slim fitting jackets/blazers, cropped jeans, stripes/polka dots, bags (I used to just have one or two bags that I used with everything), hats.</p> <p>Does anyone else remember what they used to wear way back when? </p>