https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:55:34 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-590412 Sat, 07 Apr 2012 19:14:04 +0000 cciele 590412@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie -- thanks for the link to the blog post; hadn't read that one! It was very helpful.</p> <p>Vildy -- Great breakdown of characteristics that date clothing</p> <p>christieanne -- yes, it's definitely nice to have choice and a variety of silhouettes to choose from these days</p> <p>Helen -- I like your approach! Mixing the new and the tried-and-true sounds like a good plan.</p> <p>Suz -- I hear you :)</p> <p>Ruth -- thanks for clarifying about trends vs fads; food for thought</p> <p>Claire -- I think you're doing great combining the old and the new!</p> <p>Mo -- ya, fashion is fickle and that's why sometimes it gives me a headache ;)</p> <p>Makrame -- that makes a lot of sense. nowadays you can buy new clothes about as inexpensively as thrifted clothes!</p> <p>teeandcee -- yes, I think age and figure has a lot to do with whether you look dated (vs cool and retro)</p> <p>Julie -- thanks, I appreciate it! Good to hear I'm not totally off track :)</p> <p>Manidipa -- I was brought up in a thrifty family where we kept anything usable. So like you I find it hard to discard perfectly usable items (like this CRT monitor I'm using, heh) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-590186 Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:41:24 +0000 ManidipaM 590186@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for asking this, because here's another struggler-along who really doesn't have the resources (time, money, energy) to work TOO hard on staying on-trend. And the eco-thrifty part of me (admittedly a fairly large chunk of me) really dislikes throwing stuff out because it's been recently upgraded in the shops --- be it the TV or the phone or the computer...or clothes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-590139 Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:11:03 +0000 RoseandJoan 590139@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just wanted to add that from your WIW pictures, I can tell you have the edge and attitude to integrate a dated item and make it look intentional and cool. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-590121 Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:04:48 +0000 teeandcee 590121@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I too am so glad you asked this question as I find it utterly confusing and exhausting. I'm about to go read Angie's link and hopefully clear up a few things for myself. </p> <p>Maybe I'm wrong, but I think some of it depends on your age and figure. At 45 and full-figured I'd appear matronly no matter how creative I got with something retro. At least to my admittedly non-expert eye. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589733 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:07:20 +0000 Makrame 589733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am also somewhat confused about this, which is one reason I do not do a lot of thrifting (that and the fact that the selection in thrift stores around here is small).</p> <p>I am not too concerned about looking "dated" and will happily wear items I already have if they fit well and look good to my eye, even if they are not very current. But when I buy something, it seems easier to me to find a good deal on new clothes that will most likely be a current style, rather than try to zero in on current or hip or cool retro clothes in a thrift store. I guess I am lazy and also not very good at figuring out how to make retro clothes work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589712 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:38:33 +0000 Mo 589712@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I admit to having issue with this sometimes too. I don't mind not being 'of the moment' in the hottest trend, but I don't want to be 'so 1998' either! A few of the things I purged a year and a half ago when I first got here, I now wish I hadn't. Hemlines was one of the issues and wouldn't you know it, midi's came around just after that! But I did keep 2 midis, a dress and a skirt, that I'm so glad I have now. Fashion is fickle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589710 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:35:44 +0000 Anonymous 589710@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What an excellent blog post Angie linked to! Even though I have waded through a lot of the archives, I had never read that one. I liked how she explained that it depends on the person wearing the item, and what kind of style they had. </p> <p>Before YLF, I only understood *in* style and *out* of style. Now there are so many things in-between. I hope to wear my older items in current combinations to make them go further, because you're right, keeping up with not looking dated can be exhausting (not to mention expensive)! Thanks for asking this question! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589663 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:04:49 +0000 Anonymous 589663@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>No matter what's trending, I wear the colors that best flatter me.</p> <p>As far as looking dated, I absolutely can tell whether or not something looks like it's from the present decade, but it's more difficult for me to tell if something from last year is no longer current. In my mind, I think of styles that only last a year or so as being fads, whereas trends last longer. With that mindset, I think most of my clothes are trendy because they seem to look "in style" for longer than a year or so. If I see something that's a brand new look and I'm not sure it will be "in" the following year, I wait about embracing it unless (1) I'm only going to wear it for the very short time it's a fad, and then toss or (2) that particular look really works for me and I'm not concerned about whether or not it stays "in" for more than a year or so.</p> <p>Pardon my rambling! I hope what I just posted makes sense. Basically, IMO there's a difference between a trend and a fad.</p> <p>What I've noticed, though, is that many items we think are back in style are modified in such a way that they differ slightly from the original design. This makes them look more current. It also makes it to where you really can't resurrenct stuff from a decade or more ago unless you know how to style it to make it work. This is why we have Angie! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589656 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:43:43 +0000 Suz 589656@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm so glad you asked this question because I feel so clueless about this, too. Basically, I have no idea! And if I am going to thrift (and I am, sometimes, for my little "extras, especially) then how can I do what Angie says and pick the RIGHT stuff? How do I learn that, I wonder? </p> <p>Suggestions welcome! </p> <p>Off to read Angie's post. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589652 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:37:09 +0000 HelenInCanada 589652@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good points, cciele. Something to mull over. I LOVE looking at the new boutique/shop windows and fashion blogs, enjoying fresh trends coming down the pike. But can I keep up with it all? Goodness, no way. Do I discard much-loved items that are NOT trending currently? No. I think viewing something as "dated" applies to fashion-scene lovers who have been keeping pace with the dominant ever-changing trends. When a new look comes to the fore, it's something fresh and different, so the looks of previous seasons start to appear a bit stale, perhaps from wearing those colours/silhouettes/shapes for a year or so. Craving something new, and wanting to be among the first to sport it. Advanced class, IMHO. I adapt faster if it's a trend I happen to fall in love with. </p> <p>I love to thrift too, so I often wonder how far off the radar I've fallen, fashion-scene wise, but if I really LOVE something, it doesn't bother me. I try to add something current, though, just because I like modern-classic (as well as boho) looks.</p> <p>ETA: Off to read Angie's post! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589651 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:36:35 +0000 christieanne 589651@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Before I jump over to read Angie's blog post which will certainly help me as well, I will offer up that we are lucky that there is so much variety in stores these days. There are seasons (and entire years) were it seems all the retailers have gone off the deep end and everything looks alike. And if it happens not to be your "thing" you are out of luck. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589647 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:31:49 +0000 Vildy 589647@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm in favor of wearing whatever you like because I think attitude will carry you through.<br /> Clothes tend to date mostly by silhouette. If all the stores are selling boxy jackets and you are wearing shrunken jackets or vice versa. If the stores are selling big shoulder pads and you are wearing none and vice versa. If people are wearing close fitting clothing and you are wearing huge, oversized sweaters and leggings. </p> <p>Also by palette. There are recognizable color palettes that went with a certain era and are seen no more. </p> <p>And especially by print. Some people can date a print by a specific year. </p> <p>Sometimes by item: those platforms with the thick patties under the toes will soon be gone. "Clever" trend items tend to go out of style like the wind. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589644 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:29:53 +0000 Angie 589644@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cathy, deep breath! I wrote about this topic a while ago. I think it might help: </p> <p><a href="http://youlookfab.com/2010/10/28/how-to-decide-whether-an-item-is-dated/" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/2010/10/.....-is-dated/</a></p> <p>Thrifting has it's advantages for sure - but is has it's disadvantages. One of them being that people thrift dated stuff and cannot make it look "retro-cool". They just end up looking *more dated* and less stylish. There is definitely a knack to thrifting the RIGHT stuff and making it look on-trend or in style. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/confusion-about-how-clothing-is-considered-dated#post-589627 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:08:24 +0000 cciele 589627@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been noticing threads about items looking dated (in terms of length, cut, neckline, fabrication, etc.). But, sometimes I just can't tell whether something is dated. I usually look at an outfit and at whether the colors and proportions are pleasing, and am concerned less with how on-trend or classic it is.</p> <p>Especially with the thrifting and hoarding (guilty!) that goes on -- what's the difference between looking dated (especially if said item looks still flattering) and doing your own thing, fashionwise?</p> <p>Frankly, I'm getting to the point where I want to wear whatever I like, because this thing about trying not to look dated is a bit exhausting. Maybe this goes back to my mom, who has kept a lot of clothes (back to the 60s, and we're not talking about classic designer clothes, but normal everyday clothes) and still wears them -- and I think she looks fantastic because she's always coordinated and neatly dressed. </p>