https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:27:46 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes/page/2#post-1961671 Fri, 05 Oct 2018 11:45:25 +0000 Angie 1961671@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Cardiff Girl</b>, YES. Did 4 years of Psycho at Uni.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes/page/2#post-1961533 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 21:16:02 +0000 Cardiff girl 1961533@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Laura-I think that I could cope better with the T-shirt plus bottoms scenario.We are supposed to look “dressy”which as you point out is not always that practical.<br /> Rachylou-orange is the colour of the hardware store isn’t it no matter where you are! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes/page/2#post-1961505 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 19:08:25 +0000 rachylou 1961505@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This reminds me... I have my own personal uniform for the bakery. I wear these Victoria Beckham orange miniskirts I got at Target as aprons. They have a huge pocket. Thing is, when I go to the hardware store in them, people always think I work at the hardware store. Lol! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes/page/2#post-1961502 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 19:04:34 +0000 Laura (rhubarbgirl) 1961502@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been dealing with something similar because of the summer-fall seasonal job I am working at again this year - I have to wear a particular t-shirt on Saturdays, but can wear anything within the dress code (basically no t-shirts with logos, no distressed jeans, no leggings, and closed-toe shoes) on other days. But it's a quite physical job where you can get sweaty and dirty and are always moving around, so I find that most of the 'interesting but still within dress code' options I've tried have ended up failing the practicality test. </p> <p>For a while&nbsp;this summer it really irritated me because I wanted to somehow express my own style but still be set to do my job well. As it gets into fall we get busier and a larger proportion of the staff wear company tees every day even though it's not mandatory, just to make it easier on customers and our new coworkers who don't know everyone, I guess. I've started doing the same and have a 'uniform' of the same tees and bottoms that I cycle through, which has been OK with me. Maybe it's what someone said upthread, that if it's clearly a uniform I don't worry that anyone will think it's my own style and judge me on it.</p> <p>(I will be a contrarian and say I don't like the idea of school uniforms. I never had to wear one and I would have hated it. My clothes were one of the few ways that I had to express myself in that environment. And socioeconomic difference between students is always obvious anyway.) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961449 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:29:06 +0000 Cardiff girl 1961449@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lyn67-seeing clothes irl on a lot of bodies other than mine has certainly helped to hone my clothes picking skills.<br /> Angie -this is true.Didnt you do psychology once and have you found this useful in your work?<br /> Lisa P-I’m sad to know that your words of wisdom have been lost to us forever.Never mind thank you for taking the time to respond anyway<br /> Bijou-I can tell this by the very creative way that you dress and put clothes together.You obviously get a lot of enjoyment from your wardrobe which is nice to see. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961441 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:14:59 +0000 Bijou 1961441@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wore a dark green uniform. I don’t hate the colour, but it really is not one of my best colours and so I don’t have much of it in my wardrobe. I really have fond memories of my school and liked how the uniform created a sense of belonging. There was no angst about what I wore each day because it was fixed, my creativity was channeled elsewhere.</p> <p>My relationship with my wardrobe is like Carla’s. For me too, it is more than just clothes , it is a form of self expression. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961430 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:30:45 +0000 Anonymous 1961430@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow. I took an entire day to write a reply here, left the browser open all night, finished it off just now, and found myself logged off when I hit submit. &nbsp; Oh well, the emotion is lost now. &nbsp;No pun intended &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961421 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:09:12 +0000 Angie 1961421@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>Cardiff Girl,</b> emotions are complicated! Purchasing items can satisfy all sorts of needs that are deeply embedded in our psyches </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961360 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 09:19:48 +0000 lyn67 1961360@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hah, I could never put me off chocolate no matter what!:-)<br />It has to be more <b>Angie</b>'s point&nbsp;shopping <i>all the time</i>&nbsp;for others - teaches one to be EXTRA particular with what&nbsp; commiting&nbsp; to&nbsp; buy, as you have seen(and tried) them all, the better and the worst, too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961254 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 21:54:32 +0000 Cardiff girl 1961254@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Smittie-You are so right,maybe we ve just matured in our clothes choices.<br /> Suntiger-you are right about uniforms being made for men and not taking gender differences into account.<br /> JAileen-Yes,I didn’t realise I minded what I wore so much so that’s one lesson learned. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961195 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 18:31:21 +0000 JAileen 1961195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I understand your feelings about your non-uniform. If it looked a uniform, then no one would judge your taste. Since your non-uniform doesn’t look like a uniform, then other people might think badly of your taste in clothes. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961180 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 17:37:20 +0000 Anonymous 1961180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with Jessikams, i like to fuss over my wardrobe instead of dealing with un fun problems!<br /> Emotions definitely play a part in my choices. I had uniforms for jobs (at least not school) and absolutely hated it. To this day i refuse to wear dominoes blue, even though i only worked there a few weeks, many years ago. And white button up shirts, that i wore for work in an Italian restaurant...where we served marinara sauce and red wine...And im a klutz anyway. Plus nearly all uniforms are androgynous and sized for men </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961175 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 17:31:01 +0000 Anonymous 1961175@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you get to a point where you become very picky about what you want to introduce into your wardrobe, so you can’t just spend money at any old retailer, even if it’s free! I know I find it hard to pick things from specific retailers if they don’t have the exact thing I want, even though the retailer might be great in every other respect (quality, price, etc). I so badly want to find leopard shoes at Ecco or naturalizer, but nothing’s available so I don’t buy anything.</p> <p>I do understand why you might not want to wear certain colours that you strongly associate with school. I never wore a uniform growing up so I have no issues. I think my childhood influenced me more towards the positive. That is, the colours and types of things I wore as a kid, I still like. I’m thinking of scratchy wool sweaters, tights, wool pants and skirts, madras, tennis shoes, navy, and bright red. I still don’t mind/love all these things! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961170 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 17:22:09 +0000 Cardiff girl 1961170@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lyn67-Its been surprisingly easy to resist buying clothes,maybe it’s a bit like working in a chocolate factory,it sort of puts you off over time.<br /> Style fan- you sound laudibly sensible about clothes and shopping.<br /> Angie-I totally agree with you on the school uniform front and I re read the post that you provided the link for.lt makes complete sense but Im not always sure that one is totally aware of the motivations behind some purchasing decisions.l guess that’s the challenge isn’t it.<br /> Toronto girl-one thing that has been fascinating about working in retail is learning about how retailers try to drive sales but that’s a whole other post!<br /> Jessikams-been there ,done that!<br /> Runcarla-exactly! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961136 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 15:40:11 +0000 Carla 1961136@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shopping (collecting clothes) and playing in my closet satisfies a need to push the pleasure button (along with gardening, cooking, music.) My participation in these activities increases when I am stressed by 'ugly' things and provides a way for creative escape. I can surround myself in a cocoon of comfort, beauty, good smells, lovely sounds that I can control - and it provides a barrier to the harsher aspects of the real world over which I don't have control.</p> <p>It's not really 'just clothes' is it? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961134 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 15:17:16 +0000 Jessikams 1961134@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I notice that I shop more when I feel stuck or frustrated in some other part of life. Like, “I can’t resolve this legal issue but I can find a pair of red shoes.” And then I feel like I accomplished something (?!?) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961104 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 13:11:22 +0000 Helena 1961104@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cardiffgirl, such interesting thoughts! It's interesting about having to wear certain clothes vs. the uniform ... I wonder if perhaps a uniform is obviously someone else's choice; whereas, the clothes you wear for your job look like they are your choice - so in a way you are feeling misrepresented.</p> <p>I too wore a uniform for school and think all schools should have uniforms! It is such an effective (though obviously not perfect) way of leveling the playing field in terms of socio-economic status and other judgement factors, and teaches kids that sometimes you must wear what's required, not just what you feel like. (my kids beg to differ with my opinion on the matter ha)</p> <p>The psychology of shopping is a fascinating subject ... will have to contemplate further! I would love to believe I am totally rational, but I know I'm sometimes driven by the desire to perfect my wardrobe - which is clearly a fool's errand, since there is no 'perfection'. I need to be mindful of this.</p> <p>Thanks for the insightful post! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961099 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 13:02:46 +0000 Angie 1961099@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>FASCINATING. I'd love to know which retailer you're working for, <b>Cardiff Girl.</p> <p></b>A few thoughts. First this - and one of my shopping strategies:<br /><b><br /><a rel="nofollow" href="https://youlookfab.com/2015/01/28/organized-emotional-shopping/">https://youlookfab.com/2015/01.....-shopping/</a></p> <p></b>Second, I LOVE fashion, style, dressing, colours, and creating outfits. I am a Style Activist and LOVE helping others find their style. I eat, sleep, drink one of my passions and it's my livelihood.&nbsp; That's why I shop regularly and edit AS regularly.&nbsp;</p> <p>That said and more to your point, because I am shopping <i>all the time</i> for others - I am EXTRA particular with what I commit to so that I do not tire of it. I am just about as fussy as can be.&nbsp;</p> <p>p.s. I schooled the British system and also wore a school uniform for 12 years of my life. Not an issue at all. Strongly believe that all kids should wear a school uniform.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961071 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:22:37 +0000 Style Fan 1961071@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love clothes.&nbsp; I love playing with design and colours.&nbsp; I am similar to Jussie that way.&nbsp; I also like making diagrams and charts.&nbsp; Clothes, planning outfits and organizing my wardrobe are ways to express my creativity.&nbsp; It is partly emotional but also analytic.&nbsp; I don't see why clothing can't be a hobby as well as functional.&nbsp; It is for me.</p> <p>I never wore a uniform.&nbsp; I don't wear pink, florals or ruffles.&nbsp; I am not drawn to that look but those things have some difficult associations for me.&nbsp; I don't think it is all emotional because I look dreadful in pink.</p> <p>I have also shopped when life has been difficult.&nbsp; I don't do that now but it was a way for me to feel better. &nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961062 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 09:14:53 +0000 lyn67 1961062@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, this post (and <b>Angie's</b> blog of course) is so disturbing. You both really&nbsp; got me thinking. <br />I never rationalised it like so but&nbsp; I did&nbsp; have averse of&nbsp; gingham's and light/mid blues as these were my all time school uniforms till college.</p> <p>Than I was always wondering how&nbsp; those who work in clothing retail can limit their purcahses to their very own personal budget&nbsp; having all those candies at hand all the time-I thought one would need such a strength to&nbsp; resist....</p> <p>BTW I am completely emotional/moody dresser and an emotional shopper (plus a creative DIY of any kind of alteration person-which is the worst of all!:-)). This means&nbsp; I can never plan my wiw&nbsp; in advance for 100% sure,&nbsp; so am a notorious overpacker, too. And <b>Jussie</b>, are we sisters (enjoying&nbsp; trying on clothes&nbsp; and making outfits from early childhood:-)) thus I cannot help and am a perfectionist who sees&nbsp; and wants to correct every flaw. Also, a&nbsp; mechanical engineer by carrier myself:-))&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961047 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 06:57:58 +0000 Cardiff girl 1961047@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow ,lots of very honest and thoughtful responses.Thank you all so much for responding.<br /> Cindysmith-I guess that there are worse things to do than buy clothes !(provided we don’t go over budget)<br /> Krishnidoux-I think that you ve just managed to articulate how I feel about my new “uniform”<br /> Barbara Diane-that’s so interesting that the urge to shop faded overtime.<br /> Jussie-There is undoubtably a creative element to clothing and, how one dresses. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961039 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 05:08:14 +0000 jussie 1961039@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just like eye candy I think. I was always obsessed with colour and clothing, even when I was little. I also enjoy fiddling around with paint chip samples, painting, drawing, dressmaking, flowers, children’s picture books etc.<br /> I even enjoy trying clothes on that I’m not going to buy, and window shopping because I like creating the outfit and seeing how colours and shapes interact. I don’t nescessarily need to own the stuff.<br /> For me, creating and looking at beautiful and colorful stuff is almost like a drug- it makes me happy. I feel the same when I read an amazing poem or a beautiful passage in a book, or hear a brilliant piece of music. It literally thrills me.<br /> I don’t know why I’m like this.<br /> However, being this way seems to have a flip side: I’m not very good with any type of math, spreadsheets, documents, legalities, logistics etc. Entrepreneurship is not my jam. The house is falling apart around me. Thank goodness we have a cleaner. I don’t do conflict. It’s hard to remember to pay the bills on time..... gawd I’m a shambles. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961034 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 04:24:06 +0000 Barbara Diane 1961034@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I’ve thought more about this over the last 5 years. I found the one shopping break I took very instructive. My craving to shop lessened over time and I freed up lots of time not looking at clothes online. </p> <p>I’ve been thinking a lot lately about looking as good as possible versus wearing something that I want to wear for other reasons. Like, my mom handed it down to me and I like wearing something she wore. Or, a third piece that I like the fact that I’m finally getting wears out of again, even though the dress looks better with the usual topper. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961032 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 04:09:49 +0000 krishnidoux 1961032@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Cardiff girl you bring up so many fascinating points, but I just wanted to add this little aparte. I can't beleive your experience working for a clothes company that forced you to wear their clothes, but only some of them, with such poor choice that you had to don pieces you would never pick for yourself otherwise! I am completely appalled by this, somehow, I find it so invasive. Ok, ok, I agree, there are worse things, and those companies do worse things too (abusive sweatshops in third world countris come to mind), yet, for me, what you describe you were forced to wear is worse than a uniform. A uniform at least everybody is subjected to the same thing and everybody knows no one has the choice. Here, you are given the illusion of a choice yet have no opt out possible. It's machiavelic almost. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961029 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 03:36:08 +0000 cindysmith 1961029@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If I get gut-level honest, I have to admit that I shop to change the way I feel. My 12-step sponsor says she'll happily accept a shopping binge or oversized slice of cake if it keeps me from taking a drink, so I just roll with it LOL </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1961024 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 02:20:31 +0000 rachylou 1961024@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It’s such an interesting question. I don’t know what buying clothes does for me at all. I like to imagine. I like to deconstruct looks. I have a sense that clothes are important but in an odd way... not in terms so much of status but as to your powers of perception and judgment and independence of mind (this is probably a familial thing). I’m interested in beauty as a philosophical concept. I probably enjoy looking too much... if only math were as fascinating to me (!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1960989 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 21:28:33 +0000 Cardiff girl 1960989@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you ladies for all your interesting and thoughtful comments.l really do believe that there is a psychology to the buying of clothes in our modern world that I have yet to fully understand. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1960987 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 21:10:39 +0000 Canada 1960987@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Binkie, you are very witty! And Cardiffgirl..I'm still pondering your sage words. Being told what to wear and in what colors at your new job...sounds like a uniform to me, even if you are now " all grown up." </p> <p>Some of the comments here concerning long held emotions over uniforms somehow made me think of The Handmaid'S Tale and her restrictive red cloak. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1960980 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 20:41:59 +0000 Suz 1960980@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fascinating! What a great question you ask -- what exactly does buying do for us? I imagine it might be a number of different things, but now I have to go ponder on this! If it's true that it doesn't even matter if we want or like the item, perhaps it is just the feeling of having something new come into the house. Maybe we could all do massive trades and get the feeling of having bought without the expense! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/emotions-and-clothes#post-1960977 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 20:38:25 +0000 Anonymous 1960977@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>your post is so fascinating and insightful - while I have had stints in retail for fun- I never received clothes or even discounts but then I was never told what to wear either. But I think I understand your discomfort of “forced “ wearing items that are neither your style or color palette, especially if you are secure in both. I would see it as a form of betrayal of self.... “ this is not me/ not who I am”<br /> With regard to uniforms- I was fortunate that all school uniforms were mostly in my color palette so I actually liked them. When you are a geeky awkward kid you will love any positives- lol.<br /> I can say that after wearing nurse whites ( yeah I’m that old that it was pre- scrubs) for years, I would not wear any white save my wedding dress. This year I actually purchased my first white summer dress and a pair of white pants-ahhh the scrutiny I gave those pieces- hahaha. I had to make sure there was absolutely no way they could be mistaken for hospital wear of years ago. </p>