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A limited silhouette wardrobe - does this make me boring? + I'm back!

MsLuna

Veteran

Hello ladies!!! It's great to be back here!

While I was absent from the boards, this "dress and tunic/leggings only" girl experimented with separates. I wore pants - quite regularly, in fact! However, despite finding silhouettes that actually look good on me - I find that I gravitate towards very specific silhouettes - the NARROW ones. For the last 5+ years, I've filled my wardrobe with A-line and flared dresses and tunics as an attempt to diminish my very busty/thick waisted/slim limbed body. I discovered that actually wearing narrow silhouettes made me look more "balanced" and made me feel a lot more confident.

So as I build my wardrobe - I'm looking to fill my closet with the silhouettes that look fantastic on me and I feel confident in - which are:
- the long over lean look (long cardigan/unstructured blazer, long top, skinny jeans/ponte pants)
- The slim tailored look (tailored blazer, hip-length top,skinny jeans/cigarette pants)
- The curvy sheath dress
- The narrow, tailored pencil dress

Now the part I'm a bit apprehensive about is the boredom issue. Despite consistently reaching for my trusted clothes on a BLAH day - I am still afraid that I may one day get bored and think my wardrobe is rather BLAH. And yet, I feel the most BLAH when I wear the more flared silhouettes (like bootcuts and flared dresses). I'm wondering if conveying mood through accessorization instead of silhouettes would actually be a better option. (Plus - accessories are affordable!)

The second part is something I shouldn't really care about: I really don't want to be seen as BORING. A friend of mine commented that I keep buying a very similar cut of clothes and I took it as a bit of a slight. However - I feel GREAT in those cuts yet somehow I just get hurt too easily!

Do you ladies have a preferred silhouette? Have any of you decided to fill your wardrobe only with cuts that you feel good in? Have you been called "boring" for wearing specific cuts all the time?

Please share!

And... it's great to be back!

Oh and PS. I am a pants girl now.

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from Sveta

Gaylene

Veteran

I think trying to work with new silhouettes is much harder than updating with color or accessories, especially if you've found cuts that work for you. But, unless you want to stick with a signature look that never changes regardless of what is happening in fashion, it probably is necessary to at least experiment to avoid getting in a style rut.

I think, personally, that it is a good idea to at least keep an open mind when looking at a new silhouette before rejecting it as "not for me". I know that I'm pretty hard to convince at times but have to admit that, every now and again, I'm surprised at how much I like something that is totally different than my norm. And then it becomes a new favorite. And that's what keeps fashion so interesting and so much fun.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Welcome back!!!

I have basically 1 look in my closet - flared skirt ... or A-lines. I feel they do look the best on me, but a lot of people have said that I am boring for it. Well, they wear black dress pants all the time, so... I choose to ignore what they have to say and wear whatever the heck I want.

Like you, I do a bit of a tailored pencil to shake things up a bit. I don't really see the point of stocking up on silhouettes that I don't feel good in - I never wear them, and wouldn't wear something for the sake of changing things up vs. things I actually love to wear!

PS: eww, pants. :p

MsLuna

Veteran

Thanks Gaylene!

I think I've been in a style rut for many years. Actually, I wouldn't call it a "style rut" per se but more like a "style discovery" process. I've always been a bit schizophrenic in fashion but very very few styles actually make me feel good (such as the narrow silhouettes I mentioned). I figured I'd kind of just "grow up" a bit and narrow down my style.

As for different silhouettes - I always keep myself updated with fashion and style so I'm always out trying new silhouettes. It almost comes to the point that my finances suffer sometimes At any rate - I agree with you. I will not completely forego bootcuts, for instance, because I know it looks good on me... I just need to figure out a way to incorporate them into my personal style.

MsLuna

Veteran

@lyn LOOOOL I miss reading your hilarious comments (re: "eww, pants. :p")

Ahh yes - the black pants, black shirt look... or the jeans and black top look. I know some people who sport that ensemble and make comments on my flared dresses (back when I wore them) too. I wish I could be less sensitive to people's comments, but heck - it's a learning process

From what I remember of your style though - it's never boring! You use a lot of colour and prints, so I don't think "shaking things up" really is a concern for you

rae

(website)

Veteran

Welcome baaack! Very good to see you here again.

I think I do stick to a few silhouettes that l look good in, too. That's the point of finding out which ones you look good in, right? I like hip length jackets with bootcuts and heels, dresses/skirts that are slim and taper toward the knee, skinnies with knee-length coats, and short shorts with longer tops. There are a few different things that I love for reasons *other* than flattery.

IMO, if you get bored... cross that bridge when you come to it. Then you can buy something new that excites you when you need exciting. If you get random variety stuff now, it still may not excite you, like, ever. As for boring others? I don't mean this in a mean way, but if they are that invested in what you're wearing, maybe they are bored with their own clothes? IDK, it just seems odd to me that someone would say that...

MsLuna

Veteran

Thank you Rae!

You got a point about the "random variety stuff." I've had fashion schizophrenia as far as I can remember (it's my personality, I think. I tend to "go with the flow" and be "moody"), so I've always been one for random stuff. Not recently though - probably because I'm going through a few important life changes, plus, hitting my 30's seem to make me a lot more self aware

Oh with regards to my friend - i wasn't really boring her. I think the comment made me think that she thinks I'm "boring" (and I'm quite sensitive to that sometimes), The odd thing is, my friend (who's an even bigger shopaholic than I am) tends to stick to the same silhouettes too. haha. Maybe she's just projecting. Anyway - I think with myself, being "boring" is the last thing I want anyone to describe me!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Well I sure don't think you're boring!

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Hello KatieKat!! how nice to 'see' you

Why in the world would you want to wear silhouettes, or anything else for that matter, that make you feel less than fab? Expecially when you know about ones that you lovelovelove!

This is one of the style pitfalls that i think gets unrealistically encouraged by the style blogging culture. Every unique physical body will look better in some things than others, personal preferences narrow it down from there, then you have lifestyle/climate/work considerations which whittle things down even further. Looking at it from this angle, it's obvious that most people aren't going to wear every single look out there. Yet i see this type of thing encouraged many places (not here thankfully!). "Yes you can wear every color!" I say why not wear just the ones you love?

To be sure, some people love and crave variety and feel compelled to experiment wildly with every variable out there. But a lot of people prefer to wear what they really really love and not bother with the rest. Interestingly, people known for their outstanding personal style are among the latter - take a look at pictures of Hepburns A & K, Princess Diana, Grace Kelly, etc. and it becomes very obvious that they really restrict their wardrobes in many areas - silhouette, hemlines, belt/waist placement, makeup, hair, texture, drape, color, on and on. Yet people say of these icons, 'They looked great in everything', - only because everything you saw them in looked fabulous!

All of which is to say that restricting your silhouettes to ones that flatter your figure and make you happy will make you look gorgeous and happy! re: boredom, i would follow Gaylene's advice to keep an eye out for and try new silhouettes as you may find some winners there, or current trends that only need a bit of a tweak to freshen up your look. Additionally, if you are open to variety in your colors, textures, details (buckles, buttons, pleats and so on), accessories, drape and style references (cowgirl, forties, rocker, etc.) you will have PLENTY to keep you occupied!

and as rae points out, you can cross that bridge when you come to it you can always shop if you're desperate! HTH and welcome back!! steph

nancylee

Veteran

I think having a few silhouettes that you rely on proves that you know yourself and your style very well. It's not boring at all! Of course, you can evolve in different directions over time (and you probably will), but having reliable looks is the foundation of a workable wardrobe.

shiny

Veteran

That's a lot of silhouettes, no? It seems so to me. I prefer similar silhouettes myself, so I do understand where you are coming from on that.

Ironically, I was on a "long over lean" jag for quite awhile. And then something clicked in and I was thoroughly bored with it. So I embraced dresses, and have been living in dresses for months on end now. However, I am starting to get excited for the Fall and going back to pants again! And suddenly I am finding, for the first time, that pencil skirts have an appeal, so I expect I may be playing with that too.

I guess what I'm saying is to leave yourself open. It's okay to embrace certain styles and go on a long jag with them. It's also okay to suddenly find yourself bored, and embracing a totally different look and going on a jag with that for awhile.

The trick, of course, is in having the wisdom to know which wardrobe items you might want to hold on to, since your mood may change and you may find yourself wanting to wear them again. I am really glad I did not let go of my skirts since I wasn't wearing them and had it in my head "I'm not a skirt person."

MsLuna

Veteran

@mrseccentric: thank you! Very true statement about style icons - they look good in everything because they know what works for them! And yes - I see the whole "you can wear anything" idea in fashion blogging. If I had to follow a lot that's on trend, it would not even suit my lifestyle! Also if there's anything I'm open to, it's diff accessories, fabrics and details! I'll stick with one silhouette and colour scheme, but I'll definitely experiment with other fabrics and accessories!

@nancylee Thanks! I wish I could say I have a whole lot of self-knowledge, but it's a significant improvement to my fashion-schizo 20's

@shiny I actually thought I was in a long over lean jag for a while too! It turns out I was tired of dressing too "relaxed." basically I needed more edge on my wardrobe (through accessories and diff fabrics). I know about jags all too well. I went through a huge bootcut/blazer jag and a flared dress jag. I think those are really silhouettes that are just "phases" for me. I think I have been in a bootcut and blazer jag lately too - but it seems to be short lived

DonnaF

Veteran

Even within a single silhouette, there are so many variables: Color, fabric, pattern, details such as pockets, buttons, flaps, etc. Think of it as exploring certain silhouettes in depth! Why wear silhouettes that make you feel less than fab? You have found your *signature* silhouettes; well, at least for the time being!

catgirl

Veteran

Hi there! Have missed you! I'm also pretty limited silhouette and I'm fine with that - I find it somewhat freeing to be restricted in my choices, if that makes sense. Otherwise I would run completely wild. Having a few fallback silhouettes allows me to say no in a constructive way.

Good to have you back!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hi, there! From your description, it actually sounds to me as if you have many options of silhouette (well, compared to some) and I can't imagine that would become boring too soon, as long as you can find the right items.

Anyway - I can't wait to see your style!

rachylou

Veteran

I know that I have a definite look (not that I could pick it out of a crowd) and no one has ever asked me *why are you doing that again?* This is probably because I'm a character, to be quite honest. They know I'm doing it because I'm a nut and have OPINIONS.

So... you know, I think the solution is to work your silhouette a whole lot more. Really own it.

MsLuna

Veteran

@Donna I totally agree with you there. I generally play with a lot of soft/hard textures and rough/smooth. it's almost liberating to just focus on tiny little details alone and not have to worry about the silhouettes! I can even change the mood just with the jewelry I wear!

@alaskagirl Missed you too! As a trained designer, I see freedom in "limiting" the silhouettes as well. There is so many possibilites! As for running wild - yeah - That's kind of what I don't need at the moment as I have to keep myself financially responsible/smart

@Suz Yes, I have options indeed! I guess to me I don't consider myself to have "many" silhouettes because I restrict myself to narrow/slim/rectangular silhouettes as opposed to flared or hourglassy. The general rule for me is that clothing need to fit close to the body. When I do wear drapey/loose tops, they still tend to just drop downwards (rectangular shaped) as opposed to flaring out. I just can't believe I've avoided this silhouette for so long (always opted to force an hourglass on myself) when it's the very silhouette that works on me!

@rachylou From what I'm reading it sounds like you have a personal style that accurately matches your personality. if so - WOW... You've achieved something I've always wanted to achieve! Often times, I've always felt "hidden" and I guess 30+ years into life, I decided that it's time to stop hiding and it's time to shine. I guess I'll need to work that silhouette then!

Thanks for the feedback ladies!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Hi Katie, nice to have you back.
Limited silhouettes - this was my life before YLF. Wider trousers and A line / flared skirts - that was all I wore because I thought this is the only way to hide my bigger lower body.
They did flatter my body - but after several year of wearing practically the same thing over and over I got so bored I almost did not care what I wear anymore. Yeah, I tried to liven them up with colors and textures but it was not enough. I was lamenting my body flaws which locked me into this style "jail" but it was unthinkable to venture out.
Until I came here...
I think I was so ready for a change that after reading a couple of Angie's posts I plunged in - and boy I am happy I did!
My most astonishing discovery was that all these silhouettes I thought unflattering on me can be quite becoming if I get the details right. And fun factor is well worth experimenting!
I think I am rambling too long but my point is that it all depends. If you are happy and content wearing limited shapes, colors, etc. because you think they are the most flattering on you and you feel fab every single day you wear them then there is no need for a change. However if you feel bored with a repetition or feel adventurous and want to explore new shapes and style for your body then go for it. After all even a notion of what is flattering is not the same for everybody and variety is the salt of life...at least for me.