Annagybe - your sweater find is getting a lot of press... - YouLookFab Forum

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Annagybe - your sweater find is getting a lot of press...

rachylou

Veteran

Anna - Boy, is your sweater find getting a lot of press! I've seen it everywhere. I'm seriously contemplating it (90F temp, notwithstanding); it's a beautiful sweater.

...and as I post, I wonder how people feel about purchasing things that get press. Of course it shouldn't matter, but sometimes it does anyways. I've bought clothes I've seen in magazines and had it pointed out, which is a little weird. But after all, a lot of the magazines are practically catalogs these days. I definitely have always looked at the shopping info section of magazines.

On the other hand, I don't like it when people buy art for their homes that's been advertised in A.D. Is that a Miss Mary Mac? (as in the children's ditty; e.g., "Miss Mary Mac loves books but hates to read").

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33 replies

Latest reply was from ironkurtin

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I'm weird. If something gets a lot of press, eg Kenzo tiger head sweatshirt I'm ok with it. I, however, become less enamored of items that have a tendency to take over the forum.

rachylou

Veteran

That's kind of interesting. I was thinking at first, *oh yes; it's one thing to see things advertised and another to show up in the same dress as someone else*... but then I remembered we're on the net and it's all pictures. Maybe it's a reality thing still, tho. YLF is more real than my latest copy of Vogue.

Aida

Veteran

If I like it I like it, but there has to be some element of authenticity for me. I have authenticity issues with clothing, though

viva

Veteran

I won't buy something because it gets a lot of press, but I also won't not buy it because it does. I'm press-neutral when it comes to the purchase decision. However, if I happen to really like something and buy it and it ALSO gets a lot of press, that can be a fun win-win.

BTW, Anna, I am not surprised to read your take on press vs YLF. We're way too mainstream for you.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Tee hee hee, you mean, you don't like our striped body-con dresses with Lemming leather jackets? Just teasing!

I think that the items you like Anna are really high fashion and sometimes above my head! And I like that - you're cutting edge awesome!

rachylou

Veteran

Viva, I don't think I've ever been called mainstream before... Well, I'm assuming you're calling me mainstream...

But there you go: I told 'em I was normal!

catgirl

Veteran

Anna, what about a big press item that takes over the forum? For example, if everyone jumped on the Kenzo sweatshirt would you love it less? Is forum love a negative? Or is that irrelevant? I'm curious! Because we did invent the term "lemming-wear" here... And I try to take style cues from you without copycatting. You are much more into finding the latest and greatest than most of us. In other words, I am lazy!

ironkurtin

Veteran

I think it was my thread that inspired the lemming-wear term, when I said I didn't want to dress like "everyone else." I have an automatic aversion to something that everyone else has; in fact, I loathe the word "trendy." I even saw a coat I own that I really like in an ad for Lucky and had a "oh no!" moment. I think I've purchased *one* item that raged on the forum, and I never wore it. So I wouldn't blame AG for passing on forum lemmings, since I do it myself.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I thought lemming came from the skinnies tucked into boots thread about 3 years ago.
At any rate, I do sometimes see something and have to have it, but not because I've been worn down by over exposure. It's an instant thing for me. And conversely, I could see 1000 floral pants H&M skinnies and never in my life decide that I finally want to join the club.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Yeah, Mo, that was my thread... I felt kinda bad about the lemming thing but then YLF seems to have claimed it as their own.

cciele

Veteran

eh, I wouldn't feel bad about it IK, the term "lemming" as it refers to human behavior has been around for awhile. I've seen it used in other forums, in which certain items become extremely coveted (e.g., purses, baby carriers, etc.).

Didn't someone here post an F21 copycat of the R&B sweater? Nice way to play with that style, I think!

Also, good question Una. I'm wondering what the tipping point is for people. I think I just get bored with certain looks when it becomes oversaturated -- not so much here, but IRL -- for example, skinnies with boots. So then I try to find something different

ironkurtin

Veteran

Funny that I am back to loving skinnies with boots. I plan to wear them all winter. I wonder what that's called - Lagging instead of Lemming?

Aida

Veteran

Skinnies+boots is just too practical for some climates NOT to wear (like mine). Alternatives exist, but not much works as well. IK, since tall boots have taken somewhat of a backburner to booties the last couple of years perhaps that's driving it back around for you

rabbit

Veteran

This is interesting and connects in my mind to the article about Parisian style in the link post right now. In a nutshell the article says that the chic Parisian dressers are basically all wearing exactly the same thing.

So on the one hand I wonder, is there a sort of 'uniform' with small variations for a certain form of classic chic, and if that is one's style, isn't the point to hew closely to that ideal rather than further away.

But then if one's style is more idiosyncratic as part of it's identity, isn't that also in some ways an artificial constraint that might encourage one to veer away from something that otherwise perfectly fits their needs just because of over-saturation. At least this is what my mind is circling around as I try to figure out what sneakers to buy. Sneakers are so tribal!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Ok my brain is bit fried after a busy day of work and I'm on call.
I guess the most recent example is the Rag & Bone Miramar pajama jeans. I was intrigued initially, even bought them. But they lost their luster, so I returned them. I just like being a special little flower, just like everyone else. HA!
Nobody in my real life dresses like me either. Only a couple of friends are into fashion, and I met them here (Hi Jenava and Amy).
Though I was in Via C in Nordstrom last week. Every sales associate that day was wearing a Kenzo tigerhead sweatshirt. It was pretty funny. But I'll still wear my sweatshirt.
I can't explain it. All I know is that what works for me and becomes my workhorses, others have difficulty duplicating. Though I once bought a floral moto accidentally twice from two different sample sites. Amy bought my extra. I love that we are twins. Dianthus bought the same blue leather puffer from Danier as me. She even was worried that I'd be offended. I guess I can take copying in small doses.
I've lemminged on other big fashion items, eg the Isabel Marant wedge sneakers. They were ALL over the blogosphere.
Angie said I'm the most emotional shopper she knew. I'm also an emotional dresser.
All right this is really rambley.

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks for answering, Anna! So do you mind being copied? I guess I have come full circle from copying everyone to finding my own style and not being swayed by popularity in either direction. If I like it, I like it. If I don't, I don't. One reason I've given up on flares for now - I'm not willing to work that hard to make them work for me just because they are a trend.

I remember reading about how upper crust Bostonians would pick up and drop their "R"s in an attempt to distinguish themselves from the masses, who would promptly follow suit, causing a switch back the other way.

Interesting thread!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I would be amused if someone copied me once or twice. I would probably be annoyed if someone did it all the time.
The funny thing is in terms of the worldwide fashion blogosphere, I really don't think I'm unique at all. I'm an early adopter, but not a trend setter.

rachylou

Veteran

I love that about The Bostonians.

You know, I'm amused if people turn up in the exact same thing, but when they wear the same formula at the same time, I don't like it. Like two friends wearing different yet still black leather motos, dark skinnies, and brown knee-boots. I guess I'm an extremist. If you're going to do matching, do matching.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

For me style is the art of copying the right stuff. But I am skeptical about claims of originality in general.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Just found this. Totally guilty of it some of these things, HA!

http://www.whowhatwear.com/thi.....blems-2014

Caro in Oz

Veteran

When SAs say X has been very popular this season it's time to put it back in my world. It all reminds me of the Sneetches though

"The Sneetches"
by Dr. Seuss

Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.

The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.

Those stars weren't so big. They were really so small

You might think such a thing wouldn't matter at all.

But, because they had stars, all the Star-Belly Sneetches
Would brag,
"We're the best kind of Sneetch on the Beaches."

With their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they'd snort

"We'll have nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort!"

And whenever they met some, when they were out walking,

They'd hike right on past them without even talking.

Gigi

Veteran

Hmmm, this makes me glad that I don't do a lot of reading of magazines or blogs (other than this one). So I never know if something is really popular or not and can't say I would be bothered (or influenced) either way. I will say that when I first joined YLF, I felt a bit pressured to try the lemming items. There wasn't pressure actually put on me; it was pressure that I was putting on myself, to "fit in." Well, none of the lemming items really fit my style, so I never actually purchased any. So I'm getting better about making judgments independent of whether an item is popular or not. Part of the reason I think this issue doesn't affect me as much is that I wear petite sizes, and a lot of stuff just doesn't come in petite sizes...so I've learned not to get my hopes up! There's nothing worse than looking like a frumpy lemming because your clothes don't fit right. :^)

viva

Veteran

Rachylou, I meant my comment in a global way. Not that any single one of us is mainstream but that as a collective, we are much more mainstream than Anna is or wants to be.

Of course there is lots of variety within the group ... and I would never call you as an individual mainstream ... but I still think that the forum as a whole is more mainstream than Anna, and given her more extreme style I can understand why she would push away from anything that many of us are running toward.

Sorry, did not mean to offend you!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

This is all so interesting. I have certainly participated in some lemming behavior, but I also get a little turned off if something is SO prevalent that it reaches a saturation point. Although that happens a lot quicker if it was a style or an item that didn't grab me from the get-go. If it's something I love, I usually continue to love it for a while, even if the pendulum swings toward it or away from it. I still have wedge sneakers, and I still like them. And on the flip side of the trend scale, I don't know when cowboy boots have ever trended (before I ever started thinking about these things?), but I have worn them regularly for over 6 or 7 years now. I feel like an early re-adopter of flares and bootcuts because I never stopped liking them for me.

I dunno, everything is so cyclical that if you wait long enough to adopt a look, you'll be the first to sport it before it becomes trendy again. If I like it, I like it and will try to find a way to make it look current. If I don't like it (I'm looking at you, mom jeans), no amount of trend-watching will make me adopt it, and in fact, I'll probably get quite rebellious about it.

All that said, I like that R&B sweater very much, but I've always liked that sporty edge. And I love a good V-neck sweater. I'd probably buy a knockoff if it looked good on me.

Jules

Veteran

Flashback to the "Confessions of an Xforum Lemming...." thread on another forum I frequented 10 years ago... I believe that was the exact title!
I only recently started paying attention to what specific items get a lot of play, and I still don't read that many magazines or blogs. I will confess that when my local (Toronto) FASHION magazine showed up recently with an editorial photo of the rose gold converse I had already purchased, I high-fived my kids and hubby - it really did feel like a "I have arrived" moment. But the likelihood of me seeing another pair worn in my real life is nil.
In general I think I look for a slight tweak on the items I covet, something that makes them just a bit different, at least to my eye.

deb

Veteran

The only lemming I have purchased is the Spiegel jacket. I get so many compliments when I wear it and I have never seen another in my area.

rachylou

Veteran

In high school, I really looked down my nose at this boy who started wearing a plaid wool scarf like me. In high school, you really freak out about things like that...

Neel

Veteran

If I love it, I would buy it.
After all its the wearer that adds personality to an item of clothing. And not vice versa.

Makrame

Veteran

I noticed that no matter what I select from the forum "lemming-wear" items, I almost never see anyone in real life wearing the same thing as me. I am really surprised, especially when it comes to mainstream stores like the Gap or Banana Republic or JCrew. Even if these are items that get a lot of play on fashion blogs or YLF. So I have decided that being a lemming actually allows me to look like a true original in my neck of the woods.

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