Anyone else feeling totally "meh"? - YouLookFab Forum

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Anyone else feeling totally "meh"?

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Just about everything I have seen that is currently trendy or new for spring is just not tripping my trigger at all. I had some time to kill this afternoon and I happened to be next to the mall so I took a quick look around, just to see what was on display. Not a single thing jumped out at me.

Have I reached terminal frumpiness? It seems like I haven't liked anything in the shops for at least two years!

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from

Dimity

I know! And I'm so sick of the weather too. Ugh.

Peri

Veteran

Me too. It doesn't surprise me that I'm feeling this way about warmer weather approaching...I always dread and fail at trying to look okay in the summer. But I actually bought very little this past winter too. That's in part why I have been posting so little...nothing to say.

I guess when I finally do see something in the stores that makes my heart sing, I will have plenty of money saved up to buy it with! I just wonder how long that will take.

Dimity

Summer dressing has never been my thing and I have six months of it at least so I hear you, Peri.

Carla

Veteran

No! I skipped shopping for spring, summer, and autumn last year due to being consumed by a move/relocation. I managed through the winter with my minimalist wardrobe, but was shocked at how worn out my spring/summer items were. Not even good enough to pass on/donate.

I have added a dozen items to my wardrobe since Jan. 1. (I am writing down my purchases and the amounts.). Building a wonderful (for me) capsule of navy (pencil skirt, flared trousers) and icy pale-blue (sweater, button down shirt, ankle pants) with florals (on a navy ground) and blue peep toe booties, navy kitten heels, dark green leather bag, black jacquard trench.

I'm findng lots of ink/navy and appealing florals. I don't care for all the blush, and can't really wear the citron that is so popular. Also, I'm not a fan of the neoprene/scuba type fabric that is so popular. The many flat/low heeled footwear styles is exciting, but there are still way too many skinny/cropped pants out there!

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shedev

Veteran

Two years seems like a long time to not like anything. I skipped shoe buying last year because I just wasn't feeling the ones that were trending. I'm not super trendy though.

What kinds of things would you like to see more of in the shops?

Anonymous

My DD has 2 gift certificates to Kohl's for her high school graduation. We went there today and almost walked out with nothing. She did find some black ankle boots, a pair of black jeggings and a floral knit top; but we looked at a lot of stuff before finding those gems.

Anonymous

Two years does seem like a long time but I think many retailers have been trying to play it safe by either trying to please everyone and therefore thrilling no one, or, trotting out whatever is supposed to be popular.
I was walking through a high end shopping mall with my daughter a few weeks ago and three store windows, with very different clientele, linked only by their proximity to each other, had exactly the same colors and same color combinations on display.
I'm disappointed by the loss of individual store identities.

rabbit

Veteran

I generally get more inspiration from online sources with runway or street style photos of trends than what I see in shop windows at the mall. Sometimes I can't find something at retail (in my price range) that I really liked online --- like wrap around lace up gladiator sandals -- no luck yet.

Sometimes though I'll see items at mall stores that are really appealing, but I have something too similar, or I'm waiting for them to go on sale, like some poplin white and pale blue cotton shirt dresses, or some heavy brushed satin navy tapered track pants. Generally color will draw me in, so right now I'm drawn to hot orange where I see it, but I haven't found the right item yet. The things I like usually aren't front and center in the window, some hunting is required.

Elly

Veteran

I have a hard time with this as well. Part of it comes from not being a "shopper" and not being exposed to enough inspiration. Part also comes from not being able to easily understand how I can adapt trends to fit with my personal style.

I have to spend some time looking at current fashions, thinking about my life, about my personal style and whatever tests and triggers I can use to "test" trends, then spend some time shopping and playing.

I also know what it feels like to have the blahs impacting LOTS of aspects of my life, too.

Ariadne

Veteran

I see stuff I love, but due to weight gain I'm feeling pretty meh. I'm going to do a closet purge (KonMari method). That always helps a lot.

Greyscale

Veteran

I'm not very inspired, but spring/summer is always my less-favorite shopping season. Given my usual color palette, this isn't surprising. I'm going to skip the 70s boho trend entirely, I bet.

I'm enjoying some of the summer looks from Madewell, though, and my wish lists are filling up with cutoffs, linen and cotton tops, and sandals, so I might buy more than I expect!

always trying

Veteran

I have done little shopping so far, but the few times I have, and have tried on anything nothing seems to fit right. Just today I tried on Ralph Lauren espadrilles, same ones as I earlier found on Amazon, and they just did not fit or feel like they appeared on the amazon site. Tried on a black denim jacket at Marshalls, and it was too short, just at my waist. Now if that is the new trend for denim jackets, I will wear only my old ones, one of witch I have had fo a long time, and it is getting a bit worn looking. Last week I browzed around the mall and did not even see anything to try on.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm feeling very meh about style right now, but for the last few weeks, I've been either in grungy ranch clothes or traveling in a country where fashion is a luxury, and where the climate and my activities limited my clothing to very practical options.

I haven't shopped much in the last 5 months, and that's fine by me. I feel like I have plenty of current-enough pieces to see me through the coming seasons (and I may find and buy something I like to freshen the wardrobe when I'm back off the ranch in April).

I'm welcoming the breather because I've definitely done more than my share of shopping in the last few years. I'd say don't feel pressured to buy if you're content with what you have. But if you're not, maybe online shops will have more interesting offerings?

Style Fan

Veteran

I am not a big fan of the styles right now. Also, I have not done much shopping in the last 2 years for several reasons. The big one is that I retired and my clothing needs changed. Then I moved to a small town where there is limited retail. When I do go to Montreal or Toronto I don't see much that I like. I am not a fan of oversized tops and skinnies on me. I prefer the opposite and that has been hard to find.

When I review my clothing purchases for the last 2 years I have purchased very little. I have mostly bought Yoga clothing. But then that is what I do most of the time.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

See, this is why I worry about terminal frumpiness. Even most of the things Angie has posted on the blog just don't look interesting to me. Many of you wear these things and look great. But for instance most "sporty luxe" items, especially the trousers, have no appeal. Neither do boyfriend jeans, high-low hems, semi-tucks, midi length skirts, round necklines, sheer fabrics, pointy toes, ankle straps, anything oversized or slouchy, or cropped trousers.

I'm sure part of it is knowing what doesn't work on my body, and how little there is available in my size, but even taking this into account I feel totally uninspired.

Anonymous

I feel exactly the SAME way! I have actually been worried that I might be losing my interest in fashion because I am so meh. I still scan every single website, but nothing interests me enough to want to buy it.

I am especially off sheer white tops. Boyfriend jeans look ridiculous on me and people would question my sanity if I tried to wear them in public.

Summer

Veteran

Maybe you haven't been in the right frame of mind for shopping, Mander? Wait until you feel happy and relaxed, or until the sun is shining, and you might have better luck. I often come home empty-handed when I'm feeling a bit down.

viva

Veteran

I hear you, Deb. I've had very little interest in clothing or fashion for the last couple of months.

It's finally starting to warm up a bit (despite yesterday's snowfall) and I am finding myself starting to think about clothing again. Actually got dressed today and was excited about it. But I am not planning any major purchases and there are no major trends I am swallowing whole. It's really just more like a bit here, and a bit there. I don't think I am over fashion, though. I think I'm just (a) winter-exhausted and (b) being financially prudent.

Like Rabbit, I tend to find my inspiration online rather than in the mall. Frankly, our mall is soul-deadening, and our boutiques are very spendy. For me, a little time at Man Repeller, fashionista, JCrew, EmersonFry, and intermix can sometimes get my wheels turning. But I realize that those sites feature styles that tend to work on my body and that are my taste. So finding the right sources is key to successful dreaming, I think.

I'm not sure where you are but in the Northeast, this has been the worst weather winter since 1995. It's hard to feel inspired in that kind of environment.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Winter often makes you feel meh about fashion, and that's very understandable. The East Coast has been especially hard hit and I feel for you all. Temperatures are thankfully warming up.

Give it a little while, ladies. I'm here to help if you need suggestions, or a little hand holding.

unfrumped

Veteran

I am not so meh now that snow and sleet are gone, but I'm not wowed by the colors--for me. For others they are probably great.
I am seeing more coral and orangey reds and yellows and peachy-blush, and not as much berries and orchid in summer type items like some tops I would be interested in, and maybe a spring jacket or trench. So, a warmer palette than I would like. Hopefully I just have not looked around enough.

I'm getting more focused on being picky about buying what goes with what, so that my items work better together across seasons, so I feel as though I'll know it when I see it, and I haven't seen it!

Anonymous

I am nodding away in agreement - but maybe on a slightly different level. I LOVE clothes, love fashion, the business of it, the creative aspect, merchandising and retail. I know what I like, and get most (if not all) of my ideas and inspiration on-line and through print magazines. This is where too much knowledge causes a problem What I want and what I like is simply rarely available at retail where I live. Interestingly, I live in a fairly large (Canadian) city, and have access to lots of shops, but unless one is willing to spend at the high end all the time, on-trend and fashion forward lines at a mid-price are way underrepresented here. I am a busy mother and business person who has a social life and a family to care for, and I am simply not willing to spend all of my time searching online to source out US lines that will ship to Canada. It's not an efficient way to shop, and is currently almost impossible due to the US/Can exchange rate. It is also NOT the way I want to shop regardless . So what's the answer? Settling for second best? It feels like I have been doing that for years - too many years. And that's where my dissatisfaction with my closet comes from - seasons of buying what is out there , " just because ". Grrrrr.

And not to carry on forever. but as Vivian mentioned above - I just want a pair of cropped flare jeans. The JCrew catalogue is all over them - and are they anywhere else here??? NO!
And where are the interesting shoes? The only on-trend shoes I'm seeing are at the lower price points. I want good shoes that are not retreads of the past 3 years' sales success stories (cough Brown's cough) I also don't want cheap , badly made clothes just to capture the trends. Off to buy another lottery ticket.
Sorry for venting in your post