Ask Angie and all- Wrong about my Fashion Persona

celia

I always tought of myself as a classic dresser even when I was very young.
In recent posts about modern classic, namely the one originated on the comment by Queen Mum, I was saying that I had donne my peace with dressing in a more classic way because that's what people expected of me and that's what made them feel more confortable around me.
But today Angie was telling that I ha put in my recent outfits a funky edge to it and that I had managed to get out of my confort zone.
Although is true that I fell more confortable(=safer) dressing in a more classic way the truth is that I feel more confortable(as in confortable in my own skin) in the outfits that I've been trying lately.
My questions are:
Was I wrong in thinking that I was (mainly)a modern classic kind of person?
What is really the image that comes from my outfits?(I know that there aren't many)
Does anyone else feels this?
Thank you for the bit of therapy here

15 years ago

General

8 replies

Latest reply was from biscuitsmom

Srujana

Veteran

Your fashion persona is constantly evolving....every new purchase changes your style, whether by small or large amounts. I can't recall too many of your past outfits at the moment, but I think that you should always dress in a way that makes you comfortable first and foremost in your own skin....and let labels and such be an afterthought. I'll be back to comment again after I've looked at some of your others posts once more

15 years ago

stringy

Veteran

I think your post points out the two different ways of being comfortable in what we wear. There's being socially comfortable in what's safe and expected in our environment (helping other people think well of us), and there's feeling comfortable in that wearing something that matches your personality (which is satisfying and soothing and confidence building).

They're both legitimate needs, but I think as YLFers gain confidence in our clothes choices, we tend to put more of a priority on the 2nd one. Maybe that's the shift that you're noticing?

15 years ago

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

This is such a mind boggling and confusing issue, isn't it?!

I totally agree with Srujana that for most people, an individual's fashion persona will evolve over time. For some people, significant life changes (acting as a catalyst) may suddenly increase the rate of change toward one style persona over and above any other.

Other people may gradually become more conscious of the 'image' they present to the outside world than they had in the past. They may then use this increased awareness to start pondering "is my current image what I want to portray to the outside world?" or "Where am I heading stylewise and do I really like it?" They may then expand to include "What should I do about it (or not)?" type thought processes. To me, this seems to be the point you are at. (Of course, I may be wrong and am always willing to be corrected!)

I would certainly include myself in this category and have noticed since reading Angie's blog this year and participating in the forum these past six months or so, that I have these thought processes occur to me far more than they ever did in the past. For me personally (and going against my general uptight nature), I'm suprisingly quite relaxed over not having clearly defined "my style" at the moment, more than likely because of my next point.....

When we are talking about an individual and their personal style, in my humble opinion, there is absolutely *nothing* wrong with a person having a couple of different style personas on the go at the same time. I personally will dress in different styles from ultra conservative, to quirky, to even slinky and sultry(!) according to the environment I'm in, my mood, or whether I'm at work or play. I personally don't like to think of closing myself off to a particular style or look because my "style persona" doesn't include that look.

As such, why not consider being open to identifying yourself as being both "modern classic" AND "funky and edgy" for the time being? Then just go and have fun with different looks and see what the general theme emerges as being over time. Afterall, as I understand it, Angie's primary motto and reason for creating such a fabulous website is to inspire people to embrace style, but to also "have fun with fashion". I hope I managed to make some sort of sense here and haven't just written absolute mumbo-jumbo.

[If you made it to here before your eyes glassed over - well done! ]

15 years ago

Barbara

Veteran

celia, Our personal styles evolve over time. Being a modern classic can never be WRONG! In fact, I believe modern classic style is the 'core' vibe for many of us, myself included. Adding funky, arty, boho clothing and accessories into the mix just adds to the interest and boosts your style quotient accordingly. I always know the second I try something on, if its ME or not. This is part learned ability and part instinct and takes a lot of trying on and being shocked, or pleasantly surprised, by what you see in the dressing room mirror. Keep on stepping outside the box and have fun with it! Angie says having FUN is top priority. And I agree.

15 years ago

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I have to reply briefly because otherwise I'll go on forever!

1. No, not wrong - I think you're just having more fun with the 'modern' part of modern classic. It doesn't mean you're staying that forever though!
2. Modern classic but with much more interest in your recent posts - loved that teal one.
3. Yes, I feel like this all the time! I'm having more fun with trying out Angie's suggestions on the blog and finding that like you I love the new looks far more than the old ones. I think, though, that I'm still in the modern classic camp.

Please keep posting outfits - it's such fun when we all try new things and evolve.

15 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

Lots of great replies here! Such wise women on this forum.

I think it's interesting that you have previously dressed a certain way because that's what other people felt comfortable with, and now you are starting to dress in a way that you're more comfortable with. I think that happens to a lot of us as we become more mature and more confident.

Sometimes we dress a certain way because we don't think about it - we just grab what we already have in the closet and go. When we start to be more conscious about our preferences, we start buying different things, and/or putting them together in a different way.

And sometimes we do outgrow a certain style. I used to dress in a very theatrical, almost costumey way when I was younger, partly because I was in the theater, and partly because I liked the way certain styles (Victorian, Edwardian) looked on my body type. Now, at 53, my body has changed and those styles don't look quite the same on me. I would feel ridiculous walking around in granny boots, a tiered skirt, and a Victorian-style top as I did in my 20's. I still love to see others dressed that way, but I prefer a different "persona" now.

However - I also believe that we still retain bits of our old style, and who we were. I still like to wear jewelry that has an antique or old fashioned vibe - but I don't wear an entire outfit anymore. I haven't completely changed who I am - I just show it differently.
Does any of that make sense or ring true to you?

15 years ago

celia

Veteran

Thank you for all your answers and I'm sorry for just answering today.
I also thought about it and came to some conclusions
Yes, our fashion persona is always evolving and as diferent styles appear and disapear we change the way we dress.As in everything else in our life the things we liked when we were 20 might not make our day when we are 30.
Personally I don't have a need to classify myself specifically as modern classic or edgy or bohemian.
I just realised that the great changes that I felt on myself recently(what R&J was calling becoming a woman) might have been showing on the outside, namely in the way I currently dress. And I wouldn't be aware of it if it wasn't for this forum.
In the same way that on relationships level I don't feel the need anymore to prove myself to others or make myself liked by others, in the way I present myself I'm also starting to do that.
I don't have to(and won't) be the reliable person of the group, the one that people expect to be predictable bordering on boring.
I might be sounding very harsh but the truth is that during my life people around me trew their problems at me , hoping that I would solve them because I was the stable one.They never realise that I also might have problems of my own , that I was not that strong.
Before I make you sleep with all this talk let me say only this :
I'm very happy to be a modern classic with a edgy twist, and I'm very happy that this forum helped me in the path of being true to myself in everything I do.

15 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

So glad you feel that way! Ive been in that same box myself for years and Im getting REAL tired of it! Congrats for getting out...

15 years ago

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