Ask: What makes an outfit successful? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask: What makes an outfit successful?

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I'm curious: What, to you, makes an outfit successful?

For me, I am most happy when three things come together: physical comfort, appropriateness, and having my style goals met.

First, I can't be happy unless the outfit is comfortable - no need for pulling on my clothes, constant adjustments, or, god forbid, bandages (yes, it's happened).
Secondly, the outfit must be appropriate. I like to wear clothes with the right level of dressiness and that have the right vibe for the occasion. I do not like to be over or under dressed, or dressed incorrectly for the season (plays in to being physically comfortable as well). Of course, my definition of appropriate isn't universal, and that's OK. I guess this is a little bit of an art but very important to get right in order for me to feel my best.
Lastly, I need my successful outfits to feel like "me". The right mix of trendy, feminine, classic, and - I'll admit it - weird. Boho and "hard edge" items don't fit that well in my style although I can mix it in if it's balanced enough. My hard edge ends up looking a little more Goth or Victorian (but very, very, very toned down, mind you). My boho always leans heavily towards pretty, classic or even downright preppy.

I'm curious to hear what other's thoughts are!

Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Great great question and answer. I am checking onns love reading the responses.

1)high happiness factor
2)Comfortable
3) reflects who I am from the inside out

1) high happiness- I've been on ylf all these years I have learned that high Happiness is when I reach into my wardrobe and pull anything out and I love whatever I pull out. There are no middle of the row clothes for me anymore. When I wear makes me happy and that in turn makes my day happy.

2)Comfort- it has to be comfortable! Plain and simple. Why would I be uncomfortable if I'm in something that is uncomfortable or fussy to me then I'll be pulling and tugging and then I would be thinking about the situation at hand or whatever I'm about to go into. I look at clothes like these will take me into battle have to be comfortable so I can be flexible movable and so I can concentrate on a task or the environment that I am in.

3) Reflects Who I Am from the inside out- pretty much self-explanatory I used to be a shy bumpkin and only wore jeans and t-shirts. Angie always says dress for the life you have. And I'm a big cosigner of this. I also see dress for the life you want. Its combination of the two I wanted a certain type of life I wanted my life to reflect from the inside out so I started dressing outside for the life that I wanted and life that I now have. To me it is very important that my clothing reflect who I am so there will be no part of me that will be misconstrued. What you see is essentially what you get vibrant colorful loud energetic at times peaceful chaotic happy warrior Mama Bear me. And that's okay

Sal

Veteran

Yes I agree with you here:

1) I hate pants that sag, waists that cut in, or tops that need adjusting constantly. My sway back means a lot of tops ride up..ugh. I will tolerate heels and tailored jackets and belts etc to look good - and while I have a practical side to me I will suffer "hold em in" shapers on occasion for the sake of vanity.

2) I also feel uncomfortable if I am inappropriate - and I have got it wrong. I prefer to be on the dressy rather than casual side if I am unsure.

3) I like looks that are that balance of flattering/modern/my style. The balance varies from time to time and different occasions. My style I have come to think of as a Kibbe Flamboyant Natural - a little disheveled even when trying to be tidy, a mix of textures, long lines, retro elements but not dominating, and hopefully something bold in the mix. But I am close to classic too in some ways.

Jenava I love your style, and yet I find it hard to describe. I see you have a soft edge to your style, and balance crisp and flowing very well. Modern separates with interesting cuts and silhouettes without too much pattern or accessorizing. You have some quiet drama to your style.

rachylou

Veteran

In truth, it's when people open doors for me and when men stand when I arrive at or leave table. Lol.

But not at work. At work it's when people say I'm stylish but actually ignore my outfits.

Oh and when gathering with my mother's side of the family, it's when I make a specific uncle laugh I like to entertain.

Lucy

Veteran

I think I just really like to feel confident.

And that really breaks down to the 3 things you have identified: relative comfort, appropriate, and dressed like 'me'. I tend towards dressy, and that might be the fourth thing. But really, I want to look good, look confident and not be thinking about my clothes all day.

Style Fan

Veteran

Good questions and good responses.
My outfit has to be comfortable. Angie wrote a blog post about the forgettable outfit. That made perfect sense to me. I have to be comfortable first to forget about what I am wearing.
Ideally my outfit will reflect something about me and my style. It doesn't have to be a big dramatic thing. I like to be a bit on the fringe (I use to be more fringy). I would like to not look like someone who follows trends but is current.
I try to dress appropriately for the event. I will go more formal than casual.

Sisi

Veteran

Good question! I think for me it is:

1. comfort

2. color (I need colors that make me happy)

3. the feeling that the outfit is "me" (but I have not been able yet to pinpoint what is "me" - I know better what is "not me" )

gryffin

Veteran

Jenava - great thoughts.- I think you've really pegged it. The Coco Chanel quote, "Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury" immediately came to mind and I completely agree with that. I think you are dead on in your assessment. 1. Comfort 2. Appropriate 3. happiness - clothes that empower us and make us feel confident. Whether conventionally or unconventionally flattering they make us feel great. 4. Authentic - clothes that express our brand or message at the time, so style, color, proportion would all come under this heading 5. Fulfill the needs of the situation (pockets, temperature, waterproof) that they do what they need to do as far as utility. 6. elicit the desired response from others. whatever the goal - accessible, commanding respect, powerful, dramatic etc. So not only do we express what we want but it accomplishes the task.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Comfort - physical and psychological - are key for me. I do not want to feel my shoes pinching, my straps slipping, my top riding up, my jeans slipping down. But I do not want to feel like myself. Too early to define that I'm afraid.

Anonymous

Feeling like myself.

Bijou

Veteran

How I feel in it and whether it reflects my intention at the time. I do like to inject some personality into all outfits, so a good outfit for me is mainly classic, but with a bit of a fashionable twist. I am much happier being overdressed than underdressed, so my style does skew towards being more dressy than casual. Good accessories are important to me, I only buy handbags that I love and don't just settle for ones that are functional, they also have to provide a high happiness factor.

always trying

Veteran

For me comfort comes first. Comfort from toes to the top of my head. this goes for eliminating earrings that get caught on coat collars because of my short neck, necklaces too heavy on the back of my neck, necklines that shift and bra straps show in tops of my shoulders (a problem sometimes because of bigger boobs need bigger sizes), and jeans and pants that ride up when I sit.

chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

The best outfits for me are the ones I put on and forget about. Meaning, no need for adjustement, appropriate and comfortable.
I am a pretty shy person, so sometimes, if I get compliments I feel embarassed...

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Wow, such meaty responses. Thanks! This gives me a lot to think about. Love the happiness factor point, and love the points gryffin added. I feel like we emphasize comfort because it can be so elusive. Womens bodies can be hard to fit.

Gigi

Veteran

Fun topic!

My first criterion for a successful outfit is that all the pieces fit me very well. I absolutely hate it when something is too big or too small, or gapes, or what have you. The fit needs to be spot-on or I will be unhappy.

I also need the outfit to match my current style as well as my emotional state for the day. If I am feeling like wearing dark colors for the day but try to wear light colors, I will feel "off" all day even if my outfit is otherwise well put together.

Comfort actually isn't a big issue for me. I don't mind stiff fabrics or high heels, as long as nothing is causing pain.

Anonymous

So I saw a woman yesterday wearing what I considered to be one of the most successful outfits ever. I thought I might try to break it down.

It was based on two colors: brilliant white and navy. She was wearing ankle length white jeans that fit perfectly. White dangling earrings picked up the color of the jeans bringing the eye up to her face. Her top was a navy and white stripped knit (not a tee shirt) because it had some drape without being oversized. The stripes were wavy (not straight) making the shirt really interesting. The white stripe perfectly matched her jeans and earrings. Then she completed her outfit by wearing navy cage one inch heeled sandals. The entire ensemble was incredibly pleasing to the eye. It was fresh! It was interesting! It was coordinated by color! Of course, she looked comfortable and appropriate for the setting. I don't think she ever looked better!!!

I want to amend my answer. A successful outfit is based on fit. Gigi is correct.

Christina F.

Veteran

First off, I like an outfit to have one standout piece, usually a bright color or print. That helps me feel more polished, but in a way that's easy to achieve. Plus, it feels like me.

I agree with the people above who mention comfort - if I'm not comfortable, I'm miserable.

I am currently going back and forth on how dressy I want to be at my fairly casual workplace (for those of us who don't have meetings outside the organization). I'm a little older than most of the people at my level due to a career change, so that plays into it to. Generally, though, I like my outfits to be casual but a bit elevated, if that makes sense. But it's a tricky balance that I'm still working on - especially when it's freezing inside the office and I throw a fleecy cardigan over everything.

skylurker

Veteran

Harmony between body and clothes. It's about comfort, fit. And a psychological factor, that Rachylou expresses very well, I think, when she says : looking stylish to people who ignore your outfits.
I've already quoted YSL on this forum, saying clothes should be "silent". When people comment on items of my outfit (shoes, top...), the outfit is a fail to me : it means they see the outfit as it would be on a mannequin in a shop (I'm talking of real life interactions here, not comments on YLF, where we analyse outfits).

Laura G

Veteran

Great topic!

1. Comfort in the extreme. Some people have fussy feet; I have fussy skin. Fabrics have to be *soft*, garments have to be unconstructed. I have to talk myself out of buying everything soft in the store, whether it looks good on me or not.

2. Figure flattery. It can't just be a great outfit--it has to be great on this particular body. Actually figure flattery doesn't really cover it. I want my outfit to relate to my bone structure, coloring, level of contrast, level of detail--the whole Triumph of Individual Style package. Skylurker, yes! When it all works, your clothes are perfectly channeling *you*, and so you hear "You look great!" and not "Your shoes look great!"
Still learning how to finesse all the elements that go into making that happen...

3. Soul flattery. I want to look on the outside the way I feel on the inside. Like LeDonna, no surprises.

The Cat

Veteran

1. That the outfit suits the occasion.
2. That the outfit suits the wearer.
3. That the elements of the outfit suit each other (= look good together).

krishnidoux

Veteran

Outfit success, Jenava, what a great topic upon which to ponder.
Rachylou, Skylurker, Laura, I so identify with your comments. You bring up good points.

Rach, you see it in the subtle reactions of people you know well and are close to, or have a connection with. They act as mirrors providing precious hints you like to decipher. Skylurker, you like the sophistication of what is understated, what works wihtout anyone knowing it's because of them that it works. Laura, you bring up the importance of being true to ones fiigure and celebrating it. And you mentioned comfort.

When I was younger, I didn't care much about confort, but was so concerned with suiting the occasion. I find the later less and less important now, and the former becoming crucial. Because with comfort comes smiling and being able to focus on others and on projects, with comfort comes the ability of being in the occasion.

A successful outfit is foremost comfortable but not only. I wear lots of ’’comfortable’’ oufits that are not successful in my mind, or that I wouldn't want to be seen in for that matter! It needs to have interest, in one way or another: an accessory, an unlikely match, an unconventional cut or texture or color.

Most importantly, the outfit has to work for me, and not the opposite.
Now, I hire or fire outfits. That's how I assess any outfit I am to wear: is it there for me? (for example, if it gapes or the shoulder keeps sliding off, or the cami keeps untucking itself, or the shoe hurts, or the buckle doesn't fasten as it should, then it's not there for me. Fired). Lots of ensembles are let go in that way. The outfit has to move with me.

Anonymous

Like Gigi, I feel that fit is important for an outfit to be successful. Comfort is not an important factor for me, but if the fit is right, the outfit will not be fussy.
I want to feel confident and that goes along with a high happiness factor and reasonably appropriate dress for the occasion. I don't mind being more dressy than others. Great question.

fathenry

Veteran

That magic when every thing comes together:
-Casual/cool/trendy, not too conservative
-No apparent wardrobe fit problems like a panty line, pocket liner, cami or brastrap showing, nothing fussy to keep in place
-Stylish shoes that don't hurt
-simple throw on and go
-Good hair and lipstick

Anonymous

(1) The color(s) have to be right for me. If not, I don't buy.
(2) Everything has to fit perfectly.
(3) The complete outfit, from head to toe, has to be comfortable.
(4) I don't want to have to fuss with or adjust things. The outfit has to be easy to wear.
(5) I don't want to wear anything that makes me look heavier than I am. Don't laugh. I want to look as slim as possible.
(6) Style has to be cohesive and harmonious.
(7) Style and colors have to represent who I am and what message I want to send to people.

Jane

Veteran

I like my hair and make up to be right, and then the outfit. I feel as if I can face a lot with my hair looking okay! Then on make up, I can live with mascara and foundation at an absolute push. On clothes, good colours, not too much fabric, slightly arty but generally very conservative at work, and a little more arty at home. What works one day, doesn't seem to work on another day sometimes. Comfy feet.

JAileen

Veteran

There are so many good responses, here. I agree that fit and comfort are very important, as well as being appropriate for the occasion, and being your real self, not feeling costumey.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting question. I agree with what Krish said about comfort not working as a criterion for me -- there are plenty of comfortable outfits that would not feel "successful" to me -- in fact I am wearing one right now. (Everlane silk square shirt, Gap distressed denim 5" shorts, silver accessories). It's too casual to feel successful. Though it is perfectly fine for a hot day working at home, I would change if I went out.

Maybe comfort is necessary but not sufficient, though, because I certainly wouldn't consider an uncomfortable outfit a success!

A "successful" outfit is one that makes me feel confident in facing the world, and a little bit special.

That special feeling might come from including an item that is new and a bit trendy, or an item that is luxe, or an old well-worn favourite (depending on the occasion and the outfit). It might come from the kiss of colour. It might come from combining items in a new way, or simply from a favourite combination, where fit, proportion, and colour work together so well that I don't have to think about it.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I have been pondering this subconsciously for days since you posed the question Jenava. I think I agree with Gigi the most. The day's outfit is successful if it matches my emotional state for the day- so I'm a bright colours person often, but in the depths of winter I can feel very good swathed in layers of black and grey merino. The weather is sombre and I don't mind looking sombre.
I do want the outfit to feel like it "goes" together in some way. This could be quite subtle like a metallic detail being highlighted with the same metal in jewellery or a buckle on a shoe. I feel good knowing I've put that effort in to it, even though most people may not notice. I get quite a lot of compliments which do make the outfit successful, to me. Not that I need them but it's gratifying. Often they're of the "Looking good!" or "That looks trendy" sort, rather general, but often they are on a specific particularly shoes. I don't see the compliments on the shoes as a fail at all, the shoes are meant to stand out and their being noticed warms the cockles of my heart, that's a success.
It does have to be comfortable as many of you have said, I have a busy work day or a busy social occasion to contend with where I want to be fully present and interactive and not worrying about my clothing, having to pull at it or be frightened I may trip when I walk. So high heels are more and more ruled out which does make me sad- I was never a big high heel wearer but somewhat high for social events can be so pretty and I have too many pretty ones sitting here unworn at present. I mourn their loss and live in hope to try some again when my currently sprained knee is better. If I could wear them and feel attractive and comfortable enough to not panic I would fall, that would be a success even if I took other shoes to wear say for dancing at a fancy dinner/dance. The second pair of shoes would be "just flattering enough" if they went with the outfit with slightly less flattering proportions.
So in summary, success looks like:
1. Match my mood/feel for the day or event
2. "Go together" in my own mind even if no-one else's.
3. Be comfortable enough to not distract me from being fully present in the moment.
Thank you for the thread Jenava! Now part of my subconscious swirling thoughts are cleared out

krishnidoux

Veteran

Yesterday I wore a successful outfit. It sprung out of my closet the way most of my successful outfits come to life: by chance, and not because of a new piece, but rather from a forgotten, underemployed one that is being revived. In yesterday's case, such item was a Marciano silk sleeveless Ciana necktie top, for which I finally figured out how to wear the necktie (lower hung knot as opposed to chocker bow).

The oufit consisted of my Guess high-low pencil distressed light denim skirt, cream sleeveless necktie top, tucked, and a dark brown braided belt. Footwear: tan open toe ankle Cobhill Gabbie bootie. toper: an old Kookai extra-thin earthy-brown cardi. It all worked perfectly together.

I tried to detect what it was that made it so successful. Two creteria became clear:

- Moved with me, and let me move. did not let me down, nothing drifted out of place.
- Flattery. I realize that a successful outfit must make me feel beautiful. In this case proportion came in harmony with texture and remained just the right level of casual. (Colors were not directly involved in the success, but still worked together like the unlikely members of an imposed team who don't fight too much so the project actually happens). The same harmony with something less casual would not have been as successful. No texture interest/balance would have made it a bit bland. And no proportion would simply not have been an outfit! Or would have automatically made it uncomfortable, hence unsuccessful.

Other principles applied: it was perfect for the weather (rather hot and sticky, so light silk and bare legs were possible), and for the occasion: running errands (= denim skirt) with hubby (= silk top lol).