Challenging trendy discrimination! - YouLookFab Forum

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Challenging trendy discrimination!

Maya

Veteran

I was reading yesterday's post on team trendy vs. classic and had some thoughts for you Fabbers:

I don't see why so many people insist that head-to-toe trendy is ridiculous.

In fact I'll bet those of you who think h2t trendy is "trying too hard" or "ridiculous" probably think h2t classic is great. Tell me: Why do trendy looks always require taming by classic pieces, yet classic looks don't require the spunk of trends? We have had this discussion many times and everyone always agrees that 100% classic is perfectly acceptable. How come the opposite isn't true?

Most trends rely on simple details anyway. An over the knee boot is just a regular boot that happens to go a little taller. Slouch pants are regular pants with pleats and/or a paperbag waist. A ruched sleeve buttondown is just a buttondown with some sleeve details. I don't see why wearing these pieces together is any less acceptable than wearing a plain buttondown, regular pants, and classic boots.

It might be your personal preference not to do too many trends at once, because you prefer to showcase just one or two trends and let everything else be a supporting act. I think most people are like this, which is why we have so many bench sitters. But it just doesn't make sense that one end of the spectrum would be embraced so warmly while the other is so disliked.

And just for Kim: I love flourless chocolate cake! Fudgy and velvety and absolutely delicious. I think I might even like it more than regular cake With a scoop of vanilla bourbon ice cream on the side, please..mmmm...what were we talking about again?

General

40 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

Queen Mum

Veteran

LOL.. for the record Maya, I dont' care for head to toe classic either. I'm just having a hard time picturing a head to toe "trendy" outfit. Can you point us to one?

And, the cake is on it's way

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Oh Maya, as you know I have no aversion to the word trendy and love trends but for me, head to toe trendy, would require more outlay than I can warrant in any one season and I do have an aversion to many conflicting or jarring trends worn in one outfit.

For example an ikat top, leopard coat, sequin cycling shorts and over the knee boots may all be trendy but worn together could be terrible. On the other hand trendy pieces worn cohesively (Like your example) could look fabulous. It's all about discernment.

I'm on the bench because I mix in vintage but I'm very well aware that my vintage is majorly inspired by trends.

(sorry no spell check at work)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kim, Annagybe is head to toe trendy almost all the time (accept for when she wears scrubs!). She looks fabulous. Certainly an acquired taste for the truly modern classic among us, but great all the same. I made her captain of Team Trendy.

This is a trendy outfit from head to toe. I don't think I look ridiculous:)

http://youlookfab.com/2010/09/.....ad-to-toe/

Maya, I actually felt that there was a bit of classic discrimination in yesterday's game (Team Classic or Team Trendy). I don't know why people are scared of the word classic. As long as it's modern it's a killer style to have - look at forum members like Debora, Marianna, Rute, Michelle, April,TX Sarah, and Taylor when she's popped her trendy tiara down :). Their looks are KILLER and very modern classic.

Back to trendy from head to toe - must be done with skill and taste.

MsMary

Veteran

I think I agree with Maya. Our own dear annagybe is quite often head-to-toe trendy and although her style is definitely not my style, it has never crossed my mind that she is "trying too hard" or "ridiculous" or anything of that nature.

ETA: Angie, we were posting at the same time! Mind meld!! LOL

catgirl

Veteran

I skipped reading the post because of time constraints. Sounds like I need to make some time!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah, Mary. If only we were Vulcans

cloud9

Veteran

So what is a head-to-toe "Classic"? I am very confused... so to repeat my post in the poll:

Wearing a button front shirt, paired with a pencil skirt & a cardigan, some current fashion necklace, is that classic or trendy?

To me, that is a TRENDY look, even if using classic elements, because that is a “IN” look today, not so 5 years ago when cardigans are not big.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Cloud, what you are describing is a head to toe classic look - not a trendy one. The pieces are updated modern classics. Classic is always in style which is why its "in" as you put it. Hope that makes sense.

cloud9

Veteran

still confused... take the case of button shirt + pencil + cardi

Today's:
Shirt = a bit ruffle/pleats on the placket, gathering at shoulder, also fitted, not boxy
pencil = narrower, not boxy
cardi = boyfriend, embellished, fly away

which is a totally different style than 5-10 years ago:
shirt = plain, a bit boxy cut
pencil = boxier
cardi = crewneck, but only top closure (think those twin sets)

These are are completely different looks. I'd say the old one is not IN STYLE today. I thought Modern Classic is Trendy. Am I completely off?

crazyone

Veteran

I used to be on Team Classic, but in the last year, and especially after reading YLF, I'm moving towards Team Trendy. I've gotten bored with classic looks, and I've recently realized that being 25, small-busted and slender, most trendy clothing is relatively easy to fit/age-appropriate, so I should try trends like tweed shorts, cutout backs, and various necklines when I can.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

(Sorry to use you as an example again Anna).

Anna's style is very fashion forward but it also has a very strong direction. Anna does not take every trend and throw it together she has the eye and knows how to combine these items for a solid look. Just like classic, trendy is a look that can be horribly right or horribly wrong.

cciele

Veteran

I haven't read the blog post yet either. But I agree that's there's nothing wrong with h2t trendy (go check out the blog http://www.manrepeller.com, heh). Like anything, there's a stylish way to do it and a nonstylish way to do it. That applies to "modern classic" dressing too, I think.

taylor

Veteran

Funny, I always thought I was classic..with a twist I called it, the twist being on current or trendy piece until Angie called me otherwise...trendy...well I was just shocked honestly. I always thought trendy was reserved for the young..I am not young, so my first thought was OMG...I must look ridiculous!

I still see most of my clothing items as classics, but pulled together in a trendy way.... I guess it is just how you pull your pieces together.
I love it all , not necessarily on me . classic, trendy boho,hippy.biker...shake it all together and it spells fashion...it just depends on who is doing the shaking:)

Queen Mum

Veteran

Angie- thanks for linking to your fabulous harem pants outfit... and of course you don't look ridiculous, you look fabulous... but I would call your pearls, shoes, and possibly even your bag classic. Am I mistaken?
I"m not saying one can't pull off a completely trendy outfit, but even the trendiest of gals, I would guess, still has a few stand by classics at her disposal.
Am I trying to look at this too "black and white?"

Lisa

Veteran

I think a head to toe trendy look is very challenging to pull off well, which is why most shy away from doing so. It is far easier to change one element in an outfit than an entire outfit. Also, trendy often has the association of "not lasting long" while classic has the opposite to "be an enduring look." In reality neither is true, both need change to be updated but the stigmas still exist. Personally I like both looks, but heck, I like any look when it is head to toe spot on. An entire "look" pulled together regardless of the "style" is what I like best at the moment. And except for YLF, that's not something I see often.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

As is so often the case, it may just boil down to semantics...head to toe trendy done badly = ridiculous...head to toe classic done badly = dated/frumpy.

I agree with the pps who believe it is far more difficult to dress head to toe trendy than head to toe classic. Trendy items often challenge our aesthetic norms with plays on silhouette or proportion, color or print...I think you really need to know what you're doing to not look foolish.

Queen Mum

Veteran

MPJ-- I think you are exactly right. Trendy items can have alot going on, and putting together a whole outfit can often (in my humble opinion) be overkill. I don't need my trends entering the room before I do.. LOL

Traci

Veteran

I think the outfit Maya described would actually be classic, with some trendy finshes. Boots, pants and a button down, you can't get much more classic than that. Some ruching and hardware give it a trendy finish, but it's still a fairly classic look at the base of it.

Also, I think we see much criticism of fully classic looks. That's what the whole "edge" thing is about, adding something to classic to make it stand out and be more interesting. We see it here all the time. Someone posts a completely classic outfit and the chorus tells them to add a trendy moto jacket to give it some "edge".

To me, the trying too hard look can come from either an overly trendy look, or an overly classic look, or an overly sexy look, or an overly hard look, etc. It's just when the person is so overwhelmed by the clothes that their personality is lost in the look. It's as if they are trying so hard to look a certain way, that is really not representative of who they are, so it just comes off very awkward and unattractive. Someone could copy someone else's outfit head to toe and look like they were trying to hard, while the original looked effortless and cool. It's about personal style, not a mathematical formula and when people try to make it about a simple formula, they tend to look like they're trying too hard, no matter what type of style they're trying to pull off.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I'm bemused that I'm such a paradigm of trendiness. Compared to some of the blogs I read I feel pretty staid.

Kari

Veteran

I'm going to copy and paste some of my response to Angie's post, because I was mulling over some of the same things and reflecting how my perspective on "trendiness" has changed.

"I think that sometimes we confuse “trendiness” with embracing every fad that comes around, or trying too hard to be cutting-edge. I’m starting to learn that there is a big difference between the two, and that being trendy also means being selective about which trends to try and which to bypass."

I am not trendy - I'm a slow adopter, and rather than getting bored of old trends, I grow to love them more and more. (Case in point: some of you are bored of skinny jeans, whereas I've just figured out how to make them a basic staple in my wardrobe. I guess I'm consistently trailing along at the back of the bandwagon, and prone to wearing myself into a rut.)
But that doesn't mean that I think trendiness is a negative thing, or that I don't appreciate someone who can be head-to-toe trendy in a very fab way.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Cloud, what you're describing is the difference between dated classic and modern classic. Modern Classic is not Trendy. I hope that makes sense.

Kim, you are completely right! Even my trendiest of outfits are underpinned by the classics. Seeeee! That's why I'm on that bench. I am as much about the classics as I am about trends.

Nice thought process, Kari.

jen321

Hummm harem pants, with dolman shirt, with OTK boots, and belt around the waist= (in my opinion to much trend). lol Other than that I'm ok with trendy from head to toe, classic from head to toe, or mixing it up! Whatever makes anyone happy! That being said I didn't have time to read all the posts, I'll have to read them sometime!

Maya

Veteran

Traci, what WOULD you consider trendy then? All trendy items are classics with trendy details. I mean, there is virtually nothing that's really completely new.

There is nothing inherently classic about boots, pants, and a shirt. It's all in the details, or lack thereof. Those gorgeous pleated paper bag waist pants on today's blog post are not even remotely classic.

Cloud, I was going to say what Angie said. A trendy item must be modern, but a modern item needn't be trendy.

I think whether it is harder or easier to be trendy depends entirely on the person. I would find it much harder to be classic head to toe, although I do not dress trendy head to toe either.

I also don't agree that trends are always about challenging aesthetic norms. I find the trends I follow to be genuinely flattering. If I don't, I don't wear them. I also don't agree that trendy pieces are overwhelming. Trends can be quite subtle.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Who said that trends are always about challenging aesthetic norms?

MsMary

Veteran

Annagybe, context is everything, isn't it?

Traci

Veteran

I think a couple of things are at play here.

Classic is a style all its own. Classic pieces all tend to go together, just like rocker pieces all go together. Trendy is a much bigger class of items and they don't necessarily all go together into one cohesive style. I think this is part of the reason for a different perception of the head to toe classic vs head to toe trendy look.

I think there are also many different levels of trends. There are 10 year trends and 2 month trends. The shorter lived trends tend to be flashier and more bold. Head to toe flash can look like trying to hard. To me, things like shaggy furry vests and sequins are shorter lived trends. You see them all over the place right now and next year they will look like last year's piece. Skinny jeans are trendy, but they're on the slow curve right now.

I also think you have to remember who you're talking to. Maya, you're on the low end of the age range here. Younger girls tend towards more trends and as we get older we tend towards more classics and investment pieces. Of course you're going to have a slightly different take on trends vs classics from the majority of the group here. In fact, you could take an outfit that would look completely appropriate on a 24 year old, throw it on a 46 year old and she'll look like she's "trying too hard."

We're all talking about our personal styles here, and what works for me and my life doesn't work for you and yours and vice versa. It's just the nature of the game. Nothing to get bent about. If I wore head to to trendy in my life right now, I'd look like I'm trying too hard. Likewise, if you wore head to toe classic (pearls, classic cardigans, pencil skirts) with no edge whatsover, you'd look like you were trying too hard. It's all just about wearing what fits your lifestyle and personality. It's not science, it's art.

Kari

Veteran

Traci, I don't think it's entirely about age, either. Maya and I are nearly the same age, and she is much further down the "trendy" spectrum in terms of her style preferences than I am. Head to toe trendy would feel ridiculous on me because it just isn't my style, whereas I can wear a full-on modern classic outfit (Pearls, classic cardigan, pencil skirt, colorful pumps) and feel very polished. It could be that I'm wrong, and that I *look* ridiculous & like I'm trying too hard, but most of the time I don't think so based on comments I've received.
Anna and Angie are both a decade older than I am (I think), and are much more edgy and trendy than I'll ever be - and this works perfectly with their style.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh honey Kari, a decade and then some. I'm 40

Kari

Veteran

Well, closer to one decade than to two, for sure. I'll be 27 next week!

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