Do I just live a sheltered life? - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Do I just live a sheltered life?

Katja

(website)

Angie's Over the Knee Boots post this morning got me thinking about which YLF favored looks I have actually seen on people (I was going to say "people in real life", but of course you are all real, too - but what I mean is on people that I physically see outside of the computer).

The other day I saw my very first (really, I'm not making this up) minidress/tunic/long shirt over leggings, a very popular MOTG formula on YLF. Worn by a woman I work with, it gave me a visceral shock, like she was wearing some combination of her underwear and/or playground shorts to work.

I've never seen anyone wearing over the knee boots.

So am I like Dorothy in Kansas? Or are people all around me wearing these things, and I'm just not seeing them?

General

36 replies

Latest reply was from Theresa

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm not sure, Katja. Do you live in a small town? Perhaps you're not "looking" for the items hence you don't see them.

Itari

(website)

I have seen many people wearing overknee boots since... I don't know, 2000? This might be an European thing, though.

quail

I also wonder if it has to do with where you live. I live in a metropolitan area and see the looks featured here quite frequently. I'd be interested to find out which YLFers do see these looks on people around them and which don't.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I live in a crazy little town in the desert where fashion no's run rampant (leggings as pants, anyone?), but I rarely ever see fashionable combos or items. You're not alone Katja!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I see a fair amount of stylish women here - leggings, tunics, jeggings are common. But I also see a lot of North Face gear.

Anonymous

I think I've seen ONE skirt/leggings combo and I was immediately suspicious that the woman was a YLF reader. I haven't seen any OTK boots "in real life," but then again, I don't hang around with a very fashionable crowd.

Katja

(website)

I live in Boulder, Colorado, population about 100,000 (300,000 counting environs). It's a university town, and a huge outdoor sports mecca, so doesn't really have any sort of urban vibe. Sounds like Anne, chewy and I are similarly fashion deprived :-).

rute

Veteran

eh eh you are fun!
Here in Europe I see a lot of people wearing over the Knee boots, but here people love to follow the trends, I see everything, fur vests, oxfords, high waist cropped pants, harem pants..

marianna

Veteran

I know what you mean, Katja. Yesterday I saw a sales associate at Nordstrom wearing OTK boots -- it was my first time seeing someone in this style, and it looked really good on her, but I thought it was insane in this weather (100+ degrees!) Alas, I couldn't take my eyes off of her boots because it was just so interesting and unusual to see!

Queen Mum

Veteran

I don't see alot of YLF fashion in my out and about life, but it is out there. I don't think I've seen OTK boots yet, but we're just now starting our summer

Katja

(website)

I like that: "my out and about life". I'll have to remember that.

Barbara

Veteran

Hi Katja. Shock is sometimes, well, shocking! I adore fashion, but rarely wear anything over the top at work. I work at a large, southern university and see some VERY strange fashion choices. Makes for some interesting people watching. But I do know exactly what you mean. It's really all about where you live and HOW you live. Over the knee boots are VERY cool, but I would feel absolutely ridiculous wearing them!

Cookie

I live in a small town (less than 8000) in the Midwest but I see leggings and tunics and OTK boots all the time. I am even thinking that I have worn this look enough that it is time to move on. I guess I run with a fashionable crowd!

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Cookie, Im sure you're leading the pack! I see those types of looks a lot, especially at Mall of America, where Ive also seen some of the most bizarre fashions being worn!

Scarlet

Veteran

Personally I started wearing OTKs last year and I knew I would stick out at work, but this year I see already I am not alone. Many people in this city wear OTKs on the street. I am the last person standing not wearing leggings with skirts and dresses. It probably has a lot to do with location.

AJ

Veteran

I see the leggings and tunic/dress combo, but I've yet to see OTK boots. It's still warm here so maybe in the next month or two.

Sparky

Veteran

I have seen the leggings with tunics/dresses quite a bit while out and about, but the only times I've seen OTKs in action are on the Nordstrom SAs. Then again, it's still summer where I am.

Also, I don't think these looks registered with me even if I did see them last season, simply because my eye wasn't as educated on styling as it is since I've begun perusing YLF. Once Angie and the forum have educated me on a certain aspect of fashion, I do seem to notice it when I'm out and about, whereas before it just passed me by.

Anonymous

It seems like it takes fashions longer to get to some places...like Kansas! I'm just beginning to see many women wearing tunics and leggings and suspect that there will be very few OTK boots this season but next fall they will be plentiful.
A DS lives in Boulder so I know the best way to fit in is to wear something that borders on gear. However in the evening at the restaurants on Pearl Street I've seen very fashionable outfits. There are also heels and sleeveless frocks on college girls in frigid snowy weather when boots and a warm cardi would be more comfortable. I'm pretty sure you'll see OTK boots and leggings/jeggings there this fall.
We just recently were very briefly in Seattle and I couldn't help but notice that the street fashion is much higher there than the Midwest/Heartland. Location.

bj1111

Veteran

scarlet, you are not alone. i, too, have not donned the tunic/leggings combo. i do love otk, but again, not something i'd like to try this time around.

that said, i have seen otk on visits to urban areas but not so much locally.

tarzy

Veteran

Yes, probably due to where you live. I'm in Los Angeles, the home of less (clothes) is more (attention) and "I paid $300 for these ripped jeans." I've seen just about everything - evening wear in the frozen food section of the supermarket, track suits at the opera. OTK boots? Wouldn't even cause a second glance here.

Maya

Veteran

I saw a woman wearing flat black suede equestrian OTK boots last Friday.

Things to note:

-It was August in New York, so it was completely disorienting and weird.
-However, her outfit was amazing. Just not seasonally appropriate.
-I count my blessings that I live in such a fashion forward city. Clearly not everyone has that privilege.
-OTK boots are otherwise very appropriate for our climate (well, not in August, but in the fall and winter). People commute long distances outdoors when it is below freezing.

I saw a lot of OTK boots last winter and that is what originally sold me on the look. Seeing those gals all warm and cozy while looking down at my own shivering knees offered some perspective. That, and they looked amazing: dramatic, fashion forward, urban, sleek. I was in love the moment I saw them in action and I haven't looked back.

Goldie

Katja, I'm also in CO, and I absolutely know what you mean! I think the funniest fashion moment I've had in CO was when I was in Anthropologie wearing a casual skirt, and the sales associate asked which store I worked at in the mall, since I was so dressed up! At Anthropologie! I would have thought that Anthro at least would attract the type of shoppers who wear skirts?

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I don't think I've seen either look in my town (OTK or skinnies with tunics).

Lots of clogs, though!

shana

Veteran

I live in podunk so I don't think I've seen anything remotely trendy in these parts. Oh, I've seen leggings, no doubt, but not styled with tunics - more like worn as pants with boxy, men's t-shirts (inwardly shuddering).

I used to live in CO - that's wear I developed my love of Keens & Patagonia jackets! The whole state is so gear oriented so it makes sense that you wouldn't see some of these urban sophisticate sort of trends that often there.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I live in town with a thriving fashion college so I see many fashion forward looks but it is also a town where many people leave to find work so there is a huge void in the demographic. Literally people are students or retired. The shops are either young and trendy or of the thermal and beige variety (no disrespect to the retired but this is what is sold here). I need to find some age appropriate inspiration, thank heavens for Angie.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I live within Seattle, as opposed to a suburb, so I see all the trends. However last weekend I went to Portland, OR. We had breakfast a local famous breakfast place and had to wait an hour for a table so lots of people watching. I saw mostly gear. So I think location/environment has a huge effect.

Jonesy

Veteran

Of course it does! It is much more risky to challenge the environmental clothing norms than to go along with them, especially if you fall outside of other conventions of female attractiveness. For example, I am quite tall (almost 6'), so I get stared at, called sir sometimes, etc., just because I am tall. If I were in an environment in which it was very unusual for women to wear high heels, and I wore heels, I would get doubly-slammed, for challenging the clothing norm, and for violating the gender norm.

MsMary

Veteran

I'm in the Los Angeles area and I haven't seen any OTK boots yet because it's been too hot. But I see everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, else. Yesterday I saw three leggings-as-pants ensembles between the parking lot and my classroom on the first night of fall grad school classes.

Katja

(website)

Goldie, too funny!

Obviously it's not entirely size-of-town related, but it looks like size and gear norm are what's causing me not to see the trends.

I pretty much wander around all the time in fitted (not even casual) skirts and heels, but never perceive that any one thinks it's odd, but I guess I don't really fit in.

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