Do you ever feel fool hardy for liking a trend? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you ever feel fool hardy for liking a trend?

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Yesterday's blog post by Angie about Baseball caps http://youlookfab.com/2013/04/.....ball-caps/ was an enlightening read. I have been a fan of the refined baseball cap for a couple of seasons and really enjoyed browsing Angie's pinboard but, later in the evening, upon revisiting the post, I found myself amused and then perplexed, not by the overwhelming negative reaction to the trend, this has happened before with re-emergence of denim shirts and slouchy trousers, but by some of the reasons for the dislike, "April Fools", "should never be seen on a woman", "only for the young and slim".

So now I am second guessing my gut reaction and wondering if this has happened to you, have you ever felt fool hardy for loving a trend when the overwhelming majority are naysayers? What did you do in this event, carry on regardless or change your views to conform?

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BTW, this is not a rant against those who expressed negative views yesterday, your point of view is very valid and style is so subjective. I was just a little surprised by the scale of the backlash.

General

30 replies

Latest reply was from

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I generally feel a little silly for not following a trend. It takes me ages to get my eye used to something so I start off thinking something looks ridiculous and eventually get my head around it and decide maybe, just maybe I would consider wearing it. And that is generally just before it goes completely out of style!

rute

Veteran

No, it depends on your style! If a trend doesn't goes with my style, it doesn't means that is bad!
There are no rules, if you love and it fits into your style you should not feel guilty.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

That is interesting Hil, my eye does adjust quite quickly but my style is not particularly adventurous. Perhaps I do act upon a fear of being viewed as silly more than I care to admit.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Sometimes I feel this way, but more often when I see a trend that many other seem to like but that I just can't get on board with. That's when I start to worry if I am in perpetual frump-dom!

I do kinda like the baseball hat thing, although I'd stick to a relatively simple one in wool or canvas. One of my favorite winter hats is actually a wool blend baseball-like cap and I've been wearing it for a few years. I prefer brims to keep the rain and snow off my glasses!

missvee

Veteran

No, because I tend to follow the trends only when I really like how they look on me. The boyfriend jeans for example just didn't resonate with me, so I passed. But slouchier tops looked quite interesting, so I've tried a few.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I don't think you should feel foolish at all. I did say this trend isn't for me due to certain associations I have with baseball cap wearing women (which are extreme localized), but I think that someone who likes it could totally wear it and look great. You have the longish hair and the beautiful face to contrast with the boyish cap, and I don't think this trend is necessarily limited to the young.

In answer to your actual question, and speaking of hats, I did feel a bit silly stomping into H&M and making a beeline for the new icon oversized black fedora, which is certainly being marketed for someone younger than me, but there was no way I was passing up that one!

JulieJohn

Veteran

I quite often walk the edge of the unexpected, in style and in life. Though it does attract attention and sometimes people think I'm a fool, it is a basic tenet of my life to be playful. I refuse to take myself too seriously, and I enjoy the feeling of exploration, of opening eyes and minds. If that requires me to be seen as foolish, so be it.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Julie, you would look fabulous in one of these upscale caps! And you are young enough to wear this look with panache.

I am not against the look at all on others, though it won't work for me, personally. If baseball caps looked good on me, I would definitely give it a whirl, because I like the practicality.

But your question is an excellent one. I didn't feel foolish for liking slouchy trousers, even though lots of people find them ugly or age-inappropriate for someone my age. Other trends I'm embracing without embarrassment: more relaxed tops, belts, white white white, Cons, and so on.

I might feel a bit foolish if I liked a trend that Angie thought was really stupid. Not that I can imagine Angie saying anything so undiplomatic or categorical, except when it comes to PPL!

The reason I say that is because Angie has such great taste, and also because her style persona is so close to my own aspirational style. So if I liked something that she was strongly negative about, I'd want to think through whether (or how) it actually fit with my style persona, or whether my style was changing significantly in some way.

Thistle

Veteran

Usually only when it gets a negative reaction in my part of the world. Wisconsin isn't exactly known for its fashion sense or being cutting edge on the fashion scene. We tend to lag behind, usually by years. That is actually what.stayed my hand on buying silver shoes.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Reading the long line of negative responses on the baseball cap post made me pause for a second too, but then I chimed in with my two cents, which is that I like the look when it's done well.

Sometimes I will have that moment of wondering if I've taken leave of my senses for liking something unusual in the trends, but usually I just shrug and embrace the fact that we all like different things, and that thing is just one that speaks to me (lots of trends don't -- i.e., neon, cropped pants, etc.). I just try to use them in a moderated way that works to enhance or evolve my existing style rather than look like a fashion victim.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I think trends are all relative to the wearer. I'm one of the people who felt the baseball cap trend is for the young - but that's my opinion and how it relates to me. My version of "younger" may not be the same as someone else's view of younger, if that makes any sense.

And if I truly love a trend, I'm probably going to find a way to wear it regardless of public opinion.

lynne

Veteran

I don't think so. I have had mixed feelings however, when something I've liked and worn for a long time (oxfords) becomes a trend. On the positive side, the item becomes much easier to find, and in many more iterations. The negative is that the item isn't quite as special anymore, and can become dated looking
in a couple of years when the newly initiated quit wearing it. I didn't even read the comments about that post because my initial reaction was "eeew".

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I didn't respond to the post yesterday but caps are something I've grown to accept due to the high wind and intense sun where I live. I like to walk, and walking with a hat that is larger than a cap is not possible with the high winds we have. I've tried many styles but only caps work well enough. SO, I've learned to wear caps fairly often (at least several times a week) and the ones I'm wearing are boring navy with company logo. I've been considering what to get in place of those and have recently shopped for a few but I don't want rhinestone bling necessarily - just something a little more fun and stylish than the plain cap. Who knew it would be a trend? I DO see many women in Texas wearing hats with bling of all sorts. In fact, even in the rural areas, wearing trendy things has become more common. I saw rolled up BF jeans and semi-tucks out here before ever reading about them on YLF.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I never feel fool hardy following or liking a trend, Jules. Not at all! I have been in the Rag Trade working as a fashion professional for too long to think about it that way.

For SO LONG nobody liked white shirts around here. They were like poison and to some they still are! I have always worn them and will continue to do so. I vote hold your head up high and go with your "gut fashion likes" if they make you feel fab and happy. Fashion is about fun

And lastly, we always reserve the right to change our mind about things. So there's an added safety net.

I vote get a haute cap!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Huh, I guess I need to read the comments more often. I saw them pop up on Angie's pinterest board. I liked them. I've been eyeballing the Kenzo baseball caps if I could figure out their sizing. I guess for me this is another classic example of when the forum zigs, I zag.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

For example I love this one by Acne http://www.barneys.com/Acne-St.....38;index=2 And here are the Kenzo hats http://www.openingceremony.us/.....nerid=1335

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Oh Anna, the first hat is very equestrian where as the kenzo ones are more chaotic, tough choice. This my help with the sizing. http://www.genaconti.com/HatSizeConversion.htm

Angie, I remember the times on the forum of knit tops being king, do you remember the jubilation of seeing Maya in that INC white shirt which fitted her perfectly. Members tend to come and go in waves on the forum each time bring a new aesthetic.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I love that Acne hat, Anna. Knock a digit off the price and I'd buy one!

I decided to rebel today. I'm not going running until later, so I didn't wash my hair. Decided to wear a baseball cap. Oh, and it does have an O's logo on it (even though it's white on light grey instead of the usual orange and black), so I'm really flouting YLF preferences. But I am wearing my white jeans at least!

Granted, this is a very casual day. No clients, no visitors, just some printing and image processing. Baseball cap seems particularly appropriate here because my studio building is only a couple of blocks from Camden Yards and I can see into part of the stadium from here.

I can't say I'm wearing this because it's trendy. But the trend makes it easier for me to enjoy wearing something I already like for a very casual setting.

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rae

(website)

Veteran

I liked baseball caps, too! I wore one a couple summers ago, and generally it received negative reviews here. Now that they are "trendy" I am not as interested, but I still like them alright. You shouldn't feel foolish!

ironkurtin

Veteran

No. Who cares what other people think, so long as you are happy?

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Dana, I love the idea of not giving a s*** but the hard part is actually not giving a s***. See, I even censored the swearing because I can't help but give a s***.

Rae, I think I remember your baseball cap looks, I think they have never been that popular in the UK, on the radar but not everywhere and so this remains quite a different look.

Janet, you rock in every possible sense of the word.

Diana

Veteran

No, I don't generally feel foolhardy for liking a trend, although sometimes I do for not liking a trend (like when walk shorts - the bermuda style ones that finish right above the knee - were really popular, but I have super poison eye for them. Or Converse (which is kind of a moot point because my feet hate them anyway, but I also rather dislike the white toe caps).)

Regarding the baseball caps: I won't be participating in the trend myself but it's because "sporty" is so far out of my style descriptor or comfort zone I wouldn't even know where to begin. Also I look awful in fitted caps. But I do think that there are some women (including you!) who'd be able to pull it off. FWIW, I think the sporty style is fairly underrepresented in this forum which might be why the trend didn't get more yays.

kkards

Veteran

sometimes i like a trend, but don't like it for me. example--i love the day clutches. i see them in angie's and others posts, and i get it, and i think they look awesome. but i know that i would get one, and on the 1st saturday i used it, i would have put it down somewhere and have left it behind. and sometimes i will see a trend and think, maybe for someone younger, or taller, or blonder. actually, i made up the blonder, but my point is, some things don't appeal to everyone, and what i like about this forum is that everyone is welcoming and is able to express their opinion. i like that i can see many of the trends on real people, and that has helped me to change my mind on many things (white jeans in the winter for example)

rachylou

Veteran

Well, now, it's interesting. It seems quite all right to me for you to wear baseball caps, Jules. I'm wondering if it's because you are not in the U.S.

Btw, I feel silly about metallic shoes - but I'm up to two pair now. Hehe.

Jyoti

(website)

Veteran

I am starting to feel this way about hi-lo hems. There are a lot of naysayers and they're very passionate. xD I still love them myself and will continue to wear this trend, but sometimes even through internet comments I feel like that uncool kid. xD

Debbie

Veteran

I like IK answer. I love the faux tuck look but it is not a fan favorite in my circle. I still do it because it makes me happy.

DonnaF

Veteran

Hmmm. I feel a little silly liking my shiny metallic oxfords at the age of (almost) 60, especially knowing that they would draw a lot of attention. (Duh!) But I bought them anyway. They don't scream TEENAGER the way that short shorts do.

I feel more self-conscious about hating something that has gone way beyond a trend and not participating at all in it: Wearing skinnies; wearing skinnies tucked into tall boots; wearing tall boots at all; wearing knit empire tops; wearing flowing tops; wearing long cardigans; wearing flowy cardigans; wearing low-cut pants. Long shopping hiatus as you can see. Making up for it now since I am finding more options. Please yourself.

Day Vies

Veteran

I don't think you should feel negatively for embracing a trend. Your appreciation for it may highlight an angle that no one has yet considered.

I tend to have very strong opinions regardless of popularity. If the look brings you joy you should not let the forum's temperature on the trend determine whether or not you decide to participate. Fashion is a completely individual endeavor.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think a lot of people said yesterday they wouldn't wear them but liked them on others:)

If I really liked something& felt great in it I wouldn't worry too much about the reactions of others - it is after all only their reaction.

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