Do you have to BE a ____ to look like a _____?

Do you have to BE a to look like a _?

catgirl

Fill in the blank as you wish - UWP, lady, sporty gal, etc.

I saw GP/Natalie post that Rae and I have a tomboy side which fits naturally with our styles, and that's definitely true. Conversely, Natalie obviously has a ladylike bent to her personality which plays well with her fashion choices. No doubt we all fake it at times, but I'm clearly never completely at ease in anything overly ruffly, pretty, or girly from head to toe. The RATE/UWP/tomboy style most works with who I truly am and what I enjoy doing. Being here has helped me recognize, embrace and hone those styles.

But every now and then my inner Kate Spade/Grace Kelly-girl does tap gently on my shoulder and say "Oh, do let me out, won't you?"

So what do we think? Is there any reality to the whole "My Fair Lady" thing, or does it just become a game of dress-up for the day? I see Amy's inner UWP demanding a turn!

14 years ago

General

10 replies

Latest reply was from Jonesy

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Why not try UWP meets Grace Kelly? If you traded the tough boots for some lady-like pumps and a structured bag in today's green jeans & tunic WIW, you would be 'UWP meets Grace Kelly Green' for the day.

14 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Yes, that's my question--do you have to be RATE/tomboy to be UWP or can you still be tough if you're polished and ladylike? Bombshell UWP sounds so ridiculous, yet that's exactly what I'm trying to do, LOL.

I would love to see a pic of you in your most girly/ladylike outfit, Una. I think you'd look good in Kate Spade! Conversely, I'm scratching my head trying to come up with a tomboy look that I've actually liked on myself. The only time I think I tried it was early on after I joined YLF, I wore a crewneck sweater over a plaid shirt and baggy jeans, and it was universally panned! I don't know how Angie pulls off the tomboy/menswear look so well. I don't seem to have a knack or propensity for it.

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14 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Ah, I never saw that Natalie. I think a scoop neck sweater (as opposed to a crew neck) would have made that outfit work better. But I don't know if that would have transformed it from "mom" to "tomboy."

Interesting question tho! I'm not sure how I feel. I think you do have to be a lady to look like a lady, but I don't know if that has anything to do with "ladylike fashion." We used to have a phrase, "A lady knows when to drink from a straw and when to drink straight from the bottle."

At the same time, man oh man, I think there is a real difference between, oh say, punk and boutique punk and the fashion will tell a lot, if not all. Boutique punk is all fashion. Punk is... hard core stuff going down... and actually there are no real punks left alive. If you're still alive, you weren't real...

14 years ago

Nakidra

Veteran

Interesting, ladies! When I'm not in my roll as mother and attorney, I'm really athletic almost to the point of being a tomboy, but you'd NEVER know it by the way that I dress. I'm never in "tomboy" clothes unless I'm actually in the middle of doing an athletic activity. There was a point in my life where I tried to "front" like I was a tomboy - I'd try to integrate more of that into my style, but it was so fake. I'm a girly, girly right down to my core. I'm always a little overdressed, always have some type of makeup product on and really don't do casual well, even when I'm trying! I'm okay with it because that's what I like and that's who I am.

14 years ago

Vildy

Veteran

I guess my question is why we would want to look like something we're not?
It would be easy to do - look how many actresses and costume designers are
out there - buy why?

I've been purging wardrobe books and there's a whole category of books that advise
how to get by looking like something you're not. When I read the description of how
they want someone who needs to be crisp, sporty and natural to put on soft colors,
soft draping fabric, I actually wince for them.

14 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

This is an interesting thing to ponder. I relate to a lot of Rae's and Una's style, but I don't consider myself "tomboy" at all. For one thing, I've never ever related to the tomboy identity, and my body has always been so curvy, that I've always felt "boyish" looks look awkward and unnatural on me.

However, I love tough elements in my outfits -- leather, hardware, etc. I think that might qualify as a masculine touch, but not in a tomboy way. I associate tomboy more with slouchy, easy looks, which ironically, I find difficult!

But back to the original question. I think it definitely helps the authenticity of a look if it "goes with" the wearer's personality at least to some degree. But we human beings are multifaceted creatures (well, most of us), so I think most of us can pull off styles that express an aspect of our personality without being a direct, predictable representation. Does that make sense?

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Rachylou, you always crack me up! And Nakidra, you sound similar to me; if you saw me in the gym you would think I was the "little athlete" but my regular clothes do not reflect a tomboy style—though, like Angie, I do love an androgynous or menswear element and would enjoy working more of that into my wardrobe. But you know...it's polished, FEMININE menswear. Which is different from tomboy.

Like Janet, I think we're complex beings...we can express different aspects of ourselves with different looks. Even with the same outfit, just differently accessorized!

Easy example: take a simple midi dress, add pumps and sheer stockings and some earrings and it all looks very ladylike. Take that SAME dress, top it with the denim or leather jacket, pull on some opaque tights, add some tough boots, different earrings or a cuff, and you will not be having tea with the Queen (although QueenMum would probably welcome you at HER table!) The dress is the same but the attitude it's worn with is different, and both can be expressions of an authentic style. There is nothing inauthentic in trying to dress appropriately for an occasion.

Then again, I may only be revealing my inner lady when I say that.

14 years ago

HelenInCanada

Veteran

I don't believe in EITHER/OR situations. There can be many dimensions/sides to anyone, and good for us!

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but...OH EM GEE! I'm floored by your tomboy-style picture, Natalie! What a HUGE style revolution you've had! Still, I think that look could have been saved by a change of jeans. Dark wash skinnies, or fit and flares would have "feminized" it more to your liking.

14 years ago

Mochi

Veteran

You got me, Una. I have no idea why in the past few years I've developed a mild fetish for rosettes on clothing, and why I am suddenly wanting to try out skirts (but a very particular type)...but who's to say they aren't tuff in their own way? FWIW I would LOVE to see your version of Kate Spade or Grace Kelly make her rare appearance, in your own translation.

Natalie, I absolutely think there is a certain tomboy look you can pull off beautifully...I'll know it when I see it, LOL (helpful), but I can see why this outfit did not work...it just seems like it was a fit and proportion issue, and less like tomboy fail than just making bad individual choices and combinations.

rachylou, ha, I know I'm not and never was a real punk (would need to have the safety pin in my eyebrow, and the mohawk). I just admire the brash energy and confrontational attitude. I think John Lydon is still around somewhere, FWIW.

Suz, I could see you as both ladylike elegant and athletic.

14 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

I think anyone can wear anything they want to and "be" anyone they want to for that day, but at least for me it's a matter of feeling genuine or true to myself.

14 years ago

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