Do you make use of hard edge? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you make use of hard edge?

Suja

Veteran

Hello,
I have been noticing more and more that I see what I consider "hard edge" in stores. To me, hard edge is leather (or faux leather), studs, zippers, moto anything (boots, jackets, pants), deconstructed jeans and a fair amount of black or gray. I didn't see hard edge on Angie's trend report so I'm wondering if anyone else notices this? Or it could be that I never really paid attention and there is the same amount as usual?

More importantly. do you like or wear hard edge? I personally don't explicitly go for hard edge but a moto jacket or shoes with studs (like the SE Ollie's) really add personality and dimension to an outfit. I also am getting more into leather details (or faux leather as much as possible since I don't like the smell of real leather). While I don't aim for hard edge, it is an important tool to keep my more traditional, professional or feminine outfits more fun.

Would love to hear your thoughts on hard edge.

23 replies

Latest reply was from MsMary

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I like some hard edge to an outfit but I try not too go too far because then the look becomes cliched (IMO). Recently I have purchased and returned two pairs of hard edge booties, maybe I'm just tired of the look? I think I prefer my hard edge minimal without a lot hardware and embellishment.

Anonymous

I have little to no hard edge in my style and I would love to add more, but I'm guessing each time I try to, I'll end up doing it wrong, looking clichéd or not feeling like me I guess tiny baby steps for me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great question.

Suja, hard-edge is extremely mainstream, and has been for about 6 years. I guess I don't consider it a trend anymore, but more of a mainstream style persona. Before, it was "edgier to wear hard-edge" if you know what I mean, but that is no longer the case. Now, wearing hard-edge is not as exclusive and distinctive as it used to be.

There is hard-edge and there is HARD-EDGE. Add a little - or a lot - to your style depending on your style preferences.

I have close to zero hard-edge to my style despite having three black moto jackets and a matrix coat (which I wear in a Soft way). In fact, the most hard-edge part about my style is my hair 'do. I'm much more about adding Softness to my outfits than Hard-Edge because that ultimately makes me happy.

DO NOT confuse Tomboy with Hard-Edge though. My style is Tomboy, but not Hard-Edge. I deliberate make sure my Tomboy looks are Soft.

Suja

Veteran

Below are some items that I have purchased or am considering. To me, these are hard edge.

CocoLion, I agree. A little goes a long way! More than two elements in an outfit feels like too much for my style.

Diane, I'm new to hard edge too. I was looking to spice up some traditional outfits and was so impressed how a simple pair of leather-like leggings or a well placed zipper on an otherwise traditional work blouse could really amp things up.

Joie Zipped Skinny Jean

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7 For All Mankind The Skinny Coated Jean

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Faux Leather Hem Dress

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Paige Denim 'Jimmy Jimmy' Patch Detail Skinny Boyfriend Jeans (Camden)

$259.00 $155.40

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KUT from the Kloth Diana Destructed Skinny in Admissble

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KUT from the Kloth KUT From The Kloth Double Zipper Pant

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Tall Faux Leather Paneled Shell

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Petite Patch Pocket Topper

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Petite All-Season Tux Jacket

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Anonymous

Ooh, I love all those items Suja! There are a few I'd definitely try myself, like the leather tank, the jacket with leather collar, the double zipped pants and the coated jeans (though probably the black coated jean might be a bit out of my comfort zone)

Suja

Veteran

Angie, thanks for chiming in. Now I'm wondering if hard edge is a core part of my style persona. I don't think so. I think it falls into the "current" style descriptor. What impresses me about hard edge is its ability to make a strong style statement with just a tiny dose. For someone like me, with lots of traditional, classic looks, it is such as easy way to add sass. Also, black is one of my neutrals, so it blends right in.
It would be just like me to notice a trend 6 years after the fact. I think I started reading YLF about 4 years ago so I must have missed it.

catgirl

Veteran

I do and always have veered toward it. I don't go all out, but I always need a touch of it somewhere. I'm not sure my haircut qualifies. I have a cashmere sweater with zips, for example, and a soft sweatshirt with studs. I like to combine hard edge with softer RATE (like my pj jeans).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Unless things had changed Suja, hard-edge is not at all the core of your style persona. Quite the opposite. I love all the things you posted - and can see them work for your style with your signature Preppy looks.

Gigi

Veteran

Suja, I think we approach hard-edge items in a similar way. I use them to add a bit of spice to an outfit. They're certainly not a main element of my style. I have some coated black skinnies that look like leather, and I have a black leather belt with some studs along the top and bottom that give it a hard-edge vibe. I also just bought some faux leather leggings. I've been looking for a leather moto jacket, but so far I have been unable to find one that isn't *too* hard edge--I like just a bit.

I quite honestly couldn't answer about whether there is more hard-edge stuff in the stores now, since I haven't been shopping much the last few months. As far as black and gray, I think that black and gray have been on trend for quite a while now, so it's probably just more of the same.

I like all the finds you posted!

DonnaF

Veteran

As compared to last year, I have definitely noticed more leather and pleather leggings, skinnies, skirts, and possibly jackets. Also, an increase in mixed media items, and those often include leather/pleather.

If I'm wearing something more feminine than usual, I usually want to combine it with something tomboy or edgy. Sadly, my faux razor blade necklace broke almost immediately. It was only slightly edgy, as the faux blades were shiny so no mistaking it for the real thing, and it was from Nordstrom which IMHO rates fairly low on the edginess scale.

kkards

Veteran

hmmm, this is really making me think. of all the items you posted i only thought of the first 2 pairs of pants as hard-edged. for me hard-edged is rock and roll, tuff, outside the mainstream and well….hard. the leather touches on the jacket and vest, and the dress are IMO not hard and so not rock and roll, they're more like nashville country. the ripped and patched jeans and the tank could be hard, and maybe rock and roll, but have become so mainstream that i think of them more like crossover pop.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I love leather and studs and zippers. And black. Restraint is needed in order not to veer into Debbie Harry territory.

WitchyD

As an old punk/rocker chick I love a slight hard edge to an outfit. Even with something like a business suit, I love to smuggle in just a little piece of punk (a necklace, earring, pin, boot). But I agree that unless you actually ARE a artist/rocker going full out with this is best kept for clubbing and weekends.

Suja

Veteran

AG: You were one of the first people I followed on the forum. Love the edge in your style.

Gigi: I have all of the items you listed and I love them. They really add some spice when I'm stumped.

DonnaF & WitchyD: Yes! When an occasion calls for super professional or traditional (formal wedding shower, evening gala), I need a little extra something to feel like myself.

KKards: I might be defining hard edge very broadly. To me any item of clothing that is black and has faux leather feels hard edge. I have a drapey cardigan with some very minor leather detail and that makes me feel edgy. It could just be because I am so far on the other end of the spectrum (classic & feminine). The cardigan that I picked up at NAS feels hard edge to me (shown below).

Ummilila: Agree that a little goes a long way.

KUT from the Kloth 'Lincoln' Faux Leather Drape Front Jacket

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Anonymous

I've always been drawn to those elements in clothing, footwear and accessories. It's not by any means the core of my wardrobe, but it certainly accounts for the largest percentage of my statement or "special" pieces. I like to have that edge that makes me look a little different than the rest of the middle- class "minivan majority" population I seem to exist in. I do pay attention to not having more than one piece of clothing and only one or two accessory pieces on at any given time though - the last thing I want to be mistaken for is some aging suburban biker wannabe. I also think it's important that these pieces are of the absolute best quality and design I can afford - there is nothing worse than cheapo looking hard edge at my advanced age:) For example, I have a couple of pair of safety pin earrings, but they are gold and have tiny diamonds on the pin closure . Same with studded boots and leather jackets - quality ensures the look doesn't veer off track .

Anonymous

I actually kind of wish hard edge were a little less ubiquitous. I appreciate it on other people but, on me, unless it's very, very subtle, it feels kind of costumey and wannabe. Like I'm somehow under the impression that a little bit of leather or hardware will make my relatively staid, 9-to-5, Trader Joe's-shopping self look like I'm totally rock'n'roll.

I can definitely see how a little bit of hard edge is useful for making classic looks feel more fun and modern, though. Maybe my style is just far enough from classic that hard edge doesn't work as a contrast, but not far enough that it looks natural?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I generally like to have at least a small touch of hard edge to my style, but not so much that it looks/feels inauthentic to me. I definitely seek a balance. If an outfit lacks any hint of edge, I probably feel unfab and frumpy. Too much and I feel like a poseur.

Suja

Veteran

Lisap: Good point about quality.

Aubergine & Janet: I never even thought about looking like a poseur.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think everyone has their own personal balance when it comes to this -- what feels poseur-ish to me would look fab on someone else. I also feel inauthentic when I try combinations that are too ladylike, too romantic, too boho, too arty, etc.

gryffin

Veteran

Suja - a lot of my clothing has a ladylike quality so I am always looking to add edge. Footwear, hardware, black, rate quality is something I try and add to each outfit. But it's always a combination of factors to add complexity and depth to an outfit.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Interesting conversation. I feel like I feel a lot like Janet - I feel most authentically "me" when I have a bit of hard edge in what I wear. But I'm new to this, so don't always get it right. I'm getting better with my casual wear, however am still struggling with some of my work outfits. When I don't add anything, I feel a bit blah.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I incorporate some of the items that you consider hard edge. My current favourite pair of jeans is artfully ripped in places ("deconstructed?" haha), I wear black tops nearly every day, and have two pairs of short boots with zips and buckles that would definitely be considered some version of "hard edge". One of the pairs is more rock n' roll, and the other pair is more steampunk, but they both count. I wear them both a lot.

The most hard-edge item I own, which I wear every day, is a huge silver skull ring. It looks like the one Keith Richards was famous for. I think it's humorous, because of the juxtaposition between my small dainty hands and this big ugly ring. Plus it's a good memento mori. People either love it or hate it.

I don't have a moto jacket with hardware, although I like them and if I found the right one, I'd buy it.

I don't own anything with punk rock studs, though. I used to have a heavily studded 2" black belt, but I always felt like it was too much -- I felt like a poseur wearing it. Also, it was heavy, so didn't really help holding up my pants! But I've seen others pull off the studded look with panache.

Hard edge can also be the absence of certain things. I don't wear feminine or delicate jewelry, for instance.

Overall, I like a big of hard edge, but I'm not interested in overdoing it (I'm not actually a rock star, after all). I completely agree with you that it's a good way to keep more traditional, feminine outfits more fun.

MsMary

Veteran

Well, I was going to say "not really," but today I am wearing a moto jacket and a faux leather skirt, so... I guess I do indulge in a bit of a hard edge from time to time. in a very ladylike way, though.