Does a new iteration of a past clothing love ever measure up? - YouLookFab Forum

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Does a new iteration of a past clothing love ever measure up?

Anonymous

I was in Banana Republic recently, and I saw a pink and white striped top that totally reminded me of a pink and white stripe jumpsuit I wore in high school. Sorry, no pictures are available to convince you how great I looked in that jumpsuit - you'll just have to take my word for it

As far as pinks, I don't find baby pink that flattering on me, which is why I don't have any of it in my closet. Fuchsia, on the other hand, I'm totally drawn to. I find in general I have to be more discerning of clothing in colors I like, because I tend to ignore fit issues when the color calls my name.

It got me thinking - have you ever had a (for you) iconic article of clothing that you wore and then try to recreate with something new? Has it ever worked for you, or is the new item always an attempt to recapture the glory of the original?

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from Penny

Anonymous

Well, Angie's recent post showing her button-fly jeans made me long to take a stab at re-living that trend. But realistically those days are past me!

As for the shirts, you are modelling - they all look great on you. I like 1 and 3 the best!

Sisi

Veteran

I am sure you looked great in that jumpsuit!

Those are beautiful blouses and you look very well in them. I agree that fuchsia makes you shine more.

To answer your question, unfortunately I have never been able to recreate an old, much loved piece of clothing. My "glories" of the past are always in my mind and I would be more than happy to find something similar!

Bijou

Veteran

When I was at university I had a tartan kilt that was the perfect fit and I loved wearing it. Recently I found a skirt (different style - but with similar tartan) and bought it, but it just does not recapture the magic of the old one... For me, I think that particular skirt was great in that time and place. It is time for me to move on.

Now as for your shirts, they all look great. I like number 1 and think because it is not a jump suit, you are enjoying something that reminds you of the old favourite, without trying to replicate the original.

JAileen

Veteran

I think things in the past get built up in my mind. So it's no wonder things of today can't compete.

Re your tops, I like the baby pink AND fuschia on you. However, I like the drape of 2 and 3 over 1.

Anonymous

That fuchsia top is gorgeous on you!

Joyce B

Veteran

I agree wilth Jaileen about being hard to compete with loved things from the past but those beloved items are an inspiration at times. It happens in a way that something new reminds me of a previous favorite item.
I like both blouses but I really love number 1. I think you do look good in pale pink but of course if you are not comfortable that's a different situation.
I saw that top at BR and you just inspired me to try it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That fuschia is beautiful on you!

I had a pair of railroad stripe painters pants in college and I loved them so much! So whenever I see railroad stripe jeans, I want them, but alas, I do not have my college body, and they never look right.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

LOVE the fuchsia top on you.

I like finding items that remind me of what I wore in the past - I'm a nostalgic person. They are never exactly the same because fashion moves on and thus so does its modern iteration of the look. But I'm usually just as happy with the new take of the look.

Anonymous

Ryce - I know what you mean. So glad I wore crop tops back in college.

Sisi and Bijou - I think a lot of the reason we love something is it sparks a memory or invokes a good time period in our lives.

JAileen - I understand what you mean.

Joyce - I guess it's just been a while for that color. Yay for you to try it too.

Sterling / Janet / Angie - pics 2 and 3 are different tops. Which one do you like of the two?

Anonymous

Here are the links -

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=305865062

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=677739002

kkards

Veteran

re the shirts....love the fuchsia!

as for revisiting past loves....I've had some hits and some misses. back when i 1st starting the Equipment silk blouse was really big....couldn't afford the real thing, but worn a couple of look a likes...then 2 years ago or so, the trend seemed to return, ... i jumped on it...i bought one that seemed to really a direct link to the 1980's version, and one that was more oversized....the one with the small update became a workhorse, the other was a almost...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I prefer #3.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I do this all the time. I even hold on to things I love when they go out of style, hoping they'll eventually come around again. Then there's the Issey Miyake blouse I made in the early '90's I've been trying for ages to recreate.

On the other hand, sometimes a trend I used to love makes a return and I can't get back on board with it. I'm struggling with cropped flares at the moment and I have no idea why. I wore them a lot in the late '90's and I'm loving them on other people, but I can't seem to nail it myself just now. Maybe I'll figure it out sooner or later.

rachylou

Veteran

I love the pink stripe, #1. Maybe because of a blue and white stripe top I, ironically, wore in the 80s, and admit made me look like I worked as a hospital candy striper.

I do love certain themes, but they're never quite the same from one era to the next. I realise today my fave 4-piece suit is just like a dress I stole from my mum when I was 12. A heavy dark speckled tweed. But in no way does it have the cool 40s vibe my mum's dress did. It's 100% today.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

#3 is my favorite. Love the simplicity with the sleeve.

Anonymous

Kkards - it's trying go figure out ahead of times the workhorses vs the almosts that can be tough.

I liked number three as well. Not as static filled as number two. And has kind of a cute v in the back.

Approprio - I think maybe trends fit us at different times in life, so maybe doesn't fit you now. No need to force it if you don't feel it.

Anonymous

Rachylou - ha ha. Yes, the stripes definitely call to mind candy striper.

Janet - I noticed a lot of the BR tops have an exaggerated sleeve this season.

JAileen

Veteran

I went to Macy's to return eight skirts (yeah!!) and while I was there I tried on a very lightweight grey and white striped shirt. I actually thought of candy-stripers! I was one for awhile. As a volunteer, the first thing I had to do was make my uniform. I wonder what happened to it..

Anonymous

JAileen - I have noticed several vertical stripes this year. Better for me than horizontal. Glad you can get rid of those other eight skirts.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

What is a hospital candy striper?
I love you in the pale pink one and I love clothing that is reminiscent of old faves as I'm incredibly nostalgic/sentimental. I want to speak up for the top in photo # 2 as I like the front detailing better.
Nostalgia: photo #1 is me aged 26 on holiday holding DH's hands. Photo #2 is a new version bought age 50! I wear this still but the scoop rather than crew neck is a little too revealing.

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Joy

Veteran

I like your blouses and that seems like a good way to recall the fun of your jumpsuit. The closest I've come is my Halogen yellow raisin pencil skirt standing in now for a brighter yellow wrap skirt that I had in high school.

rachylou

Veteran

Candy stripers pushed a cart around in hospitals, with snacks and things, and visited with patients. Non-medical.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thanks! Why stripers? Because a peppermint candy cane has pinky-red stripes on it?? We only have those at Christmas...

DonnaF

Veteran

I bought the sailor pants below after seeing them on Angie, but I would buy the genuine Navy surplus ones I owned in college in a New York minute. Sadly, I altered those washable wool ones way down so they no longer fit even immediately after the alteration. Probably if I had left them as is they would still fit to this day.

The dome buttons on my new pants tend to fall off which I knew before I bought the pants; that style of button just does that. And the fabric is mostly synthetic, not wool. But 13 buttons to unbutton in the bathroom, even if you don't unbutton them all is still more than the maximum of eight on the new pair.

If anyone knows where to pick up those genuine Navy pants. . .no larger than 28s.

Mid Rise Sailor Flare Pant

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JAileen

Veteran

Donna, I wore my dad's (from WWll) when I was my in high school. I wonder where they are now. Probably with my candy-striper uniform..

rachylou

Veteran

It was the uniform ... candy stripers wore red and white striped dresses... maybe blue stripes too... but the red and white was signature.

Penny

Veteran

Love #3 on you - for me, it works best to enjoy the memories of past items and although I certainly look for similar silhouettes / colors, etc., not sure I've ever been able to recreate a past love . . .