Does flattering negate dated-ness? - YouLookFab Forum

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Does flattering negate dated-ness?

catgirl

Veteran

Shannon and Kiwichik have raised a question in my mind - when an item in question is flattering, does "dated" become less of a concern? Both of them posted items that look pretty darn good to my eye, and I'm having a hard time judging them in terms of dated-ness as a result. Thoughts?

General

40 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Anonymous

I think it really depends what your budget and priorities are and how fashion-forward you want to be. At a certain point, in my mind at least, I get a distaste for things that are dated, and it doesn't matter how conventionally flattering they are on me, they just make me feel stale.

Anonymous

I agree with clearlyclaire. Based on favorable comments received down through the years, I know I've worn some flattering outfits (as well as some not-so-flattering ones, but I won't go there!). Would I wear those outfits now? No. Like clearlyclaire said, I'd feel stale. There's only so much a woman my age can do to keep up with the times without looking silly, but I try.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

dated + flattering = unfashionable/out of it

dated + unflattering = frumpy

ironkurtin

Veteran

How are you defining "dated"? If something looks good, it looks good. I disgaree with CF that dated + flattering = out of it. That's how trends come back.

catgirl

Veteran

IK, that's the question!

catgirl

Veteran

Okay, so lets take Elaine's sometimes puffy sleeve floral dresses on Seinfeld.... Dated, yes? But I have a friend who loves them and they suit her. Could they be updated with equestrian boots or made to look vintage somehow? Or are they just wrong? Or conversely a fab style statement?

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ironkurtin

Veteran

Yeah... I ignore "dated" comments. I wear square-toed pumps I love from 10 years ago. I don't care if they are dated, I love them. So if someone look at them and says, those are soooooo '00... whatEVER.

rachylou

Veteran

I think it does. I think it's harder to say something is dated when it looks good on a person.

I think it's more that on-trend things get a pass even when they're not as flattering as they could be.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am with Claire on this.

So if I were your friend, I'd look for a current trend that flattered instead of wearing a puff sleeved floral dress.

It's not that I care whether others say, "That's soooooo '00." It's more about how I FEEL in those items.

I guess there are some items in which I might feel fab, no matter what. But more often, what is really making me feel fab is some design feature, i.e. a high collar, or a jacket that hits just so on the hip, or a chelsea boot broadly defined...and if there are more current versions of that, I'd feel even better in those.

Thistle

Veteran

I second Rachy. If something looks flattering, I do think it is harder for it to look dated. And if something is on trend, even if it is not flattering, it sometimes gets a pass because it means you are following along.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Suz, it's so interesting you say that, because sometimes when I find the original version that the trends reference, I feel so much cooler than in the new version.

Of course, we're not talking puff-sleeved floral dresses, although I do think Betsey Johnson kept that style alive for many, many years. I think I still own some from the 90s.

catgirl

Veteran

Fascinating! Because WHY does a certain item make you feel fab or not fab in this context? Would I love and buy my Lanai (wearing today!) at any point in time? Are some of us just more fickle? Can an item be dated on the hanger but not on a body?

I've realized I tend to favor the same thing over and over, just like I can eat beans and rice for weeks....

Anonymous

There are certain items from my past that I could still wear today ***IF*** I combined them with up-to-date things to achieve a more current style. That said, I don't want to wear looks that were fab back in the day but don't measure up now. Besides, I get bored if I don't change things up once in a while.

Still, my feet hate pointed toed shoes. Moreover, there are certain styles that never worked for me and never will.

I'm glad I've "found myself," so to speak. I no longer wander all over the map when it comes to colors and styles. There's a lot to be said for experimenting to see what works, and I'm glad I did, but it feels good to have a better idea of what really works for me and truly expresses who I am.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I am so with IK on square toed pumps. I love, love the look of a square toe so much better than pointy toes. I have a pair of black boots with square toes that I will wear again this winter and to #$ell with what is fashionable!!! So I guess that's my answer.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm glad you started this thread Una - this subject totally fascinates me. I just posted this reply in my thread about the navy blazer:

In roving around Pinterest the other night and a few store websites, I am seeing some jackets with this type of boxier shape and with shoulder pads. Is it possible that something that last year would have seemed dated is now not?

I'm also wondering if something that could be seen as dated but is worn in a modern way (i.e. with more edgy or trendy pieces), can that item then become modern in its own right?

And IK raises an excellent point - when does something transcend being "dated" to become "classic"?

I'm curious why the navy blazer would be considered dated when my 1960's shoulder-padded polka dot jacket isn't? (see pic below). Is it because I wear the vintage jacket in a deliberate way? And if so, can't that also be done with the navy blazer?

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Mia

Veteran

This is such an interesting discussion. I have noticed that women and men with a really strong sense of personal style seem to be able to incorporate garments and accessories that might be against the current trends and to my eye escape looking "dated".

My point being that one must look at the big picture as well. The item might be "dated" looking on its own but can be part of a whole look that is interesting and modern and reflects the personality of the wearer. It's tricky for sure. I see looks like this all the time on "Advanced Style".

shedev

Veteran

I'm not fashion forward enough to really tell what is dated but some things feel dated to me personally. Like blingy jeans such as Miss Me, once I've moved on they feel personally dated even though they are still common in Cleveland and sold at Dillards. I prefer chunky footwear to todays refined pointy toed trend. That might make me a little dated but I can deal with that.

deb

Veteran

I think the statement 'own the look' helps an item not feel dated. Shannon's navy jacket looks boxy and dated to my eye because of what she paired it with. It is also not a style she wears, or we see her wear, often. It is not a signature style. (Sorry Shannon for using you as an example) Her polka dot jacket is more her signature style so it does not meet the 'dated' criteria. I also think it is a personal thing. If I dressed in a more quirky way, I could get away with wearing something I wore in the '80's. But, that is not me and I do not feel comfortable. I envy those who wear non-current items that suit their personality. After all, is that not what we are projecting with our style, our personality?

nancylee

Veteran

I agree with Claire that it depends almost entirely on the wearer. Some people don't care that much about trends and are happy to wear something that's 5-10 years old...or even older...while others have to be on trend to feel good.

It's all about how you feel in it. If you feel frumpy you won't be confident.

Day Vies

Veteran

Great question! For me dated means a garment or look with details that place it at a specific time. The more details the more likely it is that wearing the look beyond that time will look dated. I think it's a balancing test. There are some things that on their own look dated but remixed into an up-to-date outfit the piece will look fresh.

Gaylene

Veteran

Great question! I've been thinking about this topic this morning after I read the following:
http://theviviennefiles.blogsp.....on-of.html

When I checked the online auction for Betsy Pickering Kaiser's wardrobe, I was amazed at how wearable her Galliano outfits looked today even though I'm assuming that many of them date back to her heyday as a model in the late 50s, 60s and early 70s: http://catalogues.lesliehindma....._no=281++++

I'm beginning to think the concept of datedness is really tied to our fascination with mass-market style trends. Novelty drives the fashion industry, and I suspect, for most of us, our wardrobes please us the most when our items let us participate in the current fashion scene. Unless we are able to afford a Galliano-level of design, however, most of us also realize that the bulk of our mass-market wardrobes are probably too closely associated with fashion trends to have the kind of longevity of Betsy Kaiser's wardrobe. If I like something enough to wear it, despite its lack of currency, I'm thinking it's probably has more to do with my own personal tastes and style preferences--the item in question can be a "classic" but in a more restricted, personal sense.

Day Vies

Veteran

I had to hop back in and say that personally I will never willingly give up a piece I can wear that fits well. My personal tastes are classic and somewhat retro. As a result I think it's difficult for me to look at my wardrobe and say that any one piece is dated especially since I have been known to hold on to pieces until they are damaged so I HAVE to stop wearing them. Lately the only things that escape my wardrobe are things that don't make me happy or simply don't fit well. Dated is just never a criteria that enters my mind when I go through my closet. I am an eternal optimist if it fits there is a way to make it work

Kiwichik

Veteran

Haha just read Day's comment about hanging on to things until she has to stop wearing them. I tend to do this too with much loved items. I am not very fashion forward so I tend to focus on figure flattery. Having said that I am starting to get a little bored with my wardrobe & am wondering if it is because I have pieces that flatter but don't necessarily fit with what is "in".
I do however agree that some people have a "signature" style that stays current through the judicious application of more "in" accessories or makeup or whatever.
OMG I am now more confused than ever.

Anonymous

Most things seldom look dated if they are part of someone's signature style.

Anonymous

That is perhaps why you think your friend looks good in her dresses. That's why is hard to be trendy. There is so much reliability on being current that things look dated in a minute.
By the way, hi all!

AviaMariah

Veteran

I think it also depends on your wardrobe/fashion goals. How important is being current to your style goals? To me, getting overly worried about being current can sometimes take the fun out of it, and we are supposed to be having fun with fashion right? So if a person is deliberately wearing something "dated" because they enjoy it or it looks great on them, I say go for it and own it!

Cindy

I think it really depends on the wearer. Using the Elaine example- Yes, she looks horribly dated in that dress but if you picture her with a stylish current haircut, put her in some cute boots, and throw a moto jacket over that dress she would look much better. There is a big difference between the woman who hasn't changed her look in ten year versus the woman who intentionally mixes an older beloved piece with current trends.

deb

Veteran

I have another question that may or may not apply. When you get bored with your clothes, do they feel dated? I think this is where my feeling of dated comes from in my own wardrobe. This leather jacket, for example. When I posted this WIW I said I was not comfortable with it. Some said it looked dated which I had not considered before. Then I realized it had been in my closet for years and I was bored with it. And the three buttons made it look dated.

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Caro in Oz

Veteran

I think the answer is it depends

I found Angie's post on this very helpful.

http://youlookfab.com/2012/10/.....ess-items/

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