Does your style match your transportation mode? - YouLookFab Forum

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Does your style match your transportation mode?

christieanne

Veteran

Yesterday at the grocery store, I let the courtesy clerk (aka, the bagger) push out my cart as I was safer carrying two ready to bake pizzas myself and our conversation has made me think:

Him: Don't tell me which car is yours, let me guess.
Me: There are about 40 cars in this lot but, um, ok then.
Him: Got to be a 4 door. Hmmm. I'm gonna say Audi or VW.
then scanning lot he points to my dark silver VW Jetta "that's the one next to the corral"
Me: Um, yes in fact it is. But hey, at least it's a Turbo!

So I thought about this all evening. Does ones style carry over to their car?
I guess my car choice is a bit conservative (color), safe (VW - you see about a billion Jettas in my area) and then spunky under the hood (Turbo). Yeah, kind of sounds like me.

Funny because when I drive with DH (he drives a VW but it's a vintage Karmann Ghia with performance engine) I DO dress a bit funkier and sometimes more "mod" to mimic the car!

Does this apply to anyone else? If you don't drive a car (i.e., you are not in California!) do you accommodate somehow in your fashion styling for your transportation mode of choice? What would be better for you in terms of a match?

1.Car I apparently match
2.Car I LIKE to match

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43 replies

Latest reply was from Amy

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Well, my car is a Metro bus and a bicycle...LOL.

Sometimes I do wear clothes that would be easy to bike in...but usually you can't tell that I've biked to work or the store or wherever.

LOVE the Karmann Ghia, BTW. I had a '67 bug as a teenager (with a sunroof!).

Isabel

Veteran

LOL !!! I think that in some cases it may match our overall personality and "aura". When I worked with gang members they used to crack me up over the fact that I drove a Prius. They didn' t want to be seen with me in their neighborhoods because it made them seem "soft" by riding a Prius with a skinny white woman driving! That's what they used to say !!! I told one young man that he could drive it instead and he responded that they would just take him and the car and drop it off in the suburbs at a house with a white picket fence. I laughed so hard.

Your post brought back some great memories.

Isabel

Veteran

I forgot to say, that humans are pretty predictable. And this young man was very astute and observant in his job. Kudos to him.

MsMary

Veteran

I drive a sporty sedan. I hope it matches me!

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krishnidoux

Veteran

No, I don't think my clothing necessarily *match* the type of car we drive (Mercedes). But I have noticed how much my mode of transportation of the day will influence my outfit. If I'm taking the bus, it 's quite different than if I'm driving.

First the outerwear: I get away with many jackets driving that I would/could never wear if I'm on the bus and walking a lot. The weather is just too cold. I must absolutely wear a warm coat then.

Then the shoes: of course if driving I can get by with a little less comfort, a little more heel.

Sarah A

Veteran

hmmmm... Interesting... I am not sure I drive a Toyota SUV with 80" Yakima bars extending past either side on top for my sporty lifestyle, kind of gearish MOTG so probably yes!

Isabel

Veteran

MaryK, that car doesn't come close to being worthy of you ! You need one of the cars that doors that open up like a butterfly or tae kwon do instructor.....LOL

Louise

Veteran

I didn't choose my car as I bought it off BF, though I guess I chose to buy it off him. It's a bright red Seat Leon, a Diesel so fairly economical and has a big turbo engine so nice and whizzy. I've seen all sorts of people driving them from boy racers to grandads so I'm not really sure whether it matches my style or not? X

Mo

(website)

Veteran

For any of us with budgetary constraints, I'd say practicality of the car comes before any 'vibe' it has. I have a 1991 Suzuki Sidekick I bought off of my stepmother, because I could afford the $1500 price tag at the time. That said, a friend does call it the MoKart because it is little like a gokart. I suppose it has a cute, sporty vibe to it.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Hmmm.... I don't think so. I drive a Subaru Outback. I love it - very practical, etc, but it's kind of a soccer mom car. Very conventional - you're practically tripping over Subarus around here. And I like to think I'm not overly conventional, nor am I a mom.

OTOH, I do call my car The Enterprise because the first time I got in it I felt like I was in the cockpit of a spaceship. I'm already married to Spock so...

PS - my first car was a bright orange, '73 Ghia. That totally fit my style. Miss that thing.

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Mo

(website)

Veteran

Andrea, I drive a Subaru, too. It's the BF's car but my little Sidekick is useless in the snow, so mine's a summer car only. I don't think I match the Subaru, but like you, they are a dime a dozen here in Tahoe. Over half my friends own one - seriously.

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Yep, great car but definitely not a style statement. Sometimes I see so many in the parking lot at the store I'm not sure which one is mine!

Makrame

Veteran

I was just going to post about my Subaru Outback but Andrea and Mo beat me to it.

Mine is black, and there are so many of these around here that I will often head to someone else's car in the parking lot before I realize it's not mine. To me, it spells "practical and outdoorsy", which is something of a match with my style but also "blending in and nondescript", and I don't think this is a descriptor I would necessarily apply to my style.

DH was teasing me one time when we were at a BMW dealer and I was wearing a grey military style Esprit jacket. He said that I was blending in perfectly with all the sporty silver cars in the lot.

Parsley

Veteran

I aspire to be as sexy as my car!

christieanne

Veteran

We have been a VW house for so long (and i still have my original - a 65 bug that my grandfather handed down. It's waiting for a decision on restore or sell). But my SH has already decided my next car will be a Subaru. I am not in total agreement especially after being pegged as MOTG Jetta girl yesterday but practicality does come before style in cars!

Traci

Veteran

Oh lord! I hope not. I drive a 10 year old honda van, currently with a cracked windshield. Cars have just never been my thing. It gets me from point a to point b. But, it has been paid off for years, so it leaves more money in the budget for clothes.

teeandcee

It's funny because I was just talking about this with hubby today. He asked why I was "dressed up" to go shopping and I was only half joking when I said I need to dress better to match my Lexus. Yeah, I guess my car is putting peer pressure on me.

So, anyway, when I put an effort in my style does match my car. Far too often though I match my previous car, an old beige Corolla with dents.

Adelfa

Veteran

I never cared if my car matched me, but others did.

When I drove a 14-year-old Honda minivan, I got a lot of pushback at work for my car not being in keeping with my image. "But I was a stay-at-home mom when I got this!" I said, and was told, "You're not anymore." (Kids are grown.)

So then, when I was ready to buy, I thought I'd get a Honda Element and people strongly objected to this. A colleague said soothingly, "Buy a Toyota Venza, you'll like that." When I discovered how well it fit my two large dogs (the Russian Wolfhound is pictured in my face tile), I was sold. And nobody talks about my car anymore.

The younger me would say it doesn't matter what people think of my car and of course that will always be true. The current me makes room for the idea that when people make comments like this, they are giving me information that is potentially valuable. People commenting about my car helped me see that I was clinging to an out-of-date image of myself as a slacker with no marketable skills! Thinking about what image I wanted to project with my car was very similar to thinking about an outfit.

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

If you really want to know what I drive, here's a photo of my two loves. Do you think my style matches my car?

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Makrame

Veteran

citygirl, I think the car has a funky and urban vibe - perhaps it is a good match for your style!

Elly

Veteran

Someone told me recently that driving the type of vehicle I drive means that I am worried about the size of my genitalia . . . I don't think they realized that they were talking about my vehicle when they said that.

I drive a full-size, V-8, extended cab, long bed, deep red, American made, 4x4 pickup truck.

There were practical considerations when I chose it, like the possibility of needing to haul equipment, navigate jeep-trail like roads, and because the higher, heavier front end would protect me in collisions with deer and elk, which are very common where I live.

I honestly really enjoy driving it. It is more comfortable than sitting lower to the floorboard, I like the height above the road and the large windshield. Since I absolutely needed at least a pickup or SUV with high ground clearance, I knew I wasn't going to get great gas mileage. Surprisingly, my truck does almost as well as the smaller SUV it replaced. Plus, having that big engine is nice.

I do enjoy the practical, rugged, and masculine/tough aspects of fashion, and I like to have fun.

My dream car would probably also be American--- 60s or early 70s muscle cars or a pickup from the same time period, or an pickup from the 30s or 40s. Badass, masculine, classic tanks. I might also go for the early 80s Ford Bronco II--- my first car ever. I still miss that car!

christieanne

Veteran

citygirl - I think you have nailed it with both choices!

RandomThoughts (Andrea)

Veteran

Yep, it matches, CG!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I am awaiting my new toy as I type. It was supposed to be delivered at the end of March. Citygirl I think both of your loves match you. I tested a mini turbo and a mini coupe and they are fun to drive but then I tested the Juke and it was love at first shift. I ordered it in dark red with a 6 speed manual transmission. The car that is being replaced is a Nissan Altima in silver.

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Mander

(website)

Veteran

Before I moved overseas I drove a white '91 Honda Accord, apparently some sports model, with a fancy sunroof. It was a sort of "suburban mom tries to be sporty" car, I think, but I was a twenty-something single grad student with incredibly sloppy dress sense, so I'm not sure how well it reflected me! It did have a good stereo system, though, which was a must for me. At the time I routinely drove long distances in the desert at night, and it was great to be able to glance up through the sunroof and see all the stars and the occasional meteorite.

These days I'm on the train or on foot, which is reflected in my generally sensible shoes and my enormous bags for carrying my shopping and all the miscellaneous junk I like to drag around with me.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I drive a nightfire red (basically dark red/burgundy metallic) Mini Cooper. It however is not the turbo version. When I bought it I was still on externship and actively job hunting. My best friend and I both agreed that if I had gotten the convertible I would have ended up with a job in Vermont. So I got the hard top in hopes of a more urban job. It does however have a big sunroof which I love to open up in summer. I have a funny feeling I'm going to be with this car for a while. I've had it four years and only put 27K on it. I take the bus to work.

Patty

Veteran

You and your hub have good taste!!!
Save that '65! (or give it to me LOL)
Is he on http://www.thesamba.com?

Me--->1969 Stock VW Beetle daily driver---My husband says it just looks like me.

I have also had no problem figuring out who belonged to a painted VW Bus in a crowded restaurant--and the guy wasn't surprised when I complimented him on his '71 Bay Window ;+)

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Patty

Veteran

Mo--I drove an '89 Chev equivalent to the Sidekick--I'd get another one in a heartbeat--they are so fun!!!!

ManidipaM

Veteran

Okay, that's one talented young man --- and just a little scary!

I have to say my style is a better fit for one of the two cars my SO drives. I don't drive, but I do own one of the cars --- the red second-hand Suzuki Swift is low-slung, slightly sporty (hence casual in my book) and compared to most cars on the roads here, very curvy looking. I originally wanted the dark slatey blue-grey model, but this was cheaper and budget is currently queen. I have to say I used to be allergic to red, and have of late been wearing more of it! I wonder if my car is subconsciously influencing me? Yikes!

The other car I've always grumbled about, but it's my SO's office 'perk' --- he doesn't get much say on model or colour. Dark grey Hyundai Santro. I hate that the 'tallboy' profile not only sounds sexist but is top-heavy to look at and has a big blunt backside, which I HATE in a car (weirdly reflects my body image issues with trying to downplay bust and streamline bottom!). I cannot get comfy in it. I feel like I can't dress up in it! It looks like a 'safe choice' car, and coincidentally, I rode in it most during my 'dressed-safe-enough-to-disappear-into-the-sidewalk' days. I'm not blaming the car. But the associations are hard to get rid of, and I wonder if a car that was more upbeat or one I felt better about would have encouraged me to brighten up on a dim day!

That said, since I don't drive, I do walk a lot and take the bus and subway. Let me tell you I dress VERY differently for all of these! For walking, footwear changes entirely to dark and enclosed and flat and supportive, and I get selective about bottoms being dark and sturdy, tops being covered enough to keep the sun off and not pale enough to get streaky or transparent with sweat, loose enough to make use of any little breeze. Add a water bottle holder as well as a cross-body or shoulder-slung bag.

For the bus and urban trains, I feel like I should don armour on top --- but in actual fact I choose very conservative necklines and sleeves in the crush, avoid dresses and skirts like the plague to prevent 'access', and prefer jeans or salwars (voluminous loose pants) no matter how hot it is. Oh, and heavy blocky heels to stomp on feet that stand too close! I teeter and get stuck on the floorboards in tapered heels, but square stacked heels have even more sharp points than a stiletto, hah! (I promise you I'm *not* nasty by nature; just self-protective!). I usually also bring a gigantic bag to act as a shield of sorts. Fighting the feeler-uppers gets exhausting and tedious on an hourly basis --- how many thumbs can even an UWP disjoint a day?! x-(

In pedestrian or public transport mode at home, I NEVER use a backpack, but love them in other pedestrian-friendly cities overseas. Here, it just feels too insecure in our overcrowded cities.

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