You have waxed nostalgic for your life in NYC in the 90's. How much of that is influencing you, especially in the light of your continued unhappiness with being in Austin.

AG - none. My life in the 90s was 20 years ago(!!!). And my life now is actually better and more rewarding. I'm not picking a look out of misery or nostalgia - I just like 90s minimalist style and always have. It's hard to wear in Austin, so I have decided that Austin will just have to acommodate me as best it can.

But thanks for asking.

IK, if you didn't care - like you say you do later in the comments - you wouldn't have posted the question. No? Something is causing hesitation, and some are confirming that hesitation.

The only way to get an answer is to road test the look. Get some vintage '90s pieces. Wear them. Assess how you feel.

I realized, in reading the comments, that I am like Una (Alaskagirl) in that the core elements of my preferred uniform have not changed over time, but the specifics have -- and I don't really care a whole lot about the specifics. If the quality is there, I don't care about the provenance. Or lack thereof.

I have a very skeptical attitude towards authority of all kinds. I don't know if that is related.

Angie - Well, I realized I didn't care in the course of the conversation, actually! That's one way YLF can be helpful because discussion can clarify things.

I should say most of my 90s pieces are winter gear. I find generally in vintage they just hold up better than summer things. They're cashmere, wool, and leather, and we're already at 70 degrees here. So I could model them if people want to see, but I'm not road testing them for a while!

Actually, I have worn some of my lighter-weight 90s vintage on the forum. They're black. That should make them easy to find in my posts.

Yes. I thought that might have happened. That talking about it here sealed your "I don't care" response that came through a little later.

Ah. You'll have to wait till you get to Portland then. xo

Oh yeah, in Portland it's gonna be the 90s all over again, baby!

The dream of the nineties is alive in Portland! Just put a bird on it and call it art.

I bet if I saw you walk by in a Helmut Lang coat from the 1990s, I'd want to rush up to you and tell you how amazing it was.

I think some styles age better than others. And, IK, you don't still have and wear footwear from the '90s do you? Your footwear is always artwork to behold. . .I see you as wearing current footwear with your vintage pieces.

The cut of shoulders, armholes, sleeves, and lapels seems to change over the years. Now, if an item doesn't follow the silhouette of the era, how does it age?

In terms of the sleeveless blazer discussion, I'm trying to parse this evolution out. . .

I so agree with Vildy, Dana: I think that there is no way you could look dated. It is a choice. You are not unaware of what is current. I am not one who thinks that avant-garde stuff doesn't date -- it does, just as "classic, timeless" stuff dates. But I honestly think that the idea that you (YOU -- not someone oblivious to what is current) would wear 20-year-old pieces and look dated is a complete lot of rubbish. Plenty of pieces are old but if styled well need not look dated in the slightest. I think you have the eye for this. I think that if you find something beautiful you are highly likely to be able to wear it in very current way, no matter how old it is.

Sarah

There are a few people on the forum - you and Anna come to mind - whom I consider to be quite uninfluenced by outside opinion. Those folks seem to have a very strong internal fashion compass. It's inspiring, but it does make it harder to give feedback because most of the time I know it's irrelevant. In that situation, critique just seems like needlessly putting someone on the defensive. Much easier to compliment, admire and take notes, or stand aside. I hope that doesn't come across the wrong way - I think you will get what I'm saying!

I am sorry I can't recall who, but someone on the forum very recently commented that we, here on the forum, are quite likely to be a minority in terms of how focussed and passionate we are about fashion and style. Certainly based on my real life, I would agree. Most people are just not as into this as we are. And I suspect most people go no further than "that looks nice" or otherwise, before they have moved on to the next thing.

Which BTW is one of the reasons I adore you all so much.

But back to the point, I honestly don't think the person on the street is going to look at your outfit IK and have an internal discussion about if it looks dated or note. We tend to break things down a lot but I think the average person either likes it or doesn't but spends little time considering why.

Hmm. One thing I wonder about is how influenced we are by our circles. I mean there are so many people who don't know anything about looking dated, don't realize what they are wearing looks dated or doesn't, and only respond to whether they like what they see. It might be just that the outfit makes you look thin, or younger, or brings out your eyes, etc. Or they might have a very particular aesthetic that has nothing to do with fashion per se.

MaryK, from what I understand, is surrounded by people in the fashion know. Looking dated would be noted. You, IK, are appreciated by your circle for your individualism. So is LL I am guessing. Awareness of the concept of being dated already puts you way ahead, fashion speak wise, than quite a lot of people. (I don't know what my point is.)

ETA - maybe what Deborah just said!

Shevia, I like your thinking xx

AG, I do listen to feedback! Sorry I come off as defensive. In my case I'm looking for inspiration or fine-tuning. I alter a lot of my clothing so that's always a possibility as well. In fact, I've had some vintage items altered quite successfully. So, in my case, saying "Gee that looks dated" is less helpful than, "have you thought about making the sleeves 3/4" or "The length is off to my eye, could it be taken up/down/tapered."

Trust me, I've ditched or purchased items based on you lively ladies...

Ok. The only person I know who really wore the same thing for decades was my high school history teacher. He had one pair pants and two shirts - one for summer, one for winter. Mind you, he was clean. They were all shiny from washing. And very thin. Also, he wore white undershirts, which is what he changed daily.

Did he look dated? Certainly not. At that point, he was decidedly eccentric. Quite beyond the realm of mere style.

I rather feel that most are not up to that level of commitment and trademarking - and end up looking tired and dated.

I do feel there are some designs that are quintessential and last the test of time. But A) individual instances wear out and B) it's quite a random selection of rarities and very little of it is clothing.

You don't come off as defensive! I just feel it puts someone in a defensive position when they receive feedback on an item if it turns out they have already made a decision. When someone says "I love this so much on me/this style/whatever - what do you think?", I don't feel there is a lot of leeway for a differing opinion. That's why I think it's important to be clear about what you're asking in the original post.

I've stopped posting items I know I'm going to keep no matter what, unless they are in a complete outfit for feedback on the whole look.

For instance, to me, your question did not seem to be "is 90s style fab or what?" It was "is my love for 90s fashion keeping me stagnant?" That is a more profound question that requires more a yay/nay to my mind.

And you do come off as set in your ways. Not a bad thing, just something i consider in giving you feedback. Like: if you ask about an outfit, I'm not going to suggest that a flouncy red crinoline petticoat would do you wonders.

Shevia, you make an interesting point. Yes, I guess I do travel in circles where there are a significant number of people who are into fashion and would notice if an outfit were dated. And, more to the point, I guess, *I* would care if my outfit were dated-not-in-a-good-way. I've tossed more than one thrifted item because YLF convinced me it was just that!

Context, in fashion as in so many other things, can be everything!

Give it a go! I think you have the fashion intuition to decide whether the look is dated or fab.

I know what you mean about vintage items and their allure. I often feel that high end items in luxurious fabrics can be re-purposed and sometimes pieces are almost line for line like the modern. Rare but it happens. I brought home a Vince boyfriend blazer and discovered it was virtually identical to my late 90's Versace pantsuit blazer which was better fabric.

But AG, perhaps a red flounced petticoat is JUST what I need!

... With my black blazers and white linen tees...

Coming back to say I just had lunch with my son and I was telling him about the mystery of the man in the apparently-brand-new 70s-era velour track suit. He said, "You all missed the obvious explanation: He must have been a time traveler!"

IK - I dont' know about you, but I love elements from the 90's fashion because they were perfect for my body type and my personal aesthetic, but I don't miss the 90's or any other era. My love for that fashion is based on form, function, aesthetics and flattery. Since I am not the girl I was in the 90's, there is no way I would repeat looks verbatim, but true personal style, rather than fasion, must empower us to wear what we like, to present the most authentic version of ourselves in the way we want to do it. If "Elegance is refusal, " I would argue that authentic style is refusal. Not only refusal to wear things that do not speak to you, but refusal to give up looks that are flattering, appropriate, and speak to us on an almost primal level just because they are not "of the moment". So I'm personally going to dig my heels in. I love those elements that I wear, although I don't wear them in the same way - I've grown up and those looks have grown, changed, evolved and morphed with me. I will continue to look for updated current expressions of this style and how I wear them will grow with me. However, if I were to stumble over that classic magnificent black Chanel jacket at the same time you did, prepare for a major cat fight!! I haven't seen a lot of your outfit posts, but the ones of have seen have really inspired me. The shape, proportions, elements (I'm seeing boots here in particular!!) shows someone who is edgy, orginal, comfortable, with a love of the unique and a distinct personal vision. I don't think you could pick clothes or style them in any way that is not awesome!! So let the evolution of 90's style continue into the future and don't forget to let me know if you find any awesome long jackets etc along the way!!

Time traveller!!! MaryK, give that kid of yours a high five from me!! I'm loving your take on the velour sweat suit guy, it's just amazing to me and you're cracking me up!!!

"...authentic style is refusal..." oh gryffin, this is one of my hobbyhorses! look at any major style icon, the Hepburns, Jackie O, Princess Di and you will see someone who really sticks very strickly to her own style. They constantly 'refuse' the great majority of what's out there in terms of silhouettes, design details, hem lengths, color, etc. I mean really try picturing Katherin Hepburn switching out wardrobes with Princess Di - yoikes!

And as others have pointed out, you don't want to become fossilized. So i've seen style bloggers recently using the word 'curate' as to their wardrobes, i think i like that attitude for me. And it reflects how important consistency is to me, it's one of my highest style priorities. But other people follow trends much more closely and also look fantastic, i think and i like that it's different personalities and people coming thru their clothing.

re: Audience - i've had an interesting experience the last few months. Neiman Marcus opened up a store in downtown Walnut Creek, about 15 minutes form my house. I like to go downtown and check out Macy's Nordies', BR, J. Crew and the various frozen confectionary establishments.

Now, my particular rugged chic RATE style is not that impressive to the 'if you have money let it shine' attitude prevalent in this area. No one is rude, but i never get any attention to speak of in any of the shops. A couple of years ago i was very lucky at T.J. Maxx and picked up an Isabella Fiore studded hobo bag for waaaay cheap. I choked a bit when i looked it up online and saw it retailing for $750-850. Had no idea, but i love it anyway (though it is heavy!).

I've been downtown shopping with this very bag (quite RATE in style) many many times. The first couple of times i went to the newly opened NM the sales assistants were very nice, but not really attentive. However, the first time i went carrying that bag - ears perked up. All the SAs made sure to greet me. I tried again a couple of days ago with the Fiore bag, this time the very gracious and knowledgeable Chanel SA spent 15 minutes giving me an in-depth tour of the current Chanel 'art' collection on display (including an amazing a-line black leather dress with horse hair (?) ''fringe" very subtley placed on neck and armholes, with metal charms of the chanel letters and clover scattered underneath the leather of the dress and embossed thru - you could see the embossing and feel the charms thru the leather!!!!! i looked online for this dress and couldn't find it to show you, sad face).

Honestly i do not have the budget to buy so much as a lipstick at NM. But apparently they know their handbags! And it really struck me how specialized this type of knowledge can be. Happy Day!!! steph