I have many thoughts on this, so we'll see where I end up as I write this.
I have concluded I kind of do my own thing, whatever that is. As I was talking to Mochi last time we met, I have been somewhat style conscious for my entire life. I have gone from dark and almost goth in my teens, to preppy chic in my 20s, to corporate gal in my thirties, to whatever it is that I'm right now, as I approach 40. However, I have never abandoned my bootcuts, my A line coats, my pencil skirts and my knee high boots. Why?
Well, first and foremost, my family has always placed a huge, perhaps over the top emphasis in individuality and resistance to conformity. That concept was applied across the board from the big stuff, to more mundane things. As far as fashion, my mom actually hated it when we came home asking for whatever the latest trend was. She would tell us girls that being stylish had nothing to do with following trends, that there was no need to be a fashion slave and that because such and such was wearing whatever sneakers or top or what have you, it did not mean that we had to run and get the same thing. I guess that kind of stayed with me. That's why it has never been my plan to jump on each and every trend, I don't have the funds, the time and the energy to jump on everything. That also makes me a very late adopter.
Also, I think that discerning what trends to adopt and what items to continue to wear, irrelevant of trends, denotes refinement and self assurance in one's style. I do a lot of people watching, both at home and abroad, and the women whose style had wowed me over the years, had a certain timeless look to them. It is almost as if I could see that woman again in 20 years, she would look as exquisite, current and fashionable as she looked today. I have not been able to pinpoint what is it that makes them so " fabulous", but I don't think that jumping on every trend is the way to get there. Sooo, since being trendy is not my personal style aspiration, I am not too concerned about it. However, I don't want to look dated either. So, I prefer to infuse a little bit of trendy with my core style.
As far as the comments on whether or not I have seen the current YLF trends, IRL, some I have, some I haven't. To be frank, I am yet to see the first slouchy skinny or the first extreme pattern mixer. BF jeans are very few and far between. Granted, I do not move on the most avant garde circles. So, just because I have not seen it, it does not mean that it has not gone mainstream. I just have not seen it.
Also, although I love hanging out with you gals here, I try to keep my cool and not go off buying and trying everything I see here. I cannot afford it and it would probably look out of context IRL. My real world does not know about UWP, SUP etc. Further, my professional development depends on my ability to blend in with the world of corporate America. I also need to fit with the world of a young profesional in a very dry career, and with the world of a person with a very simple life and who is around people that cannot tell between Tarjay and Philip Lim. Some of you are very lucky in the sense that you either work independently, are in creative fields or wear uniforms at work. I work from a cubicle fellas!
If blending IRL causes me to be behind the trends here and in the fashion world, oh well, what can I do? I'd love to show up on the latest looks but again, I would look sadly out of place.
Janet, I think you have impeccable style, which is very unique to you. If you stay true to that, you will never look passe. We can sit this one out. I don't think the slouchy look will work on me, anyway.
Thank you for reading my novel:)
ETA: to add picture of who I want to be when I grow up.
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