Follow-up to Goldenpig's question re: style and closet size - YouLookFab Forum

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Follow-up to Goldenpig's question re: style and closet size

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Ok, this is a weird question, but I'm throwing it out there anyway...

Does anyone notice a correlation with how they like to eat and one's style? I know this seems kind of silly, but I used to eat a lot of junk food and didn't really know how to cook (still working on that). Thing is? These days, I prefer very simple foods, and I'm very particular about quality ingredients, whole foods - you get the idea.

Meanwhile, my jumbled up wardrobe is really bugging me. Just got back from a very short vacation, and I *loved* having just a few quality ingredients (clothing-wise) instead of a closet full of "stuff."

Does it sound weird that I'm now thinking of some of the extra 'stuff' that I never wear in my closet as "high fructose corn syrup" or "junk food" ?

The way I eat has changed dramatically over the past few years - and I'm at a place where I feel very 'zen' and comfortable about it all, after quite a learning curve. The simpler the better. A typical meal these days is roasted garlic and sea salt mahi mahi, with steamed asparagus and sliced campari tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. Quite a change from frozen lasagne or a fast-food drive-through type of meal.

I make an effort to get in a good dose of colour, in the form of fruits and vegetables. Just about everything I eat is made from scratch and I hardly buy anything that has a bar code on it. I make my own salad dressings, come up with my own spice rubs/mixes and marinades. It's not fancy or overly complicated, but it is delicious. I have a whole new appreciation for really good food.

But my closet? It reminds me of my old way of eating. Fast fashion. Convenience. Tasty but not particularly nourishing. Boxed macaroni and cheese, frozen pizza, diet pop, "instant" mashed potatoes, margarine - you get the idea.

Weird eh? I've spent more money on a good bottle of olive oil than a blouse.

Just the right tomatoes on the vine. Fresh raspberries. Toasting my own sliced almonds. Grating fresh lemon rind. Washing, drying and chopping fresh cilantro. Pellegrino instead of Diet Coke.

For those of you who have a good idea of what your style is - does it correlate to how you eat?

Just curious

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from velvetychocolate

Anonymous

Is that the reason I am so discontented in my day to day wardrobe? I eat like a queen and dress like a peasant.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

What I've noticed is that my wardrobe hasn't caught up yet to my newly discerning eye/palate. Or is it palette?

What I'm wondering is if there's more than one way to get there - for instance, if quality food and good ingredients does a body good, then is the same true for style? I have a funny feeling that maybe it is?

Not there yet, but I find this idea kind of intriguing.

Tracina - what do you think of applying the "eat like a queen" to dressing? That's what I'm kind of getting at with this post. Why would I buy Twinkies for my closet and good quality and seriously good-tasting food for my kitchen?

HelenInCanada

Veteran

To stay true to your metaphor, VC, you'll have to create clothing patterns, buy reams of fabric, and sew each piece of your wardrobe completely yourself! You may even have to prepare cow hides, sheepskin, and furs for items such as shoes, belts, and scarves.

Okay, so I'm exaggerating and being a little silly, but I do see where you're going here. (Your dishes sound delish, by the way - can I come over? ) I think personality, personal philosophy, and culture often drive our diets/changes in diet, and those aspects of ourselves will drive our choices in clothing, too - unless clothing is an area where we are not heavily invested or interested. As you refine your style goals and appreciation for quality pieces, I'll bet your wardrobe will better reflect your gourmet tastes as well!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

You made me laugh HeleninCanada - there is no way I'm making clothing by hand. I can't even sew a button on properly. I'm still laughing at the idea that I'd apply cooking from scratch to clothing - yes, you have a good point there!!!

I guess what I was trying to say is that I wonder if the "quality ingredients" thing might help me sort out my style and wardrobe in the same way that it has helped me sort out my eating habits. Maybe this was a bit of a stretch? After reading goldenpig's thread about closet size and whether that has an effect on whether one's style is minimalist or ALGO....I was struck by the fact that I put a lot of importance on buying high quality food and making meals that are relatively simple but that taste really good. I do *not* do this with my clothing ...

But no, I am not about to take up making my own clothes. I do not have the patience or skill for that kind of thing, and it's not even something I'd even want to try and attempt, to be honest. I'm not sure I'd even know how to thread a needle properly...it's that bad!

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Surely you jest VC! I could probably teach you how to sew on a button in 5 minutes - you'd be surprised how easy it is. Hemming I can't do well at all, though. It would be VERY lopsided if I did it! And to actually MAKE a shirt or dress? Disaster zone for me too. I DID make a tote bag in home ec in Grade 8, though.

Hmm...I think having healthy and simple tastes in food is really a craving followed by a conscious choice and nutrition education - and perhaps with fashion, these three elements haven't all clicked yet. But the fact that you are now craving and conscious about improving the quality and simplicity of your wardrobe is a great sign - and you're well on your way! Just like you envision meals, you should envision outfits (and collect pictures that inspire you) to create.

AJ

Veteran

Ha, no my eating and clothing needs are opposites. My closet is ALGO and I really don't like to wear the same outfit twice unless it was KILLER, but my meals are quite simple and I like to repeat a lot.

Anonymous

VC, I think it's normal that when you start making specific conscious decisions in one area of your life it will flow over to other areas.
I started eating natural, whole foods and less refined foods years ago. It did cause me to also look at what I put on my body as far as cosmetics but not so much clothing.

I have always been drawn more to natural fiber clothing...silk, cotton, wool because I find them more comfortable.
I never really thought of the correlations in my eating choices and dressing style. I (as Helen joked about) make most of my food from scratch and I am very much a do-it-yourself person. I do tend to alter most of my clothing. My tastes might be the same, I love gourmet meals, quality over quantity. My preferred style is simple/classic.

cobaltblue

Veteran

What a wonderful question! I think you are on to something. This may not be simply a correlation between food and fashion. Perhaps your embracing of high-quality and streamlined items in one area of life shows you how attractive such a method would be if applied to other areas too. Fashion, food, decorating, entertainment... I too am drawn to this path, a harmonized way to approach life. Fast food and fast fashion are neither for me, I think. I like to invest in cookware, tools, books, and musical instruments that I could pass down to my grandchildren. Obviously clothing can't last that long, but I would like the things I buy to last for several years until they wear out. I want to move away from discarding pieces because they were never quite right or were so trendy that they cannot withstand any passage of time.

This has helped me so much! I'll mull over this topic for quite a while to come, I am sure.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I thought Goldenpig's thread about closet size in relation to one's favourite style choices was intriguing, and it got me thinking a wee bit last night. I like very simple, graceful and elegant foods (a relatively new thing in my life), and I think I am actually going to use this little insight when I edit my closet. The closet edit is long overdue and I've been procrastinating on it...

I know this is a weird way of looking at the whole 'style' and closet question, but two things came to mind recently - one was the fact that while on a recent trip out of town I really appreciated just having a few clothing choices that I loved, rather than facing my jumbled closet. The other was Goldenpig's thread relating closet size to one's style.

Anyway, this got me thinking - and wondering if you can have a certain style in one area of your life that's working very well for you (my new and very much improved way of eating) and a different or perhaps undeveloped/chosen style in another area (clothes, closet and dressing style) that isn't working so well.

When I first started working on developing a new way of eating for myself, one of the things I discovered is how *good* certain things taste without all the extra sauce/stuff/ingredients. For example, when you eliminate a lot of processed foods, it's incredible to notice just how wonderful fresh raspberries taste all by themselves! How a perfectly ripened campari tomato tastes delicious when sliced and drizzled with really good olive oil and balsamic.

The little 'aha!' forming in my own mind is that perhaps I can't find my style, my favourite way of wanting to look and dress because there's too many ingredients, too much "stuff" - much in the same way that my old way of eating didn't allow me to appreciate quality, whole ingredients.

I do like a tiny bit of embellishment when it comes to food, but not much. I just love something like some grated fresh lemon rind over sauteed spinach. A mint leaf with some raspberries. Finely grated dark chocolate over a few fresh mandarin orange wedges. I also look for colour and balance in my meals.

Is it any wonder that a jumble of busy scarves, too many pieces of costume jewellery, too many patterns in my closet isn't working very well for me?

Some of Angie's recent blog posts about classic pieces and her idea of "crisp" are very appealing to me.

Things are starting to click into place, at least in my mind. Just as you sometimes need to eliminate a bunch of things from your way of eating when first cleaning up your diet, maybe the same is true of closets. Also - you can't really taste things until you get rid of the processed stuff - perhaps it's true of clothes too - in that you can't "see" the really good stuff, and how good it makes you feel if there's too much other stuff in the way.

Ok - now I sound totally weird Ah well...food for thought, isn't it?

Meredith1953

Veteran

I quite like your metaphor of developing a quality wardrobe as it applies to a well balanced and healthy diet. It just brings up a lovely image in my head! I now have images of succulent food to refer to when developing a shopping plan especially when I imagine all the wonderful fruits and vegetables. Tomato red, Blueberry, cherry, lemon, tangerine, tart granny smith apples, the list goes on forever!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Thanks for humouring me on this Meredith! It's a bit of a stretch, but the more I think about it - the more I like it

More food for thought:

Food-wise, I have decided that 'the real thing' is better than the fake thing. I won't eat food that has been re-engineered to be artificially low fat or buy things with artificial sweetener in them. If too much sugar isn't ideal, then I go by the 'less is more' philosophy. I'd sooner eat a mini-sized bar of good quality chocolate than a diet bar of some kind and it has to be worth the splurge (meaning, it better be really, really good!).

So maybe this means a beautiful silk scarf that I *love* rather than 10 scarves that are just 'ok'.

One fabulous bit of chocolate once in awhile, one fabulous silk scarf that makes me feel wonderful.

See what I mean?

Meanwhile, I like what you're thinking about tomato red, blueberries, green apples and so on.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I think this boils down (ha ha, get it?) to the quantity vs quality issue. I am trying to get there, too, in my own way. It sure is a process, though, isn't it?

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Very funny Mo...:)

Likewise - perhaps paring (har har) things down is the way to go.

DragonflyJane

Hmmm, food for thought indeed. I'm currently mulling over the temptation of "fast fashion" versus higher quality clothing which I guess is the crux of your thread?

M&S have brought out a range of protein-based meals called Fuller For Longer - do you think wearing better quality stuff will make us feel satisfied for longer?!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

DragonflyJane - the 'feel fuller longer' idea is just one aspect. It's not just the idea that maybe less is more (for me - such as one really lovely silk scarf), but lots of other ideas are popping up here too. I've been thinking aloud, writing through my thoughts.

Another food for thought idea:

I have confidence in my food choices - a basic plan, and criteria/standards. This doesn't mean I don't try anything new, just that I won't buy something that has trans fats in it for example.

The stretch (relating it to style and closet):

Angie has confidence in her style choices too - and she also has criteria for herself, a good example being that she isn't going to buy too many summery sleeveless things because she doesn't get much opportunity to wear them in her environment. I've noticed that she'll also say "no knit tops". This applies to her, and works for her and she has good reasons for having these criteria.

When I walk into a grocery store - I might have a list of needed things, but I'll also browse. I feel confident and clear. I feel good about what I'm buying and I do like to try new things along the way. The way I shop and prepare food makes me feel good. Not just healthy, but happy too. I am really enjoying the process.

When I walk into a clothing store, I feel like I'm six years old and my Mom has asked me to get the groceries for the week. I have no idea how to cook, what to buy or what the ingredients are or what they mean. I'm likely to come home with Lucky Charms, peanut butter, macaroni, pudding cups etc. with no concept of what goes with what, or how to create a meal. It's just buy some stuff and hope that it comes with a free prize in the box.

...

cobaltblue - I am liking the harmony idea very much - exactly what I was thinking too.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oooh...this is really interesting and resonates for me!

I do think there could be a correlation between fashion choices and food choices. Not a necessary relationship, but if paring down and aiming for higher quality works well for you in one area, it might in another area as well. I know this is true for me.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Love this! My husband is a big foodie, an excellent chef and an avid food magazine, book and blog follower. We often draw parallels between YLF and food blogs and I use food concepts to help him understand what I am talking about - and it really helps him get it. We think there are tons of parallels, at least in the vocabulary and focus of the two realms.

As to your original question, I am a bit spoiled food wise by my DH, and have been exposed to a much higher quality of food than I would ever prepare myself. On the other hand, I am the one that sets the ground rules for which ingredients he can use and what is healthy. With clothing I am much more experimental - but with both I do a lot of experimenting on myself to see what works. Hmmm, need to reread thread and give this more thought. Great one!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Thank you Suz!

Don't laugh, but earlier today, I was looking into my closet with new eyes. I have confidence and I feel like I have a bit of "style" with my food choices now. This isn't true of my clothing or closet (yet).

Interestingly, the 'style' part of my way of eating didn't come until I'd stuck to a "plan" for awhile and gotten the basics down. I almost wish there was a clothes plan one could follow for awhile (like a diet/meal plan) until one learns the basics, before experimenting.

Meanwhile, I find Angie's formulas very helpful for a newbie like me - almost like a recipe.

I know it seems a little absurd - but earlier in the week, one of my breakfasts involved chopped cantaloupe with fresh blueberries. Guess what I'm thinking now? I already have a new ink/navy silk blouse...now thinking that a cantaloupe coloured skirt might look and feel very appealing. What else would I add? Not much, because the two colours are strong enough and go beautifully together.

Weird, but looking at what's working in my life and trying to transfer/infuse those ideals to another area of my life could be useful?

velvetychocolate

Veteran

shevia - it looks like I was posting at the same time as you were posting...and I'm very glad to read that I am not the only one who has noticed a correlation. Thank you!

I am just now seeing parallels to food and clothing. Or style in general. I think it is really neat that you and your husband have already noticed a similarity. I know it seems silly, but I'm now thinking of 'sea salt' in relation to crystals, sequins or diamonds. Fresh cream is pearls. A splash of honey is a tiny bit of gold accent. If I can mix up espresso beans with berries....can I do the same with other things?

I am very appreciative that I can think this through here at YLF. Thank you for humouring me and indulging my train of thought, even though it isn't exactly perfectly on topic.