Guilty (fashion) pleasures (or going against the flow…) - YouLookFab Forum

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Guilty (fashion) pleasures (or going against the flow…)

Runcarla

Veteran

I have some fashion preferences that are so strong and personal for me, that I have not given them up - despite what might be in or out of fashion. Yes, yes - I know everything is in fashion, but there are some things that are perhaps less mainstream recognized as stylish?

I sneak my guilty pleasures into my ensembles, and mix them up with current options. Acknowledging these ‘guilty pleasures’ and incorporating them into my style, makes me happy - even if a more contemporary item might be more current looking.

My long term preferences that go against the flow are:

-dresses and skirts at the knee
-body con
-3/4 sleeves

Are you hanging on to skinny jeans? Do you wear capris? Leggings as pants? Adore an odd colour? Fancy something associated with a fashion tribe outside your environmental norm? How far are you willing to ‘go against the flow’?

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41 replies

Latest reply was from SarahD8

LJP

Veteran

I think this is a fantastic way to phrase this issue , and your sentiments too .

I made a vow some time ago to drop “ poison eyes “ and things I don’t love from my forum vocabulary . But guilty pleasures is a phrase I can get behind !

I have some too - but I just realized I don’t feel guilty about anything at all :). I still wear above -the -knee shorts for sports and working out , even though my right knee is permanently swollen . I still like my athleisure looks even though I am getting a little long in the tooth for them , but they still feel like me . I actually just bought skirted ( mini ) tights from Athleta which I intend to wear cycling . Current and stylish ? Eh , who knows . Am I a little old for that look? Maybe. But I’m ok with that

Irina

Veteran

Hmmm, had to think about it. I wear dainty flats now and worn them when chunky styles were everywhere. Some of my summer bags are a small top handle type. I don’t know and don’t care if this style is trendy.

I love Marimekko and don’t think if it’s fashionable, trendy or else.

Peri

Veteran

I don't feel guilty at all, but...I'm sticking with my older, longer tops for as long as I want no matter what fashion says. The pleasure is in the total freedom to not give a thought to "does my butt look (fill in the blank) in these pants?" I do not want to think about what my butt looks like and I don't want anyone else thinking about it either!

ChristelJ

Veteran

Yes, I am hanging onto a couple pair of skinny jeans. It took me a long time to adjust to them way back when, but I developed a fierce love for them that will not die. Also, I always will love 3/4 sleeves, tie-dye and shrugs. Remember shrugs?

bj1111

Veteran

Well I’m back to skinnies. I have wide leg and barrel jeans a whirl. Prefer these silhouettes in non-denim fabrics. That leaves skinnies and not-so-skinnies—old navy for the win.

Maxi length were viewed by my aunts as “lelang” so long as to be worn by nuns—ie not stylish. Still sporting my maxi dresses

So you go on the knee length skirts—they love you.

missvee

Veteran

Pencil skirts, especially worn with a kitten heel…I just love the look despite being retired and having no real need for them. Everywhere we go is just so casual, even opera goers sport Teva sandals and cargo pants. Ugh…

Kate

Veteran

Not so guilty pleasures are skinnies, the occasional body con dress or knit skirt, and I think I will always have a fierce love for dresses over pants.

Sal

Veteran

I also like body con - although I rarely wear it. I prefer mid thigh length shorts and will keep wearing these. And I have always liked Mary Janes - a divisive shoe!

nuancedream

Veteran

My not so guilty pleasure are short shorts and will occasionally wear them in the summer. I also have a couple of body con dresses that I still like and wear during the cooler months.

Dee

Veteran

Okay, I’ll admit to wearing capris, although they are more of a “cargo” capri, not sure if that makes them any more trendy or fashionable lol.

I also like to wear Sketcher Go walks, I have 2 pairs, the traditional version and a Mary Jane style, They’re comfy, practical but not necessarily the most stylish footwear.

Olive Green

Veteran

Well, (taupe) capris are a guilty pleasure! My other guilty pleasures seem to have become momentarily fashionable, like cargo anything or oversized and volume in pants and shirts after all the skinny leggings and such.
Don’t know how to feel, now…

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, interesting question! I do like to pull out things that fit the zeitgeist in my head, which is informed by what I see in real life and on line and all interpreted through the lens of my taste. But most of what I wear is actually not recently made, so none of it really "current". So perhaps I am much more restricted by my own internal ideas than what other people are wearing.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. Yeah, I like thinking of style in these terms too. I was never a huge lover of skinnies but adopted them when little else was available and I saw other thick-thighed women wearing them and thought “well, I guess I can too.” But I have happily left them mostly behind.

Some of my guilty pleasures that I have enjoyed whether they’re in style or not include: leather moto jackets, cowboy boots, bootcut and flare jeans, full length— near floor length— pants, longer shorts, midi length skirts and dresses, high-low hems, chunky soled footwear.

Bonnie

Veteran

I'm still wearing my boho tops, they are cool and comfortable and summer wear for me.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

My outfits are much more about whether I feel like me in them, whether they fit my weather and life, etc. than whether they are “in”. If something trending fits my aesthetic I may add something. After my eye finally adjusts I sometimes add silhouettes I initially rejected.

Sloper

Veteran

I know wide legs are in right now, but they weren’t for a looooooong time. I have loved them for decades.

slim cat

Veteran

Comfortable shoes that not that pretty ( for a long time now ) and low rise pants and jeans.

Bijou

Veteran

For me, my wardrobe is always going to be a mix between what is trendy and current and also what just appeals to me. I actually like staying a bit off-trend and can get a bit upset when my preferences are trending!

The Cat

Veteran

Have loved and worn midi length dresses, skirts and coats for decades whether they have been "in" or not. I also wear the colours I like whether they are trendy or not. The same could be said about my chain belt

Lots of pleasures. No feeling of guilt.

Bee

I will NEVER give up my skinny jeans or leggings as pants (depending on the fabric, obviously). Hell, I even wear leggings with crop tops… and heels!

The vast majority of my pants are form fitting from waist to ankle. And I feel like this is simply the most flattering fit on my body. End of story.

My “exotic” OTK socks and tights. I’ve gotten plenty of strange looks while wearing some of them, even if they were just ordinary fishnets or solid black OTK socks. I guess a lot of people still associate this type of legwear with a certain profession. Especially when paired with shorts and mini skirts/dresses. Unlike my skinnies and leggings, these do still have a bit of guilt attached to them.

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Helena

Veteran

Hmm great question but I don't know the answer for myself! I like to stay up on general trends and follow trendy people to keep my eye somewhat current, but my process for choosing what to buy and wear is driven by my day and my personal style (which is not particularly trendy) for the most part ... So I don't know I can draw any clean lines between the different categories in my mind (though they may very well be visible to a fashionable onlooker!)

kkards

Veteran

Not really guilty pleasure, but I lean hard into a cross body and a small bag whether that’s what’s happening or not.

Roberta

Veteran

Such a fun question! I'm with Kate, I love a dress over pants. I can wear my shorter dresses that way and still lounge around like a tomboy.

I also am fond of what I think of "lady bags"; small satchels with handles that you put your wrist through when you want both hands free. Media tells me I should use a crossbody strap, but I lean into the Fifties feel of those bags.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I don't feel guilty about anything I wear! Only pleasure

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Maybe "guilty pleasures" is more like "signature items"?

I don't feel any guilt about the stuff I love. I might not wear certain kinds of item as often in this era or that (particularly if I can't find them) but there are specific styles or items that will always speak to me -- including Breton stripes, houndstooth, tartan, military style jackets and coats, short blazers, asymmetry, midi to midaxi skirts, gilets and waistcoats, and so on. I also love boxy but not hugely oversized tops, pointed toes, low heels, pleated trousers (but equally, slim crops). I like 3/4 sleeves, too. And don't mind some body con, but it's not a "must have" in my repertoire, if that makes sense. Whereas several of the others I've mentioned are. Or at least I feel the need to cover some of those bases most of the time.

In your case, the things you love are also items that flatter your body type. I suspect that's often true for us -- we love the things we instinctively feel look good on us.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m enjoying the responses, so thanks to everyone who’s posted.

The question was sparked by a conversation with DS#1, who admitted to the ‘guilty pleasure’ of liking Taylor Swift’s music, whilst I admitted to being a fan of Eminem! It made me think of personages in the public eye who may adopt a signature or maybe just wear what they want - regardless of fashion quotient, and yet somehow become fashion icons.

rachylou

Veteran

Skinnies and pants leggings are staples for me. They’re too practical for my life to give up. I have abandoned though really long tops.

gryffin

Veteran

I love this. Although I agree I would not choose this term for myself because there is no guilt per se. But I was just revisiting my 3 words and yes classic, minimalist but then I got stuck - unique? RATE? My moniker is P-POD professional princess of darkness, which still fits, but I was finding some of my fails were too classic and minimalist. Then I can up with unexpected. (The the unexpected mrs pollifax for fans). To me, I think that my version of your guilty pleasures. The pepper in the soup of fashion (ok yes Amelia Peabody). Skinny jeans, inverted bob haircut, trademark geek chic glasses, leggings with long dressy jackets. Above the knee skirts. Embellished belts and buckles, paddock and hiking boots, booties all year round even in summer, blazers with everything. Cowboy boots. Tie dye, Midrises, Pencil skirts, sheath dresses. Kitten heels. Corset details. Body suits. Oh and black. Lots of black or dark neutrals like navy and charcoal. If there’s not something a little tough, unexpected or unique it’s not me. Maybe it’s a refusal to be Pidgeon holed. So yes, I’m out there doing my own thing usually swimming up stream against the current. But unexpected, for me, creates the pleasure.

Sal

Veteran

To me, the personal in style is when we incorporate a mix of pieces (to some that is vintage and new, or trendy and classic etc) to make something look really authentic.

And as I have been discovering, with the exception of cotton tees/cotton jersey dresses and similar pieces, I need to have longevity with my clothes, they do last a long time.

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