Have you always been interested in style?

RoseandJoan

I'm sorry, I know this topic has probably been covered a gazillion times but with new members on the forum I'm going to ask again. Have you always loved style? Did you show an interest in clothing as a child? What are your first clothing memories?

If you developed an interest in clothes at a later time, what was the catalyst?

I will tell you my secrets shortly, care to share?

15 years ago

General

22 replies

Latest reply was from RoseandJoan

Kristine

Veteran

I really wasn't interested in style for most of my life. I was a tomboy as a kid. In my teens and early 20s I had some fun with it (Janet Jackson style trench coats, short skirts, etc.), but then I went into style hibernation. I can't really put my finger on why, but I had some personal problems and style was the last thing on my mind. When I met my husband he was very casual and, in an effort not to be "high maintenence", I mostly wore gear. I cringe when I think of the cheap work clothes I used to wear!

It was a combination of things that sparked my interest in style again- a fashionable co-worker, shows like What Not to Wear, wanting to move ahead in my career. I'm so glad it happened because I'm really enjoying it!

15 years ago

biscuitsmom

Veteran

When I was a teenager and in my 20's I cared 'somewhat' about my style and enjoyed shopping- I was a certifiable 'mall rat' back then. When I hit my 30's I had serious thyroid and other health and meds problems, and put on about 80 pounds. In my early 40's my thyroid went the other way and I dropped nearly 100 pounds and never looked better. That lasted all of 6 months. Slowly started to gain weight over the next decade and now that I hit 50 this past fall I look and feel miserable. So glad I found YLF so I can try and feel and look a little better, at least.

15 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I remember being called a clothes horse when I was about 6 or 7 and asking why am I a horse lol. I would change clothes 2 or 3 times a day sometimes and had to be told to not throw it all in the laundry because I was making wash a nightmare for the household. We had a live in roommate for a while (it was just my dad and my brother and me) and she gave me an old purple nightie that I would twirl around in to watch it flutter. I felt like a gypsy goddess ha ha.
I spent my teens wearing a lot of black and concert t shirts and bandanas - oh and skintight parachute pants. Perfectly feathered hair - it was 1984 afterall!
Then once I started working in bars at 22, it was uniform time and most everything I bought had "can I wear this at work?" in the back of my mind.
I kind of went with the flow since then and stayed relatively current with fashions but never a trendsetter. I had some hits and some misses but am just now, at 40, trying to be a little more put together and less interested in how 'hot' I can look ha ha.

15 years ago

Bianca

Veteran

I always liked nice clothing, but seemed like we didn't have enough funds as a youngster to give way to trends. I always made do, but never took many fashion risks and never stood out, yet was presentable. My look was nothing special. Truthfully my style evolved in my early 30's after I became a mom. No more career attire, and a new shape, I began to learn how to dress to suit my lifestyle. Many books, shows and especially Angies blog have inspired me to look my best. I can get ready to go to preschool drop off looking effortlessly styled in a snap. I wouldn't have been able to do it, if I didn't seek out all of this inspiration on my own. I have kept it going now for 4 years!

15 years ago

Elly

Veteran

I honestly have always been interested in fashion, not that you ever could have told by looking at me. I have always kept up with the fashion magazines, shows, ect. I was at one time an art student and have an eye for lines and fit, ect. However, I am one of those people that struggles to see themselves. Fashion is a very public means of self-expression, and I spent much of my youth in love with some of the fashion statements of various subcultures, but afraid of the backlash in a small, rural community. Instead, I did a lot of costuming for the theatre and liked to go all out. When I left home I finally felt like I could express myself more, and was pretty happy with my wardrobe for a couple of years.

Like both Kristine and biscuitsmom, I started having some serious health and person problems. I developed an (at the time) undiagnosed chronic illness, had to give up a lot of my hobbies, gained just enough weight to change my body shape, and was in a controlling relationship. Close to four years later I am finally getting back to fashion. I'm a college graduate finishing a certificate before I go off to the professional world. Needless to say, I am in a entirely different place that I was before, so I can't go back the type of fashion I enjoyed before. When I have the time (busy student!) I enjoy reading and participating in YLF in an attempt to help create a personal style that is going to work for me again.

15 years ago

Anchi

(website)

Active Member

My mother said she dressed me up in a big way when I was little. But when we emigrated to the U.S. we had very little money, so I always wore hand-me-downs. And in college I just didn't have the money for clothes. But I was always hyper-aware of how people dressed and what worked or didn't.

It took me a long time experimenting and reading up on style, as well as following other people's blogs, to acquire a good knowledge of what worked for me and what didn't. I spent my 20s wearing all the wrong things in the wrong colors, and I regret that a lot. But at least in my 30s I'm catching up!

15 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

I was never interested in style and did not even know there were so many components to it. My interest was piqued after I saw a few episodes of WNTW in the summer after I graduated. Then I came across YLF later that year and I can honestly blame Angie's posts and the forum for my interest in style!

15 years ago

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I have always loved "pretty" things and can recall dressing up in my mothers heels and ballgowns as a little girl. However....

In my early twenties I was working in a creative field and I would say that I was far more interested in dressing with expression, rather than with a style. As such, my look varied from conservative, to incredibly retro, to boho, to just plain "interesting" depending on my mood and the activities for the day. As I reached my late 20's, I dressed more conservatively and lately, have dressed with practicality in mind.

It's only been really in the past year or two that I've fully realised that style and expression and practicality CAN be complimentary tools that can be combined together to present the best "me" there is to the the outside world. I'm having a lot of fun thinking about this issue and trying new things!

The catalyst for this (incredibly slow) style evolution?

I've recognised that I'm getting older and have identified it is important for me personally to strive to be the best person I can be. I've learnt the hard way that putting things off or saying "I'll do it later" can sometimes mean that it never happens, because life can be unpredictable. The way I dress compliments my philosophy of striving being the "best me" there is!

15 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

Always interested. My Mom had a photo of me when I was 2-3 years old wearing a set of wooden beads. When I was scanning old photos I found she had written on the back of this one that once I put the beads on, I refused to take them off. I loved my dolls and made doll clothes from fabric scraps. I also designed wardrobes for paper dolls. I loved paper dolls.

I loved to dress up in my Mom's old dancing dresses. My aunts and grandma's also gave us old dresses for dress up. I went through some gawky phases in my school years and early teens--tall, fast growing and skinny, but I dreamed that someday I would have a wonderful wardrobe.

15 years ago

LeahJanes

Active Member

I was always interested in style. I was a bit indulged as a child, I always got fancy clothes and shoes. I was a minimalist back then - I was adamant against anything frilly or lacy or fussy, I liked things just so. I've always loved dressing up and I've always had a thing for old clothing and jewellery. I collected vintage gloves when I was a teenager, my mother still has my collection displayed at her house.

15 years ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I have always loved clothes. My grandmother used to take each of her grandchildren for a week over the summer and for my sister and I's turns the week always culminated in a shopping trip to buy an entire outfit - from hair accessories to shoes. We would visit every store in the mall that carried my size and try things on. When we found a possibility we would put the item on hold until we had gone through the entire mall. Then, when we returned to make the purchase we would inspect the seams, fabric, etc, to make sure the item was perfect. Then it was on to find the perfect accessories and shoes!
I also loved to make doll clothes. I was only interested in dolls for the doll clothes. (-: I also remember idolizing "big girls" who were stylish and trendy and wishing I was old enough to wear heels and beautiful clothes like them.
In college I was really in to vintage dresses and still have one frock from the 60's that I haven't worn in ages. I've always loved trying new thing, and I never minded when my family didn't "get" my looks. The most important thing for me was that I found myself interesting.

15 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I don't know if I've always been interested in style, but I have always loved clothes. I don't remember ever not liking them. I never needed alot and I did not bore easily, I also remember getting tremendous pleasure out of wearing things that I loved.

My mom began sewing out of necessity when we moved to the US and she was/is incredibly talented. She always took much pride in how we looked : she always believed that even in poverty you should be clean and put together in a respectable way. She eventually started putting together sample pieces for the following seasons s and she was really into fit. So my sister and I always had unusual and beautifully made clothing. I know that is where it comes from. I can't sew to save my life, but I can spot a well made garment miles away. I am also pretty nuts about fit.

15 years ago

Beth

Veteran

I was always interested in style and clothing growing up, and the shopping trips I made with my mom and sister remain fond memories. I remember how excited we were when Nordstrom first entered the DC market.

I lost a lot of interest while in college and grad school. When starting a career, I was more interested in clothes that reflected professionalism and competence rather than trends.

I've come full-circle though, and I'm back to following Angie's #1 rule: having fun with fashion:)

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thank you, Beth :). You just won the next YLF award just because of that.

Julie, I want to hear your secrets!

(My passion for fashion was born when I demanded to wear my apple green butterfly dress with my red clogs and gold ring every day).

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

I have always loved cloths. I can remember each of my favorite outfits from Kindergarten/First grade on.!! I remember how I felt when I had those special items on..

The crinkle slip in first grade, the black velvet vest over my blue and black dress in Kindergarten, my pink and black shift dress with black tights in 3rd grade...It goes on and on .... Sixth grade was my favorite...I got my white GoGo boots...Goodness they were Fabulous with my hot pink and lime green!!

15 years ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Haha, Taylor I remember some of my favorite items, too! Once was a dress with a velvet bodice and black watch plaid pleated skirt. I got it for my birthday in July and wore it all day, even though it was way too hot to be wearing velvet. (-:

15 years ago

Refugee

Veteran

The answer for me is yes and no. When I was younger I loved fashion. Whether it was favorite outfits, or spending every dime from my highschool job on clothes I loved to shop, see what others were wearing, and put together fab outfits.
Then grown up life, kids, problems, and a big ol' depressing story no one wants to hear happened and I plunged headlong into the abyss of mom jeans and Igiveup dresses. Things got better and I slowly realized I deserve to look good, feel good, and spend a bit of money on myself. Relaxation for me these days is checking out my favorite fashion blogs and doing what I call the on-line pre-shop.
Recently, the combination of working from home and having to do a lot of exercise to help repair a reinjury to my shoulder I am not looking very fab most days.
I continue to be amazed that when I put in effort to my appearance, my self confidence, enjoyment of life, and general fun factor, go up.

15 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I've always been into clothes but only really honed my style in last 2 years.

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I will be back to this thread after work but will for now say:
Age 2 I received a handbag from Santa due to insisting I have one for half of the year.
My only fight at primary school came after a friend accidentally broke my silver chain.
I was often complimented for wearing my too small bat wing top backwards (I was eight).

15 years ago

rute

Veteran

with me it happened after 14, I lost a lot of weight and was so excinting dressing my new body!

15 years ago

Lynne

Veteran

KTP, you've echoed my sentiments. My appearance is now a part of being my best me. And like everyone else here, when life has gone pear-shaped my interest in style has nose-dived...although now I've learned that making an effort has a big flow on effect that starts with me feeling a whole lot better!

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm loving reading your responses. looking good through adversity can be a challenge. I was stuck in a rut during my late twenties after being pregnant for some of 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009. I was desperate to re find my style mojo when I stumbled across this site. It feels so good to have reconnected with a part of my life that has been important to me...well forever really.

15 years ago

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