Have you ever done a style "retrospective"

Now that I know you fabbers better, I'm sure many of you have! Thank you to Ornella whose threads on what she wore last year have surely inspired this line of thought.

I'm going through the soul-searching part of the style journey - the "who am I", and I went through a number of old photos today, focusing in on style and outfits. As well, I brainstormed all the outfits that I could remember (as far back as Grade 5 probably, but mainly high school on, when I became more in control of my style - to my mother's chagrin). There is a surprisingly consistent story being told:

overwhelmingly neutral palette of black, white, gray, navy, cream/tan and pops of red, with occasional dashes of color - pastel lavendar and blue, medium/royal blue, wine
clean lines, very little fuss, classic pieces - my earliest 'styling' memory is me switching out a pretty top my mom had put with a royal blue jacket and skirt outfit, replacing it with a plain white turtleneck)
one or two pieces of simple jewellery - sometimes more delicate, sometimes more substantial, but never fussy (in most photos some sort of chain and small hoops), black plastic sunnies
makeup on for all occasions and simple hair styles

I can see that the evolution of my style has been more about updating the same things for the time, rather that wearing different things. (i.e. the tapered jeans turned into pleated 90's jeans turned into bootcut dark washes turned into skinnies) but the fundamentals remain relatively unchanged (not 100% of course, but for the most part).

It's making me thing that I have been looking for something that has never actually been gone! It just needed to be brought to awareness and polished up once again.

Has anyone else done this? What are your "always worn 'em" pieces? Sorry that ended up being really long!

10 years ago

gryffin

Veteran

torontogirl - that is all so insightful! It's light Dorothy in the WOZ, what the quote, something to the effect that if she needs to leave her backyard to find her heart's desire then maybe she never really lost it after all. I find everything you said resonates very strongly with me. I evolve but my basic loves do not change. I try and become more aware and authentic and I progress as my life and nees change but I am basically always me. That's a really freeing revelation isn't it!! Kudos!!

Lyn D.

I two have a love of jeans and pants that goes back to my childhood .
And not too much fuss in the way of accessories. And blue.

Caro in Oz

Yes - I did this when the eclectic side of me was taking over (after illness & weight gain). It was interesting that my #1 requirement is the best fabric I can afford. After that comes the cut of the clothes then colour. For me my "uniform" has always been pants or jeans a top & a jacket or coat - if I stray too far from my formula I don't feel that my clothes are working.

The other big aha for me was realising I need messy hair - I have the perfect hair for a bob so hairdressers ALWAYS try to bob my hair. I love the cut on others - it just isn't me.

Loved reading your thoughts - thanks

Freckles

Yah torontogirl, big step in the right direction.
For me it has always been delicate jewellery (that I hide under a top in winter for many years and am looking for ways to wear), wool as I run frigid, turtlenecks for same reason, skirts over dresses but only at work and not at all since I retired and really not denim at all. I used to love blazers when I could afford to have them designed and hand made for me but never have been successful off the rack but there is always hoping...
I totally need a makeover as too frumpy at the moment...

fuzzylogic

I have never done a style retrospective- sounds therapeutic! Hmmm..... I guess I have always liked clean, simple lines and the tactile aesthetic of silk and leather. Nothing too fussy.

The way I interpret this and put outfits together has changed with age and increasing confidence. These days I use colour more effectively and inject textural accents and embellishments as needed. And I'm having a lot more fun!!!

Helena

Gryffin, thanks - I love that analogy to the WOZ, and I love how you articulated how you apply something similar.

Lyn, sometimes it's the simplest things!

Caro, thanks for sharing your learning - I love that, if you stray too far from the formula ... that's it exactly for me too.

Freckles thank you - the inspiration for your delicate jewelry will come, don't give up

Fuzzylogic, here's to age and confidence - I am turning 40 this year, I think that's driving a lot of my process. Need to work on the fun bit!!!

Jaime

(website)

So interesting. I do remember telling my mother at a very young age I wanted to wear black tights, a skirt and black turtleneck as my uniform. I don't think she was impressed with my early bookending and minimalist instincts. I have never gone for frilly, fussy or a lot of jewelry and have long loved a good thrift store.

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