Help Understanding Traditional Classic vs Trendy Classic? - YouLookFab Forum

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Help Understanding Traditional Classic vs Trendy Classic?

Dee

Veteran

Okay not to belabour the point too much more on classics but I thought I'd try a couple of visuals to see if I've got this right or not.

Photo 1: TRADITIONAL CLASSIC due to the straight cut jeans, hip length cable knit sweater in a standard fluid fit, refined black loafers, simple pendant necklace and silver bracelet wristwatch.

Photo 2: TRENDY CLASSIC because it combines some traditional classic items like the same cable knit sweater and loafers with trendier cut jeans (these are loose fit/high waist) trendy patterned socks, contemporary necklace and sporty fitbit watch. Also the styling of the jeans and sweater is more trendy too.

I think I'm interpreting this right but not completely sure.

BTW Which look do you prefer?

Oops sorry my mirror needs dusting too.

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Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Jules

Veteran

I think that’s quite a good illustration!
I like both looks but would prefer a chunkier loader with the second outfit. Although I understand more refined loafers are trending so maybe it’s just a matter of preference.

Dee

Veteran

Jules- If we change out the loafers to chunkier loafers in photo2 we'd be left with just the sweater as the only traditional classic item but I think it would still be considered trendy classic all the same.
However, if we change out the sweater to something more contemporary too, I'm thinking this look would no longer be considered trendy classic because there's no longer any true classics included in the outfit.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is fascinating. Great illustrations! I think you are right on with your analysis (but then, we've seen that I'm confused on this subject, LOL!) Anyway, I like both outfits with a slight preference for #2.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Dee, feel free to chat about classics AS MUCH YOU WANT TO!

#1 - dead right analysis!

#2 - dead right analysis, too!

Your comment above mine - EXACTLY!!! You totally get it and understand. My toes are tickled.

THANK YOU for illustrating this perfectly. You wear both beautifully! These items are all great, great fits and proportions!

#1 creates elongated proportions, which might be more someone's cup of tea.

Personally, I prefer #2. It's more playful, and I have a thing for trendy bottoms - so it's that bias dictating the opinion . Also, I like shorter tops. Another bias creeping in! You can add a classic black belt if you like. Nice polished touch!

Which of the two do you prefer?

Irina

Veteran

I agree with your illustration. The only thing is I can’t really call any socks trendy. There are trendy ways to wear socks like with loafers and a skirt or with slingbacks. I wear white tube socks with sneakers to gym but worn out over black leggings they are trendy. IMHO, of course.

rachylou

Veteran

For me personally, the issue is I think I look simply awful doing #1. Other people look cute; I look dumpy. Otherwise, that’s probably what I’d be inclined towards.

Runcarla

Veteran

LOL! #1 is what I do. Haven’t worn socks with loafers…yet, but have worn trendier silouhette jeans.

Dee

Veteran

Angie - Happy to hear that I'm finally understanding trendy classic correctly. As for which outfit I'd prefer; I find number 1 a bit too conservative for me, so I'd likely change out a few items and yes, outfit 2 could benefit with using a belt.

Irina - I agree that all the various ways socks can be worn would be trendy but I also feel socks themselves with their various patterns (novelty prints like hearts, cats etc..) or other embellishments could also make them trendy too,

AJ

Veteran

I surprised myself that I liked the traditional classic outfit better. Funny, because I like stripes...maybe not on socks. LOL!

The Cat

Veteran

Generally, I agree with your analyses.

I like #1 best. And I would happily wear those classic striped socks with #1.

To my eye, #2 looks a bit "contrived" (in lack of a better word). #1 looks more sleek, elegant casual and easy to wear for a lot of activities.

Dee

Veteran

Rachylou- I get what you mean, classics are MY comfort zone but put me in anything oversized or overly embellished/flouncy and I feel frumpy.

AJ- Yep striped socks might not be for everyone. I was using them in photo 2 as another trendy element to help illustrate a point.

The Cat- I would definitely wear those striped socks with outfit 1 too. You're right, I did purposely combine a bunch of trends into outfit 2 in order to help illustrate a trendy classic look.

Runcarla - Maybe its time to have a little fun trying socks with loafers too.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Excellent illustration! I prefer #2. And especially how it shows that it is not just the pieces but the styling that makes an outfit look current and interesting.

Dee

Veteran

Jaime - I agree that simply styling classics in a more trendier way helps them look less traditional.
Also Interesting seeing which outfit everyone prefers.

Anonymous

I prefer the first outfit- cause the proportions are more streamlined.
That said, I don't like wearing outfits that are full on classic. On me they feel bland without some more exotic elements.

RobinF

Veteran

Great illustration of the difference! I have been struggling with it. I much prefer #2. It amps up the look without being crazy. I'm with Rachy, #1 on me would just look dumpy.

Irina

Veteran

Sorry, forgot - I prefer #2 by a mile. #1 looks a bit old fashioned, no offense.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I'd prefer #2 on myself, but without socks (or with plainer socks).

Dee

Veteran

Irina - Haha no offense taken, I too, feel number1 was a bit too conservative for me.

Zaeobi - I’m noticing those striped socks aren’t to everyone’s taste

Suntiger - Exotic makes sense for you, exotic isn’t in my wheelhouse.

RobinF - Glad outfit 2 doesn’t seem too extreme in my effort to illustrate a trendy classic.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@Dee I'm not someone who can pull off striped anything tbh lol, so it's nothing personal don't worry - I mentioned in the other thread that I don't suit anything 'traditionally' classic, so I can't pull off hip length jumpers or minimalist jewellery either.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I like it! I like your interpretation. I prefer the first photo, because I am a sucker for classic style.

Jules

Veteran

I do feel like socks, generally speaking, are on trend currently. For quite a while it was all bare ankles all the time and now we’re back in socks again (yay!). In doing the mental exercise I had to think about whether I consider loafers and bare ankles to be classic (and kind of draw on mental images over the decades for that) because in my climate there’s very little practical weather for transitional shoes with no socks - so the bare ankles ‘trend’, as long as it lasted and as extreme as people took it (bare ankles with Canada Goose level parkas at temps well below freezing!), was more the anomaly to me. But when I think about ‘classic’ images of refined loafers I can acknowledge they are often and elegantly worn sockless - even if I associate the look more with temperate Euro weather style.

Jules

Veteran

Although I will add that I think crew socks are actually what’s trendy to ‘the kids’. I’m interpreting it to mean I can wear socks again because that makes me happy, but my teen kids are pretty clear that it’s crew socks they want, if they’re going to show.

Dee

Veteran

Jules - Haha not sure if no socks with loafers is classic or trendy or possibly both at certain times but no socks in winter is a definite no go for me. I love wearing patterned socks even if they don’t show.

kkards

Veteran

So, I like them both. But, I think I’d like #2 better with a higher shaft boot instead of loafers…so still modern classic but more modern and less classic

Jonesy

Veteran

Interesting exercise. #1 looks so classically preppy to me (a look I happen to love), but yes, #2 looks a little more trendy and to my eye, more interesting. I think a deeper single cuff to the jeans (vs. the double narrower cuff) would make it even more trendy.

Dee

Veteran

Kkards, Jonesy- Yep lots of great ideas on how to take traditional classic and morph it into trendy classic, my little experiment was just to be certain I was understanding these concepts correctly as some of us were confused about what constitutes a true classic and what trendy classic actually meant

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I think I can’t understand the difference. It took a lot of looking to see the difference between the jeans, I was sure they were the same pair just with one cuffed until I re-read what you wrote. I’m afraid I just see both these outfits as “jeans and sweater” outfits and would never look further if seeing them IRL. I would not wear either as I find both too expected somehow? The only unexpected thing is the socks which I would wear, because my 2 main pairs of loafers are worn in colder weather with socks, and only my bright yellow summer loafers get worn without socks.
So I vote for outfit 2, but on you never on me

Dee

Veteran

JenniNZ - Well you’re right there aren’t major differences in these 2 outfits except that one outfit is considered traditional classic while the other would be trendy classic all because of a few tweaks with the type of jeans, jewelry, socks and styling. Yep, those are different jeans in photo 2, they have a trendier looser fit ad are high waisted. The first jeans are a classic mid-rise, straight cut.

This was simply my attempt at creating a visual demonstration of these 2 concepts because some of us fabbers were a bit confused about it when Angie posted on what makes an item a true/traditional classic or not.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yes and I appreciate your attempt! I honestly think I am just not that good at noticing smaller details in certain types of outfits. I guess I categorise outfits quite broadly.