How important is practicality in your dressing? - YouLookFab Forum

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How important is practicality in your dressing?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Sorta of spin off of today's blog post and Mo's thread about pumps in the snow.
I am not always practical in my dressing. Even Angie herself said her love of white fashion items is not practical but she loves and still wears it.
For me I am reminded of a discussion I once had with a date. He asked me if an opera singer could flip a burger. For him the arts had no value. But for me things that just exist because they are beautiful or interesting, well that adds to the world. I would not want to live in a world where everything must be useful and utilitarian.
So, yes sometimes I wear those insane 4 inch heels. Yeah I can't sprint in them.
Do you ever just wear something because it just makes you happy?

Dressing

60 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Good question! It's 90% important to me. I live my life on my feet and in action. I don't 'sit pretty' very well. I like to be able to jump in on softball practices or climb huge paper machiete dinosaurs or walk through the water fountain in scorching temps.
Here in FL I get around by foot or bike, at home in Tahoe I work on my feet, sometimes 2 jobs. The only non practical outfits are 'dress up' ones and I am getting better and better about not purchasing those. I do a fancy dinner 3 times a year maybe. And when 2 of them are likely in snow, you only get so fancy (or at least I only get so fancy).

EDIT: and I totally wear things just to make me happy!! see below

whoops double edit: all the below are 2 1/2" (pic 1 and 5) or 3"+ heels. But the 3+ are boots that I can maneuver safely in!

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gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Unfortunately, very, said the woman who just bought the somewhat hideous Birkenstock Maine's.

For those with problem feet/knees, the condition only worsens, and the pain that comes during the day from wearing uncomfortable but pretty shoes that make an outfit, is only a shadow of the pain that will come if we continue to wear said shoes.

I will wear my pinkish-red Maine's with a pencil skirt, though.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I should clarify I'm not only talking about shoes. I'm just using them as an example. Other things could be silk blouses.

Classically Casual

Veteran

I want both at the same time

NDMom

Because I have 5 children, three with Down syndrome, I must be practical most of the time. That said, I LOVE to dress up for my weekly date night with my hubby....so no practical clothes allowed. In fact, when the kids see me in those clothes, they ask, "Date night, Daddy?)

I live vicariously through you, Annagybe, and the other fashionistas here on YLF!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I totally got you, Anna. The silk dress is 'precious' for my lifestyle, but I'm so glad I have it. Ditto white pants and snow, but I do it!
I truly believe your clothes should bring you joy. I think many misinterpreted my pumps in snow post. But we can discuss that. When I'm in FL I embrace FL climate, when I'm in Tahoe I embrace Tahoe climate. I look forward to the contrasts, actually.

rabbit

Veteran

Yep, honestly I could wear a hoodie and jeans everyday (and did for years) but I'm wearing a faux-fur collar scarf today and high-heeled mary-jane wedges with patterned purple tights. My plans for today are to work on my business taxes and to go to Safeway, not very glamorous. Like you, the choice to wear fun clothes is completely outside of my utilitarian work uniform. (The shoes though are Earthies - so in the comfort shoe category and are the most comfortable and stable heeled thing I've worn.)

I am strategic in taking off or swapping out parts of an outfit of course. There are shoes that only get worn to dinner or events, and there is a 'cat hair collector' long button up I wear over some outfits at home when the kitties are being especially affectionate and clamber-y or want to curl up on the lap of my black pants and doze for awhile. (they get priority over fashion ).

Also I completely and utterly agree that the arts have value (economic, spiritual, aesthetic, communal, and cultural), and that patrons of the arts, especially those willing to pay to support, celebrate, and foster the cutting edge, are what makes it possible.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I think creating lovely things that aren't strictly necessary or utilitarian is part of what makes us human. I love Tolkien's idea of the sub creator. However I'm a mom of two and don't often have a chance to dress impractically, lol.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

There are some things I will compromise comfort on in favor of aesthetics, and some I won't. It's not always a rational decision; I think sometimes it's just habit. I don't have really high heels because I've found that I just don't wear them, so for me they are a waste of money. I'll just gaze at other people's. I always put my keys in my pocket if I have one - I refuse to worry that the little bulge of the keys is unflattering. And my choice of handbags is 75% practical.

I don't mind things that have to be dry cleaned or ironed; for a while I avoided dry clean only clothes, which is possible if you have a casual lifestyle, but I found it a bit limiting. With jackets you usually don't have to clean them every time you wear them anyway.

Kristin L

Veteran

I'd like to think I'm about 50/50 on practical vs fun, but I'm probably more on like 75/25. I still wear a dress or a skirt almost every day, but I have finally developed mad skills when it comes to picking things up off the ground without a wardrobe malfunction.

Raisin

Veteran

It's super important to me, and I am constantly reminded of this when I buy somewhat impractical items and never wear them. Even slightly impractical usually ends up in a regret pile. Sigh....I think I have become the stereotypical mom in sweats and comfort wear....

Thistle

Veteran

Yes, I do wear things that just make me happy. Most are practical or, at least, not impractical. I won't buy shoes or clothes that are uncomfortable no matter how beautiful. I have packed white away for the time as I have DD and a kitty curled up on my lap as I type.

While I want to look nice, I will never be a fashionista. I am okay with that. :). Wouldn't be practical ol' me anyway!

ironkurtin

Veteran

Practicality in terms of body function is maybe the most important factor when I buy something, up there with comfort, beauty, and value. If something is beautiful but impractical or unwearable, I don't purchase it.

So yes, I wear things that make me happy - actually, I ONLY wear things that make me happy. But I have very strictly defined parameters for happiness, and functionality and usefulness is a big part of that.

Kim

Veteran

I think since coming to YLF I've learned that I can have both! I had a closet full of "nothing to wear" before here, but that's because I bought things I kind of liked on the spur of the moment, and never had any kind of plan. I thought that dressing oneself was so "artistic" that I would *NEVER* know how, and so I just didn't bother.

Ask my sis, when my kids were young I dressed practically, and that was mainly tshirts and jeans. I was simply covering my body, not dressing.

Now I know that I have to consider my lifestyle when I shop, and about 80 percent of my clothing *must* pass the practicality test, but the other 20 percent (weekend and date night stuff! Whoot!) doe NOT. I do wear silk shirts around the kids I look after (5 kids ages 3 and under) but to make it practical it's washable...LOL That bit of knowledge from here (that practical can also be beautiful and comfortable) has revolutionized how I dress. I also wear jewelry every day and try and look nice even if it's just me and 5 kids! LOL

So, I err on the side of practicality, but it's what makes my wardrobe *work*. That being said, when my basic wardrobe is functioning like a well oiled machine because of this I have no problem picking up a piece I LOVE that I could never wear to work (Danier mixed media jacket I bought a few weeks ago.) Not really "practical", or a need, for me, but I LOVED it and could see it working well with my weekend wardrobe. So, I bought that puppy and didn't look back! LOL

And to be fair if we were truly being *only* practical would we even own more than 2 shirts and 2 pairs of pants? We could be covering our body with one while we were washing the other. Any more than that and we are probably trying to be creative with our clothing I think.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think I fall into Dana's and Mo's camp. Practicality and function are part of what makes me happy. So my ideal items are those whose cut, colour, and/ or workmanship strike me as beautiful, PLUS they are practical for my life.

But I still buy (and wear) things that some other people might consider impractical -- simply because I love them. For instance, silk shirts. (I just wash them -- refuse to dry clean.) And I have some items in the closet that I rarely get to wear -- dressier items. I am glad to have them, and I don't regret spending money on them.

I also spend more on items that don't necessarily get as much wear -- for example, jackets. The price per wear might be rather high. But I love them so much that I don't care.

Sara L.

Veteran

I would use the phrase "appropriate for the occasion" for my dressing priorities. So I wear my heels out to dinner with DH and sneakers to the kids' soccer games. I consider the heels practical and appropriate for the occasion since I don't expect to do much walking in them. Same thing with skirt lengths - I have some that are a little short for work but are okay for going out.

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

Dana nailed my perspective on this: "... yes, I wear things that make me happy - actually, I ONLY wear things
that make me happy. But I have very strictly defined parameters for
happiness, and functionality and usefulness is a big part of that."

It also seems to me that certain things get put in the 'practical' camp while others get put in the 'gorgeous but impractical' camp maybe more out of habit than anything else. I have 2 1/2" heels which are much more stable and comfortable for me to walk in for miles than crocs, which irritate my nerve damage as soon as i put them on. Many people think my neutral staples are 'boring, practical' type pieces but i spend a fair amount of time hand washing and ironing them because they're silk, linen and cotton and i just love that luxurious feel.......

I also find that pretty much everybody has their 'sheer luxuries' in life, if you get them talking about it. It's all so personal, everyone has their own likes and dislikes and their own formulae for balancing it all out to their own satisfaction. Thanks for starting this thread, anna, as i love hearing about how people view this aspect of life! steph

viva

Veteran

Such an interesting question, Anna, and one that speaks to me right now as it intersects with the late winter doldrums in a very particular way.

I definitely have some impractical items -- and among these are my most loved and least worn items, things I bought because I thought they were beautiful even though they don't fit neatly into my more casual life: Donald Pliner black heels (not even very high, but dressier than I typically am); Parker Devlin black silk pants (which I bought in January and have not even worn once, but hope to in the summer); Derek Lam mixed media top, which has presented styling challenges. As winter drags on, I have been aching to pull these things out. I can actually feel myself wanting to make an impractical purchase ... something just really beautiful to add to my closet. It's not a great impulse because I need to wear what I've listed above more often and I don't really need another "museum piece."

Winter weather demands more practical clothing (lots of layers topped by a heavy coat, and weather proof boots) and I am getting really bored with it.

Diana

Veteran

I definitely wear things that are not exactly lab-friendly. Things like extra long sleeves and delicate silk blouses. And I absolutely completely defy the environmental norm at work, which could be considered a practical consideration as well. Where I draw the line is when things start to cause me physical discomfort. My tolerance for certain kinds of pain (especially foot pain and tight waistbands) is pretty low these days.

So, yeah, I wear things that make me happy all the time, but things that cause me pain or distress do not make me happy.

cciele

Veteran

I enjoy buying and wearing pieces that make me happy! Well, they don't make me happy per se, but put an extra spring in my step and smile on my face.

These things could either be practical or impractical. I guess that means practicality is not on the top of my priority list for dressing. I think comfort is creeping up there for me as a top consideration -- and I don't consider that equivalent to practicality.

rachylou

Veteran

I want to say I have beautiful, impractical things and they don't make me happy - but that's not true. I have paintings. I have opals and diamonds. However, when it comes to clothes... Honestly, my "hobble-me" shoes detract rather than add to the dining experience.

Which is very funny, because in the end, for all my mucking about in hipsterville, I am better at being preppy than my cousins. A good preppy is always ready-and-able to go outside and muck about with farm animals.

It's really an interesting question. I mean, what about ornamentation and ornateness? I like, for example, a certain amount of embroidery but not sequins. I also don't like rosettes; in fact, I really hate them. I like rounded edges on tables and carved table feet... which are not practical for the carpenter or housemaid, but are practical for the auntie with wild little nephews.

karymk

Veteran

Beauty and design trump practicality for me any day. I don't agree with Coco Chanel that luxury means comfort!

I am willing to SUFFER for the sake of fashion and beauty!

Tina

Veteran

For me my clothes have to allow me to go about my day and do what I need to do. If an item becomes a hindrance and forces others to do for me because I'm not prepared, then it crosses the line. That said, it may just be a matter if reassigning certain wardrobe items to other 'wear for' catagories as Sara mentioned.
Are my clothes/shoes always practical- no, especially not my heels but I pick and choose when I wear them because they make me happy!

Gaylene

Veteran

Pretty, useless things are the icing on the cake to me, but I don't want a wardrobe filled with them. I'm glad that Dana articulated it so well--functionality and usefulness married with aesthetics gives me the greatest pleasure. Shoddy design and discomfort aren't ever beautiful in my eyes.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Anna, I wear four-inch pumps once in a while, too, and on those occasions I'm perfectly happy to sacrifice practicality (no, I don't run in mine, either) for awesomeness. But for everyday wear? The awesomeness also has to have a degree of practicality to it. So that means a height limit for everyday heels, and a general comfort factor for all clothing items. For example, I'm slowly learning that I really don't care to wear tights, hose or leggings of any kind. But you know, there are lots of other great options. My everyday winter wear doesn't have to include them. I'll just wear my skirts mostly in the summer, without hose.

If I need to go somewhere like a funeral or an opening night in the winter, then I'll suck it up and wear hose (after all, they look lovely), but not for everyday. They are just not practical for me.

I guess the bottom line is that I'll sacrifice practicality on special occasions, but not otherwise. After all, my everyday clothes do make me happy!

Jules

Veteran

I assume there was no second date?
Everyone's line will be different. I do love things that are functional and make me feel good. Many impractical things just go unworn for me: I hate dry cleaning, ironing, and walking in most pumps, so I just end up not doing those things. I also hated going to a picnic in white linen feeling pretty, then feeling like a schmuck when my kid smeared it with ketchup. So white was off the table for a while. And I'm still learning how to put it back in in a *practical* way that doesn't mean eg. dirty coat sleeves, which just don't feel fab.
I do think based on all the RATE vs polished that some things (wearing white) come easier to some people. I can certainly appreciate beautiful things like whiteout outfits on others. Most of the time when I say something is not practical for me, I mean that I would not actually enjoy it in the long run (or even a short run in heels - I'm quite prone to twisting my ankle!).

Helena

Veteran

What a great question! I would say practicality rules my choices, but I am not above traipsing through some snow in high heels for a special occasion!

Isabel

Veteran

No, practicality is not the end all for me. Utility is and there is a difference for me . And I would say that my love of jewelry and scarves is not very practical as a stay at home mom and caretaker ( part time ) of three disabled adults,, one anxious dog and a second, submissive peeing dog. But they work for me ...they make me happy and add a little something, something that is useful to my disposition, as well as my wardrobe. They certainly don't hinder anything; except for the time submissive peeing dog peed and I bent down and my scarf dragged in the pee. But what is practical in that situation anyway ? And when I didn't have back problems and bunions I LOVED and wore heels.

Emily

Veteran

High heels. I love them, even when they make my feet hurt. It's silly but I just don't care.

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