I was going through a "such and such" phase - YouLookFab Forum

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I was going through a "such and such" phase

Carol

(website)

Veteran

I notice that some of the more stylish people I've met find one or two items that they wear the hell out of for a season, a year, or two years. This might be a moto jacket or a certain scarf. The important thing is that they do not care if they repeat it, even up to daily, if they want to.

Myself, I tend to have a handful of items, but wear them all approximately equally, if I can. Goes for jewelry, shoes, clothes, etc.

I suppose one way of looking at this is, do you have a "signature" item that you wear all the time? Or if you don't consider it signature, do you at least do this pattern of wearing the hell out of a single item for a time, on purpose?

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Carol

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great question and observation, Carol!

Yes, I do have signature items I wear all the time :

white pearls every day
colourful specs and sunnies every day (swap out many pairs)
dressy bag every day - white or bright
white footwear most days
YORKIES!!!

Not every day, but you can call me White Jeans and Pants Gal. That's all I want to wear from April to August, as well as my pretty dresses!

Allora

Like you, I try to wear things equally so that they all last longer.

I don’t have a single item that I wear all the time. But I think I have a signature “look”, which is basically jeans and a black tee. I would estimate that 75% of the time you’ll find me in jeans and a black tee! I have different jeans washes and silhouettes (but all in the blue family) and different types of black tees…long sleeved, short sleeved, crew neck, scoop neck, V neck, and I try to find black tees or blouses with different textures so it adds some interest. I use scarves and jewelry to add some color around my face and try to give it all a different look.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have a signature colour -- (duh...BLUE) that I wear almost every day. (And if I'm not wearing blue, white will usually feature.) I used to have a pair of signature earrings, but sadly lost one, so I need to replace. I have a signature hairstyle (pixie of some version). And my signature metallic is silver.

unfrumped

Veteran

I took Carol’s question to be different from “ signature style”. So, not a rotation of multiple items in similar colors. Or even a silhouette or color. . Though those are interesting options.

Carol, I don’t do this but have been giving it more though since trying to whittle down my wardrobe. And thinking about trying seasonal capsules, meaning limiting wear of certain groups of items to a season, in order to more accurately evaluate how appropriate they are ( weather, comfort, versatility) & whether I really enjoy wearing them, during the times when they ought to be the most useful . And also really, to try out whether if just feel goo & easier to have fewer options staring back at me. But a week or so ago I stored some of my warmest pj’s & loungewear, then we had a cold snap, and I pulled them out instead of “ making do” with medium-warm or layering more. So there’s that! But that was a useful lesson, in that the items were definitely “ keepers”, since I went to the trouble to dig them out.

I got close to your concept this past year when I randomly bought some Rykaa sneakers at TJMAXX, and found that they were not only as comfortable as they seemed in the store, but also just seemed to “ go” with every outfit, to the point that I had to sort of make myself wear some of my other sneakers that I originally targeted for certain outfits. So these turned outfit to be the “ shoe of the year. “

JAileen

Veteran

I wear a lot of grey. We were staying at a Canadian wilderness lodge and I was considering buying one of their hoodies. A couple of the people in our group tried to talk me out of the grey one. First, I was surprised they noticed my grey. Second, I was surprised they thought they would be able to talk me out of it!

unfrumped

Veteran

Theoretically I should have a jacket I wear repeatedly within a month or 2. But I shift slightly to any change in temps and I’m picky about what jacket styles go with which bottoms, even in very casual wear.

Irina

Veteran

I might fall in love with a certain new item and wear it more often but I don’t wear it all the time. I do not like to do that. I don’t necessarily want a big closet but I used to have a handful of things in my teens and twenties. I think I carry a trauma from those days.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

My most signature item is probably hoop earrings - but I have them in various colors and metals. I do think having signatures can be very stylish, but sometimes they are silhouettes or colors rather than items.

Joy

Veteran

No, I don't.have a signature item. Well maybe gold hardwear or double handbags. Or scarves.

pirouette

My signature items are a black tee shirt I have at least 20 and a black jacket I have at least 10 different styles. No matter what I wear I will almost always have something black as part of it. Also my black Apple Watch which I love.

Anonymous

I completetly agree I had a scarf that just elevated my outfits and I never got bored of it! I was gutted when I lost it.

Dee

Veteran

I don’t think I have any real signature items that I wear constantly beyond my Fitbit. I do wear various styles of jeans on a constant basis, and whenever I wear something different to that, my husband always wonders what I’m all “dressed up” for?

Sisi

Veteran

Like you I tend to wear my items more or less equally. The only signature thing I can think of is my bright lipstick.

Jonesy

Veteran

Hmm, I do go in phases, especially when it comes to accessories, but I usually have more than one version of the item so I don't tend to wear the single thing all the time. As an example, right now I'm into long necklaces (keychains actually) that are leather, like the pic below (on Veronique Tristram), but I have a few of them so one particular one won't become a signature.

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Bonnie

Veteran

I do this with bags. My newest one is my favorite and only change it for certain events.

BlueJay

Veteran

Yes. I have one puffy winter coat and I wear it every day from December to March (usually cold enough to do). I'm on year 3 of the coat and I still LOVE it and happily wear it. It was well made and is still in good condition.

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Pouty

I have a pair of 7 year old ballet flats that I wear a lot. Surprisingly, those old ballet flats are still in good condition despite my wearing them a lot

Mel

I love leather jackets. I wear them until they are dead. I have a dark brown one that I wear at least one a week and looks fabulous with almost everything I own.

rachylou

Veteran

I do wear the heck out of some things that people recognise me by - like my ankle-length puffy. Puff-ies. They get replaced by the same thing.

Bijou

Veteran

Carol, I am like you and like to change things up with what I wear. I have a 'thing' for Bao Bao bags and have been collecting them, so whilst I do use other bags, these are my signature and fall back when not sure what to use. Just looking at them in Finds makes me feel happy!

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Sal

Veteran

I do have fads and am happy to repeat them.

At the moment my Deadly Ponies handbag is used 90% of the time and my other options are neglected. I can be like that with shoes and jackets too - get on a roll and just go for it.

Outside of bags and gear, the following items have been worn 8 or more times between Jan 1st and now (about 12 weeks). Nothing especially signature or distinctive about them but three were new purchases from October to December (the white cami is a 2020 purchase but I wore it a lot during our hot summer this year)

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lyn67

Veteran

Yes I always have some signature items in my wardrobe-at least those like you said are worn the most and on repeat. For more than 28 yrs now I mainly dress for work in an office -so I mastered my preffered silhouttes for each season but formula is usually the same-so think that one is my signature: layering with the 3rd item and NO blue denim other than in my denim jackets.
I layer mostly with
1. blazers-but think more with textures (bouclé, linen, jaquard, plaid) and more sporty than formal
2. puffer vest or a long dramatic gillet (seldom a cardigan )
3. denim jackets (even colors & different weights)-usually worn over some of my S/S dresses.
Bottoms are 3 days a week for skirts(worn exclusive with black sheers or bare legs in summer), 1xweek a pant, 1x a dress.
Skirts:- started with pencils but transitioned to mainly statement patterned(mainly geometric) or textured tubes (but always in neutrals) and/or elevated denim (but NOT the blue ones-so only white, grey or black in different textures for ex. waxed) and some midi or pleated in neutrals.
Pants are usually cigarettes in plaids (various weights and patterns), some wide legs and some white or beige usually crop jeans.
Tops and shells as requested-usually neutral (uni or patterned) only seldom an accent(mainly in summer).

Work dresses are all within the neutral palette of the season -short or long sleeves(knitted or textured for the colds)all to the knee or midi-but occasionaly will do a brighter one in summer.

I don't wear heels anymore (other than some block sandals) my main shoe is a loafer (dark or light-usually patent, or suede) and I love the chunky lug sole nowadays. I also love log booties and a city sneaker.

Outerwear usually is of a somehow dressier kind. Started with wool coats but transitioned to puffers and raincoats-but I always love to have a good trench (I wore a black one for 10 yrs:-) and now I have a new darker beige one which I plan to wear for the comming decade:-)).
Jewelery is also something statement to me. Small studs, a white chunky watch, an artsy cuff (leather or rigid)-sometimes a rigid circle chocker or a statement chunky pendant on a longer leather cord.
And my curent specs.

Oh, and scarves-have a lot(and keep forever:-)) usually bigger ones but wear only with my usually left open outerwear. Bags for work are exclusively light or dark big tote styles(leather, faux leather or straw) no zip, no closures needed as I carry a lot but also drive everywhere. I don't have many bags-and don't change them daily- I wear the bag of the season-for... all the season and more years if possible:-). Sometimes a waistbag for indoors to carry my phone and other gadgets.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

All--thank you for responding--it sounds like many of you are like me, and wear whatever you please, with the occasional repeats of jackets, etc.

Bijou--purses make me smile. Reminds me of Concourse C moving walkway at the O'Hare United terminal. Do you know it?

Sal--I like these items because they are minimal, but also capture a warmth.

lyn67--photos! these outfits sound great. I'm particularly intrigued by "tube skirts" and "rigid circle chokers."

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