Marketing and elements of style

Carla

When you look at fashion images, can you see past the marketing to see the elements of style in an outfit? In other words, can you see past the often slim and youthful models on which garments or an outfit is arranged to determine if you want a certain item in your closet or wish to replicate a look? Can you borrow ideas from the youngun’s as well as your peers and also those of generations before you?

Can a 20 something, a 60 yo, and an 85 yo style the same…jogger or dress…in a way that seems modern and current? I think so, though their approaches might not be the same. I’ve seen young folks adopt elder coded garments (g’ma’s fur coat for example) and wear them with panache, and seniors with fabulous pink hair!

What do you think?

3 weeks ago

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from goldenpig

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Wow Carla you do ask the best questions! (Similar to Carol- 5-lettered first names beginning with C?!)
I don’t know. I think I can look past an attractive image a bit more now with my YLF-honed skills and think hmm, but that dress has tiers, or whatever it is that I don’t like to wear so much.
But whether I could see myself in whatever it is… not sure.

3 weeks ago

LJP

Veteran

I don't follow young fashion "influencers" - but of course it's hard to avoid images featuring young very thin women if one is at all online . Trying to see past the different body types is a challenge - to me, anyways- and I often forget I'm not 5"8" and 110 lbs. ;). I carefully manage my social media feeds to show women like me and of my age. I'm not really interested in what young people wear - rather I'm more likely to to be influenced by the merchandisers/retailers than what bodies they use on social media. Does that make sense? In other words, I go into Artizia, which is geared to a much, much younger person, and I can figure out what works for me by looking at the clothing and how it's displayed and not the models they might use on line (who are so young and thin) .

Can different ages style the same item ? Sure, I think. I certainly wear sweats differently than the 25 year olds do, and differently than the 80 year olds. I feel like I'm at my best age for asserting my style MY way.

3 weeks ago

Sloper

Veteran

To your first question - I’d like to think so. For sure I’m susceptible to a creative, well-styled and well-photographed editorial. It’s supposed to! But with time and experience comes knowledge of what works for my body type and personal style.

While I may automatically nix certain things and move on, the best moment is still getting that special zing of inspiration from a new combination, cut, or color.

To your second question - absolutely! I am definitely NOT a fan of click-bait lists of “Don’t wear this at (insert age)”

3 weeks ago

Kate

Veteran

Great questions, Carla. To the first, yes, I can see past the marketing and the models. The models really don't even register with me. I've never had trouble doing that. Even when I was much younger, I never looked at models in catalogs and thought, oh, she looks like me, so I could possibly wear, that, or oh, I could never buy that, because I couldn't ever look like that in that particular garment. I think I must have model blindness!

Can different ages wear the same stuff? Sure. As LJP says, the same garment is going to look different on different ages, but that's fine. I don't have the same body now as I did at 25, or even 40. At 70, I know what I like, and more importantly, what suits me, and makes me feel fab going through my day.

3 weeks ago

Irina

Veteran

Yes and no?

I’m always careful with vintage stuff. Younger women offset vintage with their youth, I might look just old fashioned in it.

I follow a few younger influencers but I never try to replicate their outfits. I follow more for inspiration and to see trends in action. Trends are not instructions, rather just information that one might or might not find useful. I use only what feels like me. And I’m able to see if it works or not. I mostly wear simple clothes that are ageless.

I don’t ask myself if my outfits look current. Does anyone, really?

3 weeks ago

Lisa

Veteran

Yes, because it's pretty rare that I see someone with a body shape, height, coloring, features, etc that are exactly like mine. I use the photos for inspiration. Do I like how those colors go together? Do I like the fit of the top or pants and how it's styled, etc. At this age I've experimented enough by now to know what styles and materials definitely don't work on me or I just don't like. I've spent the past year or two experimenting with different color combinations, and that's what tends to catch my eye the most right now.

Different ages, same item? Sure, why not. It's all about the confidence the person has wearing the item and that is timeless and ageless. In the current age of DYOT, everything goes!

3 weeks ago

MsMary

Veteran

I agree with Lisa -- I take inspiration where I find it!

3 weeks ago

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Jenni--5 letters--you try it!

I think very much so...though it is not always practiced. It does seem more common for young European women to dress older, and vice versa.

I don't know if I am good at seeing beyond marketing, though. I like very direct, well-lit catalog looks. When brands try too hard for a "tough, cool" look, they lose me.

3 weeks ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I am very attuned to whether I am admiring an outfit or a model. Does this look depend on showing skin? Being skinny? Having a stunning face or hair or whatever? I always try to visualize how a piece would look on me. Conversely I find it hard to judge outfits without seeing them on a particular person. The same outfit will come off differently on two different people even if they are the same age and general shape. So yes, anyone can wear anything, but not the same way.

3 weeks ago

Sal

Veteran

Yes and no....

If we take a pair of Levis 501 or similar straight jeans - which could be worn across so many age groups. I bet the 18 year old, the 35 year old and the 60 year old would wear them differently. And that's okay.

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