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More musings on style: on-trend vs aesthetics

Runcarla

Veteran

Doing some musing of my own subsequent to threads, by Synne https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....-and-style and Helena https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....post-alert. As I prepare for an end of 2022 review and set style objectives for 2023 (Yup! I take my fashion seriously ) I’ve been revisiting my monicker and style descriptors, and this lead to a question: am I more interested in an ‘aesthetic’ than being ‘in fashion’? By aesthetic I mean a form of beauty or artistic taste that might not be fashion forward, but can be fashionable, and by ‘in fashion’ I mean on the cutting edge of trends.

The two aren’t mutually exclusive, but if a specific aesthetic isn’t in ascendence (ex: bohemian or 1920’s) it wouldn’t be as ‘in fashion’, whereas adoption of a minimalist style or ‘70’s aesthetic, could be ‘in fashion’ to a greater degree.

This, of course, doesn’t rule out stylishness as an achievable objective, but does require some self awareness - and here is where a style monicker or descriptors can come in handy.

I’ve mellowed from the giddy post retirement exuberance that had me wearing bright colours and adopting Happy Tomboy as a moniker. The solemnity of two challenging years (shared with the world) has me leaning heavily on Practical, Classic, and Minimalist as descriptors and reverting to an earlier Elegant Tomboy monicker - when my closet veered to neutrals - as it does once again. Therefore, I see my style as being driven by an aesthetic, and less fashion forward. I’m slow to adopt new trends, but occasionally pick a winner that moves my style into fashionable territory. Even as I shift and evolve my style going forward, I suspect I will always be inclined towards an aesthetic vs being on-trend.

I’m interested in suggestions for additional descriptors and alternative monicker, but would also like to know - how do you balance an aesthetic preference with being fashionable?

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from lyn67

LJP

Veteran

This is an interesting look at things . One could say trendiness or fashion-forwardness is an aesthetic itself . I don’t get too caught up in this stuff - mainly because it doesn’t matter to me that identify a specific look or aesthetic as mine . I go with the flow , liking some “looks” and then liking something different a few years or even seasons later . I understand that defining an aesthetic and having monikers helps with focus in shopping - I don’t know , I still don’t care that much . I find I have too much other stuff in my head these days to make my wardrobe something to take seriously as a hobby . I know , I can’t believe I’m saying it either . Doesn’t mean I don’t love clothes because I do . But to come back to the point , I had an aha moment with your use of the word “ aesthetic “ in this context . Good thread !

Lesley

Veteran

This certainly is a deep dive! I don't know that I have good answers, but I do think I prefer "being stylish" to "being fashionable" which may be splitting hairs, but "being fashionable" seems to carry with it an expectation of being on-trend or even wearing designer stuff, neither of which I pursue.

I do also have a personal aesthetic and the thing I grapple with is, when is your aesthetic your fabulous signature, and when is it that you've just gotten stuck in a certain rut? And the only equally-vague answer I have is that as long as you really go for it, and nail it with your particular verve, it is the former (hopefully?).

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Like LJP, I had an aha moment here too. I'm very much more aesthetic-driven than trend-driven. But isn't Fashion with a big F usually about aesthetic? Designers and design houses tend to have an aesthetic core--a sensibility--that they keep in place season after season, cycle after cycle. In a way, having an aesthetic is what allows you to be fashion forward. Otherwise you're just being pulled along by the tide.

By the way, my experience with Gen Z is that they LOVE the idea of aesthetic and use the term constantly. My son will point out a singer in a band and, instead of saying, "I like his style," say, "He has a cool aesthetic." I've also heard him and his friends use it to describe the vibes of a place or a moment, especially one that has a strong sense of identity. Usually without an additional descriptor. More like, "this place is aesthetic AF."

LJP

Veteran

This will be my new remark upon entering a new establishment : “aesthetic AF “ . I love it . Also putting my hand up as one who happily gets pulled along by the tide .

Dee

Veteran

Fashion for me seems more intuitive, I dress for my moods and how I feel/ look in my clothes and I’m not too trend driven. I enjoy seeing what’s being put out there in the fashion circles and then I’ll pick and choose what I think says me to world. It’s fun to be inspired but I never want to feel like I’m wearing anything that doesn’t feel authentic to who I am.

And I’m happy to say that at this stage of life, I feel like I’ve got a decent handle on how I like to dress, I know my style preferences but I’ll probably never be accused of being on the cutting edge of fashion and I’m okay with that.

As for additional descriptors Runcarla, I see you as outdoorsy or sporty as well, perhaps a moniker of The Refined Tomboy.

Helena

Veteran

Ok, this is a really interesting spin and it's so fun to parse these things out. For me, I think it's something like this:

- my current personal style (goal) is "current classic" and this is sort of my guiding principal, and the thing that remains consistent from outfit to outfit, and (generally speaking) from year to year. My style "loyalty" lies here, I guess.

- trends (what's "in" this year a la certain influencers, etc.) are secondary. I choose from trends when things work within the current classic principal (so, generally will choose trends that have a bit of staying power vs. fads, that aren't too loud or attention-grabbing, etc.). A certain amount of trend is essential to my style (the "current"). I don't want everything to be super-trendy, but if something was really "out" I wouldn't feel loyal to it (I might wear it, I might not - I'm a slow adopter but ultimately not too worried about letting things go - whether specific pieces or more general styles).

- aesthetics are tangential. To use a recent example, the "coastal grandmother" aesthetic is probably "current classic" right now but I generally would not try to do a head-to-toe aesthetic. I might incorporate bits and pieces of it or take advantage of it bringing certain things into retail though.

At least as I define the terms, which is always half the challenge!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Interesting! I sort of agree with Lisa that the water gets murky with fashion/trends vs. style identity/aesthetic because ultimately fashion is not a monolith and different houses have different identifiable looks, which all trickle down to greater or lesser degree, even if they manage to change season to season. I would say that my look is based on finding a way to incorporate current fashion using second hand and ideally vintage clothing. Tempered by the filter of what looks good to me. So is this an aesthetic? I have been a juxtaposing dresser forever, way before it was a thing. Elegant contrast? Collage dressing?
As for you Carla, I see a through line of old Hollywood glamour in your looks (Katharine Hepburn aesthetic?).

rachylou

Veteran

I see you Carla as having a lot of fun in your practical classic. There’s a light heartedness there.

For myself, I think I have an aesthetic that I make fashinableness bow down to, but I really love a good fad - not just trends, but actual flash in the pan fads! Lol. It’s a grand game to me

Joy

Veteran

You are old enough to do your own thing and have fun with it. At an even older age, I am not especially interested in being fashionable, but do not want to blend in with the crowd. I read Angie's blog post to keep up on what is fashionable. Chances are I have done that in the past and may even have some pieces around that now qualify as having a fashion moment....like squared-off footwear or wide pants. I am not sure about an asthetic. You always look great and do interesting things with your small wardrobe.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm interesting stuff here. I guess because of my career/training in art and architecture, I am very into materials and how they are put together. In paintings I like a Jackson Pollock, let’s say, because it serves as a record of its own creation process. To me this is modernity.

In fashion terms, we could label this “deconstruction.” Noticeable seams, reversible construction, or newly engineered materials are all elements that make a garment’s creation “visible” and these elements come in and out of style. Though there are some fashion houses that tend towards it: MiuMiu or Issey Miyake, for example. But I’m always going to be drawn to an item that makes me think!

Irina

Veteran

I don’t know if it will be helpful in any way but your style reminds me the fashion style of French women. Or so what we assume is their style
But I witnessed it myself on my few trips to France.
It’s classic, with an excellent fit, good choices in fabrics and mostly neutrals. There is that happy juxtaposition of feminine and masculine. Also, there are small tweaks to keep things contemporary like wearing a traditional trench but with a sweatshirt or a flannel shirt with a skirt. I’m confident you know these, too.

Sal

Veteran

I don’t know which dominates for me Carla- I think some times I find it natural to be more fashionable - and others - I lean more to my natural aesthetic ( dresses, casual, florals etc). I found the tunics and leggings and skinny Jean period a challenge as it wasn’t a silhouette I was drawn to, and I struggled to find my style amidst a sea of skinnies and waterfall cardigans and ballet flats. I leaned into the retro Mad Men look then which I did enjoy, but I am happy to leave in the past now. I think in the last ten years there is a bigger range of styles, and I have a bigger budget, and I am more confident to go my own way.

I agree with Irina Carla - you have a defined aesthetic but it does and has evolved. It’s got tomboy and classic and sporty and modern and elegant in the mix. But even people with a very defined aesthetic do evolve their style with fashion and age - think of Anna Wintour or Michelle Obama or the Princess of Wales (Kate). Five or ten years later there are tweaks to be more fashionable - Kates lengths are longer for example, and her shoes have changed.

CarolS

Veteran

This thread prompted me to do a search for style vs fashion, which led me to this interesting article from Masterclass https://www.masterclass.com/ar.....-and-style

This paragraph in particular stood out:

Timeless vs. trendy: Style is timeless, while fashion is timely. Someone who is fashionable closely follows the latest fashion trends and wears designer clothing. Someone who is stylish may or may not follow fashion trends, but they always stay true to their own aesthetic. Personal style is about developing a sense of self, rather than simply absorbing trends.

I think you tend to be very stylish and mix in 'fashionable' pieces or colours with your classics as they suit your aesthetic. Like Jaime, I see a lot of Kate Hepburn in your style... Your classic always strikes me as modern in the way you pull it all together.

I would generally rather look interesting/stylish than fashionable/trendy. Not that I want to look outdated -- but I want to be more than just the current trend.

I've been enjoying adding a few pairs of relaxed wide-leg pants to my wardrobe this fall/winter (an old favourite for my style that is having a moment again), but also having fun slowly getting on the jogger train and finding a way to make those fit into my aesthetic. (especially sweatpant joggers -- my new winter pant obsession!)

I'm trying to be open to trends without buying trendy items just because they're trendy. I tried on a few shackets, for example, but they have never felt like 'me' and I couldn't really imagine how I would integrate one into my life, so I've never been tempted to buy one. But, jogger style pants have turned out to be very much up my alley when I find a style that has the right fit and right degree of slouch -- oh, and the right pockets! They are a trendier pant that embodies those fit and styling elements that i already embrace in a wide leg pant or boyfriend jean.

I'm thinking about my style goals for 2023, too, and starting to explore options to be more playful and creative with style and colour.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think when we talk about a particular aesthetic, specific trends will feed into that or help to embody it in some way, (e.g. drop waists for a 20s aesthetic and rich fabrications like satin and velvet for art deco). Those same trends could also embody a new aesthetic, e.g. drop waists (with even shorter skirts) in the 60s a la Mary Quant, and rich fabrications for 70s glam...and when we analyze these, we will see the aesthetic resemblances between various historical eras. Their continuities and their kinship.

This is related to what others have said about the continuities we can observe within a particular design house...the core aesthetic remains, even as the ways it is expressed shift and change a bit with the times. Chanel will always have some kind of collarless tweed jacket happening, you know? The cut (e.g. tailored, oversized, shrunken), colours, how it's worn, what the footwear is, etc. will all shift, but that jacket (even as interpreted by J. Crew or H&M or Zara or home sewist Susie Q) will still telegraph Chanel.

Where am I going with this? I have no idea, LOL.

Is "aesthetic" synonymous with "personal" or "signature" style, perhaps? If so, yes, some of us, I guess, are more interested in cleaving to that signature style than in playing with trends....but as I know we've also remarked before, for some, playing with trends is a mark of their signature style. "Currency" or even "trendiness" is a proud keynote of such styles.

And we all have a core aesthetic, whether we can articulate it or not.

I think your core aesthetic is pretty close to what Jaime said -- "classic" but in the sense of Katherine Hepburn -- both glam and sporty as well as practical and a bit masculine. There's a very clear through-line. Sometimes the more "boyish" side comes through, sometimes the more "glam," and sometimes the more no-nonsense practical. You probably feel less yourself if any one of these dominates too much. You need a balance between them to feel right.

Runcarla

Veteran

Wow! I love where this is going and there is so much more food for thought thanks to all your thoughtful contributions.

@CarolS - thanks for the link to the article. It was hard work to articulate my thoughts on the matter, but it looks like I got the ideas and terminology right!

Helena

Veteran

Two other thoughts ... just rattling in my brain so don't hold me to them! Just throwing spaghetti at the wall here

I can't draw a hard line between style and fashion, or trend and timeless even ... for example, Audrey Hepburn is often spoken of as having "timeless style" ... but how much of that so-called timelessness is driven by her continuing to have outsized influence on fashion, with some of her iconic looks being continually re-imagined in terms of the fashions of the day? After all, even though she adhered to some style principals consistenty (simplicity in her outfits, say, and classic pieces), even Audrey didn't dress like "Audrey" all the time, trading her "timeless" pixie and cropped slim pants for a perm and bell bottoms in the 70s, say.

Also, in my *personal-experience-not-saying-anyone-else-should-feel-this-way* ... hard-core trend-following is an exhausting exercise that I have not intention of wasting my life force on ... but fighting the tide is too. An example - in another thread Suz mentioned how scarves have changed - like her, they were a huge part of my 'signature style' for a while and fit within my guidelines, but when they stopped being the darling of the accessory world, I wasted a lot of energy trying to hold on to the them as part of my 'personal style', only to feel off in them and then be annoyed at myself for being influenced by the trend. It was much easier when I just said to myself, okay scarves are over for now (except as a winter essential), move on!!

So for me, embracing the fuzzy boundaries and contradiction has actually made my life and style easier and more happiness-inducing than when I was too strictly devoted to developing "personal style" as somehow in opposition to trends and fashion. But again this is just me! Just throwing it out there! x

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I believe that fashion unites us, and style sets us apart. Fashion is the common starting point. Style has an element - small or big - of fashion in it. We are on YLF because our interest in fashion has united us. We take that interest further to sculp our styles because fashion is the individual items, but style is the OUTFIT on the wearer!

Fashion and trends are, by definition, our shared viewpoint on what the "in" looks are. But style is all about individual expression. We use, ignore, and manipulate fashion to create our styles.

Lesley

Veteran

I am finding a lot of truth in that Helena! Comes back to my question of when to hold onto a signature and when to evolve.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lesley, if you're tired of your signature style and feel like a change - you're probably in a bit of a rut. But if you're not - continue milking your signature looks!

kkards

Veteran

Ok, I’ve now read and re-read this thread multiple times…and I’m not sure really have an answer, except to say, that i think at its core my style is pretty well set. But what i wear, ie how i express my aesthetic changes over time. Yes, driven by trends, but also by something that is less than a trend, which i call “staying current”…

Lesley

Veteran

Makes perfect sense!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I think Angie summed it up brilliantly -- thanks, Angie! And kkards, I agree 100%, and this echoes what Helena said, too . My core style or aesthetic, if you will, is pretty much set, but I express it differently over time, adapting it to maintain currency and a sense of freshness.

We tend to feel we are in a rut if we don't "freshen up" from time to time. But other reasons we might feel in a rut include -- lifestyle changes that prevent us from wearing key pieces, leaving us with more limited variety; lack of options at retail (e.g. in a set of seasons where the colours don't work for us, or when a whole style direction confuses us/ doesn't work for our body type/ climate, or our aesthetic preferences. -- more or less what Sal said about the whole leggings and tunics era (about which I could not agree more, LOL); going overboard on one aspect of our personal style and ignoring some other component.

nemosmom

Veteran

Lots of great stuff here to noodle on! Thank you for the great thread, Carla!!

I find more and more these days that i am much more aware of how I *feel* in something, than how it looks or is interpreted. I find that a lot of my favorite WIWs this year are not really trendy or fashiony, but I LOVED them. I am seeing a certain undercurrent to the pieces I feel best in and I try to make note of them. Is that aesthetic? Maybe…?

I am also thinking about descriptors and such for the next year and will be following here closely!

Anonymous

I try to keep a certain asthetic, basically working with my natural shape and coloring, as much as possible.

That said, I have to adapt to what's trending/available at retail, so my style naturally evolves. I just don't want to buy things that don't fit my aesthetic at all, just because they're trending. Wide leg pants, sure, sneakers with everything, not gonna happen.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I think my style is fairly consistent. After my eye adjusts I occasionally buy an item that is having a moment, but 99% of my clothing is consistent. For example I like my pants straight fit, so they aren’t tight or wide, as I find that fit flattering. I am now wearing clothing I purchased years ago and still like.

LaPed

Veteran

Definitely both, as Helena, Angie, Suz, and others have so eloquently said. I appreciate the interplay between the two. But I do feel like I had a pretty solid personal aesthetic long before I was conscious of trends. My mother has a picture of me, age five or so, sitting on the beach wearing rolled-up blue jeans and an oversized white oxford shirt. My school picture from around the same time has me in an olive green quarter-zip fisherman's sweater. How the heck did we even find stuff like that in little kid sizes?! I look at those pictures and think I would happily throw on the same outfit today. Ditto the boxy graphic tees and pinstriped linen palazzo pants I adored during my more experimental high school years...

I keep *most* of what I acquire for a long time and happily wear most things into the ground. I chalk this up to being mindful of my aesthetic/core style and being fairly picky about which trends I lean into. Items that don't hang around for as long tend to be trendy things purchased as experiments that end up not working out (I'm comfortable having a small rotation of these; I've accepted fashion-as-hobby). Others are placeholders purchased during years when the prevailing fashions don't quite align with my style but I still gotta get dressed! Over the past two years, I've purged a lot of lower-rise, shorter-inseam trousers that fall into that latter category. They were the best I could do back in 2016 when I needed new work clothes following two cross-country moves and a baby, but they never felt like me. For most of the '10s, they looked fine so I went ahead and wore them, but once we hit the '20s they neither felt like me (aesthetic) nor looked current (trend), so I bid them farewell.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Popeye here—I yam what I yam and I like what I like. My tastes are consistent enough that I happily mix things bought recently with things from a couple decades ago. I’m sometimes attracted to the fads that Rachylou mentions, but rarely get them because they aren’t made of materials I find comfortable.

But trends do enter in. The way I use Angie’s forecasts, for example, is as filtering devices to decide what to pull out of my wardrobe.

When I look at my “style journey” I see it similarly to the way I see parenting. I believe the role of a parent is to help kids grow more into themselves, find out who they are and be that to the fullest. Similarly, in the few years since I started thinking about my style, I’ve been refining it by observing what I like and what I already do that works for me, and moving in that direction. I may eventually get bored and decide I’m in a rut, as Lesley mentions, but so far I’ve been able to pull things from another corner of the wardrobe and do just fine (& I do shop—17 purchases/year for the past 5 years, including shoes, undies, gear, & jackets). I think this is taking the raw material of “what I like” and moving towards an aesthetic, a style that is “me”.

I think your style is restrained. Playfulness and color and tomboy and all sorts of things are in there, but they aren’t running amok; they are all lined up carefully, in order.

jussie

Veteran

Lately I try to keep the basic silhouette at least vaguely contemporary…. But more of a simplified contemporary than anything especially trendy.
For example atm I am doing mostly wide leg pants and semi cropped tops; or half or full tuck tops. I am steering away from cardigans a bit now as I feel like they’ve gone off the boil. I’ve incorporated a tiny bit of athleisure here and there; my little nod to the trend!
I am more confident to embrace silhouettes I feel will be in for at least another year or two. So there’s plenty of time to get wear out of them! Whereas I try and steer clear of things I don’t think will be consistently fashionable for at least a good few seasons minimum… for example crochet clothing items that are around right now, and one-shoulder tops and dresses. The jury is out about all the geometric prints around at the moment…. They’re a maybe for me until I am more confident of the longevity of the trend :).
I think people generally do have an aesthetic; it’s just often quite hard to put into words and to see objectively when it’s your own self. It’s like a persons handwriting or speaking voice- distinctive and personal but hard to describe concretely.
Carla your style looks considered, androgynous, stylish, reserved, classic, intellectual, refined, high-quality to my eyes. Just a few words that come to mind.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’m not great with descriptors and monikers, so I’ll let others chime in on that.

But this… “how do you balance an aesthetic preference with being fashionable?”

I do indeed try for balance. Balance is a huge factor in my dressing. Practical with creative, casual with dressy, structure with ease, refinement with edge, neutral with color… If I go off too far on any spectrum, I tend to feel less than fab.

Same goes for aesthetic with trend. I like to be current, but I don’t want to look like or be a slave to fashion. I tend to participate a bit more in trends in footwear, tops, and toppers, and keep pants/jeans/bottoms a bit more in classic-for-me territory. But it varies ofc course.

I try to keep silhouettes up to date. Right now I’m wearing easier fits with not so much fitted stuff. It suits the state of my current body, and also feels more current. I also like to pay attention to updated shoes and boots. Updated sandals every summer are really important to me because summer dressing in our heat and humidity means that layering and interesting cuts are less possible. I rely on my shoes to keep things a bit more updated.

On the whole, however, I’m more interested in continuing to cultivate my own personal style, while incorporating current elements. Even as trends shift, I still want to feel like me. I’m still attracted to certain cuts and details, and especially colors, no matter what. I am not swayed by trend when it comes to color, at all. Not even the most powerful trend is going to convince me to wear pastel pink, tan, or most yellow — they just look awful on me. I will take advantage of a good trending color to get some items while they’re available.

I may set aside certain styles for a while when they don’t feel so fresh, sometimes to return to them and remix them, and other times they’ll get left in the past. There are times I am attracted to items reminiscent of what I wore in decades past, but like old boyfriends, old clothing crushes are often best left in the rearview mirror. As I said in a recent thread, I’m confident I do not want to go backwards!

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