more on outfit dissatisfaction

Completely separately from my post of today, in which I dissect an outfit I wore yesterday that should have made me happy--but didn't quite--

Earlier today I also happened to be searching through the archives to look at some WIWs of specific posters whose styles I love. And I came upon a discussion in which Aida posted something which really resonated with me. I hope she doesn't mind me quoting. The overall discussion involved people asking specific women (whose styles are extremely coherent and extremely fabulous) how they got to be that way.

Anyway, here is something Aida said that I can particularly relate to my issues yesterday:

"Since part of style is proper fit and part of style is your personal expression, developing and learning about both at the same time can certainly be harder than tackling only one at a time; both methods are fine of course, just depends on the person. There are also varying degrees of expression within your clothing; some people may want to make huge statements and others subtle, again both fine and depend on the person. But knowing where you are on this scale can be handy.

FWIW, for me I found it much more useful to learn and absorb all the basic fit stuff first, experiment with it, figure out what I didn't like, then learn more advanced fit stuff, experiment, figure out what I didn't like, repeat... Until I got to a point where I felt I had a good foundation of fit knowledge, but also had a clear idea of what I didn't want to be wearing (read: frustrated with wardrobe, want to change, you read all about that several months ago ). I'm finding it significantly easier to move my style towards where I want it to be secure in the knowledge that I can tell what fits and what doesn't, separate from what's "stylish" or "me" and what's not."

Thanks again, Aida! I think this explains quite a lot for me, who is really at the beginning of the learning curve here.

Of course, I still prefer to get straight to expressing myself fluidly, not just appropriating an acceptable look that doesn't thrill me. But I can see better why it's an overall challenge, and not just my lack of skills or talent.

9 years ago

Helena

Veteran

I think that's a terrific insight. Sort of like the abstract art thing ... The difference between being an abstract artist vs just messing around is that an abstract artist has mastered the rules prior to breaking them. Thank for sharing your journey!

Aida

Hah! I don't mind at all, and I do remember that discussion. Glad it resonates.

Interestingly enough I am going the opposite way right now: Have a very clear idea of what I'd like to be wearing stylistically, but back to re-learning what "proper fit" for my current body is (and starting over with essentials). Have to say I find this direction MUCH more frustrating than the other! Playing with style is fun, re-learning fit feels significantly less so especially now that I'm much pickier And doubly especially with a wardrobe of previously excellently fitting items that no longer fit so excellently, and which I'm having trouble purging because A) I still love the items, and B) I simply don't have the budget to replace much at all right now. I'm finding ways to make many of them work in the interim (a whole other challenge in itself!) but certainly feel like I have to work a lot harder to get to an outfit that represents where I'd like to be stylistically.

Gotta remember to enjoy the journey!

Ledonna N.

Man this is such an in depth and great read of analysis of where we might fall on the scale of fashion fit and style. I wonder if knowing the basic and moving from there works for me. I don't like to be pigen holed yet I have received a wealth of information from others on the YLF web. I like structure but I also like fluid. I don't like scales. They tend to weigh me down lol

Mochi

Ledonna, I have bought way too many things, starting back when I was 12 or so, that I desperately wanted to fit me and look nice, that had no business being in my closet. I can't afford to ignore fit issues; given the choice, I'll be way too delusional to make a realistic selection. I've had to make major concessions that haven't been easy, LOL.

carter

Great insight! You've made so much progress in such a short period of time.
Mochi, would you post a link the the older post?

Mochi that is a great way to look at it. I feel the same I now like Angie says dress for the life I live. lol

Yes of course! I'll do it now.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....greenglove

Maneera

(website)

Thank you so much for this, Mochi. Everything you wrote really resonates with me. That Aida is super duper wise!

Sally

This is very interesting. I feel like i'm going through this process too so I'll read with interest.

unfrumped

Great thoughts!

And what about finding something that is just your style but you now KNOW it doesn't fit right, and so ....

So near, and yet so far away.

That happens to me. And the better the item quality, the more frustrating. ( I'm already including having ruled out that tailoring would fix it).

Still, it's the great benchmark.
My holding zone I've learned should be mostly items that fit great but I'm not sure are still my style or colors or might be current orphans.
And reviewing less- worn items often discloses some kind of fit issue.

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