One item, two styles?

Gigi

Do you have any items in your wardrobe that seem to create a different "feel" depending on what type of outfit you wear them with?

I notice that when I wear my navy beret with a simple outfit that is tailored (fitted) and classically styled, the beret adds a sophisticated feel. But when I wear the beret with a more complicated outfit, say, one that is more eclectic (like today's outfit: patterned top, olive skinnies, patterned scarf with metallic thread, leopard print booties), the beret reads artsy instead. This distinction is important to me because I like sophisticated but I do not like artsy.

Does anyone else have an item that can read a couple of different ways depending on the outfit?

11 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Aida

carter

Veteran

Sure. I have a blouson-y blouse that reads feminine and pretty with tailored crops but boho with wide leg twill pants. My jeggings could certainly read frumpy if I tucked in a tee, but with a long silky sweater, they look great. I think many things can take on whole new vibes depending on what it's paired with. I think that's why several of us with different styles can like the same item. We just figure out how to make it "us".

11 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, most of my essentials can read differently depending on the context -- and that versatility is exactly what makes them "essentials." E.g. the jeans that read "easy casual" in one context (with one set of accompaniments) but "date night" with another set.

But I think you're talking about a more statement type article, which a hat seems to be. And that is trickier. One reason it might be true of the beret is that a beret is actually a fairly classic piece. (You know what Angie says about the classics!)

Trying to think if I have anything that's really "statement" that can swing in a few directions. Hmmm. It's going to need more thought! Sign of a good question.

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Suz, thanks for helping me formulate my question better! Yes, there are lesser items (as Carter points out) that can do different things in different contexts, but this beret seems to completely change the vibe of the outfit all by itself. It is actually a bit unnerving! :^)

11 years ago

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I have several asymmetric vest that have this capability. I love vest because they bring a different element every time I find myself styling them.

11 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I can see how a beret could give off different vibes, depending on the outfit. I find that skinny jeans behave very differently depending on what you wear them with. But jeans in general are known for their chameleon-like, dress-them-up-or-down quality.

I can't think of anything else, except maybe these slash-neck stretchy tee shirts that I like to wear. Angie calls them "borderline" tee shirts -- not quite a tee shirt, not quite a blouse. They can look very dressy (especially the black ones) or very casual, depending on what you wear them with.

11 years ago

Veteran

I think my fit & flare dresses are like that: if I wear them jumper/pinafore style over a long sleeve top they look quirky and rustic, if I wear them with a belt, nice necklace, and pumps, they look more traditionally feminine, if I wear them with a cardigan over only buttoned at the top (so obscuring the waist definition entirely) and slouchy socks they look more artsy/granola-y.

But I'm not sure that's what you're talking about? Obviously a lot of my essentials/basics can morph, that's why they're a wardrobe's backbone. For accessories...maybe my silk sashes? Tied around the my waist vs around the neck vs around my head, in a bow vs ends left hanging, can give different vibes, and they can change a simple outfit all on their own too.

Or do you mean statement pieces of clothing?

11 years ago

cheryl

Veteran

This an interesting topic. I find many pieces can take on a different feel. I have never given much thought to whether something takes on a completely different feel that I am not comfortable with. Great food for thought.

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I have this $6 metallic *going out* puffer - that can be hipster chic or ghetto fab depending...

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Rachy, I'd love to see your puffer! I don't know that I've ever seen anyone dress "ghetto fab." :^)

E, I guess I'm not quite sure what I'm asking! I think I am perhaps looking at an accessory (as a hat would be) that can completely morph the entire feeling of an outfit. Rachy's puffer is a good example. The puffer isn't necessarily part of the outfit per se but changes the whole feel of the outfit once it is on over the outfit proper.

Maybe I was just surprised that my hat could do this; I was kind of nonplussed. I'm thinking now along the lines of shoes. Say I'm wearing an outfit that includes a simple miniskirt and top. The outfit probably is going to have a bit of a nondescript feel, despite the miniskirt, since it's very simple. But if I add a certain accessory (say, stiletto heels), all of a sudden the entire outfit makes me look like a streetwalker. So I have to be careful where I wear the stilettos. If I took the same nondescript outfit and paired it with some Cons, it would probably read "cute." If I wore the same outfit with flats, it would probably read "tastefully feminine."

Maybe this isn't all that unusual. I think perhaps Cheryl hit the nail on the head: perhaps the reason this jumped out at me is that I wasn't comfortable with the alter ego of the beret, the artsy side. Maybe my beret has a fantasy style, lol!

11 years ago

Veteran

Oh yes, shoes can definitely change how an outfit feels! Lol re: your beret's fantasy style! Squash it in submission if necessary. I suspect accessories say more when the clothes are simple classics though.

11 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

E, that's very interesting what you say, that accessories say more when the clothes are simple classics. I think that in the situation I described at the outset, with the beret, adding the hat to the already-eclectic outfit simply makes the outfit more eclectic and heading into artsy. But when I add the beret to a simple outfit, the beret has a chance to do something a little different and is more of a statement piece than just part of a whole.

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

One thing is shoes with any sort of heel, even chunky heeled sandal or a wedge of 2"--if worn with jeans, or with track pants, for me is a totally different vibe. For the most part it's a fun change (for evening out, not lots of walking) but because I do not run with a "heels" crowd, there is a chance of feeling too dolled up or prissy, so the outfit elements are important to still feel like me.

The track pants really can go in different directions, sporty vs. dressy, and that's been all good and a fun feature of having them--I can wear a sporty shoe and a T and wear them for air travel, or for more dressed up, dressy flats work as well as heels, so I still feel "grounded" but have distinctly different (to me) vibes.

11 years ago

Aida

Veteran

This is why looking at items in isolation so rarely works! I agree with E that often if the base outfit is simpler, the accessories will do more "talking" so to speak. Not just that, but the less you have on the more each piece says, right? If you have a heavily layered or busy outfit, each piece will contribute a little bit less; this is part of why you can hide a lot of garment flaws when you pile them on. I think that many items can behave in the way you are describing, which is why I always love to see forum members sport the same item: it always looks so different! I personally like items that can be worn to change the personality, because I am a rather eclectic dresser

11 years ago

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