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Personal style and fashion

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Lately on the forum, we've been talking a bit about evolving style and our goals. I guess this is natural in the early part of the year as we re-evaluate our closets and get ready for the season ahead.

Anyway, in these various discussions, I've noticed several people say that they are interested in personal style as opposed to fashion or personal style versus trends.

As if these are two opposite ends of a pole of some kind.

I want to register a quiet note of protest.

First of all, for some, an authentic personal style INCLUDES the enthusiastic adoption of, or even the SETTING of trends.

Annagybe is an obvious example on the forum but there are lots of others whose personal style absolutely requires attention to trends.

The fact that they are trendy does not mean they have no personal style.

Plus, unless you are the type of person who sews all your own clothes from old patterns, fashion inevitably informs personal style. And that's true even if you are a modern classic dresser who chooses to restrict yourself to a kind of uniform or signature style. Or even if you're an avant garde dresser.

I understand the desire for a signature style or even a uniform; to some extent I share it (more on that in another post, LOL). The idea is to find those silhouettes, colours, lines, patterns that most fully express your inner essence and to say no to all others. Of course, this can be interpreted more or less restrictively, but the general idea is to focus. And it makes a lot of sense.

I just want to ensure that those who exuberantly embrace capital F FASHION as part of their own personal style don't feel dismissed by the tone of some of these conversations. And I also want to suggest that the dichotomy itself is a false one.

Then again -- maybe I'm completely out to lunch. Mr. Suz accused me of being in a bad mood today and he might be right.

Thoughts?

67 replies

Latest reply was from annagybe

Dimity

No one can ignore fashion, as it surrounds us everywhere; it's part of culture. We might choose not to be driven by it deliberately, but we can't help be influenced by it. So, I agree. Unless you live in a cave in a remote forest somewhere. That's a different story.

K.M.

Veteran

I completely agree with everything, Suz. The two inform each other, to different extents depending on the person. Especially now with so many different fashion trends being current at once (including fashion subcultures), there are so many opportunities for dialogue and overlap.

I've found that my sense of style was shaped strongly by the fashions of the era when I came of age--my 20s in the 1990s--and I've also found that sometimes, as trends changed and I didn't at first like them, I also at the same time felt shaken in my sense of style. Not because of any anxiety about looking different, but because my sense of style is informed by the world around me, the magazines, stores, catalogues, streetwear...

Plus, style, like fashion, is dynamic.

Staysfit

Veteran

I'm following right along with you Suz. Maybe Mr. Suz is the one who's grumpy today?

Meredith

Veteran

I agree it's a false dichotomy for the most part. It takes as much thought and creativity to include "trendy" pieces in an outfit as it does vintage or classic pieces. I've actually realized I want to be more fashion forward in my dressing this year. I find it very fun to think about how to incorporate what is " now" into my wardrobe, even if it's only in my mind and not in practice.

Anonymous

I understand the possible difference to indicate an interest in developing your look, or whatever you want to call it, in the bigger sense. In other words, I would want to develop this persona/look independent of what is happening at retail. Ideally. Of course one fuels the other, but I think that particular camp indicates less interest maybe in having one's look deemed trendy or fashion-conscious. I don't read any more into it than that. Perhaps this is too deep a conversation for me on a Sunday afternoon You looking for a fight?

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

Basically, there is no single way to be fashionable. Just as there is no single way to be stylish or trendy. Sometimes that makes navigating the interchange between, fashion, style, commerce and identity quite tricky.

Meredith

Veteran

I do think if someone says they are only interested in personal style that the comment can come across as dismissive (depending on context) to those of us interested in trends.

Peri

Veteran

Yes, I think you are right. The two things are different, but they are the same. In one person fashion and style can be opposites and in another person go hand in hand. It is all very connected either way...and confusing to some of us!

I think K.M. has a good point...the underlying worry involved. Just the last few days I have been frustrated all over again by fashion. I feel as if, no matter what, I am just always wrong for fashion. I rejoiced at fuller leg pants trending, because I needed them for so long and couldn't get them. That rejoicing was allowed to last approximately two months before the powers apparently decided that fuller legs had to be done with high, visible waists, cropped tops or tucking in, and very often cropped lengths. Yay, I'm right back out again, wanting to hang on to the flowing, longer tops I have come to love, and the full length pants that distract attention from my shoes.

I console myself...I don't have to do "fashion", I can follow my own "style". It is all part of the universal self judgment we all go through. Am I good enough? Am I okay? Will I be accepted or rejected. It is very emotionally loaded. Style seems both easier and harder than fashion.

And some people think it is just clothes.

AM

Veteran

Such a great post. As I'm in this "reflective phase", it has been my first goal to understand my style in order to make better choices about how I spend money. And hopefully to increase the happiness factor with dressing. Assembling outfits is a significant challenge for me. Or should I say, I just didn't realize the amount of time that it takes to create something really pleasing.

So to make it easier -- I wanted to first understand my personal style.

Second, I wanted to make less mistakes. I wanted to get smarter about when to adopt a trend or let it pass -- based on a deeper understanding of what is truly ME. Loving a piece for a long time to me means, I didn't make a mistake last season, or better yet, I must really love it because it is a staple year after year.

Where I net out (for someone at the very beginning of a style journey): You have to have a deep understanding of your style before 1) you adopt or pass trends and 2) begin to take more risk. And this 2 is big for me. Some trends really push forward and I want to know MY edge vs. that trend -- and chose wisely. This is money out of my pocket.

For those of you who take risk. I think this is not only about your personal style but your personality. And that personality comes shining through in wonderful ways.

Again, great post. Thank you.

AM

Veteran

I should add, I'm the guilty party who said she was interested in personal style vs. trend. I'm a newbie and I'm already saying the wrong things. Ugh.

Anonymous

I think this is a great discussion. I have always been interested in fashion, and when I was younger I followed trends a lot more closely than I do now. These days, I try to make less buying mistakes and zero in on what suits both body and soul. I want to be happy in my clothes, and I want my look to be stylish and updated. When I say stylish and updated, I do not mean trendy and what's fashionable at the moment. There is a difference. I'm learning I can incorporate some of my beloved now vintage styles into my wardrobe and create outfits that more closely express who I am. Like others, I try to figure out which trends to adopt and which to ignore.

Gaylene

Veteran

Hear, hear! Of course you are right that personal style and attention to what is current goes hand in hand. I think where conversations get off the rails is our natural tendancy to think of extremes and absolutes when we talk about ideas instead of continumns and variations on a theme. And it all gets complicated further when we assume that our definitions and interpretations are the same as another person's.

For example, exactly what does "fashion forward" and "trendy" mean? Or Fashion with a capital (F) for that matter? Some designers introduce us to the wild and wacky, while others offer a much more sedate items that attract us with gorgeous fabrics and beautiful lines. My personal peeve is when the term Capital F Fashionable is only applied to those who follow the work of designers who are currently the darlings of the media. Shock and awe make for great copy, but I'd like to think being "trendy" and "fashion forward" isn't limited to just those two aspects of the fashion world.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

AM -- you are ABSOLUTELY not saying anything wrong. My apologies if I came across that way.

As I said, to a large extent I share this desire for a signature style and naturally I understand the difficulties to our pocketbook that reckless adoption of trends can cause!

I wasn't thinking of you in particular; a lot of us (including me, I suspect) have made comments like this in the last few weeks. And all of a sudden today I started wondering about that.

Astrid

Veteran

I wouldn't put personal style and fashion on different ends of the spectrum, but to me they can have a different importance. To me fashion is becoming less important and I prefer to think about what I like to wear myself, irrespective of trends. Of course my style is influenced by fashion, it has to be the moment I'm buying clothes that were made keeping what's current in mind. So if I'm not deliberately shopping vintage or keep wearing my super old clothes my style always is somewhat influenced by fashion. But to me there's a big difference in the way you look at style depending on the angle you're coming from. You are going to pay much more attention to trends and how you can incorporate them if fashion is important to you. At the other end it's more of an afterthought, it's "nice to have". And of course what we define as "personal style" here on the forum is moving in rather narrow boundaries, if we're honest. There are people out there who have a very distinctive personal style, but who are not in the least fashionable.

deb

Veteran

Suz, I agree with you. But, I also think that as we age and find ourselves fashion plays a less important roll in our choice of clothing. At least for the majority of folks. Those working in the fashion industry or in retail will naturally try more trends because they come into contact with the 'new' more often. What we see in the media and on blogs has broadened the exposure of fashion more than ever before. We also have avenues such as this blog to discuss issues such as this. Before, at least for me, the classroom was where most discussions took place because we all had the same interest.

AM

Veteran

No apology needed. Perhaps I was a little too focused on myself and in my own little world vs. taking more time to carefully use these loaded terms (style, fashion, trend, etc.) to ensure none were offensive.

Isabel

Veteran

WOW, what a great assessment , Suz. I have to agree. Thanks !

unfrumped

Veteran

Great musings, Suz!
I think " personal style" is the goal but as you satmy, it includes tmrather than excludes fashion and trends and as noted, it's a spectrum.
I think the problems does arise when someone assumes that trends or experiments are somehow limited to hapless lemmings rather than being very deliberate part of ones Personal Style.
Perhaps PS is shorthand for being comfortable with one's own choices. And somehow Trend or Trendy can
still be seen as the dirty word, only meaning superficial or silly.

carter

Veteran

Interesting discussion. I hope E will chime in. She so totally owns her style, and irregardless of what's in or out, she always manages to look so perfectly "E".

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think what I'm really trying to get at is a question I can't properly articulate. Something about WHY we tend to do this -- put these terms on opposite ends of a pole? I mean, I understand the human need to see things in extremes, as Gaylene says -- it simplifies, and heaven knows we all need a bit of that these days! But I wonder where, historically, this might come from. Are there actual schools of thought on this? I'm sure there must be, but like you, AM, I'm a bit of a neophyte in fashion or style theory.

Deborah

Veteran

Great post Suz. And great responses. I am not sure what to add:) Angie has often commented that we are in a time when anything goes and not one particular style or look is the only option if you want to be current, fashionable and on trend. I suspect that any woman interested in how she dresses would be influenced somewhat by what is in fashion. I don't think a person has to be wearing current, on trend clothing to look stylish,or have a defined personal style, however someone who chooses to wear trendy items also can look stylish. And let's face it, it is what is deemed fashionable that is available in stores. To some extend we are all buying what is deemed fashionable.

One of the things I like about the Forum is how it constantly challenges me to keep an open mind re style and fashion. Because I can really only speak from my own perspective, I would say that my desire is to develop a strong signature style that works for me. I am not overly drawn to trend, however I most definitely read blogs and magazines to keep up with what is out there. I don't shun things because they are 'trendy' or too 'fashiony', The fact is that "fashion" facilitates the development of my personal style.

And I am going to single out CocoLion who I believe has a strong signature style that involves a strong commitment to trend.

Apologies if rambling... trying to get my head around this.

And Suz, I cannot imagine you in a bad mood:)

Isabel

Veteran

I think that some of it is just one's need to separate one's self from "the crowd". I know that many of the women I know see "trends" as youthful, fast fashion, and ubiquitous. Many have commented how trends can be seen in every store and they don't like that. They associate that with being "told" or "manipulated" to wear by the industry instead of having a uniqueness.

My daughter, who is 11, WANTS to look like every other girl in her school. My adult friends don't. But Angie once made a point about classic not being boring.....which to me is the other end of trendy not always being impersonal. Does that make any sense ?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Deborah, thank you. I need to quote you to Mr. Suz. But he will tell the truth. I only show my bad moods to the people I live with. A very nasty personal HABIT that I want to break.

I was actually thinking of CocoLion when I wrote this. I agree with you completely.

And Carter, absolutely -- E. has her style completely nailed and it has nothing to do with trends.

Note, I'm not saying you can't have a distinctive personal style if you don't adopt specific trends. On the contrary!

Isabel

Veteran

Suz - "adopting" certain trends may be the key here. Taking them on as your own. Or adding a little every season as Angie suggests. I think that dressing in trends head to toe every time the wind blows is different.

AM

Veteran

When to be classic lemming or a trendy lemming...are we all following someone, something, because nothing is new? Maybe we all have some pride in our decisions and never want to think of ourselves as lemmings at any level?

I'd be very interested in understanding potential schools of thought and if I could remember art history perhaps I would have something smarter to say about the way art transitions and the friction it causes within a community of "experts."

Deborah

Veteran

AM I was thinking a long similar lines. I would love to kid myself that my style stands apart from the masses, I am not a lemming and as Isobel said I "Stand out from the crowd", but truth be told I think we are all conforming to something.

Think back to the Punk movement. A group of like minded anti conformists, all actually conforming:) Speaking stylewise of course.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Ah, an interesting discussion for a Sunday evening! Personal style vs. Fashion and trends. To me, Fashion is the big picture. It can be fun, wacky, gorgeous; it's the designer's interpretation of wearable art. Trends are a bit more specific: Pointy toed shoes, BF jeans, what's trendy now. Personal style is how we put all that together, or don't put it all together, and make it personal. It's the everyday of how we dress. Do you allow fashion and trends to dictate how you dress, and if so, to what extent? If the answer is yes, then your personal style is affected by fashion and trends. If no, then it is not.

I am very interested in personal style because I want to make clothing work for me, my figure, and my lifestyle. I also love big F Fashion as I see it as art. This art will trickle down to the stores by way of trends and if it fits my personal style, I'll buy it!

At any rate, I'm rambling again so I'll stop now. I apologize if I'm saying the same thing over and over, or saying nothing coherent at all

gryffin

Veteran

Suz - I am obviously one of those people who is trying to find my own personal style and I am trying to figure out how to express who I am through my wardrobe. As much as I always want to appear respectful, appropriate, elegant and refined - I want to find my own way to do this. I feel like Denholm Elliot's character Mr. Emerson in "Room with a View" when he exclaimed, clutching his dinner knife for emphasis as he pointed to his heart, "I don't care what I see outside. My vision is within! Here is where the birds sing! Here is where the sky is blue!" I don't feel there is a right or wrong way to dress or be stylish. I believe everyone has a unique perspecitve - and that is what makes each and everyone's wardrobe so individual and wonderful. When any of us talk about our preferences - well that's just what they are - our preferences. That, imho, does not imply judgement - any more than if I say I love dogs, I'm a vegan, I adore brussel sprouts - that I am making a statement that anyone who hates sprouts, isn't vegan, or likes cats (I love all the furries btw) is lesser - it's just a statement of what "I" like but it does not imply judgement or negativity and I guess I'm perplexed that anyone would think it would. It would be hard for anyone who is interested enough to be part of this forum to think they were not influenced by fashion or trends. Climate, weather, culture, country of residence, home life, religion, family, friends....everything by definition that creates our own world influences us. I don't consider myself mainstream because I don't tend to embrace many of the things that are featured on the forum - the current colors, silhouettes, patterns or trends, within my personal wardrobe - but that's not a value judgement. For the record - I pretty much love all colors in some shade, patterns (huge plaid fan), juxtaposition of pattern, texture or silhouettes and I think all these various current looks are marvelous even if I choose not to wear them. I applaud creativity, authenticity, and just plain well done fun. Everyone is entitled to like what they like - whether it's current fashion, a trend, something vintage or outright arcane - that's the marvel of individual style. Personal choice is simply what makes our heart's sing, what moves us, what validates us within ourselves. I don't take negative comments about what I love - black, long jackets, leggings, skirted leggings, short skirts etc, etc, etc - and there have been rather a number of passionate negative comments to that effect, as a personal criticism. It's a statement of fact, by others, about what they do or do not like - I know it's not meant to be hurtful or imply negativity to my choice. Nor do I feel that because I do not embrace many current trends that that implies any type of negative judgement on those who do. We are wonderous creatures, we are star stuff, we are limited only by our own mind forged manacles. Blake said "Every thing possible to be believ'd is an image of truth" It's all about personal truth - within ourselves, within our style, within our world. Surely there's room for everything, everyone, and everyone's personal vision - the universe is, after all, a big place!

Anonymous

You made some very interesting points. I don't think that developing a personal style means you are not interested in fashion and following fashion trends. But being interested in fashion and following fashion trends does not mean you have to be a fashion victim. You avoid being a fashion victim by knowing yourself and your likes/dislikes. You set parameters for yourself based on self-knowledge and don't give into every single trend that comes along.

I see far too many people who try to incorporate multiple trends into an outfit. I also see people that have not updated their wardrobe since high school. I consider both categories of people to be fashion victims but for obviously different reasons.

I'm wondering if you might have misunderstood the point people were trying to make when they said they were focusing on developing a personal style. I felt they were developing that personal style through self-knowledge (Into Mind has some wonderful pieces on defining personal signature styles). I took it as a very positive thing (and in a way, a very exciting thing). They were making the decision to avoid being a blade of grass blown by whatever prevailing wind happened to come along.

I hope I didn't misunderstand your original post. I have been traveling and perhaps I am too tired to read carefully.

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