Practical and True: What factors influence your wardrobe the most strongly? - YouLookFab Forum

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About: How Internal and External Factors Impact Your Style

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Practical and True: What factors influence your wardrobe the most strongly?

Elly

Veteran

I was inspired by the blog post today-- I enjoy a good analysis, but I think I come at it from a more intuitive place most of the time. I generally clump all of the internal factors into a category that answers the question "is this true to my personal style?" and all of the external factors into a category that I usually refer to as "practical".

INTERNALLY, I'm concerned with if something:

fits into one of my two style monikers, divine tomboy and intrepid adventurer
has design details that are in keeping with the overall masculinity, femininity, or ambiguity of the overall vibe of the piece
falls more on the minimal or maximal end of the spectrum
flatters or is JFE on my body (with it's combo of curves and strong lines)

EXTERNALLY, I'm looking for things that:

are washable or don't need to be washed (leather)
don't wrinkle or look good wrinkled
are comfortable for squatting, kneeling, and climbing in
are durable enough to deal with contact with occasional rough surfaces
layer well
are walkable and good to stand in for hours, are gravel friendly
are waterproof (coats, shoes)
stay put easily
dress up or down easily
look "special" without necessarily looking overtly "dressy" to avoid TTH in my environment
fit a long, cold winter, short transitions, and a short-ish but hot summer
fit my budget

Personally, I think external factors affect my wardrobe most strongly and eliminate many options. From there, personal style steps in and helps me chose between silhouettes and pieces that would otherwise work for me.

I already know that with this big move to a new climate and environment that many of my external factors will be changing. Some are predictable, but I'm also aware that many won't be, and I'm excited to see how this changes my wardrobe and if it affects my personal style.

What influences you?

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Meredith

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I'm inspired by your monikers! I independently came up with adventuress as a starting point, still working on mine. I think I want the word handsome in it as well.

Besides the "no dry cleaning" rule, as I am not making 2 separate 2 hour drives for that, I am asking "will this work for more than one season" because the transitional seasons are so long here. And "can this cross over to nearly gear?" because most social things here are so casual. One luxe item in the sporty luxe ensemble is about as far as it goes.

Anonymous

I also will not buy anything (or almost anything) that says "dry clean only". I still look for classic pieces that I can repeat year after year and intermingle with current pieces to keep up to date. Everything I buy must be well made and tailored or I won't even consider buying it. But even if it fits all these criteria, if it is the wrong color, I walk away.

Sadie

The internal factors seem to be the those that get me interested in an item. I like to see how something looks and feels- which makes on-line shopping so difficult.
The external factors are those that get me to purchase it or not (ie "the reality test").

Anonymous

I don't buy "dry clean only" unless it's for a very special occasion and I'm not able to find anything that's hand or machine washable. That said, most "dry clean only" items don't really need to be dry cleaned. I use my own judgement on that.

My clothing has to be comfortable. I don't want to fuss and fidget with anything, and my fussy feet need to feel good. It's not always easy to find clothing that is both stylish and comfortable, but I somehow manage to find what I need.

I like well made clothing that flatters my figure. I don't like dresses that aren't lined, and I don't like to pay too much for my dresses because they don't get worn nearly as much as my separates. If a skirt or pair of pants needs to be hemmed, I don't buy it unless it's discounted enough to allow me to pay for the alteration.

kerlyn

Veteran

I too avoid "dry clean only" and even a lot of hand wash items. Things have to be machine washable and easy care, or I just won't bother. Comfort is super important, even more so as I get older. I'm about to donate a couple pairs of skinnies that just don't bend and move with me.

Another external factor that definitely influences my wardrobe is what the people around me are wearing. My social group tends to be very casual and sporty. I'm always the most dressed up (and accessorized) of the bunch, and I'm fine with that. I just don't want to be too over the top!

As a northerner, climate is a definite factor. Long winters account for much of my wardrobe fatigue...I especially struggle with dressing up in the winter. I hope to add some dressier pieces for cold weather this year.

And of course, budget! That's the big one! I'm definitely a bargain hunter, and that has led to some great scores. (But also to some disappointing mistakes!)

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I love your list. I'm going to copy it and do a version for myself.

Anonymous

I like your analysis of how you choose your clothing, and I'm sure that no two of us have the same one. Clothes are almost magical items to me because of how they can transform our look, our mood, and can even affect our career success. For me, it comes down to how the item makes me feel. If it makes me feel great, I'll probably get it if (1) it's something I'll actually wear; (2) the fabric and workmanship are good; and (3) the price fits my budget. But it all starts with the za-za-zoo feeling you get when you're trying on something that gives you joy.

Thistle

Veteran

Climate
Body Type
Climate
Children
Climate

Did I mention I am dreading the coming winter?

mountainwave

Dry clean that can't be hand washed is a deal breaker.
Fussy or needing adjustment gets it left behind.
Too low neckline. Call me a prude, but cleavage isn't my look.
Durability
Price /CPW/use value
Fits with what I already have, no orphans.

Natural fibers get priority. Technical fabrics will do.

Has to speak to my hippie soul.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

LOL @ Thistle. Climate and imaginary lifestyle were the big things I got better at in my first couple years at YLF. I had an inkling about body type and flattering silhouettes, and that's almost reflexive for me at this point (to the extent that it can be a problem, because I'm not that open to trying new shapes and it can end up feeling dated). Budget was the next big thing, and I improved my processes a lot in 2013 and 2014, to the point where I feel like I'm pretty happy with how much I'm spending. What I spend it on is another thing - which I think touches on outfit variety, which is the area that I'm trying to refine at the moment.

I continually deal with the expectations of environmental norms here, which are super-casual, but I think getting older has helped because then people expect you to be a tad more put-together than the 20-somethings, and there's less pushback about it. Like I mentioned on Sterling's recent thread, I have some guidelines I tend to stick with - no handwash stuff, a few d/c only is OK, nothing that requires complicated underpinnings, no shoes that make me miserable.

Elly

Veteran

Awesome, ladies-- I just thought it would be kinda fun to analyze how we each make decisions. I don't really do "rules" but there are definitely things I look for in a garment.

Rambling Ann-- I love that you love my monikers. One was coined by Una and one by Angie during my own search. I struggled with a it a long time to convey that "handsome" factor (my words often were rugged or blue collar) as I wasn't into the super androgenous or dapper masculine looks I often saw. I also struggled to combine the architectural drape I'm fond of, particularly in my gallery capsule. I think both monikers hit on that (divine) and I like to think of the gallery side of my wardrobe as my "new york" adventure capsule. I hope you find what you are looking for to describe and shape your style! I dealt with the same sporty luxe issue, too.

Lara and BettyCrocker-- you both have a great list of guidelines for yourselves-- good points!

Sadie-- I love having your perspective. I would assume you are mostly a Brick and Mortar shopper? I think that certainly affects how one processes this-- but you may be even more intiutive than me!

Kerlyn-- so your social group and community are big influences? Good for you for keeping your social norms in perspective while being yourself!

Coco-- I hope it helps!

LavendarMoon-- I loved your response. You are another intuitive person-- lots of fun!

Thistle-- you made me laugh-- I think you are forgetting how much you dress for your work environment and classic personal style--- but I do understand, climate, body type and being hard wearing are HUGE!

Mountain-- glad you included that last one-- it is important!

Laura-- you make some really good points. I think I struggle more with figure flattery now that other silhouettes are trendy-- when it was very classic and tailored it was very easy for me. I'm glad you talked about budget. I'm also glad to hear that you feel less pressure as you age to cowtow to environmental norms (which in some areas of the country can be very "people of walmart").

viva

Veteran

Hi Elly,

What was most interesting to me about this post, initially, was that you have two style monikers. What a revelation! I love both of them, and I love how they naturally work together but have different personalities. I've been trying so hard to make all of me fit into a single moniker and while I love my new one -- glam gamine -- I think I could possibly use another moniker too ... so interesting.

I also really like the structure you put to your approach. I've toyed with it a little and here is what I've come up with for now.

INTERNALLY, I'm concerned with if something:

fits into my style moniker, glam gamine
excites me -- I can't wait to wear it
has interesting details that lift it above the minimal, but without ever falling into maximal or fussy territory
has architectural, clean lines of the mod 60s or simple, flowing lines of the 70s
leans toward boyish, taking advantage of my rectangular, small-chested, square-shouldered frame
flatters or is JFE

EXTERNALLY, I'm looking for things that:

are versatile -- ideally can be worn both for nicer casual and for work travel
are comfortable for work-at-home
can layer indoors -- both for work-at-home and work situations
are washable (but I don't mind dry cleaning for certain items)
are not itchy
provide lightweight warmth
does not require special lingerie
are comfortable for travel
fit my budget

Like Sadie, I always start with the internal, and then the external factors provide the reality check.

Elly

Veteran

Viva- great to have your perspective. For a long time I thought I had to have one moniker that fit everything-- but now I figure, eh, if they play nice . . . .

Meredith

Veteran

Thanks to your post along with Angie's some thoughts that have been swirling finally coalesce . I'm still trying to pinpoint my internal factors, meanwhile I am very influenced by environment. I'm shifting out of a museum role in a city and into a fieldwork and teaching position in a rural area. The polished, peppy, printed and colorful items that work in the museum are sooooo wrong now. Trying to mix the internal and external is going to be quite the challenge.