Remind me not to wear this - YouLookFab Forum

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Remind me not to wear this

cjh

(website)

Veteran

After today’s blog post on puffy sleeve denim, and my response to it, I coincidentally found a board of 14 pins in my Pinterest called Remind Me Not to Wear This. I probably started it years ago. Items on this board have always felt like an uncomfortable mistake on me, and generally suffered a terrible ending in my wardrobe (non-wear and fast rejection), so I told myself these are not good ideas.
flowered pants, polo shirts, tops with cold shoulder or open seams on sleeves, puff sleeves, double breasted jacket, blush rose, beige, green and brown together, gaucho/culottes pants, tops with welt at waist, chambray or denim blue tops, marled knits, shirt dresses, tiered ruffled prairie skirts. This list remains valid today, won’t try, won’t buy. Plenty of other nice options out there…

What is one thing you need to remind yourself not to buy or wear?

Dressing

35 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Jules

Veteran

Ooh great idea, I need this for some other life mistakes I keep making as well, lol
There’s a style of shirt I’ve ordered twice from The Gap, in different seasons and fabrications, which does not work for me (a blouse with a yoke and gathered drapey body, of awkward length on me) - a Pin might remind me to not try it again!
Also:
- exaggerated puffy sleeves in general
- just returned a short sleeved linen Everlane shirt with a notched collar which reminded me I don’t like that type of notched collar shirt on me for unknown reasons

Vildy

Veteran

Very delicate, antique looking faded prints. Make me look like I need smelling salts.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

This is a good idea!I avoid frills,puffs and very oversized styles.They all look terrible on me.

Vildy

Veteran

Actually, CJH, much of your own list is a no go for me:
polo shirts, gauchos (they look soooo good on the model),
many shirtdresses, ruffled tiered prairie skirts.

And also baby doll tops and full skirts that make me feel like
the dancing hippos in Fantasia.

Kathie

Veteran

A-line skirts. While a few things on your list I also wouldn't wear (puffy sleeves, cold shoulder tops, tiered skirts), I'm not even tempted by those items on the hanger. Lovely as they are on others, those are details that make me feel uncomfortable and "not me." A-line skirts still tempt me, however, and I have to remind myself that I always feel frumpy in them, and I never like the rear view.

JAileen

Veteran

Puff sleeves
Beige
Mint
Really, really pointy shoes
Trench coat or any coat with a belt
Ruffles

I keep buying (and returning) trench coats and they just look awful on me.
Extremely pointy shoes are a tripping hazard for me and make my already giant feet look even more ridiculous.

Sloper

Veteran

Shirtdresses
dangly earrings
stitched-down pleats

merwoman

Veteran

Ummm, have to wipe tea off iPad after reading Vildy’s post. Thank you for making me snort/laugh!
yes, blazers. Love the look of them. Never reach for them. Need to look away.

cat2

Veteran

Anything that resembles a Star Trek uniform.

ChristelJ

Veteran

Things that belt or tie at the waist. Constriction at the middle makes me miserable and visually does me no favors, either.

Anonymous

This is a great idea, and I need to do it. It would be quite a long list, but my top three would be: puffed sleeves, ruffles of any kind, and plaid or tweed anything. Okay, I'll add a fourth item: mandarin collars.

nuancedream

Veteran

Ditsy florals and Laura Ashley-esque prints are unequivocal no. Spaghetti
strap tops are also on the do not buy list. Shift dresses look like contractors clean up bags on me while drop waist dresses make me look like a plank.

ophelia

Veteran

What a brilliant idea-the visuals pinned would cement the lesson.
I could fill a page w/ that sort of stuff, so off the top:
—High waist anything (don’t actually need a reminder due to PTSD from the 80’s).
—Pointy toed shoes-feet are WAY too wide.
—Heels over 2 inches unless there is a platform-need to wear out what I have & get rid of them.
—Tops or dresses that are not petite sizes-necklines flop all over, etc

Sal

Veteran

Haha…. There are the things that I know I don’t really like but then there are the things I like but that don’t get worn or suit me.

1. Dropped shoulder tops. So so common.
2. Tops or dresses requiring a cami to be worn underneath always. But they can be very appealing though!
3. Trench coats - my lifestyle is not right for them. But they can look so cool…

Anonymous

My top 10:
*Soul-sucking beige
*Cool Easter egg pastels & icy colors
*Colors that are too bright
*Anything oversized
*Anything that clings to my body
*Plaids & stripes
*Ruffles, bows, gathers & pleats
*Anything that’s distressed, faded or ripped
*Stiff fabrics that don’t work with my curves
*Ankle pants

rachylou

Veteran

Khakis. That’s it. That’s the list

Anonymous

@Cat2 lmao! Was this a habit before?

unfrumped

Veteran

Too funny!

I too have a Pinterest board called “ What Not to Wear”. It’s more outfits than individual items, but I started it to help me remember some “ looks” and combinations that my types of clothing might veer into , that I did not want.

Not much shirtdress love! That is an individual item I should put in the Not file. It’s weird because I love collared button- front shirts, and wear them. So I keep trying on shirtdresses , and they just look terrible on me. I’ve stopped ordering any, but I will still occasionally try one on in a store.

Kathie

Veteran

It's fun to see all the "Not to Wear" items on other people's lists, that I love. I'm here for all the shirt dresses, trench coats, heels, high-waist pants and stitched down pleats. And for playing with volume/oversized and shifts, when I don't want to define my waist. Not quite Star Trek- but, I have an outfit that I enjoy, despite the fact that an 8 year old told me I looked like Han Solo. I still laugh about that when I put it on. I think he meant it as a compliment.

doggeh lover

Polo shirts- had to wear them for work for 15+ yrs, also includes any shade of red or lately blue. Mauve-ish colored tops make my face look mottled, no matter how pretty the design/other colors. Anything pleated, especially pants, skirts.
Button-down collared shirts (big bust, narrow shoulders, wide waist) is NOT a good look for me
Ankle length pants, pointed toe shoes, 99% sneakers
Any skirt/dress that isn't at least just below the knee looks terrible on me

Anonymous

Lol rachylou!

SarahD8

Veteran

Oh, funny coincidence -- I was thinking of starting a thread like this!

I think you are asking about things that we are attracted to in theory, but don't work in practice, right? (Things that we actually have to *remind* ourselves not to wear -- vs. all the things that we just don't like and would skip over without the reminder.)

If so, my top two are:

hoodies: they look so sportif and nonchalant, but in practice always, always seem fussy to wear.

sequins: love the idea, but they are just sooooo heavy!

You can see a theme developing...

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Hahaha I’m with Rachy on the khakis

nemosmom

Veteran

For me it’s boho tops and flashy jackets. I love them and am drawn to both like moth to flame. Like - what would Cher wear to a modern day Monterey Pop festival? Or, what would I wear today if I could compete on Solid Gold? And, why is that my fashion aspiration?!

I have to avert my eyes and sit on my hands every year when the Zara holiday drop comes. It’s dangerous.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

High heels, body con, and itchy clothing come to mind. But really I don't need to be reminded as I am not tempted.

Echo

Veteran

Hmm, probably the older I get, the more items I add to the list. It isn't because I am not open to new inspiration, but rather I know what I have tried over and over and know darn well it will NEVER work for me. So my list:
* pastels. I love the look of them in the spring, but they wash me out and make me look ill.
* cold shoulder tops. I see them on the rack and don't notice the cut-outs and then am disappointed. They just strike me as weird.
* Button-down tops. I love the idea, but I can never get them to fit properly. Additionally, I am not big on tucking.
* Narrow heels. I adore shoes, and I am often attracted to thin heels, but they simply aren't practical on waxed, tiled floors. I have slipped on a heel like that one too many times, so heels - at least those for work - must be wider and have rubber (sound dampening) on the soles.
* Empire waists. I have been pregnant, and empire waists just make me see pregnancy clothes. I am probably past the age where anyone would mistake me for being pregnant, but still, they just look like maternity clothes to me.

I am sure there are more that are slipping my mind, but that's what I can think of right now.

slim cat

Veteran

I feel like my list got so long that it's easier to put "what to buy" list ( it's shorter ).
Like no solid tops but graphic anything. Go with your colors - stick to blue-green in a major way. Collared shirts and sleeveless tops to wear under. Soft natural fabrication and machine washable, etc.

Anonymous

Jaime, you just reminded me of more things I avoid - high heels because i
can’t tolerate them anymore, & itchy clothing because of my super sensitive skin.

Echo: i bought one cold shoulder blouse a few years ago, tried it, & quickly realized how bad it looks on me. That’s one trend I was glad to see go,

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have to say that the things I need to avoid are mostly so well ingrained in me that I’m rarely if ever tempted by them anymore, so I really don’t need reminders! For example, I’m not remotely tempted by super high waisted pants, ruffly, frilly items, ditsy prairie florals, or colors like beige or dusty rose, or neon brights.

I do need occasional reminding that I don’t need more “dressier” items in my wardrobe unless they have casual versatility and can be worn in a way that suits my life. No more remotely office-y items (blazers for example must have some ability to be casualized or glammed or rock’n’rolled up). No shirts that must be tucked in — I just don’t wear tucked tops anymore. No bold pants — even if a pattern or color appeals to me, they make me feel self-conscious. No high heels for day wear —
I just don’t tolerate them anymore.

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