Repeating your statements? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Repeating your statements?

ManidipaM

Veteran

I find myself drawn to the statement pieces first when I shop --- whether it's clothes, shoes, jewellery, bags or other accessories. I usually have to bring a list for the classic/basic-shaped holes in my wardrobe.

I'm often happiest with my statement pieces --- but I worry they look 'stale' to others because I tend to wear them A. LOT. once I develop an outfit I'm comfy with. (Apparently I'm clingy in my relationship with textiles and things.)

Fab ladies, how often do you repeat the same killer outfit, unchanged and unremixed? Do you worry about how memorable your statement pieces might be, and whether that makes them less versatile or easier to date? Or do you get more wear out of your basics, neutrals and/or classics?

I'd love to know. Especially since I have yet to see anyone post the same WIW twice! (Okay, I can see why it might not be useful, but it does create an impression that you always wear it differently the second time around.)

Do tell!

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Aziraphale

Fruitful

Veteran

Manidipa, I'm afraid this is partly why I haven't posted many WIW! I'm all for falling in love with an outfit combo and enjoying that recipe many times.

I mainly want to address what you said about repeating statement items potentially looking stale to others.

My opinion (and I may be alone here, but I'm sticking to it): when I see a statement piece on somebody else that wows me, lets say some boots on Manidipa for example, my reaction is, "Wow. Look at her amazing boots. Who is she that finds such a treasure?" My reaction on seeing them again is "Look! There's that woman with the awesome boots again! Manidipa, isn't it?" And on seeing them again, I fondly see "the Manidipa boots". In my mind they are now an extension of your identity and imbued with your fabulousness.

But if every time I see you I see something different I get vaguely disappointed. Sure, you might be wearing something else excellent. But in my heart I'm thinking, where are those boots? The awesome boots? The Manidipa boots? When will I get to see them again? Who the heck knows?

When pieces are exchanged with other pieces too often, for me they're just things. They're not special. They're not Manidipa (or whoever, insert person X). And nothing else really "is" that person either, nothing except transience.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Interesting point, Fruitful! I remember saying in another thread that we often treat clothes as an extension of our physical body that is identifiably unique in the 'tribe' --- I like how you tie the 'statement piece' into that idea of unique identity

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

Personally, despite having very few clothes, I rarely repeat an outfit and I really make an effort to remix everything that I have. I do worry that despite remixing, wearing the same pieces over and over does look boring to others, but I don't have a huge budget so I just have to live with that feeling
That said, if I wear something really exceptional on a holiday or a day when I don't go to university, I wear it to class atleast once, just so that the killer outfit isn't 'wasted'! Does that make any sense?!

fashionista

Veteran

Ok in a way I wear the same outfit numerous times - Yes and No

If I wear a top, jeans, ballet flats and thats my signature look in summer- then may be I will just change the top this time, the color of ballet flat next time and .One piece at one time and though I change an item, my signature style is the same. Mix and match. And the outfit like you said is worn several times in mixing and matching cycle.

Jewell

Veteran

I might wear the exact same outfit (with absolutely no changes whatsoever) no more than once a month. Taking pictures of WIW usually gives me ideas for how to make it more fab the next time, so I'm gradually getting better and better at remixing. I tend to repeat certain details and colors in my outfits so much so that my coworkers and friends have come to associate those things with me (in a way similar to what Fruitful explained). They tell me that sometimes when they're out shopping they'll see things and think, "Jewell would love that or that looks like a Jewell blouse!" I think that repeating statements is a clear sign that you've got a distinctive style.

MsMary

Veteran

I am another who repeats the same basic formula endlessly but mixes up the pieces so I seldom repeat the exact same outfit. But I repeat my "statement pieces" (pink patent pumps with rainbow spike heels, anyone?) a LOT and don't give it a second thought. I'm just happy to keep whittling down the cost per wear!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Interesting topic - I enjoy mixing up my outfits and although individually I wear the same pieces, the combinations I wear them with are different. I've been thinking lately of repeating a few outfits in their entirety and don't think I will post these at WIW since people have seen it before - or do you post it anyway because there are always members (new and previous) that didn't see it the first time around???

Diana

Veteran

I definitely repeat both my outfits and my statement pieces. (this is good because a lot of my things are kind of statement-y or at least unique.) I try not to repeat a complete outfit or an eye-catching piece within maybe about two weeks; I figure most people's attention span for those things is probably shorter than this, and if I like something, I am going to wear it again, dammit. I don't usually do WIWs for things that are identical or similar to an older one, because you've already seen it and I am lazy about taking/processing the photos.

Queen Mum

Veteran

You know, I honestly think that those around us don't pay that much attention to what we are wearing. You might feel that you repeat an outfit often, but I'm willing to bet most people you are coming in contact with don't notice. Not that they don't notice that you look great, but unless you're surrounded by people who are really into fashion, they probably don't pay that close of attention to the details.
And if they do notice, they probably don't care. In fact, I've had friends say to me, "I love that on you... wear it more often!" Nobody expects us to not repeat outfits.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I often repeat the same outfit! I don't think it's a sin.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Ladies, thank you all so much for weighing in.

I do appreciate all the different perspectives you bring to the table. And will now stop feeling too guilty about making a beeline for the 'statement' before the workhorse, seeing as no one has preferred their classics/basics over their statements yet!
Clearly, there are better things to do with the fashion brain than self-flagellate --- like figure out more ways to get mileage from the piece!

MsMary

Veteran

If the "statement" piece is the one you want to wear all the time, then guess what? It IS your workhorse!

rae

(website)

Veteran

I definitely do this! One of the reasons I started taking WIWs is so that I *could* do this (I have a bad memory, and the pics help). I even go so far as to buy my fave statement items in multiple colors, because I want to wear the same thing all the time but have to change it up a *little* or I will look crazy wearing the exact same thing for days on end.

AJ

Veteran

There are many favorite statement pieces I wear a lot, but I do try to change how I style that statement piece as often as I can. I usually try not to wear the exact same outfit twice in a given month. However if I"m pressed for time or I really liked how I felt in that outfit, I'll wear it again for an event where I want to feel confident and not have to worry about what I'm wearing.

I have an album on Flickr where I store all my WIW's and I can't tell you how it has helped me to look up my favorites when I can't think of what to wear.

ManidipaM

Veteran

MaryK, that is a GREAT point!

Rae, thanks for that revelation! Here I thought I was smacking of a little desperation when buying three of the same skirt in 3 different colours and 2 pairs of harem pants in different colours on one and the same day. (To the point where I've never worn any of them out of the house --- I'm stupidly ridiculously self-conscious at times, because really, who would remember.) Good to know this is in fact good, practical fashion strategy!

ironkurtin

Veteran

The reason to buy a statement piece is because they become YOUR statement. It's very French.

ManidipaM

Veteran

AJ --- that is a very good idea. I need to keep this album strategy in mind when I have gathered enough OK outfits.

IK --- I like how you (and the French) think!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

What a good topic Mandipa.

I have some go-to outfits that I repeat, but maybe with one change. I don't repeat an outfit exactly very often -- because I would feel disappointed in myself for not thinking harder. I like to change things up and I have enough clothes to do so.

The above does not apply to my work wardrobe which is a dress code/uniform type situation ( dark pants/jeans, top, apron, professional work clogs). I repeat my work outfits many times.

I have 2-3 times a week when I actually put some thought and effort into what I'm wearing. The rest of the time, it's my work uniform and/or attire for ranch duties. (I live on a ranch, work at a restaurant.) It is a treat for me to dress for these occasions, so I like to mix my things and come up with new outfits (but not necessarily a new look).

Does any of that make sense, I am tired.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Denise, that absolutely makes sense!

I remember when I got my first job after years of the broke college student life, I had just 3-4 outfits that were work appropriate and two pairs of non-wacky shoes, so there wasn't much I could do except change up the jewellery and hair a bit from time to time, switch out the bag maybe (I was terrified of scarves at that point)... But I was SO happy when the weekend came round and I could play with the rest of my wardrobe!

nancylee

Veteran

I repeat my favorite looks often and don't worry much about it. Having signature looks is a fashion strength, IMHO.

teri

Veteran

I repeat looks often too. I've worn one loft scarf with about every outfit combo.... It's my favorite and seems to go with everything. I'm even wearing it today... lol

celia

Veteran

I'm a SAHM and jeans are my best friends, so for sure I repeat the same items often although I try to wear a different scarf or shoe each time.
When I do have grown up things to do that require statement pieces I repeat the looks I like but try to wear them around a different set of people.
But if people think 'I've seen that dress before' my reaction is 'it's ok because I look fabulous in it'

Sylvie

Veteran

I have worn my new "spring color" scarf at least four times since last Tuesday. I am wearing it right now with an outfit that I repeated from last Saturday (jeans and shoes are different, but the whole top half is the same).

Aziraphale

Veteran

I sure hope repeating outfits is OK, because I do it all the time!

Sometimes, out of sheer laziness, I'll wear the same thing on Monday as I wore on Sunday. This way nobody can tell that I'm repeating an outfit two days in a row. I didn't used to be able to do this, because I'd always have to launder my top after one wear, but since the lovely ladies of this forum introduced me to Certain Dri, I am able to wear a top two or even three times before it needs washing.

Besides this one "double day cheat", I don't repeat outfits within a short time frame. Don't get me wrong; I will happily repeat a beloved combination, but I'll tend to do it about a month after I've worn it the first time.

As for statement pieces, I agree with ironkurtin: it's all about making your own statement. I often wear statement shoes or boots, and by now I'm known for it.