Slowly turning into Steve Jobs - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

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

Slowly turning into Steve Jobs

Aziraphale

Veteran

My husband and I have a running joke about how he is gradually turning into Steve Jobs. He quite likes clothes and has taken an interest in fashion (in the more restrained way that men do) over the years, but over the past year or so, he's developed a Jobs-like formula: he's been wearing black tee shirts and jeans almost exclusively. He always looks stylish because he has great-looking, distinctive glasses, short black hair that's cut really well, and excellent footwear and jackets. But the base of the outfit is always jeans (not always blue jeans, though) and a black tee shirt.

I realized recently that I'm headed that way too. Much of the time, I'm in the same formula: black tee shirt + pants (occasionally, skirt) + good boots. Last spring I had rainbow red hair, and that did something weird to my wardrobe -- it stripped it of all colour. I wasn't into bright colour to begin with (I experimented with colour in my late 20s/early 30s and it never quite felt right), but now I find I don't even enjoy wearing muted colours, like burgundy or steel blue. Every top I've worn in the past few months has been either black, grey or white...but mostly black.

I no longer change my jewelry, either. I wear the same rings -- one on each hand -- every day. I haven't changed my earrings for a year. I haven't worn a necklace, bracelet or watch in at least two years.

What's going on here? Has anyone else had this happen? I'm not losing interest in fashion and style, but my desire for variety has shrunk dramatically!

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from jackiec

abc

Veteran

You are honing your style, I believe. When I think of Steve Jobs I think turtlenecks and not always the most stylish silouhettes, but I am pretty sure you and hubs are doing the modern take of Mr Jobs and his approach to fashion. Maybe now you know what you like and want and are content with that?

Aziraphale

Veteran

abc, you are correct -- Steve Jobs wasn't exactly stylish -- but he famously wore the same uniform every day. I think it was a sort of statement -- about how his mind was so occupied by 'important things' that he streamlined those tasks he saw as unimportant, like getting dressed.

But there is a sort of appeal to that for me. I don't want to wear the exact same tee shirt every day, but I love the idea of limited choices.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wear the same earrings almost every day. Except for special occasions. Same cuff bracelet most days (if I wear a bracelet). Same wedding ring. Almost never wear other jewellery.

I truly see the appeal of a uniform. At the moment, I seem to enjoy variety too much to adopt one. But sometimes I wonder, if I find exactly the right pieces in the right colours (or neutrals) for me, will I simply let the rest fall to the side? I can imagine this happening. But the pieces would have to feel exactly right in some undefinable way.

And then I still think I'd want to spice things up with jackets, coats, scarves, footwear.

Come to think of it, the whole uniform dressing thing might work better for me in a temperate climate where the uniform would simply be a "base layer" for the more interesting additions.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I am relieved to know it is simply a narrow selection of style/color and not that you have given up bathing.

elpgal

Veteran

For me a similar change happened when things in my life got increasingly complicated (not sad or not busy, just complicated). Maybe I was compensating? It wasn't a conscious decision. Over a period of time, I lost my appetite for fussy and variety dressing. You don't have to answer me but are there things in your life that may be be causing these changes? Or is it merely a style preference?

bj1111

Veteran

see this article by barry schwartz on the tyranny of choice.

http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocS.....i.Amer.pdf

steve jobs and obama and others wear the same things over and over again to decrease the number of choices they have to make in a given day. there is literature on the optimum number of choices that one can make with sufficient discrimination during a day (or some short time period). removing some nonessential (to you) choices help you make better decisions later.

this is why i sometimes wear exactly the same outfit on successive days (to different offices) especially if i really liked the outfit. one less decision.

Anonymous

It's interesting. All the people I can name quickly, whose style I admire, wear a "uniform" of sorts: Giorgio Armani, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Emmanuel Alt, Diane Von Furstenburg, etc . I think it's a cool idea, and also remember reading a snippet about why Obama (for example) wear a uniform to reduce the number of decisions to make in a day. And there is something to the notion that what you do should be more important than what you are wearing:)

I've toyed with the notion, but have not been terribly successful - which could explain why I am not President of the US or the inventor of the Apple product line.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Suz, I agree, I'd never wear the exact same shoes every day! Coats and jackets vary too. But there is an appeal to having limited choices when it comes to the foundation of an outfit.

Lol, Dianthus, did Steve Jobs stop bathing? Ew.

elpgal, yes, my life is very busy right now, so I'm sure that's part of it. I've noticed that with our home, too, I'm well past the 'acquisitional' stage. You know, when you first move out, you need stuff so you keep adding to your home? For us that mindset went on for a number of years. Now I'm trying to get rid of stuff. Waning vs. waxing. And now it's happening with my wardrobe, too.

bj1111, great article! I'm working right now so I only skimmed it, but I will read it more thoroughly later. I do feel like I have to make so many decisions every day that it's overwhelming.

Lol LisaP, neither am I. But maybe I should pick up tips from them.

Anonymous

It must be nice to wear the same thing day after day, year after year. It sure would make it easier to sort laundry. I personally can't do it, though. I like to express myself through my clothing, while Steve Jobs expressed himself through technology.

unfrumped

Veteran

I think it can be very useful. Sometimes the alternative is having lots more choices and outfits but not nearly so many great choices or outfits. I could see that happening in my closet with being too quick to add things here or there.

If you're really feeling too "narrow" perhaps you could identify just 2-3 "uniforms" and perfect those.

And I am on board with bj1111--I'll wear an outfit out on Sat night and then to church, and then maybe to work, with minor tweaks for the different occasions.

kerry

Veteran

I've finally developed a "uniform" I like. Life is very busy right now with a new teaching job (holy steep learning curve!), a 5 year old and a husband who works very long days. This uniform has been great - skinny bottoms, fluid top, long cardigan and boots. I add variety by changing colours and boots but really there's not much variety! And right now, I don't care! I've been sick with viruses for the last 7 weeks (kindergarten germs!) and having this easy fall back means I feel like me and I don't have to think about my clothes all day - no adjusting, pulling up, pulling down! Yay!

I'm sure I'll be bored out of my mind by January but by then the husband will be home, viruses (I hope) will be gone and my learning curve's incline will have lost a couple of degrees - then I can enjoy changing up my outfits!

Elle

Veteran

Your "uniform" sounds very stylish and very you. So congratulations. I love the idea of paring down and sticking with what works. I"m also at the stage where I'm getting rid of stuff and it feels great.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Really interesting! I haven't had this happen. I'm drawn to the idea of less choice, but I do like variety. I would not be happy dressing the way you describe, though I admire the contentment you've achieved. Do you take special care to get just the right t-shirts, pants, and skirts? Are there certain styles and fabrics, or perhaps brands, that you seek out in them? Just curious about how much curation goes into this small selection that is working so nicely for you.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Betty Crocker, I'm not like Steve Jobs in other ways (I'm not a dick, for one thing, and I'm not a marketing genius either!) but it's true I have other outlets for self-expression besides clothing. Fashion is definitely secondary to art.

Unfrumped, I definitely feel like I have 'zeroed in' on a few uniforms. The silhouettes look different, see, depending on the bottoms I choose. I'm more of a repeater with tops. I'm trying to wear only outfits I feel fab in (aren't we all).

Kerry, sorry to hear you've been sick! It's all those germy kids, I tell ya. I was a teacher once -- older kids, though, so not nearly so many viruses! It is indeed a steep learning curve. It will get easier soon.

Elle, I love getting rid of stuff. I have a hard time doing it, but it's so freeing when you let go of things that are weighing you down!

Firecracker, I definitely take special care to get just the right tee shirts and pants. (I'm a little more experimental with skirts, but not much, and I wear skirt much less). I have different types of tees -- some of them are traditional crew neck ones, and others are more like what Angie calls 'borderline' tees -- but of those, I have a lot of duplicates. I like jeans shopping and can usually find ones that fit right, but I'm pretty picky.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You know, I have this impulse when I find something I really like: I think, "I want to wear this all the time!" And then I kind of want to find everything I can that is just like it, without being the exact same thing. And yet, I know, deep down, that I won't duplicate the satisfaction I get from that favorite item. Sometimes I do buy repeats of an item in different colors, and often, I end up wearing the original way more than the second one. But anyway, your approach appeals to me in that it seems to achieve that goal of getting a high level of happiness or satisfaction out of each item or each outfit.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Firecracker -- ah, but do you have duplicates that are exactly the same? I'm not kidding when I say I have six identical black slash neck tees. And two identical black crew neck tees. And two identical black scoop neck drape-y linen tees. And three identical white crew neck tees...the list goes on.

As for duplicating things in a different colour -- which I also do sometimes -- I fully agree with you. If I have an item in two different colours, I will invariably wear one of them a lot more. That's why, in recent years, I've taken to buying multiples in the same colour. Which is what makes me occasionally feel like I'm turning into Steve Jobs, or at least that my closet is. I imagine his closet contained a row of identical black mock turtlenecks -- well, mine has a row of verrrrry similar black tee shirts!

Elly

Veteran

I'm kinda of having a similar thing. Right now my closet is 95% black, charcoal, and navy--- and very strong on the black side. Right now I have 2 drapey black blouses for gallery openings, 2 black high-neck pullovers, 3 charcoal grey tops, and so on. I do buy identical layering tees and sometimes 2 of the same jeans, etc. Now, in the summer I am way more likely to buy two of my favorite black tops especially if it is something I like to wear with several bottoms or both to work and on weekends. I'm enjoying playing with different shapes, textures, etc. within the color palette, but am a bit afraid that I will be sad come January and then have a hard time working color in piece by piece, since I tend to like warm colors and the black/charcoal/navy can read a little cool.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Elly, I'm doing that too -- working on shapes and textures rather than colour. It's a way of narrowing the choices a bit. Silhouette plus texture plus pattern plus colour adds up to too much for my brain to compute! I don't get seasonal affective disorder, though, so I'm not worried about the lack of colour come January!

It's not that I hate colour, btw -- it's just that I prefer neutrals. My artwork tends to be mostly black-and-white/greyscale as well. I've noticed that other illustrators who work in greyscale tend to wear mostly neutrals, too. It must be an ingrained preference.

Elly

Veteran

Great insights . . .

I am a neutral lover and absolutely enamored of the ensemble Angie posted mixing navy, charcoal, and black over a year ago and some of the recent BR ads all in dark neutrals. I think that dark neutrals are the most striking with my coloring and I never get "bored" of them, the way I get sick of say pink. I also like almost exclusively neutrals at home, then add one or two colorful pieces -- I think you have to be careful with color though, because I never want it to look cheap.

That said, I mostly get compliments (except from the SO) when I wear color, and I wonder if I look better or just because most the people I see (at work, etc.) are color lovers and it is unusual for me to be wearing it. I do love colorful shoes, and want to try to give myself the option of color in accessories with some scarves and hats.

I never struggled with SAD (although it runs in my family) but my current workplace and hours mean that it is pretty dreary in the winter.

I'm also an artist (although not professional) my speciality is b&w photography -- shades of grey, blackest blacks, with a few highlights. That said, I also dabble with oil pastel and acrylic paint on the side and get into color there.

Anonymous

I don't like bright colors, but I most definitely prefer color. There's no way I could be happy in neutrals. Nothing against neutrals, mind you. I dress that way from time to time. I just like color better, even if only a pop of it near my face.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Betty Crocker -- yes, colour (or lack thereof) is definitely a preference. There is no right or wrong, of course.

Elly, I think people comment when you wear colour because of their preferences, not yours. Most people are captivated by colour. Plus, if it's different than the neutrals that you normally wear, people are more likely to comment. I've certainly found that if I wear anything that different from my norm, it'll get commented on.

I love colourful shoes, too. I've got three pairs of red shoes.

gryffin

Veteran

Aziraphale - I can think of only one significant question to ask you. Does your wardrobe make you happy? Everything hinges on that alone. I stripped down my wardrobe to black, gray, denim and a hint of white several years ago. I have a uniform of long jacket, tunic, leggings, boots/booties. This gets varied by swapping mini dress for tunic. That's my go to work wear. I wear diamond studs, delicate white gold/diamond watch, wedding/engagement ring and a braided gold chain with a charm of my dog on it every single day. I only swap out jewelry for special events. I love the sound of your uniform and I would wear it in a heart beat. On weekends it's jeans, Jcrew jackie black shell, great belt (black/embellished) black blazer. boots/booties. In a way a uniform is much like a game of chess. The board and pieces are fixed but the nuances and variations are endless - I focus - like you- on perfect pieces (trying!!), texture, proportion and when I find that perfect piece I dupliate like no one's business (I'm looking at you gray and black gap simmer jeans!! - the latest major duplication). I have a consistent look I love and I'm happy. You only have to ask yourself if your uniform makes you happy? If you do, you've simply found yourself and there is nothing wrong with that!!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Gryffin - quick answer is YES. Very happy. I was just feeling like it's a bit weird, that's all. I posted this mostly just as a random observation after looking in my closet that morning and seeing rows of very similar tops -- and also to see if anyone else is headed the same way.

(high five -- I also own the j crew black 'jackie' shell. I wear it over a white button-front shirt and blue jeans).

gryffin

Veteran

Aziraphale - come check out my closet and you'll feel better. I got the feeling JCrew might be discontinuing the jackie shell. I just bought 4 of them (I must never be without them!!). I am so happy wearing the same pieces often in the same way, so if that's weird, I'll be your weird company on this one. But then I could eat the same things for years at a time and be happy too! I like what I like!!!

rachylou

Veteran

The peeps who run the world always dress plain or do a uniform...

Lisa

Veteran

I think a uniform is a great idea as long as you are happy sporting it! I wear jeans and boots 3/4 of the year and never tire of them. And I'm slowly shifting to less variety of colors in my wardrobe. I think once you find something that works very well, most other options just keep falling flat. Kudos to you for finding your uniform!

Adelfa

Veteran

I'm envious--I've always wanted a uniform and have often had a quasi-uniform. My realization this year has been that I want more variety than I think I want, or than I want to want. At least for now. I'm convinced that one day I'll have a uniform like yours, though!

Dimity

The desire to simplify one's wardrobe is actually a worldwide trend that has been spotted by trend forecasters. You're very hip! Google 'normcore' and you'll see lots of interesting news articles about it, including references to Steve Jobs' style of dress.

SuzyQ2

In my early 40's I quit color. Black or blue bottoms, black shoes or boots and black or gray tops. Shopping was a breeze, I could bypass racks of colorful clothes because my choices were narrowed. Packing for trips was efforless, everthing matched. When I turned 50 I slowly branched back into color and after a few years I realized its just not for me. The colorful tops and sweaters remain on the hangers while I consistently reach for my dark favorites.
I've also worn the same ring and earrings for a few years now. No one seems to notice my "uniform" and I always feel put together.

12