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Style versus environment

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Comments on Queenie's thread about adding edge to an hourglass really made me stop and think. How does your environment directly impact on your personal style?

Maya stated that living in NYC has given her high expectations of what is considered stylish, where as Kris felt unable to dress up in a culture where boxy t shirts are considered acceptable attire.

I live close to Edinburgh and the environment places some physical restrictions on my style. There are steep, cobbled winding streets to contend with plus cold winds blowing in directly from the north sea. Heels are shunned and luxury knitwear is a truly valued commidity.

My love of feminine, romantic clothes may also be directly linked to the beautiful and ancient architecture of the old town and surrounding area.

Over to you, is your style a product of your environment or bourne in spite of your surroundings?

General

28 replies

Latest reply was from RoseandJoan

shiny

Veteran

Absolutely, my style is a product of my environment - Boston. That means I need comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestones, and warm weather gear (boots, hats, scarves, coats) for cold weather. Within Boston, I like to think there are "micro-environments" as well.

For example, we have "L.A." - Lower Allston - which is filled with college students wearing urban eclectic attire (lots of graphic tees, tattoos, skinny jeans, ear plugs etc). South End, an upscale artsy area with a thriving gay community (best accessory: a dog with good pedigree). North End, which is an Italian neighborhood and it has lots of hills so comfy shoes are a must. Harvard Square, upscale college students (either wear Urban Outfitters, or they wear expensive clothing that tries to look inexpensive) and preppy professors. Cambridge with MIT where the emphasis is more on function and less on form, but you do see a lot of what my daughter calls "chic geek" wear. Newbury Street where you pull out all the stops and wear all your expensive designer logos... I could go on and on!!

One thing I don't do so much, that is purely a Boston thing, is dress head to toe in conservative, classic, black clothing. We get a bad wrap for this. I do like black, but I would be way too bored sticking to that sort of classic Boston uniform.

When I have to go into the office, that's another environment altogether, since it's out in the 'burbs.

You can see why I have so many different "capsules" to my wardrobe... I definitely think about where we are going, what is the micro-environment, when I dress.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Absolutely I think our environment and our lifestyles play huge roles in our style! location, of course, is a factor, but so are your daily responsibilities, your passions, your history -- all of it comes into play and shapes our style, and who we are as women and humans.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I just want to clarify- I don't feel unable to dress up just because I live in an uber casually dressed area. If the occasion calls for it, I dress up. I also dress up more for every day than almost anyone else that I know locally. I was just complaining that the fitted styles that suit hourglass figures most seem to be more "dressy", and not suited to my lifestyle.
The weather affects me most. It's hot (Hot! HOT!) about 6 months of the year, and cold enough to get occasional snow for 3 three months, with short transitional seasons that teeter back and forth in weather. I'm learning what this means for my wardrobe- lots of cotton sleeveless dresses for summer, comfortable sandals and statement necklaces, better fabrics (animal fibers) and layering for winter.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Kris, I have truly enjoyed your style over the two months I have been visiting the forum. I absolutely love your dress, plus vest, plus leggings formula. I'm also very jealous of your statement necklaces.

When your body changes shape it takes time for your eye to adjust and to learn and bend your new style rules. I'm sure you will find a way to interpret the rules in a way which is both practical and fits your personal style.

Shiny, I love your knowledge of style, body shape and your city. Edinburgh also has many microcosms from the goths on Cockburn Street to the city bankers of George Street.

Kristen, you are absolutely right, environment is only one of many factors that effect our personal style.

taylor

Veteran

Without a doubt. I am in the Beauty business and work Ann Taylor part time so I feel my style needs to reflect that:)

When I was a SAHM I wasn't dressing up to this extent obviously:)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Where do I begin to answer this question! I am a legal alien living in an urban US city that is either for the most part filled with Goths and hectically colourful, pierced grungy types, OR gear-wearing outdoorsy types. My style is not shared by many on the street at all. Isn't that intertesting :0)

Maya

Veteran

Like Shiny mentioned, there are a lot of "subcultures" depending on neighborhood you're in, and what hour you're out and about. I think where I went to school was a much bigger factor than just living in NYC. Fashion and fashion marketing were the two most popular majors, and designers and artists of all types made up the balance. Most people did care about their appearance just as a natural extension of their creativity (whether or not it's successful is another story).

Where you live has to affect how you dress from a practical standpoint. But I probably wouldn't change much beyond that if I moved. I will always wear a lot of black, I will always dress up when I want, and I will always have an urban look even if I'm in the desert in New Mexico. I don't feel that location is a big factor to me except in terms of comfort, and I won't give up something I like and that flatters me because of where I live. So like Angie, if I moved to Seattle I would definitely not try incorporating goth and grunge into my wardrobe just to fit in...

shiny

Veteran

I'll do you one better, Maya: I would NOT move to New Mexico, simply because it would clash way too much with my personal style.

Seattle - never been there - but I suspect I could integrate okay, seeing as how it is an urban area, and temps are somewhat similar. I wouldn't dress the part completely - goth isn't my thing. But I can do a "look" that is me, and doesn't look completely out of place. I do this all the time, wherever we go. It just takes tweaks - not body piercings and tattoos.

But some place super casual, hot and dry, AND with desert type color themes... I just can't do it... it's so NOT me. I guess maybe if I did live there for awhile, I'd figure it out because I had to... and note, this is not about the people there at all... I am from the midwest, I love every place.. just saying from a fashion perspective, this would be a huge adjustment for me.

Maya

Veteran

Shiny, you made me realize that the places which suit my style preferences seem to be the places I would consider moving to. I wouldn't move to New Mexico, not because it's not my style or color palette or anything like that, but because I would just hate living in New Mexico.

OTOH I would definitely consider Boston, D.C., San Fran, and I think Seattle too. I have never been there but I think I would like it (other than the rainy weather).

I would not tweak my personal style one bit except for practical considerations, as I mentioned, but given my preferences about where I would like to live, it doesn't seem like I'd have to. I'm just saying if I absolutely had to move somewhere like that, I wouldn't change a thing.

taylor

Veteran

I 'm with Maya on this. My style is more about *who I am* rather than where I live. I doubt my style would change at all , even if I moved to the east coast .... I would just have more cold weather clothes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Very interesting.

I guess I should have said in my first comment on this thread that my personal style is not tweaked at all by where I live because my lifestyle stays the same – urban city no matter what. And I always need practical shoes because I walk a lot and that would never change :0)

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Maya, when adopting new trends each season do you not find your style will slowly evolve anyway? I listen to rock music all the time and thought this would influence my style forever, I don't remember a time when I decided not to dress in this way, but my style has evolved in a different direction over time. I still listen to rock music but I no longer wear the rock chick look.

I'm originally from a town called Wigan and much as I love my memories of the town the style is terrible. People wear tracksuit bottoms with their designer socks pulled over the top and very short skirt, high heels and no coats are worn year round on a night out, even in the snow.

To that extent my style has developed in spite of my upbringings.

In contrast the town where I live now (30 miles south of Edinburgh) has a renowned fashion and textile college where Vivienne Westwood and other designers studied. The variety of fashion on show for a small town is incredible but I do not wish to dress like a 21 year old fashion student.

Taylor, you absolutely fascinate me are you a hairdresser by trade?

Angie, your legal alien comment will have me singing 'Englishman in New York' all day. There are indeed some very stylish legal aliens on the YLF forum. I understand your style has not been influenced by Seattle but how about Hong Kong or Paris?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Shiny-
"But some place super casual, hot and dry, AND with desert type color themes... I just can't do it... it's so NOT me."
This is exactly how I feel about where I live LOL (well, desert colors don't really bother me, but it's not like the people dress in those colors)
I can laugh about it now, 5 years later, but I still would rather live in any other environment than here. I always said that the desert was the one place that I wouldn't want to live. It's funny the way that things work out sometimes. The company that dh works for is global, and I keep asking him if there are openings in Canada, or the pacific northwest, or vermont.... He will probably retire from this position. His boss opened this mine 30 some odd years ago, and dh will probably be there until it closes or he retires. I told him that that if I have to spend my formidible years in the desert, I get to pick where we retire. He hasn't agreed to that, though.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

100% Julie. Hong Kong, London, Paris and Amsterdam have been major influences on my style over the years. I guess Hong Kong the most because that’s home, even though I don’t live there anymore, but I do visit fairly frequently. It would be very interesting to see if my style changed if I lived in NYC. It’s anyone’s guess at this point.

taylor

Veteran

Yes, I have been a hairstylist since 1976....I have seen ALOT of hair trends come and go some FAB and some not so FAB ")

marianne

Very interesting! I grew up where wearing "dressier" clothes on a daily basis was a norm, and when I moved to PNW, I was very surprised at the dominance of REI-style clothing... and I went through a period when I tried to fit in with that - because it was my first real job, and I would have really stood out.
Angie, I actually don't see much grunge, goth and punk anymore - only on Capitol Hill. But I probably don't go to the "right" places at this point. The REI stuff is still going strong, but urban look is so much more common than 15 years ago.

shiny

Veteran

I hear you, Chewy. Before I moved here, I was actually living in a very rural area - Amish country. It was absolutely beautiful, I will say that. But so remote, and too much driving required. My first husband got us relocated here, when DD16 was a baby, and I've been here ever since. I feel fortunate that I fell in love with this city - DH is from here, and we both say we do not ever want to live anywhere else, and hope to retire here (yes even with all the snow).

Rose brings up an *excellent* point, about how we change and evolve. Before I settled here, when I was in my 20s, I used to say I could be happy anywhere - rural, suburban, urban. My family comes from a long line of Kansas farmers, I worked on a farm when I was a teen, I went to college in a rural area, I lived in Amish country after college. I found lots of things to love about rural environments. Meanwhile, I grew up in the suburb, and we lived in the 'burbs while my kids were preschoolers, and I found lots of things to love about the 'burbs too. I used to go into Philly and NYC in my teens and 20s and I wanted to live in NYC at one point, right after college. And I traveled to many cities during my early career in my 20s, coming to love San Fran, Chicago and London in particular.

But over the years, it's funny how your tastes change! At some point about 10 years ago, I realized I could no longer live anywhere else but in an urban environment. I need to be around people. I love the hustle and the bustle. Yes, we need our doses of nature too - but the beach and the mountains are close enough for day trips. I've tried everything else and this fits me and who I am. Except that a city like NYC, would be too overwhelming for more than a visit. Too noisy! Boston is just about the right size city for me.... although I could probably manage Paris.

I guess you get more set in your ways as you age.

So DH and I say our first preference is and always will be Boston. If we had to choose a different place, high on our list is San Francisco. It's just too gorgeous. But - and this may surprise everyone! - we also fell in love with Charleston. We love the beach; I wouldn't mind living part time on a beach. And that city is small, easily navigable, and has a lot of charm! If we find someday we can't manage with the snow, that's where we'll head....

And Chewy...reality is, neither of us have ever even BEEN to a desert! I've been to most places in the US, except only as far west as Colorado (not counting California). Never been to Arizona or New Mexico or Utah or Nevada. Really do want to do that some day. I am sure I'd find something to love about it. I probably shouldn't discount it as a place to live, since I haven't been there yet! It is definitely on our "life list." Would like to rent an RV with my sister and brother and all our kids together... one of these summers when we can all take several weeks off. We've been considering this for years.

cciele

Veteran

Thought-provoking thread! I've never considered not moving to a place because it didn't match my style.

My style is definitely influenced by my environment, but I don't know how much of it is influence by age. For example, when I lived on the East Coast, I wore a lot of black and somber colors, but when I moved back to California, I incorporated bright colors into my wardrobe. But throughout my fashion evolution, I've always kept a bit of the boho funkiness in my style

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Spot on, Cathy! Your style preferences that evolve with age (and this a GOOD thing), are linked to how your style changes in your environment. My style has definitely changed over the last 5 years. I used to be trendier and less streamlined with more things going on in each outfit – but still as dressy because that’s who I am. Now my outfits are a lot simpler because that’s what I felt was best for my age.

I have always lived in an urban area so that’s all I know. But I’ve lived in several countries and climates and that will of course affect your wardrobe mix from a purely practical point of view. Those style feet have to keep on moving! But why they move is debatable. My style is not at all affected by my current environment. In fact, I’m on a mission to affect others with my style :0)

Maya

Veteran

Of course my style changes over time and of course it would change purely for practical reasons if I move. But I'm always going to have an urban look and wear a lot of black because a) I would suffocate and die if I lived anywhere but a large city and b) black is my best neutral anyway (although as I age, maybe it will get too harsh...who knows...but even then I'd wear it in large doses, just not near my face). I'm pretty stubborn and there are certain things I just know about myself, and knowing that I HAVE to live in or at least very close to a large urban area is one of those things. One of the biggest issues for me is that I loathe driving, and while my preference is always to walk, sometimes it isn't practical (like when I need to get to work in the morning), so I have to have some sort of efficient transportation system in place.

I'm also very phobic of wide open spaces. I can't explain this one clearly. I need tall buildings or trees or SOMETHING dense and tall to keep my nerves at bay. If I look off into the distance and just see an endless stretch of desert or flat plains, I will have a panic attack. And I have to be located close to water. Landlocked places also just freak me out. I can't explain why. I just feel trapped. I must have some weird psychological issues but these two things are critical.

Kyle

Veteran

I have to make concessions to the environment from a weather standpoint, but that's as far as I will go to compromise style. For example, in Hawaii, everyone wears shorts, uber casual tees and flip flops. Just not me. And if I lived there, I would not dress that way, but I would adapt my style to fit the hot humid weather.

Phoenix, where I live, is very casual. And it's hot, hot, hot. I refuse to live in flip flops or sneakers, but on the other hand you won't find me in sweaters, either. I will compromise — to a point.

rute

Veteran

Of course it has great influence, I live in a warm country and in the summer it's so hot I can not style anything, can not layer, even bracelets and rings are annoying with so much hot.
On the other hand I developed my own style and I'm not very influenced by the work evironment, where I work the dress code is casual business, but everyone go to much casual: strapless shirts, harem pants, shorts.. you name it..
I don't care I stick to what suits my body and most of all.. my personality!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

SHINY! That big of a dis for a place you have never been to?? Shame shame! LOL
It really is true what they say about dry heat, though. I grew up near the beach, so a much more humid environment. I'll take 100 degrees with humidity under 15% rather than 90 degrees and humidity over 50% any day. It's hot, but it's not sticky.

I didn't know that Kyle was in Phoenix- another desert dweller DH used to travel to Phoenix a lot for work, and he tried to appease me by telling me that maybe he would get transferred there. I think that I cried- it's even hotter there!

Maya- you can *never* come visit me.

Anonymous

I was eyeing this post earlier but didn't have time to read through the responses - it's fun to see what everyone has to say.

I think that my style has changed depending on my environment (so far), but I have noticed it stabilizing as I learn what I like and how I want to dress. When I was at college I saved my money to get fleece jackets, boots, and sturdy denim from farm supply stores. I had a roommate whose family lived on a farm, and I learned how to brand calves and ride horses pretty well during breaks during my university time. My style was very... utilitarian... at that time. That roommate and those experiences shaped a lot of my style then.

After I graduated and started work full time in university housing, I wanted to learn how to dress more professionally. I worked with students who were only a few years younger than me, and I used my style to create a boundary so I would be seen as an authority figure. Now that I've gained a little experience, I am influenced by styles I see in Portland. It's fun for me to try new things and work them into my wardrobe.

Kari

Veteran

It's been interesting to read this thread, but especially seeing how Angie's experience of Seattle style contrasts to mine. I grew up in the area, but I've never lived in the city of Seattle. The style around me is much more casual, lacking the urban, grungy element that Angie mentioned, though gear-wearing for everyday activities is definitely prevalent.

Where I live now, I struggle feeling (or sometimes being told straight out) that I'm very dressed up compared to others around me, but when I go into the city I feel like I stick out too because my style doesn't look very "urban".

shana

Veteran

Environment absolutely has an impact on how I dress. I think among most of the women on the forum, I might be one of the few that has moved around the most, at least within the US - I've lived in 5 different states since leaving for college - east coast, west coast, mountains, the deep south and now in the northeast. I've lived in very urban areas (outside SF or Atlanta) and in the middle of nowhere.

In addition to adjusting for climate, I have picked up some local trends everywhere I've been. For example, after living in west, I became fascinated by Fetish necklaces and other Native American jewelry and living in the deep south made me much more conscious of nail grooming. To some degree, I also tried to adapt my style somewhat to "mix in with the locals" so the speak. I'd like to think that generally I stayed true to my own personal style but maybe tweaked it a bit in each spot. For me the more difficult transition has been from working to being a SAHM since I have never been much of a casual dresser.

As much as my personal style might fit better in a larger city, my personal preference is for a quieter, more non-urban (but not immediately suburban) area to live - maybe within an hour or two outside a larger city. Maya, I am probably the opposite of you in that respect. I am definitely a "country" mouse when it comes to where I want to live. I like small towns where you know everyone and don't really like the hustle and bustle of a city for every day life (though I do prefer walking to having to drive everywhere). Right now, I live on a quiet, country road - when I open my windows, all I hear are the birds chirping and the leaves rustling! Of course it is a college town so there is a bit of diversity and I'm not too far off from NYC or Boston so it really is ideal in many ways. Of course, this is a huge fashion challenge since I'm more of an urban dresser and I don't really fit in with the extremely casual (i.e. sweatpants) environment!

BTW, I LOVE the desert southwest of the US. It is so breathtakingly beautiful and I agree with you Khris - I'd take the desert heat over humidity any day!

Shiny, it is an absolute travesty that you have traveled all over the world and have not seen the treasures waiting for you in Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico etc. There really are some of the most spectacular places I have ever been in my life (and I've done plenty of world-wide travel to compare). You must add it to the list!!!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Who is it that lives in Dubai? I would love to hear from her on style there. Dubai is the most liberal Gulf nation, but I still wonder if there are cultural limits, and the weather: whew! Talk about HOT!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Laura it is Mummy2Thea who lives in Dubai but I believe she's still in Cyprus without Internet access at the moment.

It seems the consensus appears to be that we will bend our style to accommodate certain environmental factors whilst trying to remain true to our fashion personas.

Thank you very much for your responses.