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Taking risks with fashion?

Runcarla

Veteran

This article https://www.vogue.com/slidesho.....akers-2022 had me thinking about what taking risks with fashion is all about, and what I might do to shake up my closet in a small way. I think taking a risk is relative, and what might be risky for one person (wearing an all white outfit, sporting an undercut hairstyle, pairing sneakers with a flooffy dress) is not for another.

Many of the garments, hairstyles, accessories, make-up in the images aren’t conventionally flattering, and yet they are compelling.

How do you feel about taking risks with fashion and style? Does it take a leap of faith, or is it something you do routinely?

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from BlueJay

cat2

Veteran

I am not a risk taker, I like to sort of skate under the fashion radar with classic pieces, rather than chasing or setting a trend.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Well, yeah, getting attention on the red carpet at Cannes requires being a little out there somehow.

I don’t think I take risks with what I wear, but I think other people think I do. It goes the other way too—some things feel as “unrisky” as can be to some people but make me feel I’m on a tightrope. Your Bretagne stripes are one example.

rachylou

Veteran

Rather a wide variety of risk there in the article! Most of the risks were oddity as opposed to risqué, to my mind. Which is perhaps a sign of the times. I like risks that are about fun, joie de vivre

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

RL, is risqué risky? I don’t think so anymore, at least not on a red carpet, probably even less so at Cannes.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I guess I do take risks...I'm not very interested in conventional fashion (and by that I am referring to haute cutoir and luxury brands). I feel like being a larger person, and a woman of a certain age makes me stand out somewhat, anyway....if I don't dress just like everyone else, anyway. I might as well wear what I want and have fun with it if I am going to stick out.

Runcarla

Veteran

Tilda Swinton’s dress is kind of Cos-like, but then the fish-tail bottom harkens back to old Hollywood. I think it’s kind of brilliant. And, I actually really like Yseult’s white coat dress. It’s like daytime armour. If I could find a knit top with a turtleneck or high scoop neck that had quilting or low profile ‘cones’ I’d be interested!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm sorry, I couldn't get past the word "pantaboots", for some reason I find it so irrationality enraging!

Calming down...some of these looks feel very in keeping with the actors style (Tilda Swinton, Noomi Rapace), whereas others look as though they are chasing an Instagram moment.

I don't mind standing out or wearing something different but I would hate to wear something that may be laughed at or sneered at, so I guess I am not as free in my choices as I would like.

Irina

Veteran

I don’t even know what kind of risks I might be tempted to take. Wearing something unusual and attention grabbing? I don’t have occasions where I could potentially wear something experimental. Wearing something that I like but it is outside of my comfort zone? Nothing really comes to mind. I wore an oversized summer dress last year and thought I’m pushing an envelope. But I’ve looked at the photos recently and the dress looks ok, I’m used to the look now

judy

Veteran

I like to take risks with clothes. (In fact, now that I think about it, I have friends who live life in a much more risk taker way than I do, but are quite conservative dressers. Hmmm...) There are so many ways to do it...in color or texture or proportion....challenging some of those "rules" that those of us of a certain age grew up with...remember when your coat was supposed to be the same length as your dress (?!) for example.

Lately for me, it plays out with proportion the most, like layering, or wearing somewhat oversize items. It's so fun to give ourselves permission to play and be creative. After all, what's the worst that can happen? Glad I don't have to be scrutinized on a red carpet! I find no one but me actually cares what I wear these days.

That white dress on Tilda Swinton!

Sal

Veteran

It's an interesting concept and hard to quantify - and my perceptions of risk could be quite different to others. I am not particularly avante garde in my style (not at all). Things I do that others might see as more risky
- bold colours or patterns
- something that is not in fashion (for example I wore looser jeans often when everyone else was in skinnies) or something more fashion forward (my pleated brown high waist trousers feel this way)
- showing some cleavage or bra strap on occasions

But I don't think anyone would see me as especially risky in my clothing...

People/celebrities I see this way are - Lady Gaga, Harry Styles.

Sloper

Veteran

I agree, that as you say, taking risks is very relative. What celebs wear on the red carpet is one thing, what I wear to the mall is another

Liking and relating to ChewySpaghetti:

I feel like being a larger person, and a woman of a certain age makes me stand out somewhat, anyway....if I don't dress just like everyone else, anyway. I might as well wear what I want and have fun with it if I am going to stick out.

Loved Rossy de Palma!

Runcarla

Veteran

@ SF - ‘getting attention’….right! I guess I see taking a risk with fashion is about taking a chance at being seen. Not necessarily ‘look at me’ but maybe revealing a little bit about who and what a person is all about and how you interact with the world around you vs passing through incognito?

@ Judy - very much agree, Especially about breaking the ‘old’ rules. I think that is some of what juxtaposition in outfit combinations is all about. Tilda’s outfit is very much about who and what she seems to be on the regular. I don’t know enough about the others to know if the looks are signature to their style, or ‘one of’. ie chasing the Instagram moment as @ RoseandJoan wrote.

Interesting that two nouns provided under the definition of risk were: ‘possibility’ and ‘chance’…

Bijou

Veteran

I enjoy wearing bright colours or items that add fun or glamour to a look, so for me those are my risky items. Often it is a distinctive accessory, such as shoe or bag for me.

slim cat

Veteran

I'm not a risk taker - it would take certain effort to bring changes to my wardrobe ( sizes and fabrics that I need not wildly available ).
I enjoy seeing the fun outfits at Cannes but it might be a bit specific to that particular venue ( except Tilda and Noomi - always surprise ).

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Taking what some might consider a fashion risk is higher on my priority right now. Because I have purchased some wide leg crop jeans, and made some of my own shirts lately, and started wearing non-church clothes to church (wear what I don’t have to change out of when I get home, meaning no more black dress slacks and business casual tops), AND the phrase “if not now, when?” playing in my head, I’ve taken the risk of putting on those trendier (but resonating with my teenage 70s hippie wannabe, artist-creative-playful attitude) items and mixing different things more than I used to,

I have not yet checked the link to see what you’re really talking about… the word risky engaged my thinking and made me respond.

Edit: Oh, now I looked at the article. I will say, I would likely never take the risk to wear anything like those outfits shown, because I’ll never attend an event like that. Those do not fit my life. I feel I still want to fit my clothing to my life, even if I am a little quirkier, bolder or attention getting.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. Risk is in the eye of the beholder! LOL What’s risky for one person is tame for another. Risk to me means stepping out of your comfort zone. Risk of what? Of being looked at critically or someone laughing or thinking you look silly or wrong? Wearing something unflattering? Or something that doesn’t convey the message you really want to send to the world for a given occasion?

That said, I’m willing to take certain risks. Certain bold patterns or cuts, occasionally. Bold rings. Distinctive pieces that have a bit of edge. But I’m a risk in moderation person. I don’t like pushing into “unflattering” territory — that’s a way in which I’m not willing to go far from my comfort zone.

It’s hard to imagine wearing any of the outfits in that piece because I’m not those women — I don’t have their bodies or personalities or their lifestyles. I would look ridiculous in those outfits unless they were refashioned in some way. And of course I’m never going to be on the red carpet at Cannes. It’s way easier to take a big risk when everyone else around you is going bold too!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Yes, agree with Janet, risk is relative. I think I am relatively risk friendly - I let me hair go grey before it was mainstream where I live, my haircut is noteworthy, I wear a lot of unexpected (for my age and lifestyle) pieces. I will try an unflattering or strange looking piece at least once, even though I work part-time at a very public facing job with a very outspoken public (cough, cough). I would not wear a very body con or skin revealing outfit, and never did, but that is probably my main limitation.

Joy

Veteran

I probably do it all the time but don’t care. I dress to please myself. As long as I feel attractive and confident, I don’t really care if I am looking stylish. It has been a leap of faith to wear something I have not worn before like a leather moto jacket or very shiny shoes but I take that leap of faith and it becomes normal over time until I think nothing of it. The eye adjusts.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I am a huge believer in taking risks with self presentation. It’s an art form after all! Clothing, makeup, hair, nails…. All can add visual interest or even conceptual challenge to the world around you.

I understand that many people don’t want to make the time or brain space to think about fashion—- that’s totally cool, it’s just not a priority for everybody. But nothing makes me sadder or more frustrated than folks who say “oh I could never pull off that hairstyle” or whatever. That kind of timidity is so limiting and to me it seems linked to low self esteem. I say don’t be afraid to take up some space in the world!

Runcarla

Veteran

@ cjh - the article, and the very unusual red carpet fashion was just the jumping off point for a thought exercise on my part!

I think I have been somewhat risk averse the past two years, and now I’m coming out of that mind set, and feeling ready to experiment.

Brooklyn

Veteran

While I’m not exactly out there like in those red carpet looks, I always try to keep an open mind about fashion and trends. I enjoy experimenting and mixing classic with not so classic. If you wait until a happy consensus forms around a trend or look, you will end up being a classic dresser. I am willing to take some risks in pursuit of look that is more unique/interesting/novel/personal. The harder part is doing it in a way that doesn’t lead to waste/churn (as in trying a look, then deciding it’s not for you, or trying too many looks). I also find that with age that I worry more about looking a bit mad (eg when I pattern mix) or like mutton (eg when I wear figure skimming outfits) but I try to suppress those doubts. To me, posting WIW outfits here is taking a big risk with fashion. And I respect everyone who does it.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I don’t like any of those outfits, pretty much. So I think my answer is No.

Anonymous

I wouldn't say I wear anything that risky, though definitely did more in the past. I'm definitely not full on classic, but am not trying to call attention to myself either.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Heh. I like them all. (Well, most of them. There are a couple where I feel the proportions are ‘off’ in a way that seems not quite intentional, and maybe I’d prefer Yseult’s dress in a bright colour rather than plain white, but that’s a quibble etc etc…)

Anyway. I’m a natural experimenter, so I like a calculated risk. A ‘risk’ in my book is an uncomfortable shoe when I need to walk more than a few hundred yards. Or laundering where it says ‘dry clean only.’ For the rest, I’m always willing to try new things to know whether or not they will work. The risk, right there, is churn, as Brooklyn points out, but I think I know myself well enough by now to know when to commit myself, and when to walk away. It all comes back to the risks and rewards of living. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Roberta

Veteran

Janet has hit it - it might look risky (risqué?) to others but feel comfortable to you. I radically change my hair every year. I've shaved it, gone asymmetrical, been many different colors, et cetera. But that feels comfortable to me. I don't think i take a lot of risks with my wardrobe, although because I've had so much practice with color and pattern and style, it might look risky to other people. If you regularly hear the comment "Wow, I never would have tried that myself but it looks great", I guess you are taking some risks.

I look at someone like Iris Apfel, and think to myself, now that is someone who is a regular risk taker. And risky for Des Plaines, Illinois is definitely ho-hum for Paris.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Carla, fun to see the Cannes red carpet! I like all of the looks in an OTT way. It's a different bench mark - like the Met Ball. And to your point, fashion risks are 100% relative and in the eye of the beholder.

Laughing @ JenniNZ

I'd wear an OTT look to that type of event because it's the dress code and all in good fun. I'd laugh the whole thing off!

In terms of everyday style - I am a natural risk taker with colour mixing, and wearing lots of white. I'm also dressy, and stick to my guns about it. High fiving, Bijou! I don't think twice about these "risky" decisions because they are completely authentic.

I am a modest dresser. I generally do not take risks showing skin. I also don't enjoy wearing super fitted looks from top to toe. As hubs Greg says, "covering up is your thing".

Lana

(website)

Veteran

If I want to try something risky, I often try it out by buying it cheap on Poshmark for example, and if it works, I’ll get a replacement later that’s better quality and donate the first item. Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it bombs but regardless I haven’t risked too much money on something I’m not sure about.

Indigoprint

Veteran

I think I am not a risk taker. I do not want my clothes to draw attention to me. But I do like some fun things....Stompy boots, frayed jeans , flowing linen.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I gave one example of “risky is in the eye of the beholder” in my first reply. Yesterday my son & I found another one & it made me laugh. Last summer, Sloper encouraged me to try a top with more volume with a certain pair of pants. I did; she said “more volume”. She really didn’t think that blouse was poofy at all. I put it on yesterday and my son said I was trying to look Edwardian with the puffy shoulders and mutton sleeves. He started talking in a ridiculous fake uppity/old-fashioned accent. Same top on (pretty much) the same body, interpreted two different ways. I tend to agree with him, wouldn’t wear that blouse if I wasn’t ready for attention.

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