I can't remember any critics of my clothes being made for many years. I trained DH long ago not to comment, or else he's learned to like what I wear.

Mom didn't approve at times, but she seldom said anything directly to a daughter. I was always to a sister. "Tell L her skirts are too short." "Tell D her hairstyle is out of date." When I was growing up in the late 50s, however, conformity in dress was king--or queen? Anyway, we were supposed to always check out what the other girls were wearing before buying something new. Then the 60s came along!

I did get a relative tell me several years ago that it was time I gave up body-con clothes. I am still puzzled--I've never worn anything you'd call body con. I find styles that follow the shape of the body--not too tight--are more flattering generally. As for DH, he would love some body-con, but as I said, has learned to keep silent.

I like to jump on new silhouettes way before they become common around here, so I get called out once in a while but it never discourages me. Cropped skinnies, wide legs, knee length vests, white shoes.... I just tell people "you'll catch up some day!"

When I was younger I had many hairstylists express disbelief that I wanted short hair (as in very boyish pixie cuts). "Even shorter, really?" Like they'd never seen a picture of Jean Seberg... I never went back to those salons and consequently got pretty good at cutting it myself.

My grandparents openly disapproved of my tattoos; my parents (who were teens in the 60s) couldn't care less. My mom and I have pretty similar styles, tbh, although she's even further toward the "pragmatist" end of the spectrum than I am. The only time I remember her commenting on something I wore was when I found an ugly yellow floral scarf on the side of the road and "adopted" it. My favorite summer outfit for a few years in my 20s was that scarf, a grey tank top and baggy olive clamdiggers. She told me I looked like an urchin in it -- which I considered (still do) a compliment.

My husband has a couple of things he vocally dislikes: long/bulky cardigans and nude underwear. He doesn't have much of a style vocabulary, and simply refers to these as "things old people wear". I've explained to him the utility of nude underwear, and tried to explain to him that when I wear a big cardigan I'm being quirky/ironic, or else just cold. He's not going to like my pleated pants either, I guarantee it.

I can only think of two things,

- Jon and I both tend to have one or two lounge wear pieces that we thrash and that never wear out. Eventually he will tell me he can’t bear the pink jumper or grey track pants any more.

- I do know that maxi skirts and dresses are divisive on the forum, I like them - I only have one skirt currently and funnily enough has gained lots of compliments.

Hahaha! Love this thread. Well I have received side eye for many, many items I have worn. My husband and kids have learned better. My daughter now says things like "I don't like shorts that length, except on you", the other daughter doesn't even bother to comment. My son does not notice. DH mostly asks why I dress up for x and down for y. My friends only sincerely compliment. That is why I keep them !

Where do I begin? DH does not like anything that could indicate pregnancy. However. That ship has sailed.
My parents did not understand tee shirts ( underwear) or jeans ( you are not a farmer). I chalked it up to a generational thing.
I taught school in mini skirts before pants of any kind were allowed and took criticism for that, but looked good in them then and did not change my skirt length.
Then there are those who tell me I am too dressed up. I respond that dressy is my style and I try to wear a dress or skirt at least two days of the week. They usually do not say any more or comment again. My best friends, appreciate my style although they have their own. Still they ask for advice.

My family isn't too keen on my new second pair of glasses.

I don't always trust them on style advice but I do on colours.

I have to say, I mostly get compliments on my very short hair (to the point that my husband says "It's like being with a Kardashian!" ) but a couple of my coworkers make the occasional remark about wishing I'd grow it longer.

But these are people who've had the same hairstyle since high school so there's that.

In the past, my dad has made comments about my curly hair. He would look at me right after I finished styling it and ask, "Are you going to go out like that? Don't you need to comb your hair?"

My mom always used to accuse me and my dad of dressing "dull, drab, and conservative." She liked really bright colors and patterns. I've always loved neutrals.

In my current life, it is rare that I come across someone who says something negative about my outfit. In general, the people I spend time with are more fashion- and apperance-conscious, so I generally get (and give) compliments. But I know that if I had to go to a typical job (I work at home), I would probably get some pointed comments. I think that most people have never been interested in personal style, so anything that is in the least bit trendy or unusual (= outside of the mainstream) is going to be met with hostility.

Fun topic! Well, my husband hates me with bangs. He says it reminds him of Bruce Dickinson in the eighties, ha ha.
I used to be drawn to a certain look that could be considered "tacky" by some: fake fur, animal print, tall leather boots, miniskirts. I'm not into that aesthetic anymore though.
I guess my worst fashion faux pas these days is dressing too casual. Like "woke up in yesterday clothes"-casual. Not saying I really have, but it looks that way. Still working on that...

A few men at my office comment condescendingly about my high heels. Strange.

The Levi’s Wedgies have not been well-received by SO. The Combo high rise and high water is a bit too much for him I think. He’ll get used to them

For the most part, I haven't received many negative comments on what I choose to wear. However, my husband is not fond of my my dark red Fly London boots, which I love. He asked my why I was wearing plastic boots! I instructed him on the difference between plastic and patent leather. When I wear the boots and my high waist crop jeans with the red tuxedo stripe, I think it's a little too much "look" for my husband. I have attached pictures of the offending boots.

This is such fun to read. Yay to all of us expressing ourselves fearlessly!

DH and DD definitely don’t always love my subtle and not-so-subtle bling. But I will always cherish DD’s comment “that doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would, Mom.” High praise from a young teen. And at the time her friends would often compliment my outfits, so.....

Fun (and in some cases also a little sad) reading.

Here are some of my style choices that others have disapproved:

● Midi skirts (when they were not in fashion)
● Coatigans or long velour toppers. ("Why is she wearing a coat indoors?!?")
● Looking "so dressed up" (wearing pants instead of jeans)
● Being "matchy-matchy" (wearing two or three items where one colour is repeated)
● Looking "extremely elegant, but utterly boring!" (wearing a navy silk blouse, a navy pleated skirt, bright red patent pumps and big red earrings, at the office)
● Being "daring!" (wearing an all-white ensemble, including a medium-long white pearl necklace worn on a white turtleneck pullover, in winter.--According to the commenter, "white on white" was VERY unconventional, in particular in winter)
● Looking "like a Christmas tree" (wearing a neck tie and a belt in two different non-neutral colours--The rest of the outfit was neutral)
● Looking "like a school boy" (when combining a tartan shirt and a blazer, at the office)
● Pattern mixing--florals with stripes. ("Reminding of poor people in Eastern Europe. Did you get the inspiration on your last travel there?")
● Looking "rather snobbish!" (wearing a casual, wrinkled cotton blazer in an office where no other women wore blazers)
● Looking "tough and mannish" (wearing black jeans when others wore blue jeans)
● Flat T-strap Mary Janes. ("They are what children wore in the 1930s")
● Platform wedge sandals. ("They are what prostitutes wore in the 1940s")
● Black hosiery. ("Associated with either prostitutes or Salvation Army")

The comments are from earlier years (1973-2016). I didn't take them very seriously--in fact, most of them made me smile both then and today-- and they didn't make me change my style, as I couldn't see any real need to do so.

Generally, my family, friends, colleagues and other people I meet have been--and still are--extremely positive and supportive. I get compliments practically every day, so I can't complain.

This is a fun topic, both to read about and think about! My unpopular choices:

*DH wishes I would grow my hair longer.
*My mom wishes I would not highlight my hair, pierce my ears, or wear anything lower cut than the chin.
*My daughters wish I wore shoes that looked less orthopedic.
*Funny recent story: I was wearing a sheath dress over coordinating capri leggings (which I often do at work, as I teach elementary students and am often bending and/or moving and don't want to flash anyone). A coworker complimented me on my dress, but followed it up with, "Don't know about the leggings, though . . ." I couldn't believe she'd said it out loud.

Liesbeth, I forgot to thank you for this amusing thread, for having the courage to keep your personal style, and for encouraging others to do likewise.

By the way, tell your mother and your best friend that loafers and plaid are timeless styles--they seem to reappear in fall fashion every year.

What a fun question! I have to say I don't get a lot of comments, I think family and friends are used to me. I am happy though when I get positive comments from the young 20-something nieces which occasionally happens.

I work with a bunch of men and got comments on my (slightly) ripped jeans, but all in fun. My husband seems to enjoy my style, at least as far as I can tell. My mom and I shop together and have quite different tastes but it still works OK, we can pick things for each other pretty well. She wasn't happy back in 6th grade when I insisted on a green and yellow plaid winter coat but she let me get it and I loved that coat for years.

Only negative comments that I have ever received outside of close family was about my hair when I stopped coloring. Older man were the biggest offenders, go figure. But my family comments on everything - my mom doesn’t like my hair long and is not shy about it, my DH has hard time accepting anything new, took him years to stop commenting on skinny jeans and still hasn’t accepted cropped pants. My DD is always making fun of my fashion choices - last thing that she told me is that I look like radioactive banana. From time to time I question myself if I should tone down my wardrobe and wear more neutrals because it is not the norm at work.

What an interesting thread. I'm grateful that I don't get much guff about my fashion choices from anyone in my life. Of course, since I work from home few people see what I am wearing on a regular basis.

My husband will sometimes comment when I am wearing something that is more of A Lewk than usual -- not necessarily negatively but more along the lines of "that's a lot of look." Maybe that plays into a sense of "trying too hard," to reference another recent thread?

And my 11-year-old daughter, who is *aggressively* uninterested in clothing/style, will sometimes shake her head and say, "you sure do like clothes, don't you?" Whatever, girl! You sure do like video games and I don't understand that!

I have received very few negative comments from my friends about my style or clothing choices. I actually can't think of any. The only member of my family who criticized my clothing, style or hair was my mother. There is not enough space to go into that one. I have made peace with that relationship and don't really want to dig it up.
Mr Style Fan #1 never said anything negative except when I highlighted my hair. He couldn't understand why I did that. I regretted it.
Mr Style Fan #2 helps me pick out most of my clothes so it is unlikely that he is going to criticize them!!! However, my hair is another topic. He points out that I have had the same hair style since Grade 5 (not true exactly) and suggests styles. Things like bright red curly hair with long layers to my waist. Now how would that happen? Does he realize what would be involved? He is not allowed to discuss hair.

I have been very lucky in recent years. I get far more compliments than negative comments. My mother used to be critical but she died 20 years ago when I was 38. The most hurtful thing was when she didn’t like how I looked when pregnant- that my bum was big or something. I felt I could hardly help it but she compared me unfavourably with some of my pregnant friends
Since then the odd joke from husband like “they forgot to finish the sleeves” on my favourite coat which has bracelet sleeves, etc. Mostly he likes my clothes but doesn’t compliment freely. Co-workers and friends and patients do. One daughter ( DD2, 25) is a bit critical at times- especially if she thinks too much is going on! But she says it in a matter-of-fact way, not unkindly, and I just respond that our taste is different!

This must have been 1970; I was very fashion forward as a teen. I wore a midi skirt to school when everyone else was still in minis (before we all defaulted to jeans). A male teacher commented that he didn't like the length. I told him I didn't dress to please him! He was suitably chastened, and told me I was in the right.

Since then... I don't get a lot of criticism. My eldest daughter, who lives nearby, is the most traditionally minded; she doesn't like pattern mixing or dressy/casual juxtaposition, and still tries to talk me out of it. M. Abeille doesn't comment much, but will tell me if he really dislikes a look (in which case I don't wear it when we're together).

theCat, thank you for showing that it’s impossible to get lots of compliments without also getting some flack. Perhaps those with neutral styles get less of either, I don’t know. Or else there are just great differences in if people react to clothes at all.
And yes, we can at least train our family to hold their tongues - I’ve apparently taught my husband not to comment over the years, as he now wont’t even when asked :-D.
‘You sure do like clothes’ hahaha, I would take that as a point of pride :).

Funny story from yesterday - I recently picked up a pair of dungarees/overalls and was trying them on when my 6yo son came in and asked, "Are those the ones I wore when I was a baby?"

No, kiddo. No they're not... *sigh*

My late mother was often critical of my hair and especially hated my love of nail polish in the blue/turquoise range (and also when I wore yellow or white polish). Once, when I walked into our performing arts center to meet her for a concert, she said in a very loud voice, "Oh, I see you are cutting your hair with lawn shears again." People actually turned around and looked at me. She also would ask me "why do you want your nails to look cyanotic?" (the color your hands get when they lack blood) Once she told me that the peacock blue nail color I was wearing looked like I had "slammed fingers in the car doors." Whatever.

This is such an interesting thread. Thank you, Liesbeth, for starting it. Fun and sad. Honestly, I don’t understand where all the hurtful comments come from. And often from the closest people ....
I seldom get criticized for my style choices or appearance. I think the people around me got used to it or simply hold their tongue.
Another story, though, are the comments about my wardrobe as such. The size of it, the number of my scarves, bags and glasses etc. It happens that some acquaintances or colleagues comment on that. Mostly women. The worst kind of comments are the passive aggressive, implying that their choices, not like mine, are about the “important” things in life. When I was younger, I often responded apologetically to such comments - like everything was bought on sale, it is not really that many etc. etc. I don’t apologize any more. If my wardrobe triggers some comments, so be it.

This is an interesting and surprising thread!

I must have a very polite family and circle of friends because we all love to shop, encourage each other regarding fashion choices and enjoy the entire experience from the youngest at 5 to the oldest 85 (my dad).

Nothing gives him more pleasure than taking everyone shopping ...while no one sticks to his budget ....it is the most fun ~10 to 12 ~ of us , family experience ever!

The only negative comments I have ever received are from total strangers regarding walking in heels, and I Honestly couldn’t care less what strangers think

Liesbeth, thank you for your nice and reflective comment to me. I think you are right "that it’s impossible to get lots of compliments without also getting some flack. Perhaps those with neutral styles get less of either [...] Or else there are just great differences in if people react to clothes at all." (I would have preferred to mark this quote in italics if I was able to, but I don't know how to do so on my tablet)

Katerina, I am nodding along to what you told about comments on the size of your wardrobe and the number of certain items. And like you, I don't think we have to make excuses for these things. I mean, usually people are not expected to make excuses for owning more than one or two properties, cars, books, tvs, flowers, kitchen tools, stamps, music instruments, dogs, or whatever. So why do some try to make us guilty for owning more than a few clothing items and accessories? I don't see the point.

By the way, I suspect that many of those commenters have plenty of unworn items in their closets. It has often been said that many people wear only 20 percent of the items they own. When people comment that "you have so many ... [skirts, shoes, scarves, glasses, or whatever]," I often reply, "Yes, and do you know what? I wear them all!" This usually make them stop--and, hopefully, think.

I have and need items for four seasons and a number of different roles/activities. I evaluate the content of my closet every season, only keep what I still want to wear, and make sure everything gets worn. I love to play around with my clothes and make new combos of old and new items. And I refuse to let anyone make me feel guilty for this.