Not to derail, but what the heck is a liberty print, and how do you all know the names of such things. Even at 40 years old, when I came here, I knew of florals and that was about it. Maybe geometric as a term and abstract. The End. Did you pick up the lingo here or am I just a print neophyte?

Gaylene, that makes total sense. A dress can have pattern in a different scale and also on a different grid, as it were.

Steph, so nice to see you again. And you are so right. Just because we can't articulate it doesn't mean it's not rational -- and even if it did, so what?

Our feelings have a wisdom of their own.

Loafers are way outside my comfort zone, but oxfords make me very happy. Flats that aren't shoes with laces were out of my comfort zone, but actually now I'm dipping my toe in to try some pointy toes. I think that is personal style, and maybe briefly wearing loafers at a private school also turned me off.

I second the lighter colors on pants discomfort (I think too many bad experiences early on made me gun shy), although I still occasionally try one on.

Chiffon blouses (silk or poly) are outside my comfort zone although I like how it looks and the colors, and it's not a tactile or style thing.

I figured out the patterns on tops thing as it applies to myself. Patterns are fine when my hair is all one color, but when I have highlights (even subtle ones) so that there are multiple colors in my hair, I avoid pattern happening below it, especially small patterns.

Liberty is Liberty of London. Prime makers of so-called "ditsy" prints. Also some William Morris copycats. The only reason I know about them was there was a big vogue for it when I was young. Diana has a few Liberty prints, which look fab on her, and IK is another (unexpected) fan.

Flat shoes are completely outside my comfort zone, with the exception of flat sandals in summer and flat boat shoes with jeans or shorts. I bought two pair of flat oxfords a couple of years ago and just. couldn't. wear them, because I just didn't feel like myself without a heel on my shoe.

Other than that, I'm uncomfortable in anything I feel is too "young" for me. Most notably puffy sleeves, necklines that are too low, skirts that are too short.

Sheer blouses? No.

And I don't like my arms so most sleeveless garments are outside The Zone.

My mother had a liberty print/william morris sleeveless blouse that I loved the pattern on so much I pinned it to my wall in college. It was all tangled deep green leaves and tiny coral and blue flowers.

The only way I know a few fabric names is through craft, having quilters in the family. I don't know the names of many varieties of shoes and only basic clothing names though. I sometimes have to google what people are talking about here.

An example of Liberty print that probably scared me in the cradle--for Mo.

Even wth all the great examples and the explanation, I'm still not entirely clear on the distinction. So, I'll say these are things that would make me feel awkward if I were to wear them: ruffles, pouf sleeves, pussy bows, voluminous anything, small floral prints, pleats, themed sweaters, neon. I'll have to think about this some more.

Thanks for educating me on the derail of prints, ladies. I had no idea liberty was a brand name, so there ya go. Now I know

I would say to me, the difference is that I love flat oxfords and would love to wear them, but... I just can't. Don't feel comfortable. Love the, adore them, feel like they should be "me," but they're just... not. Ditto sheer blouses. I love them on others (with appropriate underpinnings), wish I could wear 'em, feel like I could make 'em work hypothetically, but I just can't do it.

Whereas certain other things (I'm looking at you, platform sneakers) are just not my style and I'll pass on 'em without a thought. And conversely, if I were to find myself wearing a pair of platform sneakers I suspect I wouldn't feel uncomfortable in the "outside my comfort zone" kind of way.

I will reread this whole thread during my more wakeful hours, but Ceit I am with you - I am as RATE as could be but am out of my comfort zone with distressed jeans (maybe because on me it just looks like I tripped!). I am out of my comfort zone and style with anything too body con but just out of my comfort zone with something too pristine (I feel like a disaster waiting to happen). Interesting to separate the two categories - fascinating thread Suz!

I shy right away from anything delicate, pretty, or overtly feminine, although (or perhaps because) I am petite and people always mistakenly think I am "adorable", "demure" or "exotic" when I wear girly clothes. Pussy bows, frills, lace, gathers, sweet patterns, Peter Pan collars, dainty jewelry, kitten heels.... I guess it also brings back bad memories of Petite Sophisticate. I see lots of others here do all of these styles well and I suppose I could too - but just wearing them makes me feel like jumping right out of my skin.

Is it bootstrapping to say my comfort zone is what makes ME happy, no matter how out there it is in my environment (drop crotch pants!)? Or is that "what makes me happy" the definition of the comfort zone?

The exception is my Indian clothing, which is colorful, feminine and blingy!

That's it exactly, Mary. I feel like that about black leather moto jackets. I really would love to wear one, and I keep trying them on -- but I just don't feel comfortable in them. I would feel super awkward in one even though it would fit into my style or at least be a reasonable extension of my style.

Whereas....hmmm....a super tight, super short mini skirt worn with heels would feel bad to me, both because it's out of my comfort zone AND because it is not my style.

And ballet flats. Totally within my comfort zone (well, if I could ever get any to stay on my feet, that is...we're talking emotional comfort, not physical comfort here). But they're not my style, pure and simple.

Una-- I think the super strong saturated colour in your Indian clothing is actually a real plus and makes it more easily fall in your comfort zone; it makes it seem feminine but not "girlish" to adapt a distinction Diane made the other day. (She was actually comparing ladylike to feminine). Also, of course, the Indian clothing is totally familiar and part of your cultural heritage.

I can't imagine ever wanting to wear kitten heels in Alaska, either. It makes me wonder how our style is really shaped by environment.

Shevia, no one could every mistake your stylish self for someone who just happened to trip!

So! I'm struggling with the concept of personal emotional (dis)comfort zone versus one's personal style zone. How to distinguish? So this would mean that if a person had an eclectric style or whose style was maybe in transition, not so many things would be in her discomfort zone?

I would wear a tartan any day of the week for any event yet find it difficult to wear another patterned bottom (except houndstooth pants acquired last year) at all. I'm sure I wore tartan in the cradle though and it is part of my heritage so that makes sense in that it is a cultural norm. I also have always loved dainty jewellery and worn it yet if I try any denim or leather clothing I feel like I'm trying to pretend I'm 16. That one makes no sense at all!

Super casual is out of my comfort zone, unless it really cozy lounge wear --- which I would never wear out of the home. Last summer I worked hard to bolster my ability to dress for an extremely casual environment, but I still prefer smart casual. Sometimes I wonder if my preferred mode of dress is signalling my desire for change elsewhere in my life --- you know, dress for the job/life you want? Hmmmm......

Beth Ann, it might also signal nothing more than your overall sense that life has become too casual! But in your case, in addition -- there is a constraint. The need to appear approachable, kind, thoughtful (all of which you ARE) battles a bit with the need to stand out, look special, be special (all of which you also ARE.) For the sake of others in your community you need to show the first side (and since they dress casually, that means casual dress) but then the other side of you is repressed.

Donna, you might be right -- an eclectic dresser might by definition be someone who does not find very much out of her personal comfort zone. But I still think there's a distinction between what works or potentially works for our style and what is in or outside our comfort zone...in some cases. The orange pants would not have conflicted with my style -- but they were out of my comfort zone.

Not really out of my comfort zone, but I've recently realized that I have trouble with red. I like red and at first thought that I'd been wearing the wrong reds. Tomato looks great next to my face. But I have trouble styling reds unless it is with black and white or the same shade red in a column. It's not the brightness. I have a very bright orange blazer that is not a problem. My red blazer is practically a closet orphan. My red shawl collar cashmere pullover is identical to a taupe one but I have to make myself choose the red. I don't know what the problem is. I even have a lovely tomato red Kate Spade bag from Christmas that has not had a single outing yet. What is my problem!?

That's juts the kind of thing I mean, Joy. It's very odd, isn't it?

ETA: JUST. Not juts. Sheesh!

This is such a great thread! I love how one person's comfort zone is another's total discomfort zone (and that both looks would look great on both people to anyone else's eye).

So much about style/fashion is highly personal. It's what resonates with you. I personally very much have a comfort zone as well as a category of clothing styles that I would categorize as "outside my zone":

• classic conservative looks/items
• preppy looks/items
• very sporty looks
• overtly frilly or feminine looks

So I'll probably always be trying to figure out my personal line between fashion fabulous and fashion faux pax. The joy is in the journey not the destination, imho. I already know where I "live" fashion-wise. I want to make sure I visit "foreign lands" on a regular basis so I can see what I can learn and appreciate from that "culture."

Hmmm, I've actually found this metaphor is actually applicable to me IRL as well (I've done a lot of globe-trotting IRL, too!)

Either way, I'm really enjoying this thread and all the interesting perspectives. Thanks for sharing them, all!

I *love* this discussion!

For me it's anything waistless ... although I love my new orange sweater ... but there's a fine line between that (which is out of my comfort zone but very me) and all the things that look absolutely dreadful on me, like crew necks and woven button-downs.

Trying to distill all the replies, I'm coming back to what I meant about the pants. Clothes at their most elemental are for protection...to cover what we don't want exposed. That can be psychological as well. "Don't look here, look someplace else."

Most of the "out of my comfort zone" replies seem to referring to something being too much. That it draws too much attention, or attention to what we prefer to hide...examples of clothes not doing their job. Either physically (don't look at my butt...yeah that's psychological too) or psychologically (I'm not wearing pretty because I assume I have failed at being pretty).

So something being "not my style" is just about taste. I like this, I don't like that. Comfort zone is deeper. Delicate jewelry might not be someone's taste, but I'm not sure it can make someone uncomfortable.

Suz, if this makes sense at all...try to take it and word it better for me!

Peri, your words are eloquent.

I think you're right -- there is the "too much" element to "out of comfort zone" -- although what feels like "too much" to one person won't to another.

The thing is, the "attention" we are drawing is often purely in our imaginations. Would anyone be paying too much attention to your cute bottom in plaid pants? I seriously doubt it. Would anyone be staring at my orange bum, or at me in a black moto? Okay, there are SOME motos that would draw a lot of attention, but they are so mainstream now, and obviously, I would choose a fairly restrained one. Yet I just can't do it. It makes me think of the print Club Monaco jacket that many of us loved on you but didn't feel right to you. Objectively, it would not have called undo attention -- but it felt that way. (And I understand this -- that's the mystery behind all this.)

Love this thread!

Sometimes I think anything other than a v-neck navy or charcoal heather tee and great fitting jeans is out of my comfort zone! Geez, I used to be more adventurous in fashion. That said, the real things that are out of my comfort zone are ruffles, flower prints (and most other prints), most lace, puffy sleeves, too many details or bling, anything crisp or simply not soft to the touch, anything too synthetic in fabrication and most bright colors, though I do have a fondness for neon pink for some odd reason.

Great topic, thanx for bringing it up, Suz! I tnk iIt's comming form the therm itself about aplying "comfort" to your clothes and style. Now, that I thought about, I love comfortable clothing, but anything too RATE or too casual is out of my comfort zone. Also, I second MaryK for not loving on my the flat oxfords(but I have a wedged pair wich i can wear well) and generally all the fat lace shoes in the world, but neither do I feel the 3 inch dainty stiletto heels inside my comfort zone, too-and never felt so. I second Gaylene on hating most of the patterned tops if not something abstract, geometric and monochromatic in a very right scale (but also say a big NO to plaids of any kind for me) I can do patterned dresses(but not ditsy!) and skirts so much better. And, I second anybody with the phobia of colored or printed pants....nor I'm comfortable in the very light distressed jeans. But I do love the white ones, go figure:-).

i have 2 different comfort zones, the physical and the emotional. skirts and dress are on the outer reachs of my physical comfort zone...i run cold and even with tights, find pants warmer. i fidget and don't always sit like a lady, and in pants i don't need to think about my movements. which starts the loop on to the emotional comfort zone, since i dont wear skirts and dress often, i when i do, i feel less like myself, and therefore more out of my comfort zone. i'm not sure if the physical or the emotional comfort zone drove this one, used to feel the same about any heel above a kitten heel, but in the last decade or so, i've become comfortable with heels up to 3 inches.

Hmmmm .... This is a very difficult question for me Suz. I have stepped outside my comfort zone only 2-2.5 years back. I only ever wore Indian clothes that were always non figure hugging and non revealing in any way! So skinnies were a huge step. Knee length pencil skirts a massive step, body con dresses/sleeveless tops, short tops that *exposed* my booty .... A humungous step. All outside my comfort zone. I have learnt to say never say never the hard way!

Now if you ask me, I experiment with every kind of clothing/trend and try and extend my comfort zone. I don't want to limit myself to an imaginary restricted zone anymore ..... that I have 99% of the time created in my own little head!

That being said, I am body conscious/modest, and use shorts only when the situation calls for it (play/ease of movement). I just own one pair for *owning one* purpose o_O and I dont indulge in booby show. Else bring it on baby and I will give every darn thing a shot and try and get comfortable in it

Did I ramble? Ack! Sorry!

On second thought .... I am a new player ... And probably still haven't recognized my comfort zone. I am having fun experimenting and one day might be able to write a more intelligent post! :).

Suz, this is such a thought-provoking thread. There are a lot of things jangling around in my brain right now, but I'm not sure how to articulate them!