What is "lagenlook"? - YouLookFab Forum

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What is "lagenlook"?

Peri

Veteran

It was mentioned twice in my coat hemline post and I don't know that word! La Padestriene and Cerinda both said I was doing it...and implied they couldn't...and I don't know what I'm doing! Either I should check it out for more ideas or I should be more careful to be sure I can really do it!

General

24 replies

Latest reply was from Style Fan

MovingFashionForward

Lagenlook means “layered look”. Not sure when people started calling what seems to me standard layering (at least in Europe) "lagenlook" but that's what it means.

Sarah

MovingFashionForward

BTW, I hope that didn't sound as though I was calling your looks "standard" -- I love layered looks including yours! That is how I dress, climate permitting. (More difficult in heat but I still try!)

Sarah

puppycat

As a sewer who often works with lagenlook patterns and has bought and sold lagenlook clothing in the past, it's different from standard layering because the clothing itself has certain conventions that you see over and over. I also am fortunate to own or have sold clothing items from most of the major lagenlook-influenced brands (Transparente, Lilith France, Crea Concepts, Ivan Grundahl, Cut Loose, Bryn Walker, Shirin Guild, Magnolia Pearl, Rundholz...) Not every lagenlook item conforms to the standard and there is a huge variation from designer to designer but it frequently uses the following style points:

Oversize fits (beyond fluid fit) - many lagenlook designers fit all sizes, from 00 to plus, using a 2, 3 or 4 size range. To do that, the fit generally needs to be generous. Close fitting clothes aren't unknown in lagenlook dressing but it isn't the norm.
Clothes that are oversized often use adjustable means such as drawstrings, buttons, wrap styles, etc. instead of tailoring to customize fit
There is often a focus on minimalist coloring and artful simplicity in lagenlook influenced designers. But there is huge variation. Gudrun Sjoden turns this on its head with insanely beautiful, wildly colorful yet still lagenlook influenced clothing... Magnolia Pearl and Ivey Abitz are some of the most-constructed, least simple/minimal clothing lines you'll ever see...but they are still part of the lagenlook "family".
Disregard for conventional standards of flattery; lagenlook styles often fly in the face of what is considered attractive by current mainstream standards. A silhouette that is often used is a triangle, when the most fitted clothing is worn at the top and the bottom is the widest and most flowing with multiple layers. This is very different from clothing that is intended to showcase the form and condition of the body, or clothes that follow the body contours closely.

I could go on and on about the interesting angles of lagenlook and clothing design, but I don't want to be boring. If you want to see examples of lagenlook that are all very different from each other, check out keyword "lagenlook" on Pinterest.

rachylou

Veteran

I think of lagenlook (a word I totally learned on YLF) as craftsy avant garde. Totally the national look of my home town for fancy occasions

Peri

Veteran

Hmmm...especialy by puppy cat's definition I wouldn't have called my style this at all. Fluid and layered in a mild way, but not the rest.

Astrid

Veteran

When I hear layered look I don't think of "lagenlook", I'm thinking of someone wearing what we call a "Zwiebellook" (Zwiebel = onion). For it to be Lagenlook the layers need to have a very specific vibe. One of my aunts dressed that way for years, very well done too. I think one typical brand which is somewhat fashionable is Oska.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is fascinating. Thanks for asking the question, Peri, and thanks for all the replies. I feel like I have a ton of learning to do.

catgirl

Veteran

I love this look and often pin them. I think they can be artsy (like Gudren Sjoden) or more avant-garde like what Deborah's looks are like if done in a maximal piled-on way.

kkards

Veteran

and i learned something new today…..so very interesting….Peri, thanks so much for asking

Cerinda

Veteran

Actually, Peri, I intended to CONTRAST the restraint of your laying TO lagenlook, and I was reacting to La Pedestrienne's remark. Wow, Puppycat nailed it in that description, didn't she? I find the look wildly attractive, and I did try it. Alas, just not me.

Bonnie

Veteran

I love lagenlook outfits but haven't tried it. It looks very artistic and hard to do well.

Cococat

Veteran

I'm with Suz....this is fascinating! I'm going to look up those designers you mentioned puppycat.

puppycat

Astrid, I forgot about OSKA--I love that brand! They are one of the few lagenlook brands to have their own stand-alone stores in the U.S,(in New York, Beverly Hills, Silicon Valley, Seattle and a few other cities.) In Germany I understand they have multiple shops. OSKA is generally beyond my price range, except secondhand. I stalk pieces I love on Ebay and knock off my own versions when I can.

I live in Southern California and I'd love to visit their Beverly Hills store to handle the lovely fabrics and admire the workmanship, but I'm shy and frankly a tad intimidated in upscale shops...so I'll admire from afar.

An online friend of mine who visited that store in person was excited by the fact that the actress Diane Keaton was also shopping there at the same time. Since I love Diane Keaton's style, that was a cool thing to hear about.

catgirl

Veteran

Here are three I find appealing!

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Peri

Veteran

Interesting! I do love the look as art but think that would be really difficult to do IRL without looking costume-y. I agree with Alaskagirl, I think Deborah does it to perfection...perfect real-life lagenlook lite.

puppycat

Here are some of my favorites - all very different from each other but all sharing a certain aesthetic. Rundholz is more Urban Warrior Princess, Gudrun Sjoden more playful, and Ivey Abitz....well, they just do their own thing and they do it well.
Rundholz
http://www.studiorundholz.com/

Gudrun Sjoden
http://www.gudrunsjoden.com/us

Ivey Abitz
http://iveyabitz.com/

Ivan Grundahl
http://www.ivangrundahl.dk/

Magnolia Pearl (warning, this site auto-plays alternative bluegrass/hipster country music as soon as you enter, so get ready to turn your speakers down. I always forget and it makes my dog bark wildly every time!)
http://www.magnoliapearl.com/

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Puppycat your answer was so helpful! I knew the general concept but the details are what matter.

Peri

Veteran

Wow, I really like the Ivan Grundahl!

Beth Ann

Veteran

I have a soft spot for Sarah Pacini. Her looks are a bit more restrained, and some items have real structure.

Greyscale

Veteran

Thanks for the explanation! I knew the word, and I knew the look, but I didn't quite have them associated together correctly. It's a common look around me and it overlaps some with my own style, especially on the more avant garde side but it's not exactly my look.

I feel like Eileen Fisher is the pared-down version of this?

Cerinda

Veteran

Don't most of the EF silhouettes have the triangle across the shoulders? Fluid / oversize meets long-over-lean, perhaps?

Astrid

Veteran

Puppycat, I feel the same about upscale boutiques! There's an OSKA store here in Berlin. I've never been though because it's not really style. I can admire it on others though. I think of lagenlook as one of those styles that are more or less removed from fashion. I've known a few women dressing that way (mostly older than me) and they were all very intelligent, independent and artistic.

Cococat

Veteran

Wow, I really like Rundholz and Ivan Grundahl.

Style Fan

Veteran

I love lagenlook. I also have a soft spot for Sarah Pacini and have a few of her pieces. Her look is a bit more restrained though. Another designer is Kaliyana. Canadian I think. There are stores in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. They also sell Trippen footwear which looks great with the lagenlook.