What's a shadow style again? - YouLookFab Forum

I can't remember. Is that like your fashion alter ego? I've just purchased a pair of Tommy Hilfiger pants (at a super discount, 50% off!), which were featured in Real Simple. They're styled with a peplum top and court shoes in the magazine. It crossed my mind that my "shadow style" might be 100% sloane ranger. Or was that already known?

Two other thoughts followed on:

I'm stuck in the '80s and maybe need to get out. I could be embarrassing myself now.
I've been arguing with young 'uns about the nature of punk "anarchy." I don't think punks are anarchists. I think punks were chucked out into anarchy by sloane ranger extraordinaire, Maggie Thatcher. Which I've probably already mentioned somewhere here on this board. But my fashion point being, my shadow style may not really be my personal shadow style...

I have one more thought... I maybe should not have given in to my shadow side. I may be breaking form, which is the antithesis of what I'm trying to achieve...

So I also forget... what are you supposed to about your shadow style again?

11 years ago

Aida

Veteran

Interesting thoughts Rachy, and I don't have much input for you except to agree that punks aren't inherently anarchist (I'm sure not). Do the young 'uns really think that? How cute and conformist of them :p

(Ok re shadow styles, you can either entertain them or not. Really up to you. If you are drawn to the style AND are happy when you don them then I think it's fine to entertain; versus wearing them and feeling betrayed/not like you then it's best not to entertain. E.g. me and really masculine outfits. I like them, but almost always feel not-quite-right when I wear 'em. So I entertain only in small little doses.)

(Ok ok and on the pants... I think you could work those into a few styles. What's your current style direction?)

rachylou

Re. current style direction: I'm trying to hold steady on the country-punk-goes-into-the-office incarnation of Quirky Waif. I'm trying not to get too urban and slick while, of course, not being a slob. I've also, accidentally, fallen into a palette of black, grey, and red - with occasional wearings of blush, cobalt, and pine green just to mix it up.

I was out this morning with the Lilypup and was thinking I'd pass on the pants, because I was remembering them as being on the tan side of things. But then I had another look and saw they were grey. I'm thinking I could do it, if I replaced the peplum with one of the muscle tees I've taken to wearing with suits...

catgirl

Your secret crush style. Mine is the plaid pants. Haha. Like Kate Spade/prepster cool.

Secret style crush. That's a good explanation!

But man, I have a lot of style crushes. It's a problem.

I don't think you can go wrong with plaid pants... lol. Why does that sound so wrong? The L.L. Bean pants are super fab-u-lous, btw. Keep keep keep!

Suz

(website)

Secret style crush, maybe....or maybe it's the opposite of your style. You know. Like in Jungian psychology.

I think what you said in the original post is right. Punk as a reaction to Maggie T.

The pants are awesome.

Sharon

Nothing wrong with the 80s. It's a fine place to be stuck.

gryffin

Rachy - why stuck? Maybe this is the crux of what I rebel against. What is wrong with simply liking what we like? Isn't the worst personal falsehood putting aside what we like because the majority likes something else? I guess it boils down to whether you believe "to thine own self be true". "Everything that can be believed is a vision of truth" Blake.

Vix

Hi RL --

For me it's closer to what you said -- the fashion alter ego -- than the crush.

I see it as a side of oneself that one's ambivalent about expressing openly because it may reveal something counter to one's usual dressing MO.

I'd think you'd love adding more of the shadow to your wardrobe...don't you have a very mischievous, "keep 'em guessing" personality?

kkards

I think of my shadow style as the one that follows me around,just under the surface, it's sort of always there, but not always visible. And when it comes out to play, it can be in a small way, or watch out, take over the whole outfit, (but those occasions, like your shadow, don't last long)

Sal

For the second time this morning I agree with Kkards!

For me I guess retro would be my shadow style. Given a theme party I will try and incorporate this into my look, and I have a couple of retro pieces I enjoy wearing. But I would not want to wear it every day or every week. But it is fun to play with and adapt.

suz - That's a good clear way to put it: "Punk as a reaction to Maggie T." Re. "maybe it's the opposite of your style. You know. Like in Jungian psychology." My sloane ranger bit may be more along these lines...

Sharon - Thanks for the '80s support

gryffin - Re. why *stuck*: We-ell... there was this moment in the early 2000s, where I met up with an old friend in person. We had a little fashion slash at each other. Because, *doodette,* he looked like a CIA agent trying to look like he was on holiday. He'd found his year, 1983, and was just wearin' it and wearin' it. I didn't tell him that until he took a swipe at my totally on-trend Anthropologie coat. Anyways, the '80s thing wasn't a good thing.

vix - don't you have a very mischievous, "keep 'em guessing" personality? I do. I find it a bit of a problem. Because half the time "keep 'em guessing" comes out more "nasty surprise." (I'm a lot stricter than people think initially.)

kkards/kiwigal - I must ruminate. The sloane thing follows me around... but I'm not sure it isn't doing so like a hall monitor. Haha... sloane ranger is my hall monitored style... hahaha...

Diana

Lol. I think Sloane ranger might be my shadow style too. I have a secret ambition to own a British country estate. (Never mind that I'd probably fall off my horse.)

But yeah. Riding jackets, liberty prints, Tweedy plaidy things. Love it.

I am with Diana. All my shadow styles are Kate-related: Middleton, Hepburn, Spade.

unfrumped

I'm so confused. I like definitions! Which one is it?

Is it aspirational --things you like and style you'd like to achieve--so you could in theory or in practice try to find the best versions or adaptations for your shape and lifestyle.

Is it imaginary and impractical--for the fireside but not for the closet...

Or true alter-ego in which you don't really show it very publicly--but might ramp up at home.

Or a side you haven't realized yet and should listen to...

In my head, I totally live in the country. I do so like the Kates and rumbling around a ramshackle country house and crossing through the back pastures!

...ok, well, cows are scary, so going through the pastures is a little terrifying.

Heh... all good points, unfrumped. And I have to add to the list, one's Shadow Style may be the style one tends to repress.

Or wait. No. Vix said that.

Hehe. I should get out my hoop skirts...

abc

Aaah RL how I have missed your posts! No advice. Just good reading here.

MsLuna

Lol! Secret style crush... I can't agree more!

abc - It's rotten when work interferes with one's surfing...

KatieKate - I'm trying to think of any secret style crushes I might have. I'm pretty tell-all...

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