What's the difference between basic and boring? - YouLookFab Forum

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What's the difference between basic and boring?

FlorenceFearne

I've been searching through the archives, and I cannot seem to find any guidelines that address my exact question, so I'm hoping all you lovely ladies can set me on the right course.

I love interesting, statement making, bold pieces. So I have a lot of them. Predictably, they're pretty tough to style. And then I have a (much smaller) selection of the most uninspired, frumpy, matronly pieces you've ever seen, from when I decided that I really needed to get some plain basics to mix with. The issue is that these pieces actually can't be worn with most of the statement pieces anyway, because they're SO plain that I look like I'm wearing halves of two different people. I know not every piece can be a statement, but right now the disparity between the two types of garment is really jarring.

There are a few pieces I'm eyeing online but I don't want to buy until I have a better way to gauge if they are actually going to fix the problem. So, any tips for how to find that sweet spot where items are interesting without being boring? Some kind of easy rule to remember? I feel like there's an obvious answer here, but I can't figure it out.

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from DonnaF

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Ah, this is like reading about myself from 3 years ago! Angie helped me to realize that you need supporting cast for the stars, otherwise you cannot wear them.
Without seeing pictures it is hard to see what do you mean by 'boring'. Simple does not mean boring at all, at least for me! My advice would be to look at the fit of those 'boring' things: it is very likely they feel matronly because they do not fit properly.
You can also try to post pictures of outfits you feel have this disparity about them. I cannot tell you how much posting outfits and getting help from Angie and forum members helped me to get where I am now with my style. It may take some courage to start but it will get easier after, I promise. You can hide your face if you don't feel comfortable to post pictures online.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Attitude and fit.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

What Sveta & IK said. I think it is to do with quality too. Modern classic pieces that are well made & of good fabric are not usually boring. You may need to add your other more flamboyant piece to feel like the outfit is you but the pieces in themselves shouldn't be boring.

jayne

Veteran

I feel this on my skin. I hate buying the boring pieces. For me it was basic black booties. I finally forced myself to buy them and they have become workhorses for me in terms of finishing an outfit and letting my wild pieces take center stage. When i wore too many bold items, they clash and get lost. But now, with a bold necklace and belt and otherwise tame outfit, I get so many compliments on the bold items that I know I made the right choice. You should do some photos in a dressing room via the app and ask for advice. I assume you can take your bold items with and try them on with the basics so you get an idea of what works? posting pics here will let you get a confirmation on that also!

VernieJane

I agree with Jayne, and the others. It's a combination of a quality item that fits right and then mixing the boring and the cool to create your own style.

You asked for a rule of thumb. It is: do you feel good?

rute

Veteran

The fit must be impecable, the hair and the make-up can be minimal, but must be impecable also.
An acessorie always help, pick one: a scarf, a good watch, a nice ring, gorgeous shoes.
Here quality plays a major role.

Anonymous

Echoing the others too, it is definitely to do with fit, quality and fabrication.
Something plain but beautifully made, with just one playful or interesting accessory and great shoes can look stunning. Basic items to me could mean a plain white tee. But if it was good quality jersey and as white as white could be; paired with great jeans and a statement bangle and shoes you could knock 'em dead.

jenanded

Veteran

My 2 cents worth is following IK that the boring pieces need to fit and be good quality. I know I have skimped on these things and they are shapeless or poor depth of colour or length or neckline and they make everything else look off. Getting these right makes the rest sing! and everything everyone else said!

krishnidoux

Veteran

Fit, and one interesting detail where it counts: do you want to accentuate your waist, your feet, your face? An impeccable, interesting or contrasting belt; a pair of unusual, perfectly polished shoes; an original, non-fussy necklace or pair of earrings...

Kristin L

Veteran

The biggest one is fit, like the other ladies have said. If it doesn't fit, it won't feel right.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You have already received excellent advice. I echo Sveta -- the way to figure this out is to post photos. It is tough at first, but gets easier. By doing this, I learned so much, and took my wardrobe from a place of complete blahs-ville (for I had the opposite problem....I was too frugal to buy a statement piece and thought everything had to be boring) to a point where I am much happier with it!

Fit and fabrication are key, as well as currency. The cut needs to be current, an updated classic rather than one that is cut the way it might have been 40 years ago.

DonnaF

Veteran

To keep an outfit from being boring, I try to have all four elements: Color + Pattern + Texture + Shine. This is particularly true if the outfit does not contain any statement pieces. I have also found that flat, solid black items (you, know, basic black?) can be a challenge to style in an interesting way because they somehow look expected but lifeless, at least on me.

T-Rex

Veteran

I'm wondering about the words "matronly" and "frumpy". I can see how something that's very basic can seem boring by itself, but frumpy implies that the item fits poorly or is unflattering in some way.

Assuming that the items you are talking about are simple and unadorned, rather than poorly fitting or unflattering in shape, then I would suggest that you try to narrow down your style objectives when choosing an outfit. If there is too much going on at once, it's difficult to pick out and appreciate any particular aspect of your appearance.

I remember a long time ago, during the dark ages of corporate job hunting during my early 20's, the women in my business classes were given the advice to limit the bling (although that wasn't the word used back then) to...I think...to four items? Maybe five? A pair of earrings counted as two, a watch counted, each ring counted as one, shiny buttons on your corporate navy blue suit counted as one each, etc. We were told that after we were dressed for our interviews, we were supposed to stand in front of a mirror and count the shiny pieces. Then, we were to remove items until we reached the magic number that was, in theory, drab enough not to scare the interviewer.

You may be able to use a similar (but far, far less strict) rule of thumb when it comes to putting together your outfits. Limit the areas of interest, and keep the rest simple. And simple does *not* have to mean frumpy or dowdy. And it doesn't have to mean completely lacking in interesting elements. It just means that the interesting details are subtle enough not to compete with other pieces that you are wearing. You will probably have to play around with your outfits before you find the right balance of interest and soothing background.

Although I, personally, haven't taken advantage of it yet, you may want to photograph some of your outfits so that we can see what you have to work with. Or at least post some photos of your statement pieces, so we can suggest ways to style them.

unfrumped

Veteran

FF, this is really a great post, and not just for "statement" wearers. The reponses are great and really helpful to me also, though I have almost no dramatic statement pieces.

But is is like jenanded said--the basic pieces can be simple and not necessarily expensive, but need a certain quality level--here is what is very helpful to me! Say I have a nice necklace, not super-dramatic but still strong, good quality, and that is my major accessory, worn with a simple knit top. But, there are knits and knits. If it's a rayon T that is too flimsy or poor quality, the necklace will look out of place. If I wear nice boots, perhaps basic black but good quality, they can elevate the look of an outfit, but but not with poorly fittiing or rumpled pants.

Fortunately there are good looks at different price points and I certainly can't afford to buy everything at the top. Or better, in order to be able to have some high-end pieces, I have to really take care with what and how much I get of other items and find some good items at lower prices.

So in looking at moderate retail places or sale items, the key is to look for the items that are styled, fit or fabricated in a way that looks higher quality. It can be side by side with another item in the same store that looks not as good. Sometimes one color in the same garment looks "higher end" than the others. Or for some reason one type of synthetic knit or fabric will look especially rich, when most items are run-of-the-mill poly. Or a random item will be offered in a great wool or cotton or blend. BR and AT are like that, I think.

And fit-fit-fit--what the other posters said.

rachylou

Veteran

Good stuff so far from all the ladies.

I wanted to add... you mentioned your basics and statements not going together. I think it helps to pay attention to fabric weights, finishes and so forth, and look to see that they complement each other in character and order.

For example, by way of the obvious, a basic $5 ribbed cotton tank is too binding and cheap to go over a silky patterned blouse, but it will do nicely underneath because it doesn't interfere with the blouse that way. But a leather vest can go over the blouse without struggle.

Re. dumpiness: I have struggles with this. What's interesting is that cut more than anything determines when something is dumpy on me. The plainest thing can be smashing or not, all depending on cut. I age 100 years in a Chanel-style jacket.

K. Period.

Veteran

I would love to see what your basic pieces are because I suspect the problem is either that your fit on your basic pieces is not modern enough or that you are buying basic pieces that are so basic that they don't feel like you. When you say frumpy and matronly, it makes me think that you are buying pieces that aren't modern enough for you. So, for example, three basic tees, but three very different feels. Tee 1 would feel frumpy on me because the fit would be too boxy for my non-curvy figure. Tee 2 is more my style: classic, but with a modern cut reflected in the close fit in the body and sleeves and a slightly lower crew neck. Tee 3 is a great basic but very modern piece. With a plain cami under it, it would show off another power piece without competing. However, it has very simple texture and interest in itself to keep it from being an off-note.

Dana (IK) has this down to an art. I always think of one piece of advice she gave me, which is that she wears one show stopper piece with a supporting cast of basics. However, no one would every say her basics were frumpy or boring because they are modern and they fit her perfectly.

ETA: Dana should both be good person for you to look at because she tends toward inverted triangle and has an urban toughness to her style that you might like. And Una (Alaskagirl) too. I don't think either tend toward the romantic side of steampunk, though, so if you associate more with that, then let us know and I bet we can come up with a few other names.

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missvee

Veteran

Take a look at the Blogpost today. Angie's outfit is made up of two basics, the shirt and the skirt, with a statement shoe and classic bag. Her basics are always great quality and perfect fit, and this is the key for me.

Irene

Veteran

I get more compliments on well-fitting clothes than on 'cool' clothes. I've gotten compliments on a plain white shirt several times, and on two red dresses: shirt dress and sweater-dress. Both had nothing special except for the fact that they fit me very nicely and that red looks good on me.

I can actually find myself liking something I didn't like in the beginning after trying it on and seeing it fits perfectly. Good fit is so, so, so important.

FlorenceFearne

At first, I kept reading your responses, and thinking, "These people aren't getting it at all - of course my clothes fit me, or how could I be wearing them!?" But then I told myself there's a reason I asked you all for help. So I posed the question to myself, "How do you know it fits?" When I thought about my favorite pencil skirt, or that perfect pair of skinny jeans, I thought about how they hugged my hips, or made my derriere look great, or whatever. And when I thought about those frumpy pants I bought out of obligation, I had to answer that same question with, "Well, they... button closed?"

Wow. I seriously cannot believe I overlooked something like that. Of course I hate them. They bag in the rear, and puff at the hips, and don't do a thing for my shape. How did I forget that just because it fits on your body does not mean it's flattering?

Thank you all so much! I know this is a rookie mistake, but sometimes you need someone else to point out the obvious. From here, I have a much better idea of how to begin my shopping.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

T-Rex

Veteran

I'm amused by your initial reaction to our replies, and very pleased we could help.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So interesting!!

This place is a real education. And the learning just continues.

K. Period.

Veteran

I was smiling too! I think every single one of us has had a face-palm moment here on the forum. Mine was bookending. (Well of course lighter bottoms and purses and shoes work on me! I'm blonde. They create symmetry.)

Fit has endless variations and I think all of us will admit that it is something we are constantly learning about. Not only are there endless subtle details, but our perception of fit changes constantly as trends change. So much to master. So much fun to be had mastering it!

Lisa

Veteran

This is a great question and I think others already hit the nail on the head. I think fit is key for any style.

DonnaF

Veteran

I love K's illustrating photos! I do think it's important to examine both cut and fit. For example, I love Lands End's prices, quality for the price, and am frequently seduced by their catalog photos. But even though their clothes tend to be cut so they fit my body, for whatever reason, they tend to look frumpy on me! I've also noticed that with Foxcroft shirts at Nordstrom. I'm not totally sure, but I think when tops fit my narrowish shoulders and don't gap at the bustline they veer off into Frumpdom elsewhere.