What's Your Wardrobe Saying? - YouLookFab Forum

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What's Your Wardrobe Saying?

Dee

Veteran

If, as they say clothes are a form of self expression, what do you think or would like your clothing choices to say about you?

Personally, I'm fairly conventional, pragmatic and not very formal and so I want my wardrobe to reflect a relaxed, casual classic vibe but it needs to still be refined and modern too. I want show that I do care about my appearance, that I'm still in the fashion game but I dont take it all too seriously. I just want to enjoy the way these clothes make me feel about who I really am.

How about you?

ETA; Why do you wear the colours/styles/silhouettes etc.. that you do and what does it reflect/say about who you are?

47 replies

Latest reply was from Dee

LJP

Veteran

"She has no idea what she's doing." A direct quote from my closet.

In all seriousness, I like my clothing to reflect my interest and knowledge of fashion (despite not being very advanced in my styling and choices relative to the market at large ). This part is a work in progress. I also want my clothing to reflect my need to look put-together without looking too formal and unnecessarily dressy.

Irina

Veteran

My wardrobe says “She has too many things and needs to edit”
I think my wardrobe represents what I like well - natural fibers, solid colors, lots of black, navy and whites. I’m in a process of clarifying my markers, so to speak, and experimenting more. I hope to unload some clothes from my wardrobe so it will represent more my current style journey.

slim cat

Veteran

Mine probably says: "She still feels like graphic tee, jeans and fun topper is the way to go. We'll see if it still works in a couple of years".
Comfortable, on a go, with fun prints and natural fabrication. Editing should be done this fall and some more polished pieces should be the focus in the future ( I don't know if it'll all work when I'll hit the scary number of 60 - I'm 57 now ).

Joy

Veteran

My wardrobe echos Irina's. It is telling me that I have too much and need to edit. The last piece I added was because it was Johnny Was at a great price because it is silk and the print goes with most I have. But, it is too long and big for me, and will probably be altered or sent to my sister or given to my daughter in law who is bigger than I am. It is a tunic length top and can serve as a topper left unbuttoned.. I will experiment with the length before doing anything. It can be worn over a dress or jeans.

rachylou

Veteran

Cheerful, accessible, quirky but straight-laced and… a little bit angry. Lol. I ride public transportation sometimes: feel free to talk to me, but don’t come at me - I’ll take all your crazy points

nuancedream

Veteran

My wardrobe says, " She can't stay away from the bold patterns no matter how hard she tries. Plus, she still has too many shoes."

Roberta

Veteran

I love this question! Mine says, this gal:

Is seriously organized, and devoted to Joy hangers.
Has a weakness for clearance items.
Over duplicates.
LOOOVES COLOR.

I really do have a thing for Joy hangers. They're very sturdy and tops never slide off them. Accept no substitutes!

So, things to be proud of and things to work on. Most of my mistakes come from seeing something 60% off and whipping out my credit card. And I have stopped buying an item in every color (except for Rainier shorts), but the evidence from previous years is glaring.

It's not an elegant closet, but it is very vibrant and practical. I can't word this very well, but it is willing to experiment, to try new combinations and styles.

Sisi

Veteran

I think my wardrobe could say: "She likes colour and practicality".

L'Abeille

Veteran

Haha I think mine says "I'd rather be sailing". Even though I haven't for a few years. I can't say no to a navy and white striped anything.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*VERY BIG CHUCKLE*

Thanks for the laughs!

I'd like my wardrobe and style to reflect that I am a:

"Yorkie-loving Dressy Urban Polished Trendy Classic who is very kind to her feet".

Cardiff girl

Veteran

My wardrobe has perfected an insouciant shrug therefore no words are necessary.

Dee

Veteran

Enjoying some of these funny responses reference your closet but I’m actually referring to why you wear the colours/styles/silhouettes etc.. that you do? And what does it reflect/mean about who you are?

I’d like to probe even further about some specifics:

Irina What does a wardrobe of natural fabrics and solid colours represent to you?
Slim cat Why do graphic tees express who you are?
Nuancedream I’m curious how bold prints represent you?
Roberta What do all these colours mean to your self expression?

Bonnie

Veteran

My wardrobe would say I'm too sentimental and should spend some time editing out the unnecessary.

slim cat

Veteran

The graphic tees feels like fun, rock and roll thing for me ( solid tops make me depressed and possibly remind me of some more boring job of the past ). My straight slim shape is the opposite of the feminine womanly body that I never got - I'm forever tomboy-ish gamine that feels comfortable in jeans and tee ( my body shape and weight barely changed - or changed in less obvious ways ).
The print of my tank tops and tees take attention away from my almost flat chest and bring me joy and comfort, the natural fabrication is a must for my sensitive skin.
Some graphic tees are music related ( from Lucky Brand ) , some got funny sentences, some just have cool colors.
Anyway - it's who I am and probably will be for a long while .

The pic is from very short Hawaii vacation this January.

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Dee

Veteran

Slim cat - Love that these tees represent joy, comfort, fun and nostalgia for you. Great message.

nuancedream

Veteran

As an introvert who may unintentionally appear to others as remote or aloof, my wearing of bold patterns is a non-verbal way of saying, "I'm fun, approachable, and have a sense of whimsy."

Irina

Veteran

Natural fibers and a few solid colors means calm, earth friendly and versatile wardrobe. I have to refocus my attention on streamlining my style but it will not change these basics for me.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

"She's still fun."

Before Albuquerque, I lived in Los Angeles. I adore that city, but it does make you feel irrelevant as a woman when you get older.

Now I live here, and though I'm called ma'am all the time at my job, I notice a big permission here for older women (I'm 43) to dress as they please, even be encouraged. Whereas in many parts of the country, you'd only be allowed certain lengths, fabrics, etc.

This means:
that I got a tomato orange and black pair of Nikes, and all my male college-aged colleagues lit up when they saw them.
my hairdresser said I should wear a bodycon dress, though I don't know if I could get away with it.
women in their 40s and 50s wear pigtails to work, and no one bats an eye.
black nail polish whenever...
cheapo, thrifted jewelry accepted.

My dream style would be based on Italian urban women, but I like to at least think I pulled a little flamboyance from them. As my wardrobe is now, it's easy to move in, but eclectic, confident--it says: follow me, I can sort of translate the signs that lead to the historical plaza in this foreign country.

I notice I buy a lot of blue lately. Navy is known to be a good color for blondes, but I'm picking up cobalt, Prussian blue, etc. I think I like the jarring quality it has against my pink skin--it doesn't "behave" in a ladylike way the way green or mulberry does...any color associated with my coloring.

Dee

Veteran

Nuancedream- yes, that makes so much sense to me.
Irina- love that you want your wardrobe to say earth friendly and express calmness.
Carol great to wear clothes that say you’re still relevant and fun.

I just love the psychology behind the clothes we wear.

Vildy

Veteran

My wardrobe is very emphatic and always with a throughline.
I want it to say that I'm high energy and determined. That's a total
lie because I'm full of side effects from continual chemo and a daily handful of heart meds. But I guess I am still determined because I insist on keeping on, including dressing at home for morale.

cat2

Veteran

Mine says that I love silk, patterns, and the sound execution of complicated designs. And shoes. And that I deeply don’t care if current trends are Monastic Chic or Cowboy Chic or whatever.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. At the moment, my wardrobe says, "I am a love child of Joni Mitchell (BLUE) and Zara."

As to your further questions -- why the colours/ silhouettes/ styles and what do those reflect about me ---

Well, blue suits me, so I guess my choice suggests i want my clothes to flatter me. The silhouettes and style say I like variety and I like to be modern/ up to date (because there is always at least a bit of trendy in the cuts I choose), and also, that I'm practical and on the casual side except when I am in the mood (or have the opportunity) to be more dressy.

quietloud

What an interesting question!

I think my neutral, solid colored, pared back wardrobe communicates that I am someone who is calm and in control, but the reality is that I prefer wearing simple and minimal clothes because it brings a sense of calm to my chaotic mind. I am always striving for harmony in my life. I think I sometimes come across as more conservative than I really am. Like Irina, I wear mostly natural fabrics because I care about the environment, and also because I value self care, as I refuse to wear anything that doesn’t feel good on my body. I am nostalgic and sentimental, reflected in the heirloom and vintage pieces I wear, and the fact that I have a lot of very old pieces that I wear to death and have an emotional attachment to. I appreciate craftsmanship, and knit and sew things for myself, so that is also reflected in my wardrobe in some ways.

Roberta

Veteran

Okay, a more thoughtful answer to your question. I have always liked lots of color, but without thinking too much about it. About 20 years ago, I started looking at color in terms of really understanding how it worked. I learned about the color wheel, I thought about hue and saturation, I tried to figure out how colors work together and why they did. I wanted to wear as many colors as possible successfully, and not feel limited to the seasonal concept. Because I knew I was sometimes an autumn and sometimes a summer and every once in awhile a winter.

I was also thinking that I enjoyed my bright wardrobe, but it might come off a little too random, not intentional. I have never wanted to look wacky, if you know what I mean. I wanted people to think, and perhaps even say, "I never would have put those colors together" AND "they look terrific".

This of course led to organizing my closet by color and keeping a spreadsheet, which made it a lot easier for me to get dressed every morning, and made my shopping much more goal-oriented.

Thanks for coming to my Ted talk!

Dee

Veteran

Vildy I love your determination in the face of all these health challenges and that you want your clothing choices to reflect this determination and strength.
Quietloud I too am looking for harmony through the clothes I wear and your analysis about your wardrobe really resonates with me.

Kate

Veteran

Boy, she really likes big pants and plaid bottoms. And she has too many sweaters.

Hmm. My closet really does need a serious edit.

Seriously, my wardrobe does accurately reflect my style. I do love big pants and plaids. I like volume and I like short (semi-cropped) tops. I love neutral colors and wearing columns of color, and my closet depicts my color preferences very well. My outwear closet accurately represents my love of drama with dramatic shapes.

Kate

Veteran

To further answer your question, Dee, I think my wardrobe reflects the fact that I can be ready for most any situation within minutes, but still feel like me, and as well, look like I care about my appearance. Which I do. My wardrobe gives me a sense of freedom.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

My wardrobe isn't particularly large and consists mostly of denim, black tops and dresses, and an array of globally-inspired patterns in luxe textures and natural fibers.

It says that I don't often shop in malls, that I'm prone to spilling coffee on myself, that I'm a bit unconventional, that I care about sustainability, that I love my clothes, that I like winter more than summer, that I hate pastels, that I'm not afraid of pairing lace and combat boots, that I don't buy fast fashion, that I really wear what I have, that I have enough money to splurge on occasion but I'm not a super high-end shopper, that I don't have an office job, that I live in a mild climate, that I don't play a lot of sports, that I have a white cat.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

This woman is in control of herself and her choices, and likes to be both powerful and fancy

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