Where are you a contrarian? - YouLookFab Forum

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Where are you a contrarian?

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Yesterday's outfit got me thinking a bit about specific elements that make me feel fab. I've developed something of a reputation on this forum for being a classic dresser, and I don't quibble with that aspect one bit. In fact I rather like it. But I'm feeling more a shift towards the modern end of the modern classic spectrum, and to me that manifests itself in my aversion to certain bits of so-called traditional fashion guidance. By this I don't mean common Ylf wisdom, just the kind of nuggets that have taken hold more broadly.

For instance, yesterday I wore white boyfriend jeans and a black diaphanous blouse, using colourful accessories for interest. I felt great in the get-up all day, but I know I wouldn't have if I'd just reversed the colour of the top and pants. Black bottoms and a white top would have made me feel stodgy and dated, irrespective of whether or not I looked that way. I now feel much the same way about non-textured black items, bootcut jeans, even tops with non-descript buttons down the front.
Do any of you guys have equivalents, either in terms of traditionally accepted pieces that you can't get behind or popular combinations that you prefer to turn on their heads?
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Dressing

30 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Sal

Veteran

Yes I do!

I would not wear a white shirt with jeans, or black pants, although it can be a great look, it is just not me at all.

Anonymous

That's an interesting question, Michelle. Off the top of my head, there are colors that I won't wear with black unless white is added...red, orange, pink, yellow. I will wear these with charcoal grey and be fine. I will happily wear any blue, purple, or many greens with black.

Sal

Veteran

Actually I have been reluctant to wear colour and black until recently. Recently I have worn red and pink with black only, and quite liked it.

I think this was from watching Trinny and Susannah in the 2000s!!

tulle

Veteran

I feel the same. Black pants & white shirt make me look like a caterer. I'm turning into a jewelry contrarian, too: the popular idea that any outfit can be improved by the right jewelry just doesn't work for me. I'm attracted to jewelry, but almost invariably when I dress, adding what seems like the perfect necklace or brooch, I think, that's OK; when I take it off, I think, that's so much better!

Kari

Veteran

Wearing dresses/skirts much more often than my friends/colleagues, especially for casual wear.
Mixing patterns or textures even when they are juuuuust shy of clashing.
Nothing on my nails. I don't do nail Polish, definitely don't do those Jamberry nail decals everyone keeps inviting me to, and hate pedicures with a passion (severely ticklish feet.) I will paint my own toenails once in a blue moon but prefer my fingers clean and plain.
Choosing to wear glasses, and bold statement-y ones, rather than contacts. (It's partly a practical choice because i have developed very dry eyes from aging, allergies, and long days on a computer.)
Avoiding slacks/pants (I do wear jeans when I feel like it.)
Loving round toes and chunky low heels whether they are in style or not. Pointy toes hurt my feet, they are simply not made for my toes. High or narrow heels make my city commute on often steep, broken, or slippery surfaces too dangerous and slow.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Like kiwi gal and tulle I won't wear a white shirt even though it is a classic look. In fact I won't wear any shirts with collars. I also won't wear pearls or delicate (real) gold necklaces. I have a taste for fake chunky stuff! I have only recently acquired a taste for stud earrings (and now won't wear dangly ones) so I guess I am going more classic or at least minimalist there.
I also don't like to mix black with bright colours and until recently avoided black altogether. I think I was also very influenced by trinny and susannah. "Black goes with black and that's that" is a phrase that is firmly stuck in my head!

Kari

Veteran

I also never got behind voluminous pants/boyfriend jeans. I let that trend pass me by and was never strongly tempted to try it.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am not sure I'd call myself a "contrarian" in fashion...but I would call myself very stubborn. Does that count?

Stubborn is me, INSISTING on items that are both practical AND stylish. Not "compromise" items that are neither here nor there...but items that go the distance (which for me, tends to be miles on rough streets) but also look current, fresh, modern, and fashionable.

It does mean that my overall style is somewhat more casual than I might like, ideally. In other words, I've found that it's mainly the dressier fashion items that leave me feeling a lack of practicality -- it is much easier to find both practicality and great style in casual wear. So I guess I am compromising a bit in that regard. Or maybe this is mainly because I work from home -- if I worked in an office, what would be "practical" in that setting would be quite different from what is practical for me here.

Kirstjen

Veteran

I don't own a white blouse, a little black dress, a trench coat, nude or black pumps or anything floral. Those classic things are just not me, and I don't really care how useful they are in other people's wardrobes. Whenever I've owned one of those items, they've never seen the light of day. Not a good investment for me!

Helena

Veteran

I am a contrarian when it comes to tailored fits. Even my drapier fits are on the tailored side! I feel like a slouch in drapey things, so even though they are more modern, I, with rare exception, pass them by!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I can be pretty stubborn in my likes. I never abandoned bootcut/flare jeans even as skinnies rose in predominance and boyfriend jeans trended. Now I feel a bit validated as flares are reappearing a bit.

Perhaps I'm a contrarian when it comes to cropped pants. Everyone and their sister seems to have a pair of those ankle cropped pants like the ones from JCrew, etc. I just don't love them. Maybe it's because I have such a hard time finding full-length pants long enough for me anyway. If I want a version of that look, I'll take my skinny or straight jeans and roll the hems a little.

Sometimes I feel like a contrarian about some popular styles and items here on YLF -- chalk it up to a poison eye -- but I mostly keep those views to myself.

shedev

Veteran

Most people come seeking more polish, I'm seeking less. That might make me the ultimate contrarian. I'm really not into 70s glam or boho at all so this year I won't be trendy. I'm weeding a lot of classic out of my closet. I'm using this time to explore the dystopian side of myself.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Hi Michelle! Good to "see" you again. I haven't seen your posts in a while.

I agree with what you said about white bottoms/black top vs. black bottoms/white top: Black bottoms and a white top would have made me feel stodgy and dated, irrespective of whether or not I looked that way. Yes, me too. I wear the first combination but not the second. That's because white bottoms + black top = chic and summery, whereas black bottoms + white top = waiter.

I'm fully on board with what Shedev said, too: Most people come seeking more polish, I'm seeking less. That might make me the ultimate contrarian. Well, if she is, then I suppose I am too. I don't know if it's because I began adulthood in the early 90s grunge era, but a high degree of polish has always been incompatible with my identity, and not just because I have naturally rebellious hair. I think it's because polish somehow represents authority, and I seem to be hard-wired to mistrust that.

The only nugget of "standard wisdom" that I balk at (at least, the only specific one I can think of off the top of my head) is the one about wearing nude pumps. It's not that they don't make your legs look longer -- no question, they absolutely do! -- but I just don't like 'em.

Thistle

Veteran

I can't get behind jean jackets or chambray shirts. Yeah, I know, but it's true

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I wear black pants/jeans and a white shirt 4 days a week, as I work food service. I'd be hard pressed to wear this combination on my days off! In defense of the combination, the black bottoms hide spills and dirt while the white shirt looks crisp and professional. On really heavy duty days I'll wear a bib apron (black of course). On lighter days I can pull off a waist apron.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I'm with you Michelle. I cannot wear a white top with black bottoms. <shudder>. But I will wear black tops over everything, especially white bottoms. And I would never wear navy pants, but I wear denim bottoms constantly.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

See how contrarian I am? All of this makes me want to wear black pants and a white shirt!

Thin White Duchess

Count me on team no button downs (especially white), no jean jackets and no white pants (but that might be because of my two silly dogs)!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Fun list,, and interesting common threads!
Funny, it never occurred to me *not* to wear brights with black. This T&S rule you mention flies in the face of everything I'd ever want to wear, although the *occasional* black ensemble can feel mysterious and/or chic. :p

Debbie

Veteran

I love a white shirt with black pants. I usually break it up with leopard or red in shoes or accessories. I also love a black top with white pants. I like jewelry whether it is popular or not.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

It takes me a long time to take conventional wisdom and apply it to myself. I am actually working on this - conventional wisdom is not always wrong :-).

Robin

What a neat question.

I'm still developing a style, so as far as clothes go, I really don't have a good answer.

But, like Kari, I don't wear nail polish and don't intend to start. I also don't wear make-up, though I might consider wearing a neutral face powder more often.

Your reply

deb

Veteran

I refuse to iron and must wash and dry my clothing no matter what the tag says. No dry cleaning for me except for jackets, coats, and wool skirts and pants.

DonnaF

Veteran

I have short heavy legs, but I've started to buy mostly patterned pants and jeans. I will buy patterned toppers, but am less likely to buy a patterned shirt. No LBD. Avoid wearing white shirts with solid black bottoms because I don't want to be mistaken for a waitperson when I am out and about. Would never wear heels (like pumps) with skinnier pants because it isn't my style. I have more pairs of clogs than I would care to admit. No tall boots at all (live in a mild climate) and would never tuck jeans/pants into boots, but I doubt I could stuff them in. (But I have tucked jeans into my Target rain boots.)

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I've been wondering lately whether my sense of style has shrivelled up and died, or if I'm just feeling out of sync with everyone else! It seems like it's been years since there was much in "current" fashion that appeals to me. My list of poison eye items are many: most sporty luxe things, ankle pants, pointy toes, boxy tops, crop tops.

Maybe it's more like I've been feeling left out. Many of these items either look absolutely awful on me or are just not comfortable. Boxy, fluid tops make me look at least three sizes fatter than I really am, for instance. Boyfriend jeans bunch up in all kinds of awful ways. Pointy toes are just torture. Even the handbags have been not to my taste recently!

Some days I think I should embrace the concept of "normcore", because that's more or less how I dress. My uniform is bootcut or straight leg jeans, boots or sneakers, some kind of knit top, and a cardigan. No makeup, some kind of messy bun. It's a major style rut but there's nothing out there right now that I like better!

Anonymous

No white shirts for me, and I would never wear a white shirt with black pants. I also dislike red and black together.

Like Deb, all of my clothes must be easy care - wash and dry in machines or wash and dry flat.

No wool for me; makes me itch terribly.

No linen, either. I hate to iron. I actually prefer crinkle cotton when I can get it.

I never tuck in my tops or blouses.

No pointy-toed shoes for me. My feet can't even stand peep-toed shoes anymore. I prefer round or almond shaped toes, no matter what's in style. I have one pair of square-toed dress boots that I love. I don't wear shoes that are recommended for the office. I work in a casual office and wear what my feet will tolerate.

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. I think I'm ALL contrarian. Not out of any sense of disapproval for the conventional. I just like a twist to everything. Eg, I like clunky shoes, undefined waists, safety pins, long skirts, clashing prints, etc.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

High five Janet - I must be a contrarian too as I love me a crisp white shirt and black bottoms as much as I like white bottoms and black shirt (if I had one). I think I am going to wear this combination tomorrow...
I don't think I have any pre-set fashion "no-no" rules for myself really. "Never say never" is more like it...

Anonymous

I'm with Kari in wearing lots of skirts and dresses for casual wear. I also wear black with brights all the time. I don't really have strong opinions either way about white shirts with black bottoms, but don't own any white shirts anyway (and probably never will), so it's kind of a moot point.

What else? I wear flats and horizontal stripes, even though neither is really the most flattering look for the ultra-short. I keep coming back to the same few bag shapes no matter what's in style because bags that are overly structured, aren't hands-free, or don't have enough room for my stuff aren't practical for me and I don't care quite enough about bags to deal with inconvenience there. And I guess I'm kind of contrarian here because I don't really wear much in white or other light colors and I never tuck (or even semi-tuck) with pants.

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