White-o-phobia: help me overcome it! - YouLookFab Forum

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White-o-phobia: help me overcome it!

catgirl

Veteran

I was going to post about this anyway, but Angie just prompted it so I had to obey... I need serious help with my fear of wearing white! I feel like it's a terrible color for me for a number of reasons:

1. I always feel washed out.
2. I am a walking series of spills and accidents.
3. I feel like it makes me look fat/frumpy (and this is a RARE feeling for me since I wear oversized and slouchy clothes)
4. I feel too precious in it.
5. I rarely see styles I like in white - for instance, I am not a crisp white buttondown kind of gal, nor am I a carefree white denim person

However, it's obviously hugely limiting to not wear such a basic color ever. I am not sure even what shade of white might work for me, or even how to test it other than to go buy a series of cheap t-shirts from F21 or thrifted in different shades/tones and post them for opinions. I do know optic white is not great.

Would love to have input from pinners and blog-readers with pictures of white items and/or outfits that would suit my UWP/RATE/androgynous style...

Thanks for any help! As I told Angie, I'm going to be a group project here!

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

cciele

Veteran

When I shopped with Angie, I said I didn't have any white tops. She mentioned that I looked good in white though, and perhaps my white is not a top but a jacket. Well, that was pretty brilliant (of course).

So I'd look at vests and jackets to get into the white mode. What about the white moto vest in Angie's blog post today? You can wear something dark underneath it, or go the tonal route.

siniestra

I'm def like u ...the only thing is that the white suits my skintone but im a klutz and messy prone...even worse i have a two year old SO basically im not lucky finding the perfect white...just try buy accesories in white...or something that u really love ...forever 21 have wonderful v neck shirts you can use it and maybe a white shoe little by little so you won't feel overwelmed! hang in there ...i know u will find something cool or skip it ...i will skip the over size trend ...im an hourglass and that will make me feel like huge!

deb

Veteran

OK, I am always up for a challenge so I jumped over to Pinterest and created a board. I do not know if all or any of these will work but I took a stab.

http://pinterest.com/djm9/una/

catgirl

Veteran

Deb, you are AMAZING! I bow down in awe. I went to Pinterest and everything I searched for came up with shabby chic furniture which caused me to despair. I am off to peruse!

Aziraphale

Veteran

I might be able to help!

I can identify with every reason you listed for not wearing white -- in particular, the bit about how you feel that it's not your best colour. Me neither. And also I am unbelievably prone to slopping coffee all down myself. Also, when I look at models wearing white shirts -- like say on the J. Crew website -- I often feel it washes THEM out, too. I suspect many people don't look fantastic in full-on optic white.

HOWEVER, I'm a recent convert to the button-front shirt. I would never buy white because I had this idea that I don't like me in white. But I had seen so many people looking fabulous with just a white collar showing, so that's what I ended up doing: I found a great white shirt and started wearing it under a navy merino sweater, a camel merino sweater, under my waistcoat, or under my argyle sweater vest. It's now my new favourite look. I've been wearing it so much I got a second white shirt. How do you think you would feel with just the white collar showing?

I still don't love a white shirt on me without a top layer, although I suspect I'll end up doing that in the summer when it's warm, because my white shirts have such a nice shape (I'll just wear a lot of makeup). I'm still not a fan of white tee shirts. I still probably won't buy white jeans because they are coffee magnets. What I will do is wear silver, or very light heather gray, or occasionally cream. Do any of those colours work for you?

Raisin

Veteran

You could start with just a white tee and layer under black leather jacket, your black Theory blazer, or a colorful moto. That would be a pretty painless way to wear white. I don't have much either, I think the only true white item I have is a white tee.

Mochi

Veteran

I agree with Raisin's and Aziraphale's ideas about trying some layering effects. A white shirt is such a crisp classic, and you will be grounded and balanced by the outer layer. The white will end up as an accent until/unless you decide to go for that full white....canvas.

I am also a spill everything all over myself person, so I can fully relate there. Precious? Perhaps. I disagree about you being washed out (at least without seeing actual evidence). I think white looks particularly nice on people with warm skin tones and with dark hair it can be stunning. But you have to give it a try and see.

K. Period.

Veteran

Una, have you considered how very punk and RATE patent white belts and shoes (especially loafers) can look when paired with the right tops/bottoms?

Kalli

I used to fear white also, but I started adding it slowly to my wardrobe.
1) start with accessories--- a white leather bracelet was something I started with, then a black and white knit scarf, white phone cover...
2) Then came the shoes.... White sandals that I wore with all black
3) Then tshirts, sleeveless blouses that could have be covered by a vest/cardigan to help with spillage

Also. Learned from the Anne Fontaine store. Oxyclean! and tide to go pens!

rae

(website)

Veteran

I just realized I have no plain white tee shirts OR white jeans, even though I do like and wear white. I have been *wanting* these items, though, and I just haven't found the perfect ones. Maybe it isn't necessarily a causal relationship between white and the dislike? Like, I wonder if the quality assurance just lags a bit on white items? There is a lot to go wrong - sheerness, drape, pockets showing through, the right shade of white for the skin tone...

Some of my personal RATE white inspirations here.

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Tina.b

Veteran

I love white, though it isn't the most predominant colour in my wardrobe. I think it would an awesome addition for you. I agree with Raisin and the white T, that is such a staple piece for me. Loose cotton and silk versions, I really want a really oversize one at the moment.

I think white can mesh perfectly with your UWP/RATE style. Love the images Deb shared above. I'm going to add a few links of things off the top of my head that I think would be cool for you.

Cross T - http://www.shopbop.com/elodie-.....orId=12397

Disintegrating Cable Sweater - http://www.shopbop.com/disinte.....orId=29105

Lace Tank - http://www.shopbop.com/fragmen.....orId=11338

Asymmetric tank (I have this in grey and really like) - http://www.rag-bone.com/Phoeni...../3683.html

R-13 Leather Vest
http://www.ssense.com/women/pr.....vest/71581

White Jeans - http://www.rag-bone.com/Dash__...../4455.html

Diana

Veteran

OK, well, I have a kind of conflicted relationship with white as well. I know I look good in it, and I always get compliments when I wear it. However, I am NOT a crisp or classic white kind of person, and I feel like a lot of traditional white things (crisp white shirt, white jeans, white shoes, and white tees) are not me AT ALL. Would you believe that I do not own a single white tee? I guess what it comes down to is that white is a crisp color, and I am not a crisp person in the least. So I like my white items to be either soft or a bit sheer or a bit distressed to counteract all the stiffness. I also like my white to be a little off-white or cream rather than optic white.

I own: white denim jacket, white cotton blazer with blush ruffle trim (the trim helps soften it a lot), full, lightweight white skirt, a somewhat sheer, soft cream buttondown, slouchy cream cashmere sweater, handknit cream short sleeved sweater, and some accessories (crinkly scarf, handknit hat and cowl). None of these items (except maybe the jackets) is crisp, which is key to making white comfortable for me. Oh, and a wedding dress, but that doesn't really count, does it? I have a crisp white buttondown but it's an orphan and I should probably get rid of it.

I will never have: white jeans, white pants, white shoes, white tees. One of my personal poison eyes is for white pants where you can see the seam allowances and pockets through the fabric.

I would like: cream cabled sweater (am making one actually), a light colored leather vest or jacket with some distressing (not necessarily white, could be very light grey too), sheer cream blouse (with NO pockets, again with the stupid pockets showing through).

ETA: This is all to say that you don't necessarily have to EVER wear the "classic" white items to appreciate white. If I had stuck to trying to make white tees and white button-downs work, I can guarantee you I'd still be white-free.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Fantastic suggestions from everyone. I know what you mean about spilling things - me too. I have found white is easier to clean, I use Napisan & haven't had any long-term problems yet.

catgirl

Veteran

You guys are amazing! I pinned some of these, and I stopped by the consignment place and got a cheap white tunic I might wear in another color, just to show you how I look in white. Will post a pic soon.

catgirl

Veteran

A woman at the consignment store complimented me on being able to wear citron, and I told her I was white-impaired, to which she laughed her head off and assured me that all women could wear some form of white. YLF is always right!

Agnes

Deb That was an amazing pin you did for una! I saveda few to my fashion file. and kind too> and rae I love the way you include boys in your inspirations.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, Deb - that was so sweet of you and what great pins! And Una, I believe you can wear white as an accent even if you don't love it on yourself. It's such a useful neutral! I don't wear much of it, either, but more and more I see its value.

Adelfa

Veteran

I'm not a crisp white shirt person either. I've got a white shirt that works for me due to some of the reasons Diana talks about. It is a cotton-silk blend, very light weight, and is semi-sheer. The material is not stiff at all. And due to the slight sheerness, the skin color of my arms and shoulders shows through, and makes it less WHITE. (I wear it with a white nylon tank.) It is not crisp. I feel completely comfy in it. I wear it alone tucked in to skirts, or under a sleeveless sheath dress with a cardi over and only the collar and cuffs showing.

So fabrication is really important! I don't think I'd ever wear a white oxford cloth shirt.

ElleH

Veteran

The other kind ladies have given suggestions if you want to wear white. Can I just say you don't have to? I just posted what I don't like that is trending & I think we don't have to change our taste because everyone else is doing it? I used to wear all white a lot to spiritual events & felt that it would have looked better with contrasting colors if I was wearing it for fashion reasons. I didn't mind it though for those events & will try it with more fashionable clothes. Does it remind you of Monks or spiritual events? Nurses or doctors? Perhaps it's too impractical or just not RATE enough. The most UWP/RATE I can think of is white leather moto, worn in, Chuck Taylor's, dirty, white jeans again dirty & a white tee shirt with holes in it. I guess I'm thinking of the way punkers wear white. Also white distressed Frye boots. Even though I like RATE I am a clean freak & am constantly freaking out every time someone touches or hugs me in my white clothes, watching how I get in & out of a car etc. No wonder I have only just started wearing it again. I like how it looks & am bored with all the black I have so I will try.

DonnaF

Veteran

Una, I think I read somewhere that everyone can wear the white of their teeth or eyeballs or something like that. I've never tested that theory, as I don't want to admit how yellow my teeth have become due to time and Peets coffee, but you might want to start with those shades. . .

Lyrebirdgully

Hi AG. I'm with Elle in thinking that dirty cream/ white is a great UWP way to do "white". (and you’ve already got the Gap fisherman’s sweater as a starter piece?)
For the colour: A Wang
http://i2.afternight.tv/img/Le.....-Falls.jpg
http://0.tqn.com/d/petite/1/0/.....jacket.jpg
mixing dirty cream with actual white in a sheer top (i.e. not so white in reality)
http://s9.thisnext.com/media/l.....3EA8B7.jpg
mostly cream: Christine at My Style Pill
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/.....c57b_o.jpg
Kathleen of Inspirafashion
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/.....7deb_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/.....91d6_b.jpg
Putting a tiny bit of color with a cream outfit - Malene Birgir. This barely counts as colour blocking in my view-- it looks more like what I would call colour dabbing-- but I just adore it.
http://newinatprecious.files.w.....s12-53.jpg
http://blog.stylert.com/wp-con.....lert-1.jpg

nancylee

Veteran

I didn't have time to read all the comments, Una, but maybe you could try a white piece in an edgy style you like....a white or cream moto vest, maybe? That way you wouldn't feel so precious.

BTW, I definitely think you could wear white or variations of white/cream beautifully!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

LOTS of excellent suggestions here, Una. Thanks ladies - and thanks, Cathy

KILLER board, Deb!

Una, I vote start with white accents and white bottoms. Wear them with black footwear and black toppers.