Why do clothes just stop working? - YouLookFab Forum

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Why do clothes just stop working?

rachylou

Veteran

I was reading Nicole's post about not having toppers that worked, which made me think of my own twin-set-type cardigans that don't work. I have a tall stack of them that I've been thinking about giving away. I don't know why they don't work anymore. Is it because I'm not in the suburbs? It's not like I don't have the shirts I used to wear with them, but I look at my shirts and go "eh, no I don't think so, not that one and not that one and not that one."

It might be they strike me as dainty and I've developed an allergy to dainty.

Also, I was looking at old pics and my same Express pants. They used to fit better in the saddlebag area. What happened? I have not had lipo.

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from katy

Sarah A

Veteran

I would say our styles evolve and our eye's get fine tuned.

Have you tried buttoning the cardigans in the back not the front? Might be just the mix up they need...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have lost all love for cardigans, period. Except as loungewear. My hubs bought one yesterday. All I could think was "grandpa." Which wasn't a nice thing to say, especially since he is older than me. And it wasn't a bad cardigan.

I think we just evolve, and styles in general evolve. K Can shop mentioned that she no longer loves her lilac sweater, even though the colour is stunning on her. Why? Because it's too fitted all of a sudden. It wasn't too fitted a few short months ago. I feel the same about a certain burgundy sweater. It is now in the donate pile.

shedev

Veteran

This happened to me with clothes I just bought last summer. I was feeling a little more girly then. I'm gonna try wearing them differently by pairing them with very rate stuff but I dont think I'll get the kind of wear from them that I thought I would.

kellygirl

Veteran

I think personal style is always slightly evolving. I find that most of my clothing discards are because they just don't do it for me anymore. I've culled the ill-fitting and fussy stuff and now I find there are things that just aren't my style. I think the same is happening with you. I look at your WIW's with your JFresh sweatshirt and skirt and I think you've moved on from cardigans. Perhaps you just need to work on an irregular juxtaposition with them--overalls, a leather sheath, or something more out there

ETA: I also think that my opinion on proper fit these days is much more critical. Maybe that is what happened with the Express pants?

K. Period.

Veteran

I agree--your style is moving on. I think it is the double whammy of proportions changing with new styles and looks and you getting more attuned to your personal style. Mostly, I think it is the first. Proportions that were fresh and interesting two years ago are boring to your eye now. We wouldn't be fascinated by style if we didn't like change.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

We are constantly changing and growing as people and as a result, so does our style.

Peri

Veteran

It's happening to me too. I was all over tiers and ruffles and now I want cleaner lines. I wouldn't say minimalist, maybe less romantic.

I guess that's part of the fun.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Me too - I have tons of cardigans and I'm considering donating most of them. I want to wear jackets and vests with everything now. I'm favoring oxfords, ballet flats, and lower heels when I used to be a sky high heel girl.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I agree with the others... Styles change in store, on tv, and inside of us. I gradually learned no to duplicate a ton, because once I'm sick of a look everything must go. I've purged cardis, too. And most of my little boy baseball tees. I think it is better to evolve, otherwise it is easy to start to look dated.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I also agree that your style must be evolving - I think some basic things stay the same over time, but other things do go.

I have been purging a lot of lace and frilly things; and I have been moving towards more structure.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I surprised myself by buying a cardigan this week. It is for Summer, and necessary, but not exciting. Clothes stop working when we change. I'm done with short hemlines at the moment. And earthy colors.

rachylou

Veteran

I guess my style must be changing. Seems I'm looking for longer, leaner, more - haha - lethal looks. The office trousers look ok in the old pics, I've realised. I suppose it's really been during my shopping forays lately that I've seen the saddlebag issue. Not in the pants I own. But ordinary office trousers are making me feel dumpy and short. I've really been keeping to skinnies and harem pants, the two extremes. (No idea why I don't think harem pants make me look dumpy...)

I've also turned against flat shoes, but at the same time, I'm pretty convinced heels will ruin my feet. Flat shoes seem so little girl to me right now.

An interesting thought to try wearing the cardigans backwards! I'm loathe to give them away when they've served me so well in the past. I'm certain Michelle Obama wears them to good effect... 'course she does the ladylike thing and I pretty much don't.

Glory

Veteran

I agree with the others that style evolves and lifestyle changes as well. That said I just bought a short cobalt cardi - and I haven't worn one in years.

Day Vies

Veteran

This is very interesting Rachy -- I agree with what some of the other ladies have already pointed out, that clothes don't change we do. Our style evolves our preferences change. It's OK to no longer want what you have so much of because of the change.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I'd say you are getting pickier.
Imo you need some drama to your look to be comfortable/you. Cardigans generally don't add much in the way of drama:)

rachylou

Veteran

Lol, Caro. Dang! I think you're right.

Day Vies, you're also right. Seems wrong to me to change my mind about something, but that's not really a fair thing to say to myself. Life doesn't stand still.

Carla

Veteran

Sometimes your body changes, or you change your hair style or colour, and that necessitates a change of clothing style. Other times, the change is between your ears.

Although I know black is classic and always works, I find I'm happiest in colour now! I only noticed this when I started reviewing my WIW posts. I don't know what has inspired this, but I'm going with the flow and looking for orange, and yellow things for my next purchases.

Peri

Veteran

Hah! That statement right there..."I'm loathe to give them away when they've served me so well in the past" . That's why my closet was and sort of still is in such a mess!!

I've purged so much but still could continue on about half what's in there...but it's the guilt and a little bit of surprise over no longer liking something I used to like. I'm working hard on learning that's okay...glad I'm not the only one!

deb

Veteran

I recently purchased a card to wear with my full skirts. Angie did a post about fuller tops with full skirts. I used to wear them with pencil skirts and putting with a full skirt felt current and made me feel good. Have you tried them this way yet?

BroadEarthQueen

(website)

I get that way about shoes and a lot of my clothes. I simply just look at them and go 'This isn't me! What the heck was I thinking?' Then I donate them ^_^

katy

Member

I always enjoy the moment where I realise I'm a different iteration of myself and thus my wardrobe needs overhauling. Some of that can stem from external change, for me ... suddenly it dawns on me that my kids are big, not little any more, so I don't have to shlump around in indestructible mom-wear, for instance. And sometimes it's a more aspirational thing and I feel the need to dress a certain way in order to become a certain version of myself or achieve a certain goal.

Does that make sense? I hope that makes sense to someone other than me!

Anyway, enjoy the ride!