WIW…basic and middle-aged! - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW…basic and middle-aged!

Runcarla

Veteran

Alternate title: WIW…comfortable and practical.

This is a look that is very 2016-2018 Pinterest, and a style ‘grammer-who-shall-not-be named called out burgundy puffer coats recently

The issue is, I really love this coat! Love the colour! Love the super light warmth! Love that the neck and pockets are lined with the softest fleece. Love the pocket placement, and the secret inside chest pocket! I’m going to keep wearing it until it comes back into fashion…and I’m not following that ‘grammer. (Especially after she called out Blundstones recently. Oi!)

Sometimes comments like the one I read can be the kiss of death for a garment, and it is taking me a moment to reconcile what I read (and how it made me feel about my style choices) vs how I feel about the coat, and how I feel when I wear it. Then I consider the alternative that was suggested (a black or beige puffer) and how I donated my first puffer, a black one, because it made me sad.

I dreamed last night that all (2 pair) of my skinny jeans came out of the laundry shredded to pieces. I suspect that’s not far from happening since they have now surpassed 100 wears each. I’ll be looking for replacements next year since I don’t want to be caught without a pair of jeans in my closet when these bite the dust. A different silhouette though, unless skinnies are trending again

So this is what I wear for urban rambles in and around my town. Today was cold and overcast and threatening snow. DH and I walked through town following a river walk that leads to the shores of the lake - about 10K. I was comfortable and warm, and wasn’t embarrassed to be seen in my burgundy puffer, skinny jeans, and Blundstone boots! Honourable mention to Darn Tough socks for keeping my feet so comfortable and warm.

Thanks for looking!

#1 WIW
#2 northern shore of Lake Ontario looking south

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43 replies

Latest reply was from Sally

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh no. Did she call out Blunnies, too? Hilarious. Maybe she's just not with it when it comes to the younger generation. I just paid for my 23 year old's new pair, this very evening -- a late birthday gift.

And I also own two different styles, myself, and when it comes to lake or woods or roadside rambles, I am not giving mine up, no way no how.

I love your burgundy puffer. It's fabulous on you. And I so prefer burgundy to black or beige (for most people).

The weather was similar here today, but we actually did get snow this morning, a little. Here's what I wore for my walk.

BLUNDSTONE FOOTWEAR Chelsea Boot

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TNA the new little puff long Long packable puffer jacket

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Tilly Roll Neck Jumper

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High-rise Cameron pant in red Stewart tartan

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nuancedream

Veteran

You know I love your burgundy puffer because I have the same one in emerald. You look fab for your urban rambles!

DonnaF

Veteran

Those black puffers can make the wearers look like death warmed over and not chic AT ALL. You look better in your burgundy puffer than the stock photo.

Indigoprint

Veteran

A classic look is timeless. You look classic!

CarolS

Veteran

Well, you look perfectly pulled together for a long cool-weather ramble. The blogger is entitled to her opinion -- even if it is wrong.

Helena

Veteran

You look fabulous! Perfect for the purpose, polished and a great colour; one of my faves.

I actually really like said 'grammer and appreciate the information and perspective she shares ... But it's just an opinion at the end of the day, and like any other style rule, tool, trend or voice, you take what works for you and leave the rest!! I'm glad you chose to disregard her coat advice and do what makes you happy (and look fab doing it!!)

rachylou

Veteran

Lol, Blundstones too! That cracks me up!

Bijou

Veteran

Carla, you look amazing in this classic combination. If the latest Celine collection is anything to go by, skinnies are on the way back. I like the French attitude of wearing beautiful items and not getting caught up with trends. I cannot see Emmanuel Alt not wearing skinny jeans or sharp blazers, no matter what a current trendsetter is saying as she is beyond trends and the epitome of style.

It is REALLY off putting when insults like this get made. I commiserate because on Sunday I caught up with friends for a Christmas catch up at a trendy new bar and the teen waiter called us the group of old ladies, we ranged in age from 40 to 55. I was horrified at her rudeness and will not go back there ever again. It is hard to not feel the sting, even if not meant to offend, as we were all glammed up and just wanted a fun night out.

slim cat

Veteran

You look great and your coat is fab! The slim jeans are practical and look sleek in winter time - no need to abandon them.
My EllenTracy hooded puffer in eggplant color is in the same category of "middle-aged" colors but it beats the black, olive or brown colors - all of which look dreadful on me .

Janet

(website)

Veteran

You always look classic and sophisticated, which never goes out of style!

Said ‘grammar is fun to follow for trend watching and some styling tips, but yes, quite opinionated. Verging on prescriptive in tone, but I just ignore the stuff that makes me roll my eyes. I just can’t with judging color as outdated — she does tend to warn away from jewel tones and pushes muted and warm colors that I simply cannot wear. Lots of camel, which I personally find a bit of a snooze.

It would be boring if we all followed trendsetters, or if we never changed and evolved our style at all. As with any style influencer, I take what resonates and leave the rest to someone else.

Star

Veteran

You look perfectly put together for your activities. I am in your tribe, having just come back for a sea walk in my eggplant coloured puffer

jussie

Veteran

Looks like a perfectly good coat and boots to me.
Black or beige? Really? Is that the best she can do?

Helena

Veteran

Sort of a tangent and Carla I hope you don't mind and if so just DM me and I'll remove ... Does anyone watch Frankie & Grace? In the first episode, Grace is frustrated that she can't get the attention of the store clerk to buy cigarettes because he is besotted with the young "cool girl" that next in line. Meanwhile Frankie steals a carton, declaring "If they can't see us, they can't stop us!!". I remember this every time I'm tempted to feel judged or dismissed by the young and cool set. They don't know ... Yet. I'm sure I didn't either. It's not their time to. The wheel turns. Meanwhile, I'll take what I want and then just try and stop me. I'm middle age! I'm basic! Deal with it!!

Irina

Veteran

Your outfit looks good to me, Carla.
I seriously don’t understand how a garment can be called outdated. Styling of an outfit can be dated.
I still see a lot of skinny jeans on the streets. I also continue to see them being offered in retail, last time I saw it in COS a week ago. Worn with boots like you wear them, also tucked into combat or lug sole boots.

The silhouette is different of course but the jeans are the same.

kkards

Veteran

Lol…as someone who is well, not middle aged any more, but not ready to say I’m old…i feel free wear what ever i d*mn well want! And to enjoy and laugh at what ever the “kids” want to say about it…

Carla, you look great! And anyone who walks a 10K on a random Friday gets to wear what ever they want!

And this outfit is what everyone millennial in my city wears everyday…or its what they would wear if they were ever trendy enough to have worn Blundstone’s, but sub in Sorel’s or Steve Madden boots, or Nike’s…well you get the idea.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I got my first pair of DarnToughs recently and they're usually the first socks I pull out of the drawer. Love them.

Tangentially related, I was having a discussion about gentrification with my 21-year-old recently and he explained, "First wave gentrification happens when young artist types like me start moving in and make a place cool, and the second wave is when people like you want to be in the cool place and drive up all the prices." I told him I thought I was also cool, and he said (kindly enough), "I don't disagree, but demographically you're uncool."

We can't escape our demographics, I guess, so bring on the basic. I've gotta admit. I love a little basic on a chilly autumn day anyway. Hand me a pumpkin spice latte.

Dee

Veteran

I kind of chuckled the other day when I saw quite a few burgundy/wine coloured puffers on some older women, and there’s me in my plum coloured puffer too, and I thought that’s my tribe out there. It’s no different than all the youngins wearing their short black or beige puffers.

To me this plum colour looks so much better on me and yes, these sorts of opinions can kind of spoil our love of something but as jussie mentioned, I don’t really care for their choice of options either.
It is interesting to see what the trendsetters are thinking but I’m still going to wear what suits me best.

BTW, your outfit is just perfect for rambling by the river on a cold weather day.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Modern Classic FABNESS, is what I see, Carla. The cable knit jumper is yummy with your hair. Please rock on!

What Suz said. Blundstones are all the rage with Gen Z, btw! Docs even more so. But Docs are an iconic classic for all generations. It continues to be high status footwear. The Seattle store had people queueing outside it last week. All ages buying them. From kids to people many decades older. Including my 54 year old hubs.

Personally, I find it extremely stylish to be confidently and happily unaffected. All sorts of opinions floating around the style world forever about how wearing brights does not look chic. I feel chic wearing them! Hubs whose opinion I hold in high regard loves me in brights too. It's authentic. That's all that matters. As long as you love it - wear your burgundy puffer with pride!

CarolS

Veteran

My first thought at that 'grammer's comment was that it is only a problem if you see being identified with "middle age" as insulting or derogatory (despite that she seems to have used it in a derogatory way). If the colour had been defined as the hallmark of youth, would we have taken it differently? It's a bit like being called a b**ch. Insult or badge of honour that says I am not afraid to speak up?

Peri

Veteran

You look great!

And ever since Synne's recent post about finding your "why", and me realizing my why is shame based and mostly about trying to not be wrong, I've resolved to work hard on not caring what any self proclaimed style setters spout opinions about. Not there yet, but it was a good epiphany to know that having not being wrong as my goal was eternally destined to fail when "right" keeps changing. And that 99% of that change is based on companies trying to get our money or 'grammers trying to get attention.

I will now work on being Angie's "confidently and happily unaffected." And that's what I see in your outfit.

Theodora

CarolS- EXACTLY! I have earned my 63 years, and I am proud to be “Old”. Ageism seems to be all to acceptable to some who would call out every other type of prejudice.

I just smile, because I am happy to have gotten here, and even happier not to be so worried about what is “in” or “out” anymore. That train is an exhausting one to be on. I actually love being older, and my take on it is that we are so much truer to ourselves at this point of our lives. Who cares if we love burgundy coats? Carpe Diem!

LJP

Veteran

I think your outfit is absolutely perfect for your day - and I agree that anyone who can walk 10km at our age without knee ,back, whatever issues has more going for them than anyone I'm envious! Not to further the discussion about Charly Goss, who I happen to really enjoy (she makes me laugh ) but I feel pretty good in suggesting neither you nor I are her target audiences anyways. She's not even 35, and talks fashion and trends to a younger audience who is looking to be current and even ahead of the curve with their purchases. For example, if you are looking to buy a new puffer today, this is what is more modern etc .
Anyways, I know we differ in interpretation and opinion here but I still think you look great here - classically polished and considered.

Runcarla

Veteran

@LJP - I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the target audience. Going through pretty much all the posts/stories, it seems to be 20-30 yo and possibly young mums and families.

@CarolS - the term ‘middle-age’ doesn’t bother me one whit (I’m a proud card carrying senior - but the dismissive tone rankles. I’m not going to be a follower, so time will heal my hurt sartorial feelings.

Update: this experience has actually been a catalyst for me to think about how cutting edge (or not) my style is or will be going forward. I’ve acknowledged being a late adopter of trends, and a mostly classic dresser. I want just enough modernity in my outfits to present as being engaged. That might be 2 or 3 trendy items a year - so maybe 1/10th my closet overall. I’m way more interested in styling what I have in new ways (and maximizing wears) than acquiring a new look by purchasing all new items.

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Helena

Veteran

Not to belabour the point but I have a few CH approved pieces and I actually sometimes swap out to make sure something a little more middle aged is in the mix as that's how I want to look - modern middle aged, not 30 something
urban cool girl (but I still want to know what that is so I can incorporate a *touch* of it!) So it can cut both ways anyways you look awesome Carla, that's the main bit

Lesley

Veteran

You look fab! The best personal style is wearing all our favorite stuff regardless of what the style makers are saying. I actually appreciate that 'grammer's perspective because she's in-the-know but I don't even love her aesthetic, so, whatevs!

Meanwhile, I know the feeling though, and I think it cuts when it's about an item that you don't feel super sure about. I did have a tee with shoulder cutouts from a while ago, and in recent years I will admit that I didn't love it as much but I would trot it out every now and then. I saw recently on a small Facebook group for women over 40 that someone was complaining about moving to Long Island and not knowing what to wear because all the women were wearing shoulder cutout shirts and that was not her thing, and people were chiming in, "are they still wearing those down there?" and I am from Staten Island so I definitely have the residual feeling of being from Flashytown compared to everyone around me, and it was like, oh, ouch, right, that's probably out of date, huh? It just made me laugh though...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting, Carla. It's great when conversations like this can catalyze new insights! Seems to have worked that way for a number of people. And I think those. who enjoy following the younger 'grammers probably have a similar experience when they see a new styling suggestion or trend developing and can imagine adapting it to their personal style. And the champion thrifters find it in those conversations, too -- finding what has "come around" again before it becomes mainstream. And so on.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’ll chime in with one more observation about trendiness and younger such grammers. Sometimes they help me pinpoint why something is feeling a bit off for me.

Case in point. I have a pair of metallic almond toe booties that are comfortable but I’ve been passing over for the past few years. After seeing some IG discussion of trends in boots (and ignoring it as it regard some of my boots that I love and have no intention of letting go), I realized that *for me* at this moment in time, the almond toes feel sort of neither-here-nor-there. I’d rather go pointy toe (or maybe square if I’m going to add one trendy pair) or full on lug sole at this point. Some of my boots are decidedly not super trendy at this point, but they are true to my style. Im letting the almond toe metallic boots go because they don’t feel current OR like me anymore.

So in that way, the young IG influencers can be helpful sometimes. I just pick and choose what resonates with me.

Sal

Veteran

Looking great Carla!

Fit, active , modern., classic, practical, polished.

Interesting musings too. I enjoy fashion content on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. It’s my relaxing time. I try and take from it what suits me.

Dee

Veteran

I can remember one time when one of my colleagues asked about whether or not what she was wearing was maybe a bit “too young” for her, and one of younger guys there answered back sincerely saying that “No, it doesn’t make you look young” LOL
And we were in our 30’s at the time.
I think being stylish is as Angie said, happily confident with what you wear no matter the trends.

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