STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

mischiefandmayhem · BCBG

What is your biggest style/wardrobe challenge?

sfclinevandy · Coach

What a good poll! I have a few.

1. I have lots of great pieces but I get nervous incorporating them into my everday wardrobe. I think of my wardrobe as a collection, I have a lot of great things that I love and will never get rid of, regardless if I ever wear them. I sometimes worry that some of my stuff could be "too much" and I'd look costume-y. Some of my cool things that I love but rarely/have ever worn: a red and gold Chinese madarin collar mini dress, a vintage pale green embroidered halter top with vines and red roses, some of my grandmother's cool dresses from the 50s and 60s, a long magenta linen etheral/hippie dress I got in Hawaii, and tons of fabulous shoes that aren't practical for everyday and I just never get to when I go out. I'm really making an effort to wear these things though because I love them so much and I shouldn't just let them set in my closet.

2. I get in a rut. A lot of my clothes are kinda preppy but I try to mix it up so they aren't so cliche/convervative/Junior League. I want try mix up my style a little and become more modern, fashion-y.

3. If you can't tell by my outfit posts, I prefer skirts to pants hands down. There's 2 reasons for this 1. I always wore school uniforms which consisted of skirts so that's what I've always been used to and like and 2. my legs bother me because while I'm tall, my legs are relatively short compared to the rest of me... I think my legs look stumpy covered up. They are too long for regular lengths and sometimes not long enough for long lengths so I just stick with skirts. This isn't too big of an issue for me though- wearing mostly skirts has kinda become my signature.

Lilykind · Hermes

1. I have a ton of really cool pieces in my wardrobe (vintage beaded sweaters, detailed pants, fur-trim coats, silk camis, loads of cashmere, great labels like Development/Paul & Joe/Mona & Holly/Foley & Corinna) but I'm so attached to wearing a Juicy hoodie, a t-shirt, some jeans (Seven/AG/TR), and either sneakers or Uggs because I have a huge issue with comfort. And it's not even that the cool pieces aren't comfortable, but it's just that it's so easy to put on my little Juicy uniform that I don't even bother trying to look nice. Everytime I buy cool, interesting pieces, they never get nearly as much rotation as my Juicy hoodies. I keep trying to break out of this evil rut, but I feel really weird being all dressed nice when most of my classmates are walking around looking like crap, honestly.

2. I have an inability to work with accesories and admire every single girl on this board who has the gift for accesories. The only combo I'm really proud of is my vintage pearl choker with my biker chain from Hot Topic, which I've been wearing since I was 16.

Those are probably the biggest ones I can think of.

honey · Gucci

1. my biggest issue is that my taste and budget don't match up. it's not that i automatically like the most expensive thing, it's just that i'm drawn to stuff by more independant labels and/or newer designers and those peices usually tend to cost more. and either don't go on sale, or sell out by the time they're on sale.

2. the age old debate b/t quality and quantity. this is actually one of my resolutions for this year. it breaks down in two ways. one is this problem where if i love something i'll want to buy more than one of it, and what often happens is i'll have 3 of a certain item, and though i love it it's almost impossible to wear them all, unless i wear the same outfit (in different versions) everyday. for example last summer i bought 3 of those striped flippy mini skirts. granted they were all really cheap ($12 or less) i only ended up wearing one regularly and the rest i gave away. so that $24 could have gone towards something else.

3. the other issue goes back to budgeting. i'm trying to work on breaking the price barrier. not that i *want* to pay more for my clothes, but in my head i have this pre-set cap (around $60) for a specific item. so a lot of times instead of getting past that limit, and getting a really great piece, i'll buy a bunch of less expensive items, end up paying the same amount and not really getting as much value out of them as i would if i'd just bought one pricier item.

Chic · Marc Jacobs

My major problem has always been my jobs. I worked in retail for 10 years and I had to wear their clothes, which was always fun in the beginning, but the worst was for 3 years I was only allowed to wear black, and I was not able to mix in fun accessories of color...well now I where I work I can finally wear what I want, but not really. I work a small gift shop so I stand alot, so only flats and my grey new balance can work, well then I have to open boxes and I get really dirty and running around from one place to the next, like running to costco to pick up 6 cases of water?? Well I end up wearing the same thing all the time, a polo or tee then cover up with a cable knit sweater and stretch bootcut green or khaki pants, well I actually also have blue, and red too. This I feel can be a cute casual outfit to wear once in a while, but not for someone who considers themselves to love fashion. I try to dress nicer but then one day my pants got caught on the cash register and ripped, then my sweaters get snagged, some accessories get in the way...uhh...so at least in march I will be looking for a new job, but until then I need help! It would be better if I could be a little more edgy and wear stuff like frye boots( but that look although I do really like on other people, doesn't work on me) I am girly and preppy, but like SFClinevandy I don't want to look like I am in the Junior League...

-- Edited by Chic at 21:05, 2005-02-13

halleybird · Hermes

-I have a very small budget.

-I live pretty far from any decent boutiques and shopping centers, so my clothes are usually mall brands.

-I have tons of skirts but never wear them because a) I need pockets at work, and b) I hate my legs.

-I hate to re-wear outfits...so I have a lot of clothes, and they tend to be basics that can be mixed/matched.

fashionista L · Coach

I have lots of cute clothes, but everytime I dress up to look good, I always feel as if I look like I tried too hard.

I am a freak about color matching, I just have been since I was a kid, and I wish I felt comfortable mixing it up a bit more!!

I have an issue with comfort as well and though I like to look hot, I like to feel comfy even more!

Maddie · Coach

1. I don't have enough money. I know everyone has this problem, but I'm a poor college student.

2. I don't look like Kate Moss. I hate being limited to what's flattering.

Mia · Kate Spade

By far my biggest problem is incorporating impractical purchases. I don't want everything I buy to be 'practical' because 'practical' isn't really me and I want my style to reflect me...my personality etc. BUT, this leads to a few items that I just *cannot* figure out how to wear.

Who remembers the pink Frye cowboy boots? Yeah well I got the exact same pair for Xmas. Now I have 2 PAIRS (!!) of pink cowboy boots and NO clue how to wear them (they're higher than regular Frye boots - knee height on me - and not snug around the top so they're proving very difficult). In fact I have a lot of pink items in my closet that get minimal wear. *sigh*

Meow · Coach

Finding pants that fit me is my biggest challenge. I bought some the other day that fit perfectly in the dressing room--I almost did a dance. But, the next day when I put them on they were slightly big in the waist and before lunch I was having to pull them up. It is a nightmare. I have a list of some pants to try on that some of you ladies recommended to me so hopefully I will eventually succeed in purchasing a pair that works.

dc · Dooney & Bourke

1. Always seeming to be one piece away from a great outfit. I'll have everything perfect, and then I won't have the shoes or the bag, or the cami or belt or whatever. I'll end out with a compromise and feel half-assed - like I want to tell people, "Wait! I can do better, I just didn't have the right bag!"

2. I have like 50 pairs of underwear, but on a given day, I can't find [insert type of undergarment here] and - after wasting 20 minutes making a huge mess of all of my drawers - I have to wear something that bugs me all day long.

3. I still to do not have a decent bra for work (no molded cups, which I find to be really unflattering, yet enough coverage to combat my office's air conditioning...). I love my little training-bra looking maidenforms, but they're awfully thin and flimsy... but where do you find a bra that works with your natural shape but offers good coverage? I am always walking around with my arms crossed.

4. I have an IMPOSSIBLE time dressing casually. I can do work pretty well, and dressing up (like for a swank dinner or cocktails) is what I do best, but I have zero confidence putting together outfits for rock shows or just hanging out during the day. I am embarrassed to say I rely too often on Juicy... I know it's out, but I suck at casual. It's either that or I end out regressing to my college style (NOT good... I graduated like 12 years ago and was rather crunchy) - this look generally involves fleece and a ponytail.

5. I buy things at the beginning of the season and then never wear it. I am the type of person who tends to have several items in their closet at any given time with the tags still on.

luckylily · Gucci

I am impatient. I know what I like and when I see something I love, I want it then. I hate waiting for sales or discounts. I've actually gotten much better about this in the last year or so and I didn't buy anything at full price this fall/winter.

I absolutely hate buying basics. It kills me to spend my money on things I percieve to be "boring" like black trousers or a white button down. It is totally dumb of me to avoid those things tho because I know their versatility would expand my wardrobe a lot.

tri_sarah_tops · Marc Jacobs

I have an impossible time with high end jeans. Pants that fit me in the waist and butt are often way too tight through the thigh. I'm not heavy (I usually wear a 2 or a 4 in Gap/BR/Express etc) but I was a sprinter in high school and I still work out consistantly and I have muscular legs. Because of this, I also have a hard time with high boots. I need an extended calf size and I can never find any that I like. Today I went on a jean hunt and it was pretty depressing because nothing fit right. I tried on like 10 pairs of jeans and the only ones that fit right were the AG's.

I have tons of crap that I never wear. It's usually stuff that I bought because it was on sale. That's the main reason I went on the shopping ban. I'm trying to break the habit of buying something just because it's cheap. I'd rather spend more money and have a few things that I really love than have lots of stuff that is only ok.

kenzie · Chanel

-When I like something, I tend to buy it in all the colors it comes in. Then I end up with my closet looking like a boutique and I wear the same outfit in variation day in and day out.

-Working in retail doesn't allow me to wear as much of a mix of designers/brands as I'd like. I end up wearing mostly stuff from my store. I usually try to incorporate at least one piece that isn't, but inevitably someone asks me where they can find it in the store and I look like an ass b/c I bought it from somewhere else. On the upside, I wear my own jewelry to work and people ask about it and take my business card, so it's helping to get the word out.

-Another downside to retail is the constant standing. No matter what shoes I wear, flats, heels, whatever, my feet are screaming by the end of the day. The only things that I can stand in are flip flops and sneakers and I'm not allowed to wear those to work. But I am constantly on the lookout for semi-comfy, cute work shoes b/c I have tons of great shoes, but they hurt way too much to stand for 8 hours in them.

-Winter wardrobing is a huge, huge, huge challenge for me. I don't really own any true 'winter' clothes even though I live in the Northeast. I end up wearing about three layers on top every day (thin camisole, dressy camisole/blouse, cardigan/blazer). I really love skirts and live in them in summer, but I am just too cold in the winter to wear skirts.

honey · Gucci

quote:
Originally posted by: luckylily
I absolutely hate buying basics. It kills me to spend my money on things I percieve to be "boring" like black trousers or a white button down. It is totally dumb of me to avoid those things tho because I know their versatility would expand my wardrobe a lot."

i'm like this too. and it sucks that i have a 9-5 where i have to wear business appropriate attire. my "solution" is to buy cheap basics. anytime i need something "plain" i head to either the gap or br outlet where i know i can pick up a decent quality item for $30.

shops2much · Nine West

quote:
Originally posted by: luckylily
"I absolutely hate buying basics. It kills me to spend my money on things I percieve to be "boring" like black trousers or a white button down. It is totally dumb of me to avoid those things tho because I know their versatility would expand my wardrobe a lot."

This is me too!! I just completely ignore "basics" because they never catch my eye, yet I know my wardrobe would be greater with more basic pieces in it.

Similarly, I have a huge problem buying way too many pieces most would consider "dressy" because I love them so much. My style's really feminine, really sexy, and very expressive of my personality, and I love to dress up. I push the line so much and wear lots of stuff people would consider "going out" clothes or "formal" clothes in the middle of the day. This is especially true in my conservative, fashion-backwards area. And these pieces aren't very, very versatile because they're so memorable and can't be worn a million times. That's my problem. Maybe this explains my obsession with buying jeans, I try to dress down dressy tops so I can wear them anytime I want...

miss t · Dooney & Bourke

1. Getting out of my preppy, conservative work look for casual days. My boyfriend say I wear too much conesrvative, non-sexy, and non-trendy outifits. I feel I am not confident enough or do not have the body type to pull those looks off. But i'm trying to find things that are trendy and sexy that flatter my shape, it's slow process for me.

2. Of course, not enough money.

3. The ability to wear sexy heels for more than 1 hour. I have tons of them, but they are not pratical for me to wear everyday

ILoveChoo · Hermes

not enough money

not able to wear fun clothes to work, which means I usually have to choose between buying something for work or for weekends

also, I can't stand getting "dressed up" on weekends since I do all week- so usually no skirts (and def. not with heels) when I'm not at work (although I wear them more often in the summer since I refuse to wear shorts)

rocky · Coach

1. I am in a style rut. I wear the same shapes and pieces, mostly tailored. I would like to wear more knits, but they just cling to the wrong places on my body. The hugest challenge for me is to hide my tummy.

2. Accessories: I know lots of people have this problem, having an almost great outfit that is just missing something...I never know what it's missing though

3. I love high end stuff but can never afford it, I see a few pieces on ebay that are a reasonable price, but they are always like a size 0.

poptart · Coach

Great poll!

1. I'm lazy. If my hair isn't straightened (a 30 or so minute process that I only go through about 3 times a week because I'm lazy) I don't even want to bother with my clothes. Weird, I know, but I feel like it's pointless, because I hate my hair in its natural state. And I'm lazy about putting together outfits for work because I really don't care. So I really only put in the effort on the weekends and when I'm going out. I need to sit down and just figure out 10-20 simple, comfortable work outfits that I can just throw on, but I probably never will.

2. Not enough money. Of course.

3. I suck at accessorizing.