STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Elle · Hermes

RE: What is your biggest style/wardrobe challenge?

berryahou35 · Dooney & Bourke

1. I NEVER accessorize, cuz I don't take the time to or I just don't know what to wear!

2. I waste alot of time in the morning figuring out what to wear, and then I just throw on jeans and t-shirt.

3. I pick quantity over quality.. because I can't bear to put down the $$

Metric · Gucci

1. I can never seem to get it "right". I can't seem to dress appropriately for occasions, both overdressing and underdressing at wrong times. For example, my cousin invited me for dinner with her friends, who she told me were all quite fashionable. So I wore BCBG and they all show up in Juicy sweats and I felt completely out of place. Also I never seem to be able to finish a look off and always end up feeling like I could do better.

2. Being able to afford the things I like. Buying a cheaper version and hating it. Quality vs. quantity. I think these problems are universal.

3. I haven't quite found a new look. 5-6 years ago I was a rocker/party girl all about vynal pants and band t's, but now my body has changed, my life style has changed and so my look has had to change, and I haven't quite captured a look yet. I am having trouble finding a cool look but still feeling like a "grown up".

theotherjess · Chanel

"I can never seem to get it "right". I can't seem to dress appropriately for occasions, both overdressing and underdressing at wrong times... Also I never seem to be able to finish a look off and always end up feeling like I could do better."

(From BrazenCanadian, sorry I don't know how to do the quote thing)

This is definitely my biggest dilemma. I can never find what I feel like wearing in my closet. I have lots of beautiful clothes, but most of the time I'll feel like dressing a certain way and have no clothes that give me that "look". I usually end up trying on every top in my closet (to inevitably wear with jeans) and end up throwing them all on the floor because they don't look or feel right. I usually get to the point where I just throw something on that I don't really like. People would never know I am this into fashion by looking at me.

Andrea Julia · Coach

Why is it that sometimes the quote feature won't work for me? It will say who the quote is from and then not have any content. Anyway...

Quote from shops2much: "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..."

OMG! This is exactly my problem. I am forever buying frilly looking things at Anthropologie and then dressing them down with cardigans or blazers. I am always overdressed because there is something I'm dying to wear and don't really have anyplace that dressy to wear it. I just really like clothes that don't fit my lifestyle. In general, I have trouble having separate work and going out wardrobes. I enjoy going out clothes so much more. I will be shopping for work clothes and find something that I would wear to go out and then justify buying it by saying I can just throw a cardigan or blazer over it.

My other problems are not enough money and

buying something only to realize I have something really, really similar when I get home. Then, I will like the new one better and not want to bring it back. So then, the older item will get thrown out of rotation even if I liked it just fine before. And then I will feel like I have nothing to wear because all my stuff looks the same.

-- Edited by Andrea Julia at 18:02, 2005-02-14

Renee · Kenneth Cole

1. I don't have enough good tops. I have a big bust, so only a few styles look good on me (v-necks and scoopnecks), and I can rarely find tops I like. Also, I hate buying basic tees because they are not special enough. And I have a lot of necklaces and I want to show them off... I wear black v-necks way too often!

2. I don't like buying basic stuff.

3. Very small budget (I am a grad student). Often that's an inspiration as well as a hindrance because I only buy things I love and that work well with my wardrobe. On the other hand I often can't afford terrific items that I love and need to have (for example right now I really need a good cashmere hoodie in a spring color).

4. People in boring outfits all around me!

mischiefandmayhem · BCBG

i have some also.

1. i have a really complete wardrobe except nightlife clothes. i have a lot that can work for events, like little parties, casual dinners, but nothing that i could wear, say, to a club here. i'm going to force myself to start working on this. i had to spend a little time sorting out what style i wanted, but it's getting clearer to me now and so i'll be slowly adding in a few pieces for this. we don't go to clubs a ton, so happily just a few things will go a long way for me to start.

2. shoes are always something of a challenge for me. i keep them basic but somehow, i just can't ever get the look i want with them. i'm more of a neutral shoe wearer than say a novelty shoe, because i like my outfits to be really detailed, but i still struggle with them. somehow, they always look weird/off. i can't ever seem to find what i envision either.

3. i am almost loyal to a fault to brands and stores i like. i can't help it - there is always new stuff i want in these places, but i wish i'd branch out a bit and get into other stores. i tend to shop regularly one to two, and then frequently a whole handful of others. i do scout a huge bunch for stylediary's out and about page, but when it comes to buying, i am pretty into two places, maybe four tops, for my stuff. i am also like this with brands. i guess i just spend on what works for me, but it's not good for mixing things up.

Drew · Gucci

I tend to have too much variety in my closet. I try to pick a theme and go with it for a season or year, but I always end up buying stuff that is outside of my theme and end up looking like I don't have a definitive style, and I want one. I really want to do a bohemian look this spring, but I keep getting drawn into different preppy, cute-sy, or dressy styles.

Also, I can't seem to shop anywhere but Anthropologie for clothes and shoes these days. When I visited an Anthro store I even bought my underwear and a bunch of socks from there. I really can't help it; I LOVE everything there and all other stores pale in comparison, except the stuff I can't afford (high end designer stuff from Sak's, Barney's, Neiman's and the like). I try to tell myself it's ok, because it's not all the same brand, but I know I need to branch out. I have always been that way, though. I do that with my house stuff too. All my furniture is from Pottery Barn, all my kitchen stuff from Williams Sonoma; God I have to get some variety in there - funny I just said that if you look at my first paragraph.

Maddie · Coach

It's funny to read about everyone not being able to accessorize. I usually plan outfits around accessories and then end up wearing too basic of stuff underneath. One of my problems is figuring out how to balance cool unique clothes with cool accessories.

Cricket · Gucci

Oh, wow, where do I start? Okay, I'll start w/ a common problem...

1. Not enough $$$ to buy the things I really want.

2. I'm tall w/ big boobs and I have the hardest time finding cute shirts that fit me right. My closet is full of clothes that were *just* long enough when I bought them and are now too short. I want so bad to be able to wear flirty camis and little tops, but it just doesn't work. Either they're way too short and show my tummy or I look like a hooker.

3. My accessories are boring. I've been spending a lot of time on eBay trying to build my accessories collection. I've need fun, inexpensive pieces.

4. Because I don't work (OUTSIDE the house, thank you!), I have a lot of casual clothes. It seems like I rarely have occasion to dress up a little nowadays.

5. Climate. I live in Phoenix, where it's "chilly" about 2 weeks out of the year. That's what it feels like anyway. I would love to take advantage of all those super winter sales that happen at the first of the year, but I'm never wear coats (a light sweater or jean jacket is usually plenty), scarves, mittens, etc. I feel like it's a waste.

6. I have no good shopping close and it's such a pain to drag 2 kids to a mall. So, I usually travel to the other side of the city only once a month or so to go to the good malls. That's only when someone ELSE can watch the kids. I do head to Target, etc. with them, but I can't spend a lot of time browsing.

That's all for now. I'm sure I'll think of more later.

CarrieS · Marc Jacobs

This is a good topic. Here's mine (will prob add on as I think of more):

1. Trying to replicate looks I love from mags or online. This is virtually impossible because I either don't have the budget for anything I find online and trying to find something similar where I live just doesn't happen (at least not WHEN I want to wear the look). Iowa isn't exactly know as a fashion mecca and the really popular looks don't show up here in full force until 6 months to a year after they started. This really frustrates me.

2. I also have a problem with "going out"/clubbing clothing. This somewhat relates to #1 because a lot of what's available to me locally is all of the stuff typically worn to the bars here; in other words: hoochy. I'm not into that anymore. I like sexy, but a more stylish, sophisticated sexy. I'm more into showing non-typical areas of my body, like my shoulders and neck, instead of boobs and legs like most people here.

3. Everytime I go shopping for a piece or have a look in mind, I can never find anything. I think I create stuff in my head, but in reality it doesn't exist, so I don't find anything, not even similar.

4. I'd like to think I'm creative, but for some reason I can never think of how to put together my clothing pieces to make them look that way. I especially want to be able to do this with casual stuff effortlessly (think Ashley Olsen or even some of the members on this board, like mishiefandmayhem or cali-I love your guys' outfits!)

5. Also relating to #1, but lack of any good stores here. All I have is really mainstream stuff like AE, Gap, Express, Maurices, Aeropostale, Gadzooks, Target, etc. (most of which I don't shop at because I hate the fact that that's the "look" here and it's not me). I occasionally shop at AE or Target for basic stuff that I try to wear differently than how everyone else here wears it, but for really awesome, creative pieces, there's nothing.

6. Like everyone else, lack of money.

-- Edited by CarrieS at 16:38, 2005-02-15

shops2much · Nine West

quote:

Originally posted by: CarrieS
"3. Everytime I go shopping for a piece or have a look in mind, I can never find anything. I think I create stuff in my head, but in reality it doesn't exist, so I don't find anything, not even similar.

5. Also relating to #1, but lack of any good stores here. All I have is really mainstream stuff like AE, Gap, Express, Maurices, Aeropostale, Gadzooks, Target, etc. (most of which I don't shop at because I hate the fact that that's the "look" here and it's not me). I occasionally shop at AE or Target for basic stuff that I try to wear differently than how everyone else here wears it, but for really awesome, creative pieces, there's nothing. "

Amen, and amen!!! I have that same problem, I swear I invent clothes in my head and never find them and end up all disappointed and always craving that thing in my head...

Also, my area is dead with fashion. We have only AE, Gap, Express, Aeropostale at our mall. I hate the mall. This is why I do all my shopping online. ALL of it. I jsut gave up on the mall. I am so not a brown AE sweater and Express jeans with AE fake birkenstocks type of girl, which is how everyone 13-25 dresses here. Ugh. I would seriously recommend online shopping.

rosie_the_riveter · Gucci

1. What style? I don't think I have any besides t-shirts and jeans. (That's why I look here for ideas, you guys have it together)

2. I've been married for about 5 years so my husband and I never go on "dates" anymore and I only go to school so I don't dress up for that.

3. The lack of money for clothes because I need a new car.

4. I'm pretty pettite so I can never find clothes that fight me right.

-Oh and #5 (my favorite challenge) is this-

I have a couple of nautical stars tattooed on my shoulders (one on each side) that I got when I was younger and I of course knew everything, and now they don't make the best accessories for nice clothes.

-- Edited by rosie_the_riveter at 03:48, 2005-02-16

Metric · Gucci

quote:
Originally posted by: rosie_the_riveter
-Oh and #5 (my favorite challenge) is this- I have a couple of nautical stars tattooed on my shoulders (one on each side) that I got when I was younger and I of course knew everything, and now they don't make the best accessories for nice clothes. -- Edited by rosie_the_riveter at 03:48, 2005-02-16"

I have this problem, too. My back has a large peice on it, as well as my left shoulder, and while I don't regret getting tatooed, its hard for me to show them but still be "pretty". So I don't do backless.

atlgirl · Gucci

I think my biggest problem is that I don't have "outfits". I buy what I like, usually a piece or two at a time, and then when I go to get dressed, I tend to just throw on my interesting tops with jeans, because I don't have pants or skirts to go with them (for example).

I don't have the budget (or the need, really) for the clothes I want. I work from home mostly, so usually can spend all day in sweats if I want. Which is a perk, don't get me wrong, but I sometimes like to dress up a bit more, and there's really no reason to most of the time. And justifying the purchases can be hard too, because I'm a small biz owner - I don't have a big budget for that type of stuff.

I loooove accessories but I seem to have the same problem as Detroit (I think it was her post) in that if I get away from, say, the basic black or brown handbag, I don't have the right color / style / shape for a specific outfit. Then I feel like a goober, carrying the wrong bag. Then I get annoyed with myself, and say, "does this REALLY matter in the overall scheme of life?" Then I get sad, because I shouldn't care as much, but I do. *sigh*

I also love jewelry, and have a good-sized collection of original jewelry, but don't wear it much, because I design jewelry for a living, so everywhere I go, I get "did you make what you're wearing?" and I hate to say no. So my fun pieces that I *didn't* make just sit in the jewelry boxes. I know - small problem to have, but it still grates.

chloe · BCBG

I tihnk my biggest problem would be that i always choose comfort over style. While i like my look to be casual chic sometimes i just need to spice things up. Alot of time when i plan cute outfits the night before, by the time i wake up in the morning i get too lazy to be cute and end up throwing on a baggy tee, jeans, beat up black converses and just accessorizing the outfit.

I also have NOo going out tops. I am so picky about clubbing clothes. I dont like slutty, skin tight tops ....if they are tight the cloth has to be a certain material because i cant stand unflattering tops esp if they are very fitting....and so i can never find any shirts to go out in. I usually end up wearing a plain tank top, jeans and converses...how sexxy right? LOL. the clubs here really dont have a dress code.

I can dress well when i want to and when im with the right people but alot of times i dont have the confidence. Id think that other people will thinking im trying to hard or think that i look ridiculous.

Just thought of some more....I am too lazy to straigten my hair so its always up in a pony tail.

Im a college student and sometimes i feel bad mooching off the rents. i like unique stuff that other people might not have...but those things are always the most expensive.

-- Edited by chloe at 12:50, 2005-02-16

katya · BCBG

I've got a few of the same probs as were previously mentioned (lack of $$, lack of sexy club outfits, etc). One of my big problems is that I can visualize the "perfect" outfit, lay the clothes next to each other and think it looks good. But when I try it on it looks off. For example, I layer a sweater over a cami or other shirt and the collar lines look bad. Or the bottom shirt/sleeves will bunch up under the top shirt.

I also have a pretty long torso, and I have the worst problem with tops (they're always riding up and show my belly).

Another problem is with skirts. I have a lot of really cute skirts, but I only end up wearing them in the summer. My legs are so pale in the winter I wont wear a skirt without tights or something, which means I don't end up wearing skirts very often. I have problems "matching" tights with skirts, because they always look too dark or too busy for me.

My biggest problem is that I don't have enough basics. All of my shoes/purses/etc are fun and colorful (which I like), but they can be hard to work with sometimes. I don't own any of the following:
black pants (have 1 pair with pinstripes, but not solid black)
black pumps
dark brown shoes/pumps (I have 1 pr. strappy heels & 2 pairs of boots all in light brown, but no dark brown)
brown purse
the list goes on...

Whenever I'm choosing out an outfit, I'm not able to complete it because I don't have the right purse/shoes/etc... I need to quit buying "fun" clothes/shoes/purses and start being practical. i have 9 pairs of colored suede shoes, but no brown shoes? What the hell is wrong with me?!

lynnie · Chanel

1) Too lazy to switch my purse. I have a lot of cute purses, but I always wear the same one for a few weeks because it gets so filled with stuff that I don't feel like changing it. So I wear the same purse even if it looks TERRIBLE with the outfit. Just because i'm lazy.

2) I choose comfort when it comes to bras and shoes. So a lot of my tops with the thinner straps or cool necklines rarely get worn, and my cute shoes that I can't wear socks with in the winter don't get worn til it's warmer. I only own one pair of heels, and they aren't a practical pair at all (nor comfortable, but VERRRRy cute.) Also, my bf is only an inch or two taller, so I feel weird wearing them anyway, and I have no reason to wear them to my job.

3) I window shop constantly online and read all the magazines when they come out, but can't afford what i really want so i usually don't buy very much until I can finally afford something amazing. But sometimes I feel like I need to take a break from fashion because I just can't handle thinking about it so much!

4) I buy things that need to be either fixed or buy another piece for them before I even wear them. For example, I bought a white linen slip dress from Anthro that is gorgeous, but I want to wear it as a dress. So now I need to either find the perfect slip to go under it, or get it lined.

5) I become obsessed with buying a certain thing for a while. This winter I bought four scarves. I also bought around 10 layering tees. I have bought 3 cute slipdresses in the past 2 weeks. I forget to buy the things I really need.

6) I have, according to my friends, a rather enviable closet (clothing-wise, not size-wise) and I keep wanting to stop buying for a while and creatively work with what I have and save some money. But I always want something new and am so scared of things selling out, that i keep buying and don't get enough wear out of anything except certain pairs of jeans. I don't have anything with the tags still on them (because I wear my new things as soon as I buy them, haha) but I ignore my older clothes for a while until the newness wears off.

Amelie · Kenneth Cole

Money is my problem. I'm 16 without a job and I have no money. It sucks.

erin · Chanel

1. the universal money problem. once in awhile i will splurge (which for me is something over 100$) on an item, but usually i am so guilt-ridden it doesn't happen for awhile.
2. i walk a fine line between pretty and pretty ugly. i tend to be a bit flamboyant, and while usually i don't care, sometimes i wish i could just wear a simple tshirt and jeans.
3. 90% of my closet is comprised of dresses. no fun in the winter.