Trying Way Too Hard to be in Style
May 3rd, 2007 by Jeremy
So what is it about people that are so overly concerned with being a part of the latest style trends that they will wear things that look oh so ridiculous on them? Though you expect this to some degree with teenagers and college types, when you get a little “older” you just need to be a little more comfortable in having your own style.
This topic has come to mind for two reasons. First, we just had a guy visit our office wearing what I consider to be the most effeminate getup for a straight guy I have seen in recent memory. Second, I have a real beef with people who do not dress to their body type.
I have to be a little careful I guess because some of the people that read this blog will know who I am talking about. Oh well, throw a little caution to the wind, right? So on to my rant.
This guy that just came in the office, to remain unnamed, was wearing khaki caprices, a white t-shirt with a pink sweater vest and some weird small billed (almost beanie) kind of hat on backwards. I am a pretty tolerant guy when it comes to fashion sense, because I am no stylistic expert myself, but this getup frankly had the entire office snickering until he left; then it was a full on laugh fest once the door shut on his way out.
It was obvious he thought he was pretty hip with what he was wearing, and had put a lot of thought into the ensemble. Perhaps he should think a little less and simplify his approach to his daily wear. I might have thought I was way off base with my thinking had I not see and heard the resounding affirmative chuckles. It wasn’t even the color that bothered me that much, it was the entire presentation that threw it over the top.
Style is subjective, I realize this, though within current styles there are a wide range of options that work for better for different people. Any normal person can look in the mirror and have a general sense if something works or not, at least one would think.
This takes me to my next part of the beef, dressing for your body type. For this one my rant points squarely to teenage girls for the most part. I see this with some others of other ages and gender, but by far the majority of my observations have been with those angst-ridden young ladies. So many just can’t seem to realize that not all of the latest trends work for their body type.
First of all, this is not a personal shot at people that are overweight, particularly tall or short, etc. Simple reality is that we all are different and very few of us fit the advertised norm that so many styles are based on. So all PC out of the way, some of us are fatter than others and most of us poke out in places that the models don’t. Deal with it.
The other day I was out at lunch with co-workers and the girl in front of us was rather round, which for the last time I will express the necessary PC in saying weight is not the point here, so move on from any thoughts to rebut my callousness. What bothered me was the fact that she was trying to pull off the ultra short jacket look over a longer undershirt. Rather than give structure to accentuate the fact that her top half was narrower than her bottom half, it looked like she had squeezed in to her daughter’s jacket or caught in a sudden rainstorm that caused ultra-shrinkage of the fabric. She looked like she was about to bust a seam. The undershirt was then extra long and stretched to capacity over her more than ample backside. Short version, it highlighted all the wrong features in a big way.
I see kind of thing oh so often with those teenage girls, especially with the whole midriff bearing styles. Girls, if you have a pooch, or perhaps better termed gut, don’t wear the hip hugger jeans with short shirts. A belly is only attractive to be seen sticking out, frankly if it doesn’t stick out. I don’t need the extra attention to your fat roll.
I won’t spend extra time trying to balance this article with examples for skinny people, tall people, etc. You get the point. Dress for your body type. This is not to say that all people with a few or more than a few extra pounds need to wear baggy clothes either. Wear what looks good on you and makes you look good. Simple concept. Pick a swimsuit that works. Tuck or don’t tuck shirts appropriately. Do or don’t wear those tighter clothes depending on what works. If you need help, take a friend when buying your clothes and give them carte blanch to tell you exactly what looks good and what doesn’t. It may hurt a little at the time, but you will be thankful later on.
Oh, and if you were wondering, I know what “structure” in clothing is because I’ve caught an episode or two of What Not To Wear on TLC with my wife. Perhaps a few episodes of this show should be standard viewing to kids to give them some basics.
This was THE BEST piece I have yet to read. What you just wrote I always think in my head. I don’t get it. Not that weight is an issue but dressing to the size is a must.
I do not understand a large person trying to squeeze in to form fitting clothes. Me on the other hand will say I am on the smaller size and I get slack from people asking me why I wear such baggy clothes.
Go figure!!!
Well said Jeremy!
Melissa Morris
Oh Jeremy…don’t EVEN get me started. This of course was writtne by a thin person…you and Melissa comment again a thin person…here…put a a fat suit and try to shop for an appropiate outfit! The designers do not design for anyone with a figure other than “stick” in mind…and these poor teen girls are just trying to “be in style”…
Sorry I really do not think it is all their fault…not by a long shot. My thin daughter who weighs less than 120 pounds (and is 5′8″)has to buy a large in Jr. department so it’s not too tight!
Can’t agree on much of this one my friend…
I have to agree, and I am no longer the thin person I used to be, at 155-ish and 5′6″ (25″ waist, 42″ hips and a 34″ bust…going to a store I’m all over the building for fittings!). My best friend is 250 and the same height, while working on muscle tone and managing a thyroid deficiency, yet we can manage to dress appropriately and do a lot of shopping together.
We constantly getting compliments on the way we dress from all age groups, so there must be a few things we are doing right. I am more flamboyant in my style than Molly–preferring skirts-whether flowing circles or the slimmer stretch velvet- and blouses/vest, where she is more tailored and wears pants! It helps that we are willing to pick a few styles that suit us and our moods/feelings instead of thinking we need to copy the runways or the gossip mags. Yes the sizes have been tweaked a lot by the fashion industry and it is difficult to look at a size and know what will fit, but that is what a fitting room and mirror are for-to see if they actually will and if they will look appropriate!
OTOH, there is a lot of historical precedent about complaining on the way people dress, especially older folks about the younger fads and fashions. Us complaining about muffin tops, seeing thongs and worse, or the waistbands having to be held at the crotch to keep from falling off completely is just the latest installment. (Tudors/Elizabethans complaining about necklines or corset silhouettes, Victorians and their corsets or showing ankles, flappers, poodle skirts vs pants for girls in the 50’s, midis/minis/maxis in the 60’s)
So welcome to being one of the older generation Jer!
I so agree Jeremy, I like to people watch and must admit to thinking on several occasions…”does that person even OWN a mirror?” You know me, so you know I am short, and rather plumb… :) …so I am always so self conscious about what I look like, and what I am wearing. With my little status height wise, and large status weight wise, it really is hard to find clothes I feel comfortable in. I am the first to admit that I don’t always get it right, but at least I know I have done my best to take care with my appearance from make-up, to hair style, to the outfit. I don’t understand how some people can think they actually look good with clothes that cling to every bulge, cover those rolls up people with loose clothes….it does a body good. And goes a long way to saving the sight of those who you come in contact with…LOL.
I also have to wonder why so many older women think they can wear clothes obviously made for the younger generation. I saw a late 40-something lady, who to her credit had a nice figure, but I wish someone had told her that form fitting snake print leather pants with a revealing halter top just is way too much contrast with her rather old tired looking face. It resonated a rather sad, pathetic vibe, which, I think I can safely say, was not the vibe she wanted to emit.
Now where did I put MY leather pants….baaahaaahaaa….I bet that is an image you did not need! ;)
I totally agree with you, Jeremy. My niece used to have a small tummy and she wore those hip hugging jeans with midriff baring tops with sweaters and jackets that looked like they belonged to an eight year old.
She looked fine and in-style. Even if the style is ‘off’. Silly.
The problem now…she has a GUT. She still wears the style. Sad to say, she does NOT look attractive.