Pea Fashion

Perhaps because this group is worldwide, with such a large variety of geographic areas, ages, and income types, there just isn't any one good answer to a question about something so personal as fashion??

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I mean, I don't personally like the 'cold shoulder' trend (BTW- that's a stupid name, in my opinion) but that's because in AZ, I'd get a really awkward-looking tan line if I was outside, and inside with the A/C, I'd freeze to death if I wore a top like that.

I would call myself a 'classic' dresser most of the time; I avoid trends for the most part. In my day to day life, I wear business casual or casual clothes; my job doesn't require me to dress up. I like reading fashion magazines occasionally but I don't pay attention to 'fashion' or trends when putting together my own wardrobe, nor do I like spending a lot of $$ on clothes. I'm a thrift-store, estate-sale, consignment store clothing shopper. Because of that, my clothing tastes / likes can be pretty eclectic.

And I'm at a point in my life where I don't care too much about 'fashion' or trends, or what other people think of my tastes in clothing.

I do too lol.

I also take pea fashion opinions with a grain of salt. There are very strong opinions here on style, as i just saw on the cold-shoulder thread lol.

I agree - and in this case I don't think "hate" is too strong of a word

On a daily basis I wear trousers, blouse or knit top and cardigan, usually necklace and/or earrings, sometimes a jacket. If I am meeting with higher administration I wear a suit. I am walking around 6 out of 8 hours, shoes are functional and supportive. I never wear high heels and never wear dresses or skirts. I wear a variety of colors and patterns and accessories. I would not decribe myself as fashion forward, I dress right for the day although usually fairly simply and am not interested in trends or what people think I should wear. Dress code at my level is a step up from business casual but there is no need for a suit everyday, my teachers are mostly casual and as long as each person is clothed and clean I don't police my staff dress. Fashion is not important in my life although I do enjoy things that look and feel nice to wear.

I enjoy fashion and knowing what the trends are, even if they're not for me. My dil pointed out that I do have a winter/visiting Philadelphia uniform: skinny jeans, wedge heel bootie or sandal, tunic with a front tuck (or tank and cardigan) and a long pendant necklace.

My hairdresser/friend is very fashion forward, so she'll give me a yay or nay when I'm interested in trying something new. My dil will too, but even though we're the same size/shape in general, she is 30 years younger! She can pull off a lot of things that look or feel silly on me.

I feel challenged by keeping up with what is new and fun and keeping a small, tightly edited closet.

I love clothes and shoes and all the accesssories that go along with them.  I really don't do trends, I prefer a classic style that will last more than a season or two.

 

I don't usually chime in on fashion threads. I'm the least fashionable person in the world. I wear short sleeve or long sleeve tees and yoga pants on a daily basis. Not the tight yoga pants, the old fashioned kind that are like regular pants. Jeans sometimes. Dress pants and a nice blouse for church or dates. Pants are all basic black, brown or navy. I don't wear skirts or dresses. I don't think I have a style.

I'm not interested in fashion. I do appreciate cute flattering clothes, on myself and on my friends. I notice flattering colors, too. I put in enough effort to ensure that everything is covered, that my clothes flatter me or at least conceal what I want concealed. I want to look neat and appropriate for every occasion, that's important to me. I don't accessorize much beyond an occasional necklace.

I am not a clothes horse and the thought of clothes shopping is torture. My style is pretty basic/classic preppy. At work I typically wear a skirt with a cardigan or sweater and flats. Most of my separates I have purchased at Costco and most pieces are quite a few years old (4-7 years). I’d like to do a capsule wardrobe, but that would require clothes shopping so it hasn’t happened. I don’t wear heels because after years of not wearing them, I’ve finally gotten rid of all the odd corns and calluses they caused. I also wear between a 10-11 depending on style and cute shoes just don’t come in those sizes and I refuse to wear shoes that hurt my feet.
Leisure time consists of jeans or sweats and in the summer shorts and flip flops. At this point, if I never see another woman in skinny jeans with tall boots, tunic sweater/long cardi, cocker spaniel hair and “statement” jewelry it won’t be soon enough. I realize probably a lot of peas wear that look but i'm just so over it.
I like to look at fashion and I’m all over Go Fug Yourself at awards season, but I have no desire to follow the trends.
I have jewelry but never think to put it on. I’ve been wearing the same necklace for about a year, it never comes off. It’s a good piece of classic jewelry (Tiffany linked rings in gold/silver) and I don’t have to think about it. Earrings is where I need to get better. I usually think about it when I get to work...too late!

Left to my own devices I'd wear sweats every single day. However...not appropriate for either job. 

So to work I wear black pants, a short or long-sleeved basic pullover type shirt, and a sweater/jacket/something. Always. And the minute I get home I rip off everything and put on my sweats. In spring and fall, before the heat/ac is on, I might wear a long or short sleeved tee shirt, but in winter and summer (with the cold ac) it's always a sweatshirt or sweater. Comfort is my goal. lol

I love this thread.

I didn't weigh in on the cold shoulder trend, which to me is different from the off the shoulder look that many on the thread seemed to use interchangeably. I'm surprised at the negative reaction to the cold shoulder look, because especially as women age, the shoulder, as opposed to the underside of the arm, remains a pretty part of the body to look at, as it's not as subject to the ravages of gravity.

I don't have any of these because the places I buy clothes don't seem to offer them, and I wouldn't wear them in the winter as I don't like my neck and shoulders to be cold. I would totally wear it in the warmer months if I found one I liked. As far as the off the shoulder look, again--wouldn't wear in the winter, but then there's also the bra issue. Bra straps would ruin the effect and I'm not crazy about strapless bras.

I have 3 basic types of clothes I wear: walking the dog clothes, regular/going out casually clothes, and special occasion clothes (weddings, holiday parties, etc.)

Walking the dog clothes in winter are schleppy with lots of layers to keep warm and dry. Summer is a LL Bean skort and cotton tank.

I do not differentiate between my other daily clothes and casual going out clothes, so I often get from DH, "Why are you so dressed up?" and from friends, "You look nice!" These tend to be a dress, pants or a skirt, a top, a sweater or jacket, boots and a scarf in winter, and switching out the boots and scarf for necklace and sandals in warmer weather. I always put on that "third piece" which makes an outfit feel polished and complete. I'm not really a ring or bracelet person, but will throw on a bracelet(s) for a dressy occasion. But even my special occasion clothes adhere to my style:  simple lines, luxurious fabrics, sporty features like dresses with onseam pockets. 

What I wore to cashier at our band winter festival this past Saturday was a Gap black linen long-sleeve tee with white pinstripes, J. Crew mustard pants with rolled cuffs, a Michael Kors black cotton open sweater with sleeves just past elbow length, a Banana Republic blingy charm necklace and black Converse high-tops. It felt casual but together. When DH and I went out for dinner later to a medium upscale local restaurant, I wore the same thing. If it had been colder out that day, I probably would have switched the necklace for a floral scarf, because I love the juxtaposition of stripes and florals.

If I had to characterize my style it would be casual, sporty, a touch urban sophisticate in terms of simple lines and my standard color palette of black, gray, navy and white. There's also a tad of romantic, prep and punk. I'm eclectic, LOL.

I was sick a few years ago and literally wore nothing but black yoga pants, tee shirts and sweatshirts for three years. Once I started feeling better, I wanted to start looking better but sort of found I didn't fit into my former clothes both physically and emotionally and from an age point of view. I had to start over, figure out who I was and then start restocking my wardrobe. I started reading fashion blogs for older women and that was immensely helpful but man, talk about enabling...

So I've learned lots of valuable info:

1. For any question asked on 2 Peas which begins: Am I too old for..., the answer is generally no as long as the important bits are covered. What you should ask yourself instead, do I have the confidence and do I feel comfortable when I wear this?

2. One thing I've noticed is that the older Peas stay very close to their "age-appropriate" shops. Don't get me wrong, I haunt J.Jill because their silhouettes are flattering to my apple shape, and they use a proponderence of natural fibers which are two of the most important criteria for clothes for me. But even J.Jill has started featuring what I characterize as "old-lady" colorways--those pastel lavenders, pinks and blues that scream "Come take me away to the Home!" that I see in the resurrected Coldwater Creek and other labels marketing to women over 40. So IMO, if you are going to wear old lady colors, give them some structure, sophistication, and crisping up with black or gray or navy. And please, dear God, get your pants altered. I see SO many over 40 women, who are typically overweight, wearing pants with huge legs and a big puddle of fabric at the ground. Narrowing and hemming would take 20 pounds and 20 years off you.

Oops, kind of got sidetracked. What I was going to say that women over 40 should venture out, especially for shoes and accessories, into lines that cater to younger women. I'm not what I would consider a slave to fashion trends by any means; I've determined my style, which helps streamline my shopping process. But I do like my look to be fresh, because I like to feel as young and vibrant as I can at 58. I hate to see, and I see it a lot around here, women over 40 who've had just sort of given up. I've found, and I wouldn't have believed it, but I do feel better about myself when I make an effort.

Love the Advanced Style blog--in fact my over 40 Bloglovin' fashion blog category title is Advanced Style. I think it's AWESOME that those 60, 70, 80 year olds and beyond are still making the effort to be creative and put themselves together every day. They are such an inspiration to me.

Your style is the very antithesis of mine, but I love it when people make the effort to really determine their style and execute it every day. I love the potential to be creative every day with your style.