Mid 30s - Tips for updating outdated millennial style

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen Z fashion isn't for me. I'm riding this wave out and sticking to simple timeless pieces.

This stuff is awful. The crop tops. The mom jeans. It's look terrible on everyone, even the young and fit.

Wake me when it's over.

But it actually doesn't look terrible at all. Here's the thing ... a lot of women INCORRECTLY think they look better in skinny jeans + tunic length top than straight-leg & high-rise jean + crop-length top. Women feel like the former is flowy and covering things like FUPA, etc. up, so it must look better than the latter. But, truly, nope. For most of us, a tunic length top is hitting us at our widest point, and therefore making us look... WIDE. And if you are at all pear shaped, the skinny jeans you think flatter you . . . DON'T.

Just try buying a pair of high-waisted straight-cut denim and pairing it with a "cropped" slim sweater that sits basically just at the top of the waist (so not showing midriff). Even if you have a bit of a FUPA, you will look longer and less wide than in a tunic-length top and skinnies.

Lug sole boots are tricky unless you are quite tall -- good other options are loafers or white sneakers. Bonus: they are comfy!

This is spot on. I think a big part of the reason millennials (especially the older ones, like me) are still clinging to the "Christian Girl Autumn" tunics-over-skinny jeans look is because we now have mom bods and erroneously feel like the flowy tops camouflage our tummy pooches, but really... you aren't fooling anybody.

Skinny jeans/longer top can still work for pear shapes. But the top can't be shapeless, ideally you have a jacket/sweater over the top, and the skinnies can't be super skinny.

[Anonymous]

This is the thread I have been needing! Thank you to all who are posting updates/suggestions.

What are your thoughts for winter coats? Haven't replaced mine in ... too long. Would ideally like one for everyday function/cold weather and another that would be considered stylish/dressy (within the context that I'm an older millennial with a young kid who doesn't get out that much ... and when I do, I want to look pulled together.)

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen Z fashion isn't for me. I'm riding this wave out and sticking to simple timeless pieces.

This stuff is awful. The crop tops. The mom jeans. It's look terrible on everyone, even the young and fit.

Wake me when it's over.

But it actually doesn't look terrible at all. Here's the thing ... a lot of women INCORRECTLY think they look better in skinny jeans + tunic length top than straight-leg & high-rise jean + crop-length top. Women feel like the former is flowy and covering things like FUPA, etc. up, so it must look better than the latter. But, truly, nope. For most of us, a tunic length top is hitting us at our widest point, and therefore making us look... WIDE. And if you are at all pear shaped, the skinny jeans you think flatter you . . . DON'T.

Just try buying a pair of high-waisted straight-cut denim and pairing it with a "cropped" slim sweater that sits basically just at the top of the waist (so not showing midriff). Even if you have a bit of a FUPA, you will look longer and less wide than in a tunic-length top and skinnies.

Lug sole boots are tricky unless you are quite tall -- good other options are loafers or white sneakers. Bonus: they are comfy!

This is spot on. I think a big part of the reason millennials (especially the older ones, like me) are still clinging to the "Christian Girl Autumn" tunics-over-skinny jeans look is because we now have mom bods and erroneously feel like the flowy tops camouflage our tummy pooches, but really... you aren't fooling anybody.

Skinny jeans/longer top can still work for pear shapes. But the top can't be shapeless, ideally you have a jacket/sweater over the top, and the skinnies can't be super skinny.

At the end of the day it's total nonsense that looser/straight/bootcut etc. denim and cropped/shorter/tucked in tops look "terrible on everyone". Generalizing here to some extent -- but in particular pear shapes, hour glasses, and petite women, all tend to do well with these trendier silhouettes because their best features are more accentuated than in skinny jeans + long tops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the thread I have been needing! Thank you to all who are posting updates/suggestions.

What are your thoughts for winter coats? Haven't replaced mine in ... too long. Would ideally like one for everyday function/cold weather and another that would be considered stylish/dressy (within the context that I'm an older millennial with a young kid who doesn't get out that much ... and when I do, I want to look pulled together.)

TIA!

Try J Crew City coat in a neutral color for dressy coat.

[Anonymous]

I like the look of looser pants with a cropped, fitted top, but as an apple shape I find it hard to pull off. My legs are my best feature so hiding them under wide leg jeans just makes me look enormous all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the thread I have been needing! Thank you to all who are posting updates/suggestions.

What are your thoughts for winter coats? Haven't replaced mine in ... too long. Would ideally like one for everyday function/cold weather and another that would be considered stylish/dressy (within the context that I'm an older millennial with a young kid who doesn't get out that much ... and when I do, I want to look pulled together.)

TIA!

A cropped puffer for casual looks, a men’s cut trench or wool coat for nicer wear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bootcut jeans, cropped sweaters and tops, mock neck and high cut tanks are in. Thin gold or silver necklaces instead of chunky statement. Two_scoops_of_style on Instagram has a few “millennial makeover” reels that show outfits going from millennial to modern

I’ve seen some of these videos and I have come to the conclusion that the two things making Millennials look the most dated are the whole “tall boots over skinny jeans or leggings” look, and long, tunic-like tops with leggings or skinny jeans. I think if you ditch just those two things and opt for white sneakers, flats, or like … literally any other shoe, and somewhat shorter tops, you’ve ditched the most dated styles.

There’s some dated accessories too like big statement necklaces, light indoor/decorative type scarves or blanket scarves, faux fur vests etc. that I’ve seen people our age holding on to as well but those are easy enough to just not wear anymore.

I haven’t seen anyone wear this look in at least 7 years.

I see it regularly on my kids teachers (elementary school, teachers seem to be in their mid-30s to mid-40s) or a similar look with dressy flats instead and with a longer fitted cardigan. I also see it a lot outside of this area.

I can vouch that this is a particularly tough fashion stretch if you’re a teacher. The “trends” are too casual for work (ie light wash wide leg jeans and combat boots) and the next step up is more business casual (dress pants, blouses) which is more reserved for administrators at my school. So, many of us are still hanging in to darker skinnier and boots/flats.

High school teacher here. Any time I wear a high waisted pant (we aren’t allowed to wear jeans) with a cropped sweater (obviously not showing midriff!) I am sure to get compliments from the girls in my class telling me I look “cool.”. Cute dress? They don’t even notice. It kind of cracks me up how predictable it is. But I have to say, it’s taken me a while to find things that are on trend and also professional. I am super small and short (5 foot 1, 112 pounds or so) so the wide pants really swallow me up. Midi length skirts are a complete non starter for me too. I have found H & M can be fun for trying new things, although their pants tend to be super long on me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Flattering" is a euphemism for slimming, no? Isn't part of the Gen Z fashion mindset that there's more to style than looking as skinny as possible?

No, I wouldn’t say flattering is always slimming. It’s also about prints, colors, working with the curves of a woman’s body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen Z fashion isn't for me. I'm riding this wave out and sticking to simple timeless pieces.

This stuff is awful. The crop tops. The mom jeans. It's look terrible on everyone, even the young and fit.

Wake me when it's over.

But it actually doesn't look terrible at all. Here's the thing ... a lot of women INCORRECTLY think they look better in skinny jeans + tunic length top than straight-leg & high-rise jean + crop-length top. Women feel like the former is flowy and covering things like FUPA, etc. up, so it must look better than the latter. But, truly, nope. For most of us, a tunic length top is hitting us at our widest point, and therefore making us look... WIDE. And if you are at all pear shaped, the skinny jeans you think flatter you . . . DON'T.

Just try buying a pair of high-waisted straight-cut denim and pairing it with a "cropped" slim sweater that sits basically just at the top of the waist (so not showing midriff). Even if you have a bit of a FUPA, you will look longer and less wide than in a tunic-length top and skinnies.

Lug sole boots are tricky unless you are quite tall -- good other options are loafers or white sneakers. Bonus: they are comfy!

This is spot on. I think a big part of the reason millennials (especially the older ones, like me) are still clinging to the "Christian Girl Autumn" tunics-over-skinny jeans look is because we now have mom bods and erroneously feel like the flowy tops camouflage our tummy pooches, but really... you aren't fooling anybody.

I think the whole logic of "THAT was unflattering and ugly....THIS is now flattering an you must swap immediately" is so silly. They're all flattering on some people and less so on others, they've all had their really cute outfits that now look dated but will likely come around again. Its not like we've suddenly gained some magical fashion and optics wisdom that NOW we understand what is flattering and what isn't and we were just so misguided before (the same things were written about skinny jeans when fashion was trying to push us all off bootcut....they always have to convince us out with the old (which is HIDEOUS and makes you look FAT and OLD) and in with the new, to keep making money.

I totally agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen Z fashion isn't for me. I'm riding this wave out and sticking to simple timeless pieces.

This stuff is awful. The crop tops. The mom jeans. It's look terrible on everyone, even the young and fit.

Wake me when it's over.

But it actually doesn't look terrible at all. Here's the thing ... a lot of women INCORRECTLY think they look better in skinny jeans + tunic length top than straight-leg & high-rise jean + crop-length top. Women feel like the former is flowy and covering things like FUPA, etc. up, so it must look better than the latter. But, truly, nope. For most of us, a tunic length top is hitting us at our widest point, and therefore making us look... WIDE. And if you are at all pear shaped, the skinny jeans you think flatter you . . . DON'T.

Just try buying a pair of high-waisted straight-cut denim and pairing it with a "cropped" slim sweater that sits basically just at the top of the waist (so not showing midriff). Even if you have a bit of a FUPA, you will look longer and less wide than in a tunic-length top and skinnies.

Lug sole boots are tricky unless you are quite tall -- good other options are loafers or white sneakers. Bonus: they are comfy!

This is spot on. I think a big part of the reason millennials (especially the older ones, like me) are still clinging to the "Christian Girl Autumn" tunics-over-skinny jeans look is because we now have mom bods and erroneously feel like the flowy tops camouflage our tummy pooches, but really... you aren't fooling anybody.

Skinny jeans/longer top can still work for pear shapes. But the top can't be shapeless, ideally you have a jacket/sweater over the top, and the skinnies can't be super skinny.

At the end of the day it's total nonsense that looser/straight/bootcut etc. denim and cropped/shorter/tucked in tops look "terrible on everyone". Generalizing here to some extent -- but in particular pear shapes, hour glasses, and petite women, all tend to do well with these trendier silhouettes because their best features are more accentuated than in skinny jeans + long tops.

I am an elder millennial, and very pear shaped. Skinny jeans and longer top was the thing I hated the most about the millennial looks of the past decade. Very few pear shaped women look good in this style. It draws attention to the largest part of a pear shaped body, without balancing in any way.

We've spent the better part of a decade figuring out how to make it work and look more flattering, so much so that we are now shocked at the change and are struggling to relearn what other silhouettes even work. Be honest, if you are one of the millennials holding on to the skinny jeans, when was the last time you wore jeans or pants that were NOT skinny (excluding actual workout wear or a biz suit)? It takes a long time to recalibrate. You're used to seeing bootcut and straight and thinking "dated" and now you have to shift and it feels off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen Z fashion isn't for me. I'm riding this wave out and sticking to simple timeless pieces.

This stuff is awful. The crop tops. The mom jeans. It's look terrible on everyone, even the young and fit.

Wake me when it's over.

But it actually doesn't look terrible at all. Here's the thing ... a lot of women INCORRECTLY think they look better in skinny jeans + tunic length top than straight-leg & high-rise jean + crop-length top. Women feel like the former is flowy and covering things like FUPA, etc. up, so it must look better than the latter. But, truly, nope. For most of us, a tunic length top is hitting us at our widest point, and therefore making us look... WIDE. And if you are at all pear shaped, the skinny jeans you think flatter you . . . DON'T.

Just try buying a pair of high-waisted straight-cut denim and pairing it with a "cropped" slim sweater that sits basically just at the top of the waist (so not showing midriff). Even if you have a bit of a FUPA, you will look longer and less wide than in a tunic-length top and skinnies.

Lug sole boots are tricky unless you are quite tall -- good other options are loafers or white sneakers. Bonus: they are comfy!

This is spot on. I think a big part of the reason millennials (especially the older ones, like me) are still clinging to the "Christian Girl Autumn" tunics-over-skinny jeans look is because we now have mom bods and erroneously feel like the flowy tops camouflage our tummy pooches, but really... you aren't fooling anybody.

Skinny jeans/longer top can still work for pear shapes. But the top can't be shapeless, ideally you have a jacket/sweater over the top, and the skinnies can't be super skinny.

At the end of the day it's total nonsense that looser/straight/bootcut etc. denim and cropped/shorter/tucked in tops look "terrible on everyone". Generalizing here to some extent -- but in particular pear shapes, hour glasses, and petite women, all tend to do well with these trendier silhouettes because their best features are more accentuated than in skinny jeans + long tops.

I am an elder millennial, and very pear shaped. Skinny jeans and longer top was the thing I hated the most about the millennial looks of the past decade. Very few pear shaped women look good in this style. It draws attention to the largest part of a pear shaped body, without balancing in any way.

We've spent the better part of a decade figuring out how to make it work and look more flattering, so much so that we are now shocked at the change and are struggling to relearn what other silhouettes even work. Be honest, if you are one of the millennials holding on to the skinny jeans, when was the last time you wore jeans or pants that were NOT skinny (excluding actual workout wear or a biz suit)? It takes a long time to recalibrate. You're used to seeing bootcut and straight and thinking "dated" and now you have to shift and it feels off.

+1. I struggled with this last year trying to style straight leg jeans with lug-sole boots—two things I knew were objectively on trend. You just have to get used to the idea of a new silhouette.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen Z fashion isn't for me. I'm riding this wave out and sticking to simple timeless pieces.

This stuff is awful. The crop tops. The mom jeans. It's look terrible on everyone, even the young and fit.

Wake me when it's over.

But it actually doesn't look terrible at all. Here's the thing ... a lot of women INCORRECTLY think they look better in skinny jeans + tunic length top than straight-leg & high-rise jean + crop-length top. Women feel like the former is flowy and covering things like FUPA, etc. up, so it must look better than the latter. But, truly, nope. For most of us, a tunic length top is hitting us at our widest point, and therefore making us look... WIDE. And if you are at all pear shaped, the skinny jeans you think flatter you . . . DON'T.

Just try buying a pair of high-waisted straight-cut denim and pairing it with a "cropped" slim sweater that sits basically just at the top of the waist (so not showing midriff). Even if you have a bit of a FUPA, you will look longer and less wide than in a tunic-length top and skinnies.

Lug sole boots are tricky unless you are quite tall -- good other options are loafers or white sneakers. Bonus: they are comfy!

And then turn sideways in your mirror...yup, fat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the look of looser pants with a cropped, fitted top, but as an apple shape I find it hard to pull off. My legs are my best feature so hiding them under wide leg jeans just makes me look enormous all over.

Welcome to how we pear-shapes have been feeling for the past decade in skinny jeans and tunics!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen Z fashion isn't for me. I'm riding this wave out and sticking to simple timeless pieces.

This stuff is awful. The crop tops. The mom jeans. It's look terrible on everyone, even the young and fit.

Wake me when it's over.

But it actually doesn't look terrible at all. Here's the thing ... a lot of women INCORRECTLY think they look better in skinny jeans + tunic length top than straight-leg & high-rise jean + crop-length top. Women feel like the former is flowy and covering things like FUPA, etc. up, so it must look better than the latter. But, truly, nope. For most of us, a tunic length top is hitting us at our widest point, and therefore making us look... WIDE. And if you are at all pear shaped, the skinny jeans you think flatter you . . . DON'T.

Just try buying a pair of high-waisted straight-cut denim and pairing it with a "cropped" slim sweater that sits basically just at the top of the waist (so not showing midriff). Even if you have a bit of a FUPA, you will look longer and less wide than in a tunic-length top and skinnies.

Lug sole boots are tricky unless you are quite tall -- good other options are loafers or white sneakers. Bonus: they are comfy!

And then turn sideways in your mirror...yup, fat.

See this is what’s great about Gen Z. They turn sideways and see a normal little pooch and think yeah I still look good, so they do. All the women older see a tiny imperfection, tell themselves and others they look “fat” and retreat to some 15 year old pair of pants they’ve convinced themselves doesn’t make them look fat. Its sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen Z fashion isn't for me. I'm riding this wave out and sticking to simple timeless pieces.

This stuff is awful. The crop tops. The mom jeans. It's look terrible on everyone, even the young and fit.

Wake me when it's over.

But it actually doesn't look terrible at all. Here's the thing ... a lot of women INCORRECTLY think they look better in skinny jeans + tunic length top than straight-leg & high-rise jean + crop-length top. Women feel like the former is flowy and covering things like FUPA, etc. up, so it must look better than the latter. But, truly, nope. For most of us, a tunic length top is hitting us at our widest point, and therefore making us look... WIDE. And if you are at all pear shaped, the skinny jeans you think flatter you . . . DON'T.

Just try buying a pair of high-waisted straight-cut denim and pairing it with a "cropped" slim sweater that sits basically just at the top of the waist (so not showing midriff). Even if you have a bit of a FUPA, you will look longer and less wide than in a tunic-length top and skinnies.

Lug sole boots are tricky unless you are quite tall -- good other options are loafers or white sneakers. Bonus: they are comfy!

And then turn sideways in your mirror...yup, fat.

And when you turn sideways in your mirror wearing skinny jeans and a tunic, you look like Bella Hadid?

Gen Z has the right idea about how you don't have to hide every imperfection under a tent.