In a fashion slump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The silhouette you're wearing - skinny jeans, longer top, ballet flats - has changed the past few years. The items below are not fashion forward, they are everyday wearables. Same as what you're already doing but with a more current shape.

Try slim, straight jeans instead of skinny.

Try a sneaker or chunkier shoe/boot instead of ballet flats.

Crop tops are for the youth, but around mid-hip or an inch higher is doable for most people. Avoid tunic-y tops, but overly long sweater-coats (like, past the knee) are a thing, not my personal favorite. Chunky, oversized sweaters, but no waterfall cardigans.

https://www.madewell.com/authentic-stovepipe-jeans-in-glynn-wash-NA911.html?dwvar_NA911_color=DM5128&cgid=apparel-jeans-straight#start=10

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/nike-blazer-low-77-sneaker-women/5753019?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=102

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/marc-fisher-ltd-padmia-chelsea-boot-women/5918027?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FShoes%2FBooties&color=001


https://www.stories.com/en_usd/clothing/tops/tops-t-shirts/product.embroidered-sleeve-top-black.0990328002.html

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/free-people-sweetheart-mock-neck-sweater/5684214?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=250

Those boots are bringing me back. I had a pair almost exactly like that except with a three inch platform that I LIVED in when I was in law school in the late 90s. I got so used to wearing those boots that I couldn't get used to normal-soled shoes - I felt way too short in them. Man I wore those boots until the sole literally split in half.

[Anonymous]

Upgrade your jeans, skinny is out.

[Anonymous]

Me too. See: blardigan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP can you find ways to take what you currently like and elevate it? Like don’t try to hit “super fashionable”, just aim for a more put together version of whatever you are gravitating towards.

It’s not cutting edge, but sometimes when I’m in a slump I look at The Mom Edit for ideas. I appreciate that many of them are wearing comfy mom clothes, but they make the effort to find tees that look cuter or layers that go together a bit more. They also incorporate a lot of athleisure— joggers, leggings, sweatshirts, etc. So it might not be that far off from what you are currently doing, but show you a way to style it or put it together that looks more fashionable.

I’m also climbing out of a Covid slump. I recently found a pair of menswear-inspired pants that are legitimately as comfy as sweats and that’s helping a ton. Because all I really want to wear is sweats (wearing them right now!).

Share a link to the pants! Not OP, but I could use some new ones for Fall.

https://www.loft.com/button-tab-tapered-pants-in-twill/567429

Don't those pants make your butt look like you are wearing a diaper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus one on trunk club.

And if you're up for a hunt, consider thrift shops. I've bought pieces that were out of my "Norm" this way because the prices are so low it's worth a gamble.

I've gotten some gems this way! It's feast or famine in my experience- today I went to kill time before a meeting and ended up leaving with Paige straight cut jeans, two TopShop sweaters (one with tags still), 2 pairs of shoes - Cole Hann with no visible wear & cut Jessica Simpson heels with tags. AND I was eyeballing a Furla purse & asked the employee if he thought I could get a scuff out on the bottom of the bag- he said not sure but I'll take %15 off if you want it because of the mark. All of that was less than $50!

The jeans and sweater/jacket thing look ontrend, the shoes are pretty timeless and I just liked the bag. So might not be a total revamp but freshens things up and let's me spend more on a few this season pieces.

Also-old school advice but I only wear colors that favor me on top now (no pastels or tans) and I always have on either small diamond studs or super thin hoops; jewelry by the face always helps.

Where are you thrifting??

[Anonymous]

Oh my god, this is me too. I think the sticking point for me is the pants. I used to wear dresses everyday, and really only wore pants on the weekend. Mostly athleisure since I was running around to kid sporting things. But now, I can't find the in between. My jeans (mostly all skinnies) are all horribly out of style, the joggers I tried are super unflattering/frumpy. My shopping is limited to the internet, and I'm not finding much I like (though, admittedly, haven't spent that much time looking). OP, I'm sorry, I didn't clink the link to Loft - the title alone of those pants "button tab tapered pants in twill" made me die inside. That sounds the very definition of frump!

So...I'd love links for cute pants + shoes. THANKS!!

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat, 42 year old mom who feels like I stopped paying attention to fashion for a minute and everything turned on its head and now I'm in an alternate universe where nothing makes sense.

In some ways I'm glad to see the reign of skinny jeans come to an end because I was never truly excited about them to begin with, but I also have no idea how to dress myself anymore. Tempted to give up now and embrace the frump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat, 42 year old mom who feels like I stopped paying attention to fashion for a minute and everything turned on its head and now I'm in an alternate universe where nothing makes sense.

In some ways I'm glad to see the reign of skinny jeans come to an end because I was never truly excited about them to begin with, but I also have no idea how to dress myself anymore. Tempted to give up now and embrace the frump.

This: now I'm in an alternate universe where nothing makes sense. 100% this.

I went to the mall recently and couldn't believe the hideous stuff I was seeing - prairie dresses, weird giant palazzo pants, high-waisted ACID WASH denim? WTF are we supposed to wear?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat, 42 year old mom who feels like I stopped paying attention to fashion for a minute and everything turned on its head and now I'm in an alternate universe where nothing makes sense.

In some ways I'm glad to see the reign of skinny jeans come to an end because I was never truly excited about them to begin with, but I also have no idea how to dress myself anymore. Tempted to give up now and embrace the frump.

This: now I'm in an alternate universe where nothing makes sense. 100% this.

I went to the mall recently and couldn't believe the hideous stuff I was seeing - prairie dresses, weird giant palazzo pants, high-waisted ACID WASH denim? WTF are we supposed to wear?

I think that’s because this is the second go round for us forties on these trends. For the twenties it’s all new. That said I’m not going all in but I happily bought a bunch of looser jeans. Believe me I can’t do balloon (athletic bottom) but I’m going partway there

[Anonymous]

Did I write this? No, I’m 37 and only have 1 kid. And I had to bust out a calculator to figure out my age. I thought I was 34 or maybe 36. I think between having a baby/young child and the pandemic, I’m just waking up and wondering where I went.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP can you find ways to take what you currently like and elevate it? Like don’t try to hit “super fashionable”, just aim for a more put together version of whatever you are gravitating towards.

It’s not cutting edge, but sometimes when I’m in a slump I look at The Mom Edit for ideas. I appreciate that many of them are wearing comfy mom clothes, but they make the effort to find tees that look cuter or layers that go together a bit more. They also incorporate a lot of athleisure— joggers, leggings, sweatshirts, etc. So it might not be that far off from what you are currently doing, but show you a way to style it or put it together that looks more fashionable.

I’m also climbing out of a Covid slump. I recently found a pair of menswear-inspired pants that are legitimately as comfy as sweats and that’s helping a ton. Because all I really want to wear is sweats (wearing them right now!).

Share a link to the pants! Not OP, but I could use some new ones for Fall.

https://www.loft.com/button-tab-tapered-pants-in-twill/567429

Don't those pants make your butt look like you are wearing a diaper?

What? Do you mean because they aren't cut slim to the body? They look cute on the model

[Anonymous]

This is me too- and I had an unexpected surgery that changed my body shape. The skinny jeans loose top look was a lifesaver for a new mom.

[Anonymous]

Skinny jeans are a staple now. They are not out.

Every major jeans brand, fashion house still is selling them.

It’s how you style them, what your hairstyle is like, shoes, tops with them. They can still be part of an on-trend look.

For jeans, wear what is flattering for your body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s Covid and age more than being a mom. Pre-Covid, I was going into the office every day. I wore my nice work clothes, did my hair and put on makeup. I paid more attention to fashion, although now I’m early 40s and can’t figure out what to wear so Covid gives me a reason to not worry about it. Now I wear shorts and t-shirts or sweatpants unless I have Zoom calls, which is only once per week or so. I hardly ever wear makeup now (and when I do it looks dated). I don’t know what to do with my hair so I pull it back every day.

It also gets hard in your late 30s/early 40s because we are not the target market for fashion. I can’t - and won’t - wear what the 20-somethings are wearing, but I’m also not ready to jump into Eileen Fisher or J.Jill. Also, hormones and post-pregnancy bodies make it hard to find styles that work for us. I love Vince, Jenni Kayne, etc, but the voluminous (“breezy”) LA-style look can be hideous on me. I like Theory but that skews a little young at times, especially for work.

The struggle to stay out of frump territory is real.

My mom gave me a gift card to J. Jill for my 40th birthday and it felt like an act of violence.

At least it wasnt chicos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP can you find ways to take what you currently like and elevate it? Like don’t try to hit “super fashionable”, just aim for a more put together version of whatever you are gravitating towards.

It’s not cutting edge, but sometimes when I’m in a slump I look at The Mom Edit for ideas. I appreciate that many of them are wearing comfy mom clothes, but they make the effort to find tees that look cuter or layers that go together a bit more. They also incorporate a lot of athleisure— joggers, leggings, sweatshirts, etc. So it might not be that far off from what you are currently doing, but show you a way to style it or put it together that looks more fashionable.

I’m also climbing out of a Covid slump. I recently found a pair of menswear-inspired pants that are legitimately as comfy as sweats and that’s helping a ton. Because all I really want to wear is sweats (wearing them right now!).

Share a link to the pants! Not OP, but I could use some new ones for Fall.

https://www.loft.com/button-tab-tapered-pants-in-twill/567429

I’m sorry but pleated tapered pants don’t look good on anyone. The model looks like she has a pouch. Imagine someone a size 8

Don't those pants make your butt look like you are wearing a diaper?

What? Do you mean because they aren't cut slim to the body? They look cute on the model