Mid 30s - Tips for updating outdated millennial style

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an elder millennial following this thread with interest because I just did a a massive closet purge after losing a decent amount of weight, and I'm looking to update my style.

I donated pretty much all of my tunic tops/sweaters and long, open-front cardigans and most of my skinny jeans, ankle booties, and infinity scarves.

Fortunately the bootcuts that had been languishing in my closet fit me again so I'm holding onto those and will likely buy a pair of wide leg jeans and a pair of straight legs (both in lighter washes since my bootcuts are almost all dark wash).

I'm keeping my Frye riding boots because those were a splurge for me and will probably be back in at some point, but I want to buy some tall black boots with a heel to wear with dresses and skirts. Not sure what to wear more casually with jeans as I don't like the clunky lug soles that are in now.

Seems like millennial fashion skewed heavily to loose/flowy on top and tight on the bottom (leggings, skinnies) and now that has reversed.

I think you can still wear these easily especially with longer skirts and dresses. Definitely would keep such an investment piece.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but this thread ishelpful. Trying to figure out how to update my look post kid / post pandemic and totally lost. I am not going to be able to go full on trend, but just a bit more in that direction

So, if I keep my skinnies (not colored) in my wardrobe, what is the appropriate footwear to make them a bit less dated?

If you want to update but not go full, short-lived trend, white sneakers (Air Force Ones are always a classic) or Doc Martens.

Yeah, go with WHITE sneakers, for wet slushy muddy fall and winter. You'll get one really cute wearing out of them!

I hate literally every current trend.

LOL this is so true.

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh my gosh ya’ll must be the “you can take my skinny jeans from cold dead hands” crowd! Yikes! This is the beauty and fashion forum. Certainly there is the industry aspect, but it is natural for people to want to change and evolve their look as we move through different periods of time. You don’t have to buy out Zara, but embracing trends in ways that suit you is a good way to stay updated and current. Which I’m assuming most people on a beauty and fashion forum would be interested in? Agree with PP that trends don’t need to be inherently flattering - you also don’t need to embrace every single one. But nothing is more aging that complaining about “styles these days.” Think about all the people who were clinging to bootcut jeans when skinnies were in style. That’s now you. Don’t be afraid - just try something new.

Agree with this. I too was afraid to give up my skinny jeans. However I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how great some of the other cuts can look if styled with pieces that suit you. You don’t have to try every trend! I didn’t own a single lug sole in the late 90s because even in high school I knew that wasn’t “me.” And I still can’t wear them- I really did try this year! Try on a couple of things and mix it in with pieces you already own/love. You might be surprised.

[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!

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.

[Anonymous]

https://anindigoday.com/ways-to-update-your-basic-millennial-outfit/

[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!

Emphasizing this, because crop doesn't mean what a lot of people think it means. A cropped sweater can still cover your midriff.

[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!

Emphasizing this, because crop doesn't mean what a lot of people think it means. A cropped sweater can still cover your midriff.

DP and I don't disagree with any of the above posts. All true. As someone with a really long torso, though, unless those cropped sweaters come in long versions, they actually are midriff-baring for me. At 46, I'd really rather not (even though I don't carry my weight in my stomach, it just looks ridiculous).

[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!

Emphasizing this, because crop doesn't mean what a lot of people think it means. A cropped sweater can still cover your midriff.

DP and I don't disagree with any of the above posts. All true. As someone with a really long torso, though, unless those cropped sweaters come in long versions, they actually are midriff-baring for me. At 46, I'd really rather not (even though I don't carry my weight in my stomach, it just looks ridiculous).

If a cropped length doesn't work for you, another good updated (and usually flattering!) option for tops is doing a french tuck. But what is dated are these flowing tunic-length tops and sweaters. And really, unless you are a long, slim, rectangle, they were never flattering anyways.

[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.

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.

[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.

Sort of... but also, fashion looks better on thinner bodies. That's how it's always been, and will always be. The point is, even if you're not stick thin, just wear what you like/want. But PP and others are responding to those who are insisting that trendy fashion just isn't flattering, blah blah.

[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!

Emphasizing this, because crop doesn't mean what a lot of people think it means. A cropped sweater can still cover your midriff.

DP and I don't disagree with any of the above posts. All true. As someone with a really long torso, though, unless those cropped sweaters come in long versions, they actually are midriff-baring for me. At 46, I'd really rather not (even though I don't carry my weight in my stomach, it just looks ridiculous).

If a cropped length doesn't work for you, another good updated (and usually flattering!) option for tops is doing a french tuck. But what is dated are these flowing tunic-length tops and sweaters. And really, unless you are a long, slim, rectangle, they were never flattering anyways.

I'm 5'8 with broad shoulders, so it wasn't a bad look for me, and considerably more doable, given my torso. But, I can do a French tuck! Funny, that was the style when I was a kid back in the 80s...

[Anonymous]

Another IG person to follow - @kristalavrusik - self describes as a millennial mom w/ gen z style. She thrifts a lot of her clothes and makes the 90s style seem attainable and not look utterly ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another IG person to follow - @kristalavrusik - self describes as a millennial mom w/ gen z style. She thrifts a lot of her clothes and makes the 90s style seem attainable and not look utterly ridiculous.

She looks great but she's also super tall and skinny, which makes you look great in almost anything.

[Anonymous]

"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?