But every now and then, a trend re-asserts itself that makes me say, "Oh no, not you again." There are some styles that, in my universe, were ugly and unflattering the first time, and the decades have done them no favors. I'm looking at you, hot pants.
Granted, twenty-somethings can sport these recycled trends, and look ironic/hip/chic. Irony is a tough look to pull off in my 50's, and runs the risk of looking plain old silly.
I am seeing a lot of (I choke on the very word) culottes in the Fall and Spring fashion shows. OK, sometimes they are called "divided skirts" or (another gag) "gauchos". These are supposed to give one all the ease of trousers with the flowy femininity of a skirt. To my eye, they give even gazelle-like models a rather stumpy, gym-uniform-gone-wrong look.
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| Even though I love vintage, I did not love culottes, then or now. Image via OldPatterns.com |
Other trends that I did enjoy the first time around but won't wear again include:
- super-low-rise jeans
- "city" shorts
- harem pants
- mini skirts (some of my sister-bloggers rock them, but I don't have the legs)
- jumpsuits and rompers
- potholder crochet vests
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| I wore you before, jumpsuit, but not this time around! |
I'd love to hear from you: what did you used to love, and now makes you cringe; what recycled trends are you enjoying once again? No wrong answers, we all wear what makes us feel great!
Harem pants aren't for me either.
ReplyDeleteOne of your culotte images has a wrap part over the shorts. I'll admit that I have a couple of pairs of "skorts" that are similar. I like the way they look, although I don't spend much time contemplating their view from the back. If I can't see it it's not there.
I swear that split-skirt thing is something Haband still sells in the back of the Sunday magazine supplement . . .
ReplyDeleteLOL, Ginger -- If I can't see it, it's not there! I feel that way about the back of my hair, which I have been told can look pretty scary. : >
ReplyDeleteI rest my case! : >
ReplyDeleteYou know, I still haven't worn leggings as an adult. I've had a pair (a really cheap, thin pair, which may be why) for a few years now, but every time I put them on I just don't feel right in them. But when I was a kid, I sported leggings in all colors and prints!
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Shea -- if it doesn't feel right, maybe it's not for you. But I am much older than you and I do wear leggings under a dress, with boots/booties. That way, they're really more of an accessory than the main dish : > Thanks for coming over!
ReplyDeleteI was the trendsetting fashion maven of my HS when I wore a harvest gold culotte jumpsuit to school my senior year....and was promptly sent back home for wearing pants to school. So, no, culottes are out of the lineup forever. Also any sweater with holiday embroidery.
ReplyDeleteI remember buying cotton sweaters at The Limited and the salesgirl always suggested matching cotton socks .....and of course I would buy them. I can't ever imagine myself wearing a seafoam cotton sweater with matching seafoam socks again.
ReplyDeleteJumpsuits! I used to LOVE them. LOVE! I wouldn't be caught dead now. And I have NEVER embraced super low rise jeans. I don't get them. They give you a muffin top and they show your crack! What's to like?!!
ReplyDeletei'm with ya on the culottes. wore them in jr high and high school but not again. i also won't do the jumpsuit trend tho i had a couple favs way back when. what i really don't get is the platform shoe. i think i was too young when it was popular in the 70's and i know i'd break my leg if i even tried on a pair today. but they've always looked chunky to me, not slimming.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I've been dying for gauchos! Really! I haven't done leggings/jeggings. I lived in them during the '80s, got no interest in them now.
ReplyDeletehahaha -- it reminds me of gym teachers. I used to love them though (they also remind me of tennis skirts).
ReplyDeletehahahaha! I can just picture the advertisement.
ReplyDeleteI love low-rise pants -- I think just the opposite of Joy -- I think they hide my muffin top. What is a "city" short? And I hate to say it, but I actually bought a romper when I was out thrifting this summer (I was thinking of cutting the bottom off and wearing it as a shirt, because the top is really cute -- but honestly who has time? So now I just see it and feel silly.).
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Nina Garcia's book "Little Black Book of Style", I discovered I am a fashion victim by following trends. I first noticed it when I traveled Eastern Europe 15 years ago... I saw girls in style I said I would NEVER WEAR. Well, sure enough, a year later when it reached the US, I would die for them and wear them. I have new pair of gauchos from Free People and I love them. I love all of the trends...and I will proudly wear them until they go out of style again! Sorry - that's just me.... ;) Love your blog still and I will keep following even if you WON'T wear the City Shorts. (Tongue in cheek.)
ReplyDeleteHarem pants are a no-no from me too, hideous! Jump suits too, no thank you! I remember a 'dungaree' trend back in the day, for girls - not very flattering at all!
ReplyDeleteIn high school (and primary for that matter) I had no style! It's only been in the last 5 or 6 that I've developed into myself... better late than never!
ReplyDeleteI will never wear sweaters 10 sizes too big with tights, floral denim overalls or long velvet hippy skirts. Oh, and jeans with a turtleneck and fleece man shirt and hiking boots for casual clothing...... Ewwwww!
Jane Marie, we need a picture of the jumpsuit! Agree on the holiday sweater : >
ReplyDeleteI remember this too! I was envious of the look, b/c I was a little too old to wear it at the time. : >
ReplyDeleteI know! I had a black slinky jumpsuit that I wore out dancing (disco, baby!). Agree on the low-risers.
ReplyDeleteHi Gail, thanks for coming by! I agree with all the above, altho I will wear a *little* platform these days.
ReplyDeleteWendy, you can wear anything! Show us the gauchos!
ReplyDeleteHi Kari - city shorts are longer than weekend shorts, in dressier fabrics. Every now and then they come back in style -- to be worn to work with a blazer. I never did it; it seems like a magazine-only look!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you are loving on the gauchos - we should all enjoy our clothes!! I'll wear the City Shorts for a dollar (tongue in cheek) : >
ReplyDeleteYes, harem pants are a tough look for most women to carry off!
ReplyDeleteFloral denim overalls - oh my. They were so hot when I was in my thirties, and my younger sisters wore them with their hair scrunchies all the time : >
ReplyDeleteYou have a great sense of style Amber.
I don't know if I could do culottes either. There are so many recycled trends that I seriously disliked when I saw them in photos that I'm now wearing-neons, weird 90s florals, leggings...and now I love them!
ReplyDelete-Meaganwww.spunkychateau.com
Ha! I was just in middle school last time they were cool, but I have this feeling inside that overalls are about to be 'in' again. I don't think I can get behind the culottes either. Although I think they look lovely on other ladies.
ReplyDeleteI like bell bottoms will still wear them, mini skirts? Probably not too mini, I may add tights. Rompers? Still thinking about it. Interesting post. Set me thinking about my style choices
ReplyDeletelove,mongsmythriftycloset.blogspot.com
Fun post! Harem pants will not be worn again by me. Although, I did swear off the leggings, and now I wear them proudly!
ReplyDeleteI found a midi skirt at the thrift store and fell in love! I never thought it would work for me, but after I tried it on it on, it was heaven. Now I look for them everytime I go thrifting :)
Heather
I think you started the list of things I will never latch onto no matter how popular they get, haha.
ReplyDeleteCity shorts and harem pants I think I always hated and never wore lol.
ReplyDeleteI always said I would never wear leggings when they came back out but I did and I must admit I love them x
I agree that WendyB would look great in gauchos!
ReplyDeleteI used to love denim overalls, wore them well into my 30s, but wouldn't be caught dead in them now.
I would never wear all of the above, except for midi skirts, which I love. I'm so glad they are coming back.
ReplyDeleteAs for city shorts---not for me, but I know a woman "of a certain age" with a good figure who wears them with dark tights and looks fabulous.
I love your neons, Meagan!
ReplyDeleteEverything comes around in fashion, right? I will be skipping overalls too.
ReplyDeleteYou could totally wear a romper, mongs!
ReplyDeleteI know! Midis are so great, I am always looking for them too. Thanks for coming by : >
ReplyDeleteFunny!
ReplyDeleteI think I said the same thing about leggings, now I love them too. It's OK to change our minds : >
ReplyDeleteSusan - me neither!
ReplyDeleteAnna - great point about the city shorts - they can look very cool with tights. I love the midis too!
ReplyDeleteI actually laughed at the tittle of your post because just this week I was cleaning out my closet and came across garments that have not seen the sunlight in sometime.... and there is was my jean culottes (in Spanish it means big ass) !!!
ReplyDeleteI wore them ONCE on the blog and they were so tight and uncomfortable that I might just wear them again to convince myself that i need to give them away- yes, I am weird like that.
You are not kidding about the meaning of the word?? Oh my goodness, that is too funny. Thanks for coming over and sharing : >
ReplyDeleteScrunchies! LOLOLOLOLOL!
ReplyDeleteMini skirts because I have decent legs even in my 50s but I have to wear tights to cover up veins and celluite. I cringed at hot pants back in the early 1970s and think they are still ugly fantastic legs or not. I'm with you on the pallazo pants that are supposed to look like skirts but just look like very wide-legged pants that are unflattering on everyone . . ..
ReplyDeleteHi Amy - yes, tights are my best friends : >
ReplyDeleteSpandex Biker Shorts are horrific (at least on me)!
ReplyDeleteOh me too! There will never be a photo of that! : >
ReplyDeleteTight pants with a huuuge shirt... ugh! Miniskirts... any skirt at or over the knee. Tea-length is ghastly on me too. "Skinny", "tapered" or pegged pants... they CAN'T MAKE ME!!!!
ReplyDeleteLD -- you make me smile! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteTube tops...
ReplyDelete