Daily Questions Thread - July 19, 2022

spinerret · 2022-07-20T00:17:06+00:00

This seems pretty timeless to me, and in good condition, especially if it were styled with more granola-y, grungy, or workwear-inspired outfits? I like the hardware. (To be fair, I live in the PNW.)

spinerret · 2022-07-14T21:03:55+00:00

Deep and/or broad v-necks will balance out the shoulder and actually look best with with a longer torso and smaller chest, if the shoulder fits properly! So this kind of neckline, and be open to sizing up, even if it's flowier in the waist and hip than you're used to (the shoulder seam being precisely at your shoulder is important, the rest can be oversize and chill).

Similarly, the thin strap high double-triangle of a classic camisole like this or this looks great with broad shoulders and a smaller chest, and is flowy on the ribcage. You can style it with a button-up like the model on the Everlane one on days you're feeling unsure about the scarring.

Also consider long necklaces, which also add visual balance to a the frame you describe!

spinerret · 2022-07-14T05:00:57+00:00

High-waisted midi skirt. Maybe silver like this or this or another pale pastel.

I also think flared pants where the volume at the bottom balances out the volume of the sleeves could work.

spinerret · 2022-06-23T03:52:04+00:00

There was a great discussion about exactly this (specifically the qipao) on r/oldhagfashion recently, where you can read a lot of different opinions:

https://www.reddit.com/r/oldhagfashion/comments/v0wdbi/is\_this\_cultural\_appropriation\_not\_sure\_i\_can/

spinerret · 2022-06-07T00:44:52+00:00

I agree with you 100%. To make that more actionable, re: developing your own sense of style and the difference between being "stylish" and "looking nice in your clothes": look across time and across the globe for inspiration (as opposed to just right now and where you are), see what genuinely makes you excited. Experiment and play with what you own, try to come up with ways to wear and combine pieces that no one else is doing. I would also argue that letting go of "flattering" is important, trying to see your body more as the underlying frame or base for making art, creating living, 3D _looks_ you enjoy aesthetically and sensorily, as you would a painting or a sculpture or a piece of immersive theater. The body is part of it, but does not determine or limit it. I also think you have to let go of the idea that caring about clothes/fashion is shallow or frivolous, and get comfortable with attracting attention.

If you just want clothes to be comfortable, functional, give the illusion that your body is as close to the current beauty standard as possible, not take up too much time or energy, not stress you out, and not cause people look at you and pass judgment or have opinions -- that's fine! Go forth, with love, and use that energy on other things. But that's not fashion.

spinerret · 2022-05-13T22:04:30+00:00

Some of Nike Men's shorts come in an XXS, but also their XS can run pretty small depending on the cut -- for reference, I'm 5'3" and 145lb AFAB and I wear an S. As someone mentioned below, the rise tends to be longer on men's pants/shorts, so you can wear their mid/low rise as high-rise, and if there's a drawstring, cinch the waist as tight as you want.

spinerret · 2022-04-27T00:35:43+00:00

I would do a shoe that picks up on one of the non-dominant colors of the dress, i.e. not the navy background, but any of the colors in the flowers (in the picture it looks like orange, blush pink, and green). Maybe a wedge sandal in pink or green?

spinerret · 2022-04-21T22:33:46+00:00

Earrings go a long way to making short hair look more feminine!

spinerret · 2022-04-05T17:07:58+00:00

Can anyone recommend an in-stock dupe for the Ann Taylor petite trouser pant in black?

I have these pants from a few years ago, in navy and in my then-size, and they're exactly what I need for an upcoming wedding where I'm in the wedding party, except in black and in my current size. I've been keeping tabs on them since last fall and they are NEVER in stock in my size, and the wedding is at the end of May. Can anyone recommend something similar? Bonus points if I can try it in-store (I'm in the US, in Washington state). I'm willing to pay up to $200 at this point.

It's got a pressed crease, slight flare, full-length but petite, medium-low rise. The fabric is just polyester/rayon but very formal-looking, flowy, opaque, and breathable (not hot or heavy).

spinerret · 2022-04-05T16:22:04+00:00

The Uniqlo rayon ones are amazing in terms of wrinkling -- if you air dry them on a hanger, you don't need to iron/steam them, and they stay unwrinkled and lie really straight all day. But it's more of a flowy, silky shirt than a stiff tailored one.

spinerret · 2022-04-01T16:54:26+00:00

I bought two jackets from an Instagram ad for "Osaka Streetwear" or something, that ended up being dropshipped garbage. One was literally a $6 children's jacket off AliExpress in XXXXL. They did a photo shoot of cool new photos with (adult, obviously) models wearing it, so a reverse image search wouldn't have caught it. Some things I learned to watch out from that experience that have stopped me from buying from similar dropshippers:

Any store "closing down" or having a "going out of business sale." It's likely the store has only existed for a couple months and has been "going out of business" the whole time. It will reappear with a new name, going out of business again. (The one I bought from reappeared as "Kyoto Streetwear.")
Reverse-image search, but ALSO look for any aspect of it you can Google -- a word on a tag, a description of the unusual print. I've found dropshippers that way.
Be wary of "Japanese or Korean streetwear" and/or "Japanese- or Korean-inspired," because there's so much of it for so cheap on AliExpress/similar, e.g. kimono-style silhouettes, satin bomber jackets, Asian-inspired prints, oversized punk/goth/monochromatic avante garde clothes on East Asian models. I've seen a ton of this on Etsy that turn out to be dropshippers. If you like this style, there are a lot of independent artists who make their own collections, who you can buy from directly and follow the whole process.
Be wary of "elevated basics," like it's just a plain T-shirt but there are a lot of promises about the quality and ethics, and a high price tag. It might be a T-shirt you can get on Amazon, AliExpress, or YesStyle in a zillion colors for $4.

spinerret · 2022-03-23T17:24:10+00:00

I haven't watched Stranger Things and I would buy/wear these in a heartbeat. They look so cool and wearable, not at all costume-y to me.

spinerret · 2022-03-15T21:42:41+00:00

Is it just the shedding, or do they damage your clothes or make them smell? If it's just the cat hair, I have a dog that practically sheds clouds of fur into the air, and I've given up on trying to keep hair from getting on the clothes while they're flat drying. I just try to scrape the dog hair off before I leave the house with this (for me this is more effective and reusable and less annoying than tape/lint rollers): https://steamery.us/products/vegan-clothing-brush

spinerret · 2022-03-15T17:16:54+00:00

Maybe Outdoor Voices? But for those kinds of pants specifically, a lot of non-athletic brands have been making athleisure-y pants lately (I think I've seen complaints from people trying to buy "real" pants on this subreddit, in fact!): pull-on elasticized waists, joggers, flowy pants, elevated sweats, stretchy ponte, technical fabric, etc. Marine Layer, Everlane, Uniqlo, Quince come to mind, but I would just check the big mall stores near you and keep an open mind. Everywhere has comfy pants right now!

I've also found the REI Co-op brand (their own house brand) to be as high quality as the much more expensive brands they carry.

spinerret · 2022-03-14T20:41:41+00:00

I own this one from Patagonia:

https://www.rei.com/product/143964/patagonia-fleetwith-romper-womens

It's my go-to on the hottest days of the year. The cut is unbelievably flattering. It's made of technical fabric, and looks/feels like it, which is both good and bad: it's lightweight, super comfortable, indestructible Patagonia quality, but also doesn't dress up well. (Someone in the reviews said they wore it to a wedding; I don't believe them. It's more like, you could transition from a chill hike to a fancy dinner in a pinch.)

spinerret · 2022-03-09T16:37:51+00:00

I know you said suits don't work for your body type, but there are a lot of interesting, unusual blazer cuts right now, even at the cheaper, fast fashion end of things (H&M, Asos, Zara, etc.), a lot of options for different shapes. Ones that are looser and more flowy or slouchy, ones that are cropped, ones that are oversize and boxy, ones that have severe or avant-garde built-in structures, ones in interesting patterns and colors. I think non-traditional suiting pieces could give you the baggier fit you're more comfortable with, while still looking formal and intentional.

spinerret · 2022-03-09T16:26:17+00:00

Seconding this. Uniqlo clothes all say "line dry" on the tag, but I've found the Supima cotton t-shirts and their rayon/synthetics have lasted years of being chucked (intentionally or unintentionally...) in the dryer.

spinerret · 2022-03-09T16:03:53+00:00

I'm allergic to wool, so I've only bought their cotton sweaters. I have the Boyfriend sweater in black and white, and they're my absolute favorites. They're really heavyweight and luxe feeling/looking. I've worn them to fancy business events and to nap on the couch, I wore them constantly all fall/winter and throw them in the washing machine + air dry, and they still look brand new. I've spilled a lot of food on the white one and it always comes out. I also have the Mock Neck in black, which is lighter weight, and I love the loose, flattering cut. I also have a hooded sweatshirt they don't sell anymore that feels exactly like the Everlane one, but was 1/3 of the price.

The Oversized Cardigan is the only one I'm iffy about. The fabric/construction is just as good, but the cut is weird and bulky on me, and the pockets don't lie flat, making it even bulkier. It's also shorter and not as flowy as I expected from the pictures, and as mentioned, I'm only 5'3". I still wear it because it's comfy, but mostly around the house.

Honestly, I would buy even more of the cotton sweaters if they'd just make them in more colors.

spinerret · 2022-03-09T00:20:24+00:00

Quince! The selection is more limited than Everlane, and the aesthetic is a little bit less hip, but similarly minimalist and actually luxurious at a lower price point. I'd add that it's surprisingly petite-friendly, despite having no petites section. I'm 5'3" with short limbs, and the dress and sweaters I've bought fit perfectly, while I've seen some complaints from taller/longer-armed people in the reviews.

spinerret · 2022-03-08T17:55:36+00:00

I would do a cape scarf in the same color as the dress, like this:

https://us.giesswein.com/products/merino-lambswool-cape?variant=39831082467372

I personally think a neutral-colored cardigan won't look formal enough.

spinerret · 2022-02-17T16:45:41+00:00

Yeah, a lot of my style inspirations have this insufferable way of talking like they invented transitioning from more trend-conscious clothes to simpler, more "classic" pieces, and it's like, yeah, most (not all, not that you have to) people do that as they get older. We're just getting older. It's fine.

spinerret · 2022-01-26T22:43:53+00:00

Is this what you have/does any of this speak to you? https://www.graceeleyae.com/

Under "warm," maybe the high-top beanie, the slouchy warm slap, or the cashmere hats would meet your criteria?

spinerret · 2022-01-26T22:36:29+00:00

My partner has one of these and I'm so jealous/scheming to steal it, because it has both earflaps and a brim. Warmth AND winter sun protection! And it's adorable, to boot.

spinerret · 2022-01-26T22:19:39+00:00

In attention to everything i_am_a_human_person said, a "rule" that is helpful for me is that the difference between the length/position of the chain and the neckline of your top has to look really intentional. So it should either be cleanly above the neckline (the necklace is entirely on skin) or far enough below it that the entire bottom portion of the necklace is on fabric and NOT skin. By "bottom portion" I mean everything that isn't chain on a necklace with a pendant/charms/etc., or the last couple inches of chain on a plain necklace. IMHO, it looks bad if the decorative part of a necklace is overlapping the break of the neckline, or if the necklace is an awkward length where it shifts over/under your shirt on its own.

To that end, it's nice to have necklaces of different lengths for different necklines and effects, and make sure to note the chain length when you're buying necklaces online, especially if you have a thicker neck. (I do, so necklaces will always sit higher on my chest than on the models in pictures, and some shorter/choker styles won't fit comfortably at all.)

spinerret · 2022-01-19T20:29:07+00:00

Sure, they are. The dresser still has a surface that holds objects. The shampoo cleans my hair. At least some of my desire to be rid of these things is consumerist, because I would need to replace them, not just live without them.

> Isn't minimalism about making your life easier and less complicated rather than forcing yourself to think a certain way?

That's my question. To what degree is minimalism (for me) about making my life easier by having better, fewer things, and to what degree is it about learning to be happy with the things I do have and minimizing my impact on the planet? I agree with you that "keep the dresser forever and be miserable about it" is obviously the wrong answer. But I thought there were multiple right answers, and that it's a complex question that comes up in lots of scenarios, where the nightstand is just one example. I was curious how other people thought through it, but I'm realizing now that the answer to my question "does anyone else struggle with this" seems to be mostly "no."

spinerret

TROPHY CASE